Osun Defender Online Version of December 15, 2017 edition

NEWS

EDITORIAL COMMENT PAGE 4

Ondo Govt Understudies Osun Welfare Programmes

PDP In Osun After The Convention Debacle ‘Are the Yoruba in the PDP just discovering that they have no place in that party? From the moment Obasanjo left office in 1999, the Yoruba elements in the party were consigned to the dustbin…’

‘

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Awosuru New Market:

- Page 2

Osun Assembly Issues Relocation Order To Traders Osun 2018:

'It Will Be Impossible For PDP To Return' Page 10 NEWS

•Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) presenting gifts to beneficiaries during the distribution of over 12,000 MAMA Kits which contain critical items required for safe delivery to Vulnerable Pregnant women across the State at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

APC Chair T a k e s Diekola To Task Page 15

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Osun Assembly Issues Relocation Order To Traders

By Israel Afolabi

“We are now appealing to other street traders to move down to the new market at Awosuru because there would not be a market at Akindeko again from December 15, 2017”.

In her contribution, the

Executive Secretary, Osogbo West Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Alhaja Temilade Olokungboye stated the council’s readiness to cooperate with traders and stakeholders to make

the new market thrive.

She commended the State House of Assembly for intervening.

She said, “With our meeting today in the House of Assembly, we are satisfied because we believe in moving the

market forward”.

She added that the council has issued warning to property owners on the other side of Ola-Egbon Chemist not to harbor any of the traders in their own interest.

The State of Osun House of Assembly has directed the State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Industries and Empowerment to relocate traders at the Oroki Market, popularly referred to as Alekuwodo Market to the new space provided for them at Awosuru Area of the state capital by Friday, December 15 (today).

Chairman, House market men and women Committee on at Akindeko for their C o m m e r c e , support to the present Cooperatives, Industries government and lauded and Empowerment, Hon. the State Government for Babatunde Olatunji gave making trading the directive on Thursday convenience for traders at an interactive meeting and implored the latter with concerned to move to the new stakeholders at the State market site for their House of Assembly safety.

Meanwhile, other Complex Osogbo, State of committee members Osun. the He said the state urged government has representatives of the provided all necessary traders to discuss the facilities for the traders at details of the meeting the new market site, with their co-traders at considering the fact that Akindeko market.

The Assembly further the present location is very dangerous to their directed the Ministry of C o m m e r c e , lives and property.

The Commissioner in cooperatives, Industries the Ministry, Mr. Ismaila and Empowerment to Alagbada had told the ensure quick access of lawmakers that the the traders at Oroki government had served market, Alekuwodo in the traders with quit Osogbo to Government •Deputy Governor of Osun, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (right) presenting a gift to the Political and Economic notice of 21 days since E n t e r p r i s e Officer, United State Consulate, Mr Ben Williams (2nd left) and Cultural Affairs Officer, Mr Kevin Krapf, when the July, which has since E m p o w e r m e n t US Consulate team paid a courtesy visit to the Governor, State Of Osun recently. expired but the traders Programme (GEEP) facilities so as to hasten refused to comply.

He added that the issue their relocation and of relocation has started smooth commencement since 2013, adding that, of marketing activities at revenue from taxation, government could get

By Kehinde Ayantunji government has been the new market site. adding that global money outside the taxes They urged the traders The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola economic reality is paid by all entities, both very patient enough with to embrace the new has tasked Nigerians to imbibe the culture of compelling seriousness human and corporate in the traders’ reluctance to development of the taxation. on the need for their domain”. relocate.

“It is not a doubt that However, in their government of Osun and According to him, for their poor taxation government and the adhere to its directives in people of any country today, all developed separate contributions, a developing country like culture. their best interest Governor Aregbesola that desire development nations in the world have the representatives of the Alagbada assure the Nigeria to confront made the statement to prioritise taxation as one characteristic of sole traders, Mr. Ojolowo and traders at Akindeko boldly the socioMrs. Erinjogunola Bola Market scheduled to economic and political while addressing leaders the basic way for revenue means of revenue generation from taxes agreed that the move to Awosuru challenges, taxation must and members of the generation.

Nigerian Society of He said, “It is paid by their citizens. government had earlier market site of adequate be taken seriously.

“The advanced nations He said all the Engineers (NSE) Osogbo unfortunate that most served them with notice facilities to make trading and they had appealed convenient for them and responsible, civilised and Branch, during the professionals in our state of the world generate ceremonial presentation much more of their do not take the issue of countries that the relocation order assured them of safety of advanced successful of the 2017 Group taxes seriously. That is resources from the taxes be reversed on several their lives and property. remain Dynamics Cup Trophy why I want to appeal to paid by their citizens and occasions.

According to him, “We because they generate The duo further now have enough space their resources from taxes won by the Osogbo NSE. the leaders of the NSE that is the only way for Aregbesola explained and other professionals responsible, civilised and collected from the appealed to Government at the new market to at the meeting to extend accommodate every populace, while under- that the emerging bodies in the state to rally consequently advanced realities round their members to nations to generate their and economic the order till after trader and this developed the signal to correctly and revenues. yuletide season. government made things developing countries remained the fact that no nation can appropriately assess “But backward, underremain poor and “We want government convenient for market backward because of survive without huge themselves so as to pay developed and primitive to have little patience till users in Osun”. appropriate taxes to societies depend on next year because the new natural resources that, in government. market is not yet filled up “Before the military most cases, they do not as it has scanty interregnum in Nigeria, even know where such occupiers”, they pleaded. economic challenges.

By Ismaeel Uthman taxation was a serious resources came from.

However, Hon. “The PDP has never civic obligation and Their belief was, once the A member of the Federal House of meant well for the Olatunji made it known responsibility of every natural resource is that the purpose of the Representatives, Hon Ajibola Famurewa has people; they are jealous citizen and as a matter of bringing the proceeds to interactive meeting was described as inhuman, the move by the Peoples of Aregebsola’s fact, the liberty of the them, they don’t want to to see to the welfare of the Democratic Party (PDP) to ground local government numerous achievements. citizens was defined and know how effective their traders in the state and administration through the instituted ex-parte All their antics are to determined by how own assessment of the also instructed that the motion at a Federal High Court in Abuja. impoverish the people citizens fulfilled their tax proceeds is. affected traders should be Ajibola who is to the down trodden and and turn them into obligations.

“We just found that we given consideration in the representing Ilesa-East, the rural dwellers.

“At the time, all depend on rent to live beggars and this will not e m p o w e r m e n t Ilesa-West, Atakumosa“That is why the stand.” negligence in tax our lives and any nation programmes of the State East and Atakumosa- dynamic style of Famurewa added: obligation had a citizen’s that depends on such will Government.

West in the State of Osun governance of Ogbeni “Local governments in liberty circumscribed. just be living a mere According to him, “We said it is an act of Aregbesola has taken the State of Osun have But the military during existence. have all resolved that wickedness and brutality giant strides to affect kept “So, we must all come pace with its interregnum with the from December 15, 2017, against the masses for the local government need for it to forcibly to the need to understand Awosuru market will PDP chieftains to aim at positively in the last developmental policies acquire legitimacy from the essence of taxation in in delivering the come alive with shutting good the people, overlooked ensuring down seven years. But it is very commercial activities. governance at local unfortunate that the dividends of democracy, that very critical factor in governance. It is time for but have continued to “We also agreed that government levels. citizens of the third world opposition party, PDP, in struggle to make ends modern society. those on the road side will “The reason adults particularly African The lawmaker in an her usual retrogressive relocate to the new interview with newsmen approach is designing meet financially, as they worked then was to serve countries to rise to the market at Awosuru”, he on Monday said: “All famine, scarcity and cannot survive outside themselves and serve the challenges of poor the FAAC disbursement government because taxation added. culture”, over the world, local artificial recession in the Olatunji appreciated government is the closest face of dwindling as the case is in Lagos. there was no other way Aregbesola stated.

Aregbesola Advocates Taxation Culture For Sustainable Development

Federal Lawmaker Blasts PDP Over Court Order On Osun LGs’ Fund

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Ondo Govt Understudies Osun Welfare Programmes

By Israel Afolabi The successes recorded by the government of the State of Osun on the operations of Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) have drawn the attention of the Ondo State government, which was impressed enough to send a team to Osun in order to understudy the programme.

YESSO which is an are other schemes which offshoot of the Osun have addressed the need Youth Empowerment of those that are not Scheme (OYES) is a educated and the tripartite agreement vulnerable people in the among the World Bank, state”. the Federal Government In her response, the of Nigeria and head of the Ondo State participating states. The delegation, Mrs. Bunmi programme was Ademosu, who is the launched in September Special Adviser to the 2013 with the overall Ondo State Governor on objective to increase I n t e r - g o v e r n m e n t a l access of the poor to Affairs, said the purpose youth employment of the tour to Osun was opportunities, social to study the services and strengthen d e v e l o p m e n t a l •Osun YESSO Coordinator, Mr Olufemi Ifaturoti making his presentation during the study tour of Ondo governthe safety net system. programmes that ment delegation to Osun.

Addressing the Ondo encourage the youths. youth get busy with something message, the OYES the scheme has taken delegates in Osogbo on According to her, “We with Commandante, Col. many youths off the as worthy”, she added.

Wednesday, the State are here to share from the unemployment, In his presentation, the Eniibukun Oyewole (rtd) streets who now work on everybody, according to Coordinator, Youth State of Osun experience Employment and Social and to know what the her, should have the leader of the Osun noted that OYES is a building a sustainable Support Operation state of the virtuous has passion and confidence Project Implementation premier project in Osun society”.

He appreciated the (YESSO), Mr. Femi been doing to tackle to move the country Unit, Mr. Olugbenga which 42,000 youths has Odulaja emphasised the passed through to better effort of the present Ifaturoti said that unemployment among forward for better.

“With this Osun Youth need to develop youths the lots of the people administration in the Governor Rauf youths”. across the state. state for the supports Aregbesola conceived the She said that Osun and Empowerment Scheme and engage them for He said, “Osun has a given to the programme.

(OYES) programme in better goals.

OYES idea as a social Ondo states share the In his goodwill low-crime rate, because intervention programme same vision in dealing place, the idle hands will to reduce the unemployment rate among the youths in the state.

The Youth Employment and Social Support developing a database of towards Community The Coordinator Operation (YESSO) which is a tripartite agreement poor and vulnerable Based Targeting (CBT). they have to be between declared that OYES, among the World Bank, the Federal Government of households for selection The CBT process involves 18 and 35 years old; (b) borne out of passion and Nigeria and participating states was launched in into safety nets geographical targeting, they have to be in a vision has become a September 2013 with the overall objective to interventions that can community gathering, community identified as reality, commending the increase access of the poor to youth employment support their needs. data collection and poor; (c) they have to be Ondo State Team for opportunities, social services and strengthen safety Three important lessons analysis, and validation unemployed.

Numbers enrolled choosing Osun to learn net system. can be learned from the of list of identified

By December 2016 till from and promised them YESSO which is an offshoot of the Osun Youth YESSO model of curbing households at the date, a total of 7,000 all necessary supports Empowerment Scheme (O-YES) was designed to unemployment. First, is have during the period of their achieve the same feat as OYES which saw the targeting method community level. The key households distinction of this received direct cash assignment in the state. unemployment rate plummeting from 12 per cent which demonstrates the approach is the He noted that there are to 3 per cent in the State of Osun in the year 2010 important transfer on monthly roles similarities between the (Source: National Bureau of Statistics, 2010). communities can play substantial role of the basis. Also, a total of leaders of Osun and the community in the overall number 1,000 of youths labour intensive work towards of the between ages 18 and 35 In other words, YESSO (Public Workfare), skills identification of poor and selection Ondo states in terms of albeit have been effectively was designed to training for unemployed vulnerable households. beneficiaries, development.

According to him “it is strengthen the safety nets youths (Skills for Job) Second, it is the selection following some selection enrolled in labour the vision and passion of programme through and targeted grant criteria which limits the criteria. intensive work and Selection Criteria Ogbeni Aregbesola to put coordination, effective transfer in the North East error of inclusion and receive monthly stipends.

The target groups are These numbers increase exclusion. Lastly is the this OYES scheme in targeting and monitoring region of Nigeria. place in Osun and we set and evaluation. Some of The Osun-YESSO was output of the Single poor and vulnerable per phase of CBT which youths within the is already at the fourth up this scheme to tackle the merits of YESSO are institutionalized with the Register (SR). identified households phase.

Targeting Operation the problems of the establishment of State Single Register (SR) of will either The failure of previous that Coordinating Unit unemployment”.

Other states adopting poor and vulnerable (SOCU) as the institution interventions on youth participate in the labour similar model will “For the first time in households which is now intensive work (PWF) or experience the same e m p o w e r m e n t responsible for the history of Nigeria, building block of the Osun government Federal Government c o o r d i n a t i o n , programmes to reach the skill matching training dramatic improvement management and poor and vulnerable programme (Skills for in their unemployment employed 20,000 youths Cash Transfer at a go to reduce programme, provision of oversight of social safety groups in the society has Job). The following numbers. nets. It does these by shifted the attention conditions applied: (a) unemployment. There

Lessons To Learn From Osun-YESSO

Osun LG Election: Court

By Ismaeel Uthman

As against the January 23, 2018 fixed by the Federal High Court for hearing on the legal tussle over Local Government elections in the State of Osun, the court has fixed January 11 for the hearing of applications of Osun Government against the decision to stop the poll.

The Osun State in the state slated for government has filed an January 27, 2018. application for the According to the vacation of the ex-parte application filed by the orders granted by the state government before court last week grounding the same Federal High the state’s Local Court by the Attorney Government funds, as well General and as restraining orders in Commissioner for Justice respect of election to Local in the state, Dr Basiru Council Development Ajibola, the court order Areas and Area Councils was liable to be set aside as regards the conduct of ‘ex debito justitae’ for the local government poll fundamental irregularity,

Fixes Jan 11 For Hearing

breach of applicant’s right to fair hearing and manifest lack of jurisdiction.

Three chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Kolawole Osunkemitan, Chief Douglas Adeyinka Oyinlola and Prince Aderemi Adeniran Adelowo had approached the court with an application for the stoppage of monies for the local government in the state in an attempt to stop the conduct of the local government.

The government stated that the court order was

made in violation of the legal right to fair hearing of the government as guaranteed under Order 26, Rules 13 and 14 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009 and in consequence that it breached the right to fair hearing as guaranteed under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On this, the government argued that whereas the Rules of the court mandated a minimum of three days as return date for the order to show cause, the Applicant only

had one day between the day of service of the order on the Abuja Liaison Office on Thursday 30th November, 2017 and 4th December, 2017 when the orders were granted. This is in view of the fact that Friday, December 1 and Sunday, December 3 were public holidays in the eye of the law and cannot be computed in determining the three day return date.

In the application, the government contested that the court had earlier refused the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs (now defendants) on November 27 for interim injunction in

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a Motion Ex-Parte dated November 8, 2017, pointing out that the court lacked jurisdiction to grant same reliefs on December 4, 2017 as it had now turned around to do.

The government argued that it amounted to sitting on appeal over its ruling and/or orders for the court to grant same reliefs of the motion ex-parte it had earlier refused, adding that the application had become ‘functus officio’.

It explained that the court lacks requisite jurisdiction

•Continued on page 15

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PDP In Osun After The Convention Debacle Countinued from front page With eggs splattered all over their faces, the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] players in the Southwest now have to find a new line in order to shore up whatever is left of their tattered credibility. Incredibly, the new face-saving propaganda is that, “The vice presidency is going to be zoned to the Southwest”. Anyone who believes this fantasy is liable to believe just about anything including the proposition that pigs can fly.

It should by now be very obvious that the PDP has nothing to offer the Southwest. Niyi Akintola SAN, a Yoruba progressive, seminally observed few days ago in the aftermath of the Abuja debacle that, “Are the Yoruba in the PDP just discovering that they have no place in that party? From the moment Obasanjo left office in 1999, the Yoruba elements in the party were consigned to the dustbin… The stand of Governor Wike and his cotravelers that the Yoruba matters not

‘

The PDP which is clearly unfit to govern will reverse the gains and Osun will be back to square one. There is clearly no alternative now than to consolidate the gains through continuity.

in PDP is nothing new. It is simply a continuation of the segregation of the Yoruba from the mainstream of the PDP and its activities.’’

At best, the Southwest is just there to make up the numbers, much like the substitutes bench in a football match. Occasionally, they could have their usefulness, but that is just about it, very much like extras in another person’s movie.

There are valuable lessons to be learnt here, particularly in the State of Osun which has a governorship election coming up on the 22nd of September, 2018. It’s just round the corner, and it will be pivotal. The [divided] Osun State wing of the PDP

’

with less than a year to go cannot be described as a government-in-waiting.

First of all, the party, organisationally is in disarray. They cannot even agree on a delegate list. If they cannot work out a give and take formula to harmonise a list of delegates to their own national convention, how on earth can they handle the increasingly complex mechanism of the government of the State of Osun?

The PDP clearly has nothing to offer the Yoruba at the center and is illprepared for governance in the state of Osun. The election is pivotal because Osun needs continuity. There is a need to build upon the sterling progress made by seven years of

dedicated work by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his team. It will be tragic to throw it all away by handing over the State to a fractitious, disheveled team with no clout at the center and no programme worth talking about to continue the rejuvenation and reconstruction of the state.

The debacle last Saturday has clearly put the State of Osun on notice. The PDP has nothing to offer the Yoruba nationality and its Osun wing is completely out of sync with the tremendous pro-people elevating progress made in the last seven years.

The advance in every sphere is real, if you seek to know what Aregbesola has achieved, do come to the State of Osun and look around you. The PDP which is clearly unfit to govern will reverse the gains and Osun will be back to square one. There is clearly no alternative now than to consolidate the gains through continuity. This model has worked admirably in Lagos and is vitally needed in Osun. You have been forewarned!

National Assembly And Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Five months after the then Acting President Yemi Osinbajo wrote to the National Assembly to correct the grave mistake it made when it refused to appropriate funds in the 2017 budget for the completion of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway rehabilitation, there are no signs yet that the two chambers are ready or even prepared to do the right thing.

On July 18, the then acting president had written to the National Assembly leadership, drawing their attention to the agreement made in the aftermath of the stalemate which ensued when the lawmakers, for reasons best known to them, slashed allocations on a number of major projects proposed by the executive.

In the specific case of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, the allocation was slashed from N31bn to N10bn even at a time the contractors had an outstanding payment of N15 billion for the work already done.

Under the agreement, the executive was to submit a virement proposal to the National Assembly for their consideration.

When asked about the status of the request for virement from the executive early in this week, a member of the Committee on Appropriation, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa was quoted by a leading newspaper as saying that “events had overtaken the process”, adding that “the 2018 budget was already being prepared and would soon be passed, leaving the 2017 Appropriation Act expired”.

“How can somebody even be talking of virement now when we have treated MTEF/FSP (Medium Term Expenditure Framework/Fiscal Strategy Paper) and the processing of the 2018 budget is on?” he was reported to have asked.

A similar note would be echoed by chairman, House Committee on Works, Toby Okechukwu when he

averred that the virement is no longer important: “How can we be talking of 2017 virement again now that we are on 2018 budget? The issue now is 2018 budget”, he reportedly quipped.

We are certainly not surprised that things turned out this way. Clearly, the signs had been there all along, that the National Assembly had no interest in rehabilitating that vital corridor on which the entire economy depends, the sole artery connecting the nation’s port to the hinterland, whether north or east. It started with the story by the lawmakers of an alleged counterpart funding said to have been entered with an unnamed private sector entity for its construction even when this appears to be known only to the lawmakers. We also heard – again from the senators – that it would be more prudent to channel public funds towards smaller projects that were necessary for the citizens but might not be commercially viable – a euphemism for their constituency projects.

Then came the heinous rationalisation by Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate’s spokesperson that what was “reduced from Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in the 2017 budget estimates was spread on Oyo-Ogbomoso Road in the South-West…to achieve equity,” Not once did Nigerians hear a cautionary voice drawing attention to the billions of naira already spent on the project and hence the wisdom in bringing it to a final completion, or even the strategic importance of the road to the country as a whole.

That the lawmakers could leave the acting president’s letter – whose subject matter was brokered through an agreement – for nearly five months unattended to is not only the height of criminal abdication, it is as shameful as it is dishonourable. But even worse is that the lawmakers would dare to use the consideration of 2018 Budget to rationalise their ignoble dereliction.

Girl Child Education: A 21st Century Necessity The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines Education as a process of teaching, training and learning, especially in schools or colleges to improve knowledge and develop skills. It is commonly said that when you educate a girl child you educate a nation.

The essence of the belief is that the girl child will grow up one day to give birth to children who will in turn reproduce younger ones and so on. Hence, education is important in the life of a girl child.

Education can prevent young girls from getting unwanted pregnancy and in most cases know when a man abuse their right

without having to be subjected to ridicule in marriage.

Girls who attend primary and secondary schools are more likely to have a say in their choice of life partner and girls who attend tertiary institutions are also able to use more

effective methods of family planning and therefore have fewer and healthier babies.

An educated girl and woman would have learnt

about HIV/AIDS and know different ways to protect herself from the disease and many others.

Education also teaches young ones the importance of keeping themselves and their houses clean and safe, hence, as their families are healthier, so are the

mothers.

Although, the cost of Education could be a bit challenging, but illiteracy is actually more expensive as

education pays off in the long run.

At this point, I urge all children to face their education squarely which is paramount for them at their tender age.

I implore the parents to take care of their girl-child and make sure they are educated no matter how hard it is, since there are Government schools for their children to attend.

I therefore urge the government not to cease in sponsoring free education for the sake of indigent Nigerians for the betterment of the young ones.

• O L U WA P E L U M I FASOYIN, FEDPOFFA, Kwara state.

‘

That the lawmakers could leave the acting president’s letter – whose subject matter was brokered through an agreement – for nearly five months unattended to is not only the height of criminal abdication, it is as shameful as it is dishonourable.

’

We do not however consider it too late in the day for the National Assembly to redeem itself. To the extent that a framework on the understanding already exists to get the job moving, it seems to us as simple as working together with the executive to push things forward – either by treating it as a separate item or as a component of the 2018 budget. After all, what counts is not so much the nomenclature but the delivery of the project.

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Women Rise To Seek More Recognition It was an atmosphere devoid of political parties' slogans or identities, with one thing in common, they were women politicians. Bond of sisterhood could be felt and touched as they freely relate and share their experiences, devoid of party sentiments.

It was at a workshop titled, "Increasing women's representation in Osun and Ekiti State", organised by the Community Life Project (Reclaim Naija) in Ado Ekiti on Monday. OSUN DEFENDER's Sola Jacobs was there and writes.

It was a gathering of women from three major political parties, namely All Progressive Congress (APC), P e o p l e s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party in Ekiti and Osun S t a t e s respectively. The mission was to appraise how women had so far fared in their parties, either as p o l i t i c a l appointees or as elected official in government.

Launched in 2010, the •A cross section of participants at the workshop in Ado Ekiti. coordinating platform is the Community Life Project (CLP), a non-governmental organisation concerned about women participation in governance as a whole via all-inclusive participation in governance.

Majority of the women assemblage in Ado Ekiti for the workshop had been interacting in the last seven years under the umbrella of CLP and it has fostered the bond of sisterhood and friendship which transcend party “Reclaim Naija” is echoed the line to forming a common front. chorus “Na we get am” also The objective was to demand equal reverberated in the air. The participatory of women in moderator set the tone for the government not only to seek and women leaders in the three major contest for political offices, but also parties that were represented at the to participate in good governance workshop to give account of how by demanding from political office far the women had been able to fare holders how public funds are in the male-dominated arena of the utilised for the betterment of all and nation’s politics and what can be done for the womenfolk to increase sundry.

As the slogan of the NGO, their participation in politics.

‘

Nevertheless, in the nation at large, there is a decrease in women participation in politics, as statistics showed that there is 2 per cent decrease from 8 per cent to 6 per cent in the number of women holding political offices nationwide.

’

The coordinator of the CLP, Mrs. Ngozi Iwerre set the tone, that in 2015, it was on record that in Ekiti State, the number of women holding leadership positions with party structures went from 407 posts to 949 out of 8,409 positions.

She added that in the State of Osun, the number had risen geometrically from 533 posts to 2,173 out of 25,985 positions, saying, though women are gaining

grounds but there is still the need to do more.

She said, “Nevertheless, in the nation at large, there is a decrease in w o m e n participation in politics, as statistics showed that there is 2 per cent decrease from eight per cent to six per cent in the number of women holding political offices nationwide, a trend that must be reversed, saying that though, there is increase in the number of women seeking political offices and this shows that women are not only enlightened but they are equally aware of their role in nation building.

Iwerre however noted that though, Nigerian women have not been given full opportunity due to many factors militating against their full participation in democratic governance which hinged more on cultural, religious and economic values and belief, but believed there is hope for the womenfolk, if they do not relent and if they believe that no matter the party affiliation, voting women into elective posts is the panacea to corruption and decadence that have engulfed all facets of the nation’s life.

Mrs. Sade Faparusi Akinromola, the Chairman of Gboyin Local •Continued on page 6

6

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Women Rise To Seek More Recognition •Continued from page 5

Government in Ekiti State in her own remarks said that the increase in the number of women in elective posts cannot be associated with political parties’ ideologies in the nation but rather, the interest of the leadership or that of the leaders in those parties.

She adduced her success, as chairman of a local government to the womenfolk in the state, as the nation remains patriarchal in nature and politics is regarded as an undue exclusive right of the male, not minding that there are more women in the nation.

Honourable Romoke Edu Adewoye of the Labour Party in Osun State said that the economic recession had impacted women negatively, as most of them have no financial strength to vie for political posts.

The women leader of the All Progressive Congress in Ekiti state, Mrs. Omolara Bakare lamented that the male dominance at the National Assembly had stiffened Gender Equality bill and the 35 per cent affirmative action plan for women is a mirage.

Reports from the State of Osun, seem to be the most cheering of all, as the women leader of the APC in Osun, Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde said that women participation in politics had increased tremendously since the assumption of the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the political landscape of the state.

She remarked that in 2015, Osun had 10 women appointed into various political offices in the state, but as at today, 720 women are appointed into various political posts at the ward level; while they occupied 29 posts at the state level; 808 posts in various Local Governments and Local Council

•Coordinator, Reclaim Naija, Mrs Ngozi Iwerre, addressing the participants.

The increase in the number of women in elective posts cannot be associated with political parties ideologies in the nation but rather, the interest of the leadership or that of the leaders in those parties.

‘

Development Areas and 13 posts at the Federal level, as political appointees. She continued that women had not fared better in political history of the state than now and it is the interest the leadership of the party had in the womenfolk and the commitment to compensate them for their contribution to the development of the state that triggered the development.

•Osun APC Women Leader, Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde speaking at the workshop.

’

Alhaja Fakokunde said, though women still want more, but it depends on the premium the leadership of the party placed on womenfolk and their development.

For women to fare better in the nation’s politics, particularly when the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections are approaching in 2018 and the nation’s general election coming up in 2019, women at the workshop agreed to network with other female

•Another speaker addressing the participants at the workshop.

politicians across political divides to exchange ideas and strategy on how women can use their numerical and mental strength in all political parties across the nation to secure elective positions for women in any of the political parties.

The gathering also discussed about seeking financial assistance for women who are seeking elective positions. It was also advocated that more workshops and seminars for women at the grassroot level will increase their participation, not just in seeking political positions, but as well pull votes for women who are seeking political posts.

The group also advocated mentoring for young girls and women who want to serve through elective positions, while calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to intensify voters’ education as a means to educate women aspirants and others women in politics. The participants also tasked political parties to intensify education of women on party ideologies and the need for women to be involved in nation building through effective participation in political activities by seeking to hold elective posts.

At the end, the workshop revealed that aside Lagos state, Osun and Ekiti states had taken the lead in ensuring increase in women representation and participation in political activities and appointments into various offices, which is not premise on party ideologies but the intuition and the interest the leaders have in the women development for nation building. This, they all agreed should be sustained and encouraged by all and sundry.

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COMMUNITY

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2017

Odo-Otin North ES Lauds FG Over Cash Transfer To Vulnerable Households The Executive Secretary, Odo Otin North Local money to the Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr. Akeem beneficiaries.

Seriki has eulogised the All Progressives Congress While charging the (APC)-led Federal Government under the beneficiaries to also pay leadership of President Muhammad Buhari for the back to the society by disbursement of huge amount of money to supporting the vulnerable households in the council. government within their and capacity, he said, that is He said, it is only a consumptions focused and selfless consequently improve the only way they could capital appreciate leader with a masses- human the friendly party manifesto development index. government which has The council boss also shown commitment to that can touch the lives of the masses and the less commended the handlers their well-being. privileged throughout of the programme, the The beneficiaries could the nation with such huge National Cash Transfer not hide their feelings as amount of money, Office (Office of the Vice they showed gratitude to despite the present President), the State Cash the government and the economic situation of the Transfer Unit and all the APC for the commitment facilitators for the smooth to their welfare in spite of country. rancour-free the noticeable economic According to a and statement by the disbursement of the hardship in the country. council’s Information Officer, Adeyinka Adetona, the Executive Secretary opined that The Olufon of Ifon Orolu kingdom, Oba AlN10, 000 to the Moruf Magbagbeola has described the Governor of benefitting vulnerable the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the households would go a builder of new Osun. long way to reduce He made this known in Administrative Office, poverty, increase and improve households’ his palace recently when and the All Progressives (APC) the Administrator, Orolu Congress

•Beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer while receiving their benefits.

Monarch Lauds Osun Govt On Development Councillorship candidates for the forthcoming local government elections in Orolu led by Prince Adekunle Benson and some APC stalwarts

Council Boss Promises More Developmental Projects

visited him and his chiefs to get royal blessings.

According to him, “Ogbeni Aregbesola has turned the entire Osun around in terms of unprecedented developmental projects in all the nooks and crannies of the state which are very numerous to mention, adding that his indelible achievements are very clear for everybody to see.

The monarch lauded Benson for his developmental stride in the administrative office, saying, his commitment has, to an extent brought development to the council area.

He said: “The traditional institution had visited the administrative office and we all confirmed that with little allocation got, Hon Benson has performed beyond expectations and constituted authority have seen it.

Noting that there is no iota of truth in the allegation that the council boss has not performed, he warned rumour mongers and politicians who believed in defaming others to score political point for cheap popularity to desist from such evil act.

The monarch then

charged politicians seeking political positions to imbibe the culture of developing the nooks and crannies of the council in terms of developmental and capital projects that can easily turn the council around.

He also charged others to embrace the spirit of sportsmanship in their quest for political positions.

While speaking on behalf of the councillorship candidates, Benson thanked the monarch and his chiefs for their support, promising that unprecedented development would be the watchword of the administration if elected.

He also assured that the people should expect massive empowerment and rural development, improved IGR for Wealth Creation, Social Welfare, egalitarianism, total dynamism and renewed partnership in governance, saying that they are coming as an instrument in the hands of God to turn things around in Orolu Local Government area.

Benson then eulogised the Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for transforming the state, adding that history would never forget him.

The Caretaker Management Committee, Ife North which the government officers in the council West Local Council Development Area, Edunabon, would eventually use for would also put in their State of Osun, has assured the people of the council development. best towards the of more laudable projects during his tenure in Also speaking, the fulfillment of the office.

Council Manager, Mrs. a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ’ s Executive Secretary of payment of taxes and Olanrewaju Elizabeth promises to the people in the council, Ademola other payable levies, assured that the career the council area.

Olabisi made the assurance during his tour of different projects embarked on by his administration, particularly the justThe Caretaker Management Committee, Isokan administration, the completed Events Centre South Local Council Development Area (LCDA), council boss noted that in Edunabon. led by the Executive Secretary, Prince Wasiu the efforts of the According to him, in spite of the limited Oyelami has recently laid the foundation for a new administration have resources available to the secretariat and staff quarters complex in Ikoyi, the placed Osun on a higher pedestal. council, the management headquarters of the council.

He then urged all according to him has committee has been Laying the foundation brought development to eligible voters to vote for committed to the for the structures, the the All Progressive development of the council boss said that the the grassroot.

Commending the Congress (APC), in all council area, saying, essence of embarking on future elections and most of more of such the projects was to meet administration especially in the development would still some of the basic needs of Aregbesola for running f o r t h c o m i n g an open-door policy of councillorship election in be witnessed. the staffers and rural governance, he said He said, no matter how the state. who are inspite of limited little the resources of the dwellers Also, the Council council might be, all yearning for people- resources available to the Manager, Alhaji Sheu state government, the Ajibade, implored all hands must be on deck to oriented projects.

He said the initiative administration has been ensure that it is properly part of the able to make meaningful taxable adults to pay utilised to the satisfaction was their taxes and dues as government’s efforts to impacts. of the people in line with and when due, as these the promises and make provision for Congratulating the are what the governor commitment of the conducive environment governor on the would use in providing administrations both at for official engagement successes recorded so far social amenities for the the council and state and housing for staff in within seven years of his people. order to make them work levels.

The council boss noted and live well.

According to him, it is that his administration would try as much as necessary to embark on possible to ensure that the projects, with a view the dividends of to ensuring that the democracy percolate LCDA workers reside in among the people of the their communities, so council area in line with that they can provide the six-point integral effective services to the action plan of the residents of the LCDA. He also maintained Governor Rauf A r e g b e s o l a that the gesture was part of the government’s rural administration.

He then tasked the transformation drive to economic people of the council area stimulate to reciprocate the good growth and to a very gesture of the present large extent, discourage administration of the All rural drift.

Progressives Congress The Executive (APC) in the state.

Secretary then expressed He said the gesture appreciation to Ogbeni should be reciprocated Rauf Aregbesola, the through adequate Governor, State of Osun supports to the for deeming it fit to create •A cross section of some of the participants at the education summit organised by Ola Oluwa Local Government and government in terms of the council, which Ola Oluwa South East LCDA in Bode Osi, last week.

Isokan South LCDA Lays Foundation For Secretariat, Staff Quarters

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THE SOCIAL REGISTER

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2017

THE SOCIAL REGISTER

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A Cocktail Of Recent Happenings Light Of Jesus Evangelical Ministry Holds 2017 Praise Concert In Osogbo. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

•A cross section of Choir members at the service.

•A cross section of congregation.

By Gbenga Adeniyi

The Light Of Jesus Evangelical Ministry Headquarter in Osogbo, State of Osun held its 2017 praise concert at the Church auditorium on Sunday, 10th December, 2017 .

Different Gospel Artists were present at the programme and they used their talents to

praise the Lord for what He has done for the Church of God, State of Osun and Nigeria.

At the programme, Pastor (Mrs) Bisi Fashoranti urge the congregation to continue praising the Lord all the time .

The Evangelist in charge of the Church, and other Ministers of God all over Nigeria were all part of the programme.

2017 Future Award Africa Programme At Federal Palace Hotel V.I Lagos On Saturday.

Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Empowers Youths In Osogbo The Omoluabi Mortgage Bank has concluded its two week Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Youth Empowerment Programme tagged “OMB Plc CSR 2017”.

The programme which kicked off on November 22, 2017 at Ideal Nest Hotel, Osogbo, Osun State started with a welcome address from the CFO, Mr. Olusola Levi who reiterated that entrepreneurs rule the global economy, charging participants to think outside the box.

In his words: “Whatever you want to do, do differently even though others are engaged in it and put that extra in the ordinary to make it extraordinary”.

The participants were classified into groups of; Agribusiness, Event Planning and Management, Confectioneries and Catering Services, Print designs and Branding, as well as Soap and Detergent Making.

At the Grand finale on December 8, 2017, the Managing Director, Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Plc, Mr. Ayodele Olowookere while presenting Certificates of Participation to participants and facilitators, charged them to ensure that they put to use what they have learnt during the training and never allow anything to limit them.

The height of the evening came when cheques were presented by Mr. Olowookere to the top three participants who distinguished themselves in the training.

The first placed, Mr. Olawale Olaniyi Abdulwaheed was awarded a cash gift of N70,000; the second placed, Miss Awujoola Ebunoluwa was presented a cash gift of N55,000 and third placed, Mr. Salami Gafar was presented a cash gift of N50,000.

For the participants, it was a life changing experience, as they requested for more of such programmes in the years to come.

Some of the participants commended the bank for its initiative in organising such an elaborate programme with high standard.

OYES Mentors’ Forum Organises End Of The Year Party In Osogbo Recently.

•OYES Commandante in the State of Osun, Col. Enibukun Oyewole (2nd left); Commissioner for Empowerment and Youth Engagement, Mrs Mofolake Adegboyega (middle); Commissioner for Education, Mr Kola Omotunde Young (2nd right) and others.

•Participants and officials of the bank at the empowerment programme.

•A cross section of OYES Mentors.

By Gbenga Adeniyi •Olowookere presenting cheque to the best placed participant, Olaniyi •Olowookere presenting cheque to the second placed trainee, Awujola Ebunoluwa.

Abdulwaheed.

Oyo Council Of NUJ Honours A Governorship Aspirant, Yunus Akintunde, In Ibadan.

The Forum of OYES Mentors on Thursday, 7th December, 2017 organised its end of the year party, lauding the Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for his forthrightness and visionary leadership, especially on the youth empowerment scheme and such other social intervention programmes.

Chairman of the mentors’ forum, Mr Charles Ajani, a retired Assistant Comptroller General of Immigration in his remarks was full of praises of the management committee of the scheme, especially the Commandante, Col. Enibukun Oyewole for his tireless effort and purposeful leadership He noted that the Governor has made the mentors useful in retirement and

are happy to have been a part of the OYES story.

The event was graced by members of the OYES management committee including, Mr Olugbenga Odulaja, Commissioner for Education Mr Kola Omotunde-Young, Commissioner for Empowerment and Youth Engagement, Mrs Mofolake Adegboyega.

The Commandante of the OYES in his remarks was full of praises to the mentors for being good ambassadors by assisting him in the discharge of his duties, saying the modest achievements of the OYES under his watch as commandante could not have been possible without the mentors and other supporting staff of the scheme.

The event climaxed with the presentation of the 2018 Calendar which was done by Mrs Mofolake Adegboyega and Mr Kola Young respectively.

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

•Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (right); Human Right Lawyer, Femi Falana SAN (middle) and wife of the Kwara State Governor, Omolewa Ahmed during the programme.

•(From Left): Mr Sola Ladapo, the Oyo NUJ Vice Chairman; Representative of Senator •Akintunde addressing members of NUJ. With him are Comrade Bola Ogunlayi, the NUJ Durojaiye; the awardee, Yunus Akintunde; NUJ Chairman, Adewumi Faniran and Comrade Secretary; Mr. Gbenga Olokede, Chairman NUJ BCOS Chapel and Mrs. Funso Lala, Oyo State NAWOJ Chairperson.

Bola Ogunranti at the award presentation.

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

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2017

Osun 2018: 'It

NEWS

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Will Be Impossible For PDP To Return'

state-of-the-art state. With their wasteful essential drugs and 50

By Kehinde Ayantunji seven and half years, the medical consumables in ambulance vehicles were put on the road for The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola people of the state have all our hospitals. has said that with the noticeable all round totally rejected them.

“O’Ambulance is medical emergencies, a development in the state, it would be highly “Also, we have been another success story. scheme which has been impossible for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) providing and will The scheme was used to save a lot of lives situations of to come back to power in Osun. continue to provide introduced in 2013 when in The Governor while accessibility to flagging off the qualitative healthcare distribution of over services in all parts of the 15,000 health incentives state. proposed 2018 budget of to pregnant women in The Governor also

By Israel Afolabi the State of Osun and to Osun held that Osun recalled the Public The State of Osun House of Assembly has charged know how prepared the citizens having Private Partnership (PPP) the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology compared the wasteful which ministry is for the next entails the reign of the PDP and the outsourcing of the to use modern technology in helping the state to year fiscal p r o g r e s s i v e s ’ pharmacy units of all generate more revenue through tax collection. responsibilities. developmental stride, State Hospitals in order According to him, “We Chairman, House The lawmaker also will not make the mistake to have regular Committee need to call on your on of voting the PDP in the availability of effective Innovation, Science and advised the ministry to ministry concerning the use all its power to coming election. and safe drugs. proposed 2018 budget Technology, Hon. Olaolu Aregbesola also He then commended Oyeniran gave the charge redress anomalies in the and to find solution to state civil service and put commended traditional the management of the some of the likely rulers in the state for their Osun Ambulance scheme during a meeting with everything in proper problems to be supports to the All for saving thousands of officials of the ministry shape in the interest of encountered” last Tuesday at the House the peoples’ welfare.

Progressives Congress lives since the In their separate He said, “Use your (APC) in the state of the programme kick-started of Assembly complex Osogbo, State of Osun. ministry to right the remarks, members of the virtuous. in 2013. committee urged the He assured the new wrong things, especially He said, over 15,000 Aregbesola said, “With of the in the area of tax ministry to justify its health incentives will be all we have done to Ministry existence in the state as given to pregnant women develop the state, it is Assembly’s adequate collection in the state”. in a programme tagged highly impossible for the support to survive and Oyeniran said the an agent of coordination succeed in discharging its “Saving One Million PDP to ever have a say in meeting was called in to others for best service Lives Programme For the governance of this responsibilities. other to discuss the delivery.

Results (SOML PforR), Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) and S u s t a i n a b l e Development Goals (SDGs) Mama Kits Distribution” a federal government and World Bank assisted project.

Aregbesola who promised that the present administration would continue to pursue its health policy with all doggedness and commitment, reminded the audience that his major campaign promise was the restoration of healthy living among the people.

He added that since inception, his administration has embarked on the •(From left) Winners of star prize of brand new cars: Mrs. Monsurat Akande, Mrs. Julianna Oladipo; Wife of Oyo renovation, rehabilitation State Governor, Chief Florence Ajimobi; the Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; and another star prize winner, Mrs. and upgrading of the nine state hospitals to Kareem Bolanle, at the Oyo State Officials’ Wives Association’s Gala Nite, held at the International Conference Photo: Governor’s Office ensure public Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan last Friday.

emergency in the state.

“In 2016 alone, O’Ambulance saved 1774 lives. Between January and March this year, it has also saved 630 lives”, Aregbesola stated.

Osun Assembly Charges Ministry Of Technology On Service Delivery

Iwude Festival Promotes Unity Amongst Ijesa Descendants

By Oluwapelumi Fasoyin prayers to God for the Chief Olu Falomo, a revered indigene of Ijesa land good of his people”, he has described the modernity of the annual Iwude said.

Falomo further Ijesa Festival as a means of promoting unity among explained that the event all Ijesa descendants at home and in the diaspora.

Falomo, who is the homage to his ancestors, which has commenced on Chairman of the planning and offers sacrifices and Wednesday, December 13, and would end with a committee said the festival has been transformed to meet modern trend and make it a foremost event among In order to put an end to the economic downturn the people. facing the country presently, there is need for Osun He made the remarks state government to map out strategy which could at a press conference in be used to make informal workers pay taxes and Osogbo, the Osun State other levies. capital, as part of the by the This was the view of organised events to mark the annual Prince ‘Wole Adesanya, Chartered Institute of celebration.

Commissioner for Taxation of Nigeria “Iwude is the foremost Informal Sector, Osun (Osogbo and District festival that brings Ijesa Internal Revenue Board, Society), noted that people together and while delivering a public revenues that accrue to makes it possible for the lecture on the topic: “The the state government can paramount ruler of Impact of Informal Sector be derived from two Ijesaland, Oba (Dr) Taxes and Levies on the broad sources, namely Gabriel Adekunle external and internal Aromolaran II, to visit Development of State of sources. some palaces and rejoice Osun Economy” held at He said the increasing Teachers House, Estate in with his people.

“The festival would Osogbo the state capital. cost of running, coupled Prince Adesanya, with dwindling revenue also afford the monarch the opportunity to pay during the lecture has left various state

grand finale on December 23.

“This festival remains a rallying point for all Ijesa people in the modern time, for the purpose of fostering greater unity among Ijesa people all

over the world.

“It affords us the opportunity to celebrate our heroes and heroines and in the process, open a new chapter of cooperation and progress in Ijesa land.

However, in his response the Commissioner of Innovation, Science and Technology, Engineer Oluremi Omowaye said there are lots of developments in Osun between 2010 to 2015 which put the state on high score board.

According to him, “government has revived infrastructure in the state by linking them together.

The Government House, State Secretariat and State House of Assembly Complex have been linked with internet facilities to fast track procedures in the state”.

He also informed the House that Osun Science Innovation and Technological Research Council will be inaugurated early next year to provide technology support for the State to generate fund.

Omowaye then solicited the support of the House of Assembly to deliver all these projects in the State.

He said, “With the support of the House of Assembly, we believe the Ministry will deliver on all these projects”.

In his contribution, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation, Science and Technology Mr. Muhideen Olateju described the ministry as the backbone to drive every ministry in the state, saying it is tirelessly working on making the House of Assembly an Eparliament platform to make procedure easier and better.

He noted that with the support of the Assembly, the State would move forward in Information, Communication and Technology.

Government Must Incorporate Informal Sector Into Tax Payment - OIRS governments with formation of strategies to improve their revenue base.

While emphasising on the need for the state and local governments to generate revenue from internal sources, the Commissioner said serious decline in the price of oil in recent years has led to the decrease in the funds available to government.

He noted that for the state to cope and meet its financial obligations there is need for it to map out strategies in which all

the informal workers would be made to pay taxes and other levies.

According to him, workers in the informal sector in Nigeria are in vast majority of the entire population hence, the need for the government to look into how such large number of people would be made to perform their civic roles by paying all necessary dues.

He, therefore, charged informal workers to see payment of taxes and other levies as civic responsibilities, saying

tax was the only alternative upon which the state can be transformed and made habitable for the people.

Adesanya however urged the state government to also redouble its efforts and increase awareness, monitoring and enforcement, saying informal sector has potential capacity to contribute substantially to the revenue base of the state.

Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the •Continued on page 15

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2017

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

The Hook-up Culture

11

Sex & Life

likely to be with an ex-boyfriend, By Damilola Ojenike an ex-girlfriend or a friend than Twitter: @d_real_dee with an acquaintance.

Instagram: life_of_dee_ About half of hook-ups among adolescents were a one time E-mail: damilolaojenike@gmail.com affair and this is the same for both boys and girls. Only 6% teens Also some studies have made a have had sex with someone they just connection between hook-up culture met, and such encounters are a and substance use. A majority of onetime affair 75% of the time. teens, young adults and adults say Overall, 25% of those who had that hook-ups occurred after sexual experience with a dating drinking alcohol. Alcohol can act as partner have also hooked up with a cue regarding sexual availability, someone they were not dating. as a dis-inhibitor, and as a Additionally, 40% of those who had rationalisation or excuse for their hooked-up with someone they are behavior, poor sexual performance not dating had also hooked up with etcetera. Studies also show that a dating partner in the last 11 greater alcohol use is associated with months. more sexual activities in the course of a hook-up.

Extra effects and causes of hookup culture · Some girls state that the main reason they are involved with random hook-ups is because they think that is what boys want. · The feeling of being wanted by a cute guy is what they want and hook-ups are how girls think they can get that attention. · Some actually want to find someone they truly want to have a serious connection with.

Now, adults with low self-esteem, physiological issues, depression and loneliness are more susceptible to hook-up mostly via mobile phone (dating sites). Adults can now download an application on a dating website to find another person who is looking for the same thing.

The term hook-up has an ambiguous definition because it can indicate kissing or other forms of physical sexual activities between sexual partners. The term has been widely used around the world in many generations, for many years.

Mostly called no relationship sex or sex without dating, a hook-up culture is one that accepts and encourages casual encounters, including one-night stands and other related activities, which mainly focus on physical pleasure.

According to Shannon T. Boodram, “hooking-up is nothing more than settling which often leads to instant gratification for sex, pleasure, a feeling of being loved, an emotional feeling of being adhered to” and et cetera. Other terms as slang terms for hooking up are “friends with benefits”, casual sex, booty call, “recreational sex” or defined as a relationship with “no strings attached”.

In Nigeria, the slang ‘hook-up’ is a gateway to a coded industry for sex. The art of the hook-up is a subtle way of paying for sex without the direct approach of prostitution and ‘runs’ – oh runs girls are the new urban prostitutes, on-demand and tech savvy call girls which are one step ahead of prostitutes. They are also called the ‘money for hand, back for ground ministry’. They don’t hang around in clubs and lounges frequently. They don’t live with a group of other runs girls. They don’t attend all the celebrities and entertainment industry events. In

fact, looking at them, you would not know that they are in business of sexing.

Some of these ‘hook-up’ babes have not only monetised casual hook-ups, they have turned sexing into a business.

Abdul (not real name) was chatting with a cutie on WhatsApp. At some point, he decided to shoot his shot and asked her for nudes! Yes nudes. She told him to pay N5,000 flat.

Some twitter surveys have shown upwards of 50% of sexually active teens reported within this year where boy are more likely to have several hook-up partners at the same time than girls. Hook-ups are more

First of all, what is bail? This is a procedure by which a person, arrested or detained in connection with a crime may be released, upon a security being taken for his appearance on a day and place as may be determined by the person or authority effecting the release. In order to secure the release of a suspect who has been arrested from a law enforcement agent’s custody or jail with the understanding that the suspect will return for trial and court appearances, a bail can be requested.

Bail can also be said to be a mechanism or money or some form of property that is deposited or that which stands as a pledge to a court.

The concept of bail is an enforcement of fundamental human right in Nigeria has recently taken a centre stage of discussion among jurist and people. In a nutshell, bail is a security of attendance in court from commencement of proceedings to judgment. In determining whether to grant or refuse bail, the determinant factors appear to depend upon the peculiar facts of every case. This takes us to the CONCEPT OF BAIL and its enforcement in Nigeria.

The concept of bail which is the right of a person to have or be granted a bail.

This is an adjunct or direct offshoot of the constitutional right to liberty, guaranteed under Section 35 (1) and the right to freedom of movement under Section 38 of the Nigerian Constitution.

It is also not unconnected with right to presumption of innocence as well as the fair trial granted by the same Nigerian constitution. Though, the power of court to grant bail is not inherent as such, it has constitutional, as well as statutory foundation. It can be buttressed in, Ikotun Vs FRN & Anor (2015). Bail generally is of right to a person accused of committing a crime.

Concept Of Bail LAW & U WITH

DEBBIE OBASA

This is informed by the presumption of innocence that the accused enjoys under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Over a period of years, most suspects who might not have committed any offence or whose relation had been suspected of committing a crime have found themselves incarcerated in police detention. Sometimes, they can’t press or hold charge, and sometimes this incarceration could take a longer period of time or many years before the actual

trial (if any) would be instituted.

The objectives of this topic, is to enlighten Nigerians on their constitutional right to bail, and why every suspected criminals is in compelling right other than bail. Its objective is to expose the unconstitutional practice of holding charge with a view to detaining a suspect.

Bail arises at three (3) stages of the criminal justice which are: · The police may release suspect

on bail pending further investigation. · The court may release an accused person on bail pending the determination of the case against him. · The court may release a convicted person on bail pending the determination of his appeal against his conviction.

Bail by police can be buttressed in the Police Act of Nigerian in Section 129 and 27 (b) which provides that bail can be granted by the police pending the investigation of the allegation against the person arrested. When a person is arrested to the police station, the law enjoins the officer in charge of the station to release the suspect on bail pending further investigation into the case or before a charge is preferred against the person in court. It’s very annoying when some officers of the Nigerian police force insist on collection of money, whereas policing law in Nigeria states that “BAIL IS FREE”.

Rather than bail is free, it has been turned to “BAIL FEE”.

Bail by the court can be emphasised in Section 161(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act provides for an instance which states: “a suspect arrested, detained or charged with offence punishable with death shall only be admitted to bail by a judge of the high court, under exceptional circumstances”.

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FEATURES

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2017

Preparing For A Future Without Oil

By Kingsley Omoyeni As the prices of crude oil continue to drop, coupled with glut of oil in the global oil market, the attention of most countries who had in the past depended on oil as their major income are gradually drifting towards agriculture as the only panacea to their sudden economic downturn.

Nigeria, being a major oil producing and exporting nation in the world had also hitherto depended on oil as the largest chunk of its foreign exchange thereby neglecting the agric sector for many years.

During those years of neglect, a lot of rural roads that lead to farmlands which were supposed to be the undisturbing major source of income for the country had been neglected, hence leaving a lot of those roads in a very bad state and leaving a lot of the rural areas where there are large farmlands inaccessible.

The nation is going through recession and it has become very obvious that the only way out of such economic quagmire is for all and sundry to go back to our root and embrace farming in a subsistence, massive and commercial proportion.

If anyone wants to go into farming in any of these proportion, then the only way to go is to settle in the rural areas where one can find large expanse of land to farm in large quantities.

For a nation or state to get into farming in large proportion, rural farmers need to be encouraged in a lot of ways and one of such ways is by making their farms motorable and accessible so as to easily transport their farm produce to various markets around them.

Aregbesola and the Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project, Osun RAMP can then be described as a match from heaven downturn going by the huge impact the activities of Osun RAMP has had on rural communities through the construction and rehabilitation of roads.

The state of Osun being an agrarian state is made up of many rural areas with vast farmland which needs accessible roads to allow the farmers in such communities to transport their farm produce to nearby markets for sale.

It was therefore a huge respite to the

‘

The nation is going through recession and it has become very obvious that the only way out of such economic quagmire is for all and sundry to go back to our root and embrace farming in a subsistence, massive and commercial proportion.

’

government and the people of Osun through the efforts of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola when the state was chosen as one of the lucky states to benefit from the RAMP intervention through the World Bank and the French Development Agency in the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads across the state so as to assist farmers in the transportation of their goods to the cities and in return boost the economy of the state through farming.

The project in Osun is being implemented and supervised by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU), a body made up of heads of state government agencies and parastatals; chief among them is the Ministry of works and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and through its activities, the project has had a wider impact on the affected communities by providing accessibility which has brought livelihoods to the poor and at the same time boosted the economy of the state.

The Aregbesola administration and Osun RAMP met a lot of the rural roads in a state of disrepair, but the story of many of these roads have changed significantly today, as lot of the roads are now wearing new looks and farmers and traders alike are now experiencing boom in their marketing activities.

Commercial activities in many of the said

communities have now doubled because their markets are now flooded with varieties of farm produce on every market day.

A lot of communities which had formerly been cut off by rivers from major markets now have access to the markets because Osun RAMP have succeeded in constructing bridges that will stand the test of time for them.

Some of the communities in Osun where river crossings or bridges were constructed include: Elewonta in Iwo, Olomu stream in Irewole local government, Iree Polytechnic road in Boripe, Olukesi farm - Oju eri in Boluwaduro local government, Ipon Stream in Odo-Otin, Odo Owere in Ede North local government, Gbalefe road, Modakeke in Ife east, as well as Oke-Aho stream located at Sekona in Ife North local government.

Others are: Faweri river in Ife South local government, Ogbaagba Ogudu, Odo Oroki in Obokun local government, Opa bridge in Odunrin via Ipetumodu, Oyile River in Ilasetown, Oyi Adunni in Oke-Ila among others.

The impact of the RAMP intervention on rural roads in Osun cannot be overemphasised as most of the rural dwellers are now happier going by the fact that they are able to do what they know how to do best with ease.

Gone are the days when they have to trek long distances of bad roads before they get to their farms, as transporting their produce to the market is now much easier and the various rural markets are now much more busy than it used to be simply because a lot of farmers can now bring their goods to the market.

Traders on some rural market days across the state have testified to the fact that they now make brisk business as a result of the accessibility to their various markets, saying that they now get a lot of patronage from people living in urban centres.

Food and beverage vendors in the communities now make more money as more people now visit the rural areas as a result of good roads; urban dwellers are now able to take their cars to rural communities without the fear that bad roads may cause a breakdown of their cars.

Lumbering activities in most of the rural communities have also increased tremendously because their Lorries no

longer get stucked in mud during rainy season.

New private schools as well as petrol filling stations are now springing up on a daily basis in most of the rural communities; this is because the roads are now motorable and the volume of cars plying the roads are now more than it used to be. Good roads as they say, truly aid rapid development of an area.

Some of the roads rehabilitated and constructed by the Osun RAMP include: 13.7km Agbowu-Aba onile roads, 13.73km Ogbaagba-Eleru-Bode Osi roads, 3.1km AsaDagbolu-Ajagunlase road, the 12.73km Ikonifin-Sade-Ajagunlase road, 11.1km Agoro-Ikonifin road, the 4.38km PataaraIleko Oba farm settlement road and the 4.38km Akinyele-Aba ayo-Isero road.

Others are: 3.91km Eeleke-Kanko road, 10.5km Jagun Osi/Onikoko-Osi-Sooko Road, 9.3km Ara Joshua-Yinmi Oja road, 10.9km Gbengbeleku junction-Owode Amu road, 39.164km Shasha road, the 3km IlesaIlo Olomo boundary, 8.8km Ilesa-OdogboIgbowiwi road, 6.58km Odogbo-Iwara road.

Also touched by the intervention are roads such as the 1km Isale general township road in Ilesa, the 10.5km Isale General HospitalMuroko-Okebode road, 10.7km Ira-Ikeji ileOligeri-Iragbiji road, Ira-Ibete road, Ikeji Arakeji-Aikulola road, the 10.8km Idiroko/ Akinyele farm settlement, the 18.7km Mokore farm settlement road, 30km Orile Owu-Ago Owu-Ogedengbe road, 20km Alaguntan forest reserve road among others.

And just recently, precisely in November, the government of Osun took its drive to opening Osun to the world through road infrastructures which flagged off with the construction of another 1 kilometre access road to Olumirin Water Falls being sponsored by the Government of the State of Osun with the implementation to be carried out by Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project.

The solution to the current economic downturn in the nation is the opening of rural roads that lead to farm settlements and Osun RAMP is doing just that in the state of Osun.

•Kingsley Omoyeni is of Osun state Ministry of Information and Strategy

Iconic Comrade Hassan Sunmonu Truth Of The Matter The choice of Comrade Hassan Sunmonu as Chairman of the Committee of Government and Labour to oversee the allocation of Osun state’s revenues towards prompt payment of salaries as well as adequate running of government is quite symbolic of a worker-friendly government. This appointment did not come to many as a surprise, going by Sunmonu’s antecedents. Surprisingly, if there is any, may be, is probably due to the fact that the much maligned head of government of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was bold enough to go for a no-nonsense labour leader in the mould of the Comrade. Why? If truly the government was guilty of the sometimes alleged nonchalant attitude towards Osun workers, he most certainly wouldn’t want such a calibre of person near his administration. So far, so good, transparency runs in Osun finances and the workers are most satisfied. The sacrifices by Osun workers cannot but be commended.

Comrade Hassan Sunmonu was born in the village of Akim-Eshiem, in Ghana to Nigerian parents. He has an identical twin brother named Hussein, both of whom worked with the Federal Ministry of Works in the 1960s.

Sunmonu briefly attended a primary education in Ghana before following his paternal grandmother and mother back to Nigeria where they settled at Osogbo, present day State of Osun, Southwest Nigeria. In Osogbo, he attended Ansar Ud Deen between 1948 and 1950, All Saints School, Osogbo and then Osogbo Grammar School in 1955. As a young student, he and his twin met Alake Ladapo Ademola who was then in exile in Osogbo. Ademola later sponsored his trip to Ghana after he quit

with

officer. His first assignment was working on the ZariaKano road. Sunmonu later became the General Secretary of the Association of Technical Officers within ayoakinola444@gmail.com the Ministry.

In 1969, he became the Second Assistant Secretary of the Wahab Goodluck led Public Works Aerodrome Technical and General Works’ Union. In 1974, he became the union’s president.

Sunmonu was elected president of the newly formed Nigerian Labour Congress in 1978. Prior to the union’s formation, the Obasanjo-led federal military government had disbanded four national labour centres, including the moderate and government later settled for about United Labour Congress led by Haroun N100 minimum wage. Today, the singAdebola and the more radical Nigeria song is N56,000! But sweet as a raised Trade Union Congress. As a labour minimum wage could be in the short leader, Sunmonu’s NLC presented a run, has this ever solved workers’ Charter of Demands that among other problem or added to it, even things sought the institutionalisation of quadrupled? It is high time we put on a a national minimum wage and thinking cap on best ways to remunerate minimum pension scheme. To press the workers other than raising of salaries government to approve its demand, which later create galloping inflations NLC embarked on a nationwide strike and quadruples workers’ sorrow instead in May 1981.The Shehu Shagari’s of abating it. This has put question administration subsequently reached a marks on the desirability of raising compromise with the union. minimum wage arbitrarily. But this is a So popular was this famed fiery story for another day. labour leader that Fuji lovers of the early Today, Ayekooto celebrates this 80s will not forget easily Kollington labour icon, father of workers, friend of Ayinla’s vinyl “Sunmonu n so fun ‘Joba government, untainted, and trusted by p’ogorun meta lawon le-gba…” both government and people of the state (Sunmonu is telling government that of Osun to create a win-win atmosphere Labour won’t accept anything less than in the equitable sharing of scarce state N300 as minimum wage….”). Labour resources.

AYEKOOTO

Today, Ayekooto celebrates this labour icon, father of workers, friend of government, untainted, and trusted by both government and people of the state of Osun to create a winwin atmosphere in the equitable sharing of scarce state resources.

•Comrade SUNMONU school due to lack of support in paying the school fees. Sunmonu stayed in Ghana till 1956 before moving back to Nigeria a year later. In 1957, he gained admission into a technical school in Yaba where he earned a certificate in 1961. Sunmonu completed his education with a diploma in civil engineering from Yaba College of Technology.

During his final year at Yaba College, he was president of the college’s student union, an executive member of the National Union of Nigerian Students and member of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria.

Sunmonu joined the civil service in 1961 working for the Federal Ministry of Works and Surveys as a technical

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2017

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

13

Osun Launches Four New Health Programmes

It was a carnival-like atmosphere at the Nelson workers and facilities. supplementation, Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, as the government He also revealed that nutrition assessment and of the State of Osun flagged-off a four-in-one an award for the best de-worming. programme of health activities embarked upon by performing health facility “During the MNCHW, the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

With and the best performing health workers from local government in the The four-in-one (SOML public health facilities are FRANCIS EZEDIUNO PforR) is programme is a designed to drive the state had been instituted. expected to visit remote “SOML PforR was also villages to provide these combination of institutional process that facilities towards sensational events which needed in saving mothers to objectively increase the basic health services. maintained includes; Saving One and children from utilisation and high Communities living MNCHW represented an ensuring quality service opportunity to increase delivery. quality impact closer to these health Million Lives Programme avoidable deaths.

“The essence of the child facilities are expected to demand for preventive for Results; December “The programme is reproductive, edition of the Maternal designed to catalyse health and nutrition visit the health facilities and primitive services Mama kits is to he nearest to them to receive and also to bring services encourage pregnant Newborn and Child change in the way health interventions”, closer to communities, women to deliver in Healthcare Week; business is done by stressed. these services.

For the Maternal S u s t a i n a b l e focusing on results rather “MNCHW is a thereby yielding quick public health facilities Newborn and Childcare weeklong Development Goals and than the inputs”. activity, wins in terms of across the state so as to immunisation and ensure their safe distribution of 12,500 Isamotu revealed that Week (MNCHW), he conducted twice a year, vitamin A coverage. delivery. This will go a Mama kits for pregnant the aim of SOML PforR said communities would aimed at strengthening “The achievements of long way in preventing women in the state. was to promote be utilised as a means of the routine services at In his address, the competition in the day to incurring coverage of health facilities while SOML PforR in the state Maternal Mortality Rate governor harped on the day activities, assuring simple, but effective, harnessing the according to Isamotu (MMR)”.

In respect of the need for family planning that the programme positive interventions excitement and energy of include; repair of cold chain system to aid matching order given for amongst parents in the would be used to rate the such as childhood a campaign”. state.

The Commissioner i m m u n i s a t i o n the establishment of the performance of health immunisation, vitamin A programmes; support State Health Insurance His advocacy was LLINs replacement Scheme to ensure based on the fact that campaign in the state and achieving Universal Nigeria with a the routine distribution Health Coverage and population of 193 million of LLINs; training of reduce pocket people was on the brink health workers on expenditure in health, of population explosion. modern daily family Isamotu assured the According to him, “in planning methods, Governor that the the next few years, malaria eradication assignment would be Nigeria with a campaign and skilled fulfilled with the birth of population of 193 million birth attendance. the State Health people will be the 3rd Others are; “Provision Insurance Agency before most populated country of HIV test kit to all the the end of 2017. in the world after China primary healthcare He also thanked the and India. facilities towards Governor for his “In order to help Prevention of Mother to doggedness in ensuring control the level of Child Transmission the birth of the state population growth which (PMCT) of HIV; Primary Health Care is fast overtaking the procurement of Mama Development Board resources available to Kits for distribution to which has brought all the cater for such growth, facilities; Primary Health Centres government should •Osun APC Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famoodun addressing some of the beneficia- health integration of supportive in the state under one encourage family ries at the four-in-one programme. supervision to the health roof. planning to achieve optimum development”.

Aregbesola made it known that no religion kicked against family Medical Doctors and other health practitioners been cleared. that the scheme had gone local government areas. planning, as it is a who are members of the National Youth Service He also advised NYSC far because of the “Unlike the NYSC worlwide phenomena Corp (NYSC) deployed to the State of Osun have members to aspire to exigency of the time. camp where the training that the rate of been charged to ensure they take appropriate steps involve themselves in Faderin revealed that is free for one week, population growth to be protected from communicable diseases like useful endeavours so that corp members were outside the camp, they globally was Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM). at the end of their service trained on skill will be required to pay a unprecedented. and token for their post camp This charge was given vaccinated some corp to the nation, they would acquisition He also stated that as something e n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p training. the Executive members called on others have part of the efforts of his by worthwhile to call an d e v e l o p m e n t “The aim of this government towards Secretary of the State of who had not availed programme. programme is to make the achievement. encouraging family Osun Primary Health themselves In his response, “After camp, corp corp members creators of Development opportunity to do so, as planning, he was Care distributing 12,500 Board, Dr. Kayode the exercise was free after Assistant Director, Corp members are encouraged wealth and jobs and not Welfare and Health, to continue their training to conclude the national while which they would be Mama Kits for pregnant Ogunniyi and start women all over the state. addressing members of duly given a certificate NYSC Osun State; Chief with their mentors which service Meanwhile, in a bid to the 2017 Batch B, Stream indicating that they had Tunde Faderin, revealed are available in all the searching for jobs”. boost health of its 1 who are health citizens, the Aregbesola practitioners at the NYSC administration has Orientation Camp, Ede embarked on the repair during the NYSC For Immunization of health centres spread CSM across the state and campaign.

Ogunniyi stressed the ensured that free health care is the bedrock of the importance of the NYSC government’s health health practitioners to policy. always do the needful In his welcome which include getting address, the state immunised against Commissioner for Meningitis.

Health, Dr. Rafiu According to him, Isamotu stated that the “Health practitioners ‘Save One Million Lives were always amongst the Programme for Results’ vulnerable, especially was a federal during the Ebola and government programme Lassa fever epidemics supported by the World which ravaged the Bank which focuses on country some years back. maternal and child “Doctors and other health. health workers were He said: “About more affected and 900,000 children and therefore, as health mothers die every year in professionals protect Nigeria largely from others, they should also preventable diseases. The protect themselves”.

Save One Million Lives Meanwhile, Dr. Programme for Results Ogunniyi who personally •Dr. Ogunniyi (2nd left), during the CSM Immunisation Campaign at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Ede.

NYSC Health Professionals Charged To Protect Themselves

14

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CRIME

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2017

Sexagenarian In Court Over Burglary

By Oluwapelumi Fasoyin Adedayo Aloja, 61, has been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate court for burglary.

The charge sheet read accused person in court disclosed that the conspired to commit

felony to wit, shop breaking and stealing and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the

criminal code law of Osun state.

It disclosed that the accused person broke into a wine store belonging to one

Omotade Damilola to commit felony and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 414 of the state criminal

Court Remands 21 Year-old Man For Robbery

By Ayomide Fadairo A 21 year-old man, Awodeji Aderanti, was on Tuesday remanded in Ilesa prison custody over alleged armed robbery.

Aderanti is facing a bothering on armed two-count charge robbery and theft.

The Magistrate, Mr. Ashiru Ayeni, ordered that the accused be kept in prison custody due to the magnitude of the offence committed.

The prosecutor,

Inspector Mustapha Tajudeen, told the court that the accused committed the offence on March 14, 2016 at about 2:00 a.m. at Ido-Osun area, Osogbo.

•A scene of an accident along Ilesa garage road at Oba Adesoji Aderemi East Bye Pass, on Tuesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Tajudeen said the defendant robbed one Folakemi Alonge at gun point and carted away some valuables which included the following: one laptop, one LG phone, one BlackBerry phone, Tecno phone and a pair of shoes.

Other items include; Two hard disk, three sacks and ONTV I.D card with two Samsung phones among others.

He said the total sum of the items stolen worth about N702,500.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 6(b),1(2)(a)(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special provision) Act Cap vol.

14 , laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The plea of the accused was not taken as he had no any legal representation.

The Magistrate, however, adjourned the case to January 30, 2018 for mention.

Police Arraigns Suspect Over Fraud the sum of N100,000 same sum.

By Christianah Michael with two sureties in the She adjourned the case Osun State Police Command has arraigned a 49 year old man, Tiamiyu Lateef on a one-count charge of fraud.

The accused person In her ruling,

By Christianah Michael was said to have Magistrate Mary fraudulently collected Awodele granted the A 23 year-old man, Adebayo Ishola has been N300,000 from one Aina accused person bail in arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate court for James under a false allegedly stealing electrical materials. pretence of selling one Acre of land to him.

The offence is contrary to and punishable under one Toyota car with Reg. section 419 of the state

By Damilola Olujide No. LND 317 DDM with penal code.

The Osun State Police Command has arraigned intent to commit felony Police prosecutor, Inspector Olayiwola a 32 years-old Saheed Ganiyu before an Osogbo and thereby committed an offence contrary to an Rasaq told the court that Magistrate Court for burglary and stealing. under The accused person the accused person The charge sheet punishable committed the offence committed the offence disclosed that the section 509 of the state criminal law. on the July 20, 2014 at on the March 12, 2017, at accused person stole one The charge sheet M o s a d o l u w a Aduramigba area of Infinix phone with sim community, Oke Baale Ofatedo Osogbo. card number 0806828514 disclosed that the area Osogbo.

The charge sheet valued N50,000, cash accused person stole one The accused person disclosed that the sum of N5,000 properties flash drive, and the sum pleaded not guilty to the accused broke into the of Adebisi Olalekan, an of N5,000 property of charge leveled against dwelling house of one offence contrary to and Odebiyi Idowu and him.

Adebisi Olalekan with punishable under thereby committed an His counsel, Barrister intent to commit felony section 390 (a) laws of the offence contrary to and punishable under Amaechi Ngwu prayed to wit stealing and state the court to grant him thereby committed an It further disclosed section 390 (a) Laws of Osun Nigeria 2003. bail in the most liberal offence contrary to and that the suspect The accused person, term, assuring the court punishable under unlawfully and that he would not jump section 411 (1) (2) laws of maliciously damaged who was not represented the bail if granted.

Osun State Nigeria 2003.

till January 26, 2018 for hearing.

law.

It also disclosed that the accused person stole drug items, beverages and toiletries, all valued at N223,300 contrary to section 383(1) and punishable under section 390(9) of the site penal code.

It further disclosed that the accused person stole another property of Kolawole Cecilia valued N443,500 contrary to section 383(1) and punishable under section 390(9) of the state law.

According to the charge sheet, the accused person committed the offence on August 10, 2016 and June 2, 2017 at Temidire area of Osogbo and Ora Igbomina in Oke-Ila respectively.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him.

The defence counsel, Mr. Okobe Najite urged the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms.

Police prosecutor, Sergeant Sunday Ajayi did not oppose the bail application.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mary Awodele granted bail to the accused person in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties each.

She then adjourned the matter till January 8, 2018.

Man In Court For Stealing Electrical Materials The accused person was said to have stolen three ceiling fan and electric cable wire,

Court Remands Suspect In Prison Over Stealing

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CHANGE OF NAME That I formerly known as LAWAL USMAN, now wish to be known and addressed as ABDULRAHAMAN USMAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

by counsel, pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge, leveled against him.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Fagboyinbo Abiodun asked the court to deny the accused person bail due to the nature of his offences and his records before the court.

The presiding Magistrate A.A. Olowolagba ordered that the accused person should be remanded in Ilesa prison custody and adjourned the case till January 31, 2018.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

That I formerly known as F I D E L I S CHIMEREBERE DEBORAH, now wish to be known and addressed as A N Y A N W U CHIMEREBERE DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid.

Sterling Bank & General public should take note.

That ISA IDOWU MURPHY AND ISA IDOWU MORUF are the same person, but now wish to be known and addressed as ISA IDOWU MORUF. All former documents remain valid.

G.T Bank & General public should take note.

property of Anglican Grammar School, Osogbo.

The prosecutor, Bukola Adekunle told the court that the accused person with three others now at large committed the offences on December 8, 2017 at Anglican Grammar School Kolabalogun Area.

The charge sheet revealed that the offences are contrary to and punishable under sections 516 and 390 of the state criminal law 2003.

The accused person pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge preferred against him.

The defence counsel, Mr. Okobe Najite prayed the court to grant him bail in the most liberal term.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Mary Awodele granted the accused bail in the sum of N10,000 with two sureties in the same sum.

She adjourned the case till January 26, 2018 for hearing.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2017

Christmas:

NEWS

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

15

Aregbesola Preaches Religious Tolerance, Understanding

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the state of Osun has as he commended called for more robust relationship among members Christians for supporting of various religion faithful in the state, saying that his administration. religious harmony guarantees peace and stability in The governor urged the society.

CAN and other stakeholders to join the Speaking at the 2017 have a better society; just Christmas Carol organised by the state government in collaboration with the

By Shina Abubakar Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Osun There is a new development ahead of the formal branch, on Tuesday, installation of the National Coordinator of Odua Aregbesola said tolerance, People’s Congress (OPC), Chief Gani Adams, as understanding and Aare Ona Kakanfo in Yoruba land (Yoruba cohabitation are key to Generalissimo), scheduled to hold at Oyo religious harmony.

Aregbesola who was town in January.

A Yoruba High Chief, as Yoruba generalissimo represented by his deputy, Mrs Titi-Laoye Chief Sunday Akerele, would be completed only Tomori, commended the the Lejoka of Igbajo, an at Igbajo, which was people of the state for the historical town in Osun popular in Yoruba reigning peace among State, has said that the history as the theatre of various religious faithful, final rite for Gani Adams war during the 16-year stating that they have shown the world the level of their religious understanding.

Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) in the The governor noted state of Osun, Prince Gboyega Famodun has declared that an APC chieftain in the state, Alhaji Fatai Oyedele that Christmas is a special season; a season of joy, Diekola has compromised his own integrity by happiness, peace and admitting to be instrumental to APC losing Osun West good tidings. It is a season Senatorial seat to the PDP. The party chairman, in (Ademola), who had to share with loved ones a statement said, “Diekola jumped ship to PDP and less privileged. had boasted on a radio because (he) Diekola and He urged the people of in Osogbo on others he did not mention, the state to understand programme Monday that he was wanted to secure the late and make use of the committed to helping the Adeleke’s legacy. So, he lessons of Christmas to Adeleke brother had to work against his

campaign for payment of tax by eligible tax-payers in the state by sensitising and encouraging its members.

Noting that religious

By Ismaeel Uthman body played prominent role in the society, Aregbesola said the state is facing financial

challenges and it needs every eligible taxpayer to support it by paying their taxes.

Gani Adams Will Be A Social Aare Ona Kakanfo If He Fails To Visit Igbajo - Lejoka Yoruba war of 19th century and not Oyo, else he would only be a social Aare Ona Kakanfo, like his predecessor.

Akerele made the disclosure while taking members of the Osun NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel round the historical war site, as part of the activities to mark the 2017 Press Week.

He said all the past

Aare Ona Kakanfos, including the former Premier of the Western Region, Chief Ladoke Akintola were in the ancient town for their final rites.

Akerele added that the late business mogul turned politician, Chief Moshood Abiola, who was the last Aare Ona Kakanfo was the only one that did not visit the town

APC Chair Bemoans Party Chieftain Over Comment On Osun West Election own party to make the opposition win”.

“If that is not betrayal arising from deep seated disloyalty, what is it?’, Prince Famodun queried.

According to the APC chairman, “Diekola in that radio programme, exposed himself and his co-travellers that their inability to influence the governor’s decision to

•A cross section of Ajegunle market traders in Osogbo during their ‘Walk To Live’ exercise as part of the Inauguration programmes of new executive members at Government house on Monday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Court Fixes Jan 11 For Hearing •Continue from page 3 to still proceed to make an order to show cause against the defendants (now applicants) in contrary to its earlier verdict refusing the reliefs.

According to the government, there is no urgency to warrant the grant of the interim orders, maintaining that it amounted to using the court as “a vehicle for perpetrating injustice”.

The government also argued that the orders are liable for nondisclosure of material facts by the Plaintiffs in obtaining the ex-parte orders. For instance, that the LCDAs had been operational since 2015.

Apart from the application to discharge the orders ex-parte, the government also filed Notice of Preliminary Objection that the matter should be dismissed and/or struck out on the

grounds of lack of jurisdiction, locus standi and absence of cause of action.

The government argued that the plaintiffs lacked locus standi to file the suit and that the subject matter of the suit does not fall within civil causes and matters for which the Federal High Court is conferred with exclusive jurisdiction to entertain by virtue of the provisions of 251 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

The government asked the court to dismiss or strike out the suit for being speculative, vexatious, and frivolous and intended to irritate the state and constituting abuse of court process.

Also, the State House of Assembly and the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) have filed applications to set aside

the order of substituted service granted by the court and all the proceedings of the court.

The grounds of their application are that the court could not competently make an order for substituted service at an address within jurisdiction on a defendant residing

outside the jurisdiction of the court.

In the circumstance of non-service of all the processes in the suit on the House of Assembly and the Commission (OSIEC), government stressed that the court ought to set aside all the proceedings and orders granted in this suit.

G21 Elects New Officers A group within the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, the G21 has elected a new set of leaders to pilot its affairs for another term.

G21 is made up of APC Relations Officer, Mr stalwarts who believe and Rasaki Salaam.

In the postwork assiduously to ensure the success of inauguration speech, the Governor Rauf new chairman, Hon Ajibola promised to make Aregbesola in power.

The new executives the organisation more recently put in place effective, relevant and include the Chairman, project the image of the Hon Ademola Ajibola; government.

“We shall mobilise the Vice chairman, Mr Saliu Adebayo; Secretary, Mr electorate to ensure that they vote massively for Lawal Adebowale; Treasurer, Alhaji Adepoju the APC in the 2019 governorship election in Folawiyo; and the Public the state”, he stressed.

favour their own ambitions was why he sabotaged the APC. “Once you have openly admitted to sabotaging your own party, you cannot, in good conscience, still claim to be a member of that same party.

“In the circumstance, it will be patently dishonourable for Diekola to continue to claim that he is still in APC. He doesn’t need the party to tell him to fall out”, the APC Chairman told Diekola.

Prince Famodun further stated that, the party was aware that the question of succession was the basis for a few over-ambitious party men insistent on having one of their own succeed Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

“In the process, desperation has set in for some who are prepared to sabotage the party, even if it resorted in them cutting their nose to spite their face.

“It is a pity that some politicians who one would have thought were matured enough to know better, still exhibit culpable ignorance on this question of succession”, stating that it would be a grave mistake for anybody to think that he could force the governor not to be interested in who succeed him.

“That’s the grave mistake these saboteurs are making’, the APC chairman concluded.

for his final rite.

“Historically, this is the domain for the final rite of any Aare Ona Kakanfo(Yoruba Generalassimo) because the traditional regalia of that office is here in Igbajo.

“You know, Aare Latoosa, who was the generalissimo during the Kiriji war, and the 12th Aare Ona Kakanfo died here after the end of the war, and left the regalia behind for future Aare Ona Kakanfos.

“Gani Adams can only be a real and authentic generalissimo only if he comes here to perform his final rite”, he said.

In the same vein, the former Commissioner for Information in the state, Mr Sunday Akere, who hailed from the town, opined that the town played a significant role in the advancement of Yoruba society.

He called on government to develop the war tourist site the way sites of that nature in Cuba, South America, were turned around and made viable for economic development.

Akere also called on the Yoruba nation to shun politics of bitterness and focus on issues that could foster development in the region as well as bind the nation together rather than separating the folks.

He added that it is time for the state government to acquire the site from both Boluwaduro and Obokun Local Governments, who rather than using the site as an element of unity, has been involved in acrimonies to divide the unity of the communities.

Government Must Incorporate Informal Sector •Continued from page 10 Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Osogbo and District Society, Pastor.

Kayode Adekunle said the lecture was timely, considering the current Nigeria’s economic quagmire which calls for immediate solution.

Describing the role of informal sector in the development of the state, Adekunle noted that the sectors are highly dynamic and contribute substantially to the general growth of the economy and personal or household income.

He said the institute

organised the programme to mark his one year in office, saying the Institute had earlier visited Jaleyemi Hospital where the management of the hospital was educated on the need to cooperate with government of the state by paying relevant taxes and levies.

He also assured the government of the CITN support in bringing awareness to the door steps of every citizen of the state on the need to perform their civic responsibility especially in the area of payment of relevant taxes and levies.

FEATURE

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THE SIXTH MOST VISITED WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

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Preparing For A Future Page 13 Without Oil

FRIDAY DECEMBER 15 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 21, 2017

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.com

Re: Celebration Of Mediocrity Observation

I want to describe several allegations leveled by Yemi Adebowale of Thisday Newspaper as crass ignorance and ill-informed.

It shows that he is actually acting the script of the opposition in Osun State.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola deserves commendations rather than subjective criticisms because he has turned Osun to a construction site and attracted development to the state.

Adebowale ought to cover his face in shame for •Prototype of the MKO Abiola International Airport. his piece, having failed to see the giant strides and the country a foreign exchange of N22 rescue agenda in Osun. This is a signal billion per annum. that the platform he is using should Osun State under Aregbesola is the be careful with him, as he is using the first state in Nigeria to key into the name of the newspaper to work for the German contribution to the Fund for opposition party.

Agricultural Finance in Nigeria For some time now, I have resolved (FAFIN), which provides loans to to ignore Adebowale’s vituperations small and medium entrepreneurs in and his opposition co-travelers not the agricultural sector. Osun under because of his obstinacy, but for his Aregbesola is the first state in Nigeria deliberate attempt to distract to key into the establishment of an Governor Aregbesola in the discharge “Innovation Centre for the of his statutory responsibilities to the Agriculture and Food Sector” people. financed by the German Government By now, I thought he would have in order to improve sustainable grown up and shed himself of his production and processing of food as infantile mentality to understand the well as entrepreneurial and vocational nuances and dynamics of governance skills in agriculture and food particularly in a state like Osun that processing. Osun is the first state in was completely crippled by the Nigeria to key into Germany-Nigeria shenanigans of his group, agricultural cooperation in the demagogues, but his persistent establishment of a “Green Credit ignorance makes a refresher course a Line”, which shall improve the access compelling need. of small and medium enterprises to While I am of the opinion that funds in order to enable them to invest constructive criticism is an integral in energy efficiency and renewable part of the democratic order and energy. governance process, doing so with so Osun elementary schools were overmuch ignorance and feeble crowded, a perfect environment for knowledge creates more problem of diseases and deaths before Governor misinformation for the larger society. Aregbesola became the Governor in Let it be placed on record 2010. By 2016, the story has changed that Aregbesola embarked on global as representatives of various states in initiative aims at supporting capacity Nigeria, at the end of a three-day building in Osun and the rest of study of the Osun School Feeding Nigeria to advance future leadership, Programme, vowed to use the focusing on sustainable global template set by the state. They development by investing in human concluded that the Osun government capital. As a symbol of national had set a good template for the development, he introduced implementation of the nationwide Sukuk Islamic bonds issuance school feeding programme. programme to help fund big infrastructure needs in Africa’s biggest economy. Aiming to tie the transaction to one of several projects, Aregbesola has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Chinese firm, Jiangsu Wuxi Taihu Cocoa Food Company Limited, to establish a N216 The management and staff of billion industrial park in Osun state.

The new Osun Airport makes Osun Defender Newspaper wish Nigeria to save N22bn annually which our esteemed readers a fulfilling is one of the lessons this strategic mega season of cheer and goodwill, as project taught Nigeria. When the first well as a prosperous new year phase of MKO Abiola International ahead. Our felicitations go in Airport, Ido Osun in Osun state is particular to the people of the State completed, the facility will save the of Osun for the stoicisms and

BY INWALOMHE DONALD

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No doubt, Osun has set a standard for both 36 states and Federal Government of Nigeria to follow.

N o d o u b t , Osun has set a standard for both the 36 states and Federal Government of Nigeria to follow.

Federal Government of Nigeria is building on progress made by the state government on School Feeding Programme. The Governor has transformed Osun schools from obscurity to limelight. Osun has built standard schools and produced nutritious meal for school pupils. The Osun government’s effort in the education sector has removed the dilapidated and neglected school buildings and replaces it with a conducive learning environment. Of the infrastructure upgrade under the first phase, the government has s u c c e s s f u l l y commissioned Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, and High Schools.

While there is a decline in Nigeria’s annual production of cocoa , Aregbesola has encouraged Osun cocoa farmers in Ondo, Edo, Delta and other southern states to boost cocoa production which has led to the expansion of Ede Cocoa Processing Plant which is the only functioning plant in Nigeria today. Aregbesola has re-ignited national interest in cocoa production by partnering with a Chinese firm to reactivate cocoa processing plant. Another lesson is that Aregbesola has turned cocoa to a vital product which contributes immensely to Osun economy and the welfare of the people. He has used cocoa to create an economy and other enterprises which has risen beyond producing raw cocoa by turning it into intermediate or finished products. Ede cocoa processing plant has moved

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from transition of a primary commodity exporter to an industrial producer. The plant has become strategic for national economic development and created incentives for cocoa industry in Nigeria. The incentives to return cocoa farmers to their farms have now been created.

But typical of Adebowale, already used to cheap propaganda, if he does not mention such humongous sum, such vacuous story would not soothe the sheer hollowness of his thoughts.

He and his group presided over a regime of squandermania, kleptomania, crass brigandage and outright plundering of the economy to the extent that even Federal Government could not pay salaries of workers and pensioners.

He belongs to an era of financial recklessness and leadership atrophy that asphyxiated our collective enterprise. As a product of such cabal of economic predators, one wonders where Adebowale and his co-travelers derive the morality to even utter a word about due diligence and accountability.

The era of Aregbesola is one that has altered the sorry narrative of Osun to a more dignifying, edifying and superlative emanations. It is a narrative of development in the face of poor revenue occasioned by Adebowale’s group fat-cats who looted the treasury blind and annihilated the states of the Federation.

Now that Osun is working again, a thousand Yemi Adebowales cannot distract Aregbesola from delivering his electoral promises to the people who gave him their overwhelming mandate to lead them.

•Inwalomhe writes via inwalomhe.donald@yahoo.com

REVIEW & OUTLOOK

Briefly ….

A Season Of Cheer And A Happy New Year Ahead! understanding with which they have coped with a demanding year.

Our indomitable Ogbeni Gomina Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola deserves special commendations here. He has with great gusto, creatively used the levers of the machinery of government to keep things going in

a positive direction in spite of the debilitations of a quasi-federalism.

The year ahead will be pivotal in the State of Osun with a changeover of government. We urge the good people of Osun State to be resolute and steadfast in working towards a continuity of the progressive, innovative government which has continuously put the best interests of the people first.

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,