Osun Defender Online Version of November 27, 2017 edition

MONDAY NOVEMBER 27 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 2017

VOL. 012. NO.39

ISSN: 0794-8050

N100

7 Years Of Government Unusual!

The Years Of Ogbeni:

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Religious Bodies, Labour Unions Speak Out! 18P.

The Ordinary People Know What Is In Their Interest

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- Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola 21st of November, 2017

Iy aloja On Iyaloja The Gains P. 8

Aregbesola Would Have Been A Fantastic Administrator, But... - Adejare Bello P. 9

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Seven Years on:

By Shina Abubakar Mixed reactions have continued to trail the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the State of Osun, as the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola clocks seven years.

While some major why did those who had stakeholders including had the God-given religious bodied scored opportunity to rule this the administration high state fail to do what as a result of its series of Aregbesola had done d e v e l o p m e n t a l and is still doing? Would programmes and policies you in good conscience across the state, the be kind to yourself if you opposition political party, condemn and vilify the PDP said, the man and the government administration has not that have brought all performed to the these about?, the APC expectations of the queried.

“Would the people of people.

Aregbesola was sworn- the state be fair to in as the governor of the themselves if they refuse state on November 27, to acknowledge the fact 2010 after the Court of that whoever it was that this Appeal in Ibadan brought validated his victory in development to Osogbo the April 14, 2007 was a kind, thoughtful governorship election. and progressive person?

Speaking on behalf of After the first four years term, he was re-elected the PDP, the former Speaker of the State for second term in 2014.

The All Progressives House of Assembly and Congress (APC), the a leader of PDP, Osun Muslims Honourable Adejare Community, Baptist Bello said, though, C o n f e r e n c e , Aregbesola has good Traditionalists and intentions, but his ‘Lagos Labour Leaders among style’ of awarding others have showered financing, and executing projects and commendations on the the governance is not administration. working well for Osun.

The APC, in a In terms of physical statement by the Director of Publicity, Research and projects, Bello said the Strategy, Barrister Kunle administration had done Oyatomi, urged the well, but quickly added people to “give thanks to that the projects were at too God for using Ogbeni executed Aregbesola and the APC exorbitant costs.

According to him, the government to bring to Osun, the kind of DMO office had last development that the August claimed that the state had never seen in 26 state debt profile was N179 billion, saying for a years.

The party, while calling state like Osun, without source of on the citizens to engage major themselves for the next Internally Generated few days in counting their Revenue (IGR), it would blessing, said, this is take a long time for the because an era of state to pay off and come u n p r e c e d e n t e d out of such debt.

He commended the happenings in the state is approaching a climax, mega schools being built and it is time the whole by the state government, but stated that the understate should take stock. of the “Is the change we have utilisation experienced, good or bad, buildings across the worthy or unworthy of major towns in the state our people? Now is the might make the projects time to count our to be counter-productive.

“Sincerely, Ogbeni blessings to see what God has done for us. Unless Aregbesola would have a fantastic we take stock, we will not been appreciate what God has administrator, because done for this state by he had good intentions to installing Ogbeni develop the state in a hurry, but his approach, Aregbesola as governor.

“Is Osun better today in my view is totally than it was 10 years ago? wrong. How can you Is it a good thing that this claim such a huge state is peaceful? Had achievement with such God been kind to us for huge debt and claimed to moderately the good roads, the have wonderful schools, the outperformed others”, enabling environment for Bello queried.

From the religious profitable business, the the unprecedented human perspective, President Osun Baptist capital and e n v i r o n m e n t a l Conference, Pastor Paul developments which Kolawole, commended Ogbeni Aregbesola-led the administration of APC government has Aregbesola for the effected in Osun these development of efficient road network, as well as past seven years.

“Look around you and the efforts of the ask yourself this question: government to uplift the educational standard in

NEWS

MONDAY NOVEMBER 27 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 2017

Aregbesola Assessed

terms of physical structures.

He also lauded the administration for its efforts to secure e m p l o y m e n t opportunities for youths, as well as stabilisation of peaceful co-existence through security of lives and property, saying the administration has made meaningful impacts within the last seven years.

The clergy then commended the government for stabilising the workforce, saying though, some section of the state workforce are facing challenges of modulated salary, but the situation in the state is better than other states in the country.

In his own, the President, Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TRWAOS), Oba Olawumi Bamijogbin, described Aregbesola as a messenger of peace, who would not condone injustice or infringement on people’s right as enshrine in the constitution, saying, for so long, “we the traditional worshipper are been label as heathen

and so we are concealed to the dustbin of history, but this government had harmonised the aggregate of traditional worshippers in the state, foster unity among us and other religious bodies”.

The traditionalists also commended the administration for its prudence, proactive stance, foresight, vision and the doggedness in

terms of opening of rural roads, investment in Agriculture, provision of security among others.

Also, the 1 st Vice President, Osun Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi, lauded the administration for the development that had been attracted to the state in the area of infrastructure, education, youth employment,

security and community development.

He said the situation was pathetic in virtually all sectors of governance before the advent of A r e g b e s o l a administration, but he has turned it around for the better, saying, no one would ever though that the transformation that has been brought to the state could become a reality.

•A cross section of participants at the global entrepreneurship week at Atlantis Hotel, Osogbo.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

Imposition Negates Good Governance - House Of Rep Aspirant find alternatives and it is

By Tola Oyewale hopeful that before the A House of Representative aspirant from Ikire 2019 general election Federal Constituency, Mr. Wale Opejin has imposition would have described imposition of unqualified candidates been eliminated or among political parties in Nigeria as the bane of reduced to the barest good governance across the country. minimal.

While speaking with become the yardstick for “I hope party leaders OSUN DEFENDER measuring the across political divides recently, he said qualification of candidate would realise that the imposition has been a rather than looking at electorates are getting major threat to political their antecedent and more sophisticated daily development in the qualification for the office and are seeing imposition country, particularly in they seek to occupy. as a problem that must be all the states of the According to him, over tackled and dealt with federation.

90 per cent of political before it leads to Mr. Opejin mentioned office holders in 1999 and something more that the issue of 2003 were imposed on devastating than loss of imposition has led to the electorates, but in votes in future elections”, poor development in the recent times, the Opejin added. states because it does not electorates have begun to allow for the best candidate to emerge.

He added that there

By Sunday Obalodu are many best candidates suitable for the political The Olosu of Osu in Atakumosa West Local development of the states Government in Osun State, Oba Jethro Adegoke but nowadays, Adejola has called for the establishment of tertiary candidates are chosen institution by the Federal and State governments based on sentiments within the community. which are not capable of The traditional ruler million naira in support bringing development to made the call while the state and country in speaking during the 39th of building of an ultra modern palace project for general. edition of Odun Iyo/Osu the community.

He lamented the rate at Day 2017 in which there According to the which religious and was a Special Appeal the town needs ethnic sentiment have Fund Raising of N100 monarch, development and progress, just as he CHANGE OF NAME CHANGE OF NAME maximised the occasion That I formerly known That I formerly known by enjoining the good ONISABI as ADETUNJI as people of the community RAMOTA, now wish to be M O N S U R A T to rally round the town in known and addressed as ROMOKE, now wish to the quest for provision of be known and addressed MRS. SULAIMON basic amenities and other SALAMI R A M O T A as notable infrastructural M O N S U R A T MOTUNRAYO. All ROMOKE. All former development capable of former documents remain documents remain valid. bringing economic valid. General public General public should take growth. should take note. note.

Oba Adejola however

Speaking on the issue of young people seeking political offices, the Ikireborn politician disclosed that the youth have right to seek what is theirs, but added that the economic situation across the country is not friendly with their demands.

He sought a political atmosphere that would be economically viable for youths to take over the political leadership of the country in line with the challenges of modern times, which would not be solved without their inputs.

Monarch Advocates Establishment Of Tertiary Institution

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admonished politicians to play politics according to the rules and regulation, adding that they should see themselves as brothers and sisters while he urged them to shun politics of hatred, bitterness and thuggery.

The monarch called for support for the building of the ultra modern palace project by the indigenes of the town and other well wishers so as to make the dream of the project a reality within a very short time.

Also in his brief remarks, High Chief J.O. Faluyi appealed to sons and daughter of the community to rally round for the building of the palace project.

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5 From now on, the Rauf Aregbesola administration in the State of Osun enters the last lap of its second term in office. To put it mildly, the first term of four years of the administration has been most defining in terms of its pace and commitment to the highest standard of responsive, value-creating governance. The last three years of the second term has been just as exciting despite the immense fiscal challenges and a distracting propaganda orchestrated by those sworn never to see anything good in the Aregbesola administration.

Seven years on, it is so easy to forget what was and what now is. From a laidback, socially prostrate state of a few years back, the state marches on, audaciously, confident that the foundation of a prosperous future had been firmly laid. A state that was practically insolvent after inheriting a debilitating loan of N18.38 billion at the time of its inauguration currently has in place a pragmatic fiscal template that keeps governance on an even keel – the aftermath of years of discipline and frugality – and despite the revenue shocks that have knocked the bottom off the finances of all the states of the federation.

Once upon a time, we had a state whose critical infrastructure lay in

Let Us Try The Lagos Model

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Yet, much as break-taking performance will define the Aregbesola legacy, there is another factor that will be something of an icing on the governor’s cake: His choice of successor. The outcome of the process, aside proving his mettle as a leader, would most certainly make or mar his legacy. If we have any advice to APC as a party and the governor as the leader of the party in the state, it is for them to handle it with utmost responsibility. ruins, whose school structures once looked more like pig-sties than learning environment; where health facilities lay decrepit; a state whose capital Osogbo suffered perennial flooding. Today, the vast transformation is hard to miss – whether in the urban renewal schemes that have changed the face of the major cities in the state; the beautiful ring road that proudly announces the capital city’s romance with sophistication, the rural roads that promises to unleash the latent energies of the rural economy, and no less, the world class classrooms that attests to quality thinking and

...Alternative Perspective

Cost Of Governance

In any establishment, the workforce is an indispensable tool to the smooth running of processes. Governments are not exceptions as they make use of civil servants, also referred to as the bureaucracy, to achieve set objectives, especially those in the manifestoes of political office holders. Osun is not an exception. The state and local government civil servants need to be applauded for their support for the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the past seven years, especially during the exceptionally trying period of the administration as exemplified in 2015.

The current economic situation which the state is going through is not peculiar to Osun. Daily perusals of newspapers and other news channels have endless stories of how other states and even the federal government have been finding it extremely difficult to live up to expectations as far as salaries and allowances of their workers are concerned. But Osun seems to have found a way round the problem through the creative modulated salary system and it is working. Same could not be said of many of the other states in Nigeria. Workers and pensioners in most of these states are being owed between three and fourteen months.

Observations from the positive workplace relationships in Osun show

that if organizations are to achieve their goals, leaders must recognize their followers or employees as partners in progress. When this is done, workers will show commitment to their work. The interdependence between leaders and followers is germane to the success of any leader and ensures a continuous pattern of organizational development.

From the above, one can conclude that leadership (the government) has really proven to be adequate in the processes of governance in the state, while the workers are greater partners in progress in the State of Osun.

But according to economic experts like Dr. Charles Akinola, a government insider, things are however not rosy in Osun. The governor is not responsible for the turn of events. Aregbesola has tried to avert the non-payment of salaries, despite lean resources. “95 per cent of the monthly allocation from Abuja is used to pay salaries. The population of workers is one per cent of the population of the state. The one per cent takes 95 per

One can conclude that leadership (the government) has really proven to be adequate in the processes of governance in the state, while the workers are greater partners in progress in the State of Osun.

Dealing With Indecent Dressing Among Girls An adage says, “Dress the way you wish to be addressed”.

Indecent dressing is a social illness uttered by the youth and not only the youth, but also among married people.

It simply means an act of exposing oneself to the public and dressing inappropriately in a way that does not comply with the values and culture of the society particularly in Africa.

Civilisation has played a negative role in fashion to the youth and this has increased sexual assault and harassment in this generation. Most girls in the bid to show off different

fashion style wear net dresses that will expose all they put on underneath them such as bra, knowing fully that the bra will not cover their breast.

Any girl that looks around her and sees eye popping seductively needs to look at herself and the way she dresses.

Some parents who ought

to react strictly to this act and rebuke only encourage their children with their unwise silence.

Mass media also has greatly influenced our

youth negatively by following the steps and ways of the foreign culture in terms of videos and dressing have however failed to play this role. It is

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commitment of the administration to spare nothing in its quest to upgrade the learning environment for our children.

For a state that only a short while ago spoken of in deprecatory terms, we can now talk of a state on a steady cruise, thanks to Ogbeni and his team.

Yet, much as break-taking performance will define the Aregbesola legacy, there is another factor that will be something of an icing on the governor’s cake: His choice of successor.

The outcome of the process, aside proving his mettle as a leader, would most certainly make or mar his legacy. If

we have any advice to APC as a party and the governor as the leader of the party in the state, it is for them to handle it with utmost responsibility.

Today, Nigerians including the good people of Osun speak glowingly of the Lagos Model of succession. They refer to the carefully planned relay that started with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu with his careful attention to planning, team-building, and execution; then Babatunde Raji Fashola – the actualiser who took the vision farther afield with his spectacular performance; and now, Akinwunmi Ambode who continues to show infinite promises that only an individual which shares in the original promises can.

Between the trio, what we have is a state not only coming to its full potentials but a reference in continuity and excellent performance. We also see this model to a limited extent in Edo State where Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, after eight years of sterling performance handed the baton to a fellow team player, Godwin Obaseki under whom the state continues to coast along.

Our dear state of Osun, we daresay, deserves no less. If we may put it in simple terms: Having seen the sheer toils of the governor, his labour of love of the past seven years, it will be tragic to have either an incompetent, illequipped outsider come in to roll back the gains. Moreover, we know how much store the Aregbesola administration places on planning for the future. We know the efforts that went into the making of his Six-Point Integral Plan – the administration’s developmental roadmap. In the same way that we cannot talk of the Lagos model without the blueprint on which successive Lagos administrations has been running for almost 18 unbroken years, the least the state can wish for is to have a leader that will run on the same development trajectory begun by Aregbesola. The only way to get that done is for the governor to cast his net wide to see which of his team members can build upon the foundation already laid.

cent. How do we take care of other people? That is the dilemma,” Akinola lamented.

Obviously toeing on the thoughts of Akinola, another expert, a development analyst from European Union, Professor Larry Tom gave a graphic description of Akinola’s revelation above: “How do you explain the drain of Osun resources by a very tiny group of workers? What can mere 5% of the lean resources do for the state? I think these workers need to wear a thinking cap and stop this selfish depleting of the people’s common wealth by obviously unearned wages”.

In responding to the stack financial realities, Osun has embarked on a financial restructuring of sorts. It has entered a dialogue with labour unions.

A standing committee headed by veteran union leader, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, has agreed on a modulated salary structure. Under the arrangement, Level 1 to Level 7 collect full salary; Level 8-12 collect 75 percent while Level 12-17, described as the fat cats, and all political office holders collect 50 per cent of their salaries.

Publisher Those on Level1-7, who receive full salary constitute 68 per cent of the workers; Acting Editor Level 8-12 constitute 25 per cent while Level 8 and above constitute less than Lagos Editor 10 per cent. This implies that, even in a recession, the most vulnerable segment of News Editor workers has been given social protection.

Production Editor

OSUN DEFENDER

a complete shame that our youths have embraced the life style of the Europeans.

Though, it is rather not difficult and not impossible for this wrong to be corrected though, it has eaten deep into the lives of the youth which is putting a stain on the Africa culture.

Therefore, I will advise the youth to stop exposing themselves to the public by putting on an indecent dresses.

And in conclusion, parents, religious leader and government should play their different role to amend the defects in the way youth dress today.

•YETUNDE ODUNAYO, Osogbo, State of Osun.

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MAGAZINE MONDAY NOVEMBER 27 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 2017

7 Years In Government

The Story Of Aregbesola’s Administration In his inaugural speech on November 27, 2010, Governor of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola described his journey to victory as one that was not smooth, considering the hurdles he passed before achieving his goal. According to him, “Those who steal power for selfish interest should realise that it is temporary, only the power that comes from God and from the people is permanent and everlasting.” He said he was in Osun state to rekindle and restore their lost hope as a result of the misrule and misgovernment of the seven and a half years rule of PDP government. He assured the people of the state that his government would restore dignity to governance and contribute to the well being of every individual in the state.

ISMAEEL UTHMAN in this report chronicles Governor Aregbesola seven year’s administration in office.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola pronounced ‘Government Unusual’ in the state. He tactically dismissed the worshipping notion of the governorship title by declaring that he should be addressed simply as Ogbeni, and not the common ‘His Excellency’.

He had since been made himself available to the people of the state, even at an unexpected places and time, and especially to the common people.

In his speech at the Aregbesola’s 2010 inauguration, the then Governor of Lagos state, Babatunde Fashola (now Minister of Works, Power and Housing), said: “The conflagration of good governance predicated on progressive ideas and practical solutions to the problems of Nigeria and Nigerians has just begun. Those who are alive today to witness this event must take pains to record and remember the Friday, the 26th and Saturday, the 27th of November, 2010 in their dairies and in their hearts. It is the day when first, the constance of truth prevailed over a mountain of lies.

Secondly, it marks the commencement of the development of what will be the best political party building process ever undertaken in Africa. A party built by the common and ordinary people, driven by their absolute faith in freedom, democracy, good governance and the rule of law that is symbolised by an independent and fearless judiciary. Freedom and good governance is beginning to travel in Nigeria. It is on a journey to liberate our people. It is travelling in the vehicle of the Action Congress of Nigeria. It has found home in Lagos, Edo, Ekiti and Osun. It is coming your way.”

Seven years after, the development of the state of Osun is a fact steering the faces of the residents of the state.

Aregbesola had, based on his manifesto as contained in the Green Book: ‘My Pact With The People of Osun’ commenced work on all round development. The green book contains the Six Integral Action Plan which are; Banish Hunger, Banish Poverty, Banish

•Aerial view of the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo.

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Seven years after, the development of the state of Osun is a fact steering the faces of the residents of the state. Aregbesola had, based on his manifesto as contained in the Green Book: ‘My Pact With The People of Osun’ commenced work on all round development.

Unemployment, Promote Healthy Living, Promote Functional Education, Promote Communal Peace and Progress.

The development of Osun could be

the public since the inception of Aregbesola’s administration. It is the most critical and visible sector that has projected Aregbesola’s government and at the same time makes it controversial because of the innovative ideas brought into revamping the sector with the modern infrastructures therein.

The promotion of functional education as contained in the green book is a revolution ongoing.

Aregbesola had approached the decayed education sector holistically.

The revolution in the Osun education started with education summit. Today, Osun has earned noble international awards with Aregbesola’s innovative •Continued on page 6

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assessed on: EDUCATION Education in the State of Osun has been in the limelight, receiving bashes and commendations from members of

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MAGAZINE

MONDAY NOVEMBER 27 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 2017

The Story Of Aregbesola’s Administration

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Our greatest impact is in education. Our first task when we came to office was to hold an education summit, which was chaired by Prof.

Wole Soyinka. From that summit emerged the blueprint we are implementing on education.

•Continued from page 5 intervention in the education sector.

The interventions include: the provision of international award winning digital text books known as Opon Imo – Tablet of Knowledge to students in the high schools, free school feeding programme called O MEAL, payment of external examination fees, construction of modern schools and introduction of discipline into the schools.

Opon Imo was launched in 2013 by Aregbesola. It contains e-textbooks, past questions (WAEC and JAMB) and virtual classroom for all approved subjects from SS1 to SS3. According to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa, “Opon-Imo is the first stand-alone elearning system in sub-Saharan Africa.

‘Opon Imo’ has saved parents in Osun a sum of N8.2 billion worth of textbooks. The tablet of knowledge was recently endorsed by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in February 2017, and recommended to other states for adoption in Nigeria and it has also been endorsed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Orgainisation (UNESCO).

Over 50,000 students have benefited from ‘Opon Imo’ in Osun since inception in 2013 to 2017. Less than N3billion has been spent on procurement, installation, distribution and maintenance of ‘Opon Imo’ since inception till 2017. It has helped to improve performance of students in Osun, culminating in 46% pass rate in 5 subjects including Mathematics and English, the best result in a span of 10 years. In 2013, ‘Opon Imo’ won the elearning and science category in World Summit Award, World Congress in Sri Lanka.

The Aregbesola’s government has embarked on the construction of Stateof-the-Art 100 Elementary Schools, 50 Middle Schools and 20 High Schools. It was learnt that more than 20 Elementary Schools, 22 Middle Schools and 5 High Schools have been commissioned while the High Schools in Iwo and Fakunle Unity High School in Osogbo have been completed and ready for commissioning.

During the commissioning of Osogbo Government High School on September 1 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari noted that the All Progressive Congress, APC-led government has undauntedly given priority to education, saying “efforts are in place to make Osun and other states of the

federation achieve their various desires and goals in the education sector”.

Buhari described the school as an “educational monument” and a “legacy project”, capable of creating unquantifiable future for the present and incoming generation. He commended Aregbesola for abiding by the APC’s manifestos on education policy just as he urged other governors to emulate the Osun governor. The President said: “What we are witnessing here is a display of patriotism to the party’s manifesto by the governor. There should be a substantial commitment of energy and dedication to education by government at all levels.”

Aregbesola while delivering a lecture to mark the 20th anniversary celebration of the City Peoples Magazine in Osogbo in December 2016 said his administration has put in place the best educational programmes in the state, saying, “Our greatest impact is in education. Our first task when we came to office was to hold an education summit, which was chaired by Prof.

Wole Soyinka. From that summit emerged the blueprint we are implementing on education.

“We immediately reclassified our schools into elementary, middle and high schools. The elementary and middle schools cover the primary and junior secondary schools. The high school is the senior secondary school.

We are building 170 new schools. These are 100 primary, 50 middle and 20 high schools. Out of these, 20 elementary schools, 22 middle schools and 11 high schools have been completed. Beyond new buildings, we are also rehabilitating the old schools. We have carried out renovations on 40 other schools which give us 1,694 standard classrooms in the existing elementary, middle and high schools.

“They provide accommodation for nearly 90,000 pupils. We have provided for them more than 100,000 desks and chairs, toilets and boreholes and made schools decent places to be. We have provided 50,000 e-Learning tablets (Opon Imo) for grade 12 final year high school pupils in the state. This has benefitted three sets already while the fourth set, i.e. the current final year set has just been given the tablet. In addition to building schools, we have recruited more than 12,000 teachers to boost manpower in the school system.

We are also motivating teachers. We have put in place a policy that makes teachers in elementary and middle

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schools to rise to grade level 16.

“We have, in addition, appointed three Tutors-General, equivalent of Permanent Secretary, in the three senatorial districts in the state. We have concluded arrangement to appoint nine Headmasters-General for effective coordination, management and administration of elementary and middle schools in each of the nine federal constituencies in the state.

“We have established the Osun Education Quality Assurance and Morality Enforcement Agency to assure education quality and enforce morality in our schools. Our overall vision is to develop the new person intellectually, socially and morally. This new person is placed in the centre of society who views his/her own development as part of and for the development of society.

We also distributed free uniforms to pupils in public schools. The programme gave birth to a garment manufacturing company, Omoluabi Garment Company Ltd, which can employ 3,000 workers at full capacity”.

A strategic pointer to Aregbesola’s commitment to education in Osun is the sponsorship of 85 medical Students of Osun State University who were sent to Ukraine by the Aregbesola’s administration for medical studies. The government had sent 85 UNIOSUN medical students to the V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Kharkov, Ukraine in January 2013 to study medicine when they could not proceed to clinical class as a result of nonavailability of a rightly approved Teaching Hospital for UNIOSUN. The students have graduated and returned to Osun as medical doctors.

ROADS Provision of road infrastructure is another segment of Aregbesola’s achievement in the transformation of the state. Prior to his emergence, there was dearth of road infrastructure in every nook and cranny of the state.

However, almost every part of the state now has good road network. The road revolution started with the construction of 21 township road in major towns in Osun and the 10km road construction in each of the 31 local governments in the state. Besides, Aregbesola reconstructed and rehabilitated some dilapidated roads in some parts of the state.

There are three major roads that crown the Aregbesola’s road project; they are: the dualisation of Osogbo to Ila-Odo/Kwara state boundary, Oba Adesoji Aderemi East Bypass in

Osogbo and the dualisation of Gbongan to Akoda road with a trumpet bridge named after the former governor of the state, Chief Adebisi Akande.

The Oba Adesoji Aderemi East bypass is a 17.40km road which is designed to lead to all artery roads in the capital city as well as other interstate roads. The road has four bridges over a railway, Osun river, a major road and another on Osun rivers. The bridges are named: November 26th, Five Judges, November 27 th and August 8 th respectively. The road, which is nearing its completion, has already been functioning as viable alternative route for commuters just passing through the state without having to go through the traffic in the city. Traffic now flows freely as the new Bypass provides alternative route to various destinations within and outside Osogbo the state capital. When completed, the road, which is circular, will link with the Ring Road (Ibrahim Babangida Way) to form a complete circle round the state capital Osogbo.

The dualisation of Osogbo-Ikirun-IlaOdo-KWSB is a 40km road from Old Garage, Osogbo and goes through Ikirun, Inisa, Okuku, Ijabe and terminate at Ila-Odo, the boundary of Osun and Kwara state. The dualisation of Gbongan-Akoda is a road project that hosts the Bisi Akande Trumpet bridge.

Commissioner for Works and Transport in the state, Engr. Kazeem Salami said the bridge has four pedestrian crossing facilities. The bridge connects those traveling on the Ibadan-Ile-Ife Expressway with those coming to Osun through Gbongan. The road, according to Salami, will have two layers of asphaltic surface with 60mm and 40mm thickness, street lighting, reinforced concrete side drain, culverts, ditches, landscaping and road marking signs. Over 1km of the road was filled with boulders.

In his address at the 20th anniversary celebration of the City Peoples Magazine in December 2016, Aregbesola said: “We rehabilitated and completed 230 states roads spanning 368 km. We partnered local governments to deliver 226 council roads across the 30 local governments and local council development areas with a combined length of 216 km.

Thus, we were able to construct more than 800 kilometres of quality, stone based roads with concrete drainages across the length and breadth of the state. Work is ongoing on the OrileOwu – Ijebu-Igbo Expressway; Osogbo – Ila-Odo, Kwara Boundary Expressway; Oba Adesoji Aderemi Ring Road; and Gbongan – Akoda Road.

“These are not just any roads that catch our fancy. They are roads carefully selected because they impacted the most on the social and economic activities of our people.” This is aside the Worlds Bank and French Development Agency Assisted Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (O’ RAMP) that is ongoing across the villages and settlements of the state”.

Also, Aregbesola has constructed a 2.8km Olaiya-Itaolookan road in Osogbo in honour of workers in the state civil service. The road is reconstructed by Aregbesola who named it ‘Workers Drive’ to show appreciation for their understanding, support and sacrifices during the financial crisis in the state.

SOCIAL INTERVENTION/ SECURITY Aregbesola’s social security programmes soar beyond Nigeria.

Recently, UNICEF sent a team to Osun to understudy the social security programme of Aregbesola’s •Continue on page 13

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OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

INTERVIEW

MONDAY NOVEMBER 27 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 2017

Informal Sector Has Received Attention In Osun - Iyaloja-General It is a known fact that within the last seven years in the State of Osun, the informal sector for the first time is having a closer relationship with the government. It is on this basis that the IyalojaGeneral in the state, Alhaja Awawu Oyebamiji Asindemade in an interview with Sola Jacobs gave her perception of the seven years administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Excerpts: OSDF: How has Market Women in Osun State fared within the last seven years under the Aregbesola administration?

Asindemade:- Since we’ve been having democratic government in this state, no government had given recognition and acceptance to the Market women in the state as Aregbesola government had done.

The recognition is overwhelming and he has promoted the status of Iyalojas.

We have been included in the scheme of thing knowing fully that we have a specific role to play towards the economic development of the state and governance generally as women.

I want to start that right from the inception of the administration, when the governor declared 90-day emergency on environment and sanitation, he included us. Prior to this time, we’ve engaged in monthly sanitation exercise in markets across the state which was ineffective, but when Aregbesola started his own policy on environmental sanitation in the markets across the state to promote healthy living and included us, things began to work well in that area.

Besides, the administration constructed a modern day market of international standard in Osogbo, known as Ayegbaju International Market, the first of its kind in the state.

The market has banking halls, police station, conveniences, church, mosque,

As an individual, I ventured into Local Government administration, having a different focus from what commonly obtains. I intend to give a new direction on how to run local government in a participatory manner that will galvanize the masses into having input into how their affairs are being run. In this wise, the local populace would be encouraged to understand its role as the main reason why local government has been established. This is to underscore the Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration’s bold step for the creation of additional 37 local council development areas and administrative offices in the State of Osun.

Not only should the people show concern and participate in how their resources are being managed and utilized by its appointed/elected officials, they should partner local councils in assessing more internally generated revenue to enhance improved service delivery by the councils.

Talking about new direction, it is my intention to remind local administrators (politicians and career staff) that local administration is not limited to sharing or allocating revenue for service delivery, but more importantly, it entails promulgating bye-laws for good governance. These days, no one talk about making byelaws any longer. As a matter of fact, most of the existing local government bye-laws are stale, especially those relating to rates and taxes. They call for urgent review if the new drive to look inward for internally generated revenue will have any meaning.

In order to improve the agricultural sector, local government has a serious role to play. It must review and enforce the existing bye-laws on bush burning and State of Osun Livestock Roaming Law to prevent rearing of animals

The administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola has boosted and expanded the economy of the state. The state had given free interest loans to the market women aside the federal government intervention. Also, other bodies through the collaborative stance of the state government have encourage agricultural production such as hatchery, piggery, fishery, fruits and vegetable production and others in which the Iyalojas across the state benefited as well.

•ASINDEMADE

fire station, hospital and eatery among others. All these are commendable and it has encouraged us to play our role towards the state economic development.

In other to banish unemployment among the youths, we were also deeply involved in the scheme, particularly in the recruitment of OYES cadets and we, at the informal sector had direct input in the recruitment exercise both in the local and state level. This is a big kudos to this administration.

OSDF: In your view, how has Osun economy fared under his administration?

Asindemade:- The administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola has boosted and expanded the economy of the state. The state had given free interest loans to the market women aside the federal government intervention. Also, other bodies through the collaborative stance of the state government have encourage agricultural production such as hatchery, piggery, fishery, fruits and

How LGs Should Be Run

•JAYEOLA

By Boyede Jayeola within human settlements. The latter has become very necessary now because the threat to effective use of fertile land close to towns and villages by sheep and goats has reached an alarming rate and it has to be checked.

Another serious social service local administration has to seriously contend with at this point in time relates to the education of our children and youths.

Apart from the payment of teachers salaries by local councils (involuntarily), and probably token inputs by a few local councils in form of provision of chalks, text books and exercise books, much is not being done to the regression being experienced in the primary education. While commending the bold step of Aregbesola’s administration towards

revamping education in Osun State, local councils should take up the challenge of complementing the Governor’s effort by showing more concern to what is happening in the various primary schools within their domain. They can do this by interacting with pupils and teachers, boosting the morale of the latter by providing logistic support to complement the effort of SUBEB. In specific terms, where resources permit, local government should finance School sports and Inter-schools debates.

Although local councils in Osun can make do with additional primary health centres, the existing ones are fairly sufficient if the issues of staffing and logistic supports are addressed. As a council head, it is my intention, if the revenue situation improves to place greater emphasis in stocking those centres with enough facilities to enhance better health service delivery to the people in the’ LCDA. The staffing problem is being taken up with the Local Government Service Commission, which understandably is being held up by fund constraint.

There is no gain-saying the fact that the most gruesome challenge being faced by virtually all local councils in the country today is the dwindling resources coming from the Federal Allocation Account. The alternative source is no doubt the internally generated revenue. In this regard, my administration has constituted the IGR committee for the council, which has recommended a review of existing rates and taxes to shore up the council’s revenue base. The council, in partnership with our traditional rulers, is considering the establishment of more markets, especially farm produce markets. The council is also taking

vegetable production and others in which the Iyalojas across the state benefited as well.

Aregbesola government also promote skill and entrepreneurial acquisition which make us not only sellers but producers of products and services.

Again, I must commend this government on provision of good road network across the state, the construction of 10 kilometre roads in all the cities and towns across the state, which have boosted our hope of more expansive economy.

In the education sector, we have never had it so good and have never thought that children of common man will sit and learn in state-of-the-art schools from elementary to high school across the state. Children will also be encouraged to go to the school.

OSDF: Is it true that the informal sector in the state is heavily taxed?

Asindemade:- No, we are not because we are in the committee that generate revenue in the state, so also other artisan groups and organisations. It is just that some people do not want to pay tax and yet they want government to provide amenities, it is not done that way. The only way the government can adequately provide for the citizen is for all of us to pay in line with our income.

We should cooperate with this government and ensure that the good work of this government continues.

advantage of its rural setting by sourcing for land for farming purposes to generate fund. Meanwhile, the citizens of the LCDA are being approached to come home to establish small scale industries to boost the community’s economy.

With believe and faith in the 6-point Integral Action Plan of Mr. Governor (to banish hunger, to banish unemployment (wealth creation), to restore healthy living, to promote functional education, and to enhance communal peace and progress), at the end of a workshop organized by the Legacy Group for all the Local Government Executive Secretaries in the State at Ijebu-Jesha recently, it was resolved in the communiqué issued that everyone would key into the laudable action plan.

As the chairman of the Forum of Executive Secretaries in the State, I will use my energy into encouraging my colleagues to place the Governors “Action Plan” in the front burner in the planning and execution of the annual budgets of their local councils. All council policies and bye-laws should also reflect the pursuit of these agenda which Mr. Governor has put in place to make Osun State the destination of choice for investors.

It is gratifying to note that Mr. Governor has fulfilled his pledge to the people of Osun State through the prosecution of unsurpassed massive physical structures (roads, bridges, school building(s), the O-projects’ (O’Meal, O’Job, O’Yes, etc). I am amazed at the speed at which he has transformed the State and wonder why the ill-informed complain of a Governor doing too much. Gomina seun o. Your critics have been dazed by your giant strides. History will not forget Aregbe in a hurry.

•Jayeola is Executive Secretary, Ejigbo South LCDA and ALGON Chairman, State of Osun.

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MONDAY NOVEMBER 27 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 2017

Social Media Addictions “I’m an addict, I just get lost in facebook” replies a young mother when asked why she does not see herself able to help her daughter with her home work. Instead, she spends time chatting and browsing the social networking sites with rising numbers of facebook, Twitter and Instagram users.

Africa is increasingly gaining prominence in the sphere of social networking. Qualitative analyses of relevant secondary data show that children and youths aged between 13 and 30 constitute Africa’s heaviest users of social media.

On internet, people engage in a variety of activities some of which may be potentially addictive. Rather than becoming addicted to the medium perse, some users may develop an addiction to specific activities they carry out online.

Addiction is a disease. The annoying and undying love youths have for social media is unprecedented. Most students have probably and almost forgotten the real spelling of some simple words and cannot improve on the ones they knew.

Most ladies feel more pressured to get known and popular online and are easily pressured or bullied to be sexually promiscuous while online in order to get attention from boys likes, comments and shares.

Online chats encourage sexual bullying. Interactions almost end up being sexualized, so it’s posting and self representation too, especially on instagram. Social media are killing the child in our children.

As you walk along major roads and streets, you will see them holding tight to their mobile phones and in public

Twitter: @d_real_dee Instagram: life_of_dee_ E-mail: damilolaojenike@gmail.com

transport buses their phones become their ultimate companions.

Specifically, we can argue that there are five different types of internet addiction, namely computer addiction (i.e. computer game addiction), cyber sexual addiction (i.e. online pornography), information download (i.e. web surfing addiction), online gambling and internet shopping addiction, and cyber-relationship addiction (i.e. an addiction to online relationships).

Now, social networking sites appear to fall on the last category. It may be plausible to speak on facebook, instagram, twitter, and Google because addiction criteria, such as neglect of personal life, mental preoccupation, escapism, mood modifying,, experiences, tolerance, and concealing

Fez Caps Hats might just be one of those fashion accessories that guys know of or have better knowledge about than women, because for us it can be very tricky. For w o m e n sometime, they just want to wear a fez cap also known as the baseball cap like the guys but it’s not easy.

A baseball cap is an easy outfit addition that when done right will take a basic ensemble from average to awesome.

Can you wear one with a dress?

What about a leather trouser or should you even wear any at all? The answer is yes as long as it is worn correctly. A fez cap can be that one accessory that sets you apart whether you are at a formal event or you are just running some errands.

Ladies baseball caps are not just for wearing to basketball games or baseball games. You can be creative with your fez caps and wear them in different styles, from cute,

Sex & Life

By Damilola Ojenike

sporty to fashionable. We all get bored with our hairstyles once in a while. What’s a faster way to change your look than putting on your baseball cap? But you need to be careful; styling a baseball isn’t easy at all. You can simply look weird if you don’t do it right. So let’s look at some of the best ways to wear a face cap. · Straightforward The nice thing about fez caps is that it can keep the sun out of your eyes. However this is maximized when you keep it facing forward. What does your angle say? That you are off centre?

Or that you l i k e geometry?

I personally do not care if popular celebrities are doing this. Point your cap in the direction that you are going. Now if the sun happens to be at one o’clock and you want to

the addictive behaviour, appear to be present in some people who use social networking sites excessively.

In terms of history, the first social networking site (six pegreas) was launched in 1997. In 2004, the most successful current networking site facebook, was established as a chased virtual community for Harvard students. The site expanded very quickly and now facebook currently have over 500 million users, of whom over 60 percent log on to it every day.

No doubt, the phenomenon of the social media has in no small measure, impacted positively on the development of the Nigerian youth and indeed, Nigerians at large. Youths have become better informed and educated by constantly abreast of global news.

It has also provided a platform for

unemployed youths to either be gainfully employed or become aware of job opportunities across the world.

Aside this, it has provided unlimited platform for genuine business transactions and has delivered people from abject poverty.

The positive sides are many but the negative sides, arguably are much more. The negative effects seem to take much heavier toll on the youths. From cyber bullying, which is alarming for the cultured teens to youths, people are constantly duped, kidnapped, raped, and even killed most especially by strangers who claim to be friends from these faked online personality.

From all said, everything in life has it positive and negative sides. We must try and maintain order by balancing in order to be on the good side. The social media has provided unlimited possibilities for Nigeria youths, however, in view of its shortcomings, it’s obvious, youths are to be carefully and continually enlightened on the good, the bad and the ugly sides of social media.

Parents, Guardians, NGO Government play major roles in the enlightenment and teaching of the balancing methods of the social media usage in order to properly harness the positive sides only for personal development. This would go a long way in reconstructing the child in our Nigerian children and youths at large.

maximize the functionality of your bill on a long walk, go for it otherwise noon. · Size WITH Wear things that fit.

It isn’t that hard, is it? I TEMITOPE know the trend today is to wear hats that are AKINYELE several sizes too large but this is not a bulb go on as he particular way to go through replied, “Oh, no, fashion. Manufacturers have I just like the produced caps in different hat”. This is sizes and so, all you need highly do is either adjust that unacceptable, snapback or select the wear a size that perfectly fits h a t your head. Not that because hard right? they are · Liking y o u r the Team team.

The other day I saw You owe a guy wearing that much ‘Manchester United’ fez to fans cap and I said: “hey I was who have rooting for your club the defended other day when they were their franchises playing against the Arsenal for decades and team”. Nothing!! No response. Blank lived through heartache expression. I said “Are you a Man-U and sorrow when they lose. fan? Your cap? This made the light Your hat doesn’t need to be too expensive, it definitely can stand out in terms of colour or print, you can as well throw some shades. Adding sunglasses into it makes this outfit cooler and always remember to choose classic footwear. Ladies, you can wear your baseball caps with a dress, striped or not, you can as well pair it up with a leather jacket, denim shorts, T-shirts and sneakers, skinny jeans and hoodie. The key is to match your sweater with a baseball cap of similar colour.

FASHION

MONDAY NOVEMBER 27 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 2017

CROSSFIRE

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

9

Aregbesola, Osun Salutes You Aregbesola Would Have Been A Fantastic

By Kunle Oyatomi Administrator, But … - Adejare Bello

under Aregbesola’s time in office. Today, there are more events November 27, 2017 centers, hotels and is the 7th entertainment facilities in anniversary of the state of Osun than there Ogbeni Rauf were 10 years ago. These A d e s o j i social facilities are as busy Aregbesola’s as ever and it will surprise assumption of office you to hear that some of as the governor of these places charge as the State of Osun. It much as N500, 000 per is more a seminal event!! Isn’t that an moment for indication that things are reflection and better now than before? assessment of the Aregbesola’s social welfare achievements of the programme is worthy of leader, the note. Helpless elderly government and the people are supported, party he has led thus widows are empowered to far. earn a living; even the This is not a period to disabled are not left out. give any attention to Children in primary schools are given a rich the critics. There had meal everyday that they been and there are •Barrister Kunle Oyatomi are in school. The impact of still many of them but their views are inconsequential for the this programme to feed school children purpose of this exercise. We are concerned resonated across the world. here mainly about what happened in Osun The British Parliament noticed, the United between November 27, 2010 and Nations agency applauded and the Federal November 27 2017 under the watch of Government has adopted the programme nationwide. Yet, what the fake news media Governor Aregbesola.

Whatever anyone thinks or would like propagate is the falsehood which others to believe, there is a reality on opponents of Aregbesola spread. ground which even lunatics should Now people accuse the governor of not recognise; the state of Osun has changed paying salaries. They argue that instead of dramatically. But some strange characters paying full salaries he is building schools, constructing roads and building M .K. O refuse to recognise this dramatic change.

Some people have been ravaged so much Abiola International airport. Some elite in Osun society are saying that the people by envy, anger and hate that they have seen nothing, absolutely nothing don’t need all the sophistication that good in EVERYTHING that Ogbeni Aregbesola is introducing into the state.

Aregbesola has done for the state. Their These conceited people want Osun to cynical disposition to what had been remain as Aregbesola met it and they are occurring in this state under the inciting one per cent of the population to charismatic leadership of Ogbeni spread hate across the state against the governor. But the harder they try to Aregbesola since 2010 is inexplicable. However, this category of demonize Aregbesola, he becomes more people is mostly the governor’s political popular. rivals and opponents, and a misguided We shall address the foolishness of this one per cent of Osun people who are waging a minority But Osun is greater than these people. The war of calumny against the governor in the majority of citizens of this state who have coming days and months. However, let eyes, a conscience and ability to appreciate these people be assured that their what they are seeing and experiencing have ingratitude and greed will be their undoing every reason to be grateful to God for in the near future. bringing Aregbesola on the scene to pull The rest of Osun people celebrate with the state out of the depths of stagnation, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the APC because the last seven years are a which bred poverty and backwardness.

A state that was practically obscure memorable period of articulate and suddenly leapt into the limelight with a responsible governance, which has made revolutionary approach to governance that the people not only proud but also grateful took his political opponents by storm and to God for progress made. flabbergasted political observers who were We are proud of what Ogbeni has done to not prepared for Aregbesola’s “re-branding the environment; we salute you for the of Osun state.” But more shocks were on human capital development that the state has had since 2010; we rejoice with parents the way.

In the process of implementing his six point and children for the wonderful school infrastructure that you have built and the integral action plan to * rich meals you are providing for them Banish poverty, * Banish hunger, *Create daily; God will continue to bless you, work and wealth, * Restore Ogbeni, for healthy living, * Promote functional the exquisite roads network you have education, * Enhance communal peace and constructed across the state, especially the progress, Aregbesola created a sensation. ones in Osogbo and other city centres He began a rebuilding and restoration which only fools do not appreciate. exercise unprecedented in scale and You have proved to the intelligent and astonishing in planning and the precision responsible world that even in of execution. crisis situation, you keep on thinking and This drove the opposition and the biased working to give the people of Osun a critics literally mad with envy, rage and respectable place in Yorubaland hatred. They threw all the mud they could particularly and Nigeria in general. Even find in Osun at Aregbesola, but he those in Osun who oppose you cannot but remained focused. admit that something different has The result? Tens of thousands of idle and happened in the state, which they unemployed youths were themselves cannot do because they don’t plucked off the streets. Crime rate have what it takes to govern responsibly. plummeted. A health emergency was As we celebrate the 7th year of your tenure declared to address an environment as governor of the State tragedy, which put citizens’ health of Osun, we note that in spite of the at grave risk. Investment on human capital financial constraints, you are still hard at development was intensified. Education work to complete all the projects you have was re-engineered, while the schools’ started, especially the road constructions. infrastructure was modernised.

We are not unaware that prominent people As you read this, over 800km of roads have amongst Osun elite on the opposite side been constructed since 2010 including the are working to undo what God has used marvellous network of mega high ways you to do in the state, THEY WILL FAIL. that link Osogbo directly with other city However, we urge you to ensure that the centers in the state. There is nobody who transition process is smooth left Osogbo 10 years ago and returns this and will produce a successor that will Christmas that would not be awestruck by continue where you stopped. God the transformation which has taken place will give you the wisdom to do what is under the leadership of Ogbeni right.

Aregbesola-led APC government.

Never in the history of this state has •Oyatomi is the Director, Publicity, Rebusiness activities been as bustling as search and Strategy, Osun APC.

Honourable Adejare Bello was the speaker of the 3rd and 4th House of Assembly in the State House of Assembly. In this interview with Shina Abubakar, he bears his mind on the seventh years administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and other issues in the state.

OSDF: You were the Speaker of the Osun House of Assembly when Ogbeni R a u f Aregbesola was d e c l a r e d Governor, seven years on, how would you assess the performance of the governor so far?

Adejare: To God be the Glory that we have come this far, I also thank God that I was the Speaker •BELLO at the time and it lasted for the first six months of his administration. Sincerely, Ogbeni Aregbesola would have been a fantastic administrator if God had given him the gift of listening to other peoples’ counsel. His major deficiency is not heeding to advice, besides that, he meant well for the state, he wanted to develop Osun in a hurry.

I told him at the beginning that Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola had the intention to embark on lofty projects but for the paucity of funds, even the loan he obtained from the UBA, that is N18.3billion, the House of Assembly had to force him to obtain the loan to embark on zonal roads, so when the Governor spoke of loan, I warned him to be wary of such steps because the state is not buoyant enough to incur such a huge debt.

As at last August, I know that the DMO office put the state debt profile at N179 billion apart from other debts such as the one obtain from the stock market, Sukuk, and debt-owed local contractors, I am certain the total debt profile of the state cannot be less than N250 billion and where are the projects the loan is expended on?

The major road projects this administration embarked upon are the Old Garage Ila-Odo road, GbonganAkoda dualisation and the East-Bye Pass road. Besides the East-bye pass road which the administration has done creditably well by reaching about 5060% completion, the two other roads are merely about 30% completion even after seven years of the administration.

The Gbongan-Akoda road is even worse, seven years after awarding the contract, the project is still within Gbongan, that is absurd, the poser to the administration is where is all the loan because the cost of the three road projects is not up to N60bn (GbonganAkoda; N29billion, Osogbo Ila-Odo; N14 billion and East bye pass; N14billion) that is if the amounts are not affected by variations. When you look at another major projects that we are all proud of that is the mega schools, is funded by counterpart fund between the state government and federal government.

OSDF: Cuts in…Sorry, the High Schools were funded with the Sukuk loan Adejare: Assuming you are correct that the Mega schools were executed with the sukuk loan, the government claimed it would build 120 of those schools, today, to my knowledge, only about 20 of the schools have been commissioned, where are the others? What did we

expend the loans on in the last seven years in the state.

For me, the governor is just not listening to other stakeholders in the state which, in my view, is the reason we are in this financial mess at this time in the history of the state.

I am also of the view that the decision of the governor to run this state like Lagos added to the problem the state finds itself. Lagos state can afford to borrow money at any rate; it has the financial strength to embark on such route unlike our dear state that is still to a large extent an agrarian state or even a rural state.

OSDF: Are you saying the Mega Schools built by the government were inappropriate despite the fact that the schools have been adjudged world class and can produce quality student?

Adejare: You cannot adjudge a school as world class because of the structure or the building, schools are judged based on their performance or output.

The position of the state in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) is an attestation to the world class standards of our schools in the country.

You see, most of these mega schools have not been utilised up to 50% of their capacity.

The Wole Soyinka High School in Ejigbo is built to accommodate 3500 students and the whole of Ejigbo Township do not have such huge numbers of high school students, while those in the adjoining towns cannot afford to be walking to the town to attend classes. The same scenario exists at the Seventh Day High school in Ede, Osogbo and the one in Ilesa that was recently commissioned.

OSDF: Cuts in…But Ondo State also build mega schools…

Adejare: Please, I don’t want to talk about Ondo state, the only places I know very well there are Ondo town and Akure. I am talking of Osun that I know the terrain too well and you are talking of Ondo State. I don’t know what they are doing there and how it works for them, but, here in osun where I know all the wards and what affects us most, I ll tell you the mega schools should not be our priority because the building are under-utilised and the workability of the policy was not well thought of before it was implemented.

OSDF: In recent times, the APC have always made it known publicly that it has performed better than all the previous administration, do you have a cause to disagree with the position?

Adejare: Well, in all honesty, in terms of physical structure, the seven years of this administration compared to others, it has done well, but the poser they need to answer is at what cost. The Oyinlolaled administration that I was a part of left a debt of only N7billion and our achievement speaks for itself, even the schools built through the Constituency projects is more than 1000 classrooms of three rooms, while local Government were also commissioned to build classrooms across the state; the •Continued on page 12

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NEWS

MONDAY NOVEMBER 27 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 2017

Osun Public School Students Emerge Winners Of Redeemers University Quiz Competition

By Damilola Olujide Adventists Government High School, Ede has emerged winners of this year’s annual quiz competition organised by the Redeemers University, Ede to mark the 2017 library week.

The competition, public schools are private where students made the outclassing to answer questions in school students in various subjects which academic competitions.

The keenly contested include: English Language, Mathematics, competition saw students Literature in English, of Osogbo Government Economics, Geography, High school proving that Commerce among others the huge investment of produced Osogbo government in the government high school education sector is not a waste as their opponents as first runner up.

With this feat, one can from private schools in easily say the huge the competition were no expenditure into the match for them.

It got to a stage that the education sector of Osun of the is yielding positive organisers results when students of competition could not

hide their surprise at the academic performance of the students from Osun public schools whom many present at the avenue thought would come last.

A spectator, Mr Falade Toriola who was visibly surprised at the academic prowess of the Osun public school students said he never expected students of public schools in the state to show so much maturity and brilliance in answering questions.

He said he is even more surprised that they could defeat students of private schools who many had thought would emerge winners at the

competition.

Mr Toriola added that the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has indeed turned around the education sector in Osun to the extent it is no longer necessary to go and pay exorbitant school fees in private schools which is now a waste of money.

According to him, “Sincerely speaking, I am amazed at what I have just experienced here today. For students of public schools to perform excellently well in an academic competition involving private school students.

“I have attended many academic competitions

We Have Significantly Surpassed PDP Performance - Osun APC

By Christianah Michael All Progressives Congress in the state of Osun has expressed confidence that ‘the economic and human development strides, which the Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola-led government has made in the last seven years, will be unstoppable with the people’s determination to sustain it’.

According to the party, “The citizens of this state Osun has come a long way must not allow those who in engineering change are backward-looking and from a poverty stricken selfish - especially political and backward community vultures, negatively to a significantly disposed to progress - to developing society of mislead them into hard-working and being careless about p r o g r e s s i v e - m i n d e d keeping pace with the people, doing everything developments and that they can, to better progress thus far achieved their lots. in Osun”.

The party advised that, This call for vigilance

was contained in a statement from the APC Directorate of Publicity, Research and Strategy signed by its Director, Kunle Oyatomi and made available to the media in Osogbo.

The party stated that, “to understand the magnitude of what has happened in Osun under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the people have to take a serious look at what this state was some eight years ago, to appreciate what it is now.

“Osun was one of the poorest and struggling

•L R; Chairman, Oyo State Education Trust Fund, Chief [Mrs] Nike Akande; Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi; his Deputy,Otunba Moses Adeyemo; Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Michael Adeyemo and Oba of Lagos,Oba Rilwan Akiolu during the Launching of 50 Billion Education Trust Fund in Oyo State held at the International Conference centre, University of Ibadan, recently.

PHOTO: IBRAHIM SUBARU

communities compared to many others in the country. Infrastructure was totally run-down; life was difficult, the human development index of the State was at best stagnant while economic activities were sluggish and unattractive to investors.

To worsen an already bad situation, environmental sanitation was horrible - so horrible that when the rains came, cities flooded, lives were lost and properties were destroyed. There was lamentation everywhere”, the APC recalled.

At the height of this tragedy’, the party continued in memory lane, “insecurity became the order of the day.

Violence and murder rocked cities and towns, and the people were terrified.

Then a God-sent relief came in 2010. The stolen electoral mandate of 2007 was eventually restored and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola became governor of Osun and the state came alive like never before.

The stimulus for a race to develop the state was electric’, the APC said, adding that, ‘what was thought impossible became a reality.

Osun Assembly Pledges Support To RUWESA

By Israel Afolabi The state of Osun House of Assembly has assured the state rural water and Environmental sanitation agency (RUWESA) of adequate support in its drive to make life better for people in the rural communities.

The Deputy Speaker, making life better for the Hon. Akintunde Adegboye people, particularly in the stated this while presiding rural communities.

He acknowledged the over the interactive meeting of the House Committee on policies put in place for the Water Resources, Rural execution of projects as he Development and urged the lawmakers to give Community Affairs and them time to fulfill their Officials of RUWESA at the promises.

However, the Chairman State House of Assembly Complex, Osogbo. of the Committee, Hon. Adegboye stated that the Debo Akanbi stated that the require purpose of the meeting was lawmakers to intimate the parliament explanation on the activities on the activities of the State of the agency, saying it will Rural Water and enable the legislators to Environmental Sanitation transmit relevant information about Agency (RUWESA).

In his remarks, the deputy government projects to the speaker appreciated the people in various effort of the agency as he constituencies in the state. noted the past and present According to him, “We initiatives of the agency at are so much concerned with

the grassroots, to make provision for potable water for their use”.

He noted the recent meetings between RUWESA and UNICEF in respect of projects to be executed in some Local Government in the State and also described the payment of N256 million counterpart funds as a good gesture by the state government of Osun.

He said, “The Federal Government just released the sum of N250 million for the provision of water in the state. We are highly impressed and believed that within six months the project will commence”, he added.

In their separate contributions, members of the committee demanded for more explanation on the maintenance policy put in place to ensure the sustenance of the projects, as well as the expectations of

other local governments in respect of projects associated with counterpart funding.

In his remarks, the Special Adviser to Governor on Water Rural and Environmental Sanitation, Mr Babatunde Ibirogba explained the activities of the agency with regards to its impact in rural areas in the state.

Ibirogba enumerated projects to be constructed in three local government areas which include OdoOtin, Ayedaade and Ifedayo.

He said hand-pump well and solar motorised pump are to be provided in the three local government areas in the State.

He added that the agency would inaugurate sensitisation and monitoring committees in the affected communities to monitor the project.

around Nigeria and I have never seen where students of public schools take students of private schools to the cleaners like this, this is amazing.

“I think the various interventions of the present administration in the education sector is beginning to yield positive results and kudos must be given to the governor.

“With this, I think it is no longer necessary for people to take their children to private schools where they pay huge amount as schools fees, public schools in Osun now stand shoulder to shoulder with the best private schools in the land” Mr Toriola stated.

Mr Festus Olajide who was represented at the event by the state acting Librarian, Mrs. Adefunke Kolawole stated that the outstanding performance of the students was a testimony of the potency of the qualitative and functional educational policy of Ogbeni Rauf

A r e g b e s o l a ’ s Administration.

He then called on members of the public to support government efforts and policies aimed at taking education to higher level in Osun.

“This is a testimony to the fact that the huge investment of Aregbesola in the education sector is yielding positive results.

Osun public school students can now compete with their peers from anywhere in the world.

“This competition which we have just witnessed is of very high standards and Osun public school students won it with ease against students from private schools, it goes a long way to underline the fact that things have i m p r o v e d tremendously.”We are proud of these students and are proud of the achievements of the present administration in the education sector”, he added.

Court Sentences Teenagers, Others for Illegal Refuse Dump

By Oluwapelumi Fasoyin Osun State Waste Management Agency has arraigned a 14 years old Hamzat Mutiu and 17 years old Azeez Opeyemi with other adults at the Osun state Magistrate court presided by Mr. Ayo Ayeni over Illegal refuse dump.

The teenagers have 7:00am at different been sentenced to a month locations within the state imprisonment in Ilesa capital.

He further disclosed prison custody for dumping wastes on the that the accused persons streets within the were all caught in the act jurisdiction of the state of of dumping refuse illegally on the streets and Osun.

The adults include: were apprehended by the Shittu Dorcas ,30, OWMA before they were Adepeju Adeshina ,23, brought to the court by Paulina Ona ,27, Damilola the help of other security Juwonlola ,34, Ayeni agencies.

He said the offence Ridwan ,22, Funmilola Kasali ,25, Oluwaseun committed is contrary to section 101 of the Osun Oni ,27, Ajayi Janet ,31, Environmental Rufai Fatima ,38, Ayegbaji state Practice Agency (OSEPA) Rukayat ,60,.

Other adults include: law 2002.

Although, the suspects Oyeyemi Monsurat ,26, Aishat Aderibigbe ,29, were not represented by Jimoh Jelilat ,24, Akeem any counsel, two of them Salisu ,20, Fakunle pleaded not guilty to the Ibikunle ,19, Ajayi Janet charges leveled against ,26, Rusikatu Oyejola ,31, them while the others Amudat Aderibigbe ,36, pleaded guilty.

However, the Ayo Adeyemi ,20, Joshua Oniyade ,33, Oluwaseun magistrate, Mr Ayo Ayeni rejected the plea of the Onibuki ,26, Fatima Rufai ,31, Risilatu Ayegbinle two accused person ,24, Seun Ajayi ,37, Bisi describing them as liars Olodan ,45, Jimoh Jelilat and sought for the trial of ,23, and Sabo Akeem ,20. all the suspects at once.

He then pronounced all The prosecutor, Mr Femi Ogunbamiwo told the accused persons the court that the accused guilty and sentenced persons committed the them to a month in prison offense on November 21, with an option of fine in 2017 between 4:30am and the sum of N10, 000 each.

PUBLIC NOTICE

CHANGE OF NAME

That my correct name is IMONG MAVIS EMMANUEL, but my name was mistakenly written as EDOKI MAVIS VINCENT on my BVN. But wish Union Bank, NYSC and General public know that my name is IMONG MAVIS EMMANUEL.

That I formerly known and addresed as KEHINDE AKINSANYA SAMUEL, and My Date of Birth was mistakenly written as 29th day of JUNE, 1978, but now wish to be known and addressed as KEHINDE OLAKUNLE SAMUEL. With my correct Date of Birth, 29th day of JUNE 1976, All former documents remain valid. G.T Bank and General public should take note.

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Aregbesola Would Have Been A Fantastic Administrator, But …

•Continued from page 9 administration dualised the AkodaOsogbo road, Dele Yes Sir to Oke Fia dualisation, 28Km road network in Odo-Otin Local Government as well as other projects across the state. All of these were executed at moderate prices unlike now that a kilometre of road goes for about a billion naira. So in general, PDP’s projects are cost effective unlike what is happening now.

OSDF: Cuts in…May be you are not considering foreign exchange Adejare: You cannot bring that into this discussion, as at the time the contracts were awarded the ranges were about the same between N150 to a dollar during Oyinlola and N200 when Aregbesola took over. And the major product used in these projects is cement because it is central to all construction

‘

The PDP that is supposed to be the major opposition party to keep the ruling party on its heels is consumed in internal crisis, do you see the PDP emerging from this crisis at all?

’

projects.

OSDF: The PDP that is supposed to be the major opposition party to keep the ruling party on its heels is consumed in internal crisis, do you see the PDP emerging from this crisis at all?

Adejare: In all honesty, the PDP in the state is in a serious crisis presently, when you called me on Monday I was in Abuja seeking a way to resolve the crisis and we hope to get over it very soon. I want to assure you that with the crisis or not, the PDP will bounce back to rule the state in 2018.

OSDF: How do you intend to do that?

Adejare: Honestly I don’t know, but what is certain to me is that we will take over the administration of this state in 2018, God has revealed that to me.

OSDF: Would your party participate in the local government poll schedule to hold in January next year?

Adejare: Yes and No. we have registered to signify our readiness to take part in the process, but the guideline as to the parliamentary system, to us, is an affront on the provision of the constitution and we may seek legal interpretation of the constitution on the issue.

OSDF: As a former speaker, do you believe the amendment done to the local government administration law by the present legislature is valid?

Adejare: What the lawmakers did to that law was a nullity but when it is not yet time to challenge their decision we watch on but as it is now we would go to the court to seek their opinion on the law because it run at variance to the constitution of the land and no legislative body whether at the state or federal level can pass a law that is at variant with the constitution of the land.

You 'll Get Adequate Attention, Odo-Otin North ES Assures Traditional Institution The Executive Secretary Odo Otin North Local department, Engineer among others.

Council Development Area (LCDA), Mr Seriki Taofeek his show of Adeyemo In Akeem has reaffirmed his administration’s highlighted the appreciation, the Onilacommitment to give traditional institutions contribution of the Odo of Ila-Odo, Oba adequate attention with a view to empowering council to the completion Joseph Afolabi Adekanye traditional rulers toward mobilising the people for of the palace, which, appreciated the development. according to him commitment of the caretaker painting, council According to a statement various towns and included, ceiling work, floor tiles m a n a g e m e n t by the HOD, Social villages. commitment in and electrical works Development and The Head of Works Information of the council, Samuel Abioye, Seriki said part of the ways to encourage them monarchs was to ensure provision of basic infrastructure and social Urging residents to The Caretaker Management team of Ife Central amenities for their palaces and towns within West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in the embark on viable projects State of Osun, led by Olubisi Oladosu has disbursed that would benefit their the available resources.

The council boss made a total sum of N600,000 to two different communities communities, he said his administration was ready this assertion during the in the council for developmental project. inspection visit to the According to a that the people live better to support their efforts the more by giving out grants newly-completed Onila- statement by the lives.

Odo of Ila-Odo palace Information Officer of the which the council council, Mrs. Sola undertook to complete, Aderinlewo, the just as he assured that his communities are, Fajuyi

By Sunday Obalodu administration would community which are in continue to spread need of transformer The Executive Secretary, Atakumosa West developmental projects installation and Surulere community, Aba Iya Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA), across the council area.

Mr Anthony Adeboye has revealed that his According to him, Gani, Oke Opa, Ile Ife traditional rulers have where the dwellers administration has started grading of road network significant roles to play in needed to complete their to ease transportation in the council. the development of the primary health center for He stated this while Aregbesola of the state. council, the state and the use of the people.

While distributing the speaking with The LCDA helmsman nation in general, saying fund to support the journalists in his office who noted that the major there is the need to give the saying, them all the necessary communities, his occupation of the people encouragement to Executive Secretary of the administration would in the area is perform their roles council, Olubisi Oladosu follow strictly the six Agriculture, said that for said the gesture was part towards the points integral action farmers to have free development of their of the commitment of his plan of Governor Rauf access to transport their administration to ensure

encouraging traditional rulers to play their roles as very important stakeholders in the development of the council area.

Those on the entourage of the Executive Secretary were, members of the caretaker

management committee, Ibiyemi Tajudeen, Enoch Oyelere, Ganiyu Omotoso, Mrs Christiana Abioye, the APC youth leader, as well as the Council Manager, Mrs Ikeola Adedeji among others.

Ife Central West Disburses Fund To Communities For Developmental Projects which would make life more comfortable and meaningful for them.

The council boss then emphasised the need for the council boss to try as much as possible to use the grant given to them judiciously, just as he charged them to maintain

and sustain the projects.

The Council Manager, Surveyor Israel Adepoju in his remark advised every community member to try as much as possible to work for the development of their community and make tolerance and cooperation their area of priority.

Atakumosa West LG Begins Grading Of Rural Roads farm produce to urban areas, there must be good road network to their various farm settlements.

The council boss noted that his administration would not relent in ensuring that the people of the council enjoy dividends of democracy.

Adeboye also lauded Governor Rauf Aregbesola on his commitment towards

provision of medical facilities, sound education, road c o n s t r u c t i o n , environmental sanitation and youths/ women empowerment.

He however promises to provide the best services to the people of the council area in the area of Agriculture, Health, Education and Grading of Road network among others.

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MAGAZINE

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The Story Of Aregbesola’s Seven Years

•Continued from page 7

administration. The governor was lauded on programmes like OYES, O MEAL, O’ Ambulance, Agba Osun and many other programme.

OYES Aregbesola in less than 100 day in his first term established as promised Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) through which 20, 000 cadets were employed into the public works.

Another set of 20, 000 unemployed youths were engaged, rounding up the figure to 40, 000. The OYES cadets were given safe landing with jobs in teaching, various agriculture schemes and ICT. For this, Osun now has one of the least unemployment figures in Nigeria while the state is also among those with the lowest crimes rate. The N200 million monthly allowances paid to the cadets percolate the economy of Osun and shot it up to the seventh largest GDP in Nigeria.

O’ MEAL Osun is one of the states that pioneered the free school feeding programme. In the programme, healthy and nutritious meals are being served to 262,000 elementary 1-4 pupils in all public schools in the state, every school day. This programme, called O’MEALS cost the government of Osun N3.6 billion per annum. O’ MEAL integrated into the agriculture and economic empowerment programmes of the state. This is because under it, 3,007 food vendors were engaged and trained to cook healthy and hygienic food for the pupils. To be able to feed these pupils, 15,000 whole chickens, 254,000 eggs, 35 herds of cattle and 40 tonnes of catfish are weekly bought off farmers and other producers in this state.

O’MEALS is so successful that it attracted the attention of Partnership for Child Development (PCD) of Imperial College, London and the World Bank, both of whom have supported it and recommended it to other states and countries, as part of Millennium Development Goals.

Aregbesola has also been invited twice by the British Parliament to speak on the programme. Osun has also been the template for its national rollout.

Earlier this year, Osun has hosted and trained officials from other states other states preparing to launch this programme in their respective states.

O’AMBULANCE

Osun is one of the states that pioneered the free school feeding programme. In the programme, healthy and nutritious meals are being served to 262,000 elementary 1-4 pupils in all public schools in the state, every school day.

In February 2013, Governor Aregbesola launched 50 State-of-theArt ambulance vehicles as part of the state’s Ambulance Service Scheme tagged O’ Ambulance. The ambulances were stationed in strategic places on highways and across the local government. The O’ Ambulance had saved more than 4000 lives. The Director General of O’Ambulance, Mr. Akinloye, said the scheme rescued more than 2000 people in 2016 through its prompt rescue operations during emergencies across the state.

Agba Osun Agba Osun is a social welfare programme targeted to cater for the highly vulnerable elders who do not have guardian support. The scheme provided monetary support to 1,602 elders as well as free and personal medical attention. Osun is one of few states running such scheme in the country.

HEALTH Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, the State of Osun Commissioner for Health, spoke on Governor Rauf Aregbesola achievements in the health sector, saying the administration has brought a radical transformation into the health sector. According to him, Aregbesola has built Primary health centres in Ogbaagba, Erin-Ijesha, Erin-Ile/ErinOke and about nine comprehensive health centres were equipped with modern day equipment. To comprehend the effort on the OAmbulance scheme, Aregbesola built emergency unit in State Hospital Asubiaro. In 2014 Aregbesola bought about 100 handheld scanners which were distributed to rural areas outside the cities and Asubiaro State hospitals.

Isamotu said: “We bought four 3-D Duplad scanners which were distributed according to the Senatorial districts; one was given to Iwo, Ilesha and Asubiaro then the fourth one was given to LAUTECH Teaching Hospital here in Osogbo.

“We also built tuberculosis control centre in Ilesa west. As a policy, government make sure that anyone treated of leprosy and tuberculosis in the state, all get drugs free of charge, while diagnosis and treatments of HIV/AIDS in our state is also free.

“In 2013, about 1.4 million long lasting insecticidal nets were distributed. Periodically we trained members from the O-YES scheme on house fumigation. This year in conjunction with Global Fund, Catholic Relief Services, Society for Family Health, they gave us about 4 million insecticidal nets.

“We have also encouraged ‘Surgical and Medical Mission’ with the help of an NGO called Hope Flow Initiative headed by Dr. Simeon Afolayan, we use to do what we called Surgical Jamborees in which we go to all the State and General Hospitals to do free surgical operations, surgeries that won’t require hospital admission like anaemia, breast lump; occasionally pregnant women during this period, second stage of labour will be attended to.

“Between June and July this year, we covered all the nine State hospitals and the grand finale was done in Asubiaro.

We have started this since 2010. We also distributed free eye glasses in 2012.”

SECURITY The primary responsibility of every government, as stated by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is provision of security for the safety of life and property of the citizenry. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently rated Osun as the state with the lowest crime rate in Nigeria. The report commended and compliment Aregbesola’s commitment to providing adequate security for the people of the state.

Aregbesola purchased and distributed 125 patrol vehicles to security agencies in the state and

specifically provided 25 fully equipped Armoured Personnel Carriers to the state Police Command. The Aregbesola’s intervention in security system in the state is responsible for the peaceful atmosphere of the state.

MKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT The MKO International Airport at Ido-Osun is a landmark achievement of Aregbesola’s administration.

During the recent signing of concession agreement on the construction of the airport with All Works of Life International Limited, Aregbesola said the taking over of the airport by AWOL was a divine intervention for the fulfillment of his administration’s dream to make Osun economically viable and self-sufficient.

AWOL Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Nurudeen Ogunlade said the state government has no financial commitment to the construction of the airport, explaining that the concession agreement reached by the two parties excused the state of committing any amount to the airport. He said the airport would hence be constructed and funded 100 per cent by his company through the Turkish government, maintaining that they would build, operate and transfer the airport to the government.

Besides, the state government would earn five per cent of the profit of the airport, Land rent, collect tax and other necessary dues will be committed to the government before the transfer.

According to Ogunlade, the first phase of the airport would be completed in eight months time and would begin to operate, adding that construction work had started at the airport site in earnest.

He disclosed that the facilities at the airport will include an ultramodern commercial complex, terminal buildings, control tower, standard civil infrastructure, construction of maintenance building and power house, staff training centre, fire fighting station, security infrastructure, apron and taxiways and dual carriage road from Oba Adesoji Aderemi road to the airport.

NELSON MANDELA FREEDOM PARK The Nelson Mandela Freedom Park is a long expanse of sprawling beauty, spanning a huge land mass. The park replaced the popular Ojurin which was synonymous with ramshackle structures, destitute and beggars and car parks as well as street traders long the edges of the road, proliferation of miscreants and hoodlums and a very dirty and haphazard arrangement, giving the place the look of a ghetto.

The Aregbesola’s administration rebuilt and redesigned the popular ojurin to an amazing recreation spot that can be described as an unraveling profile in tourist beauty. This long stretch beautifully sculpted and designed, encapsulates the culture, history and essence of what Osun stands for in a modern and standardised mode. The recreational and aesthetic beauty of the park is a testimony of a huge turnaround in planning, beautification, aesthetics as well as cultural history and social facilities, making it a regular point of call for different classes of citizen and creating an opportunity for a night out in a safe environment among the people.

AGRICULTURE With a vision “to make Osun the food basket of the South West”, Governor Aregbesola has so far •Continued on page 30

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INTERVIEWS

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Aregbesola Has Placed Osun On Pedestal Of Development From the legislative perspective, the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam in this interview with ISRAEL AFOLABI spoke on the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the last seven years. Excerpt Salaam: I think we should be tolerant OSDF: In assessing the Rauf Aregbesola, APC-led administration in Osun in the last seven years, what will be your take?

Salaam: It’s been seven eventful years and it has been promises made, promises kept. We could all see that the first tenure was used for strategic planning, methodical execution and serious development spadework.

Aregbesola long before assumption of office had drawn up his plans for the development of the state. He started from the scratch, laying foundation for intangibles in terms of identity and self awareness - state anthem, flag and crest that tell our story, qualitative education, roads and infrastructure, empowerment and innovation and we are glad that some of the programmes were copied by the federal government and some international bodies.

Besides, the State capital, Osogbo, our collective heritage and centre of convergence has been turned to a city proper and it can now be compared with any beautiful state capital in the federation, unlike a glorified village that was bequeathed to this administration.

As for the state parliament, we are glad to be part of the development, as our cooperation provides synergy between the two arms of the government to work together, because we are all craving for development. I think Aregbesola has blazed the trail in the delivery of solid and intangible dividends of democracy in the last seven years.

OSDF: How would you rate the state Assembly under your watch?

Salaam: Excellent. Yes, I mark the parliament under my watch the best

‘

One thing is that, the programmes of the government are intertwined and to stand on one will be hard, but without derating, education and infrastructure development seem to be the master piece.

’

•SALAAM

ever at the risk of being accused of blowing my trumpet. The reality on ground attests to the fact that we have done our best for the state in the last few years.

It is very convenient for members to embark on selfish agenda by making some of the celebrated projects impossible, giving excuses based on constituency projects or any other issue, but members suppressed their individual’s interest for collective good of all.

Yes, our governor performs so well, but I give the credit to God and the fifth and sixth House of Assembly under my leadership.

OSDF: Which sector of government would you laud for doing well?

Salaam: I think education got the attention of the government and government invested hugely on it, but

I am not surprised, because if a better generation is to be anticipated and seen the better way to go is to restructure education.

Infrastructure got a good attention and there is a huge investment in it too, but because Osun is big, it will take some years of consistency for us to brave the weather of bad road completely.

Besides, the ten kilometre road project for each local government in the state has become a novel that must continued.

One thing is that, the programmes of the government are intertwined and to stand on one will be hard, but without derating, education and infrastructure development seem to be the master piece.

OSDF: How do you describe critics of Governor Aregbesola on his style the running of the state?

of the opposition, though the opposition most times do overstep their bounds, they still must play their role as opposition; what is not tenable is destructive engagement they indulge in on some occasions and I think the electorate are wiser now. So, those who are criticising Aregbesola administration are doing so for political relevance, I will only advise them to be reasonable and talk with facts, not fallacies.

OSDF: How many laws have been passed so far since you assume Speakership?

Salaam: We have passed not less than 45 bills to laws and we are still working on some. But let it be known that our jobs transcends just that, it also include dispute resolution, go-between government and institutions, oversight functions and some others.

OSDF: What is the relationship between the Assembly and the executive now?

Salaam: Our relationship is perfect.

We have a way of interacting on any given issue and members of the executive arm respect us as a legislature, that’s why some cynics dub us “rubber stamp”. Do we care about that? No! Besides, our relationship has given the state the best of development you can think of.

OSDF: What can you tell the citizens of this state as a leader?

Salaam: I am to thank our people for making good governance possible and I still want to implore them to continue to support our government, because continuity of our tendency as a party in power is what can fast track development in every nook and cranny.

Nothing Special Has Been Achieved In Seven Years - Minority Leader In Assessing the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola within the last seven years in the State of Osun, the Minority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Safiriyu Akinwole Akinwale, representing Ife-East Constituency, spoke with ISRAEL AFOLABI on the performance of the administration and its relationship with the legislature. Excerpt: OSDF: What is your assessment of the APC-led government in Osun in the last seven years?

Akinwale: The administration of the APC in Osun in the last seven years. has performed averagely in delivering the dividends of democracy to the masses.

If I would rate the performance of this administration base on percentage, this government can be scored 50 per cent.

However, nothing special has been done to make this administration stands out than the past administrations. The so-called innovations introduced by this administration have rather brought some setbacks to the state in such sectors. Many have even plugged the state into huge debts locally and internationally which shall take the next 25years to settle.

OSDF: Are you saying there is no area of governance where you see this administration perform very well?

Akinwale: Sincerely, this government has not done anything excellently in any sector. But objectively, some innovation have been introduced in some sectors which are very good, while in that same sectors, some things have also been done which have brought major setback to the sector. Looking at health sector, the idea of O’Ambulance is a very nice and good one, but in that same health sector, how many Maternity Centres/ State Government Hospitals are in good conditions with necessary equipments and drugs? How many months in this year has the Medical Doctors gone on

‘

Objectively, some innovation have been introduced in some sectors which are very good, while in that same sectors, some things have also been done which have brought major setback to the sector.

’

strike? All these are the setback to the sector.

Also in the Education Sector, yes, the government introduced Mega Schools which are good, yet, what is the current position of the State in the current WAEC ranking in Nigeria compared to the past administrations? In Agricultural Sector, nothing to show to make this administration stands out.

Commerce and Industries is zero. On Works and Transport, this administration only focused on the development of the State capital. How

•AKINWALE many cities in the state have received the touch of the government through the scheme called O’Renewal?

OSDF: You mean your criticism against the administration is well justified?

Akinwale: I see nothing bad in that, the opposition parties and the entire citizens of the State have their rights to comment or react to any government in the land where some things are seeing to be wrong. Even criticisms help to keep the government on its toes and help to correct the abnormalities of

ruling government, as least for a listening government.

OSDF: If you are to rate the House of Assembly of which you are one, interms of the roles it has played, what will be your take?

Akinwale: This 6th Assembly is doing wonderfully well, though, still below the expectations of the masses.

You would be aware that this Assembly has just two members from the opposition party, while members from the ruling party are 24. So, it is obvious that this parliament is dominated by APC, there is imbalance. This is one of the reasons why the Legislative arm of government is really unable to put enough checks on the activities of the executive arm under the reign of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. On so many occasions, the executive arm had done some things even without the consent of the legislative arm. If we the opposition raise alarm, most are not successful due to our number in the house unlike when there is balance in the house.

OSDF: In all, how will you rate the relationship between the Executive and the Legislature in the house?

Akinwale: Not that good, due to the kind of treatments the legislative arm is receiving from the Executive. We are being deprived of many entitlements which are supposed to help to ensure effective discharge of our legislative duties.

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PERSPECTIVES

Aregbesola Has Been Fair To All Religions - Osun Muslim Community The First Vice President, Osun Muslim Community, Alhaji Mustapha Olawuyi spoke with Abdullahi Omotayo on his assessment of Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration.

Osdf: What is your assessment of Governor Aregbesola administration in the past seven years?

Olawuyi: I can see that the administration has contributed a lot to the development of the state. Leadership is not a joke but it is a call to duty and once the call is made, to a certain extent a quality leader is suppose to be elected.

Prior to his administration, many lives have been lost as a result of insecurity and political thuggery.

Most of the banks in Osun have been robbed, especially in Ikirun and other areas, but when he got into power, protection of lives and property was one area he considered. In the area of security, he has really tried and I •OLAWUYI implore the governor not to relent.

Before Aregbe’s administration, Osun state’s position in WAEC was not encouraging, it was always between 30th to 36thposition. But this time around, it has changed and it will continue, even though there are still works to do in the education sector. Aregbe’s administration introduced the school feeding programmes before other states adopted it so as to encourage students.

At the elementary, middle and senior level of education in state of Osun, there is a noticeable change to the style of dressing compared to the way it was then. Some parents are not bothered to spend on their children’s education because of Aregbe’s contribution but government cannot do all without the support of parents.

Aside from that, let’s look at the infrastructure of the new and rehabilitated schools and other projects, quality is one thing that I noticed and is similar to the quality saw overseas. Those building can last for up to 25 years if we cultivate the proper maintenance and sustainability culture of the project. One of the problem we have is policy change from time to time.

When we have a change of government, the new government brings in new policy which might destroy the previous one. When Aregbe introduced the tablet of knowledge (Opon Imo) but with the Nigerian factor, the students find their way around the tablet and make it accessible to their entertainment needs. I am a chairman of PTA in a secondary school in Ikirun and we worked so much to get tablets for our students. The Governor has done his job but it’s the parents’ duty to ensure that these tablets meet the desired usefulness. Had it been the parents paid to get the tablet for their children, maybe they would have cared more about the tab. But I am imploring the governor to reintroduce the tablet of knowledge and make it limited for learning programmes only. Also students should be sanctioned for damaging the tablet.

Also in the area of road, there has been major transformation. My last trip to Ibadan, when I got to Gbongan area, if you notice the Gbongan junction, millions of naira have been invested into that location. As an engineer, I know the quality job that was done there. I hope Aregbe’s successor will take over from where he stops without politicising.

However, when you build structure, you also build human. Civil servants are not happy, level 1-7 are getting 100% of their salary regularly, level 8-12 are getting 75%

while others from level 13 and above are getting 50% as agreed with the Labour. But the pensioners can’t endure this because they are old and feeble to work. If you get to an aged person’s table, the number of drugs used per day is up to start a pharmacy store. I implore the governor to kindly work in this area.

The youth empowerment programme, OYES, which employed 20,000 youths within the state, up till this moment, still exists and so obvious that without being a political person, one or two youths from each family must have benefitted from this programme. Some of these youths have been sent abroad for further training in various fields like ICT, agriculture, etc with the expectation of giving back to their society.

Osdf: What can you say about Governor Aregbe’s fairness to all in religions?

Olawuyi: When Aregbe got into power, after winning in court, we had our Hijrah programme. Because of the nature of the programme, we didn’t want to disturb the government for sponsorship, we held the programme within our capacity. The following year, Aregbe came by himself without invitation. Ever since, he has always contributed towards this annual celebration.

The same way he is doing for the Muslims, so he is for the Christians. So, he has been fair to all religion.

Osdf: What’s your message to the people?

Olawuyi: I have said most of it, something good should be recognised as good. Let us appreciate what is good. We shouldn’t be looking for flaws in government. No one is perfect. Let’s all support the government, let’s ensure peace during the local government and governorship election. Also, we should all pay tax for the development of the state and we should ensure harmony in practicing our various religions. When we talk of Boko Haram, Islam doesn’t have anything to do with that. In Uganda for instance, there is law resisting army that has been against the government for over 30 years with the purpose of establishing Jesus’ rule on earth.

No one referred to them as terrorist Christian fighters.

I have said most of it, something good should be recognised as good. Let us appreciate what is good. We shouldn’t be looking for flaws in government.

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Our Rapport With Government Is Smooth - Baptist Conference It has been seven years since the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came into office on the 27th of November, 2010. In these years, many waters have passed through the bridge and some have been sweet, some bitter and some sour.

In this interview with Pastor Paul Kolawole, President Osun Baptist Conference, FRANCIS EZEDIUNO sought to get the views of citizens from the Christian perspective on how it has been in these seven years.

OSDF: From 2010 till now in your perspective, what to you are the good, the bad and the ugly side of this administration so far?

Kolawole: Thank God, government comes and goes. I could see that from the p r e s e n t administration, the things that are good are numerous. The efficient system of road network and efforts of the government to ensure upliftment in •KOLAWOLE the educational sector in terms of physical structures is a major achievement for the administration.

Government efforts to secure employment opportunities for the youths, is also quite commendable.

In terms of stability and peaceful coexistence, as well as enjoyment of relative peace in the state, we rarely had communal crises. All of these are some of the good sides of this government that I can point to.

On the other side, I can say there are some things the government had done which did not go down well with the citizenry, for example, the welfare of the civil servants.

Even though, the government made us understand that they have made an agreement with the civil servants which resulted to the issue of modulated salary payment but we know that it has not gone down well with the people particularly workers.

The truth is that the issue of civil servants welfare is having a ripple effect on other segments of the society.

OSDF: What aspect would you have wished that this administration concentrate on to better the lots of its citizens?

Kolawole: Let me commend the government on its efforts to satisfy the citizens in terms of youth employment, in terms of making life conducive for both rural and urban dwellers. But personally, I will prefer the government to concentrate more on finding ways to boost our local economy. In Osun, we are not economically buoyant. Most people in the state are civil servants and that is not helping the economy of the state.

I expect a situation where agro-allied industries are in abundance. There are a lot of things we can do if we want to concentrate on agro based industries and food processing industries.

I believe if the government can delve into this, it will help our economy and create more employment opportunities for the youths. It will also enable government to satisfy the yearnings of the civil service.

Closely related to that is the aspect of empowerment. I expect the government to

We have some fora where we meet with the government and give our own inputs and ideas and they listen

seek different avenues to empower our youths for better service. We started with OYES but by now, I expected the government to have advanced more than that level so that it will not be permanent type of empowerment.

OSDF: How will you rate the relationship between the administration and the Christian community in this state?

Kolawole: Let me say as a body, the government is doing its best to satisfy the needs of the Christian community. I may not be able to say to what extent but what I know is that government did not close the gate to the body. Anytime we want to make requests from the government, the door is always open.

Sometimes, there may be request which the government may not be able to accept and address. For example, we clamoured for the return of mission schools, which it could not address because of its policy, government declined that request.

Generally speaking, the door is always open. We have some fora where we meet with the government and give our own inputs and ideas and they listen except for some other critical areas where government make us understand that this is how they want it and they cannot accept what we brought.

OSDF: There has not been mass retrenchment of civil servants in the past 7 years is this a thumbs-up for this administration?

Kolawole: I want to commend the government for stabilising the work force in the state. We know what is happening in neighbouring states. We are aware of the hardships they pass through. I will say ours is better than many other states and I want to commend the government for that.

On the overall, I think the government is trying to stabilise the workforce to reach a kind of equilibrium based on what is coming in and what it can expend in order to use the remaining part of the money for other capital projects.

OSDF: What areas would you advice any incoming government to make amends?

Kolawole: One is the aspect of trying to make governance meaningful. The dividends of democracy should reach the grassroot level. People should be able to enjoy it.

There is an expression I heard where a renowned Professor expounded that governance should be 10% politics and 90% economics. In Nigeria, in most cases it is vice-versa where we have a lot of concentration on politics and that is affecting the economy.

I will expect our governor to look into the possibility of making a paradigm shift where economic progression would form the major basis of governance.

The other issue is on education. There is no other way to better education than to make consultations with those who understand the rudiments of education.

This is to avoid putting the cart before the horse. If we want to lay a very firm foundation educationally, we should prioritise, so as to avoid implementing what ought to be a last option as a major priority to the detriment of others.

We should set our priorities right when it comes to educational policies in our state and country.

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Aregbesola Gave Us The Freedom To Practice Our Belief - Traditionalist Religion is the way of life of people which centered on the belief about a Supreme Being. In most times it is referred to as the opium of the people, as it bothered on do’s and don’t. Nigerians are religious and there are three types that are prominent among the people. Islam and Christianity seems to be more pronounced, nevertheless the traditional religion is being practiced by its faithful. In this interview with Sola Jacobs the President Traditional Religious Worshippers Association in the State of Osun (TRWASO), Oba Olawumi Bamijogbin Alao, the Akire of Ife gives insight into religions harmony and governance of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and lots more OSDF: What has been the contribution of the traditional worshipper to the governance in the state?

BAMIJOGBIN: Just like any other citizen, we have contributed positively to the economic, political, educational, religious and social life of the state. We are law abiding, we are tax-payers, some of us are civil servants, professionals artisans, farmers, market women, traditional rulers and chiefs.

We mould the behaviour of the people and teach them to have respect for sanity of life. Any genuine traditionalist, will not lie, engage in corrupt practices, involve in crimes or break the law of the land.

Our religion is about our positive values that Africans are noted for and we respect family lives.

OSDF: Why the initiation of Isese Day by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola?

BAMIJOGBIN: We thank God for the enthronement of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the governor of this state in the last seven years and also I commend him for deeming it fit to make right all the wrong that was done to us (traditional worshipers).

Eledumare had only used him to foster religious harmony and to make peace reign as it ought to be in the state.

He is a messenger of peace and a peace-loving governor, who will not condone injustice or infringe on people’s right as enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria. For so long, we, the traditional worshippers are being labelled as heathen and so we are concealed to the dustbin of history, whereas faithful of other religion who termed us as heathen also believe in the traditional gods in one way or the other, but this government has harmonised all traditional worshippers in the state, fosters unity among us and other religious bodies in the state. Now, no citizen in the state can say, he or she does not have say in governance as all religious bodies are given recognition and roles to play in the governance.

Asides, I want to commend the prudent, proactive stance, foresight, vision and the doggedness of the governor; Osun State had never been the same in terms of provision of good road network, building of modern schools, opening of rural roads, investment in Agriculture, provision of loans to artisans and market women, good security to attract investors in the state, maintaining peace and harmony among the people of the state and much more.

OSDF: There were cases of kidnapping by human ritualists, who are majorly from your circle as traditionalists, what are you doing as a body to curtail this ugly trend?

BAMIJOGBIN: I want to tell you that all those criminals are not our people, you can check it from their names, they belong to other religious

•BAMIJOGBIN sects. Real traditionalist fears Eledumare, the author of life and the Supreme Being who will call you to account any day.

No deity support criminal activities, or asked you not to respect the value of life. No one must take life, except Olodumare the Supreme Being. A real traditionalist cannot be promiscuous, must not engage in any dubious acts and sorts. In Ogboni sects, which I am also a member, if you are truly Ogboni, you will not do evil, it is a holy cult because the owner of the house whom we profess, “Ogbodu Ora” will catch up with the people. So we are at war with people who use the shade “Traditionalist” to do evil in the state.

The media should partner with the traditionalist as well, any criminal caught either as ritualist or kidnapper, ask him who is the head of his sect i.e. priest and his worship centre. Just as you have in other religion, he must have a place of worship and priest in charge of his worship centre, but you will find out that this kind of people do not have worship centre and priest, so they are fake.

Moreso, the law enforcement agents needs to contact our secretariat in the state, if they arrest any criminal who claimed to be a traditionalist to verify their claims, as they will find out that most of them are not traditionalist but from other religion who disguised as one of us.

However, I want to commend this government for its all inclusive government which granted us freedom of worship and association as traditional worshipper.

But I want the government to develop our pilgrimage centres such as Ifa temples, Oodua groove, Obalufon Akire, Oya, Olokun and other deities grooves. We thank Eledumare for the recognition of Osun groove in Osogbo by United Nation.

By the time our spiritual centres are developed, we could compete favourably with Brazil and Cuba in the area of tourism and revenue generation.

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Osun Speaker Warns Against Human Trafficking

By Israel Afolabi The Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam has warned parents and guardians to desist from giving their children out for domestic labour.

Salaam made this “Some of these victims known in its speech were used for child delivered at a one-Day labour in strange land, Seminar tagged some were sentenced “Migrant Smuggling and into contemporary Human Trafficking/ slavery, while others are Child Labour - sold into sexual slavery”.

Combating the Menace Salaam, who is also the and the Way Forward” chairman of the event, organized by the Nigeria tasked all stakeholders to Immigration Service, support Nigeria Osun State Command at Immigration Service Leisure Spring Hotel (NIS) in combating this Osogbo State of Osun. act of human trafficking He frowned at the act and child labour for the of human trafficking and society to be free from the child labour which is menace. rampant in the society He blames the system nowadays. for the shortcoming in He said it is saddening governance, the poor to know that many leadership recruitment, young peoples’ dream over ambition of the and future had perished youths and reactive with them during nature of the government migrant smuggling to agency instead of being other part of the world in proactive. search of greener pasture He said, “Illegal which eventually eludes migrants and human them. trafficking have become According to him, alarming and must be

pushed to the front burner because it involves transnational crime, unethical usage and exploitation of human being, contemporary slavery and cheap death”.

“I suggest that we equip immigration service better with latest technology that could be used to combat human trafficking and we should begin from recruiting more staff that would be adequate to man our boarders”, he added.

In his goodwill message, Assistant Comptroller-General, Zone F Ibadan, Mr. Julius Ogbu who represented Comptroller-General Mr. Muhammad Babandede (MFR) urged parents to provide basic needs for their wards in other not to be wrongly influenced. He advised those officers at the different borders to sit tight against child trafficking and child labour.

Aspirant Scores Osun High On Social Intervention Policy

By Halimat Laisi An aspirant for the House of Assembly seat from Ife-East Constituency of the State of Osun, Mr. Yinka Olatunbosun has scored the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola high, particularly on its scheme Social Intervention Programmes in the past seven years.

He disclosed that the coming generations. value added by the Social Sympathizing with the Intervention Programmes people over the poor of the state could not be economy that truncated quantified in the area of the speed of the social economic development. intervention programmes In his assessment of the of the administration in the seven years administration state, he imagined that had of the All Progressive the economic not Congress (APC)-led disappointed, much more government in the state, would have been achieved.

Olatunbosun, a financial He said in the last seven expert, said the policy has years of the impacted greatly on the administration, it has lives of the people of the performed wonderfully state. well, even though, there He said, the Osun Youth are so many other areas Empowerment Scheme which also need attention (OYES) alone, coupled which an incoming with other social administration should intervention programmes work on, emphasising that of the administration like government is a OMEAL, OREAP, Care for continuum. the elderly (AGBA OSUN) According to the Ifeand many more have been born financial expert, he sources of value addition has been working on bills to the system. that would help the According to him, the government to further impact of these strengthen some of the interventions might not be programmes that redefine felt now, but if sustained, the people of the state as in the long run, it would be responsible and reference points to the d e v e l o p m e n t - o r i e n t e d

The Transcendent Life Church No 48, Adeleke Freeway, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, Osun State.

TRUSTEES 1. Damilola Anthony Oshilaja 3. Seun Tokunbo Bayode 5. Susan Olajumoke Dada

2. Boluwatife Eniola Oshilaja 4. Victor Segun Balogun

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To build a people of the word and spirit in every sphere of life, who will work in the fullness of their inheritance in Christ and fulfill the call of God to them, to their generation.

2. To bring humanity especially young people all over the world into an intimate relationship with God their creator and maker through the medium of word, worship, evangelism, Fellowship, Educational activities and medium of the sure word of God, Intense worship and warfare to bring men to the place of intimacy.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

citizens, particularly in the education sector.

Olatunbosun said that his interaction with the people of his constituency has shown that there are still a lot to be done to complement the efforts of the present administration, saying all these he has already been working on to introduce into legislation.

He added that this is with a view to building on the existing development and ensure that new initiatives are brought on board by the incoming administration.

CHANGE OF NAME That I formerly known as ADEWALE AKEEM BABATUNDE, now wish to be known and addressed as ADEWALE AKEEM GBOLAHAN. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank and General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME That I formerly known as A K I N D E E R E A K I N T U N D E RISIKATU, now wish to be known and addressed as AKINDEERE RISIKATU OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid.

Sterling Bank, and General public should take note.

CHANGE OF NAME That I formerly known as MARIAM ABU APEH, now wish to be known and addressed as MUDI MARIA. All former documents remain valid.

G.T Bank and General public should take note.

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Celebrating Aregbesola’s Success, Achievements

By Adelani Baderinwa There is no gainsaying the fact that the State of Osun has been witnessing sparkling infrastructural and socioeconomic development since Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola took over the mantle of leadership on November 27th, 2010. The all round progress and transformation of the state is incontestable.

In all ramifications, Aregbesola has delivered the dividends of democracy to every household in the state with either the infrastructure projects or the social security programmes.

The unprecedented development of the state does not just happen by accident: It is a well thought-out programme embedded in the green book titled ‘My Pact with the People of Osun, in which we have the Six Integral Action Plan for the delivery of good governance. The action plans are: Banish Hunger, Banish Poverty, Banish Unemployment, Promote Healthy Living, Promote Functional Education, Promote Communal Peace and Progress.

Pertinently, the seven years anniversary of Aregbesola’s administration calls for reminiscences: before his coming, there was dearth of infrastructural development in the state. Osun was stagnant; hunger and poverty was ravaging the state, security was at its lowest ebb, unemployment rate was high for the state and there was absence of social security for the citizenry.

But Aregbesola’s emergence restored hope for a new Osun. Aregbesola redefined governance and offered exemplary quality leadership. He fought poverty, stagnation, lack of political will to build strong foundation for good governance. The 14th President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said in her speech: ”We have to be bold in our national ambitions. First, we must win the fight against poverty within the next decade. Second, we must improve moral standards in government and society to provide a strong foundation for good

•BADERINWA governance. Third, we must change the character of our politics to promote fertile ground for reforms.”

In his first 100 days in office, Aregbesola rolled out Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) which absolved 20, 000 unemployed youths for two years, and another set of 20, 000 youths, rounding the figure to 40, 000. Each OYES cadet earned N10, 000 monthly. In every month, for each set of the OYES, a whopping N200million goes into circulation, reshaping the economy of the state.

Aregbesola is leaving an indelible footprint in every aspect of his governance.

The achievements recorded in education sector and infrastructure development are remarkable and unprecedented. With the seven years of Aregbesola’s noble reign, more than 900km roads have been constructed. This include the dualisation of Gbongan-Akoda 30km road which hosts the beautiful Bisi Akande trumpet bridge at Gbongan junction, the 320.39km inter-city road development, the 90.505 intra-city roads development and the

Aregbesola redefined governance and offered exemplary quality leadership.

He fought poverty, stagnation, lack of political will to build strong foundation for good governance.

17.40km Oba Adesoji Aderemi road, 40km Dualisation of Osogbo-Ikirun-Ila-OdoKWSB and 2.80km Olaiya-Itaolokan road projects.

On education, Aregbesola’s success could not be overemphasised. The current administration has aggressively embarked on the construction of state-of-the-art 100 Elementary Schools, 50 Middle Schools and 20 High Schools. More than 20 Elementary Schools, 22 Middle Schools and 5 High Schools have been commissioned while the High Schools in Iwo and Fakunle Unity High School in Osogbo have been completed and ready for commission.

Aregbesola’s government repackaged Osun Free School Feeding Programme now known as O’ MEAL. More than 262,000 elementary 1-4 pupils in all public schools in the state are being fed with healthy and nutritious food and fruits. The programme drastically increased the enrolment of pupils in the public schools.

It has also earned Osun numerous national and international accolades and awards.

Of course, the Osun Ambulance Service is another successful strategic social intervention programme for humanity service. There is no how you will assess Aregbesola’s administration without giving thumb up on flood control. He has saved lives and properties from destruction and flood havoc through dredging of streams and rivers and channelisation of drainages.

Osogbo, the capital of Osun for the first time, now has a befitting look of a state capital. Osun and Osogbo specifically used to be a rustic environment but reverse is the case today. The environment is now clean. The Nelson Mandela Freedom Park was a filth to glitz for anybody that knew Ojurin before being transformed to an amazing aesthetics recreation centre.

Ogbeni Aregbesola is crowning his achievement with the construction of MKO International Airport at Ido-Osun.

Osun has never had it so good!

Ogbeni Aregbesola is a man with incontrovertible record of good governance in the State of Osun. I, like several others, in and out of Osun, acknowledge his achievements. No patriotic Osun indigene/resident will deny these blessings wrought on our state through Ogbeni’s fertile mind and creative hands. To think otherwise is insanity.

Ogbeni is an enigmatic character well appreciated by the high and the mighty, even from faraway lands.

It is crystal clear that Aregbesola has raised the bar of governance in the state of Osun, getting a person to continue the development stride will be a herculean task going beyond pedestrian, sectional and nepotistic considerations. The best to do for the progress of the state is to make sure that a person that is going to succeed Aregbesola has passion for development like the governor.

The Aregbesola’s administration is already a success.

•Baderinwa is the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, State of Osun.

Aregbesola’s First Term, Best For Workers in Osun History - NLC Chairman In marking the 7th anniversary of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Osun NLC Chairman, Comrade Jacob Adekomi reflects on the performance of the administration and the government-labour relation in the last seven years in this interview with KEHINDE AYANTUNJI. infrastructures in schools. As labour,

OSDF: What is your Assessment of Governor Rauf Aregbesola seven years administration?

ADEKOMI: On the side of the labour that concerns me most, during his first tenure, he did well for the labour, his first term was the best for workers in the history of Osun, we were given a lot of incentives, including local and international trainings, and in term of promotion, everything was going well.

Even the issue of 13 month salary, which is also novel and has never happened in the history of Osun. Another aspect is easy access to car and housing loans among others. Most importantly, we did not recorded a single retrenchment, but during his second term, there were a lot of hiccups and challenges that borders on the issue of federal allocation coming to the state, poor Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) and accumulated debt.

This has given us a lot of problem and substantially affected our salary since July 2015. The payment of salary since 2015 has become a big issue; we are not so pleased with that.

On infrastructural development, he has done well no one can controvert that but on the issue of salary payment, no doubt, the government still have a lot to do.

OSDF: In concrete term, what can you count as gain or pain of the labour in the last seven years ?

ADEKOMI: The nonpayment of regular and full salary has been the major pain of the labour movement, though, the level 1 to 7 are collecting their full salary while the level 8 to 12 are collecting 75 per cent and level 12 upward are earning 50 per cent, these are the pains. We also have challenges in the area of promotion, since 2014, no promotion in the civil service, no

more workshop, training, appointment confirmation and conversion. For instance, those who were employed in 2013 are yet to be confirmed. What the civil service status says is that any employee should be confirmed after two years, that one has not happened, payment of gratuity and pension is another aspect.

On the screening exercise, some were curbed in the web but some were erroneously retrenched. Our gain as a labour movement is that Mr Governor has ignored several evil advice to retrench workers. He was advised in 2015 by some people to reduce the work force and he said no. As workers, we enjoyed so much especially during his first term when the state was getting regular and balance allocation, it was a fantastic moment for the labour, but the second term is a period of challenge.

OSDF : The governor introduced several reforms in the civil service how would you access those reforms?

ADEKOMI : Yes, the reform is acceptable, if you are to bring efficiency to civil services you must embark on reforms for the workers to be productive, part of the gains of the reform is that it has eliminated institutional discrimination in civil service. The principle is that since you are employed to serve the government, you can serve in any of the government institutions. For instance, if you find yourself in local government service or state government service or any cooperation, it is by accident, all the categories of workers hold the same certificate. If you are working in the ministry and it was discovered that deploying you to another parastatal or agency will allow you to be more

•ADEKOMI productive, in the face of cost benefit analysis, it will be better to redeploy such worker. That should be the trend, it is an ideal thing and welcome development, moreover, Osun is not the only state that is doing it, Lagos and some other states are doing it.

OSDF: How can you describe the labour and government relation in the last seven years ?

ADEKOMI: Well, our relationship has been centered on mutual respect and mutual benefit, especially on the workers’ salary and delivery of service to the people of the state. In the area of infrastructure, the governor has tried so much and that is the best way to develop economy. Within the state capital, infrastructure is a success story. Also on education, the governor has performed excellently with the presence of the

occasionally we always acknowledge this, but it is on the issue of salary that we often have disagreement, though, it is understandable that the federal allocation is no more enough even for the payment of workers salary and that is why we always put government on its toe to look other way round through the internally generated revenue. Workers’ salary is a contract and no matter the situation, it is government responsibility to pay, that is why as labour and civil servants we have been working hard to support the government on the revenue generation.

OSDF: In recognition of the workers’ sacrifice, the state government named a road after the workers what is your take?

ADEKOMI: We commend the governor for that recognition; as workers, it is a morale booster, because there is no psychological trauma that is as terrible as salary default. When you are earning N50,000 monthly and you have planned your expenditures on N50,000 you are now getting N25,000, definitely there would be pressure on you, domestic pressure, children tuition fees, feeding, accommodation among others would become a problem. It is indeed painful but naming road after the workers is a consolation and we appreciate the governor for such gesture. This is not the first time workers have made such sacrifice, it happened during the regime of Chief Bisi Akande, you will recall that deduction from workers salary formed the substantial part of the funding for the construction of the state secretariat and some stakeholders suggested that the secretariat should be named after workers but the government then rejected the proposal.

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Where Is Governor Aregbesola’s Place In History?

Nigerians have come to identify leadership as the bane of our society. In spite of the avalanche of natural resources the country is endowed with, millions of Nigerians are wallowing in poverty. The misery index or the poverty level is unbelievably and indefensibly high.

A leader must have a vision and a mission. Unfortunately our society throws up people who most times have no business leading others. Part of the problem is that rather than elect people with pedigree, more often than not, we are bogged down with sentiments like nepotism, ethnicity, religious and social connections. Premodial sentiment is priced above competence.

Generally, it has been observed that out leaders in the first republic were better managers compared with the current leaders. May be, may be not, but one fact stands in their favour, there are visible achieved 6things to refer to done during their era.

The oil boom was not there, hence they had to apply their ingenuity to raise revenue for public expenditure.

In the first republic, one name that kept reverberating then till now is late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Awo, as he was fondly called had foresight, believed in proper planning and executed policies which were beneficial to his people.

The Free Education programme, the establishment of Western Nigeria Television Service, (WNTS) the first of its kind in black Africa, the construction of the Liberty Stadium, now named after him and the numerous industries in Western Region made the West the region to beat. The West under Awo was a pacesetter.

However, all these development came with sacrifice, pain and a price. It is on record that Awo had to dig deep to look inward to generate the revenue needed to carry out his lofty programmes.

He devised a regime of tax system which made evasion almost impossible.

•AREGBESOLA His government generated enough revenue from tax and he used it for the benefit of a maximum number of people.

Education is the singular factor that shot the Western Region ahead of her peers then.

In the current dispensation, among the leaders that people discuss often are Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande, Mr. Raji Fasola and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola among others.

Ogbeni Aregbesola revolutionised political campaign in the State of Osun.

He introduced a lot of innovations and majority of the electorate in the state bought his 6-point Integral Action Plan encapsulated in his green book.

In his first term, he introduced the 13th

month salary, the first of its kind in the state. The Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), O’Meal, O’Reap, O’Schools and others were introduced, Salary of civil servants and pensioners were paid as and when due. However, before his re-election in 2014, the Nigeria economy had nosedived. The economy was and still in dire-straits, making it difficult for the government to pay civil servants and pensioners regularly.

Along the line, capital projects such as construction of school complexes, construction of durable highways and other capital projects dotted the landscape of the state.

The continuation of the capital projects in the midst of the inability to pay civil servants’ full salary has incurred the wrath of the civil servants and the opposition. The Modulated Salary Structure (MSS) was introduced, whereby civil servants on grade level one to seven, earn their full salary, those between level 8 and 12, take home 75% while levels 13 and above earn 50%.

The propaganda that goes with half salary is such that one can hardly believe that there is any segment of the public service that goes home with full salary.

As a salary earner myself, I do know that salary is a touchy and fundamental issue and that delay or irregular payment deprives the earner the ability to plan properly for himself and the dependants.

The government’s alibi that loans were taken for these capital projects and that it must not cease has been taken with a pinch of salt by the opposition, civil servants and pensioners.

Should the governor be entirely

The government’s alibi that loans were taken for these capital projects and that it must not cease has been taken with a pinch of salt by the opposition, civil servants and pensioners.

blamed for our present predicament?

Certainly not. Given h i s manifesto and policy pronouncements, one can concede to him that he MURTALA AGBOOLA meant well for the state. If all the resources is deployed to pay salary and allowances, there will be no capital projects. If part of the revenue generated now is not spent on capital projects there would be nothing to show for it in the future.

All great leaders are controversial in a way Today some people who are praising Awo are among those who criticised, chastised and condemned him. He is remembered more for the capital projects that dot the landscape than for anything else.

It is a pity and unfortunate that public office workers had to go through that traumatic experience. We should pray that the economy improves fast for all the workers involved to get their entitlements even before his government leaves office.

Aregbesola would ultimately be appreciated for the good roads, schools and other capital projects. He may be condemned today but certainly he will be remembered well later. The standard of education will definitely improve with time. This may be years after he has left government.

His place in history is assured but like all human beings, those who have any axe to grind with him now, would never see anything good in him. Posterity is the ultimate judge. It is my humble belief that it would be kind to the Ijesa-born Engineer, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The Story Of Aregbesola Osun SSG Congratulates Residents Over Aregbesola Successes

•Continued from page 13 achieved eight major things in the vision he laid out six years ago when he took mantle of power on November 27, 2010. A holistic agricultural policy taken by the government has placed the state on the green map of the South West in a space of six years; making it one of the major suppliers of agricultural produce to markets in Lagos and other South Western states.

The governor, his deputy and other members of his team were recently seen in one of the major rice farms collaborating with the state government to produce Ofada Osun Rice.

Recently, Aregbesola led an official government delegation to Germany in search of new insights on modern agriculture in order to further realise the dream of making Osun the food basket of the South West. Germany has in the past four years trained over 40 young people from Osun in modern agriculture techniques such as ‘40 days

Goat Fattening’ etc.

In summary, over 50,000 tonnes of cocoa exported annually. Over 16,000 jobs created for the indigenes of the state. Over 700km of rural roads built to reduce cost of transportation for farmers and increase access to markets, 30 bridges constructed with access given to areas cut-off from civilization.

Over N2.8 billion given to farmers as loans, over 11,000 farmers have been supported with direct cash transfers, 5,000 farmers’ co-operatives registered and over 71,000 farmers have benefitted from the Governments interventions so far in agriculture sector.

More than N2 billion interest-free loans had been made available to farmers in addition to yearly provision of farming inputs and additives. The government has also sponsored two sets of youths to Germany for training in modern farming techniques.

By Yetunde Odunayo The Secretary to the Government of the State of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, has felicitated with indigenes and residents of the state as the All Progressives Congress (APC) marks its seventh year anniversary at the helms of affairs in the state. terms of the This was contained in in a congratulatory message developmental strides of current to the residents and the indigenes of the state on administration in the the seventh year state.

“The Aregbesola anniversary of the current administration in administration will go the state, which he down in history as one personally signed and that has rewritten the made available to history of the state in the light of unparalleled newsmen in the state.

According to him, the innovation and businessstate had never had it so like approach he has to good until the emergence introduced of the incumbent governance in the state.

“Before the Governor Rauf was A r e g b e s o l a ’ s administration administration through a inaugurated in 2010, the Court of Appeal highest the state could judgement that boast of in its history of overturned the pyrrhic internally generated victory initially awarded revenue was a paltry sum to the Peoples of N300 million per Democratic Party (PDP). month.

“However, this has “Since Governor Aregbesola came on changed, as the current board, the whole state figure of the state has suddenly turned into internally generated a big construction site revenue has hit an allwith numerous projects time high of over N2 being executed billion per month,” Alhaji simultaneously in all the Adeoti stressed.

He therefore nooks and crannies of the admonished the state state.

“No part of the state residents to continue to has been left untouched support the Governor

Rauf Aregbesola administration in all its efforts to improve the living conditions of the people of the state.

In a related development, political group and an arm of the ruling-APC in the State of Osun, the Osun New Era Group (ONE-G) has congratulated the state and the people for being part of the history being written by the A r e g b e s o l a administration in the state.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the group’s State Coordinator, Mr. Raheem Jamiu, while rejoicing with the state residents as the A r e g b e s o l a administration marks its seventh year anniversary in the saddle of the state affairs.

According to Raheem, the state will forever be grateful to Governor Aregbesola for his innovative style he has brought to governance in the the state.

He therefore prayed that the state would be fortunate to have the like of the incumbent as successor come 2018 governorship election.

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PERSPECTIVE MONDAY NOVEMBER 27 - THURSDAY DECEMBER 7, 2017

BOSS Has Introduced New Paradigm In Governance Femi Ifaturoti, the Director-General of Bureau of Social Services (BOSS), State of Osun, is one of those who drew-up the roadmap for the six-point integral action plan of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. He spoke with Shina Abubakar on the administration of Aregbesola within the past seven years. Excerpts.

OSDF: Seven years into Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration, how has the BOSS added value to the administration?

Ifaturoti: BOSS represents a very unique new paradigm in ensuring public service delivery. It arises directly out of the vision of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and it is something that has never been done by any government either at the federal or state level.

Essentially, what BOSS is setup to do is to ensure that government did not just deliver on all its promises, but the people and government must get value for all the jobs awarded to contractors. Heads of MDAs or even contractors that are awarded projects must do so in line with the six-point integral action plan of the Governor.

So, BOSS is a kind of quality control office, office of due diligence, to ensure that even before contractors or other government agencies are engaged to implement or execute contracts for which the state is spending public funds, public accountability of the fund is expected. In this case BOSS has become a necessity for every state that wants to be seen to be delivering on its promises. I found out that in the process of rendering service, we have had course to reverse several MOUs, either because we realize that there are some due diligence issues or lapses which are not in the best interests of the state.

We’ve also had causes to save the state a lot of fund, monies that would be spent without commensurable value for the state.

I am happy today that people commend us particularly in the area of infrastructure and all the good works the government has been doing, but one thing people fail to realize is that what you see there as a finish product, there is an agency that ensures that it is commensurate with government investment.

It might interest you to know that we do not award contracts here, we are working behind the scenes to ensure that government get value for what it paid for, but we can terminate any contract if we realise that it is not being carried out in accordance with the terms agreed upon by both parties and at the end of the day we are not likely to get value.

BOSS’s staffing is multi-disciplinary in nature, we have quantity surveyor, civil and structural engineers and IT experts who are in charge of evaluation. There is no contract done or ongoing that our officials have not visited, minimum of three times before completion and if someone wants to know the number of roads in the local government that this government has done, BOSS is where to come.

OSDF: The “opposition” in the state have been condemning that the cost of constructing road project in Osun is too exorbitant; coming from a background of quality control and assurance, how do you measure road construction in Osun, in terms of quality?

Ifaturoti: Not being present at the time contracts were awarded, I may not be able to discuss extensively on that, but one thing I do know is that there are certain standard calculation placed on amount charged for projects that is universal, particularly on the aspect of construction. For instance, if a person constructs a drainage that is made with blocks, such drainage cannot be compared with a

A graduate of University of Ife (1979) called to the Bar in 1980, Olufemi Ifaturoti started his law practice in the chambers of H O Davies, QC and has litigation experience covering nearly all facets of the law for a period of at least 30 years. He is also a fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitration. His post-graduation professional trainings include Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Mediation Skills Training (MST) organized by ADR Centre with NCMG & NIPC a World Bank Sponsored project (August 20 – 24, 2009), Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) UK Mediator Skills Training (June, 2005), NCMG ADR Precertification course – practical skills in Negotiation, Mediation and Arbitration CEDR (April, 2005), Solicitors Law Seminar and Exhibition (Law Society of England) at “The Barbican” (June, 1989). He was one of the Nigerian delegates to the 7-Day International Seminar on SOCIAL POLICIES FOR DEVELOPMENT in Brasilia, Brazil August 2012.

A member of Panel of Neutrals at the Lagos Multi-door Courthouse and a faculty member of NCMG/Bond University Australia Negotiation Centre Lagos Negotiation College Ikoyi, Ifaturoti was in the Legal Team of the Election Petition of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor, State of Osun up to Appellate Court. He has been a member, Editorial Board of Osun Defender since inception and is also Chairman, Implementing Committee Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES). He is a member of several Professional and Civil Society Associations including Negotiation and Conflict Management Group (NCMG), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), International Bar Association (IBA) and New Culture Group – a group dedicated to good governance, leadership, accountability.

Today, I found out that he remains one of the most controversial leaders that have ever governed any state in Nigeria. He is controversial because he is a man who doggedly pursues what he believes is right.

concrete drainage. My quantity surveyor tells me that there is measurement related with measuring the depth and breadth. With that in mind, only those who want to run into serious trouble just deliberately inflate contract and expect to get away with it. Even based on the agreed figures, people attempt and will still continue to attempt to cut corners and that is where we come in. We take our people to the land, we analyse the initial payment in terms of mobilisation which constitutes most of the percentage, if a contractor seeks another strand of payment, or the parent ministry that awarded the contract wants to give out another strands, we ensure that before such ministry gives out the money, the amount paid conforms with the work done so far. In some instances, we find out that if an agency like ours doesn’t exist, someone might claim a further reimbursement or other charges which represent 100%. If we discover that the contractor has not met up, we, in conjunction with the parent ministry, write that in our own view, we cannot give further reimbursement until the work delivered corresponds with the amount paid. At the end of the project, we work to ensure that the quality of the job done is better than if there was no agency like us.

It’s not only in the area of infrastructure; we also evaluate policies, projects and programs. There are so many programmes like OYES, OREAP, OMEAL, O’Ambulance among others that often times we send periodic reports to the governor about what we consider the status of those

projects/programmes. After evaluating such programmes, we also suggest measures that can be taken, when we realise that how some projects are handled, we are not likely to get desired outcome.

BOSS engages in community participation in monitoring projects, we receive many calls on reports of damaged roads in several local governments and we dispatch our engineers to go and access and take pictures.

We thereby invite the contractor and advise them to redress the situation. With that we have been able to save the state a lot of cost and ensure the state gets value for every penny coming out of the public fund.

OSDF: In the area of programmes evaluation, in the seven years of Aregbesola’s administration, the state government has invested lot of funds in OREAP, how can you evaluate the performance of OREAP? Ifaturoti: From the design stand point, and for the structuring of how things work, I think I give OREAP a pass mark, but the execution of it will be explained by them.

Most of these programmes fall under certain ministries and the execution of it will depend on the competence of the people handling those ministries.

Honestly speaking, OREAP is like an octopus whereby there are many contracts being done and many of them are done before we even realize.

OSDF: How far have you been able to integrate the civil servant because most of the projects are products of what the civil servant will go to the field and implement. How much have you sensitize them to buy into quality service delivery?

Ifaturoti: We have our own internal evaluation forum for all the staff members here, and we want to cascade it to what must be done in ministries. We talk to them about the 6-point integral plan of the governor and ask them what they’ve done so far, plus the amount. At the end of the day, we develop questionnaires, we develop the kind of thing they can be using but they said they needed training for their staff to understand the workings of the system.

Internally, we did three days training here for the DFAs and coordinating directors about three years ago. At the end of the training we found out that, not much has been done in the area of implementation.

OSDF: The Governor is your friend from time; do a strict evaluation of not the governor but your friend in the last seven years of his administration?

Ifaturoti: Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, coming from a communist background, I see a lot of idealism in some of the thing he does, very vibrant, ambitious and highly passionate in everything he wants to do. In the process of driving whatever he wants to do, one can actually see his vision and the passion driving his vision and it’s being translated into action. That has been the trend even from the days when he was the commissioner for works and infrastructure in Lagos. Today, I found out that he remains one of the most controversial leaders that have ever governed any state in Nigeria. He is controversial because he is a man who doggedly pursues what he believes is right. He is a man who will not be deterred by the perceived low level of access to fund. It is public knowledge that out of the 36 states in Nigeria, the allocation that comes to Osun is ranked 34th, sometimes 35th or 36th. Essentially, this Osun is not a buoyant state, but because he is uncompromising in his approach, people misunderstand him. Years after he his gone, his indelible legacy will physically be there for people to see. Within the limit of what is available to him, he has succeeded beyond expectations. He’s not perfect though.

Giving the cost of most of the projects we’ve done years ago, it would have been impossible to achieve that now particularly in the area of infrastructure. Unborn generations will come and see it. Also, Ogbeni did not see any reason why children will be sitting in classrooms that are not equipped, or lack quality teachers and infrastructure. He also believes that nobody was born to be dull or dumb. The performance of every student academically is a product of his experience, value of nutrition, tutoring and the environment where he is receiving such tutoring. That also addresses some of the wide reaching reforms Aregbe had done in educational sector.

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Developing Tourism In Osun According to the National Bureau of Statistics published in 2016, the population of Osun State stands at 4,705,589, growing from 3,423,535 in 2006 (National Population Census). A further survey in 2010 put the number of employed persons in Osun State at 1,524,312. Of this figure, statistics in tourism for Osun state are lacking or non-existent (NBS, 2010).

In comparison, Obudu Ranch Resort Hotels have 1,931 international tourists and 6,518 domestic tourists recorded between 2007- 2016. Figures from World Bank metadata shows 1,255,000 tourists visiting Nigeria in 2015 and I aim to draw at least 500 tourists to Osun State, with a surge of double that number during the respective festivals through the year.

The discuss · The main drive is to draw foreign attention to the state as a viable and safe tourist spot for foreigners · To generate revenue for the state · To re-energise the tourist sector by a cultural revival that will engage the entire community · Create more employment opportunities for Osun indigenes · To re-unite people with their past · Encourage cultural engagement that will surpass the state level Osun State is currently under utilising its reach, with respect to Ile-Ife as the cradle of civilisation according to the belief of the Yoruba people. The Yoruba culture is still alive in parts of Latin America amongst Latin-Americans who identify with their African origins, and, cling to old beliefs to construct an identity for themselves. In Brazil, Columbia

Issues/ Policy ADETOKUNBO NUKAK ASANANSI

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Osun State is currently under utilising its reach, with respect to Ile-Ife as the cradle of civilisation according to the belief of the Yoruba people.

•Tourists at Osun Osogbo shrine.

Adetokunboh Nukak Asanansi attended Nottingham Trent University and graduated in 2009 with an LLB in Law. This was followed by a joint degree in History & International Relations and received a first class award for her undergraduate thesis titled, Question of Perspective: Can the Use of Child Soldiers be rationalised on the basis of cultural identity? Upon her graduation in 2014, was awarded the Vice Chancellors Scholarship to study Postgraduate International Relations, completed with Merit in 2016. Work experience: Her Majesty’s Health and Safety Inspector, 2017 Forensic Mental Health Caseworker 2009 - 2017 Voluntary Caseworker: Liz Kendall MP, Labour Party Leicester East (2011) Business Executive LiaisonHSBC Bank 2005- 2007. and Cuba; Santeria and Candomble is practised as they appease the Yoruba Orishas. In Trinidad, Jamaica and Barbados this trend is followed under the guise of Obeah, yet, the traditional gods of the Yorubas are invoked for worship (Zeleza, 12:2008). In North America, the black population of

the southern states have beliefs and superstitions steeped in Yoruba lore. Examples are the displays of Yoruba historical icons during Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Using the Mardi Gras festival in New Orelans as a sample, it will be useful to· Create an experience similar to this in Osun state using

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our cultural heritage and history as the centre of interest and activity. · Capitalise on the Ori Oke, Egungun, Olojo festivals as attractions similar to Mardi Gras with the Osun Osogbo festival acting as the pinnacle of events for the year. Mardi Gras generates $465 million annually for New Orleans, with 142,000 international festival goers, excluding domestic attendees. · The potential to provide employment to Osun indigenes expands as a result of publicising the festivals and making them internationally publicised events.

This will entail reaching out to international markets, beginning with Latin America. · The average Mardi Gras goer spends $500 and this figure excludes the total amount generated from, flights, meals, lodgings and transport. · Generate an awareness of the cultural agedness and etymology of the Yoruba people, firmly placing Osun Focus on the international airport currently under construction because this would cut-out transport difficulties for both domestic and international visitors.

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