Osun Defender Online Version Of November 2, 2018

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2 - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018

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VOL. 013. NO.41

ISSN: 0794-8050

N100

Aregbesola Receives Accolades As He Finishes •Kicks Off New Town Strongly In Ilesa

•Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola's historic foundation laying of Ilesa New Town (Palm Dale Estate) in Ilesa yesterday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

•The new Town will be an Economic Zone and a Trajectory for a renaissance in Ijesaland.

NASS Election:

INEC’s List Douses Tension

e Pag2

•As Osun APC, PDP Feature New Breeds •Ruling Party Returns 5 State Lawmakers NEWS NEWS

Epidemic Imminent As Indiscriminate Dumping Of Refuse Grows - Page 3

Famurewa Embarks On Tours Of Wards In Ijesa South - Page 14

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NEWS

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2 - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018

NASS Election: INEC List Douses Tension •As Osun APC, PDP Feature New Breeds •Ruling Party Returns 5 State Lawmakers

By Kehinde Ayantunji The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun appeared to have refused the serving members of the National and some State House of Assembly return tickets as party candidates in the 2019 General Elections.

Instead, APC opted for Representatives, Hon new breeds to fly the Lasun Yusuf as party party flag at the national candidates.

In Osogbo, the state and state assemblies capital, during the week, election.

There was uproar last the supporters of Hon week over rumours of the Lasun Yusuf were return of majority of the sighted jubilating for the serving lawmakers in the rumored party ticket state including the while there was alleged Deputy Speaker, Federal serious pressure on Dr House of Ajibola Basiru, the Osun

Central APC candidate over his alleged substitution with the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye.

According to tentative party candidate lists pasted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), out of nine national assembly members from the party, only two lawmakers secured their return tickets.

Hon Olufemi Fakeye representing, Ila/Ifedayo

/ B o l u w a d u r o constituency who made the list is returning for the third term while Hon Ajibola Famurewa representing Ijesa South federal constituency secured the party ticket to proceed to the upper chamber to represent the Osun East Senatorial District.

Senator Babajide Omoworare, Hon Adeyinka Ajayi, Hon Lasun Yusuf and Hon Gafar Amere lost their bids to return to the national assembly.

Information available to OSUN DEFENDER indicated that Hon Amere from Iwo bided for the party’s Senatorial ticket for Osun West, while Senator Olusola Adeyeye, Hon Mojeed Alabi, Hon Ayo Omidiran, did not show interest by not obtaining the nomination forms.

The affected lawmakers are however not relenting as most of them have allegedly relocated to Abuja to lobby their chances pending the expiration of substitution window

provided by INEC. The situation appeared similar among the APC state lawmakers . Out of the remaining 19 APC members in the 26member assembly, only 5 secured the party return ticket to contest the February 2019 State House of Assembly election.

It would be recalled that APC lost five of its lawmakers in the assembly to the opposition parties in the state, few weeks to the •Continued on page 3

APC House of Representatives Candidates 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

•Dangerous Riding: An Okada rider carrying six bags of rice and beans captured along Igbona/Oke Oniti road Osogbo by our Photojournalist, GBENGA ADENIYI on Wednesday.

Osun Health Insurance Bill Passed

By Israel Afolabi State of Osun House of Assembly has passed the much anticipated State Health Insurance Scheme Bill, 2018.

The bill, though an Act after the assent of the of the National Governor to include Assembly, 2014 is being access to grant of about domesticated in the state 22million dollars for the as one of the three three pioneering states piloting states in the and one per cent of the country to test run the Federal Allocation of scheme and got the nod which Osun by the of the Parliament at a passage of the bill into plenary presided over by law will be one of the the Speaker, Hon. beneficiary of the grants.

Najeem Salaam on Other benefits as Tuesday. enumerated by the The motion for the speaker are quick access passage of the bill was to quality, effective and moved by the Deputy affordable health care Majority Leader of the services, protection from House, Hon. Dejo financial hardship of B e l l o ( B o r i p e / huge medical bills as Boluwaduro) and was there is grant provided to seconded by the ensure the provision of Chairman, House healthcare services at the Committee on Health, best cost and to harness H o n . O y e l e k e private sector Ogunsola(Ayedire) after participation in the the submission and provision of health care adoption of the clean services as well as copies of the bill by the ensuring adequate Parliament. distribution of health The Speaker, Hon. facilities within the state.

Salaam commented on Hon. Salaam stated the numerous benefits further that the state is the people of the state lucky to have the present stands to gain when it administration and becomes full operational House of Assembly that

think about the welfare of the citizenry at all times.

He then enjoined his colleagues not to be discouraged in giving their best to the

development of the state saying the arm chair critics will be put to shame in the end going by the achievements of the current 6th Assembly.

Hon Femi Fakeye - Ila Federal Constituency.

Hon Lekan Afolabi, Ifelodun/ Boripe/ Odo-otin Oyewo Bukola - Osogbo/Olorunda/ Irepodun/Orolu Hon Babatunde Ayeni - Ijesa South Adesiji Olamijulo, - Ijesa North Hon Oladoyin Bamisayemi - Ife federal constituency.

Mrs Taiwo Oluga - Irewole/ Isokan/ Ayedaade Alhaji Yinusa Amonbi - Iwo /Ayedire/ Ola-oluwa Hon Adejare Bello, Ede/Egbedore/ Ejigbo Federal Constituency.

PDP House of Representatives Candidates 1.

Mahruf Adewale Gangaria - Osogbo/ Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu 2.

Soji Adetunji -Ifelodun/Boripe / Odo-otin 3.

Clement Akanni – Ila Federal Constituency 4.

Hon Wole Oke - Ijesa North 5.

Hon Adelowokan Samson - Ijesa South 6.

Otunba Bimbo Ajenisoro – Ife Federal Constituency 7.

Bamidele Salaam -Ede/ Ejigbo/ Egbedore 8.

Mudashir Lukman - Iwo Federal Constituency 9.

Kolapo Akinroye - Irewole/Isokan Ayedaade.

...Parliament To Accelerate Passage Of Social Protection Bill Meanwhile, the Osun House of Assembly said, the Social Protection Bill 2018 pending before it would be expeditiously considered and passed.

Speaker of the all the facts together in Assembly, Dr Najeem special protection service Salaam gave the to all the citizen of assurance while reacting Osun”.

However, the bill to the submission of the lawmakers over the passed through the first social protection bill as and second reading had policy thrust debated at the plenary on the presented by Hon. Wednesday.

Dr. Salaam who was Babatunde Komolafe represented by his representing Atakumosa deputy, Hon. Akintude East and West state Adegboye observed that constituency who also social protection bill will highlighted the benefit bridge the gap between accruable from it.

He confirmed that the the rich and poor citizen of the state in social bill will reduce poverty among women, children service.

He stated that the bill and vulnerable people of would bring all the facts the state to live up to of social protection average citizen.

He said “this bill will service together in the reduce poverty and state.

According to him, improve the living “this very social condition of women, protection bill will bring children, and vulnerable

people across the state of Osun”.

Meanwhile, after the presentation of the policy thrust of the bill, it generated comments in which the entire lawmakers in separate reactions corroborated the submission of the policy thrust as they agreed that the bill was coming at the right time.

They maintained that the bill will focus on the vulnerable segment of the society as well as adequate emphasis on the welfare of the people.

Moreover, aside from welfare of the vulnerable according to them , the bill when finally passed into law would bridge the gap between the poor and the affluent.

The lawmaker stated that most of the issues has contain in the policy thrust had been

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addressed by the State Government through various programs like O ’ M E A L , O’AMBULANCE, O’WIDOW, O’YES, among others.

They also stressed the need for speedy passage of the bill so as to ensure sustainability in the g o v e r n m e n t programmes.

Hon. Akintude while reacting to various submissions by the legislators assured that the bill would be give expedition consideration while the executive would be advised on the need for quick and a d e q u a t e implementation.

The deputy speaker then committed the bill to the committee of the whole House for further deliberations.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2 - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018

NEWS

OSUNDEFENDER

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Epidemic Imminent As Indiscriminate Dumping Of Refuse Grows

By Sikiru Obarayese Unsettled discord between the state government of Osun and the Private Sector Partnership (PSP) operators has resulted to indiscriminate dumping of refuse by the people, a development that can lead to outbreak of epidemic.

Such practice had been dumping sites have also noticed in some parts of been complaining about Osogbo, the state capital, the stink coming out of part of Ede and Ife as well the area which they can as some other major no longer bear as it is endangering their health. towns of the state.

A resident of Oluode Check shows that some illegal dumping sites at area Osogbo, who simply identified himself as Ojo Ede, Eleweran in Ife, Ikire, Elelede area, Tanisi, lamented the refusal of Oleyo in Osogbo and waste workers to pick some other places waste as and when due, growing rapidly with which makes the people some residents of the to go back to illegal sites.

“The PSP operators state alleging that inadequacy of Osun don’t cover some areas which makes the Waste Management Agency (OWMA) residents to find another operation resulted to the means to dispose their waste. I think this is what development.

Residents dwelling may lead to the latest close to some of the development.”

It was also gathered that some of the PSP’s agent do not use the truck allocated to them by government which can dispose waste without littering the road while they are moving unlike open trucks they are using.

In response to these allegations, Osun State Waste Management Agency (OWMA), blamed the Private Sector Partnership (PSP) for the voutrage of refuse in the state, claming that they were sabotaging government efforts to ensure clean environment.

The agency also condemned the attitude of the people, blaming them for violating the law.

The General Manager of OWMA, Alhaji Ganiyu

Oyeladun described the PSP operators as cankerworm, saying they destroy government plan for the entire tenure.

He said the government had planned to recruit another set of PSP operators if the current ones had paid their remaining balance of the N1million government requested from them, saying, “they dragged us to court, because we asked them to pay for the truck they use” Oyeladun added that the private sectors decided not to balance the government which later resorted to discord between them and the government.

A medical practitioner, Mrs Mujidat Asafa said, unclean area can cause series of diseases,

affirming that the state government had succeeded in preventing

any seasonal diseases which has struck its neighbouring states.

Afenifere, Omisore On Collision Course Over Suspension

By Abiola Olowu

The Pan Yoruba social cultural group, Afenifere, last Tuesday suspended the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the last Osun governorship poll, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

The group in reference through Pa Reuben to Osun governorship Fasoranti. poll, said the ex-deputy But reacting, Omisore governor acted at described as unfair the variance with its suspension slammed directive. against him by the group Inside sources within without listening to his Afenifere told OSUN side of the story.

DEFENDER that the Omisore said: “Acting group wanted Omisore at variance? Osun SDP to support PDP passed a resolution to candidate in the poll, coalesce with APC. Senator Ademola “Osun SDP members Adeleke. are not affiliate of It was also learnt that Afenifere. Politics is local, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, on so I acted in consonance behalf of the group, met with the position and will with Senator Omisore to of Osun SDP. secure his support for “I’m yet to be PDP. informed, if so, Afenifere The group, however, bypassed principle of fair after its meeting in hearing. I wasn’t given Akure, Ondo state any directives, it might be capital, announced oversight on Afenifere’s Omisore’s suspension part or assumptions.”

INEC’s List •(L-R) State of Osun Head of Service, Comrade Olowogboyega Oyebade; Director of Department of Social and Grassroots Mobilisation and Guidance (DSGMG), office of the Governor, Comrade Bayo Ojo; Commissioner for Education, Mr Omotunde Young and APC House of Representative Candidate for Ijesa South, Honourable Lawrence Ayeni during the 2018 Osun State-Wide School Calisthenics Competition Prize-Giving Ceremony at Aurora event centre on Tuesday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI. INSET is Comrade Olowogboyega presenting N1 million cheque to one of the winner of Calisthenics competition, Glory School Okuku.

Government Charged To Enforce Compliance On Park Usage

By Shola Jacobs The state government should ensure strict compliance with rules and regulations for usage of Motor Park to ensure safety of lives as well as prevent unwarranted accident on roads.

“Our relocation from This was the assertion Olaiya is a of Comrade Kamoru Orita Oyewole of Ayegbaju blessing, but it is hard to Motor Park in a chat with change the orientation of the people as some Osun Defender He stated that the commercial transporters administration of still pick passengers on Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola the road side which had improved on parks makes commuters defies within Osogbo usage of motor garage metropolis through the especially those situated urban renewal programs along Gbongan/ Ibadan which necessitated the road.

“We appreciate this relocation of famous good gesture of the Park to Ayegbaju’s Market which is government but our accessible, spacious, safe motor parks still need conveniences, shaded and viable.

Comrade Oyewole parks, electricity and said there is need for tarred or floored with enforcement of rules and pavement to make it of regulations and strict standard.

“On the driverscompliance to prevent commercial vehicles c o m m u t e r from picking passengers relationship, we are indiscriminately on the refined, as we handled road side which is unsafe our commuters with care and and at time causes utmost respect, our vehicles are accidents.

serviced as and when due, touts are not allowed in our motor park, passengers luggage are handled with care and the drivers in the units of the park are respectful.

Also Mr Adisa Elebuibon of Freedom Park motor parks said the urban renewal programme in the state capital had affected the motor parks and they are expecting the government to rehabilitate the parks as promised He continued that Freedom Park motor parks is the Mother of all parks in Osogbo as it was established in the 40s.

He said its closeness to the rail line was an asset, but with the expansion and development in the city, it becomes obsolete and needs reconstruction.

At Okefia Motor Park, the chairman of the park Alhaji Ahmed Shittu said

the garage is the offshoot of Olorunda Branch 1 situated at the Stadium area in Osogbo but lamented the poor funding of the motor parks.

He stated further that the park is strategic because of its location but vehicles in the motor park ply most rough roads in the state, which is the Agunbelewo/ Ilobu/ Ifon axis, Iwo, Ejigbo, Oyo, Ogbomoso roads.

He continued that the state of the road had affected their vehicles but for the love of the citizens, we still ply these roads.

He, therefore, called on the Federal Road Maintenance Agency to work on those roads, while calling on the state government to provide conveniences in parks across the state to prevent open defecation at the motor parks.

•Continued from page 2 September 22 Governorship Election which narrowed down its numerical strength to 19.

Three lawmakers , Hon Debo Akanbi Kamarudeen (Ede North), Hon Tajudeen Famuyide (Ilesa West) and Hon Abdulahi Ibrahim (Iwo) defected to Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Hon Laolu Oyeniran (Odo-Otin) defected to African Democratic Congress (ADC) while Hon Clement Akani (Ila) defected to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to contest for Federal House of Representatives.

Out of the 19 APC lawmakers, according to a source in the assembly, it was only the Speaker, Hon Najeem Salaam that did not seek any elective office in the party, as all the other 18 members contested for national and state assemblies seats.

In all, five members of the assembly secured the ticket to return and they are, the House Leader, Hon Timothy Owoeye (Ilesa East) for the fourth term, Hon Adebisi Nurein (Ede South), Hon Bosun Oyintiloye (Obokun), Hon Babatunde Olatunji (Ife North) and Hon Babatunde Komolafe

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(Atakumosa East and West).

Two among the lawmakers however surprisingly secured the party ticket to contest for the federal House of Representatives. Hon Rasheed Olalekan got ticket to represent Ifelodun/Boripe/OdoOtin and Hon Oladoyin Bamisayemi secured that of Ife Federal Constituency.

Deputy Speaker, Hon Akintunde Adegboye, (Osogbo), Hon Adebayo Wasiu (Olorunda), Hon Bello Osuolale ( Boripe/ Boluwaduro) are among the lawmakers who lost their bids to return to the state assembly.

INEC had during the week displayed the lists of the party nominated candidates for the presidential, national and state assemblies’ elections.

Those who made the list for the national assembly in the state includes Dr Ajibola Basiru Osun Central (APC) and Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa (PDP); for Osun West, APC has Engineer Adelere Oriolowo, while Akogun Lere Oyewumi, represent the PDP and for Osun East, Hon Ajibola Famurewa is flying the APC flag and PDP settles for Chief Francis Fadaunsi.

ISSUES & POLICY 4 Finishing Strongly

PAGE

Ogbeni Aregbesola the indefatigable outgoing governor of the State of Osun started on the right note by implementing his thoroughly prepared six point agenda. As in the last hours in office of United States President Bill Clinton, the Ogbeni Governor is closing the deal on a high note.

For example yesterday’s kick-off of the Ilesha new town is a seminal advance.

The strategically located town of Ilesha so steeped in the economic and political history of Nigeria is now about to get a superb new lease of life. The new town will definitely become a fulcrum of Social and economic activities. It will become an economic zone

Briefly...

As he winds down we are absolutely sure that there will be further initiatives like this to mark the end of an invigorating era. leveraging on the famed entrepreneurial spirit of Ijeshaland. As he winds down, we are absolutely sure that there will be further initiatives like this to mark the end of an invigorating era.

The Health Insurance Scheme

We must also give kudos to the State of Osun House of Assembly for passing the State Health Insurance Scheme Bill 2018 into law.

The importance of the bill cannot be overemphasized.

As the speaker of the House Dr Najeem Salaam who asked for the effective implementation of the bill has pointed out, “there are lots of benefits that State of Osun will benefit from this

“There are lots of benefits that State of Osun will benefit from this law if been in operation and this law will enable State to progress on health sector as well.”

law if been in operation and this law will enable the State to progress on health sector as well.”

“The law will also take good

care of average citizens and children health” he added.

The Speaker

Education Is The Key To Changing Our Future Education is the process of acquisition of knowledge, skill, value, and belief. It is also the process of receiving or giving s y s t e m a t i c instruction.

Why is education important in the lives of the people?

Education is a knowledge gain; it gives us knowledge of the world around us and changes into something better.

Education makes us capable of interpreting things among others.

How can we improve on our

education system so our children do not have to endure the struggles of poverty?

I believe the key to reducing poverty begins with education.

Also employers should demand career training or provide it for their employees to ensure a higher standard of

performance than what is expected.

Moreover, we have to become educated

on how to improve school cohesiveness that start with addressing class within the classroom.

We have to become aware of job training that is provided by our employers.

Also, parents

should become involve with their children both inside and outside their homes to assist them in their educational pursuit.

In addition we must shift into a forward thinking community.

Education can be a channel for how our community can improve what the people already has to offer.

In conclusion education is a human right and like other human right it cannot be taken for granted.

•JANET UWAIYE Osogbo

made it known that an international organization has granted $200 billion to some state that engaged in health insurance scheme which Osun has joined Abia and Niger state among the beneficiary.

Kudos!

OSUN DEFENDER Publisher

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MAGAZINE FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2 - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018

Making Tertiary Education Accessible To All

Shortly after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) revealed the Federal Government's plan to review upward the tuition payable across federal higher institutions of learning, then comes that of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH's).

Many believe that the plan to hike tuition fees is part of a grand plan to make education unaffordable for children of the poor, while others argue that to have quality education, the new fee regime must be introduced, writes SOLOMON ODENIYI

The Nigeria National Policy on Education is predicated on 5 premises which are: the building of a free and democratic society, a just and egalitarian society, a great and dynamic economy, and a land of bright opportunities for all citizens. However, it is being said that one of the ways this could be achieved is if education is provided free for the citizens.

Even though, free education at the post secondary level is a good policy, as this will ensure the development of education, it is on record that only 35 of the 180 countries of the world offer free education at the tertiary level, four are African countries while the rest are dominantly European countries. The 35 countries include; Algeria, Argentina, Barbados, Buttan,Brazil, Cuba, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia,Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, India, Iran, Ireland, Kenya, Kuwait, Venezuela , Uruguay, UAE, Turkey ,Trinidad and Tobago ,Sri Lanka, Somalia, Scotland, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Oman, Norway, Netherland, Morocco, Mauritius and Malta. Joining them would be Liberia whose president last week announced a free education at the tertiary level, though, it remained a source of concern to pundits, being a country with a not so strong economy.

Nigeria is said to be practicing a subsidised form of education particularly at the tertiary institution which are either owned by the state or federal government. Amidst this, one of the contentious issues over the years dominating the educational space has been how to increase funding of tertiary education in the midst of the parlous state of the economy of Nigeria which has been one of the major factors militating against this. In the past years, due to poor economy solely hinged on the crude oil price, which has been unstable, the allocation to education sector has been significantly low.

The commitment of government to the sector, according to analysts is gauged by the financial commitment it makes for that sector in its budget. In the 2017 budget, the government allocated N398 billion to the Ministry of Education while it allocated, in 2018, N435 billion, representing 7.04 per cent of the total budget which is far below the UNESCO benchmark.

As at today, no fewer than 41 Nigerian universities have increased their school fees because of poor funding by the federal and state governments. Some of the varsities

•Adamu Adamu, Minister for Education

•Prof Abubakar Rasheed, Executive Secretary NUC

One of the contentious issues over the years dominating the educational space has been how to increase funding of tertiary education in the midst of the parlous state of the economy of Nigeria include the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Enugu; Bayero University, Kano; University of Abuja, Abuja; Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto; University of Benin, Benin; University of Ilorin, Ilorin; and the Federal University of Technology, Akure .

Others are the Federal University of Technology, Minna; the University of Calabar, Calabar; the University of Uyo, Uyo; Anambra State University, Imo State University, Plateau State University, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo, and University of OsunState University, Osun among others. This is following the recommendation of a Committee on the Restructuring and Rationalisation of

Federal Government Parastatals, Commissions and Agencies headed by a former Head of the Service, Stephen Oronsaye, where it was pointed out that school fees in federal universities as the tuition-free policy is the reason there is a decline in the quality of standards in tertiary education.

However, the alarm raised by ASUU over the school fees hike, though denied by the federal government was just an event waiting to happen.

Out of the 180 million estimated populations, 87million people are living below the poverty line, that is $1 and 90 cents per day. Theresa May, prime minister of the United Kingdom, while speaking in Cape Town, South Africa, in August described Nigeria as a home to the highest number of very poor people in the world. Considering the poverty rate, many believed the allegedly new tuition fee regime would

draw the hands of the clock of the country backward educationally.

Having failed to reach any of the global education goals, the 2015 Education For All (EFA), Global Monitoring Report (GMR), with the ambitious goal on providing quality education for all by 2030 where UNESCO made the suggestion that countries would have to allocate at least 26 per cent of their national budget to education might just be heading for the rocks.

LAUTECH ASUU chairman Ogbomosho chapter Dr, Biodun Olaniran said ASUU was against the increment in tuition fees at both the federal and state-owned tertiary institutions, saying the ASUU’s fights with the government has not been only about the union, but giving what is due to the public which include free education at all level.

He said, “By now, the public should know the Union stand on some of its policies. We have said it times without number that our own union ASUU is against commercialization and privatization of education in the country, therefore we oppose any increment in tuition fees. We are even calling for free education at all levels •Continued on page 6

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2 - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018

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Making Tertiary Education Accessible To All

•Continued from page 5 because we believe that education is a social service.

“Particularly, the major challenge of LAUTECH is funding, that is why we have told the administrators to come out and tell the people what they have for the university. LAUTECH was established through an edict which states that it is a public university and must be funded by government.

The LAUTECH ASUU chairman maintained that fees hike was not the way to go for LAUTECH and other government-owned institutions, adding that the simple way is that the governments must come out to state their own commitment as against them stopping to fund it.

Olaniran who noted that Education in public school should not be a profit oriented venture noted that if the government is reducing the subvention paid as a result of the economic countdown, it is understandable but to stop funding means government is trying to shy away from its responsibility.

He insisted that tampering with tuition fees wouldn’t be a lasting solution, as it would take education out of the reach of the poor, and serve as obstacle for children of the poor to attain greater height in life, stressing that education is the only thing that can liberate everybody.

Olaniran enjoined management of the university to look inward so as to see other areas they could venture into to improve their IGR. On his part, a public affairs analyst, Ayodele Agboola said, it has been realized that the cost of running qualitative and functional first grade institutions was becoming unbearable if the current fee is maintained, adding that the cost of educating a student in Nigeria amounts to over a million of naira per year.

He argued that the available infrastructures and facilities are limited and cannot cater for the number of available students, noting that the insistence on the government to provide free education for the citizens might thus aggravate the situation and continue to generate tension in the country.

Agboola said, “the fact is that funding has been a challenge. Embarking on investment alone can’t solve this problem as the profit on investment may not be handy. In advanced country, the fees are equally high but there are jobs for students to do, while there are also scholarships.

“For us to run an effective and quality tertiary education system in Nigeria devoid of frequent strikes, the fees would have to go up but it has to be reasonable. The system has been tried in Uniosun. There were hues and cries when the tuition fees was hiked but since then, there has been no strike and from available records the VC of university of Osun claimed to pay staff 25th of every month, even with little or no subvention from the government .

There are two things, if we need quality service there’s no way we won’t pay high.

•LAUTECH students protesting hike in their school fees.

If the government is reducing the subvention paid as a result of the economic downturn, it is understandable but to stop funding means government is trying to shy away from its responsibility.

“If you are considering the fact that the take home pay of parents is limited, we have to come down on this. I am not saying indigent students should not access free education, I went to a tuition free university but we would be comparing the incomparable pairing that period with the current reality on ground. One reason for this is the population of those seeking higher education, secondly, economic downturn”, Ayodele said.

An educationist, Faith Okedoyin noted that Goal 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which is focused on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting life-long learning opportunities for all would have been defeated if the tuition fee across the federal institutions are raised to the allegedly proposed N350,000.

She added that even when the fee is still at a subsidized rate, many students have seen neighbouring countries as a better place where they can complete their tertiary education.

“As it is now, if the fee is low, students would be able to attend school regardless of their parents’ ability or willingness to pay. We have forgotten that the cost of giving tertiary students, who are dominantly youth education, is far outweighing the cost of not educating them. Most of them see acquiring tertiary education as escaping poverty even when unemployment is more pronounced.

“Why would any government want to just dash the hopes of those who are

For us to run an effective and quality tertiary education system in Nigeria devoid of frequent strikes, the fees would have to go up but it has to be reasonable.

willing to get themselves out the vicious circle they are? I see increment in school fee as sheer wickedness on their part as well as an attempt by the government to alienate the poor from education. It is an attempt to generate massive revenue for the state from the poor.

“Many parents are civil servants, traders and artisans for crying out loud. When Bill Gate was in Nigeria, he advised the government about the way to go. Education was one of the 3 sectors he advised Nigeria must massively invest in to develop. It seems that, has fallen to deaf ears. What is observed is that the governments shun spending on education in favour of elephant projects, since diversion of money would be easier there”, she said.

Okedoyin also raised the fear that if the new school fee regime is allow to stand, it would surely open the door for both private and state owned tertiary institutions to be the same interms of fees payment, making education very expensive for students to acquire.

Oluwatobi Owaseye, a social commentator suggested that increased participation of private sector can help generate fund into the purses of public tertiary institutions, rather than placing the entire burden on students.

According to her, parents, especially the wealthy ones apart from meeting the private cost of educating their children should assist more in financing education through generous donation of money, equipment and construction of buildings.

“Although, each registered company in Nigeria is indirectly contributing to primary education financing through 2% Tax, being deducted from their assessable profits annually, more are still required from them most especially the buoyant ones. Donation of money, equipment, construction and renovation of buildings for schools will be welcomed He added that should the government increased tuition, it must re-introduce Education Loan for

Students with interest free or reduced interest which parents can process for their children/wards.

Mr Sola Imoru, head Publicity and Protocol Unit, Adekunle Ajasin University said, universities have to explore the possibilities of getting loans especially outside the country so as to invest in education and ease the burden on parents.

He was also of the view that corporate organisations should be made to invest in the public owned tertiary education, adding that the alumni association also have critical roles to play, citing Harvard, where Alumni, according to him contributes a reasonable amount to the University’s budget yearly. ”Also, the universities should establish consults, they should be run as business and one of the ways of doing this is by detaching them from the bureaucracy of the University, be an independent body and get people who know about business to run things there. They should get professionals to see to its operations and be paid special salaries with targets given to them.

When you put all of these together, the burden on parents would be eased and education would be accessible by all”.

He also advised against the appointment of Pro-chancellors based on politics, adding that if well done, investors could come through them.

Imoru added, “We are aware of what Afe Babalola did at the University of Lagos. We are also aware of what Wole Olanipekun did at the University of Ibadan. The two of them were the prochancellor and chairmen of councils.

We must move away from dashing this appointment to political associates. The universities should look at those who can make impact so that we can get our university to the next level.

On if the 26 per cent UNESCO benchmark could be met, he said, the structure of budget in Nigeria does not always support it, saying in some instances, recurrent expenditure takes away about 75 per cent and at the end of the day, the sharing would no longer allow the 26 per cent for education.

He said, it is the ideal way to make education accessible by all “but we have to be strategic in thinking and implementation of policies. We have made policies that would make our economy strong and run well, but with the way things are, it will rupture a lot of things in other sectors. It’s a gradual thing that must be handled as such”

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Isokan South LCDA Reiterates Commitment To Revenue Generation Through Tourism

By Khadijah Abdullah

Chairman of Isokan South Local Council Development Area, Prince Wasiu Oyelami has disclosed that his administration would focus on generating revenue internally through tourism and promotion of African cultural heritage.

According to a council’s Head of Social and statement by the Development

Information, Ademola Aminu the council chairman disclosed this at the annual Osun-Ikoyi festival head in Ikoyi-Ile recently.

According to him, the only way to ensure the development of the area

has to make promotion of tradition and cultural heritage the main source of revenue generation for the council.

The council boss pledged to give adequate attention to the development of Osun-

Ikoyi house/Ile-Osun Ikoyi, Ajegaji mountain, Ero-omo mountain, Amula mountain, a palm tree with two heads, and Ogun shrine in Kodaolu compound among others, to inculcate Yoruba culture and tradition in the youth.

He reiterated his commitment to partner with traditional institutions on r e j u v e n a t i n g , developing and promoting the cultural heritage of the people.

He also congratulated the newly-elected

governor of the state, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and his deputy, Mr Benedict Alabi.

In his godwill message, the Olukoyi of Ikoyi Land, Oba Yisau Bamitale sought the assistance of stakeholders in promoting tourism sector and making it a main stay of economic development of the country.

He charged residents of the LCDA to always pay their taxes and dues as and when due in the interest of its development.

Ife N/West LCDA Legislators Declare Emergency On Public Projects

The legislative arm of Ife North West Local Council Development (LCDA), Edunabon has declared emergency on some projects which need urgent attention.

The decision was far, the council •(L-R) Olukoyi of Ikoyiland, Oba Bamitale Otunla; Chairman, Isokan South LCDA, Prince Wasiu Oyelami and taken at the parliaments Chairman mentioned the Oosa of Ikoyi, High chief Yekinni Oyewumi during the 2018 Osun-Ikoyi festival in Ikoyi. sitting last week, a that two event centres statement by the have been completed, Information Officer of two official cars the LCDA, Adediji purchased for the office Kamorudeen said. of the council manager, According to the rehabilitation of and statement, the sitting grading of roads across maintenance of their some portions of the which was presided over the LCDA among others.

By Francis Ezediuno vehicle and due to the road during the rainy by the leader of the He also unveiled some State Government of Osun particularly the bad road; most of their season are virtually house, Hon. Tosin Oke of the projects that are in incoming administration has been charged by vehicles have to undergo inaccessible to motorists. has in attendance, the the offing immediately motorists to make rehabilitation of Ibokun-Imesiconstant repair so as to C o m m e r c i a l council Chairman, Hon. the allocation is received, Ile-Esa-Oke roads a major priority as the level of be in good shape. include transporters who ply the Bangbe Ademola; the which deterioration is compounding issues for them.

They called on road revealed that the deputy chairman, Hon. construction of the and overtaken the road, This charge was government and the Awo road is longer, that Yinka Oyeniran; the bridge linking Rarahanded down during an there are potholes filled Federal Ministry of road and is why they prefer to use deputy leader, Hon. Moro with puddles on every on-the-spot visit to the Works to come up with the Ileogbo axis because Banke Akintayo and Edunabon-Tonkere road section of the road and dilapidated sections of a solution to the problem it is a straight route and Supervisory Councillor, and the electrification of vehicles with bad shock the roads.

Olubo area who has been before the road becomes it takes less transport Hon. Kemi Okedairo. absorbers are the ones Motorists who were While briefing the in darkness for long. more dilapidated. time but for the bad feeling the impact of the complaining about the parliament on the efforts While commending From investigations, situation of the road. of his administration so the bad portions of the road bad roads the more”. chairman for The portions of the BOLARINWA LATEEFAT MRS. AKOREDE MORUFAT ABDULRASAQ MOHAMMED from Ibokun road in representing the whole JAMIU OPEYEMI AYODELE OMOLARA ADEMOLA bad roads; they revealed Osogbo, said many of house impressively That ABDULRASAQ That I was formerly That I was formerly MOHAMMED JAMI AND especially on Salu of them taking the road to starts from Ibokun town known and addressed as known and addressed as JAMIU ABDULRASAQ via Itiya, Otan-Ile, ImesiSULAIMAN LATEEFAT MISS. ADEMOLA Edunabon stools, Hon. Ekiti have been having MOHAMMED are the same AYODELE, but now wish to MORUFAT OMOLARA, Ile, Esa-Oke junction Banke Akintayo remind cause to complain in person, but now wish to be but now wish to be known be known and addressed as known and addressed as towards Okemesi in the whole house on the recent times.

BOLARINWA LATEEFAT and addressed as MRS. A B D U L R A S A Q need to appoint According to them, Ekiti state.

AKOREDE MORUFAT AYODELE. All former MOHAMMED-JAMIU supervisory councillors Meanwhile, further OMOLARA ADEMOLA. documents remain valid.

OPEYEMI. All former many of the commercial documents remain valid.

All former documents remain Sterling Bank, First Bank and and urged the executive transporters plying the investigations revealed Diamond Bank, GT. Bank and valid. General public should General public should take arm of the LCDA to fast route from Osogbo to that in the western part General public should take note. take note. note. track action on it by Ekiti and other parts of of the state, majority of completing the process the country especially the roads are in one state and send the name to the the North Central and of disrepair or the other. house for deliberation It was observed that There is vacancy in a reputable media organisation West of the country have and approval. not been finding it easy. the Iwo-Ibadan road via in Osogbo for experienced Advert Canvassers.

Also in attendance at They lamented that Ileogbo was in a Remuneration is performance-based and one of the sitting were the the portions of the road dilapidated state.

Council Manager, Mrs. the best in the industry.

Motorists plying the that are bad constitute Elizabeth Olanrewaju, road were complaining Candidate must be resident in Osogbo. major hazard to the and the head of Admin, bitterly that they had to safety of travelers.

For enquiries: Please Contact Mr. Agboola on Com. Oyebanji among spend more on the “Flowers have Bushes others.

08061197897, 07032594744 and 08038144394.

Repair Ibokun, Imesi-Ile, Esa-Oke, Iwo-Ibadan Roads - Motorists

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A Cocktail Of Recent Happenings Presentation Of Merit Awards To Muslim Faithful, During The Celebration Of Mas'had Day 2018/Launching And Award Ceremony, Held At Owonikoko Country Home, Saki, Oyo State At The Weekend.

Glory Baptist Church Osogbo Holds Choir Anniversary

Ayomide And Adeola Tie Nuptial Knot

•Founderof the Mas’had L’Asrar Almujaba Worldwide, Sheik AbdulJelil Owonikoko (Middle); Director General of Inyanss Motors Limited, Fadeelat Sheik Najeemdeen Shittu Inyanss and some of the awardees.

By Gbenga Adeniyi Founder of an Islamic group, Mas’had-L-Asrar Almujaba Worldwide, Sheik Abdul Jelil Owonikoko, has advised the Federal Government to guide against massive rigging and electoral violence in the forthcoming 2019 election as predicted by some clerics.

He noted that there was no single true vision that will not come to pass but with the singular power of prayer to God bad vision can be averted.

The Islamic cleric, who gave this advice in his opening speech at the 2018 Mas’had Day at Saki, Oyo State, also admonished Nigerians to observe 3-day fasting and prayer to seek full protection of God in other to avert anarchy and blood shed in the coming 2019 general election.

Owonikoko, while analysing the benefits of Mas’had which he founded in 1997, stated that it was established to strengthen people’s belief

in power of prayer in solving problems confronting the nation as a whole and individuals in particular.

According to Owonikoko, many believers have started consulting other sources of spiritual powers to resolve their problems instead of standing by Allah and using healing powers of the Quran.

While expressing his joy, Owonikoko noted that the 11th anniversary of Mas’had was not in vain as it has succeeded in transforming many nominal Muslims to committed believers, who now rely solely on the abundance of the Quran to be their guide in the journey of life.

The guest lecturer, an Islamic scholar from Ilorin, Sheik Abdullahi Olohuntoyin Goga, while elongising Owonikoko for his unqualifiable contributions in the way of Allah, warned religion scholars against gossip, backbiting and slander, which he said was a common attitudes among clerics.

•A cross section of choir member praise-singing at the programme.

By Sola Aderinto

•Children choir members performing at the programme.

•(From left) Chief launcher, Sheik Ibraheem Kamikum Cissey; Founder of the Mas’had L’Asrar Almujaba Worldwide, Sheik Owonikoko and Guest speaker, Sheik Abdullahi Oluwatoyin Googa.

OUR SOCIAL REGISTER IS OPEN FOR YOUR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES TO BE MADE PUBLIC Spaces are available for your anniversaries such as weddings, house-warming and chieftaincy title ceremonies among others for your take. To take advantage of this, you can reach out to Murtala, 08023280935, Kazeem 08062207954 and Nike on 07032594744 Let the public know what you are doing.

•Congregation at the programme.

Worshippers in Glory Baptist Church Osogbo, Ogo Oluwa Area, Osogbo were in joyous mood last Sunday as they held the Choir Anniversary of the church.

It was the 20th choir anniversary which according to Pastor Femi Fadun, themed: Power of praise has an instrument of change”, taken from the Act chapter 16 verse 25/26.

Pastor Fadun exhorted that all Christians must find glory in praising God Almighty and that the church, based on that believe gathers every year to praise Him with songs, saying, “Everything that lives must praise God. The church choir group leaders while speaking separately, described the song festival as act of worship and celebration of God’s favour, which they must do till the end of life.

A member of the church, Gbemisola Babayemi reiterated that the church members were in high spirit as everyone was happy and glorifying God wholeheartedly.

“Everything that lives must praise God.”

•The couple cutting the wedding cake

By Israel Afolabi

It was a joyous occasion at saint marks Anglican church, Kolabalogun, Osogbo, state of Osun when Ayomide Adeyemo got married to her better half Adekeye Adeola .

Saturday 27th of October, 2018 would forever remain memorable in the annals history of families of Adeyemo and Adekeye as their children Ayomide and Adeola graduated from spinsterhood and bachelorhood into the realm of solemnization.

The solemnization of the two love birds took place after the traditional engagement where Adekeye family came forward with formal proposer to have Adeyemo family daughter’s hand in marriage. The new couple received parental blessing from both family to begin their matrimonial jorurney.

The reception followed immediately at Saint Marks Anglican church hall, where the staff of OSBC, other media dignitaries gathered to grace the event.

•Bride parent Mr. and Mrs. Adekunle Adeyemo with newly couple.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2 - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018

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Court Seizes Adeleke’s Passport Over Exam Malpractices, Granted Bail

By Saindat AbdulRouf Sequel to an order of a Federal High Court, Abuja for the production of the Peoples Democratic Party candidate in the September 22, 2018 election, Senator Ademola Adeleke over examination malpractices, the police has on Wednesday arraigned him and four others.

He has though been registered Adeleke and granted bail on self- another Sikiru Adeleke, recognition, but has been as students of Ojo-Aro restricted from travelling Community Grammar out of the country School, in Ojo-Aro in without the court’s Osun State, for the permission, as his National Examination travelling passport was Council’s June/July 2017 seized.

Senior School Certificate The defendants were Examination in February arraigned before Justice 2017.

I.E Ekwo of the Federal Shortly after the High Court in Abuja, defendants took their where they all pleaded pleas, on Wednesday, not guilty to the four three of them, including counts preferred against Adeleke, who had filed them. their separate bail The rest of the applications ahead of the defendants alongside arraignment, were whom Adeleke was granted bail. arraigned were, Sikiru While Adeleke was Adeleke; the principal of represented by Dr. Alex Ojo-Aro Community Izinyon (SAN), the Grammar School, Alhaji second defendant was Aregbesola Muftau; the represented by Mr. registrar of the school, Nathaniel Oke (SAN) Gbadamosi Ojo; and a and the third defendant teacher in the school, by Mr. Abdusalami Dare Samuel Olutope.

Abdulfatai.

The prosecution The fourth and the fifth accused the five defendants, who were defendants of represented by Mr. Isaac committing the offence of Adeniyi during the e x a m i n a t i o n previous proceedings of malpractices

by October 15, 2018, were fraudulently, through not represented by any i m p e r s o n a t i o n , lawyer on Wednesday.

•Senator Adeleke The two of them were remanded in prison due to the absence of their lawyer and failure to file their bail applications ahead of the proceedings.

In a short ruling, the judge noted that the three defendants were entitled to be granted bail as they were presumed innocent and having been granted administrative bail by the police without any complaint of them flouting the bail conditions.

Considering Adeleke’s status as a serving senator, the judge granted bail to him based on self-recognition but with a directive that he must enter into a bond to assure the court that he

would always be present in court for his trial.

The judge also directed him to deposit his passport with the registrar of the court and must not travel out of the country without the permission of the court.

The two others were granted bail in the sum of N2m each with one surety each who must be a “responsible” citizen and owner of landed property in Abuja.

They too were to deposit their passports with the court’s registry and are not to travel out of the country without the court’s permission.

The arraignment was initially stalled on October 15 due to

Adeleke’s absence from court, although the rest of the defendants were present.

His lawyer, Izinyon, reported to the judge that the serving senator could not be in court because he was stooling.

Due to the development, the judge adjourned till Wednesday and directed the prosecution to ensure that Adeleke was in court for the arraignment.

On Wednesday, Adeleke and other defendants attended court on their own.

Decked in a grey coloured attire with a cap, Adeleke was already seated in the courtroom before the judge commenced sitting.

Following a request from the prosecuting counsel, Lough, Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter till December 17, 18 and 19 for the commencement of trial.

The judge directed that the prosecution must ensure that its witnesses were available in court on those dates.

In the first count preferred against the defendants, the prosecution alleged that the five defendants “conspired to commit felony, to wit:

e x a m i n a t i o n malpractices, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10 of the E x a m i n a t i o n Malpractices Act Cap E15 LFN 2004”.

In count two, the prosecution alleged that the three members of staff of the school acted in concert by aiding and abetting “the commission of examination malpractice by personation” when they allegedly “registered Senator Ademola Adeleke and Sikiru Adeleke” while knowing or having “reasons to believe that they are not students of the school”.

The alleged offence was said to be contrary to Section 9(1) of the E x a m i n a t i o n Malpractices Act Cap E15 LFN 2004.

In count three, the two Adelekes were accused of acting in concert, and “personated as students of Ojo-Aro Community Grammar School, when you fraudulently registered as students of the school in the June/ July, 2017 NECO”.

The offence is said to be contrary to Section 3(2) of the Examination Malpractices Act Cap E15 LFN 2004.

ISSUES/POLICY Ilesa-Akure Expressway Accident:

By Adewale Adetoyese

One of the characteristics of Nigeria roads is the presence of checkpoints, where assigned security and traffic officials perform their duties. Among other law enforcement agents on the roads are men of the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Federal Road Safety Corps and Vehicle Inspection Officers.

Daily, these officials are being deployed to Nigeria roads where they’ve created checkpoints for the safety of road users and to enhance strict adherence to the laws of the land. However, the deployment of these men have over the years raised questions, especially those relating to ethics and integrity by the officials in question.

Another disturbing question raised by Nigerians

Enough Reason To Relocate Checkpoints

is the location of checkpoints right in the centre of the roads by these officials, thereby creating a long queue of vehicles waiting for ‘inspection’, even on busy highways.

Study has shown that drivers and other road users go through a lot to pass across checkpoints on Nigeria roads, even with complete and up to date vehicle documents. Most of them often resort to bribing officials at checkpoints to avoid delay.

Aside the delay being faced by road users, they are also prone to accident of various dimensions as long queue of vehicles at checkpoints makes it impossible for them to move in case of emergency.

For instance, the fatal accident that occurred on Thursday,October 25, 2018 at the Erin-Ijesa area of

•A scene of the accident where no fewer than 14 people lost their lives recently in a fatal accident at ErinmoIjesha, along Ilesha-Akure Expressway.

It is imperative for concerned authorities to immediately relocate checkpoints from the centre of roads into safer areas to ensure that smooth flow of traffic is not interrupted.

the Ilesa-Akure Expressway where at least 14 people were killed was said to have been compounded by the traffic congestion created by the Police checkpoint on the busy road.

According to an eyewitness, the Police had in their usual way stopped vehicles on the busy road before a truck heading towards Akure with a failed break ran on to the waiting vehicles, thereby killing 14 people and injuring others.

While it is painful to know that the truck’s driver fled the scene of the accident, the supposed gallant men of The Nigeria Police also disappeared from their checkpoint, after holding 14 people for untimely death.

Going by the circumstance surrounding the above tragedy, it is imperative for concerned authorities to immediately relocate checkpoints from the centre of roads into safer areas to ensure that smooth flow of traffic is not interrupted.

Also, officials must be upright in their operations on Nigerian roads by not making vehicle inspection among other road operations a herculean exercise for Nigerians.

Finally, concerned authorities must ensure that the safety of Nigerians and compliance with the 1999 constitution of the country is their sole reasons for deploying officials on Nigerian roads.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2 - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018

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Osun Schools Calisthenics Winners Get N8 Million Cash Prize

By Kehinde Ayantunji Government of the State of Osun has rewarded the schools that triumph in the just-concluded Public and private schools statewide calisthenics competition to the tune of N8 Million to encourage more participation.

State Head of Service, Dr Oyebade Olowogboyega and the Commissioner for Education, Mr Omotunde Kola Young presented the trophy and cash gift to the winners at the ceremony held in Osogbo last Tuesday.

Glory Group of Schools, Okuku a private school, Raphael College Ikire and St. Micheal RCM Ibokun which came first got N1 million each while the first runner up, L.A. Middle School, Ilesha , Nahada Group of Schools Inisa and Ife-Oluwa Middle School Osogbo got N750,000 each.

Those in second runner up category, Osu Community Middle School, Osu, Olive Branches Schools, Osogbo, and Anglican Central Government Middle School. Ile-Ife got N500,000 each.

Others five schools in the last category, Anglican Middle/High School Ife Odan, Oba Laoye and Anasru-Islam Middle School Ede, Oluorogbo Middle School Ile-Ife, Shekinah Schools Inisa and Osun North Anglican Diocesan Comprehensive High School Agbeye got the consolation prince of N200,000 each.

Director, Social Mobilization and Guardian, Mr Bayo Ojo said the price reward was among others to encourage more participation and assist the schools in improving their sporting facilities in the quest of the state government to institutionalise Calisthenics as part of school curricular.

He said 28 schools indicated interest to participate in the competition but 14 were selected based on evaluation of capacity, available facilities and preparedness, adding that the process allows competitions and merit which eventually produced the best that will perform on November 25 as part of the governorship inauguration programme.

He said this year’s edition accommodated private schools, saying this has expanded the scope of the programme, as he solicited the support of the private sector to sustain the programme which he described as worthy in building a better future for Nigeria.

Commissioner for Education, Omotunde

team work and other Omoluabi virtues.

He said, government was supporting each students with N1,500 weekly transport allowance throughout the training period and procured the necessary kits for the success of the display.

Omotunde however said with the introduction of school competitions, the people and schools have taken ownership of the

programme, as parents are now the one willingly procuring the kits for their children with letter of consent to participate, while many teachers have equally undergone training as coaches in their schools.

The Head of Service, Olowogboyega said in the history of the state, Governor Aregbesola has demonstrated uncommon commitment in the educational sector.

He commended the

teachers for the recent strides in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) with 70 percent performance in English and Mathematics.

He said “ Aregbsola has brought the riddles of impossibility through calisthenics and it is the teachers that will solve this problem, your commitment and determination are important for the success of the programme”.

Osun Baptist Church of Nigeria, has commended the government of the state on Education Reform and Infrastructural Development in the state. and state The commendation federal came when the Emmanuel government agencies and Parish of the church parastatals among many honoured the Permanent others.

The presiding Pastor of Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board the church, Reverend Olu (SUBEB), Alhaji Fatai Akande, said the Osun Kolawole with an award SUBEB PS is a perfect of excellence in public definition of modesty who service and 15 others including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The award conferment ceremony which took place at the church auditorium located at the back of John Mackey Elementary School, OkeAyepe, Osogbo, the state capital on Sunday had in attendance people from all walks of life including royal fathers, head of

relates with both the old and the young and has used his position to better lives of many through his rare generosity and kindness to all and sundry.

The clergyman said, “Character molding and preparation for global challenges,leadership roles and virtuous ethos in Osun SUBEB under the leadership of Alhaji Fatai Kolawole marked out Osun basic education programmes from her peers in the federation”.

He then lauded the series of innovation and initiatives including the far reaching reforms the government of the Osun has introduced in the education sector in the state, saying, the consistent brilliant performance of the state in

public examinations has vindicated the Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration that those reforms and u n p r e c e d e n t e d infrastructural development were working well.

Responding, Kolawole said Osun stands tall among its peers in the education sector, particularly at the basic level, saying the successes recorded was as a result of the ingenuity of A r e g b e s o l a ’ s administration.

He said, the administration has laid a solid foundation for the education development in the state and there is a guarantee that the trend will continue after the tenure of Ogbeni Aregbesola.

Young commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for the initiative, adding that it requires unusual understanding and strong leadership to sustain a programme like calisthenics considering its cost.

According to him, in 2017 alone, over 6,000 students were engaged which has transformed their lives through discipline, mental alertness, precision and

Baptist Church Lauds Aregbesola Education Reform, Honours SUBEB PS

•Fatai Kolawole

INTERACTIONS

Why I Left PDP For APC - Saka Mabro Chief Sakariyau Usman Oyedeji a.k.a MABRO, was a leader of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and one of the key former chieftains of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun.

Recently, he spoke with Newsmen in Osogbo the state capital on the way and manner he was maltreated by some members of the PDP in Osun, which forced him to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) among other sundry issues. Excerpts:-

You were known to be a strong leader of PDP, what has led to your recent defection to the APC? If I say I am one of the founders of the PDP in Osun today, I am not mistaking and I am not boasting. I was one of the staunch leaders of the party, and when the party crumbled and the ruling APC took over power in the state, I, with some other chieftains were the one financing the party.

In Osogbo Local Government, I singlehandedly ensure that the party did not die, and I remained the major financial, putting things together to ensure that PDP comes back to life.

As events unfold, the party members were increasing day by day through my singular efforts, then, Alhaji Tajudeen Oladipo was nowhere to be found. With the assistance of Dr. Olu Alabi, We tried all we could to draw Alhaji Oladipo back to our fold, but all to no avail.

He (Oladipo) later joined when the party regained its stand in Osogbo local government.

Subsequently, the issue of who becomes the chairman of the party in the state came up, and before then, I have pitched my tent with Senator Iyiola Omisore’s camp who wanted Dr. Bayo Faforijin to be the chairman of the party. Suddenly, I noticed that Alhaji Oladipo has also joined the group and because of my principle and ideology, I left the camp and joined Hon. Soji Adagunodo’s camp, we held a congress and Adagunodo emerged the state chairman of the party (PDP). This development made Omisore’s camp to leave the party and joined another party, of which Tajudeen Oladipo went with

them.

Oladipo, out of his greediness left Omisore’s camp having joined SDP and when he didn’t realise his selfish interest there or probably he was maltreated by the leaders he met in the party, he returned to PDP and started romancing with the party leaders especially the party’s candidate for the just-concluded election.

To put the record straight, when the party members was to be mobilised for the recent governorship election, Oladipo, instead of me was used as contact, knowingfully well that he could not win his polling units for the party not to talk of winning his ward. I am from the same ward with Oladipo and I know my impact which people can testify to when it comes to winning an election.

Immediately I heard this, I contacted Dr. Olu Alabi who also supported the move and I told him am okay with it. I then went

I see majority of those in PDP as greedy people, though, I still owe some of the leaders of the party in high esteem, but personally, I don’t celebrate failure

•Aremo Saka Oyedeji, APC Chieftain. there to collect the mobilisation fund for my ward and on getting there, they asked me to swear to an oath with gun that I will not divert or used the money to work against PDP. I felt embarrassed and told them that I was leaving the party that day because despite the ordeal I encountered and my money spent to rebuild PDP in Osogbo local government, I could still face such humiliation.

So, I see majority of those in PDP as greedy people, though, I still owe some of the leaders of the party in high esteem, but

personally, I don’t celebrate failure which Alhaji Oladipo represent.

By and large, I know they don’t want me purposely because I was not supporting their candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke as they all knew that Dr Akin Ogunbiyi was my preferred candidate whom I know was the authentic winner of the PDP primary election held at GMT Hotel in Osogbo.

Knowing that I was not in support of his brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke called me on many occasions, asking me of what to offer me to get my support, but I told him that, I am contented with the little given to me by the Almighty Allah while I don’t need anything either from him personally or the entire Adelekes. Similarly, Dupe Adeleke called me saying the same thing, but I remain adamant.

Subsequently, I decided to cross over to APC from PDP not for any personal gains and infact I mobilised people in large numbers in Osogbo local government to ensure APC’s victory and then I thank God for the outcome of the election.

It was after I have decided that Chief Tunde Badmus called me appealing to me to work for Ademola in Osogbo local government but I told him I have taken my decision and am not going back. It is not that I disrespected the set of people appealing to me here and there, but I was pushed to the wall in PDP. There is an understanding that you are a lone ranger, as nobody defected to APC with you?

I want to tell you that, immediately I defected, all my followers and supporters followed me to the APC without thinking twice and I will like to mention some of them to you. About 5000 members of Association of Polythene products sellers of Nigeria, 600 members of the Vegetable Growers and Sellers Association, 6,780 members of the Video Club Proprietors Association of Nigeria in only Olorunda and Osogbo local governments, 6000 members of Osun State Youth Movements (OYM), and another 6000 members of Voice of Love Grassroot Empowerment Initiative, Osun Chapter among others that I cannot mentioned here followed me. In all, those who went to APC with me were about 15,000 only in my local government alone.

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 02 - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 08, 2018

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.org

OSPOLY Students Rally Against Commercialisation Of Education

• Management Releases ND Part Time Form

By Joshua Afolabi

review was reversed but to about 50 per cent”.

The president revealed that, similar fate was suffered by the students of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree last session.

“We want to say at this point that we cannot condone any alien policy that would be inimical to our studentship. Many could be forced out of school by this policy. Even coming generation who are of humble background would be discouraged from going to school.

Students of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree led by the Students Union President, Bolaji Olaniyi converged on Monday to rally against commercialisation of tertiary institution in Nigeria.

The rally was tagged supposed to be borne by 5,000 OSPOLY Students government”.

Walk Against “Just recently, students Commercialisation of of Ladoke Akintola Tertiary Education.

University of Technology Students of the went through a near-hell institution were sighted experience, as their tuition converged in large fee was increased by over number, with different 130 per cent.

Aluta songs.

“It took series of appeals The president in his and demonstrations before speech during the rally, the inimical upward said it was meant to lend support for the masses who are gradually becoming victims of turning the education

By Joseph Olarotimi and Aishat Oyebamiji sector into business venture as evident by There were rushes by students of the Kwara State developments in other tertiary institutions of the Polytechnic, Ilorin Kwara State during the week as the results of some departments for the last country.

In his statement, “the academic session ended in August have been entire news space has been released.

As at Monday, our results of some of the obviously awash with talks of commercialisation reporter on campus departments have been of tertiary education in the observed that students released. country and it is not a have been visiting the As at the time of filing miscarriage of judgement school campus in this report on Tuesday, to say that the government anticipation of the release some students of the is now acting in pursuance of their results.

National Diploma (ND) to the inhumane policy of Subsequently on in Mass Communication shifting more burden of Tuesday morning, some department who are funding the education students were sighted currently undergoing sector on parents”. patronizing cyber cafes “The implication of this around the school their Industrial Work Experience Scheme is that, parents and sponsors would be made campus to check their (SIWES) said their results result, as the information have not been released. to shoulder One of the students, responsibilities that are filtered around that the

“It is noteworthy at this point to take a position against it as it would go a long way in affecting our ambitions of becoming someone great in future.

By this, we mean, it has now become a responsibility for us to come together as one united people with one voice and echo it to the concerned stakeholders that we refuse any agenda to shift government’s responsibilities of providing affordable education to the masses.

M e a n w h i l e , management of the Osun

State Polytechnic, Iree has announced that the admission form for the National Diploma programme into the Two Years Daily Part Time programme of the institution is now available for sales.

According to a statement by the Registrar, B. M. Salawu, courses are available in the following

Faculties: Engineering, Science, Information and Communication T e c h n o l o g y , Environmental Studies, Financial Studies and Management Studies.

Applicants are expected to have credit passes in English, Mathematics and any other three subjects relevant to their Course of study

Kwara Poly Results Out, Students Rush To Check

Wasiu Ibrahim said, as at Monday, a template in PDF had been created for

Minimum Wage Desirable, But… The coming week will be decisive for both labour and governments at all levels in Nigeria. Both are at loggerheads at the moment over how much should be earned as minimum wage.

But most affected are workers and governments in states.

My mentor, an elder statesman, is particularly sad at this turn of events and he told me of his frustration with government and its workers at all levels. His believe is that governments have not been sincere with themselves, while workers have been unrealistic with economic situations on ground.

“Why do you have to keep workers which you knew within yourself that you cannot cater for?” he said with sadness written all over his face, “it is like having dozens of children and relatives you knew you cannot cater for and you keep on habouring them in your household, managing. There’s bound to be an implosion. And that is what we are experiencing now.

That really is my grouse with government.

“Most of us have our private companies; do you employ or retain in your employ people you know within yourself that your resources cannot cater for without affecting your company’s growth? I mean, why can’t we solve this problem of large, redundant workforce once and for all?”

I had to interject, and this is the first time I would be challenging his treatise, “sir, it is not as simple as you are putting it. It is very easy in a corporate environment or private establishment. In those instances you can be decisive, but in a political atmosphere, you cannot start retrenching, because government is about the people, taking care of them and their needs, whatever it may take”.

“You are absolutely right my son…” he concurred with me, took a sip from a plastic bottle that was placed on the centre table by his butler. I noticed that the content was very dark and I asked what that was. “This is a non-alcoholic bitter, my son.

At my age, even though I don’t consume sugar in my beverages again, most of our foods are laced with sugar to make them friendly with our taste buds. So, one of the ways I eliminate sugar in my system is to take bitters on a daily basis”.

He corked the bottle and handed it to a young boy who has been busy fiddling with a television remote control, surely searching for a channel. The young lad took the bottle in to the dining room. “That is my grand-child…I love seeing him around me and I had to request my son and his wife to allow him live here.

“Why I concurred with you is that we are in a third world, developing country. Governments in our country cannot look away from the abject poverty of its citizens. But it stops there.

“And I’m not blaming the present crop of leaders because I’ve been there too. I know how it feels to watch your people languishing in very abject poverty. But what I’m saying is that, one, our past leaders have mismanaged us, but it is our duty to correct the mistakes.

each of the students and each of them would only be able to access the

platform with secret passwords.

He said, he was anxious to see that his result is released, saying, his expectation was to see a favourable result considering the efforts he has put into his academic pursuit in the last session.

Another students, Joseph Adewole said, he was optimistic of favourable result, saying, though anxious, but not afraid of seeing his result.

“I am not afraid of seeing my result, because before now, my grade was in Upper Credit and considering more efforts I put in, I am expecting to be on Distinction when the result is released”, he stressed.

Truth Of The Matter with

AYEKOOTO ayoakinola444@gmail.com

My son, just the same way I used the “bitters” drink to eliminate the killing effect of sugar in my system, even though the former is bitter while the latter is sweet, we need to also sensitize our people to the need of using the bitter pills of compact, quality workforce to take our country out of this sickening situation we presently find ourselves. There’s no other way.

“The oil boom of the early seventies was a golden opportunity lost, to diversify rather than increase wage through the Jerome Udoji Awards. We have laced our people’s taste bud for salaried jobs and wage increase right from that early period and now, it is difficult to ask them to swallow the bitter liquid of rationalization of workforce, even though that would truly have taken them and all of us out of the woods”.

What a funny coincidence, I thought. Was it a deliberate comical illustration for him to have sipped the bitter liquid in my presence, to eliminate the sweet (sugar) nonsense in his system or was it a coincidence? I marveled.

But really, the whole thing started to make sense to me, especially with this reality which the sweet-sugary nonsense and the bitter-healing liquid reality brought to the fore.

As if he was reading into my mind, he continued, “my son,

just the same way I used the “bitters” drink to eliminate the killing effect of sugar in my system, even though the former is bitter while the latter is sweet, we need to also sensitize our people to the need of using the bitter pills of compact, quality workforce to take our country out of this sickening situation we presently find ourselves. There’s no other way. But it needs serious sensitization to realize because we are in a democracy, not in a dictatorship. And this also makes me to digress to tell you that as undesirable as dictatorship governments are, they most times take their countries out of the woods. Look at the development of Singapore as a great nation-state.

“Lee Kuan Yew was the prime minster of Singapore from 1959 to 1990, making him the longest-serving PM in history.

During his long rule, Singapore became the most prosperous nation in Southeast Asia.

“Here, we have trusted leaders whom we can ask to continue because of their capacities in government but this Americanstyled democracy which we copy hook, line and sinker won’t allow. We import systems without looking at our peculiarity. I don’t want to be specific now but God has endowed us with leaders whom we should have asked to continue after their tenure if we had adapted this so-called democracy to our peculiar situation, and that’s why it’s going to take us pretty long time to get there.

“Wait, what stops us from making a referendum to ask these great leaders to continue? It could be our own peculiar style of democracy”, he concluded with a grain of sadness written on his face.

The journalistic instinct in me made me to ask him to name at least one of those present leaders whom he felt qualifies for this. He simply told me: “you too, you know, Ayo…don’t ask me”. We both laughed.

As I left his presence, I continued to think about this minimum wage thing. I told myself that truly, workers deserve pay-raise from time to time, but has anyone also thought of minimum productivity to make the desired funds for the increase available? Are our people tax-compliant enough to raise funds for government? What ratio of the entire populace is in government employment to justify the huge sum involved in constant pay raise? Why do we always talk of sharing of cake instead of baking it in this clime? Wage increase in itself without thinking of purchasing power of our currency is stupidity and is a rat race.

•To be continued

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 02 - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 08, 2018

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NAIIS: A House To House HIV, Hepatitis B and C Survey

Human Immunodeficiency Virus disease commonly called HIV, Hepatitis B and C are three of the killer diseases that are presently ravaging most countries in the developed world and Nigeria is not an exception when it comes to the frightening statistics of Nigerians battling these ailments.

For these reasons, the the Control of AIDS Nigerian AIDS Indicator (NACA) will be and Impact Survey also conducting a survey for known as NAIIS, an 3,000 Osun residents in initiative of the Federal 102 selected communities Government of Nigeria in the 30 local through the Federal governments in the State.

Ministry of Health and The NAIIS is a survey the National Agency for about HIV and an

indicator to measure the burden of HIV in Nigeria and is funded by the Presidential Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC).

This type of survey is different in that the results of the test involved would be disclosed personally to the persons involved

almost instantly as the survey will be in the form of blood tests in the comfort of their homes.

Where necessary, survey participants will be referred to a nearby health facility of their choice where treatment and counseling will commence.

This is a wakeup call to the state government, State Ministry of Health and Osun State Agency for the Control of AIDS (O-SACA) and the good people of Osun to rise to

•Cross section of enumerators during a recently concluded training in preparation for the statewide NAIIS survey.

With

FRANCIS EZEDIUNO the occasion and cooperate with the enumerators as they go round their localities.

It seems the benefits of the survey are numerous and they include the followings: Help us to know how many people in Nigeria have HIV and viral hepatitis and need health services; provide participants the opportunity to get free HIV testing and counseling in the privacy of their own homes; improve the success of HIV treatment and other services; and move Nigeria towards an HIV free generation.

Dr. Bunmi Ayinde, the NAIIS Zonal Mobiliser stated that participation in the programme is voluntary and confidential as earlier stated and the identity of the participants will be confidential.

It is hoped that with the result of the survey, Nigeria will be able to tabulate and access the segment of its population zone by zone, state by state and local

Rumour Of Measles Outbreak Dispelled

In the last two weeks, there have been rumours making the round within Osogbo and its environs that there has been a re-emergence of the dreaded measles disease.

The fear had risen from Officer, Osun State the breakout of skin rash Primary Health Care and accompanying fever Development Board, on the skin of a cross- Mrs. Adeosun, revealed section of children within to OSUN DEFENDER the metropolis. that there had never been On investigation, the any occasion for measles State Immunisation outbreak in the state.

She maintained that the state had been declared measles free by the relevant health agencies and also that the various immunization exercises conducted by the state had helped to put a check to any outbreak of such diseases.

“Until the beginning of

last week, there has been frightening reports amongst residents of the state capital, Osogbo”.

Earlier, there had been reports that measles had broken out in some parts of the state and there was fear amongst some sections of the populace.

Meanwhile, an on-thespot assessment

conducted by this medium confirmed that in some areas, there had indeed been emergence of chicken pox in a number of under 5 children.

A message sent to the office of the Osun State Epidemiologists did not get any response as at the time of going to press.

Top 7 Local Nigeria Fruits And Their Health Benefits Nigeria is located in the tropical zone and hence a lot of amazing fruits abound.

African pear: Ube or about a centimetre in Atili is commonly known diameter and it has a black as African Pear. It is velvet shell. It is normally botanically known as eaten by cracking the shell Dascroides Edulis. African to reveal an orange pulp, pear is a very delicious that is sucked or chewed. fruit and it can be eaten They can be taken as raw or roasted with salt. snacks or soaked in water The Health benefits of to produce a kind of drink.

African pear are based on The health benefits are: its nutritional value. It Due to its numerous contains 48 percent oil, nutritional contents, it has vitamin D, ascorbic acid, manifold functions in the calcium, folic acid and body like regulating cell magnesium. function or red blood cell Health benefits are: It production; it has contains a lot of antioxidant properties antioxidants due to the (tartaric acid) that prevent presence of rich vitamin C free radicals from harming content; it has a lot of the body; it has lot of calcium, which means that dietary fiber that reduce taking it often can notably the bad cholesterol in the reduce the risk of body; and it is also used osteoporosis; presence of medicinally as a laxative. folic acid makes it great for Soursop: Also known as pregnant women because graviola, Soursop is a fruit it helps them avoid infant with green, spiny skin. It deformity; and the fleshy has a whitish inside which back of the fruit can be is eaten. It is extremely used to treat skin disease delicious and has a like body rash. considerable amount of Black velvet tamarind: sourness. This fruit is The fruits are very small; packed with coolness and

is wonderfully refreshing when taken in dry season.

The Health Benefits of Soursop are: It is used herbally to reduce stomach pain and cramps; it can also be used to treat respiratory system problems like cough; it contains many phytochemicals that slow down the growth of cancer cells.

Garden egg: Locally known as Anara to the Igbos and Igba to the Yorubas, the fruit has a spongy, seedy flesh that is crunchy and slightly bitter.

When it is eaten with a peanut paste (Ose Orji), it gets very delicious.

Garden egg is scientifically called Solanum Melongena, The nutritional contents of garden eggs are, dietary fiber, manganese, potassium and magnesium, and the health benefits are: It is excellent for people that want to lose weight, because of its poor calorie count; it is very good during hot weather, it can

hydrate you immeasurably; it is good for the nervous system and heart; and it helps in lowering blood sugar level.

Pepper fruit: It is locally known as Mmimi among the Igbos and Ata Igberi among the Yorubas respectively. It is a spicy fruit, small in size. When unripe, they are green in color, but when ripe, they are red with sweet soft, juicy flesh. It can be eaten as a snack or even used as a condiment.

The Health benefits of pepper fruits are: Because of its spicy pungent aroma, it is used to treat nasal congestion and cold; it is used to prevent glaucoma, because it reduces intra ocular pressure; it is given to pregnant women, because it helps in uterine contraction.

African star apple: This is known as Agbalumo to the Yorubas and udala to the Igbos. This is a very popular African fruit. It has an orange skin, a deep orange pulp and brown

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strong seeds. This fruit is delightfully sweet and commonly seen around December to March.

The nutritional values of African star apple are: Dietary fiber, calcium, vitamin C and Iron and the health benefits; It is very powerful in the treatment of diarrhea and fever; it is great for weight loss because it just contains 65 calories and is poor in fat content.

Almond fruit: To almost every Nigerian, this fruit is simply known as fruit. It is a very common fruit that grows many times a year. It is green when unripe and yellow when ripe. The nutritional value of the almond fruit are: protein, vitamin E, magnesium, calcium and potassium; while the health benefits are: They reduce heart attack risk; it helps alkalize the body because of high amount of calcium and potassium; it provides healthy fats and aid weight loss.

government by local government that have HIV, Hepatitis B and C, how to go about managing them.

The NAIIS survey is all about going from house to house, door to door in each community to ask questions about the Nigerian AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey.

Questions will be asked about HIV, Hepatitis B and C and people’s blood samples will be taken to conduct HIV, Hepatitis B and C tests for them in the comfort of their homes and in their different households.

The tests will be done free. It will be voluntary and it is going to be a confidential process.

Teams that will conduct the survey are already in the state but there is need to create awareness so that communities will know that the federal governments, National AIDS Control Agency (NACA) are the ones who planned this programme for Nigeria.

The survey is also funded by AFENET and Global Fund in league with other implementing partners.

Another aim of the survey is to ensure that people know their HIV, Hepatitis B and C status.

Those who are positive will be referred to hospital where they will receive treatments while those who test negative will have the opportunity to be counseled for free on how to prevent contracting these diseases.

The survey will be another opportunity for people to know their status generally and also to ensure that HIV in Osun State and Nigeria as a whole is reduced to the barest minimum.

The community will gain from the free tests, free referral and transportation for HIV positive individuals. Not all households will be visited during the survey but only selected ones by the National Population Commission (NPC) will be used as the sample population and visited.

The households visited will represent their communities and it is their health status that will be used to get the health status of the community and in the future. It is the survey that the government will use in planning its health programmes.

This survey is presently ongoing across six states across the federation. One state per geographical zone.

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NEWS

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2 - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018

Osun APC Primary Suit: Oyetola, Deputy Joined As Defendants

By Bayo Ogungbe A Federal High Court in Abuja granted the request of Osun Governor-elect, Gboyega Oyetola and his deputy, Benedict Alabi, to be joined as defendants in a suit challenging the outcome of the last governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The suit was filed by one of the aggrieved APC governorship aspirants, Kunle Adegoke.

Justice I. E. Ekwo granted the application filed by Oyetola and Alabi after their counsel, Bankole Komolafe drew the court’s attention to it when the case came up for hearing on Wednesday.

Lawyers to other parties in the suit did not

oppose the application, which the judge granted.

The APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were the defendants in the matter until Oyetola and Alabi’s application was granted.

The plaintiff had prayed the court to nullify the APC primary, which produced Oyetola as the party’s candidate, citing alleged irregularities.

Adegoke is argued that the conduct of APC’s primary in Osun violated the nation’s Constitution, the Electoral Act, 2010 and relevant provisions of the APC constitution, including the Regulation

for the Conduct of Political Party Primaries of the INEC. He said, in a supporting affidavit, that the “direct method” adopted by the party, which allowed all

members to vote in the primary “was a departure from the extant 2014 guidelines of the party”.

The plaintiff stated that contrary to the development in Osun, “the indirect method of

primary was used in Edo State in 2016, Ondo State in 2016, Anambra State in 2017 and Ekiti State in May 2018”.

The case has now been adjourned till December 13 for hearing.

Osun Assembly Passes Criminal Justice Bill

By Israel Afolabi Osun House of Assembly has passed the state of Administration of Criminal Justice bill 2018.

This came into being Komolafe representing after the motion moved Atakunmosa East/West by the lawmaker at plenary presided over representing Boripe/ by Speaker of the House, Boluwaduro State Dr Najeem Salaam.

Constituency and He said that the bill seconded by Hon. Festus would help the state to be

at rest against criminal activities in the state, while also to check bad behaviours in the society.

According to him, “Osun assembly now join other state of the federation that have passed this bill”.

Dr. Salaam appreciated his colleagues and committee that worked effectively on the bill.

However, the third reading and final passage of the state of Osun administration of criminal justice bill 2018 by the state assembly was attended by exhaustive

debate by the lawmakers.

The issues were raised by legislator on some aspects of the bill just as observation made on some clauses was agreed upon. Therefore, based on concurrence by the lawmakers and motion duly moved, the bill went for third reading and was consequently passed.

The speaker, Dr Salaam appreciated colleagues for the job well-done and expressed the belief that the Governor would soon give his assent in other to make it effective in the state.

Council Staffers Trained On Conversion Of LGs’ Accounts

By Omolara Olowotoro

•Governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Ajibola Bashiru (right); Commissioner for Commerce industry and cooperative, Hon Jayeoba Alagbada(2nd left); Special Adviser Agriculture, Mr Remi Kolajo (left), during the Signing of Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) between the state Government and the Ministry of Environment, Agriculture and Energy of the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt, at the Government house GRA Osogbo.

Hearing Of Suit Pushing For Buhari’s Impeachment Fixed For Nov 26

which A Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, the Osun requirement, State capital has fixed November 26 for hearing of would have qualified a suit seeking to compel the National Assembly to him for the contest.

They further alleged begin impeachment proceedings against President that President Buhari in Muhammadu Buhari. flagrant violation of The presiding judge, won and was sworn in as section 137 (1) (j) of the Justice Maurine the president on May 29, 1999 constitution Onyetenu gave the date 2015 without possessing presented a forged on Tuesday, when the the basic constitutional matter came up.

The suit was jointly instituted by a lawyer, Kanmi Ajibola, and an activist, Sulaiman Adeniyi against the President for his alleged House of Representatives members representing failure to meet basic Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ajibola requirement to occupy Famurewa on Wednesday commenced a tour of all the office of the president. the wards of his constituency.

The applicants had During the tour, used the opportunity to earlier written the Famurewa who is also present candidates of the National Assembly, the All Progressives party for the 2019 election alleging constitutional Congress (APC) for the House of breaches by the president Senatorial candidate for Assembly and House of and urged both chambers Osun West expressed Representatives seat in to begin impeachment of gratitude to the people of Ijesa South the president.

Famurewa who his constituency and In the motion ex-parte, Osun in general for the recalled the history of the duo were contending success of his party representation of Osun that in flagrant violation during the last West in the senate said, of the 1999 constitution, governorship election.

“Since 1999, it was Sen. President Buhari The lawmaker also Mojisoluwa Akinfehinwa contested the election, that first had the

certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the purpose of the 2015 presidential election that brought him to the office of the president.

Local Government staffers in the State of Osun on Wednesday began a three-day workshop on Conversion of Local Government Accounts from International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS) Cash to IPSAS Accrual.

The workshop, of the Local government and organised by the State Administration Auditor General for Local Finances.

He said the training was Governments, State of Osun, was to equip all organized to bridge the Directors of Finance and knowledge gap that exists Supplies, and Internal in the system.

Osun Commissioner for Auditors of Local Governments and Local local governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Council Development Areas in the State for the Barrister Kolapo Alimi, applauded the AG for challenges of IPSAS Accruals implementation. Local Government for the The participants were timely organisation of the charged to be diligent in workshop.

He submitted that the the discharge of their workshop would go a long duties. way in improving the In his address, Osun and efficiency Auditor General for Local knowledge of local governments Governments, Mr staffs.

Emmanuel Kolapo, stated He said, the that the transition to introduction of IPSAS to IPSAS Accruals the Local governments implementation in the council is very important state requires diligence, to make the local adequate knowledge governments accountants expertise and compete with their commitment of operators colleagues all over the world.

The Head of Service, Dr. Oyegbade Gboyega in his goodwill message at the workshop expressed confidence in the crop of officers holding positions seat of our district in the local government as consistently for 16 years, capable of delivering meanwhile there are four excellent services.

The Chairman, Local Local Governments in Service Ile-Ife whereas there are Government Commission, Elder Tunde six in Ijesaland.

Adedeji, also applauded “The leadership of our the Auditor General for party considered all these local governments for the premises to decide that initiative. the Ife/Ijesa senatorial He commended the set seat should this time of Council Managers, come to Ijesaland. I have Heads of Finance and therefore been given Internal Auditors present mandate by our dear for their sense of party to contest at the responsibility at work and them against any election of February warned form of leakages of fund in 2019”. the system.

Famurewa Embarks On Tours Of Wards Ijesa South opportunity to represent us for four years between 1999 and 2003, it was Sen. Iyiola Omisore from IleIfe that represented us between 2003 and 2011 and Senator Babajide Omoworare also from Ile-Ife was elected to represent us between 2011 to date.

“When Sen. Omoworare will be finishing his term of office by 2019, it will mean that Ile-Ife has maintained the senatorial

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2 - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018

CRIME

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

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Eight Suspects Arraigned For Stealing Cosmetics Items Counsel to the suspects valued N11,500 and two State of Nigeria,2013.

By Odunlade Saheed The charge sheet also cartons of Ozone relaxer pleaded with the court to Osun State Police command has arraigned eight stated admit the suspects to bail valued N8,100, knowing that Sade suspects before a Magistrate court in Osogbo over Tajudeen, sometimes in same to have been stolen in the most liberal terms. alleged stealing of cosmetics.

However, the to and the month of contrary The accused persons Enterprise ventures August,2018 at Ifon punishable under section Presiding Magistrate, were docked on October Bishop street, Osogbo received the following: 427 of the criminal code A.O Ayilara, granted 7th 17, 2018 on four count being the drives and sales half carton of fumbat-A cap 34 Vol Il, Law of and 8th accused persons charges to which they representatives of the tube valued N43,500, two Osun State of Nigeria bail in the sum of N100,000 with two pleaded not guilty. a f o r e m e n t i o n e d cartons of Beka relaxer 2013.

They are, Saheed ventures.

Opeyemi, 30, Abdul It added that the Wahab, 34, Odunniyi suspects conspired Ayomide, 21, Ogundeji together to commit Williams, 35, Afolabi felony to wit stealing Taiwo, 20, Blessing John, some cosmetics valued 29, Simiat Oladepo, 61, N3,636,500 property of and Sade Tajudeen 36.

Ojetola Sunday According to the Oluwaseyi thereby charge sheet, the suspects committed an offence stole the following items: contrary to and 25 cartoons of Fumbat-A punishable under section valued 2,250,500, five 516 of the criminal code cartoons of Skineal tube cap 34 Vol. II, Law of valued N396,00, five Osun State of Nigeria Cartoons of Fevicide tube 2013. valued N180,000, 15 The charge sheet dozens of mega with kit disclosed that Simiat valued N382,000, 20 Oladepo, sometimes in cartons of Ebony relaxer the year, at Igbonna Area valued N150,000, 25 Osogbo, did received one cartons, Beka relaxer carton of Fumbat-A tube valued N162,000, 5 valued N87,000 knowing cartoons of Passion Jelly same to have been stolen valued N47,000, 15 or unlawful obtained and cartoons of Ozone thereby committed an Relaxer valued N48,000 offence contrary to and totalling N3,636,500 punishable under section properties of Ojetola.

427 of criminal code cap.

The offence committed 34 Vol Il, Law of Osun •The Plasma Television allegedly stolen by Saheed Opeyemi. is contrary to and punishable under section 390(9) (6) of the criminal code cap 34 Vol. II, Law of Osun State of Nigeria, The charge sheet read 519,419, and 390 (9) of the 2013.

By Taiwo Oni in court revealed that the criminal code cap 34 vol The charge sheet read accused persons in April 11 laws of Osun State of Osun state police command has arraigned two in court disclosed that the suspects committed the suspects, Kazeem Lazimi, 30, and Kamorudeen 2017 at Ogo Oluwa area, Nigeria 2003.

However, they Osogbo conspired to offence in the month of Adeyemo, 52, over alleged fraud.

The accused persons count charges bothering obtain a total sum of (suspects) pleaded not April 2018 to sometimes guilty to the charges N500,000 from one Oseni on fraud. in October 2018 at Oreofe were docked on three Ariyo with pretence to preferred against them.

The defence counsel secure him one acre of land at Owode Ede and Tunbosun Oladipupo urged the court to grant failed to do so. three years tax clearance

By Sukurat Adewumi The charge sheet the accused persons bail certificate. disclosed that the in the most liberal terms.

A 28-year-old man, Saheed Opeyemi has been The case was then suspects He added that the thereby arraigned before an Osogbo magistrate court over adjourned till December committed an offence suspects would provide alleged house breaking. contrary to sections credible sureties to 6 2018.

According to the A O Emmanuel prayed charge sheet, the the court to grant the accused is facing three suspect bail in the most count charges bothering liberal and affordable term. on stealing. presented as genuine

By Sukurat Adewumi The Presiding The charge sheet and fraudulently Magistrate, A Oloyade disclosed that the Osun state police command has arraigned a 43- obtained a sum of accused broke and granted the accused bail year-old man, Joseph Kolawole before an Osogbo N375,000 from one removed window with the sum of N50,000 magistrate court over alleged fraud.

Nusirat Alagbe with burglary and stole 32 with two sureties.

The accused was in court revealed that the pretence to sell the trees He added that one of docked on four count accused person forged a to her. inches plasma television valued N35,000 the sureties should be charges bothering on sale of economy crop like The charge sheet property of one Babalola civil servant and must stealing, fraud and cocoa, palm, Orange and disclosed that the swear to an affidavit of forging of document.

Femi. kolanut trees agreement offence committed is The charge sheet read document which he contrary The charge sheet read means and provide to and in court revealed that the accused committed the offence contrary to and punishable under The Presiding 34 Vol.ii laws of Osun sections 411(2), 412 and

By Toheeb Badmus Magistrate, O.A Ayilara State 2002.

390 (9) of criminal code Osun State Police Command has arraigned a 45The accused person granted the accused CAP 34 VOL II laws of year-old man, Olakunle Ojo before a magistrate pleaded not guilty to the person bail in the sum of Osun state 2002. charges preferred N5,000,000 with two The charge sheet court in Osogbo over alleged fraud. reliable Sureties. against him.

The suspect was on April 10, 2013. submitted that the According to him, the The Defence Counsel, The Charge sheet accused committed the docked on two count sureties must be on offence on October 24 at charges bothering on disclosed that the A.O Olawole pleaded grade level 14 in the accused person thereby with the Court for the State Civil Service, and Oke Aigbe, Agunbelewo fraud.

The charge sheet read committed an offence bail of the accused provide affidavit of area Osogbo.

The accused pleaded in court revealed that the contrary to section 516 person in the most means. not guilty to the charges suspect conspired to and punishable Under liberal term, saying he The case was defraud Kanmi Omole to section 518 of the won’t abuse the bail if adjourned to December preferred against him. granted.

The defence counsel, the tune of N5,000,000 Criminal Code Act Cap 14, 2018 for hearing.

sureties each.

He also insisted that the counsel to the 1st to 6th accused persons should make a formal bail application.

The case was adjourned to December 12, 2018 for mention.

Two Suspects Accused Of N.5million Fraud

Man Docked Over Alleged House-breaking

guarantee their readiness to face trial and prove their innocence.

The Presiding Magistrate F.A Sodamade granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N500,000 with one surety each, who must provide evidence of three years tax clearance and swear to an affidavit of means.

The case was adjourned to November 29, 2018 for hearing.

Alleged Forgery, Fraud Land Middle-aged Man In Court

Police Accuses Man Of N5m Fraud

punishable under sections 516, 467, 419 and 390(9) of the criminal code CAP34 VOL II laws of Osun state Nigeria 2002.

According to the charge sheet, the accused committed the offence on December 28 2015 at Adeleke Alapata Osogbo.

The defence counsel prayed the court to grant the accused bail in the most liberal terms.

The Presiding Magistrate O. Oloyade granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties He added that one of the sureties should be a civil servant and must swear to an affidavit of means and provide three years tax clearance.

The matter was adjourned for hearing.

CRIME

Eight Suspects Arraigned For Stealing Cosmetics Items .

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THE SIXTH MOST VISITED WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

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Page 15

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2 - THURSDAY NOVEMBER 8, 2018

Bridging Integrity Gap In Governance The victory of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the Governor-elect in Osun was largely expected, though it came after the supplementary elections in seven polling units. Prior and all through his campaigns, revelations abounded each day that he was the candidate to beat among the throng of contenders across party divides to clinch the highest political seat in Osun.

While the announcement early morning of Friday, 28 September 2018 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) spurred jubilations across the entire length of the state, against the backdrop of anxiety prompted by misdemeanours contrived by the opposition parties which prompted a supplementary election the preceding day, keen and sincere watchers of events as they unfolded knew the conclusion that what dramatists would regard as resolution/denouement, would be Oyetola’s win. For such category of individuals, there could not have been much news in the news! From parleys with various stakeholders, during which groups in their hundreds pledged love, loyalty and block votes, and the acceptability of the candidate himself, not quite a few could have doubted and indeed knew well in advance what the outcome of the election would be.

Monarchs of all categories across three zones of the state, either individually or in groups, were not left out in the pledge of loyalty and run of endorsements. Such meetings entailed some of them expressly directed their subjects to accept and vote the then candidate Oyetola. Muslim clerics, Christian leaders and leaders of other faiths, did not just come visiting the APC torchbearer, they organised open and well promoted prayer sessions for him, telling God their preference, even as they directed their congregations where they should go and how they must vote.

Aware of consequences of an otherwise outcome, they bonded in unilateral rejection of unwanted fate. Copious references were made to years of blatant blackouts, not just physically when refusal by The Executive to procure mere transformers, sentenced residents across the state to years of benighted darkness, curtailing them, including those in Osogbo, a major electricity distribution point in the entire southwest, from accessing light, but more particularly in terms of roads, especially in the capital, which they claimed were just too extremely bad to be describable. Journeys and movements at the time which should not have taken beyond minutes had then lasted hours!

One of the clerics, in drumming home critical necessity for ‘continuity’, once waxed: “We have light today, our children are going to good, fine schools and they eat free meals every day of the week; our roads, at least major ones, are not just good, but are dual carriage ways.

The bridges, better than you can see in most places in the southwest here have removed bottlenecks in vehicular operations. With the complementary significance of the bridges, road users now easily access every part of the capital.”

Attention in the heat of campaigns amongst opposition elements shifted from Rauf Aregbesola on the very butt of scurrilous jokes and derisive attacks, to Oyetola. References got made of a

OBSERVATION

BY SULAIMON SALAWUDEEN

•OYETOLA: Osun Governor-elect

There are quick lessons to draw from the Aregbesola/Oyetola success story. One is the need for incumbents to have actual, not pretended legacies and execute projects upon which to place ‘continuity’. candidate who is an “Ajele (foreigner/ usurper)”, a stingy person, an invidious schemer who had penciled down sack of workers as solution to so-called halfsalary debacle, all trumped to de-market him. Upon INEC’s announcement that the election of 22 September was inconclusive, the schemers upped their die-let-live art, promoting a misconception that Oyetola was no longer interested in the race and he had parted ways with Aregbesola!

But the candidate, now governor-elect, himself, who soon enough assumed his elemental/seminal best, dismissed all in well publicised channels on conventional and new media platforms, allaying the fears and telling a tale which, in clarity of delivery and credibility of content, roused and rallied the citizenry more to his side, returning entire lies to and turning them against peddlers of propaganda. Oyetola, vaulting over really formidable wiles, polled a total of 255,505 to defeat, with a margin of 482, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its candidate, Ademola Adeleke, who scored 255,023.

Oyetola’s campaigns, in revealing his simplicity as a person, saw him admitting that, despite commendable performance of the outgoing governor, quite a lot still remained to be done, particularly on roads, a number of which he explained had been listed for immediate renovation.

According to him, continuity involves accepting gains and pains, credits and liabilities, pledging, in regard of owed arrears of salaries, to pay outstanding months soon upon assuming office. He equally promised to sustain O’YES, O’MEAL, OÁMBULANCE, O’REAP, AGBA OSUN and many other

programmes of the outgoing administration and finetune some to bring them to serving humans and communities better.

On purported planned to sack workers, the governor-elect noted if outgoing administration did not lay off workers, even in the thick of now largely escaped financial crunch, his own administration would find more ways to survive better, even as, according to him, the situation has now significantly eased. He indeed pledged to prioritise people’s health and well-being, adding that efforts would be directed at improving the state’s internally generated revenue, without introducing new taxes.

There are quick lessons to draw from the Aregbesola/Oyetola success story.

One is the need for incumbents to have actual, not pretended legacies and execute projects upon which to place ‘continuity’. In Osun, one marvels each new day how much volume of work – solid projects – roads, bridges, school buildings, all of which were beautifully completed - got packed into an eight-year period by an Aregbe whose vision was laid out early and clearly enough, and whose mission got so thoroughly accomplished that no one could have been left in much doubt of needs for a successor with enough guts and heart to develop the state further. Everywhere you turn in Osun today, irrespective and regardless of noxious comments of opposition elements, as quite often parroted by their agents, ‘continuity’ must be atop your mind, and for a governor to genuinely sustain the run of glory in governance and devotion to politics only as channel to masses-centric revolutionary interventions, Osun indeed

does not deserve less than it got in the just ended baton-transfer exercise!

Another is incumbents serving out their terms must be decisive, evince clarity of vision and display unusual candour regarding successor choice.

While the emergence of Oyetola through direct primaries – the first of its kind in recent times in Nigeria - which soon got the nod, rather than endorsement, of Governor Aregbesola, threw up dusts at party level which is just getting settled, many would have admitted in the silence of inner recesses that he indeed deserved the crown, not only with his towering humility, mellifluous elocution and rare intelligent, analytical prowess, but his unsurpassed integrity, a trait which shined forth quite early in his unapologetic consistency as a thoroughgoing progressive. He himself did say: “My philosophy/guide words are integrity, accountability, industry.”

Since 1999 when he donated buses for the use of Alliance for Democracy and making other contributions to party, as it morphed through Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now APC, he had never sought or vied for any political office, until his appointment eight years ago, as Chief of Staff (CoS) by one of those who luckily had been nurtured by his rare brotherly love and kingly largesses.

Aregesola is about vacating the seat and handing over a state irreversibly set upon the plinth of progress and development, ranked as the most secure state in Nigeria, and one of the most economically stable and viable in the country. Aregbe’s Osun, must have been so ranked due to physical infrastructure, bold signposts of which have been well harvested, and more particularly the social safety net programmes which have reversed and remedied quite staggering number of lives directly and indirectly through O’YES, O’MEAL, O’AMBULANCE, O’REAP, AGBA OSUN, programme for widows, among others.

Indeed, delivering promises and accomplishing set goals are correlates of integrity, especially on the part of leadership, whose stewardships. In Osun, it is clear that governance is essentially a business of integrity, a pact on social contract to deliver redemptive services to the people based on prior pledge, regardless of excuses which are often too earnest in coming! In sticking to his words, Aregbe is an example, following well in the footsteps of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his begotten successors of our day and times. It is definitely not possible to work so clearly hard and well and not make spirited efforts to ensure emergence of a better or at least, an equally competent successor to keep the work going. From Senator Bola Tinubu to Raji Fasola and Akinwumi Ambode, Lagos state’s is an admirable ‘continuity’ story which a serious state like Osun is set to replicate.

Integrity must not be mouthed, it must be acted, and Aregbe, with his now INEC certified choice of Oyetola, has proven that it is possible to say it and do it. That is the way to close integrity gap in governance.

•Salawudeen writes from Osogbo

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

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