Osun Defender PDF Version for September 1, 2017

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Understudying Osun Social Protection Model

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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1 - THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

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VOL. 012. NO.27

ISSN: 0794-8050

Osun 2018:

Dull Political Activities Trigger Speculations

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•Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle), the Alaa of Ilaa-Ijesa, Oba Adewale Ojarotade (2nd right), the Asola of Isola Ijesa, Oba ( Dr.) John Adeyemi (right), the Olokebode of Okebode, Oba Ezekiel Agunlejika (left), and others, during a courtesy visit to the governor, at the Government House, Osogbo.

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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1 - THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

Dull Political Activities Trigger Speculations

By Shina Abubakar ticket is left opened, as a the governorship seat.

Findings also revealed Less than a year to the 2018 governorship election former commissioner in in the State of Osun, political activities still seem the state from Osun that the APC intend to lift Central, Sunday Akere ban on political activities like nothing is happening in the state as both the ruling party and the major opposition seem lost was also reported to have by Friday, September 1, working but it is not certain regarding the direction to go in the bid to get a been candidate to succeed the incumbent governor, underground to contest whether it would take a Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The secretariat of the about the preparation for two major political its succession plan, as it parties in the state seem is still battling with the not have created platform c i r c u m s t a n c e s for their aspirants and the surrounding its defeat in major stakeholders could the last Osun-West not muster enough Senatorial bye-election courage to determine the and making move to agenda of the parties resolve it. ahead of the 2018 Prior to the demise of succession plan.

Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Investigations revealed the party had laid that while the PDP is embargo on any enmeshed in make or mar campaign activities by factional crisis, the APC is any of its prospective busy with internal aspirants in line with the wrangling capable of guideline of the disrupting any of its Independent National chances in the Electoral Commission forthcoming poll as (INEC), but of recent, the experienced in the Deputy Speaker of the r e c e n t l y - c o n c l u d e d House of Osun-West Senatorial Representatives, Hon. bye-election.

Lasun Yusuf has started Prior to the Supreme Court verdict that favours consulting with leaders the Makarfi faction of the of the party across the PDP, about 10 aspirants state and expressing •WHO WINS THE BATTLE? had signified intention to readiness to aspire for run for the governorship the party ticket.

Some of his supporters seat in the state while that the only the late Senator claimed lawmaker took the bull Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke

By Israel Afolabi had started consultation by the horn by visiting in the APC before his the state party chairman, State of Osun House of Assembly has assured the Prince Gboyega death. state Water Corporation of its supports to ensure Findings revealed the Famodun first and his adequate supply of water to the people of the state. verdict eventually dealt a ambition was blessed, The Chairman, House being supplied to the blow on the Adagunodo though since then faction of the PDP, as the activities has slowed Committee on Water state from various dams..

Resources, Honourable According to him, “the Bayo Faforiji group is said down within the party.

Akanbi first priority of good Some of the party Kamardeen to be working towards a made this commitment faithful lamented the government is to ensure particular candidate which is making it situation describing the on Thursday during the that potable water is difficult for others to party silence stance on committee’s interaction made available for its continue with their the existing zoning with the agency at the people”. formula in the state, Assembly Complex, Noting that the essence aspiration. of the meeting was to Although, it was thereby giving room to Osogbo.

The parliamentarian prevent waterborne gathered that Mr. Kayode speculations that it did Oduoye (Super Kay) is not intend to follow the who appreciated the state disease in the state, government under particularly during the system that would still in the race for the governorship election in accede power to the West Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Ileya festive period, he the PDP, a former senatorial district of the for its investment advised the concerned towards sustainable agencies to work on miniSpeaker of the State state.

However, some party water supply in the state, storex in each wards Assembly, Barrister the Water across the state to Adejare Bello and array members have been said of other aspirants still preparing ground for Corporation was invited alleviate problems of to know how water is water supply. nurture ambition but the their ambition in case the crisis in the party is a snag on their path.

Despite the dissolution of the party by the 419 of the Penal Code

By Modupeola Omotoso National Secretariat, it Cap 34 Vol. II Laws of was gathered that the two One Agboola Femi, 23 is currently facing trial Osun State of Nigeria, factions are still at before an Osogbo Magistrate court in Osogbo for 2002. loggerheads in the bid to obtaining a sum of N24 million under false pretence The charge also said ensure that it outplayed from one Ola Alabi. the accused person stole one another in the the sum of N24 million, The accused person punishable under Section forthcoming congress in was arraigned on a four- 516 of the criminal code and thereby committed the state. count charge of Cap 34 Vol II Law of an offence contrary to From the scheme of conspiracy, fraud, Osun State of Nigeria, Section 383 (i) and punishable under Section things in both sides, the stealing and 2002. factional crisis is far from impersonation.

It was disclosed that 390(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 34, Vol ll Laws over, as the Adagunodo According to the the accused persons and group, feeling cheated charge sheet, Agboola other, under false of Osun State of Nigeria, has vowed to resist any and others now at large pretence and with 2002. influence in the bid to intention to defraud, manipulate it out of between September 2015 obtained a sum of N24 That I formerly known power in the party. This and 13th of August 2017 million from Alabi after as GANIYAT NIKE situation has in Osogbo, conspired to he presented himself to overshadowed any commit felony to wit be a lady in love with POPOOLA, now wish to preparation the party stealing, obtained money him, a pretence which he be known and addressed as might be planning for the under false pretence and knew was false and LAWAL GANIYAT impersonated one Osun governorship poll.

OYENIKE. All former thereby committed an The APC is also faced Sandra Wilson, thereby offence contrary to documents remains valid. with its challenges committed an offence Section General public should take 418 and to and concerning how to go contrary note of this. punishable under Section

stand on the issue of zoning the seat to a particular district as the present Speaker of the State Assembly Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam and the Secretary to the State

Government (SSG), Alhaji Moshood Adeoti were reported to have also been working underground to succeed Gov. Aregbesola as the duo are from the Osun West district.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Osun Assembly Tasks Corporation On Adequate Water Supply In his response, the General Manager, Osun Water Corporation, Engr.

Olugbenga Owojuyigbe assured that adequate water would flow in all the 13 local government presently being served by the existing water works.

Owojuyigbe who attributed epileptic water supply to the power failure and damage of old pipes across the state said, the rehabilitation is going on at Ede Water Works for regular water supply to its environments.

He also assured that Ede, Oyan, Eko-Ende, Esa-Odo, and Ila water work schemes would continue to function well for Osun people.

Also, the state General

Man Arraigned For N24m Fraud

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The counsel of the accused person, Bola Abimbola Ige pleaded for the bail of the accused person after he pleaded not guilty to the charges leveled against him.

The magistrate, Fatimo Sodamade granted the accused person bail in a sum of N2 million, with two sureties in a like sum.

She then adjourned the matter till September 28, 2017 for hearing.

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That I formerly known as JIMOH ALEX, now wish to be known and addressed as JIMOH AZEEZ ALEX. All former documents remains valid. SKYE Bank and general public should take note of this.

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Manager, Rural Water and Environmental Sanitation Agency (RUWESA), Alhaji Adiatu Olaposi acknowledged the efforts of the state government in collaboration with UNICEF to put end to inadequate water supply in the state through provision of boreholes in every community across the state.

He disclosed that between June 2016 and July 2017, 214 new handpump boreholes have been constructed in all the nooks and crannies of Osun, while 85 boreholes were repaired under village level operation and maintenance.

He also said, 273 handpump and 10 force loft hand-pump boreholes have been completed in 189 communities in OdoOtin and Ayedaade local government and handed over to the communities.

On sanitation, Olaposi revealed that total sanitation has been achieved in 19 communities in OdoOtin with provision of washing facilities provided in 20 schools in Odo-Otin and Ayedaade local government areas.

According to him, “133 communities were certified Open Defecation Free (ODF) in the state with collaboration of UNICEF”, just as he urged every house owner in the state to make provision for toilet facilities or latrine to avoid epidemic in the state.

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How Human Trafficking Victims' Future Dimmed

By Sola Jacobs while a year fees must be household and replaced questioned by the law enforcement agent, and “Dofi” is her real name, but her trafficker re- paid upfront, when the with another child.

Mama Lucky, as she affirmed that she had christened her “Blessing “and asked her to stick to person is satisfied with been interrogated once by the name, as she was tutored in a suburb of Irewole the boy or girl presented. popularly called could the anti-human It was gathered that not but confided in the Local Government, which serves as dispersal unit trafficking unit of Nigeria of children who are used as labour. The unit is being both sexes were available medium that “these days Police Force in Osogbo, run by a Benionise woman, who according to her, to the client as demands, our business is becoming but was left off the hook is married to a Benue man, who is a farmer in the but with a caveat such more dangerous as the afterward. child must not be sent to law enforcement agents locality.

Sunday, a native of individual who want school, as he or she is are always on our trails This was revealed their patronage, the entitled to stay the client and this takes more of Benue State, aged 14 who during the OSUN operator often demand for only a year, after our gain”. serves as a house DEFENDER visit to the for the transport fare of which the contract would The medium further assistant in a home in suburb in company of a the ward, as well demand be renewed. Such a child queried whether she was Dada Estate, Osogbo told woman who had always for their consultation fees, might be taken out of the once caught or this medium that, “this is patronise the trafficker in search of domestic housemaids for its clients in Osogbo and other OSUN DEFENDER that week, the resident said major towns in the state.

By Tola Oyewale one Atilola Ganiyu, a Fuji that the prophetess was Investigations revealed who was informed and she came to that there are several A self-acclaimed Prophetess of a Cherubim and singer, points in the state serving Seraphim Church in Iragbiji, and a couple Femi and suspected to be a man Ilare from Iragbiji after as dispersal units for the Funmi Oladejo who have just delivered of a baby friend to the prophetess four day on the pretence trafficked children from boy are presently in police net for alleged kidnap of had introduced Funmi of taking care of the baby. within and outside a five-day old baby in Ilare-Ijesa, Obokun East Local Oladejo to her when she “When she came, Nigeria whose parents Council Development Council Area of Osun State. was pregnant on the Atilola Ganiyu lodged the voluntarily released to The prophetess allegedly kidnapped the baby and agreement that she Prophetess in a house traffickers for economic claimed that it was his The newly-born baby is would be performing opposite the house of the gains, as such children father, Femi, a furniture the 9th child of the spiritual cleansing on her baby’s parents. The are either orphan, maker, popularly known couple. for safe delivery. following day, she went indigents or termed as ‘Alebale’ who offered to When the woman gave to bath the new baby, A resident of the stubborn children by sell the baby to her. community had told birth to the child last back her, after which the their parents. mother of the baby left the According to the house for a programme. woman who was simply “When the mother of identified as Mama the baby returned, it was Lucky, in an interactive discovered that the session with OSUN Prophetess had packed DEFEDER reporter, who her luggage out of where also posed as a client in she was lodged and need a housemaid, most escaped with the baby. of the parents or “After shouting for guardians that are giving help, the police from children to her for the Ibokun Police Station illicit business were either were invited and arrested unable to meet the basic Atilola Ganiyu and the needs of those children, landlord of the house hence there is a need to where the prophetess was give them out as house lodge. The prophetess helps, shop attendants was later trailed to and helping hands.

Iragbiji, but when she was It was further gathered not found, his son was that in most cases, those arrested”. children are out of school He said that after some and are helping their •(L-R) Femi Oladejo, his wife, Funmi carrying the baby and the self-aclaimed prophfrantic efforts, the parents on farm during etess, after being arrested. planting season, after which they are given out for house helps in cities and towns, only to be raised by the doctors with the state returned to their localities

By Ismaeel Uthman during their agitations government and for another farming The government of the State of Osun has assured are secondary; the salary understand the reality of season. that it would address the issues surrounding the is their primary reason the state finances.

The medium gathered that the operators of the payment of salaries of Medical doctors in the state, for their action. Primary Governor Aregbesola’s illicit business have an just as it pleaded for their understanding of the health centres and other administration is very hospitals in the state are responsive to the welfare association, who are plight of the government. of the general populace This is contained in a matters and would well-equipped. either farmers in the village and remotest statement made by the always treat the health “We sincerely urged and the workers in the for workers very well, if not the doctors to reason state”, the statement read. place or engaging in Commissioner and specially. commercial cycle Information Adelani business, while some of Strategy, “Issues bothering on their mistresses operates Baderinwa in reaction to full payment of their beer parlour or drinking the threat by doctors in salary should not joints, which serve as the state under the degenerate to the level of

By Yusuf Oketola Medical downsizing because it dispersal units or offices. Nigeria A 23 years-old, Lekan Olaniyi has confessed to Further investigation Association to downsize has been demonstrated stealing of four mobile phone worth N30,000 and revealed that such after 21-day ultimatum. that other workers of the sentenced to two years imprisonment by a Noting that it is on state who were being dispersal units are situated in Ilobu, Ifewara, record that doctors in paid modulated salary magistrate court sitting in Osogbo.

Ipetu-Ijesa, Osu and Oke- Osun are perhaps the The convict, who was window after tearing the highest paid in the South- would sure get their arraigned on a two-count net of their window.

Ila area amongst others. arrears when the state He also disclosed that It was gathered that West states after Lagos, charge, committed the most of the operators are the government said it finances improve. offence on the 19th of the accused person stole “Recently, the state a phone with earpiece has done everything to non-indigene of the state August, 2017 at Gbemu from Ifeoluwa’s room but because of availability ensure the standard was government paid July Area in Osogbo. of fertile land for farming maintained for as long as and August 2015 salary The Police Prosecutor, and a phone from finances of arrears of the workers; so Olayiwola Razaq had Omolara’s room both operations and the lumbering activities, they government were in there is nothing to told the court, presided valued N30,000. assume or suggest that over by Magistrate F.A He also stated that the settled in those remote good shape.

The statement said, the government would Sodamade that Olaniyi accused was caught with parts to indulge in the this was a sign that the not pay arrears for the forcibly entered the room the help of neighbours of illicit trade. of doctors.

On terms of agreement administration of one Mr Faleye the complainant after “The government Ifeoluwa and Mrs Faleye they raised an alarm and before a child can be Aregbesola is very handed over to an sensitive to health knows that other issues Omolara through the he was handed over to

the third house in which he will be serving in the state, as I dropped out of the school after my father’s death in a communal clash and my mother had seven children in which I am the fifth child”.

He affirmed that he was ready to go back to school, if his link with the household he serves •Continued on page 15

Prophetess, Couple, Others Nabbed For Kidnap Of 5-day Old Baby

Osun Doctors Ultimatum: Govt Pleads For Understanding, Promises To Address Concerns

prophetess was eventually arrested in Ipetu-Ile with the baby in her hand and detained at the police station in Ibokun.

In the course of interrogation, the woman reportedly claimed that it was the father of the baby who offered to sell him for N500,000, but a sum of N40,000 had been paid as advance payment. This was denied by the father of the baby.

As at the time of filing this report on Wednesday morning, the arrested persons in connection with the crime are still detained at Ibokun Police Station.

Speaking on the matter, the Owalare of Ilare, Oba Emmanuel Otebolaku who confirmed the alleged crime appealed to the police to get to the root of the matter and the ensure that the law takes its course on whoever is found guilty.

The monarch who hinted that he had been informed that the prophetess had confessed to the crime wondered why such crime would be committed against an innocent baby.

The Owalare who attributed the crime to the lack of fear of God, urged the people to always have the fear of God and be mindful of consequences before venturing into any action.

Convict Admits Stealing N30,000 Phone, Jailed

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the police.

The convict admitted that he actually stole the items when they were shown to him and also pleaded guilty to the charges leveled against him.

He pleaded that the court should temper justice with mercy.

The presiding magistrate subsequently sentenced him to two years imprisonment to run concurrently and ordered that the stolen items be returned to the owners after 30 days if the judgment is not appealed.

Democracy, Licentiousness And Free Speech The legal luminary and activist Femi Falana (SAN), has correctly pointed out that there are enough laws in the statute books to confront hate speeches and utterances which are clearly constructed to promote discord amongst ethnic and religious groups as well as cause disaffection within the Republic. It is therefore superfluous in the views of many people that the federal government now sees a need to, tighten the screws by putting more laws on the statute books to curtail the promoters of hate speeches.

From our perspective, it might be superfluous, nevertheless, in view of what is in reality a very calculated promotion of hate speeches often to achieve a political advantage which the government must respond.

A key problem here is the very interpretation of the concept of free speech for mostly self-serving reasons by members of the contending political factions. Free speech is a clearly guaranteed component of a democracy.

We however make bold to point out, that this does not equate with licentiousness. For a democracy to survive there must be clearly enforceable laws against sedition, treason and using the communication media to foment discord which could end up undermining the

state and destroying our hard-earned democracy.

We are aware for example, as to how the use of demagoguery and hate speeches propelled the Nazi party led by Adolf Hitler to victory in Germany in 1938. The end result was that 60 million people ended up dead as a result of an avoidable war instigated by the Nazis and their allies. Countries in Europe and elsewhere sensibly responded by saying NEVER AGAIN!!

They enforced this position by passing stringent anti-defamation laws with strong penalties to deter those who use speeches and imagery to target groups. This has had salutary effects. Till date in Germany, it is illegal to wear insignia depicting support for the Nazi party.

Tremendous progress has been made since the creation of the State of Osun, twenty six years ago. In its own way, the edifying development strides indicate that in spite of the defects linkable to quasi-federalism, a well thought out road map can still make a difference.

We must salute the courage and foresight of those who have governed the state since its creation. There will always be great discourses about dotting the i’s and the crossings of t’s. Nevertheless, if a holistic comparative analysis is made, we cannot but give their endeavours a solid pass mark.

The issue is how to sustain the momentum.

It won’t be unfair to look at the current flow of development in the state as being pre and post-Aregbesola as his interregnum is decisive. His administration has its nexus

26 Years On

Sustainability is key. The absence of it is at the heart of our perennial boom to bust cycles.

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very interpretation of the concept of free speech for mostly self-serving reasons by members of the contending political factions.

built on the foundations for sustainable development goals which are conspicuously noticeable and commended far and wide.

Sustainability is key. The absence of it is at the heart of our perennial boom to bust cycles.

What the Aregbesola intervention has sensibly achieved is the construction of the building blocks for sustainability in development. A clear counter-mechanism to the boom to bust cycle, is to build a buffer, this mechanism can be seen in the physical and social infrastructures that are being put in place.

Inevitably, developing this shock absorber is a long-term objective. Inevitably, it comes with setbacks as well as misconceptions in the shortterm.

This is understandable. To balance the immediate needs with a long term perspective and strategy will always be difficult in a democratic system based on relatively shortterm electoral cycles. From contemporary history, we know that the Action Group

Eid-Kabir: Need To Be Security Conscious This festive period has always been a period when joy, peace, happiness are shared amongst friends and families. It a period when there is so much love to share, so much fun to have and so much gifts and blessings to receive.

The period is not limited to adult, children also having fun.

I could remember when we were small, we used to go from one family friend’s house to another to pay them visit and of course receive gift, known as “Owo Odun”.

During this period, children are seen everywhere going from one place to another with their peers either to showcase their beautiful

clothes or pay their loved ones visit and also to have fun. While children are in the mood of festivity, it does not exclude adults as they are also seen in ,

entertainment venues, especially the fun lovers.

However, during this period, parents rarely have time for their children, as they are always busy receiving visitors and cooking.

Some parents even go to the extent of sending their children to some relatives

without proper monitoring.

As the Ileya festival is being celebrated, we should not be unaware of the work of evil

perpetrators such as kidnappers and ritual killers. The evil act is now so rampant in the society that it is already becoming the norms of the society.

I believe such act should not be encouraged or even allowed in the society. In order to curb

such evil practices and to celebrate the Ileya festival in peace and joy as it is meant to be celebrated; parents and security operatives should be security conscious.

Parents are advised to look after their children and should be conscious of what is going on in their environment.

Security operatives such as DSS, SARS, and Police should also be vigilant.

Security operatives should be deployed to different areas where children are having fun and some strategic places in the state.

Eid-Il-Mubarak

• TAIWO ADEYEMI, Osogbo.

This in no way tramples on free speeches but guarantees it. Groups must be protected in a democratic setting and the state has a moral duty and political obligation to move against those who wish to undermine it by sowing discord. In contemporary terms, the sad example of the misuse of Radio Rwanda should serve as a warning to those who equate licentiousness with democracy. Within a week 800,000 innocent souls were laid to waste as a result of the inability or unwillingness of the state to regulate the broadcasting station.

Regulation is key. It has to be stated here, that self-regulation is not working assiduously as it should. Everyone in the formal and the informal media must realise that they have a duty to modulate extreme views in order to preserve their own freedom to operate. Let no one be in doubt, the proponents of hate speeches have an authoritarian disposition which is irreconcilable with the ethos of democracy. Once they have achieved their aim, out goes any pretence of democracy. This is a vital and recurring decimal in contemporary history. We must be forewarned. For It is the inadequacy of self-regulation that has led to the development of this toxic atmosphere in the first place.

government led by the avatar Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the 1950’s also suffered short-term electoral reverses. Nevertheless, by sticking to his position, he has been vindicated by history.

To protect the tremendous gains made, there must be continuity. Posterity will be unforgiven. This has worked for Lagos state where there has been a seamless transition of progressive, developmental focused governments without break since 1999. It will work for Osun as well. We therefore urge that all hands must be on deck as we move to change the baton of governance next year.

Everything must be done to ensure that the tremendous progress achieved is sustained with the installation of a progressive minded post-Aregbesola government. Otherwise, we might be saying congratulations a bit too early.

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Social Security:

Since 2010 when the current administration was enthroned in the State of Osun, it has been a mix of commendations and condemnations, particularly on the social protection programmes of the administration. It is condemnations for those who have made up their minds to play politics with impactful initiatives of the government and commendations for the majority who appreciate the goods that the policy has brought.

KEHINDE AYANTUNJI writes on the global attentions that have been shifted to the state due to its Social Protection Model Since the return of democracy in 1999, Social Protection Programmes have attracted less attention on the part of the federal government and the 36 states of the federation, despite the clarity of the chapter 2 of the 1999 constitution, that it shall be the fundamental obligation of the government. Perhaps, there are more reasons the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC) of the constitution introduced unenforceable clauses to those provisions. It has been held severally by the competent courts of jurisdiction that Section 13 to 24 that specified very essence of government in Nigeria constitution is not enforceable.

The implication is that government at all levels in the country are at liberty to choose which part of the sections of the chapter to comply to or even has capacity to implement; such contradictions will definitely compel someone to question the wisdom of the drafting committee that if a particular section that imposed economy and

•Beneficiaries of O’YES on display.

social prosperity burden of Nigeria on government at all levels are not enforceable, then, what is the basis of that law that has failed to tie power with responsibility.

Funny enough, since 1999, the said chapter occupies the centre stage in the manifesto of political aspirants with promises to initiate social protection programmes that will alleviate poverty and bring economic prosperities to the people at all levels. Two major aspect that aspirants and their parties periodically dwell so much on are wealth and job creation which they identified as main challenges to an average Nigerian, but after attaining power, there would be little or no commitment to those promises of theirs.

Social protection, as defined by the United Nations Research Institute For Social Development, is concerned with preventing, managing, and overcoming situations that adversely affect people’s wellbeing. It consists of policies and programmes designed to reduce

D567895 9:5 ;<<=> ?@= @B= 9:5 E;FG> global attention is shifting to Osun state western part of Nigeria. It appeared that the state is fast becoming the standard of social protection services in Nigeria with its 6 years sustainable social protection policies.

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poverty and vulnerability by promoting efficient labour markets, diminishing people’s exposure to risks, and enhancing their capacity to manage economic and social risks, such as unemployment, exclusion, sickness, disability and old age.

Global good governance and social protection index rating in order of prominence are; youth employment, poverty and malnutrition, and old age

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protection. These three categories of developmental index are major challenges in Nigeria and it appears governments at all levels are not paying much attention to them. Apart from unemployment that some states in Nigeria are minimally addressing through skill acquisitions and agricultural development, less attention have been given to malnutrition and old age protection.

Analysts believed that the psychology of governments at all levels in Nigeria is that investments in the area of malnutrition and old age protection is expensive and not so visible for political consideration, therefore it is of less priority to many states. Averagely, state governments in Nigeria believe to build bridge where there is no river for people to see for political consideration and commendations than investing on elderly people who are vulnerable and incapacitated by nature to earn for their living. The unemployment rate in Nigeria increased to 14.2 per cent in the last quarter of 2016 from 10.4 per cent in 2015 while malnutrition contributes to the deaths of about a half-million Nigerian children each year.

But despite the good, bad and the ugly, global attention is shifting to Osun state western part of Nigeria. It appeared that the state is fast becoming the standard of social protection services in Nigeria with its 6 years sustainable social protection policies. In the history •Continued on page 6

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Social Security:

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1 - THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

Understudying Osun Social Protection Model

•Continued from page 5 of the state or any other state in Nigeria, such quantum of resources has never been concentrated on social protection services which include youth employments, children nutrition and old age welfarism protection. Since 2010 up till date, the state has committed N200million on Youths Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and about N240million on School Feeding, popularly called O’MEAL. The youths that were considered for the OYES were trained and gainfully engaged in community services, neighbourhood security, paramedics, traffic marshals and environmental monitors amongst others. A huge sum of money is also being committed to the payment of monthly stipend to selected vulnerable elderly citizens, under the Agba Osun (Osun Elders) programme.

Besides, the state government has been committing resources to the treatment of destitute, particularly the mentally challenged citizens and rehabilitating them through its O’REHAB programme before integrating them back to the society and with their family.

As at December, 2016, the state government has served 200,000,000 plates of food for the school children in elementary school between primary 14, the Governor, Rauf Aregbesola has revealed at a programme recently. At the heat of economic recession since 2014 which badly hit the state to the extent of resulting to payment of modulated salary structures to workers, the government never considered scrapping the school feeding programme for over 250,000 children daily and employment scheme that was gulping N200million monthly despite glaring overwhelming cash crunch.

Such courage is scarce according to Dr Ida Ibraheem, who was part of the United Nation International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) study tour to the state recently. He said social protection policies generally denotes the full range of organised activities of voluntary and governmental agencies that seek to prevent, alleviate, or contribute to the solution of recognised social problems, or to improve the wellbeing of individuals, groups, or communities.

He said the economic interconnectivity of such social protection policies could not be quantified in any way with revolving cash involved. “That is one of the courage Governor Rauf Aregbesola has

demonstrated in governance, for not sacrificing such key indices to economic survival; the cash and other resources involved are revolving within the economy and that is the secret of economic stability of the state despite recession. If other states in Nigeria are investing as huge as that in the economy, Nigeria may not substantially feel the impact of the economic recession.

According to Ibraheem, a social worker “in many ways, measures which benefit individuals are important for society: societies are, after all, made up of people. But there is an aim which also can be seen as more of a benefit to the whole society than for any person within it. The social protection policies can, for example, reinforce economic policy, they can be seen as a way to achieve equality or social justice, and they may be an instrument of social change, they can also, conversely, be a means of maintaining social order.”

Apart from the fact that the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led government at the national level in 2016 modeled its youths empowerment scheme called N-POWER, and school feeding initiatives using Osun’s templates. In 2013, Osun recorded least unemployment rate and least poverty index in Nigeria, despite its meagre resources. The report was published in 2013 by the National Bureau of Statistics. Five states in the lowest unemployment rate in Nigeria as at then was Abia 11 per cent, Oyo Nine per cent, Lagos Eight per cent, Kwara Seven per cent and Osun Three per cent.

On the poverty index, Osun was rated second only to Niger State in 2013 and marrying the state performance on unemployment with its connections on poverty index, the cpnclusion that Osun has become a model in linking social protection with alleviation of poverty and economic prosperity and has fought poverty passionately through its interventions is not farfetched.

‘

The state giant strides was also acknowledged and commended recently by the United State Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington who described the social protection programmes of Governor Aregbesola as a clear testimony of democracy and good governance in operation. The American envoy lauded the state government for running an impactful people-oriented social protection programmes in spite of the economic challenges facing Nigeria.

Symington who applauded the infrastructural development in the state said, amongst the best of the administration were various social intervention programmes, especially job and wealth creation, saying, that was the more reason envoys and development partners are always interested in coming to the state to learn.

He said, “The state is on a steady growth, I so much appreciate good roads. This state is investing so much in roads infrastructure and it’s very good for the future and overall development, but beyond this, among the very best of this administration are your various social intervention programmes; you are helping in creating jobs and wealth, no wonder people always come to your state to learn”.

Also, the succeeding social protection programme of the governor also recently attracted the convergence of leadership of United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) and 15 states across Nigeria on social protection study tour on issues bothering on the survival of the ordinary man, particularly the rising wave of unemployment and the widening gap between the rich and the poor to further shape the development interventions in Nigeria.

At a dinner marking the end of the tour which held in Osogbo, the state capital, UNICEF described Governor Aregbesola, as a symbol of service to the course of human development with his commitment to human and infrastructure development since he assumed office in 2010.

Field Services Chief of UNICEF Nigeria, Dr. Annefrida Kisessa said Osun is an example of good governance with its social protection programmes adjudged to be the best in the country and has been assessed to be one of the most impactful, beneficial and rewarding.

According to her, “I have visited about 15 to 20 states in Nigeria and since I have been visiting, I have not seen a leader like Aregbesola with rare passion for people’s welfare. I have seen your passion to banish poverty, banish hunger, restore healthy living, promote functional and quality education for your people among others. I have seen your passion to develop your people and your state. I am really proud of your achievements because I have seen your indelible legacies in all sectors.

Stressing further, “With what I have seen, it is clear that Osun has shown that education is the key to development. Your programmes are no doubt centred on the

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government has served 200,000,000 plates of food for the school children in elementary school between primary 1- 4

people, as your social protection projects are designed to better the lives of your people, especially the less privileged, vulnerable and downtrodden.

“The reflections of your initiatives like O’MEAL, O’YES, O’HUB, O’REAP, O’AMBULANCE, among others have direct impact on the lives of the people as we can all attested to during the course of this visit. I am also happy because all the achievements of this state are properly and accurately documented. I have seen that Osun has genuine statistics and data base for all its programmes.

“Osun is a place I will like to be. I am very impressed with the quality of Osun Social Protection Programme. This shows the quality of Aregbesola’s leadership. It shows that Aregbesola is a very good leader and a symbol of service to humanity. I have come, I have seen and I have many memories to talk about.”

Director General, Office of Economic Development and Partnership, Dr. Charles Diji Akinola, said the social protection programmes of Osun has indeed helped to ameliorate poverty and improved the wellbeing of the citizenry since Aregbesola became governor.

He said the state had been further encouraged by the supports from agencies locally and internationally, saying the contribution of UNICEF in consolidating and solidifying the initiatives of Osun government on its life-long human and capital development projects remains commendable.

“About two years ago, Osun Government had collaborated with the UNICEF on the need to strengthen the state’s social protection programme. Today, the visit of the leadership of the UNICEF to Osun is a demonstration of the robust relationship, between the organisation and the state.

“The idea behind this partnership is to consolidate on the Osun’s social protection programmes, which has been the central concern of this administration. 13 of these projects would be discussed and shared with the visiting team. We have been encouraged with what UNICEF had done in ensuring a mutuallybeneficial partnership,” he said.

Zamfara State Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Moukhtar Luga said that Aregbesola is one of the successful Nigerian politicians that have made the country proud. He noted that the governor has changed the face of governance in such a way that old beliefs and practices have been remodeled.

Sokoto State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Sheu Balarabe, said he was elated to see the achievements of the state in all sectors. He described as heart-warming all he saw on his tour of some of the facilities, saying all the governor’s intervention programmes are highly conscious of the people.

The Lagos State Director of Economic Partnership, Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Adejola Bankole, noted that with what he has seen in Osun, it is clear that all negative reporting in the newspapers are being concocted by some people to discredit Aregbesola’s administration.

He said that all he had seen contradicted adverse things that people have been reading on the pages of the newspapers.

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COMMUNITY

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1 - THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

Isokan Council Boss Lauds Impact Of NYSC Scheme On Youths The Executive Secretary, Isokan South Local Council Development Area, Ikoyi, State of Osun.

Hon. Oyelami Wasiu has commended the founding fathers of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for their foresight, saying the scheme has ensured unity and expanded knowledge of educated young men and women from different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Hon. Oyelami made this assertion at the inauguration/welcome ceremony for the pioneer NYSC members posted to his council, held at Iyo Hall, Ikoyi-Osun.

He reiterated that due

to the roles the scheme played in the service of the Corp members, any financial commitment on their welfare would not be considered a waste, but sensible and profitable investment which would benefit the future of the young ones and the country at large.

He then charged the Corp members to form NYSC Community Development Groups towards provision of Holiday/Evening coaching classes for younger ones, provision of legal aids and services to the people, provision of adequate information

and education on prevention, management and control of HIV / AlDS, and among others, as well as introduction of sporting activities on competitive level to schools.

The Executive Secretary also charged them not to relent in both their primary and secondary assignment and be role models to their host communities.

He cautioned the corp members to avoid unnecessary travelling and trespassing with a view to guaranteeing their security, just as he urged the host

communities to cooperate fully with the NYSC member posted to the LCDA. Wishing them successful services to their fatherland, the council boss advised the corps members not to look for a white-collar job after service, but to create e m p l o y m e n t opportunities for people.

The council manager, Alhaji Sheu Ajibade also encouraged the corps members to engage in agriculture and assured that the council would assist any one of them who is interested in farming morally and financially.

Ilesa East Council Boss Bags Award Of Excellence •Honourable Wasiu Oyelami (middle) and some council workers in a group photograph with corp members.

Provision Of Social Amenities, A Priority - Ede East Council Boss

The Executive Secretary, Ilesa East Local Government, Mrs. Adeoye Olusola has been honoured with an Award of Excellence as an outstanding leader, an achiever and a patriotic Nigerian who has contributed immensely to the development of her council.

According to a by contributing statement by the immensely to the checks Information Officer of the and balances of the council, Kazeem Nigerian leaders, Opatunji, the award was especially those in conferred on her by the government saddled Credible and Strong with the responsibilities Saron Communication of moving the nation Limited, Abuja, a forward. registered organisation The Chief Executive saddled with the officer of the outfit, Mr. responsibilities of Samson while presenting national development the award, described the and promotion of safe honour as a reward for and non-violent society hard work and ginger pill where mutual for her to do more understanding exist to towards the political provide enabling growth and development environment for human of the nation. development.

While responding, the The communication awardee said, the honour outfit also serves as a has imposed fresh watchdog in the society challenges on her

The Executive Secretary, Ede East Local Council the borehole in their Development Area (LCDA) Sekona, Fatoki Rafiu community, saying that it has promised the people of the LCDA that his is a difficult task for them administration would continue to give priority to to get drinkable water.

They stressed that the the provision of social amenities.

According to a communities within the gesture has brought succor to the people of council to provide statement by the Information Officer of the electricity whenever the the community, just as economy they promised on behalf council, Hammed LCDA’s of the people of the Oyeniyi, the council boss improves.

In their separate community that they gave the assurance while contributions, some of would always support flagging-off the present Construction of Borehole the All Progressive the at Aba Kusi in Ede East Congress (APC) leaders, administration. including Ogunlade LCDA in line with the integral action plan of the Segun, Oni Adebowale, state Governor, Ogbeni Kadiri Adeola and David, Rauf Aregbesola in the Folorunso the As part of the activities of the current area of provision of reiterated commitment of the administration to bring the dividends of potable water for rural present administration democracy to the grassroots, the Executive dwellers. under Ogbeni The council boss who Aregbesola in the state Secretary of Ilesa West Local Government, Barrister reiterated his and Fatoki in the LCDA Femi Onigbogi and his caretaker committee commitment to the towards the provision of members have renovated 10 shops at Ibala market, provision of social social amenities to all the Ilesa. amenities to all the towns nooks and crannies in the This effort of the roof of their shops had and villages in the LCDA state. caretaker management caused severe damages said, provision of The spokespersons of team of the council to most of their stocks. drinkable water would the community, Mr. became necessary when While inspecting the lead to good health.

Sunmonu Muraina and the situation of the Fatoki while Mrs. Haolat Hassan, both project in company of his market was unbearable addressing the people of gave kudos to the caretaker members and the community, council’s management for the spare part the Council Manager, commended Governor for deeming it fit to dig dealers, as the leaking Mrs. Oluyemi Aregbesola for his visionary and purposive leadership which culminated to the creation of additional councils to aid rapid development across the state.

He further solicited the continuous support of the people for the present administration both at the Federal, State and Local level.

The council boss then assured that his administration would carry out electrification project in the •Workers on site carrying ouy the renovation of the shops.

Ilesa West Renovates Market Stalls Oyewande, Onigbogi admonished the traders to make good use of the shop and also take care of the environment.

He charged them to always pay their taxes and levies as prescribed by the government, with the promise that the government would judiciously use the money to provide social amenities for the people.

The council boss thanked the entire people of the local government for their love for the government of the state under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

He asked them to continually support the programmes of the All Progressive Congress, APC-led government in the local government and the state, saying the administration is always ready to provide more dividends of democracy to the people of the council area.

towards the development of the council area, saying that her commitment was borne out of her concern towards development in line with Governor Rauf A r e g b e s o l a ’ s administration.

Noting that she would not relent in giving back to the society, she said that her focus was to make the council area a reference point across the country.

Adeoye who attributed the successes she had recorded to the support from his cabinet members and professionals in the Local Government council urged them to continue to give their best in line with their mandate.

In her goodwill message, the Council Manager of Ilesa East, Alhaja Muslimat Alabi welcomed the management of the outfit and stressed that the award would propelled the council management to want to do more.

Noting that she was not surprised about the activities of the council management under Olusola Adeoye, she hinted that as a woman, she has demonstrated high senses of responsibilities towards the development of the council area.

In his own contribution, one of the caretaker members, Olufemi Olayinka appreciated God for being with the Local G o v e r n m e n t management and appreciated the Communication outfit for deeming it fit to reward the council boss.

He described Adeoye as a natural, loyal, hardworking and woman with clean heart, commending the heads of various departments for their contribution and support towards the development of the council area.

]

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THE SOCIAL REGISTER

Olamide Hooks Omotayo

•The couple poses with some friends of the bride.

•The couple at their engagement ceremony poses with the father of the groom , Chief Olusola Omopo.

Solemnization of marriage vow between Miss Olamide Kehinde Agboola and Mr Omotayo Emmanuel Omopo

took place at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Mount Zion, Zonal headquarter, Baruwa Estate in Osogbo, the stare capital last Saturday.

Eid:

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1 - THURSDAY SEPT

Bustling Activities In Markets, Even As

By Abdullahi Omotayo and Tola Oyewale

Even with moderate prices of items like rams, clothing materials and food stuff in the market, traders have lamented low patronage of their products, as against the usual rush during Eid-il-Kabir and other festive periods.

But despite complaints by traders, it was observed that there are noticeable bustling activities in some major markets in Osogbo and its environs as people trooped in numbers to buy at the eleventh hour.

It was gathered that food items, rams, clothes whose prices skyrocketed the previous year have moderate prices this year.

Traders explained that the number of patronage they had in the previous year was still better than this year due to some economic factors, including the dollar exchange rate.

A foodstuff seller at Igbona market, Mrs. Salawudeen said, the prices of rice, beans and some other food items still remain the same even before the salah festival approaches, but there has been low patronage.

“The price of rice and beans is still stable •Bustling activities at ram market, Ring road, Osog for now. A bag of rice is sold at the rate of N15,600; beans, depending on the module is sold in the price range of between N500 and N700 depending on the type you want.”

Contrary to what Mrs. Salawudeen said, a pepper seller who pleaded anonymity said the price of pepper has increased, saying, this has always been the case when there is high demand during salah period.

A yam flour seller, Mrs. Idowu said because of the bad economy in the country, her patronizers, just like others had reduced.

Another trader who deal, in clothes materials, Mrs. Alausa at Igbona market said the prices at which she sells materials this year is still better than the previous year, just as she also complained of low patronage.

“The price at which we sell clothing material now is less expensive compared to last year.

Guinea material is sold for between N1,500 for 5 yards and N10,000 for 5 yards; “Atiku” is sold •Buying and selling scene for Ileya activities at the for N2,000 for 5 years. There is also lace material which goes for N1,000 per yard, there is still low patronage.

In an interview, Alhaji Ganiyu Adesina, N2,000 per yard and upward depending on the Ram Sellers Association at Osogbo stadiu type one can afford”.

A visit to ram market at Ring road area, result of non-circulation of money general behind Stadium, Osogbo also revealed that country, people are not really purchasing r there has been reduction in the prices of ram “It is just few days to Ileya now, and we o but due to the poor economy in the country, sold more than what we have in stock pres

Birthday Bash TLECC Holds Its Annual Child

•(L-R) Taye Odelade, Funmilayo Odelade, Abdullahi Adeyemi, the celebrant, Kehinde Odelade, during Abdullahi’s birthday, recently.

•The youth section of the church, during the annual celebration.

THE SOCIAL REGISTER

BER 1 - THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

ets, Even As Traders Lament Low Patronages

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^

Celebration Galore As NYSC Member, Debbie Marks Birthday

ram market, Ring road, Osogbo.

•Debbie Obasa and her colleagues cutting the birthday cake.

scene for Ileya activities at the popular Igbona market, in Osogbo.

patronage. w, Alhaji Ganiyu Adesina, chairman of ociation at Osogbo stadium, said as a culation of money generally within the are not really purchasing ram. days to Ileya now, and we ought to have what we have in stock presently. Those

that have purchased either have financial capability or might have to strain their pocket. Most people want to buy but other financial budget like children’s school fees and shelter need to be prioritised.

He said, the prices of ram range between N20,000, N25,000, N30,000 to N55,000 and above depending on the size.

ual Children Week In Osogbo It was a season of children in the way of God recently, as the children wing of the Truth Living Evangelical Church of Christ (TLECC) Osogbo State of Osun held the annual children week celebration.

At the programme, the children used their talents to minister during the celebration of the week, held at the church Auditorium in Alekuwodo Area, Osogbo State of Osun.

The state Pastor, Michael Olusola, Elder Peter Omotoso, Elder Deji Oladesu, Elder Philip Olaniyi, Elder Caleb Olalawo and church secretary, Elder Afolabi Israel were all part of the celebration.

•Friends and well-wishers at the party.

By Tola Oyewale

The environment was characterised with fun and celebration galore, last Friday as Obasa Debbie Funmilola, a National Youths Service Corp (NYSC) member at OSUN DEFENDER Newspaper celebrated her birthday in style.

The celebration held at Odetoyinbo Residence, beside Omoluabi Mortgage Bank Old Governor’s office, Osogbo.

Friday, 25th of August would forever remain a memorable day for the celebrant as she added another year.

The whole atmosphere was

filled with joy and excitement as the celebrant who was looking elegant in her purple and white printed Ankara gown danced to her favourite music into the birthday venue.

Friends and colleagues in their numbers gathered at the venue to celebrate with one of their own.

The guests were served with chilled soft drinks and goat barbecue (Asun), later cut the cake and danced with the celebrant.

Debbie who could not hide her joy, acknowledged the presence of her friends, colleagues and well-wishers.

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 other for your take. To take advantage of this, you can reach out to Murtala, 08023280935, Kazeem 08062207954 and Nike on 07032594744 Let the public know what you are doing.

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1 - THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

OPINION

OSUNDEFENDER www.osundefender.org

_`

ISAAC OLUSESI writes that the opposition elements in the State of Osun, Nigeria is the sinister in-operatively strategizing to stampede the state government into vegetative submission with the effluence of the pensioners’ grievances sped into sheer anarchy and unbridled antagonism twirled in ritual revelry, stemming the current wave of sundry irritations over ritual killings in Osun and other parts of the nation.

Protesting Retirees And Ritual Killings The news about some pensioners stemming the tide of ritual killings in Nigeria made a provocative but compulsive reading. Meaning that the effluence of their grievances on pension arrears and gratuities has sped into sheer anarchy and unbridled antagonism. That the State of Osun pensioners dispensed ritual killings recently to drive their demands, in the full glare of press publicity reads like some inverted reality. That is their own solution, warts and all. But that is the crux of the matter.

Pity the pensioners. The ritual killings, informed by an ancient wisdom, now grown anachronistic with age and tattered by disuse for indecency and barbarism, were carried out at the government secretariat, Osogbo, state capital, in the broad daylight. The 2011/2012 protesting retirees seized marked white and black goats, logged them against the earth to a hurtful point and made some hosed whispers into the ear of the goats. And in a flash, a fetish matchet irrupted through the animals, with blood gushing out straight down under some spells, that fired insensate hostility to the sensibility of the government.

The savagery, with inflammatory incantations, weird and ludicrous attracted a motley crowd of passersby and civil servants; it was the retirees’ irrational underpinnings to the continuous scheme of the oppositions to make Osun ungovernable. The crowd, with wide spread righteous indignation sneered at the retirees’ theatre of absurdity and gave them the sobriquet: the ritual annex. There were no mixed emotions; the crowd raved at the protesters as no one at the scene, not even the most cheerful was amused by the retirees’ suicidal servility as no one else was chary in chiding and sending them scurry back home. The crowd was piqued as there was nothing comic about the prisoners’ disposition that rather portends tragic consequences for socially acceptable behavior. The elders ‘terrorism’ rang hollow in the young people, leaving in them a gasping hole with cold chills; they were horrified and would flinch for a very long time to come like it were some monstrous tales from some banana republics.

But the ritual killings, a shibboleth though, could be to atone for the duplicity and forensic wrongheadedness of the protesting pensioners who swarmed not infrequently on the government secretariat, barricaded the gate and laid siege to the mandarins and other civil servants going to work. The spate of the rumpus was to ignite a war of attrition, a show down with the government ferociously to court adulation of the press, but the protesting retirees were not obliged with action. What a soul of evil in the abrasive protesters, to their own discomfiture!

Unmistakably, the wild retirees had stuck out their neck without rational calculations, pounded roughshod on

The fetid wrinkles of the restive protests on the fore-head of the retirees cannot be beauty lines. The Osun PDP is the sinister, the dictator that rigs up the contraption for the menacing gravitas of the street protests with ritual killings in the state. the streets with disdain for Osun government and flexed muscles for attention, the senior citizens show of clownishness. But they never made anybody’s day; rather they were in the business of making more enemies.

And placing the grievance against their modus operandi, it is now obvious that what we have on hand in Osun are a fledging rural guerrilla, a bizarre dimension in social convulsion.

The bare-face bravado, the ritual killings opened up untoward vistas to the retirees’ rabid street protests that not only intoxicated them beyond the bonds of reasonability such that their demands earlier thought to be impregnable were made mincemeat by another vicious round of protests that roared its hoary head in a fell swoop and twirled in ritual revelry, a disingenuous alibi for ridding the crest-wave of public sentiments and parrying the barbs of public sympathy for the retirees’ demands.

The protests, warped and steeped in morbid hatred for Osun government could not be the barometer to gauge the volume of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and status of payment of pensions, gratuities, salary and leave bonus in the state because the pensioners have always acted on the basis of their own uneducated and muzzled assumptions, a bald diagnosis in beer parlour. “The state’s IGR was not up to N1.5bn, yet the pensioners LIED (emphasis mine) that the IGR and PAYE was N9.5bn.” The retirees’ pathological lie, made worst by their odios rituals, had invariably turned them into a gargoyle to hurt the state government and set Osun on edge.

What then looked like mere protests by the retirees soon showed their lethal

intent to terrorize Osun governance and administration in the Maitatsine spirit. A decent to fanaticism over money! That the retirees had resolved with noisy street insistence, with embarrassing rituals that the state would not know peace means that the protesters must have quaffed some kind of drugs that emboldened them to dastardly act of ritual killings to make a point against government. The hero of Maitatsine, the anti-Islamic, anti-Christ movement, was Mohammed Marwa, of Marwa village in Cameroun.

Clearly, the protesting 2011/2012 pensioners must have had their psyche bestirred by factors external to them. Car GustarJung, the fabled Swiss psycho-analyst would say that the Osun protesting retirees must be ill. No! They are not. But Jung would insist the retirees are bedeviled by a million tiny demons that nouctionally chase them and remotely control their action in the day akin to when a firsttime pregnant woman suddenly realizes she has to undress before the doctor.

The demons are the opposition elements in the Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) desiring inoperatively to take over the state driver’s seat. They are identifiable by their odour, oscillation, orphanage, osmosis, mascara, matador feet shuffle and oddities of a pig, intruding on the Osun opulence living room. The murk tends always to make a joke of good taste of the Rauf Aregbesola government in the state. Proverbially, the hands of the protesting retirees are those of Esau but their menacing street actions are those of Jacob, the opposition PDP. The protesters practically carried out the spirit and

letter of the adventures, wishes, whims and caprice of their PDP god-father in Osun. And like orphans, the retirees on the streets are always too glad to be noticed, too anxious to please, too self-full to caution self, too spoon-fed to paddle own canoe, too noisy to do a re-think, and too out-going to look back. They acted the drawers of water and hewers of wood for the god-father because they lack the reach, the clout the muscle and the courage, except the beggarly courage. A descent to servitude!

The PDP god-father knows that the way to the retirees’ ear is through his mouth and has always hosted the pensioners under his roof where they tackle pounded yam with egusi soup and the rump of cow leg, mopped up with cognac to drive the crumbs down the stomach, all in the puny effort to order the pensioners around for protests, to clampdown on the state government. “The sight and sound of free men clamouring to be chained is not an edifying one,” wrote John Simpson in his famous essay, “Watching For The New Dictators” (1972).

And everything after each PDP crumbs, played cheaply to the gallery of the god-father. What an authoritative instance of being masterly by half. The retirees then pushed full steam, switched from protests to protests and acted on the streets more PDPic than Fayose, apparently to be noticed and rewarded with more crumbs from the PDP godfather’s table, a throw-back accoutrements of the by- gone PDP potentates in the Oke-fia state government house, Osogbo.

The fetid wrinkles of the restive protests on the fore-head of the retirees cannot be beauty lines. The Osun PDP is the sinister, the dictator that rigs up the contraption for the menacing gravitas of the street protests with ritual killings in the state. The 2011/ 2012 retirees in the PDP hatching asylum had fledged into an untamable hawks and political snipers. They shot at the heart of Osun and laid ambush unpatriotically to disparage the government and infuse deadly fear into Osun people.

To be sure, like Umaru Dikko in asylum the protesting retirees had their loyalty where their mouth is.

Dikko was President. Sheu Shagari’s Minister of Works; Chairman, Special Task Force on Rice; and Chairman, Shagan’s Re-election Committee in 1983. But December 31, that year, Dikko woke up to hear martial music and he fled into exile in England from where he gave the new military government of General Mohammed Buhari, a Jihad, corresponding to the notorious escapades of Anini, the underworld kingpin. Or, in the name of what did the retirees steam–roll Osun in the last few weeks, Maitatsine? Rituals? Dikko? Asked Pavel Litvinour in Das Gesunde Volksenfundem, the Healthy Instinct of People.

•Continued on page 14

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1 - THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

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a1

Eid And Trending Fashion

There’s a lot to talk about when it comes to Muslim fashion trends. The idea that what you choose to wear is intimately tied to what you believe in is a big no for anyone who loves clothes.

When your identity is s t r o n g l y connected to a certain faith that prescribes a way of interacting with the world including how you dress, it’s hard not to wear your religion on your sleeve, especially, for young Muslim women, a population that has been the focus of so many conversations about feminism and modernity.

In contrast to the presumption that women in hijab are forced to cover their heads by oppressive Muslim parents, husbands or brothers, many young ladies with hijabs come from families where their mothers don’t even cover heads. Young women have used personal study of the holy book to justify ways of dressing and behaviour that slightly differs or largely from community cultural norms.

During muslim festive periods, many Muslims celebrate by dressing at their best as the religion recommends; muslim ladies take their reins of fashion and strutting their stuff in their different spheres; even with the use of hijab ladies are still fashionable in their outfit. Eid is that time of the year where you can have amazing food, amazing clothes and most importantly you can spend time with friends and family, and apart from these, the most exciting part of Eid is the new clothes you can wear and whatever fashion trend you can display which bring out the elegance in you.

The Sharara is the most traditional attire to wear on this day, but recently this traditional wear is infused with wellbred touches, as modernity is added to it to make it more contemporary in style. Although, the dressing styles have moderately changed in the past few years, yet the clothing is worn according to traditions on Eid. For instance, men are prohibited to wear silk and even though women can opt for it, they prefer to go with cotton and other fabrics.

WITH

TEMITOPE AKINYELE Generally, white Kurta with an ankle length Pajama is worn by men. The Kurta worn may feature embroidery in plain threads. Similarly on the day of Eid, women in almost all Islamic countries are not supposed to wear thin f a b r i c clothing and should be covered from head to toe with the exception on face and hands. Hijab, a veil that covers the head with or without forehead is customary for all occasions, as it is worn during the presence of unfamiliar male members of the community.

There are so many clothing ladies put on during this festive period aside wearing the typical tradition Sharara which include Shalwarkameez, Kaftans, Jalabiyya, or an Abayah. Depending on the Hijab, colour you can choose various accessories to look glamorous on the day of Eid.

Rampant Cases Of Rape In The Society

By Debbie Obasa The issue of rape is now so common in our society that some wrongly believed it is a normal thing.

Unfortunately, rape is a criminal offence by Section 357 of our criminal code.

Rape occurs when a person unlawfully has a carnal knowledge of another person without his or her consent. It can be carried out by means of threat or intimidation. The term “unlawful carnal knowledge” as captured in Section 6 of Criminal Code, states that the carnal connection takes place, otherwise as a husband and wife.

In the law court, rape can be proved when sexual intercourse happens in any of the following ways: When the sexual act is against his or her will or without his or her consent; when his or her consent is got by duress or by putting her or him in fear of death or hurt; and with or without the victims consent when the victim is under 14 years of age or rather of unsound mind.

The offence of rape can be established in the law court, when the accused has had sexual intercourse with the prosecutrix, or when the prosecutrix, not being the wife of the accused or she has not attained the age puberty. Also when there was any means of penetrations and when a medical report established a prove of the action.

The punishment for rape according to Section 358 of the Criminal Code is life imprisonment or canning.

In the past, victims feel ashamed to identify themselves by proceeding to courts for adjudication.

However, victims come out openly these days regardless of the societal stigma, yet the criminal act is not abating.

Incest are also common, a case where close relatives in whose care young girls are put, take advantage of them.

Some schools of thought have suggested that the current sanction is not strong enough and that when cases are proven beyond reasonable doubt in courts, such accused person should be castrated.

After Rape, What Next?

A rape victim must as a matter of urgency report the crime in the nearest police station to lodge complaint.

Such a person should neither bath nor change his or her dress and must not remove anything from the scene of crime.

The victim’s case may be jeopardised if he/she fails to undertake the measures prescribed below; as it is the duty of the police to take the victim to the hospital for medical attention and examination.

It is advisable that medical examination should be carried out as soon as possible, preferably on the same day of the incident.

Why Low Rate Of Rape Prosecution?

The inability of victims to report cases to police is for fear of stigmatization. Sometimes, families of victims are of the view that the case would not be taken up unless they bribe their way at the police station. There is also lack of proper investigation due to general apathy on the part of the police institution.

A major problem also is the legal requirement which demands that for a rape case to be properly established, there must be corroborative evidence from an eye witness. This is difficult because the act is almost always done in secluded areas.

If Police Fails To Act, What Should A Victim Do”?

In case of a failure of the police to act after investigating the case, the victim should petition the Commissioner of Police, giving details of officers who

attended to him or her on the day of complaint, the name of the police station and all necessary information.

Suggested Reforms The following suggestions are hereby made to reduce the case of rape in our society.

Underage children should not be left unsupervised with friends, relations or guardians.

Parents should routinely examine the private parts of their children to check for any source of pain or any form of sexual abuse.

Rape case should be expeditiously dispensed off in court, so that victims will still be able to recount the assault experience; the identity of rape victims should be withheld while recorded evidence can be taken to reduce the social stigma.

Also, local rape relief centres can be established to provide necessary first aid, and psychological relief to victims; and enlightenment campaigns should be carried out to discourage sexual assault.

Blaming victims for provocative dressing should be discouraged by the society since victims should not be blamed for an offender’s weakness.

Some Useful Provisions Of The Law 1.

Rape is punishable by life imprisonment with or without canning.

2.

Indecent assault on males is punishable by 3 years’ imprisonment.

3. Abduction of girls under 16 is punishable with (2) two years’ imprisonment.

4.

Attempt to commit rape is punishable with 14 years’ imprisonment; and 5.

Abduction is punishable with 7 years’ imprisonment.

Rape is a crime not a punishment; hence, we should stop blaming the victims.

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Eid: Holidaymakers Shower Encomium On Osun Govt For Free Train Ride Holiday makers for the 2017 Eid-il-Kabir festival the policy should be to have continued to shower encomium on the institutionalised government of the State of Osun for the provision ensure that anyone who will take over from the of free train ride from Lagos to Osogbo.

It would be recalled had eased the tension of administration continues that it is a policy of the transport fare back home, it.

The Commissioner for Governor Rauf commending the A r e g b e s o l a government for his Commerce, Industries administration to concern for the less- and Cooperatives, Ismail Jayeoba-Alagbada had in provide free train service privilege in the society. a statement said, the from Lagos to Osogbo, He then appealed that gesture was in during festive period of all faith.

However, for the 2017 Eid-il-Kabir festival, the first train, on Wednesday August 30, left Iddo Islamic faithful across Nigeria and the State of Terminus, Lagos enroute Osun in particular have been enjoined to look beIkeja, through Ogun and yond the wining and dining of the Eid-il-Kabir fesOyo State to end the tival, but also see the lessons of the sacrifice as journey in Osogbo, while shown by Prophet Ibrahim himself during his sothe second batch left on Thursday August 31, journ on earth. calls for sober reflection 2017 through the same This was contained in on the part of all Nigeriroute down to Osogbo.

After the Eil-il-kabir the felicitation message ans, irrespective of celebration, the train is sent to all muslims by the ethnicity, religious and expected to leave Osogbo Secretary to the Govern- political sentiments.

There is no better time on Sunday September ment of the State of Osun and a frontline chieftain for all hands to be on 3rd, 2017 for Lagos.

Some of the of the ruling All deck than this time, beneficiaries of the Progressives Congress when sacrifice on the gesture said, the (APC), Alhaji Moshood part of us all, coupled government had Adeoti. with fervent prayers provided succor to the According to him, should be the order of less-privileged who are Muslims across the the day for the country to interested but did not have the financial world ought to look be- get out of the current yond the festivities as he economic logjam,” wherewithal to return to their families for the urged all and sundry, es- Adeoti stressed. celebration. pecially at this time of The prominent politiOne Rashidi Sunmonu, the country’s economic cian also emphasised the an indigene of Osogbo situation, to heed to the need for all residents of who joined the train lessons the festival the state to shed the toga service with his wife and preaches. of shenanigans and see four kids said the service “Moment like this the positive side of the

furtherance of A r e g b e s o l a administration’s commitment to the welfare of the ordinary people who deserve the support from the government.

He was optimistic that the free train provided by the government would give Osun indigenes in

particular the opportunities to return home in order to savor the joy of the festival with their relatives.

“This is one of the social protection projects of the Aregbesola administration and since we commenced this more than six years ago, we have not looked back.

Even in the face of very harsh financial constraints, we have strived to keep this offer going, convinced that it has offered great opportunities for our people and helped their finances as well,” Jayeoba-Alagbada stressed.

...Osun SSG Calls For Sober Reflection, Sacrifice

Eid-El-Kabir:

current administration in the state.

“The APC-led administration of Governor

•ADEOTI

Rauf Aregbesola has performed beyond all the expectations of the opposition, so the reason for their noise is understood by every discerning mind in the state.

“People ought to be on guard to see beyond the smokescreen of the opposition as they have never been on the side of the masses.

“Osun indigenes and residents are no fools and can never be led by their noses into slavery for the second time,” Adeoti stated.

As the state inches towards the governorship election next year, the Secretary to the State Government admonished all to pray to the Almighty God to ensure the emergence of the best candidate in the overall interest of the state.

Benedictions And Lessons Of A Great Festival

Today, the Muslim festival of Eid alAdha, known as Eid-el-Kabir, is celebrated by Islamic faithfuls throughout the world. The festival is rooted in scriptural accounts of both the Islamic and Judeo-Christian theology as evidenced in the Al Qur’an Kareem (The Glorious Qur’an) and the Old Testament respectively.

The homogenous accounts (Qu’ran Chapter 37; Genesis Chapter 22) highlight how, in a singular act of obedience to a divine command, Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), took Ishmael, (Isaac in the the JudeoChristian tradition) his son which was begotten in his old age, to a location and prepared him for ritual of immolation as piety to God. As he got set to cut the throat of the blindfolded son, behold!

A ministration came from heavens; Allah conveyed the good tidings, stopping the killing and revealed that a ram had been sent by Allah as a vicarious replacement for the sacrifice.

God added that Ibrahim had passed the ultimate test of faith and would be amply rewarded. The ram was promptly slaughtered while both father and son returned home in ecstatic joy.

This exemplary story of Prophet Ibrahim’s fully manifested intent to sacrifice his most adored progeny is well known, what many do not however bother to imbibe is its essence.

The demonstration of this sublime virtue of selflessness, yield to the divine fiat, a reference point in man/God relationship. Ideally, as the embodiment of all knowledge and wielders of all powers, God should be seen as the Guiding Light to the path of redemption. Mortals are finite while God is infinite; what remains hidden to man is laid completely bare to God, with no more than just a single glance of his omniscient eye.

By Kayode Ketefe Yet, most humans tend to disregard divine guidance through obstinacy borne out of selfishness. There are enough injunctions in our religious books that would have made the society better if willingly obeyed, alas, what we often have is a case of selective obedience if not outright disobedience or crooked manipulative interpretations of God’s words to suit our preconceived foibles and whims.

Today, God may not require us to kill our children to prove our unconditional submission to his will, but how many are truly eager to comply with even the comparatively easier obligations required of us in this modern times? The two Holy Scriptures are replete with passages urging virtues of honesty, righteousness, integrity, good neighbourliness and love. But do we practice them? Underscoring the imperative of yielding to God, The

Qur’an, in Chapter 4, Verse 125, says: “Who could have a better religion than someone who submits himself completely to God and is a good-doer, and follows the religion of Abraham, a man of pure natural belief?

God took Abraham as an intimate friend. Now, if we find it difficult to submit to God in the relatively easier obligations confronting us today, how miserably would we fail if called to make superior sacrifice like Prophet Ibrahim? Superior sacrifice may imply giving away one’s most prized possession.

What translates to most prized possession differs among individuals.

To some people, their riches, manifested in millions, billions or trillions of money and assets rank supreme, to others, their chain of degrees and other certificates come before everything else; others place the highest premium on looks, some people’s most adored valuables are sporting talents, tribal or national

identity, or some other mundane human values.

How many Nigerians today can give up their most prized possession in alliance to divine commandments?

Indeed, most of the problems facing us as a country stem from the people’s attitude of superimposing personal preferences and selfish agenda over all other things, including God acclaimed commandments and directives. God says do not kill, we always find excuses to do so, he says do no steal, we do for personal aggrandisement, he commands we show love to your neighbour, we engage in baseless sadism borne of wanton hatred.

Politicians who steal with impunity from the public treasury know that God abhors it, yet rather than give up such selfish pursuits in the light of the creator’s antipathy to the vice, they expect Him to compromise his standards and overlook the disobedience!

What about those who kill and maim other people for money and other selfish or misguided reasons?

As we celebrate this year’s Eid elKabir, let us be reminded that the essence of this great festival is total submission to the will of God; it is not reckless bingeing and partying; it is not mere storing of ram meat in cellars for hedonistic purpose of titillating the palate in drawn-out consumption many weeks after the Sallah; neither is it an occasion to flaunt wealth. The demonstrative purpose of Prophet Ibrahim’s sacrifice story is to underscore the virtue of total submission to the will of Almighty Allah as following His will invariably inspires the spirit of love, charity, caring for others and selflessness.

Eid Mubarak! Barrka de Sallah!

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1 - THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

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Leukaemia: Diagnosis And Chances Of Survival •Continued from July 28, 2017 edition.

Blood Production You make millions of blood cells every day. Each type of cell has an expected lifespan. For example, red blood cells normally last about 120 days. Some white blood cells last just hours or days - some last longer. Every day, millions of blood cells die and are broken down at the end of their lifespan. There is normally a fine balance between the number of blood cells that you make, and the number that die and are broken down. Various factors help to maintain this balance.

For example, certain hormones in the bloodstream and chemicals in the bone marrow called ‘growth factors’ help to regulate the number of blood cells that are made.

The Main Types of Leukaemia Are: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) There are various ‘sub-types’ of each of these. In addition there are some other rare types of Leukaemia.

The word ‘Acute’ means the disease develops and progresses quite quickly.

‘Chronic’ means persistent or ongoing. When talking about Leukaemia, the word chronic also means that the disease develops and progresses slowly (even without treatment).

‘Lymphoblastic’ and ‘lymphocytic’ mean that an abnormal cancerous cell is a cell that originated from a lymphoid stem cell.

‘Myeloid’ means that an abnormal cancerous cell is a cell that originated from a myeloid stem cell.

There are separate leaflets (listed in the treatment section below) which give details about each of these types of leukaemia.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) In ALL, the bone marrow makes large numbers of abnormal immature lymphocytes called lymphoblasts.

With FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

•Mr. Peter Akinyele There are various subtypes of ALL. For example, the abnormal lymphoblasts can be immature B or T lymphocytes.

Typically, ALL develops quite quickly (acutely) and rapidly becomes worse (over a few weeks or so) unless treated.

ALL can occur at any age, but about 6 in 10 cases occur in children. It is the most common form of leukaemia to affect children Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML) In AML the bone marrow makes large numbers of abnormal immature white blood cells which are derived from a myeloid stem cell. The abnormal immature cells are called blasts. There are various subtypes of AML, depending on exactly what cell type becomes cancerous and at what stage in the maturing process. Typically, AML develops quite quickly (acutely) and rapidly becomes worse (over a few weeks or so) unless treated. AML is an uncommon disease. Most cases occur in people aged over 50.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia

Eid El Kabir: Health Professional Warns Against Over Eating And Drinking As Muslims celebrate the Eid IlKabir festival, Nigerians have been advised to desist from over consumption of food and drinks as this might have health repercussions later on.

This advice was given by Mrs.Esther Oke, a Chief Nursing Officer in a chat with OSUN DEFENDER •Mrs Oke. in Osogbo.

The experienced nurse revealed that the reason for the advice was that research had discovered that overeating puts much stress on the digestive system and in the long run leads to constipation and other digestive diseases like gastroenteritis, reflux and acidity.

According to her, “it is clear that during festive seasons like this, people tend to eat and drink a lot.

“Some even jokingly say that they would use Andrews Liver Salt to clear their bowels in order to eat and drink more.

“This belief is erroneous and at the end they end up causing unnecessary health problems for themselves.

“As rational beings, we should allow wisdom dictate our actions. What will we gain from eating and drinking to excess in just one or two days and at the end of it spend months and lots of money to treat the consequence of such action.

“There is no point in binge drinking and gluttonous eating. All these things have consequences and some are dire and will leave with us atimes for the rest of our lives. By this, I mean diseases that may arise as a result of the gluttonous eating and binge drinking could last for a lifetime”.

“Some of these diseases coming from the effect of heating and drinking too much are expensive to treat and they also require specialist attention and not a general one”, she said.

(CLL) In CLL, you have many abnormal B lymphocytes. The main reason for the build-up of the abnormal lymphocytes is because they live too long - they do not die after the usual lifespan of a lymphocyte. (This is different to the acute types of Leukaemia where the cells rapidly multiply ‘out of control’.

In CLL, the abnormal lymphocytes are not thought to multiply faster than normal lymphocytes.) Typically, CLL develops and progresses very slowly over months or years, even without treatment. CLL is the most common

type of Leukaemia. Most cases occur in people over the age of 60.

Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) CML develops due to a problem with a stem cell in the bone marrow which becomes abnormal. The abnormal stem cell multiplies and the cells that are made from the abnormal stem cells mature and develop into near-normal white cells - mainly neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils (collectively called granulocytes). Typically, CML develops and progresses slowly - over months or years, even without treatment. CML is the rarest of the four main types of Leukaemia. It occurs mainly in adults, and becomes more common with increasing age.

What causes Leukaemia?

A Leukaemia is thought to start first from one abnormal cell. What seems to happen is that certain vital genes which control how cells divide, multiply and die, are damaged or altered. This makes the cell abnormal. If the abnormal cell survives, it may multiply ‘out of control’ or survive a long time, and develop into a Leukaemia.

In most cases of Leukaemia, the reason why a cell becomes abnormal is not known. There are certain ‘risk factors’ which increase the chance that certain Leukaemia will develop, but these only account for a small number of cases. Risk factors for some types of Leukaemia include: •To be continued

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Traditionalists Blame Religious Leaders For Disintegration Of Societal Values thorough in its

By Shina Abubakar transactions with its Yoruba traditional religion worshippers have partners to avoid being identified the inadequacies of religious leaders as duped and should put one of the major factors contributing to the measures in place to disintegration of societal values across the Nigeria. ensure the recovery of the They stated this, as drugs, while the women state looted fund, saying majority of traditionalists must steer clear of the future is bright for the across all the Local promiscuity in order to state.

Part of the seven day Government Areas in the live a happy life in the include State of Osun recently future, otherwise they activities visitations, offering of converged on Technical would face irredeemable prayers for the country School playing ground in consequences in the and its leaders at the celebration of the 2017 future.

Isese Day to According to Priest palace of Ooni of Ife, commemorate world Fagbenle Adedayo, all presentation of Public traditional religious day. stakeholders must work lecture on the need to The United Nations together to further restore Yoruba moral had declared August 20 inculcate and educate values in youths as well oral folklore as world Traditional youths on the as Religious Day to significance of Yoruba competition among the celebrate the values to the safety of various zones in the state.

Other activities used to commencement of their future and the traditional calendar, wellbeing of the society. mark the event include dance especially, the Yoruba It also urged the state traditional New Year. government to be competition, traditional At the gathering for this year celebration, the traditionalists made public spiritual messages

By Shina Abubakar for the New Year and urged every stakeholder The lawmaker representing Olorunda State to adhere to the message to ensure peace reign Constituency, Hon Waseeu Adebayo last Tuesday supreme in the state and distributed empowerment materials to members of his constituency as a means of making them selfcountry as a whole.

The group declared reliant.

The event was well Speaking at the that all religious leaders must adhere to the do’s attended by party leaders gathering, the Deputy and intending aspirants and don’ts of their Governor commended religious beliefs, saying including the Speaker of the lawmaker for the inadequacies of the state Assembly, Hon. deeming it fit to give back religious leaders were Najeem Salaam; the to the people, who voted major factors deputy governor, Mrs him to represent them at contributing to the Grace TitiLaoye-Tomori; a time the economy of the disintegration of societal Secretary to the State country suffers setback values across the country. Government, Alhaji and people experiencing It insisted that Moshood Adeoti; the difficulty. religious leaders must State Party Chairman, She added that party lead by example and Prince Gboyega members needed such focus on their spiritual Famodun; the Deputy e m p o w e r m e n t roles and live by such Speaker, Hon. Akintunde programme in a bid to religious ethos.

Adegboye and former make them self-sufficient According to the Commissioner for to provide means of revelation, the youths Information, Oluomo livelihood for their must desist from illicit Sunday Akere among households. act, social vices and stay other dignitaries.

Similarly, the Speaker away from abuse of

games, football competition, as well as visitation to General Hospital, Ede to offer gift and prayers to the sick ones.

At the grand finale, the Araba Awo of Osogbo,

Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon offered prayer for the country, state and the leaders for peace, prosperity, wisdom and good health.

The highlight of the event include march-past

by various traditional religion devotees, such as Olokun, Oloya, Olosun, Eleegun, Obatala devotees among others as well as traditional dances.

•Struggle for surviver: Teenagers toiling to make end needs at Saw-mill area, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, State of Osun.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Lawmaker Empowers Constituents With Vehicles, Other Materials and SSG in their separate remarks used the opportunity to appeal to party members to remain loyal to the course of the party, stressing that more democratic dividends would be delivered if the party enjoy support of the masses.

The duo also commended the member of the House for making empowerment scheme an annual event for his constituents and urged him to continue the good work for the sake of prosperity.

Prince Famodun, in his address sought cooperation of all party members towards making the APC victorious in future elections including governorship election in 2018, pledging that the

party would come up with a choice the people would like.

He charged other elected officials to emulate the good gesture of Hon. Adebayo and give back to those who vote for them before returning to seek for their support again.

The lawmaker, while speaking disclosed that the objective behind the programme is to make sure that the level of poverty among party members is reduced to the barest minimum and to further give opportunity to those with potential to excel.

He added that the mini-bus (korope) is to make sure people get empowered and gradually pay back the

actual amount without interest and take over the ownership of the vehicle, while the money when fully returned is recycled into the project so as to provide vehicles for others.

He said in the five years of the programme, over eight vehicles have been given to beneficiaries, while over 50 hairdressing equipment have been given out to women, 50 generating sets, newspaper stands and over 100 women across the eight wards have been given soft loan to support their businesses.

He urged beneficiaries to remain committed to the schemes with a view to making others benefit in the future.

Protesting Retirees And Ritual Killings •Continued from page 10 There can be no confusion as who really are the pensioners in Osun, and no uncertainty as to who are the steamrollers, the lackeys who daily throng the corridors of the opposition in the state. Evidently, those who hope for the growth of democracy in Nigeria should get alerted to the steam roller group, too short, very short on the responsibility of senior citizens and too long, very long on the minutiae and antediluvian.

The group, brutally injurious to public interest, ironically thinks its PDP god-father could do things better in Osun. No hope should be pinned on the group that makes the job of governance difficult. Osun people must decide to make the group and other retirees, old and new run through Senior Citizenship Education (SCE) in Psyche Re-orientation and Redevelopment; Statesmanship and Civic Duties; Current Affairs and Application; Watchdog Ethics; and Logic of Research, Negotiation, Dialogue and Documentation. The senior citizenship class cannot a place for high school rascals- that should be

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over N9bn and the state could not afford that now”. To be otherwise is like the retirees wanting Aregbesola to turn chunks of stones into loaves of bread. the hub of the training manifest Asking the protesting retirees to apologize is otiose; the matter on hand does not need any such big stick, though the retirees’ fetish disposition stands a mere frail against the current climate and sundry irritations over ritual killings in Osun and other parts of Nigeria. Osun people would not roll out red carpet for the fetish retirees neither would the government decorate them with any garland. But the protesters should be forgiven at least to serve the end of social justice.

To look away, is to prick the conscience of justice as no action of man is ever sacosanct that time and circumstance cannot render unjust, unwisr and untamable. The wiser-than-thou propensity of the retirees has alienated them from Aregbesola. To criticize him is not to risk the awesome combination

of blasphemy and treason; he is not one who coughs and expects the other person to shiver.

“The gratuities of pensioners in Osun are well over N9bn and the state could not afford that now”. To be otherwise is like the retirees wanting Aregbesola to turn chunks of stones into loaves of bread. But the man whose government had travelled the long, bumpy and tortoise road to be, has always embraced utilitarianism, satisfying the greatest yearnings of the greatest number of Osun people by its massively populist development politics, policies and projects in all parts of the state. Not the parochial, selfish interest of a few groups, or any single person in particular.

The retirees in the state should accept that these are times which call for studied perseverance and

dedicated vigilance. Globally, the times are really bad, angry man on the street and hungry man at home. In place of the protesting retirees’ wiser panache, vigilance on government actions to ensure the survival of democracy and increased development of the state by offering constructive suggestions and alternative possibilities will make governance easier. Chaos will not resolve any issue, drawing line in the sand will only compound it. “There is a sleeping cop in all of us. We all can be brutal, we all can be bestial,” warned a graffito written during the 1968 French student revolt.

I have the words of Leotolstoy as food–for-thought for Osun protesters.

“I sit on a man’s back choking him, making him carry me; yet I assure myself and others that I am sorry for him and wish to ease his lot by all means possible, except getting off his back!

•OLUSESI is Assistant Director, Directorate of Publicity, Research & Strategy, All Progressives Congress, State of Osun.

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Osun At 26: Aregbeseola Condemns Hate Speech Makers In the midst of hate speeches and threats of “Though, we went Taking stock of what establish a peopleevacuation by ethnic groups and heightened the state has achieved so friendly government through a daunting political unrest across the geo-political zones, the far, the Governor said: whose resources have financial challenge Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has “Under our watch in been judiciously used for occasioned by tumbling joined believers of one strong and united Nigeria nearly seven years, we the development of the oil price, but we have to condemn all forms of utterances and acts that are have worked hard to people in every area. steadied the ship of the capable of ripping the country apart.

Aregbesola made this trajectory of the Nigerian call in his address to state and her social and mark the 26th political evolution, anniversary of the adding that the state had, creation of the state, no doubt, gone through which was created on ups and downs, but it has August 27, 1991. remained strong and In the address entitled: thrived under successive ‘We Have Overcome,’ the administrations.

Governor enjoined Aregbesola stated that citizens of the state in his administration, particular and Nigeria in building on the general to eschew all achievements of the past forms of anti-social successive government, behaviours and had positioned the discriminations based on people to realise their faith and ethnicity, for the greatest potentials by nation to move forward bringing them to the as a united entity. consciousness of who This was as he also they are as Omoluabi (the •A bad portion of road at Ayoola Street, Bishop area, Osogbo, in urgent need of attention.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI. issued a ‘wake-up call’ to virtuous people).

Nigerians to prepare for an impending economic revolution, which wind is blowing across the world

By Murtala Agboola independent organs of the they are the most in the form of recession vulnerable, while officer and the ongoing global Veteran labour Leader, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, government.

According to him, in the on level 8-10 take 75 per efforts to discover a ‘new who is the Chairman of Osun Fund Allocation cent, while those on level world economic order Committee has alluded to fact that some pensioners course of the committee’s 12 and above take 50 per without crude oil,’ urging in the state were being used by the opposition to assignment, the workers cent of their salary. were called uponto make the people to be prepared deliberately counter the state government on the Comrade Sunmonu said in terms of both intellectually and distribution of revenue for payment of salaries, sacrifices having to forgo part of some other states that spiritually to stand up to pensions and allowances. their salary until the lacked the initiative of the challenge.

He spoke on look into how much economic situation Osun State has been He averred that if the Wednesday, during a revenue is due to the improves, saying, this coming around to take cue people unite, work current affairs programme government at the end of gave birth to the from the state. assiduously, harness on the Osun State the month from all Modulated The former chairman of Salary Nigeria Labour Congress their God-given Broadcasting Corporation sources, saying that Arrangment. potentialities and pray (OSBC), ‘The Nation sometimes, there is The Modulated Salary, (NLC) said, he took up the negative revenue from the he said, is that level 1-7 appointment in the fervently, the nation Today’.

He said the federal level. would overcome any have full salary because interest of the state and not He noted that the challenges that come its disbursement process is transparent enough, as committee has way be it in mode of economic, political or representatives of all the representatives from stakeholders involved, government side, headed social problems. after the completion of pensioners have by the Chief of Staff to the •Continued from page 3 He said: “We should including allows the sponsorship my training”. always been part of the Gboyega practice tolerance in monthly distribution of Governor, A police source at the Oyetola and his education. religion, ethnicity and government revenue. representatives of labour According to him, he anti-human trafficking ideology and abhor any affirmed the According to him, the unions, including the did not know the amount unit form of hatred or establishment of his Nigeria Medical paid to his link to the presence of human discrimination against committee by the Association (NMA), family whom he simply traffickers in the area anyone different from us Governor Rauf Aregbesola initially represented by identified as “Uncle aforementioned in the in any social category. administration became one Dr. Oginni.

Peter”, but appreciated state, especially in rural We should remain inevitable when the He said that the the household he serves, communities of the state strong, united, unbroken revenue accruing to the committee on monthly “because they take good who poses as farmers, but and unbreakable, in the government plummeted basis decides the in real sense they are as a result of the fall in the disbursement of the care of me”. spirit of togetherness.

In another encounter human traffickers. revenue except that of the He noted that the state price of crude oil.

The source said, “In The job of the committee legislature and the with Elizabeth, who most cases, they are must not detract from the claimed to be a native of essentially, he said is to judiciary which are path of greatness and Akwa-Ibom, but has arrested but their cases development it is served as domestic maids died a natural death due currently treading in and in several households in to the inability to get its people should, more Ile-Ife, Ilesha and Osogbo witnesses or some than ever before respectively, said she was intervention from welldemonstrate virtues in all orphaned at the age of meaning members of the

By Sunday Obalodu their dealings as well as society, as the elites eight and now she is 18. cultivate the spirit of The Osun Internal Revenue Service (OIRS) said it “I have had many women are the culprit hard-work, loyalty, has been able to force some private organisations to experiences both good who needed this hands to chivalry, honesty and comply with the existing tax laws through collaboration and ugly but it is not too take care of their house or and engagement with taxpayers of different categories. courage. good to be an housemaid. stay with their aged According to him, the The chairman of the ensure that the revenues I thank God that now I parents”. creation of Osun in 1991 Agency, Mr Bicci Alli made are not diverted.

He also said on several had learned a trade was the realisation of the the disclosure while Commending the staff of through the help of the occasions, the illegal demand of the people for speaking with newsmen at the Agency for their household where I migrants recruited a state of their own, a forum in Osogbo, saying, commitment to duties, he served and I am being outside the country for describing the birth of the part of the efforts made by disclosed that the revenue treated like one of their house help jobs often bolt state as ‘a dream come the Agency was the collectors were being own, but I had to fight my away with the valuables true,’ as it brought enforcement with close taking through regular Aunty who serves as our of their employers or government close to monitoring of remittances. trainings at local and link, because she enjoyed gradually pilfering their According to him, the national level to ensure that Osun people and through of Revenue the purpose of their the economic gain by valuables, and deposit it which they have been employment Marshals who usually meet employment which is to shifting me from one with neighbours or experiencing human and taxpayers to collect increase the revenue of the house to the other which elsewhere. i n f r a s t r u c t u r a l revenue through Point of state is served.

Police source I refused. This earned me development, coupled Sales (POS) terminal He then charged the opportunity to be condemned the acts and with life more abundant. monetary mechanism had taxpayers to always trained as fashion agreed on the need to According to him, 26 help to capture tax request and collect receipts designer with the help of amend the lacuna in the years after, it is time to defaulters across the state. from the revenue marshal the household in which I responsibilities and He hinted that there has for any payment they made assess how far the ship of am serving and they had duties of parents and the state has fared, not been close monitoring of as their proof of payment. promised to set me up guardian as stated in the the revenue collectors to minding the present

state, ushered in unprecedented peace, prosperity and human development.

“We have made agriculture to be more important and assisted farmers to excel in their vocation and banish hunger as we promised during our campaign.

We have invested huge sum in education and our brand new state-of-theart schools are now the reference in quality and standard for others.

“Our social protection programmes like youth engagement and empowerment, women empowerment, care for the aged and care and rehabilitation of the destitute have won laurels and hoisted itself for others to duplicate.

Some Pensioners Are Being Used By Opposition - Comrade Sunmonu for personal aggrandizement, saying, when the idea to lead the committee was advanced to him, many people including his family said he should not accept the offer because the government adopts use and dump strategy.

According to him, he however elected to serve in the committee because of his experience as a former labour leader and in the overall interest of the state.

Human Trafficking Victims'

OIRS Boss Scores Agency High On Transparency

Child Right Law, domesticated in the state which among others stated that “a child must work for the growth and development of his/her family” i.e. assist them in point of need, as this portion has made it impossible to prosecute the matter before law court.

She affirmed that even in some cases when an underage is arrested for street hawking, the same section is being quoted.

He however hinted that child trafficking cases in Osun had reduced to its barest minimum, as cases of ritual killings had scared off the operators who did not want to risk been charged for murder and other grievous crimes which might lead to life sentences.

She stressed that the establishment of NAPTIP office in Osogbo, the war against human trafficking will be won but not without advocacy, sensitization, proper community policing, synergy with NGOS group in the state and blocking the lacuna in the Child Right Law through legislative process, as well as collaboration of the member of the public.

Some Pensioners Are Being Used By Opposition - Comrade Sunmonu .

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{|} ~ {| ~{ ~ {} } ~ {} } Y SEPTEMBER 1 - THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

OSUNDEFENDERwww.osundefender.com

Our Take In Osun

Festus Adedayo’s article, entitled “WAEC results: Of Awo’s mud houses and governor’s model greed” (Sunday Tribune, August 20, 2017) refers.

Let me start by congratulating Adedayo for confessing the roles of “societal ills like fixing of results, hiring pliable invigilators and allied ills” in states’ actual performance in education. At least, rational minds can now understand why Osun prefers year-onyear performance in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results to WAEC rankings for planning purposes.

Again, even if the writer was not bold enough to come clean on the state which, in his reckoning, “towers from behind on WAEC’s score sheets”, I have no doubt in my mind that his ignorance about developments in Osun needs some form of education.

That said, had Adedayo carried out a specific, not generalized evaluation of students’ performance in Nigeria, he most certainly would have realised that the case in hand and a hunchback’s awkward movement are identical. For instance, Rauf Aregbesola came into office as governor when almost all things were dull and ugly. Specifically, our school buildings were in such dilapidated forms that they were only fit for habitation by pests and rodents.

As at 2010, the ‘performance level of students in WAEC’ was a miserable 15.7%. With this sorry state of development, Aregbesola’s administration was of the view that, if our students must go to school at all, there was an urgent need to move from where we were to where we were supposed to be! In other words, and for economic reasons, there was an urgent need for the administration to erect new structures, not only for the moment but also for the future. Of course, that was how it all started!

Interestingly, these interventions have started bearing fruits. For instance, as at 2016, Osun’s performance level in WAEC has risen to 46.3% which is quite a huge jump in the number of students with credit passes in English and Mathematics. A better performance is being keenly expected in 2017. Similarly, Osun has, since 2013, been featuring prominently between the 1st and 3rd positions in the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) matriculable students in Nigeria. Added to these is the higher level of enrollment and retention at the elementary school level which is due,

The Columnist contradicted himself when, in one breath, he likened Rotimi Amaechi’s “structures of primary and secondary schools” to “private universities in the West” while in another, he condemned Aregbesola for erecting “cozy buildings” in Osun!

largely, to the positive impact of the School Feeding programme, known as O’MEAL. The totality of all these interventions has been a consistent increase in school certificate results since 2010. Yes, Osun is not there yet, but with various interventions in the sector, it’s only a matter of time before ‘Halleluiah’ takes the centre stage!

For obvious reasons, Adedayo would remember World Bank’s recommendation of Peter Obi’s “model for Africa and other developing countries” but would easily forget the laurels, commendations, even recommendations garnered by Osun in appreciation of its laudable initiatives, latest of which was the recommendation of its O’MEAL scheme to other Nigerian states by United Nations International and Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF). Was our friend not in Nigeria when WAEC also recommended Osun’s Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) to other states? A case of different strokes?

It is also “poor logic” on his part to have concluded that the learning environment has no bearing on the improvement in performance. On the contrary, if the former is conducive, chances are that the latter will be positively affected. Again, if Adedayo

could condemn Aregbesola’s modest contributions to Nigeria’s education sector, one can only wonder what differentiates him from those “critics” of 1954 who accused Obafemi Awolowo of “opting for ‘substandard’ buildings.” Not only that, if “400,000 pupils turned up” for Awo’s scheme in 1955, “contrary to his projected 175,000”, has he carried out an assessment study of what O’MEAL has done for education in Osun?

The Columnist contradicted himself when, in one breath, he likened Rotimi Amaechi’s “structures of primary and secondary schools” to “private universities in the West” while in another, he condemned Aregbesola for erecting “cozy buildings” in Osun! He also goofed when he brazenly accused “A governor in one of the South West states” of being ”so obsessed with structures that he demolishes old school structures”. We challenge our friend to come real on those schools that were ‘demolished’ and the reasons behind their demolition. To the best of my knowledge, no school was demolished for the building of DTTC Middle School in Ijebu-Jesa; and I doubt if any “old school structure” was removed in Osogbo to pave the way for Osogbo Government High School. On ‘school

uniform’, I believe that has been sufficiently addressed in Bola Bolawole’s column (See Sunday Tribune, August 6, 2017).

Let Adedayo also note that more than 12,000 new teachers were hired in 2012 to replace those who left the service due to their disinterest in the Contributory Pension regime. And, in addition to streamlining and decentralizing the management of education for optimum performance, Aregbesola’s administration has also added 23 Elementary Schools and 22 Middle Schools to the existing structures, while 4 out of 12 High Schools structures - all high-capacity schools - are already in use. More than 40 schools have also been completely refurbished in order to enhance the learning environment. The creation of three tutors-General and the about-to-be-created nine HeadmasterGeneral positions, are aimed at paying sufficient attention to the early-stage development of pupils.

Of course, Adedayo failed to tell Nigerians what the once-rejected Awo’s Free Education went through – even in the West - before it eventually became the cornerstone. He also erred in branding some states as champions in education! For God’s sake, is he aware that Edo and Ekiti states are far behind in the payment of pension allowances and salaries to their teachers?

Lastly, if Adedayo thinks that erection of “cozy structures” or “construction of roads and bridges” are synonymous with making “substantial billions of naira kick-backs”, then, Nigerians are expecting his ‘better ideas’. But who will take our friend through some tutorials in building technology, especially, with regard to the expansion and contraction characteristics of mud which limit its lifespan to a maximum of 40 years?

•KOMOLAFE writes in from IjebuJesa, Osun State (ijebujesa@yahoo.co.uk)

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

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