Osun-Defender February 3rd, 2015 Edition

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VOL. 10. NO.07

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Elections postponement: Senate may summon Jega Ibrahim Gaya, repre-

The Nigerian Senate is set to summon the INEC Chairman Attahiru Jega, when it resumes plenary session on Tuesday, over the sudden postponement of the general elections.

senting Kano North Senatorial District, said in Kano that the legislators were taken unawares by Mr. Jega’s action.

He wondered why INEC would act without prior notice to the Senate, adding that in an ideal democratic setting the notion of

checks and balances must be respected.

“The Senate is resuming on Tuesday and we are going to

appear before us,” he said. “We want to know the rationale behind the postponement and we are going to take action.”

Mr. Gaya also noted that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party had contradicted INEC, saying the reasons behind the postponement Continue on pg6

How PDP’s Plan To Bribe Osun Tribunal With N5bn Failed - See Story On Page 2

More Damaging Revelations On Osun PDP Crisis - Pg 2

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (with mic), addressing a mammoth crowd of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters and members at the party’s Presidential Rally held at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos State, last Friday.

Osun Now A Modern State - Pg 3 - COREN, NSE

No Single Seat Will Be Left For PDP In February Polls - Aregbesola

- See Story On Page 2

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osun Defender Tuesday, February 3, 2015

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How PDP’s Plan To Bribe Osun Tribunal With N5bn Failed There seems to be more troubles for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the State of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, as they were alleged of a failed attempt to bribe the members of the election petition tribunal that just wound down its sitting in the state.

According to an online sources close to the party medium, The Gazelle and the tribunal members News Ng, the party informed that the party, in reportedly dangled a N5 its inordinate bid to clinch billion carrot before the the coveted governorship members of the tribunal, prize, made desperate s h o u l d t h e y d e c l a r e attempts to bribe the Senator Omisore the tribunal members, seeing winner. that its case fell apart The medium further during hearing. stated that reliable

“From the tribunal’s proceeding, the PDP was able to provide witnesses for only seven per cent of the over 900 polling units, where it claimed irregularities had occurred.

“This in essence means that they have failed woefully to prove their case. Even as the forensic experts they called presented contradictory evidence at the tribunal with one going outside his area of assignment.

The medium’s sources

further informed that the Ile-Ife, born politician had given up on the petition, seeing that it is a futile attempt and his reason for going to the tribunal in the first place was that he did not want to lose face before his supporters to whom he had boasted that he would win the governorship election at all cost.

H e h a s h o w e v e r, come under tremendous pressure from Abuja to win the case at all cost

and since the tribunal has to deliver its judgment on or before 10th February, 2015, with a view to fulfilling the mandatory maximum 180 days allowed for petition after election, the game plan in Abuja is that a victory for Omisore shortly before the election would open the door to the South We s t f o r P r e s i d e n t Goodluck Jonathan, who many had predicted, will lose woefully to General Muhammadu Buhari, in the zone , in the February

•A cross section of APC supporters at Oyo State presidential rally last Friday.

More Damaging Revelations On Osun PDP Crisis •Ogunrinade Offers To Broker Peace

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he rumpus in the State of Osun chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is orchestrated by the lingering feud between the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa and the party’s Director of Publicity, Mr Diran Odeyemi, has further done an incalculable damage to the party in the state. where both would have an The intra-PDP crisis, opportunity to state their according to impecable grouse. information at the disposal A source close to the of OSUN DEFENDER, has PDP in the state hinted that polarised the party beyond the peace-making meeting the imagination of members might be counter-productive and leaders of the party in if not properly managed as the state. militant supporters of the The development is so actors might turn the venue worrisome to some leaders to a theatre of war. of the party in the state to Further investigation the extent that they have into the rift showed that resolved to broker a truce apart from the allegation between the two combatants o f e m b e z z l e m e n t o f in the interest of the party. presidential campaign funds To this extent, it was against the chairman by authoritatively learnt in Odeyemi, the chairman is Osogbo during the weekend said to be running the party that some worried chieftains secretariat with autocracy; of the party in the state led by the quality which he has Chief Layi Ogunrinade, have imbibed over the years summoned the combatants as an active player in the to a peace-making meeting leadership of motor parks at Iragberi, Egbedore Local in Osogbo.

Government Council Area It would be recalled that of the state, country home Olaoluwa joined politics o f C h i e f O g u n r i n a d e , from the motor park in

Osogbo some years back and it is lack of or insufficient education that has been working against his political activities.

Many leaders of the PDP in the state who volunteered i n f o r m a t i o n t o O SU N DEFENDER in confidence said it was an insult on the party for someone of Olaoluwa’s calibre to chair the party at the state level.

They submitted that it was only that Odeyemi was hasty in joining issues with Olaoluwa whom they alleged of having used his chairmanship position to unjustfiably heaped insults on them.

The affected chieftains of the party said it was the expected judgment on the governorship election that have been delaying them from taking their own pound of flesh from the controversial chairman of the party.

“Which ever way the judgment of the governorship election at the tribunal goes, one thing that is sure is that

Ganiolaoluwa’s tenure as the state PDP chairman will soon end with ignominy.

“We shall make sure he’s disgraced out of office. It is the measure he gave to us that we shall give him.

Gani’s days as chairman are numbered. The statutory day of the judgment is before or 10th of this month as the lifespan of the petition is 180 days”, the aggrieved PDP members said.

It was further learnt that no other member of the state party’s exco reports at the party secretariat again because of the alleged highhandedness of the chairman while he has unofficially converted one of the exco members into his driver.

Against a belief in some quarters that Olaoluwa as the party chairman was the making of both the defeated PDP candidate in the August 9, 2014 governorship election in the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore and former state governor, Prince Olagunsoye

Oyinlola, who has since joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), Omisore and Oyinlola were said not to be favourably disposed to the arrangement.

It was learnt that Omisore an d O y in lo la in itially frowned at the choice of Olaoluwa as state chairman but had to cave in and supported in kind and cash when it was obvious that Gani’s political aspiration had secure the blessing of the militant arm of the PDP in the state.

Omisore was said to be baffled the more when Olaoluwa told him that he would like to be Chief of Staff in his government before the August 9, 2014 governorship election when he thought the rigging machine of the PDP would make a difference in the state.

14 presidential election.

A new twist to the drama within the PDP in the state is that Omisore and the party chairman in the state, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, are presently not in good terms.

The chairman has been accused by the Omisore camp of misappropriating election funds, while he had in turn expelled Diran Odeyemi, who happens to be an ardent Omisore’s supporter and the party’s Director of Media and Publicity, from the party.

“Olaoluwa has for reason of the feud sworn never to help Omisore again. Abuja therefore, allegedly had to send a high-powered delegation to the tribunal members led by a former minister from the state.

“The delegation was allegedly rebuffed by the tribunal chairman on the ground that Omisore’s case is very bad and that even if she were to grant his prayers that elections be nullified in the 900 polling units he is contesting, Governor Rauf Aregbesola still has more votes to be declared the winner.

“The tribunal chairman further averred that Osun is famous for swallowing corrupt judges and she would not like all the years of service she gave to the Judiciary go down the drain, the medium further stressed.

When the alleged N5 billion offer could not sway the tribunal members, the delegation allegedly offered them a blank cheque but they still refused.

No longer comfortable with the development, the tribunal members then warned the delegation to stop making overtures to them or they would be forced to go public with the story.

Credible sources within the party however informed that the PDP hierarchy has allegedly handed the matter to the state governors of the tribunal members who are from Benue, Niger and Delta states to pressure them into declaring Omisore the winner.

For this reason, the tribunal members allegedly refused to go home for Christmas and the New Year holidays to forestall any unwanted visits to their homes by the chief executives of their respective states.

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Osun Defender Tuesday, February

Nigeria Has Poverty To Show For $35 Billion Oil Revenue Earned Under Jonathan –Aregbesola

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he Governor of e State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Friday accused President Goodluck Jonathan of squandering about $35billion of oil revenue, which accrued to his government since its inception.

Aregbesola was quoted as speaking in Lagos on Friday at the Lagos edition of the presidential rally, which saw the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, General Muhammadu Buhari, his running mate, Prof

Yemi Osinbajo, former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and others reminding the huge crowd that the 16 years of the Peoples

Democratic Party have brought Nigeria to her knees.

Aregbesola, who is also the South-West Coordinator of the Buhari/ Osinbajo campaigns, said it’s either Nigerians wanted misery, poverty, insecurity and other indices of misrule to continue or they want a halt to them.

“The issues involved in the 2015 election are not many at all. It is about sustenance of poverty and abolition of poverty.

If you are interested in being poor, if you are interested in misery, if you are interested in hardship, vote PDP,” Aregbesola, in a release by his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, was quoted as saying.

He continued: “But if you believe there must be an end to poverty; if you believe there must be end to hardship; if you believe that there must be an end to backwardness, the only choice in Nigeria today is APC.” Accusing the Jonathan’s administration of squandering the nation’s wealth, the Osun

•Leader at the State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Timothy Owoeye; Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi LaoyeTomori; State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat and Chief Judge of the State of Osun, Justice (Mrs) Adepele Ojo, during the Inter-religious service for the New Year 2015 held at State Secretariat, Abere, State of Osun, recently.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Osun Now A Modern State - COREN, NSE

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By Francis Ezediuno

he President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Engineer Kashim Ali and his counterpart in the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engineer Ademola Olorunfemi, have commended the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for transforming the state into a modern one, despite paucity of funds from the federation account.

This was the view The NSE President, expressed by the duo Engineer Olorunfemi, during the inauguration of heaped lots of praises on Osogbo Branch of the NSE the governor for the rapid led by its 16th Chairman, development recorded in Engineer Felix Ibitoye, at the state. the dinner in their honour He disclosed that his by the state government relationship with the held at the Government governor had convinced House, Osogbo. him that Aregbesola is a Enginner Alli stated man who is so passionate t h a t A r e g b e s o l a ’ s about human development transformation of the and creation of wealth for s t a t e i n t o a m o d e r n the common man. construction site, with On his part, Ogbeni durable infrastructure Aregbesola stated that he development, despite the was elated to play host low Federal Government to the two presidents of allocation was a miracle. his own profession, but “When I visited Osun in charged the society to 2009, it was a village, but make use of the newlynow, Ogbeni Aregbesola inaugurated Engineering has turned the state into Regulations Monitoring a modern one, which can (ERM) in checking the compete more favourably lapses of the government. with any of its counterparts The governor said in the country. engineers should go “And it is a miracle that beyond practising only this was achieved in spite engineering but must be of the very low allocation more concerned about the state is getting from the t h e i r p e o p l e a n d b e federation account.” focused to make an impact

in the society by alerting the government.

He charged the ERM m e m b e rs t o b e m o r e invloved and concerned with all engineering projects of government and private sector, adding that by so doing, he would join hands with them in achieveing their goals.

Aregbesola also described the Osogbo Branch NSE Chairman as a loyal, dependable and trustworthy, adding that he is a promising child, who needed to be watched closely as a tool

for success.

Also, both the COREN and NSE Presidents eulogised the new chairman for his steadfastness and commitments to the society, who deserved all the encomiums showered on him because he had worked well to attain the position.

In his acceptance speech, the new NSE Osogbo Branch chairman; urged all engineers to support his administration and do away with anything that would not augur well

for the society.

He maintained that a better way to appreciate the present government in the State of Osun and to ensure continued development was to collect the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and vote wisely.

Ibitoye expressed his delight for being identified with the state governor, who was described as a man of clear vision and mission and a believer in action.

governor said: “Under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan, at about average cost of $80 per barrel, Nigeria has earned about $35billion of oil and what have we to show for it? Nothing!

Poverty unemployment, hunger, insecurity, and what have you. That is why we say all the time that it is bye to all these shenanigans.”

The governor also said that the insecurity challenge in the country has robbed Nigeria of a sizeable part of its whole, noting that Jonathan cannot today boast of having under his control, the same size of Nigeria that he inherited some six years ago.

He said: “About six years ago, when President Jonathan inherited the Presidency of Nigeria, Nigeria was a peaceful and united nation. But within the six years of his presidency, a whole chunk of Nigeria is out of Nigeria. Do you want that to continue? When the President came with his name, our better luck became bad luck. APC promises best luck.”

General Buhari, while speaking, assured the supporters and all Nigerians of good governance under his watch. He said the government of the PDP has bled Nigeria to coma, just as he urged all to ensure collection of their voters’ cards.

Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said the issue of Buhari’s ambition and readiness to serve has moved beyond the qualifications dust being raised by the Jonathan campaign organization.

He said, Nigerians have been so battered economically, politically and socially that they no longer want to care about academic qualifications.

Collect Your PVCs, Osun Speaker Tasks Voters

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By kazeem mohammed

peaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, has tasked all eligible men and women of voting age to obtain their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) and go along with the wind of change.

Addressing artisans government council area.

The Speaker, who in Ejigbo, Salaam stressed that the PVC doubles as the Chairman, should be seen as the A P C P r e s i d e n t i a l symbol of the power Campaign Committee, given to an individual Ede Zone, further tasked a s a s t a k e h o l d e r i n the people of the state to determining who governs keep their PVCs away the country, state or local f r o m u n s c r u p u l o u s

politicians, who may want to collect it from them for mischievous reasons.

He then charged all sectors of human endeavors to join the change movement by supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February general elections.

Stressing that the people of the country are tired of the level of under-development, insecurity and corruption

among other menace under the present Federal Government, he said there is need to effect the desired change at the election.

The Speaker, who added that nothing is working any longer in the country, said the Buhari/Osinbajo ticket is a perfect match to build a new system for the country.

He further added that to save Nigeria from imminet collapse, there

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osun Defender Tuesday, February

Ex-commissioner Urges Ifedayo Voters To Support APC

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s the Ila Federal Constituency chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign train berthed in Ifedayo Local Government Area of the State of Osun, former State of Osun Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sunday Akere, has urged the teeming populace to join the call of the party to change Nigeria the better.

He said the APC is While presenting the party’s House of Assembly the only alternative that candidate for Ifedayo is ready to bring about S t a t e C o n s t i t u e n c y, the necessary change H o n o u r a b l e A z z e z Nigerians require and Musibau Olarenwaju give the people not just (MOFA), to the residents hope for a better future at Ora-Igbomina and but also deliver dividends Oke-Ila, he urged the of democracy for the electorate to vote for the highest majority of the APC in the forthcoming populace. general elections later in “If you vote APC the month. massively in this general The immediate-past elections, I can assure you commissioner disclosed that an APC-led Federal that the party is out to G o v e r n m e n t w o u l d wrestle power from the make life more abundant PDP in a bid to make life through formulation more abundant for the and implementation of teeming populace across people-oriented policies. the country.

He assured the masses

that no APC candidate would fail to perform his duty when elected, saying the party has the machinery to ensure that every public office holder is held accountable for all his actions and inactions.

Akere also told party faithful in the Federal

constituency to ensure that they work hard to mobilise and educate more people much more than they did in the buildup to the August 9, 2014 governorship poll in the state in which the party emerged victorious.

He commended the

effort of the people of the area for the support they always give the state government and the party, calling on opinion leaders in the area to rally round the APC in its bid to build a Nigerian that everyone would be proud of.

Some of the community

leaders, while assuring the APC campaign train of their usual support, disclosed that they all believe it is time everyone worked together towards changing the story of Nigeria positively.

OPU Gives Scholarship To Students

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By ismaeel uthman

he umbrella body of the sons and daughters of Osogbo origin, Osogbo Progressive Union The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); his wife, Sherifat; Members, Kwara State House (OPU), started the New Year on a bright note, of Assembly, Honourable Tope Olayonu (left) and Honourable Hassan Oyeleke (right), during a courtesy visit to the as the union’s branch in the United States of America Governor in Osogbo, State of Osun, recently. held its scholarship awards for the 2014/2015 academic year.

Tw e l v e i n d i g e n o u s scholarship awards would s t u d e n t s o f O s o g b o continue to be an annual i n d i f f e r e n t t e r t i a r y responsibility of the OPU, institutions in Nigeria were as long as the students given scholarship awards. continue to study hard to Speaking at the event merit the award and at the The Speaker stressed: t e n s i o n a m o n g t h e By kazeem mohammed held at the Osogbo Town same time train themselves to international standard.

“Information reaching people of the state, as Hall, Osogbo, State The Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, m e i n E j i g b o , m y the development at the on behalf of o f O s u n , t h e u n i o n ’s theSpeaking beneficiaries, Ajala Worldwide President, Dr Babatunde, a student in the Honourable Najeem Salaam, has warned home town, is that a tribunal does not give Rasaki Siyanbola, asked Department of Computer politicians against unguarded statements, use governorship candidate, him any edge at all. the beneficiaries to see their Engineering, Obafemi of lies and tension-generating antics to drive w h o l o s t t h e l a s t “As political leaders, inclusion as an opportunity Aw o l o w o U n i v e r s i t y electioneering campaigns. we must be cautious of governorship election, to excel in their studies.

(OAU), expressed their draw nearer.

In a statement by his unguarded statements c a m e t o t o w n a n d Siyanbola expressed gratitude to the gesture and He cited the alleged Press Secretary, Mr. o r f a b r i c a ted lies, dropped a hint that the hope that the beneficiaries promised not to disappoint would assist the future Osogbo and the State of Goke Butika, Salaam confusion of the people judgment of the tribunal orchestrated to sweetsaid it was imperative of the state by the Peoples had been given to him, t a l k t h e g u l l i b l e generations after they may Osun. have succeeded.

The 215 OPU scholarship to warn against the Democratic Party (PDP) when the tribunal is still followers, so as not to The former Nigeria forms would be available unacceptable political “with outright falsehood on adjournment. set the state on avoidable Ambass ador enjoined as from June, 2015 at the norms of the opposition about the yet-to-becrisis,” he noted.

“The statement was the students not to get Secretariat of the union in determined verdict of the that could fan the ember The Speaker further nothing but a mere distracted by the social Osogbo. of discord, especially governorship election falsehood, aimed at noted that the priceless media but rather face their as the general elections petition tribunal.” creating unnecessary achievement of the studies.

He called on all town current peace in Osun unions in the state to should not be traded support the Aregbesola away for any reason. he entire people of Ilesa-West Local even Governor Rauf recipients who confided in administration in its quest He said investment, Government Council Area of the State of Aregbesola’s campaign our reporter confirmed that to improve the quality of i n frastructural Osun trooped out over the weekend to show rally drew a massive crowd the PDP apostles brought education in the state.

I n h i s a d d r e s s , t h e their unflinching support for the Buhari/Osinbajo as witnessed today, noting rice and N2,000 for him as development and other President of the OPU, as President and Vice President in the February 14 that the Ijesas belong to tokens, pledging that more social benefits could USA chapter, Mr Yekini general elections. the Progressives right rice and money would still only be achieved in a Opawoye, who was peaceful atmosphere.

The more than 200,000 crowd began their walk- from the era of the late be shared next week. represented by Alhaji rally as early as 6am voice was emotionally Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

The top lawmaker “I have received my M u n i r u d e e n A m z a t , chanting “Buhari lo le laden that the change is then asked the people In another development, own share of the national promised that the union se , meaning only Buhari already visible, adding of the state to ignore any bad habit they say, die hard. cake.

I am a progressivewould in the current year, can do it, with both aged that God is truly repeating The Peoples Democratic minded person, nobody politician with divisive jerk up the scholarship award fee and increase the men and women walking what He did to the people Party in Ilesa has started can change; my mind. I tendency, whose stockthe major streets in the of Samaria in Nigeria. number of beneficiaries. going from house to house am only waiting for the in-trade is falsehood, “God is in Nigeria now to woo voters with rice second round. I know who noting that the news Opawoye stated that local government council the beneficiaries were the right from the party’s until after the elections and money, urging the I will vote for”, he added. media and democratic most brilliant among the 70 secretariat at Isokun. because He has never done innocent people to vote standard practice have students that participated One of the octogenarian His work and abandon it massively for Goodluck shut out unscrupulous in the scholarship tests and members of the APC, Pa. half-way,” he said. lying politicians.

Jonathan. screening.

He added that not However, one of the He maintained that the Femi Olatunbosun, whose

Osun Speaker Warns Against Lies On Tribunal Proceedings

Buhari-Osinbajo: Ijesa People Pledge Support

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No Single Seat Will Be Left For PDP In February Polls - Aregbesola •As Governor Leads APC Candidates To Communities

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ov e r no r o f O s u n , O g b e n i R a u f we maintain a clean slate party will achieve more, Aregbesola, has said just as his party, the in the coming presidential i f w e h a v e q u a l i t y All Progressives Congress (APC) dealt with and legislative elections. representations in our “We are confident that state House of Assembly the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2011 state and National Assembly polls, no single seat would with all we have done in the and the Federal Houses of be left for the opposition in the February elections last four years, which to us Representatives and the is just a tip of the iceberg, Senate. in the state.

He said: “I want to use contrary to insinuations Aregbesola stated “To this end, we implore t h i s a t t h e I w o this opportunity to thank that work has stopped, the some of us, who have not Federal Constituency you for standing behind state will begin to witness collected their Permanent electioneering campaign, us during the last August completion of all ongoing Voters’ Cards (PVC) to projects and introduction do so.” where the governor began 9 governorship election.

“We have again come o f n e w o n e s , w h e r e his campaigns for all He averred that the the candidates standing back to solicit for your necessary.

February 14 and 28 “The state and the elections are as significant for elections in all the support in ensuring that senatorial districts, federal and state constituencies in the state at the weekend. conceding that the petitioner The campaign tour took

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED established cases of nonAregbesola to Iwo, Ola he State of Osun chapter of the All Progressives compliance in all the 914 Oluwa and Ayedire Local Congress (APC) has alerted the people of the state polling units for which the Governments Council not to allow the Peoples Democratic Party petitioners tendered forms Areas, which form the (PDP) create mayhem by spreading falsehood over the EC8A, Aregbesola would federal constituency. phantom victory of its governorship candidate, Senator still have won the election He told the huge crowds Iyiola Omisore, at the election petition tribunal. with 234,791 lawful votes that came out at Iwo A s t a t e m e n t b y t h e p o i n t e d o u t i n t h e i r as against the Omisore’s Ogbagba, Telemu Ile Ogbo Director of Research and 219,189. and Oluponna that the Publicity, Barrister Kunle presentation, even if it “This was the simple Yoruba people never have Oyatomi, said if the PDP were assumed without statement of law that the anything in common with could not win an election anti-progressive political through the ballot box, there parties. is no way its lies can make He stated that Yoruba the party victorious through p e o p l e h a v e a l w a y s the tribunal, as the court pitched their tents with deals in law not in lies.

Oyatomi said the PDP the progressives since the and its agents were only First Republic.

The governor noted that luxuriating in falsehood for sixteen odd years under and making themselves a laughing stock when the Peoples Democratic they led ignorant and illParty (PDP), Nigeria i n f o r m e d m e m b e r s o f has not gained anything their party into the street meaningful and enduring. jubilation over a phantom He enjoined voters in the victory. local government areas and “As we speak, some the whole state to vote for people still live in the all the candidates of APC illusion that Omisore has been declared winner across board.

He therefore urged the of last August 9, 2014 people of the Osun West governorship election. They Senatorial District to vote claimed that this victory was Senator Isiaka Adeleke earned from the so-called (Senate), Abdulgahafar judgment of the tribunal. “ T h e t r i b u n a l h a s •Prince GBOYEGA FAMODUN, Osun APC Chair Amere (Federal House not given judgment on of Representatives) and Omisore’s petition. That Honourables Akinloye case has been adjourned Ajibola (Osun House of indefinitely. No time has Assembly in Ola Oluwa; yet been fixed for judgment.

Leke Ogunshola for “The fact of the matter Aiyedire and Abdulahi was that the PDP virtually Gbadebo for Iwo State abandoned its case at the By ismaeel uthman C o n s t i t u e n c i e s ) f o r tribunal. First, the party chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party ( qualitative representation boasted that it had over PDP), Alhaji Tunde Sanusi has described the 1,000 witnesses to support and good governance. call for postponement of the forthcoming its petition, but when Aregbesola emphasised general elections as a mock of democracy and a that the victory of August proceedings began in court, mere threat.

9, 2014 governorship the witnesses shrank to Sanusi, who said those Commission ( INEC) has e l e c t i o n i n t h e s t a t e 500 and by the end of their presentation, they called calling for the extension not come out to say it is would be boosted with only 43 witnesses. of the election date are not ready for the election, the party securing all the “Besides, the PDP was afraid of the fear of the there is no point in calling seats available both in challenging the results in upper, lower and the state 142 wards and 939 polling unknown, stated that there for the postponement of was no justifiable reason the election. legislative chambers. units, but they failed to to postpone the muchH e s a i d : “ I d o n ’t He urged the people to produce any evidence awaited elections. s u bscribe to the also vote massively for whatsoever in 116 of the 142 Speaking with OSUN postponement of the the presidential candidate wards, and 709 out of the DEFE N DER i n a coming general elections of the APC, General 939 voting units in which telephone interview on and I want to say PDP Muhammadu Buhari come the party was challenging Sunday, the politician does not want the coming the election result.

February 14 election. dissociated himself and elections to be shifted. We “ H o w c o u l d a n y Aregbesola held that the the PDP from the calls for don’t have any reason to much needed change that serious person or party the shifting of the election extend the elections.

Nigerians are clamouring expect victory having so dates.

“If it is only two million significantly abandoned for can only be achieved Sanusi maintained that people that have collected the case? when a progressive party “As defence lawyers since the Independent their voters’ cards, we like the APC is in power. of the respondents clearly N a t i o n a l E l e c t o r a l need to go ahead with

as that of August 9 governorship election in the state.

He added that with the APC controlling the central government, Nigeria will witness allround development and positive turnaround of the nation’s lost glory.

Notable among candidates and aides of the governor from the area who accompanied the governor on the tour

of the federal constituency were Adeleke, Amere, Secretary to the State Government Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, former Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state, Mrs. Mofolake Adegboyega, Director Bureau of Communication and S t r a t e g y, M r. S e m i u Okanlawon.

All the elective positions in the federal constituency are currently occupied by members of the APC.

Osun APC Jabs PDP Over Omisore’s ‘Fanthom Victory’

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PDP latched on and ran amok into the streets screaming in jubilation that Aregbesola had conceded victory. It was one of the most amusing demonstrations of crass ignorance that the PDP and its supporters had demonstrated in recent times.

“Besides being a sheer waste of the court’s time,

defence lawyers pointed out that most of the evidence given by the 43 witnesses of the PDP proved nothing in support of the petitioner’s case. Under cross examination, the witnesses were incoherent and most of the time absurd.

“Indeed, when two of the witnesses presumed to be experts admitted to false entries and misleading information in their report presented to the Tribunal, the case of the PDP virtually fell apart. So it was baffling what sort of brain wave could have incited supporters and leaders of the PDP into the streets, jubilating that Omisore had won his petition at the tribunal.

“The APC is not disturbed by the fallacies of the PDP, but when these lies threaten the peace, as they did during the silly jubilation of the PDP on the streets of Osogbo and elsewhere, it becomes a security threat, which must be nipped in the bud,” the APC statement read.

Call For Elections Postponement Is A Mock Of Democracy - PDP Chieftain

A

the elections. The fact is that those calling for the election postponement are running away from the fear of the unknown.

“Calling for the election extension is a mock of Nigerian democracy and a mere threat. We don’t have problem in Nigeria, we only create problem for ourselves. We always run away from nothing.

“If they say some people have not collected their voters’ cards and therefore, the election should be postponed, that is irrational. Who are those people that have not collected their PVCs? They are those people that were imported from other places to register in a particular unit. Now

that those people are not available, there is nobody to collect their PVCs. “The number of PVCs that have been collected is enough for the election.

So, why do we want to postpone the elections?

There is no justification for it. Let me say again that PDP wants the election to hold on February 14 and 28.”

According to Sanusi, Nigerians have waited patiently for the election days to come, and they are ready to actively and massive exercise their civic right of voting the candidates of their choice for the various election offices.

He therefore called on Nigerians to reject the election postponement call and conduct themselves peacefully on the election

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osun Defender Tuesday, February

Elections postponement: Senate may summon Jega

continued from pg1

was logistics and not security as Mr. Jega claimed.

M r. G a y a s a i d , however, no amount of postponing would stop his party, the A l l P ro g re s s i v e s Congress, from winning the presidential election.

“Even if the election is

going to be postponed one thousand times, nothing would stop the victory of the APC,” he said. “We are ready to call the bluff of anyone behind the gimmick.

We are going to win the elections from top to bottom because the electorate are fed up with a lame-duck presidency.”

He also noted that the postponement had diminished INEC’s credibility towards

organising the elections. task of defending the territorial integrity of He said since INEC the country. had lost its grip as an impartial arbiter, H e c a l l e d o n t h e Mr. Jega would be people of Kano South s u m m o n e d b y t h e Senatorial District Senate to explain its to exercise restraint, role in effecting the saying victory was on decision to shift the the side of the APC. elections.

According to him, it was not the responsibility of the military to interfere in the nation’s electoral process as the military is saddled with the

Call For The Erection Of Awolowo’s Statue

My choice of your medium for airing these opinions of mine is hinged on your progressive stance, evidenced in your view on issues of societal significance.

I trust that whatever view I communicate shall be accorded a space in your highly reputable and widely-read newspaper.

Permit me a little time and space to comment briefly on your auspicious role played in making frantic efforts at correcting the numerous and multifarious ills, odds and malaise plaguing our existence and collectivity.

I urge you to forge ahead in your role aimed at bettering the lots of the society and its residents; most especially, making a better place for the upcoming generation. The patriots are solidly behind you and by the grace of God, your untiring efforts shall fruitionize in transforming the society into the enviable status of a free, just and egalitarian society of the dreams of our forebears. I wish greater grace to your elbows.

The efforts of the incumbent administration at improving the status, quality and pedigree of infrastructure of the State of Osun in its entirety since its assumption of office have caught my attention. Most especially in this regard, the infrastructural rebirth ongoing within the metropolis of Osogbo,

the state capital under the aegis of the State of Osun Urban Renewal Project is worthy of commendation. The project has come under serious appraisal by well-meaning indigenes and residents as well as visitors and passers-by who spared no means to drum support and accolades for the development which have been adjudged unprecedented in the annals of the state.

Prior to the creation of the State of Osun in 1991, much effort had been made to change

the outlook and rating of Osogbo among its equals in Nigeria and yonder. Unfortunately, much of these efforts and attempts were either too spurious or superficial, hence, they lacked the necessary will-power to get them through, As a matter of fact, none of the efforts made so far had been as proactive and resolute as those made by the incumbent administration.

Following the demise in 1987 of our political giant, father and legend, Chief Jeremiah Oyeniyi Obafemi Awolowo, the stretch

of main road entering the city from Ikirun axis at Stadium / Omo West end, through the Onisekere / Ayetoro Junction to somewhere at Boorepo / Igbonna area was named as Obafemi Awolowo Way as mark of honour to immortalize the name and legacy of the social avatar.

Thank God that in spite of various bouts of socio-political storms and billows which the state has witnessed within the space of its almost twenty-

three years of existence, nothing has occurred to alter this arrangement. As far as our state capital is concerned, the sage lives on. The naming of that stretch of our major road was so effected in those days of our existence as part of the old Oyo State by the military administration of the time. This was against the backdrop that military regimes were notorious for their anti-democratic postures! As a people, we shall forever remain grateful for that right step taken in the right

direction.

Deserving of greater measures of gratitude is the recent development being witnessed on that entire expanse of road which is currently undergoing total reconstruction towards its Ikirun / Ila-Odo / Erin-Ile / Kwara State Boundary and the Old Garage / City Centre of the metropolis.

The reconstruction initiative, among other things include widening of the road, its dualization, the building of elaborate street divide, defining of set-backs as statutorily appropriate and provision of street lights. Other measures include provision of welldefined drainage channels, construction of junction links and traffic-friendly U-turn points, clear markings for the road and proper and adequate provisions for pedestrians on the road.

•Lanre Siyanbola, Oja Timi Area, Ede, State of Osun.

OSUN DEFENDER

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ISSN: 0794-8050 Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205 Website: www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com

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Good Governance osun Defender Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Aregbesola’s Second Coming:

Fresh Tenure Well Deserved! (V)

In further pursuance of the series in vogue, NIYI OLASINDE advances discussion on the many positive impacts of the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration in various sectors and sub-sectors of life during the first tenure it spent in office. The effort so far shall set a formidable background for capturing expectations, hopes and desires for the second tenure.

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (right), taking the oath of office. With him are his wife, Sherifat (2nd right); Barrister Wale Afolabi (2nd left); the Chief Judge of the State of Osun, Justice Adepele Ojo (left) and one of the governor’s sons during the inauguration recently.

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Fresh Tenure Well Deserved! (V)

•(L-R) Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; wife of the governor, State of Osun, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola; Kwara State Governor Abdul-Fatai Hammed; State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his counterpart from Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, at the inauguration venue.

· Continued from last week.

THERE are other road projects currently going on in the State of Osun. Within the metropolis of Osogbo the state capital alone, practically all the inner access roads have been reconstructed. These roads are damn too numerous to mention. Of recent, the East Bypass, stretching from Ido-Osun end, through Ilesa Garage end; bursting out at Ikirun road had its contract work awarded and work has commenced in earnest. This is not to talk of the work that is ongoing at the Old Garage Area of Osogbo, which, apart from being a work of beautification, is intended to make that heart of the city more spacious, healthy and more befitting.

The West Bypass, popularly referred to as Ring Road, constructed by the Alliance for Democracy (AD)-led administration in the state is currently witnessing a facelift.

Judging from the way things are as at date with regards to road infrastructure in the State of Osun, it is fast becoming easier for any traveller to cover any part of the state with absolute ease within a day. From Osogbo, the state capital for instance, it is more of a reality than possibility to make it to and fro to any part of the state with all convenience. It is fully appreciated the degree of administrative convenience this development shall contribute to governance and other productive activities in the state. In a nutshell, the first citizen of our dear state, Ogbeni Aregbesola has actually matched his words with action. Upon his assumption of office, Aregbesola promised to take road infrastructure transformation throughout the state as a matter of urgent and utmost priority.

At a point in time, he even said that with him on the seat of governance, the State of Osun has been privileged to have Ona Baba Ona, meaning “road that surpasses road”. Today, this promise has nearly completely matured

into a fully accomplished mission.

One more point to stress before moving to the next point is the fact that Aregbesola’s antecedents are clearly speaking for him.

Readers are here reminded that the same enigma it was who played prominent roles in road transformation in his days as Commissioner for Road Infrastructure in cosmopolitan Lagos State during the tenure of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Governor of that state. It is therefore important to draw attention to how important it is to always consider the antecedents of aspirants before entrusting the task of leadership and governance in their hands. Through his this present outing in the State of Osun, Aregbesola has not disappointed the good people of the state who voted massively for him at the Gubernatorial Polls of April 14, 2007. It is certain that entrusting the task into his hands for a repeated term in office shall not be tantamount to disappointing destiny.

This feat has been copiously displayed all over again in the August 9 2014 Gubernatorial Polls which returned the governor into office.

IN like to the foregoing are the efforts so far made by the administration of the day in the area of Environment and Sanitation now beg for our attention and searchlight. There is no time that OSUN DEFENDER Magazine would write about this sub-sector that the pains and agony of the past years of the massive flooding terrains and their attendant enormous loss of lives and property will not reverberate in our memory. As the years of the immediate past administration in office wore on, the dastardly and horrendous effects of environmental degradation, environmental pollution, water pollution and contamination, indiscriminate waste disposal, water erosion and flooding became more and more

devastating. This became worse and worse to the extent that –practically all places within the state capital – drains and gutters, street/ road divides, major streets and junctions; not to talk of banks and beds of rivers, streams and springs became refuse dumping sites in those dark years.

As the years rolled by, the people of the entire state were reeling and languishing under the full negative effects of unkempt environment improper waste disposal and lack of drainage channelization. Of all towns, cities and settlements in the state, Osogbo, the state capital was the worst-0hit by the menace of degradation and flooding and the leftovers of their attendant after-effects. In those days, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine never relented in drawing attention to many untoward situations which portended threats of grave epidemics and other health hazards for citizens. We used to draw prompt attention to incidences of pollution emanating from hospital mortuary morgues which were inadvertently kept; decomposing animal carcasses and human corpses on our roads; refuse heaps which constituted eyesore and offensive stenches at vantage places even within the state capital; and the devastation effects of water erosion and flooding on our communities. These did not exclude the devastating effects of wind erosion and rainstorms which annually removed roofs and rafters of residential houses and structures of institutions in the state. In some cases, what we had was a complete pull-down of structures that had been weakened cumulatively due to poor maintenance culture.

Enough talks had been held; while vibrant debates had also been made in the past concerning what horrible fates befell the huge provisions coming from the Federation Accounts to our state in form of Ecological Continued on page 9

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Fresh Tenure Well Deserved! (V)

•Another calisthenics display of ‘GOV BY GOD’S POWER’ during the Governor Aregbesola’s second term inuaguration.

Continued from page 8

Funds during the Oyinlola years of fiery siege. These enormous sums of funds, cumulatively summing up to several tens of billions of naira were released to states and local government councils as second and third tiers of government respectively to prevent, mitigate and remedy the devastating effects of natural disasters within their territories of governance. Unfortunately all the monies went elsewhere, suspiciously, into the private coffers of some mighty men in power in those days; and got committed to causes for which they were least intended by the releasing authorities at the federal level of governance.

As clearly demonstrated earlier, the ugly effects of environmental degradation, pollution, indiscriminate waste disposal, water contamination and water erosion/ flooding became more pronounced as the Oyinlola administration progressed in office. In year 2009, the state and its people reeled helplessly under the destructive yoke of erosion and flooding. The flooding incident of July 10, 2010 was the climax for the state in entirety and for Osogbo in particular. It also sang the Nunc Dimittis for the Oyinlola administration and that of the local administration in the town. The Ataoja of Osogbo of the tome, Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi II joined his ancestors barely a month after that flood wreckage; precisely on August 5, 2010; while an end came to the seemingly-endless Oyinlola siege barely five months later, precisely on November 27, 2010. Honestly, had an end not come to that administration in our state; what remained of it as at 2010 would have been completely washed away by the rains of 2011 and the supposed Gubernatorial Elections of that same year! By the time of turning around of captivity in November 2010, both threats had their mouths agape; with their venomous

fangs outstretched; ready to devour the state and its people; thus bringing the corporate existence of the state into total annihilation and extinction. But God had not designed the state and its people for the gastronomical intents of these devouring spirits. That is why our salvation came in the fullness of time!

Thank God for His saving grace!

One of the very first areas of priority attention of the Aregbesola administration upon its coming on board the saddle of governance in the State of Osun was the Environment and Sanitation Sub-Sector of our economy. Since that very first effort made by the administration in that direction; it has so far not relented; neither has its strength and means abated. Governor Aregbesola has clearly demonstrated his avowed determination to rid the State of Osun of dirt and filth. Not only that, he has shown that he has all it takes in terms of knowledge and wherewithal to convert our weaknesses into strengths; and convert our threats into opportunities by making the state prosperous – even by turning waste into wealth. This last feat has been record3ed recently by the administration through the launch of the O’Clean Plus.

The earlier intervention efforts in the direction of purging the state of dirt, filth and horrible sites kick-started when Governor Aregbesola in February 2011, barely three months into his career in the governance of the state, declared a 90-day emergency in the Environment and Sanitation Sub-Sector. Alongside this, the State of Osun Environmental Sanitation Scheme, nicknamed O’Clean was rolled out. Much earlier, as early as the first week of December 2010, call had been made to young, vibrant, unemployed, yet interested residents of the state who were either university graduates or polytechnic Higher National Diploma holders to apply free online for employment

into the Osun Youth Employment Scheme, known for short as OYES. The response was impressive, and the strides made so far in that sub-sector is reserved fie another segment of this report. All that needs be said in passing here concerning the OYES programme is that the first major area of its impact; apart from youth empowerment and employment generation has been the area of Environmental Sanitation, beautification, crowd and traffic control, ambulance and rescue operations as well as paramedics. Thus the OYES programme of the Aregbesola administration has impacted well on the health and sanitation needs of residents of the State of Osun; so much that the OYES and the O’Clean intervention efforts have become the envy of other states in the federation, as well as the Federal Government and other interest groups like the international communities and organizations such as the United Nations and its World Bank.

The first 90-day of emergency in the Environment and Sanitation Sub-Sector of the State of Osun having been completed, the sanitation efforts were not given up; neither were they relaxed. Up till the time of filing this report, a mandatory bi-monthly environmental sanitation exercise is being observed throughout the length and breadth of the state; and this has so positively impacted the sanitation and health needs of the state that Osun has become the land of healthy citizens where all threats of deadly epidemics have been made not only to lose their grip but also to disappear for good and all!

Apart from the regular general mandatory bi-monthly environmental sanitation exercise being observed throughout the State of Osun, there are other types of similar exercises earmarked for other categories of people on weekly basis. For instance, the civil servants and offices have theirs on Wednesdays; the Continued on page 10

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osun Defender Tuesday, February

Fresh Tenure Well Deserved! (V)

•Calisthenics displaying of ‘WELCOME’ at the event.

Continued from page 10

traders, artisans and ship-owners have theirs on Thursdays, while commercial motorists and motor parks hold theirs on Fridays – all between the hours of 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m.

Also, that of bi-monthly general sanitation also holds on second and fourth (last) Saturdays of every month, between the hours of 7.00 a.m. and 10.00 a.m.

Since the rolling out of the sanitation exercises in the State of Osun; the efforts and the O’Clean outfit have so far impacted so positively that asserting that the people have internalized the virtue of cleanliness is stating the obvious. The Government Unusual in its own part has been doing things that are unusual in the usual way! Vehicles, equipment and waste disposal vans were procured to facilitate the work, while townspeople across the state are made to embrace the practice of dropping their refuse at accredited points and centres in order to make their lifting much easier. Also, Central dumping sites have been so located at town and city outskirts that they could not constitute any threat of pollution to residents Also upon the recent launch of O’Clean Plus, an obvious downward extension of the initially-launched broad O’Clean intervention; it is clear that not all the waste materials that are combustible shall be set on fire, as some of them shall be used to generate some alternative sources of energy for household use. This, as said earlier on, is a source of wealth to the State of Osun.

It is highly imperative to point out that the achievements of the incumbent administration in the state in this area have been highly illustrious and impressive. Up till date, the impact of the administration is being felt to the extent that the State of Osun has risen to become the envy of other states in the federation. Any part of the state being visited

speaks of changed value system from the ugly horrible sights of the past to a new, wellrebranded land of beauty and high aesthetic value. This measure is well taken as a means of backward integration; so that through our collective carefulness and vigilance, we can take our destinies into our own hands and forestall the occurrence of avoidable diseases.

This trend has been achieved. We shall at this juncture do justice to a careful analysis of the achievements of the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in other remaining sectors and sub-sectors of the life of the state. It is the consummate attainment of this that OSUN DEFENDER Magazine is now committed.

IN the area of Women and Children Affairs cum Social Development, the Government Unusual has done so well that we can boldly assert that the best so far has begun to be witnessed in the sub-sector.

We place it in record that in recognition of the vital role played in the development and future greatness of our society that Ogbeni Aregbesola in the presentation of the Appropriation Bill Estimate for the year 2013 before the honourable members of the State of Osun House of Assembly, announced the creation of a new ministry with the branding and nomenclature of Ministry of Children and Women Affairs. The inclusion of children in particular indicates that new imprints are about to be left in the sands of time and governance of the state. This trend has begun to be set, not only in name but also in action and programmes. We shall make this crystal clear in due course of time.

The role of and commitment of the incumbent administration in and to the issue of women development have been prominently visible since its coming on board the parlances of governance in the state.

Various programmes and supportive schemes

have been put in place to organize women into groups with a view to training them and empower them so as to enhance their liberation by reducing their overdependence on then male gender. This feat was recorded through a collaborative, coordinated effort between the two tiers of government visibly on ground within the confines of the state, i.e. the State Government and the grassroots administration called the local government.

Various efforts subsist through which the administration of the day has empowered women, housewives in particular. We place on record various training programmes for widows, puddahs and other groups. Also, professional groups like market women have not been ignored in terms of their needs and requirements that could boost their activities, welfare and prosperity.

Also in this regard, we place on record how the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola has organized and held for the very first time ever, the O’odua World Children’s Day; which was an attempt at the unification of all the Yoruba race scattered all over the place – within Nigeria and yonder, that is, in West Africa, the rest of Africa, Asia, West Indies (the Caribbean), the United States of America, South America and all the rest.

At the programme, we had in attendance contingents from nine good states of the federation, which included the following Yoruba-speaking states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Edo and Delta.

Added to these is the tenth, which is the host state, the State of Osun.

Going by the information provided above, the programme was a huge success, as it turned out to be not only a convergence for the children and youth but for adults of all classes, cadres, classes and caste. The greatest achievement of all in the intrinsic quality of Contiuned on page 12

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Fresh Tenure Well Deserved! (V) Continued from page 11

that programme is the forum it provided for two frontline traditional rulers in Yorubaland, regarded to be at swords drawn since time immemorial, to sit together and relate as offspring of the same forebears and leaders of the single largest ethnic group among the black race. The Aregbesola administration shall eternally win medals for this feat of acting as a unifying force for the Yoruba race.

It has this to its eternal credit.

We shall now dwell briefly on the aspect touching on Social Development, Youths and Sports sub-sector of the whole heading under consideration; particularly, in the sphere of social welfare. Much has been achieved by the administration of Ogbeni since its inception over thirty months ago. In April 2011, the Government of the State of Osun under the dynamic leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola spearheaded the eviction of the state indigenes that were stacked in the war-ravaged Cote d’Ivoire. The cocoa-rich West African country had been war-ravaged for sometime over the sit-tight syndrome exercised by its past leader, Laurent Gbagbo and his blatant, brazen refusal to honour the collective voice and wish of the citizens who overwhelmingly voted for his opponent, Alhassan Quattara in a free, fair and credible general election.

The evicted indigenes, comprising mainly indigenes of Iwo and Ejigbo local government councils of the state were not just evicted but well settled home with donations of money, food items and other materials by the Government of the State. In addition to these good gestures; the respective local government councils complemented by giving their own support too. These gestures were clear demonstration that the people had a government of their own, which had the disposition to guarantee and protect their welfare, well-being and prosperity.

Similar to this was the rescue mission embarked upon by the Government of the State to Bauchi State following the postPresidential Elections violence which erupted there also in April 2011. The mission of the rescue team was to search for, find and evict the state’s indigenes from the state that had suddenly become heated up with violence and pandemonium, following the announcements of the results of the Presidential Elections held nationwide that April 2011. The mission was successful as the state’s indigenes, consisting mainly of residents who took sojourn there and youth corps members on national assignment were evicted home in droves.

Regrettably, the State of Osun had its own share of loss of lives which came attendant to the crisis. Two of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were killed in the mayhem hailed from the State of Osun.

As luck would have it, the duo even hailed from the same town of Gbongan in Ayedaade Local Government Council Area of the state.

The way the Government of the State of Osun intervened and identified with the bereaved families, communities and entire people by according the two fallen youths befitting burials and giving support and succor to the families showed a government which places premium on the life, well-being and welfare of its citizens. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine is of the opinion that the blown on the state would have been deadlier, heavier and more fatal if government intervention had not been forthcoming at all; more so, if it had not been timely enough.

In early October 2011, the State of Osun School of Special Needs, located at Powerline Area of Osogbo, the state capital, received a philanthropist gesture from the government of the state when Pharmacist Israel Oyagbile, representing the State Governor delivered consumables and gift items to the students of the school. The items such donated included

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola acknowlwdging cheers to his supporters during the inauguration recently.

bags of rice, clothing materials and jerry cans of vegetable oil. The gesture, it was further revealed, was part of the demonstration of the determination of the Government of the State to distribute dividends of democracy evenly throughout the state; class, caste, and state in life notwithstanding.

In a similar vein, local government councils in the state have been in the business of taking turns to cater to the social need of the people in their domains. Our terrain is replete with examples of these gestures. In a nutshell, our thirty local government council areas and the Ife East Area Office have always complemented the efforts of the incumbent administration by taking up the bull by the horns in arresting the challenges of taking care of the elderly in the council areas’ domains.

OSUN DEFENDER Magazine tarries here to document the effort of the administration in putting smiles on the faces of the old and elderly. This initiative in particular is commendable. The care of the elderly in the society is vital; as most of those who constitute the class of elderly must have one time or the other, taken active participation in the building of the society. Giving back to this class of senior citizens in their declining years cannot constitute giving too much.

Today, a great number of old and elderly citizens in the state; the poor and indigent in particular is receiving monthly stipends from the government of the day. This care of the old and elderly includes the health and medical care, and it goes a long way to reduce unceremonious deaths, dependency and senility of the old.

WATER resources are a vital sub-sector in the Regional Planning and Environmental Development Sector of the state’s economy. In the year 2012, the Annual Capital Expenditure Continued on page 13

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Fresh Tenure Well Deserved! (V) Continued from page 11

for this sub-sector was Five-Hundred and Fifty-Five Million, One-Hundred and Six Thousand, Five-Hundred and Ninety-Five Naira, Twenty-Six Kobo (N555, 106,595.26).

In full recognition of the importance of good potable water to forestall and combat outbreak of ailments, diseases and epidemics, the incumbent administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola did in the year 2011 earmark and actually committed a whooping sum of Two Billion, Two-Hundred and FiftyFour Million, Five-Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Four-Hundred and Seventy Naira (N2, 254,585,470.00) for the sub-sector. This whooping sum gives an improvement of 306.15 per cent over the expenditure of year 2010 in the sub-sector.

In pursuance of its determination to provide all parts of the state with good potable water, the effort helps to revive the New Ede Waterheads and make it fully functional in water supply to all parts of the State of Osun started in August 2011. It snowballed into the proposal for the award of its contract to the tune of N417 Million for the rehabilitation of the New Ede4 Waterworks with capacity to 100,000 metric tonnes of water per day.

It is expected that fresh construction of water channels shall soon begin throughout the state, while rehabilitation of existing burst pipes and damaged ones have also begun in earnest. As at the time of the last election campaigns, the governor is made fresh promises to the people of Ikire and the entire Irewole, Ayedaade and Isokan local government council areas that the Ikire Waterworks is included among the numerous water projects in the state earmarked for rehabilitation, resuscitation and reconstruction. That promise was on the heels of an earlier one made to a contingent of Ikire indigenes led by the reigning monarch of the ancient town, Oba Olatunde Falabi, Olambeloye III, With these moves, it is

evident that the coast is clear for effective water supply to the good health and healthy living of the people of the State of Osun.

THERE is hardly any other area where the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has scored its first excellent mark than the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES). This vital and laudable achievement of the Aregbesola administration is here treated last to detail as a matter of deliberacy.

As pointed out in the appropriate segment of this report in earlier editions, rather than lumping this sub-heading with the broad heading of Industry, Commerce, Finance and Cooperatives or that of Human Resource and Capacity Building; OSUN DEFENDER Magazine is singling it out here owing to its all-important nature on the one hand, and the towering influence it has garnered to itself all along. We make bold to assert that there is nowhere in the federation of Nigeria where one makes mention of OYES and people would not have caught winds of it as a thriving youth empowerment intervention initiative of the State of Osun extraction. The programme has so much touched lives that its fame, credibility and recognition have travelled beyond the shores of our country.

The Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), which was rolled out as a powerful, life-changing initiative of Ogbeni himself, began to see the light of day at the very wake of the administration, precisely in December 2010; and before the first 100 days of the incumbent administration in office, it had begun to record gigantic success.

By that initiative, which was obviously an intervention [programme to arrest the spate of poverty and unemployment, 20,000 unemployed youths were productively employed in various fields of specialization in a fell swoop. This development marked a great feat which has been, and which shall remain difficult, if not impossible to outwit in decades to come. This fact is even truer,

more accurate and realistic as processes have been kick-started for the enlistment of another batch of OYES cadets. The enlistment processes is still ongoing due to some hitches encountered at the initial stage of the call for fresh enlistment. However, the organizers are proving to be on top of the situation.

The enlistment of fresh OYES cadets for the 2013/2015 shift, also numbering up to 20,000 shall soon be completed and concluded. By the year 2015, 40,000 youths would have cumulatively been saved from the horrendous fangs of sloth and unemployment, even as it becomes very certain that the youths are being graduated and absorbed into vocations of their choices at the expiry of their twoyear mandatory period as corps cadets of the scheme.

The development is made remarkable in many ways. All indications attest to it that it has never been possible anywhere else in this country to absorb that many into the workforce at a go. For the OYES initiative, the payroll bill monthly adds up to a whooping sum of Two-Hundred Million Naira (N200 Million). Yet the Government Unusual of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is unshaken even as the precedence it met on ground was that of a government acquiring loans and overdrafts from commercial banks to pay the salaries and allowances of regular workforce in the public/civil service employ of the state and even the pension of retirees.

By injecting N200 Million Naira into the economy of the state, via the enlistment of 20,000 youths of the state’s origin, Aregbesola has by this scheme saved more than 20,000 people from above that number of homes from the dastardly negative effects of dehumanization brought about by unemployment and poverty. Also, he has succeeded in mopping up into productive engagements idle hands which hitherto had been the devil’s workshop. Youths who had hitherto been co-opted into odd jobs like Continued on page 13

•(L-R) The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, taking the oath of office as Deputy Governor of the state. With her are Barrister Wale Afolabi and Chief Judge of the State, Justice (Mrs) Adepele Ojo during the swearing-in ceremony of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy for second term in office at Osogbo City Stadium, Osogbo, State of Osun, recently.

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Fresh Tenure Well Deserved! (V)

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat, acknowledging cheers from his admirers after taking his oath of office for second term at City Stadium, Osogbo, State of Osun, recently.

Continued from page 12

thuggery, political brigandage, violence prostitution, drug abuse and other social vices have been provided with more socially acceptable and by far more productive engagements for their respective betterment and for uplifting the status and living standard of the society.

The OYES initiative has contributed in no small measure to the overall welfare, wellbeing and economic emancipation of the State of Osun. The index of its contribution to the overall prosperity of the state and its entire people is inestimable. Much is this impact that the programme won the nod and commendation of the United Nations’ International bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), otherwise known as the World Bank. The World Bank team that visited the State of Osun sometime during year 2011 came on assessment tour of the state with particular focus on the OYES programme. It was in token of the World Bank’s appreciation for the scheme that the international (global) finance institution decided to throw its weight behind the programme by assisting the government to expand its scope.

One essential feature of the OYES programme is its transitory nature. As at the completion time of the first batch of the scheme, many OYES cadets graduated to other segments of the civil/public service e.g. teaching, clerical/ administrative cadres, while room is being opened to absorb fresh cadets in replacement. Some of the cadets were even sent abroad to various overseas countries for proper adequate training requisite for their full and functional establishment into their chosen life-long vocations. Few months ago, a graduation ceremony was held for the first set of products of the OYES-tech; the technical/technological training wing of the broad OYES scheme, who were integrated into the society in various aspects of computer assemblage, repairs, telephone handsets assembly and repairs and the likes.

On the whole, there is hardly any facet of life where the OYES initiative has impacted

lives in the state more than Environ mental Sanitation; and Crowd/ Traffic Control.

By OYES initiative, the State of Osun is being rapidly transformed radically decent and beautiful abode, where disasters associated with environmental degradation are fast-becoming things of the past. This implies that the chains of awards, encomiums, recognition and commendation being poured on the governor, in particular, the merit award conferred on him during the penultimate episode of the governor’s audience media chat, tagged “Ogbeni Till Daybreak” by the B Zone of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), where the governor was decorated as the best governor in the area of environment and disaster management in Nigeria for the year 2012 had not been misplaced.

OSUN DEFENDER Magazine accords great recognition for the efforts of Ogbeni Aregbesola and his indefatigable and irrepressible team. It is on that note that the State of Osun was earmarked to benefit from the World Bank/Federal Government Youth Empowerment Fund to the tune of N50 Billion. The fact that the World Bank itself has a sub-agency called Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operation (YESSO) complements the ingenuity and creativity of Ogbeni Aregbesola in coming out with the coinage “OYES”.

We have referred to it repeatedly here that recruitment and selection exercise for the next 20,000 cadets into the 2013/2015 batch of the scheme are currently ongoing. It is expected that training and selection processes of the new batch must be completed in due course of time. Already, the first batch of beneficiaries has graduated into jobs, careers and life-long vocations.

On the occasion of first year anniversary of the OYES programme, held precisely on May 5 2012; the scope of the OYES scheme was broadened, as the cadet corps members were divided into various corps, groups, or cadre corps. Thus, the following cadre corps, which had been part of the initial plan of the initiative, became prominently operational.

They are: 1. Public Works

2. Green Gang 3. Traffic Marshall 4. Sanitation Czar 5. Teachers’ Corps 6. Sheriff Guard 7. Paramedics.

Development into operative cadres did actually expand the initial concept in response to the exigencies of the State of Osun experience. This new range of additional cadres comprised a new range of products designed to engender entrepreneurship and economic independence in the corps by way of exit strategy; including the OYEStech (ICT repairs) mentioned above and the e-payment entrepreneurship project. It is hoped that the finances of the scheme would be improved in the future as more and more private businesses and corporate bodies partner with the government. By then, the initial goal of having each corps member possess all the uniforms of the various cadres in order to facilitate rotation of their experience shall be made possible.

To be continued.

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osun Defender Tuesday, February

All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Rally In Ibadan, Oyo State, Last Friday.

•(L-R) APC Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole; Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; APC Presidential candidate in Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd); His Running mate, Professor Yemi Osinbajo Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; State of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and other dignitaries.

• •

•Mammoth crowd in Ibadan during the rally.

•Governor Oshiomhole (right) addressing the crowd.

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All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Rally In Lagos, Last Saturday.

•(L-R) Former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande; APC National leader, Chief Audu Ogbe; State of Osun governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his counterpart from Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, during the rally.

• •Mammoth crowd at the rally.

•Governor Aregbesola (with broom), acknowledging cheers from the crowd.

for the records

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osun Defender Tuesday, February

Before Oil Runs Dry: Options For The Development Of The South-West Of Nigeria

Being an address delivered by the former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr J. ’Kayode Fayemi, at the public lecture organised by Afenifere Renewal Group (Ogun State Chapter), Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, Thursday, January 22, 2015. of food. Also, in very specific terms, rice as Continued from last edition

The Case for the Southwest Region: Options, Potentials and Prospects The regional agenda in the Southwest seeks to enable the process of political, legal, economic, social and cultural cooperation among states, as a way of rapidly boosting their growth and development. It is conceived as facilitating the execution of projects across participating states in areas of mutual benefit and comparative advantage in a manner that re-enacts the development paradigm of the old Western region. Regionalism in the states of South-Western Nigeria is about developing as an economic bloc through a costs effective approach to creating infrastructure, industrialization, commerce, the environment and agriculture. It is development as freedom and the essential basis of creating life more abundant.

For regional integration as a development strategy to be effective and actionable, there is the necessity of an essential reform of governance in the Southwest towards a more performance-based model that locates people at the centre of the programmes and agenda of the government.

As such, governance not only has to be inclusive and accountable, but its impacts and achievements have to be measurable in order for its legitimacy to be guaranteed.

The Regional Economic Outlook South-Western Nigeria is one of the fastest growing economic blocs in Nigeria, and the world, which with its unique geography, competencies and resources, is positioned as the hub to keep driving the development and growth of Nigeria into the 22nd Century. With its six core states (Ekiti, Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, and Ondo) having a combined GDP of $69.1 BN, constituting 25.3% of the national GDP (2012 estimates); a GDP per capita of $11,341; and a expanding population presently projected at 32.5 million people, representing about 20% of Nigeria’s total population, this is a region of seemingly boundless and soaring growth, comprising a third of the ten largest state economies in the country.

The region’s land mass of about 80,000 square kilometers is host to over 60% of Nigeria’s industrial capacity, about 60% of the country’s banking assets and 67% of its insurance assets, while also holding two of Nigeria’s most important deep seaports – the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa and Tin Can Island. These ports, handling over 100 million tonnes of good per annum valued at close to $2 billion USD in 2012, alongside its profitable land borders account for 60% of the trading and commercial activities in Nigeria.

With the constant growth of the country’s GDP at 7% in the past few years, and the GDP per capita at 6.3%, the most performing non-oil sectors of the economy that are largely concentrated in the SouthWest, besides retail trade and agriculture, include telecommunications (at 32%), building and construction (12.5%), solid minerals (12.52%), hotel and restaurants (12.5%), real estate (10.4%) and business services (9.7%). The financial services infrastructure of the region include 22 national commercial banking institutions, 20 finance companies, 20 primary mortgage institutions, 2 merchant banks, 20 microfinance banks and 5 development finance institutions, having an extensive network of branches, and their most significant operations in the South-West. These institutions commanded money assets to the tune of N6, 394.83 billion in May 2013.

When considered on its own size and

•fayemi

merits, the economy of South-Western Nigeria is one of the fastest growing in the world, which is of comparative size to other national economies. For instance, Lagos State produces about 12% of Nigeria’s GDP, which is equivalent to almost $32bn according to the 2013 estimates, making it Africa’s 13th largest economy ahead of Tanzania.

Other physical infrastructure like the energy generating plants (Egbin, Olokola, Papalanto and Omotosho, etc.) being currently revitalized and upgraded to cater for an enlarging economy; industrial estates (Ikeja, Agbara, Otta, etc.) that are linking up with the West Africa gas pipeline; and an enabling regulatory environment specifically designed to encourage businesses and investments across the six states of South-Western Nigeria, reveal the region as being poised to keep leading the growth of the country in all the productive and services sectors of the economy, beyond the extractive industry.

This is possible due to the presence of a high literacy rate (over 70%) and an amply educated and skilled workforce that also constitutes a defined and growing middle class.

South-Western Nigeria reveals several of the attributes of an emerging market when considered in terms of the indices of a space undergoing rapid growth and industrialization, an evolving and thriving middle class, social and political freedoms, improved standards of living, etc. – which are hallmarks of the entry into a global free-market-oriented economy.

The competitive advantage of the region is leveraged on its strategic assets of a unique communality of language, customs and culture among its peoples; a demography consisting of an exceptionally youthful population; huge human and material resources including a large knowledgeable Diaspora; vast tracts of

arable agricultural land, renewable water resources, and the presence of extensive mineral deposits, such as hydrocarbons, etc. Equally, Western Nigeria has great tourism potentials due to the peculiarity of its history and distinct geography, and capabilities in ICT and other skilled professions. The Southwest more than meets the test of economic viability for reconstituting itself as a region and a formidable one at that.

There are four core areas that embody the immense economic potential of the Southwest waiting to be unlocked through diversification and decentralization.

Agriculture South-Western Nigeria is being positioned as a regional development hub for a number of agricultural products found across the states constituting the region. These include the main cash crops of cocoa and palm produce – which are largely export produce, and food crops such as yam, maize, cassava, plantain/banana, millet, rice, and vegetables, fisheries and poultry.

Agriculture is crucial not only because it is a mainstay of the South-West’s economy, having many people engaged in it, but also because there is very high potential domestic and industrial demand for agricultural products in centres of high population such as major Nigerian cities, which are also great market hubs.

Equally, there is documented evidence of a high export market demand and value for all the products spun off South-West Nigeria’s agricultural crop value chain. As an instance of the size of the agricultural market in Nigeria, the city of Lagos is estimated as consuming over N2 billion worth of food every single day, and the demand for these products usually outstrips their supply, hence there is a great shortfall that is catered for through the importation

a main staple food consumed by the greater number of Nigerians has an estimated demand of 6.0 million tonnes per year, yet what is available from local production and imports is about 2.85 million tons of the grain, revealing that there are still largely unmet needs in the local market.

Still, with a high number of hungry people who are forced to consume food lacking in the required quantities of fruits, vegetables and animal protein, thereby promoting nutritional conditions that have implications for well-being, productivity and mortality, and the effects of the world food crisis, such as that which happened between 2007 and 2008, impacting on Nigeria’s import access to essential cereal grains, there is serious potentials for the growth of the agriculture business in South-West Nigeria. This is affirmed by a prevalent decline in agricultural productivity, low harvest and rising food costs.

Since the commercialization of and investments in agriculture are recognized as vital to the promotion of accelerated development and sustainable growth in the South-Western States of Nigeria, and the reduction of poverty, there is the greater necessity of keying in agricultural productivity enhancing technologies, and high-quality inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, and improved seedlings, etc.

These factors of input, in themselves, constitute an enormous basis for commercial activities and enterprise. Evolving along with the foregoing is also the imperative of developing and expanding agro-processing/ storage and marketing facilities, which would spin off more returns for private capital in the improved investment climate that we are creating.

What the governments of the states of the South-West are presently doing to enable the establishment of the desired investment climate in the region includes the harmonization of the policy environment across the states – necessarily through the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission – in order to remove institutional and structural constraints, red-tapism and bottlenecks. We are also resolved to activate a policy framework that links agriculture to manufacturing by extending the agriculture value chain to cover storage, processing and manufacturing.

While our states will engage in rapid investments in modern agricultural and industrial infrastructure through joint efforts, and also encourage the provision of agricultural infrastructure through public-private partnerships, there are also plans to establish a Southwest Agriculture and Industrial Development Bank. This Bank, to be created in collaboration with international multilateral institutions, would serve as a source of finance for agriculture, industry, mining and infrastructure in the region.

To be continued

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Any Man Who Says He Has One Wife Is Deceiving Himself – Oba Of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu

Oba RiIwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu AkioIu 1, also known as the Eleko of Eko was born in 1943. Oba Akiolu, a philanthropist, is straightforward and witty. He joined the Nigeria Police Force as a cadet inspector and rose to the position of Assistant Inspector General of Police before he retired in 2002. He was crowned King of Lagos on May 23, 2003. He is the Chairman of the Council of Obas in Lagos. In this interview, he speaks about his life, leadership and other issues. Excerpts: How does it feel like to be a king?

First, I have to thank Almighty Allah that out of all the qualified princes, it pleased God Almighty to put me in a position of trust, integrity and honour.

When did you become king and how?

The stool became vacant as a result of the demise of my father, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II who joined his ancestors on March 7th 2003. The race began and I emerged as the preferred prince to rule. I thank God for that.

Can you explain how this town came into existence?

Lagos is partly Yoruba and partly Benin.

The matriarch was an Awori, a Yoruba, and the patriarch was a descendant of an Oba of Benin. In those days, Eko was Eko before the advent of the Portuguese adventurers who came and named it Lago de Curamo, which means land near the water. There is a town in Portugal called Lagos. They named this place after their Lagos over there. They assisted in rebuilding the throne room and that is why it’s called Iga. The palace is a place of pride and honour. The custodian of the throne must be very frank, have goodwill, be absolutely honest and love his subjects because any1hing he says will come to pass.

How do you relate with Christians in your domain?

Christianity is a religion of peace. Even the Bible in Luke 1:10 says “Fear not: for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” When you say God do this for me, you should do something which will move Him to do it for you.

I know what’s in the Bible, the Quran and the tradition. No one can deceive me.

There is a difference between traditional religion and paganism. I am not a pagan. I don’t worship anything because there is no reward in it but the inherited tradition will always be there.

How many shrines and gods are in your domain?

It depends on what you call shrines.

The word used in the Quran and Bible is deity. The deities are many because there is one for each family. “Some not so good Muslims or Christians” can swear by the Quran or Bible after an offence but the native divinities, the Sango and Oya worshippers dare not do it. They will see the result instantly. In Mecca, They say whoever enters and puts his chest down becomes a messenger of truth if you observe what you are told there.

Last September, when we finished prayers, I prayed for myself; my family, my people, Lagos and Nigeria As a sign of acceptance from God Almighty, there was a downpour. When I tell people something, I am not a reservoir of knowledge but it will come to pass. You will see what will happen in the coming elections. I don’t know how to deceive people and I don’t tell lies.

Do you participate in all events concerning the deities?

Like the Eyo, its’ just the pride of Lagos.

Mo yo fun e. You see, any society without tradition is better dead. When you go to your father’s grave to pray, there is nothing

•akinolu

wrong with that, but if you go and sacrifice a human being, it’s a no-no. That stopped when the British came into the country. I tell even my chiefs, there is nothing like human sacrifice in the palace. It’s gone and gone forever.

Do you believe that if a person goes to the grave of a late parent and prays, the prayer will be answered?

You see, there are many schools of thought but when you go to Mecca, it’s written in black and white “don’t ask anything from the dead” There is nothing they can do for you but if you pray to the Almighty Allah, all will be well.

What course did you study?

I am a Lawyer by profession. I’m a member of the legal profession. We are learned but you are just educated. That’s the difference between us. I attended Ansarud-Deen School and University of Lagos.

What were you before you ascended the throne?

I was a police officer. I retired in 2002 as a result of the intrigues of Obasanjo, Atiku, the Chairman of the Civil Service Commission and Daura, a DIG. They were looking for every opportunity to get rid

of all south west governors and some top police officers.

Atiku took their names to the office of former President Obasanjo, asked for a plain sheet from a top officer, wrote their names and requested they should all be retired. In fairness to Obasanjo, he didn’t know me and he only approved it and sent it back. Somebody who was a senior officer in the Presidency said “Aha, Baba, why should this one happen? Just a few weeks ago, you were watching television and praising this officer for his gallantly during the riot against some Igbos and now, you did this.” Obasanjo said he didn’t know anybody on the list given to him and submitted by Atiku. In the fast place, what Obasanjo did was wrong. In fact, one of my in-laws, a Justice, insisted I took him to court. Obasanjo had no right to sit down in his office and order our resignation. Daura acted that way as a result of bitterness. He wanted to become I.G but God did not give it to him. He knew I played a pron1inent role in the appointment of the I.G. It was God who did it. The incumbent Awujale of ljebu land, Sikim Adetona supported it; the late Mrs. Akinjide supported it. But Daura

and other people felt it should not be so, because he wanted to become the I.G and I told him immediately in the presence of some people that he will not succeed. I don’t hide things.

Then, the present Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, served me my retirement letter. When he came to my house, I was having breakfast. And I asked was it not the 1ettet? He was shocked! The other two people he had met argued with him. I read the letter and I asked him if he knew whether this would serve as a door to greater things for me. He was shocked. I signed and even gave him N10,000 before he left.

How do you cope with your duties as king and still run your businesses?

There’s nothing wrong with it. Let me tell you, my salary as Oba of Lagos is not up to N150,OOO monthly, but before I became king. God blessed me. I know people and I have my legitimate business but you will never see my hand in fraud I will never do it and that is the way I brought my children up. I also make sure I pay tax.

Can you participate In politics?

It depends on what you call politics. The mere fact that I am Oba of Lagos is politics on its own.

The administration of Lagos State was taken from Iga Idugaran to the colonial masters who later transferred it to them.

That’s why there is the tide of Olowo Eko. One of my predecessors was Oluwole, whose oroki is Oluwole Ajangele. Bo lo logun ero, ayansi lo fi sin, o ba ni iwofa ogbon oluwole o toro aso lowo omo, ayanfe o toro ewu borun Ajangele. Any holder of the office of Oba of Lagos from time immemorial, is adored. One has to be very thankful to God Almighty and be just to his people Where and when did your wife?

I met her over 50 years ago in Isale Eko here. You see, there is no handsome, rich, young man who does not like women. That a man likes a woman is different from a man who cannot do without woman. When you see a man who cannot do without women, he can sleep with anyone. His sister maid, his son’s wife, daughter, colleague. Neice, any woman What attracted to you first wife and why you take a second wife?

Beauty and everything.

Any man who says he has one wire is deceiving himself. All those who say they have one wire have mistresses outside. I am going to be 72 now and I cl1erish beautiful women and nobody can stop me. I like women and I can’t do without women are two different things.

That time, I was a policeman. She came for sports. She is the daughter of the late Sir Olateru Olagbegi and was very

Continued on page 18

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osun Defender Tuesday, February

‘I Lost My Parents Early In Life’ Continued from page 17

jealous. I told her what’s wrong with you, your father married 40 wives.

The man was a fantastic man. I liked him.

I have many women friends now. I can marry more wives now. There’s nothing they can do.

If I ask them and they go with me, good.

If not, good luck.

Have you ever commandeered a lady?

I will start from you. Tell your husband if his Ade bas Wale, be should many another wire and leave you to me.

No o Kabiyesi. I am not ready to die yet.

There is no person who wants to die but no matter what. It is a decree from heaven.

We all will go one day. Live everyday of your life as if you will go tomorrow. I am not afraid of death. Do well to people.

Be open, Let people know you roc who you are. You can sleep and you don’t get up. That’s why the Quran says which of the favour of the Almighty Allah can we deny? None. You see, all these or people in the country, give them 10 years and they will not be relevant again. Where are those of yesterday? That’s why I swear that by God’s grace, Ambode will become governor of Lagos. You see Jimi Agbaje, is my close relative. His father’s mother is from the Shokun Onilegbale Royal family of Lagos and I told him in clear language that he cannot get it. If anybody attempts to do any magomago, that is what will take all of them. God knows to whom I H e will give the Presidency but for this Lagos governorship, it’s Ambode.

Do the Queens perform their duties routinely?

(Surprised)Aha (pauses) Aha. The Holy Quran says your wives are your partners.

You have three main duties. Feeding, cIocim1g and teaching them the right way and perform your duty as their husband.

So you don’t tell them “I want you to day, you your turn is tomorrow?

You want to know? Come and live with us in the palace.

Who’s your favourite among them?

All of them make me happy because they know I am a no-nonsense man and nobody can predict what I will do. They call me Aseyiwu Eledumare and I say I am not Eledumare. Even among my children, I have no favorite. If you have a son who makes you happy, why will you not like him? The child who does not make you happy, pray to God and try to correct

him. You see, I have no friend, I have no enemy. That’s what I was doing with my son Tinubu You see Tmubu and Fashola are special blessings to Lagos. All the people who contested are all my children.

What do you think about the Boko Haram menace?

You see this Boko Haram issue, Almighty Allah help all of us. If there was restraint when Babangida formed the National Guard, they would have crushed Boko Haram and if the Mobile Force had been equipped as they should have been, we won’t be in this national crisis. I have told them times without number, we need a national security policy.

I called the late General Owoye Azazi of blessed memory more than five times to tell him our security policy has to be overhauled.

As the tide is changing and the wood is moving, you do the same. If you see what package the National Guard came up with and had the Moblie Police Force been Equipped the way it should as suggested by the late Iduma Amonisu and some f us who were commanders, this would not have happened.

Do you believe Tinubu ‘’caused the rot in Lagos” as some people say?

Bola Tmubu is a human being. He has his own faults but he was the one who gave us the deliverance required in Lagos. Lagos sha1l never be second place in this nation.

What’s your favorite food?

If you become my wife, you will know.

Do you drink alcohol?

I drink Irish cream, Baileys and Campari with ice blocks.

What attire do you feel most comfortable in?

I feel okay in any outfit or complete attire. When I am hoole, I wear Kaftan.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?

When I became a king and when I am defending my people. Becoming a king has been my dream since 1984 and God made it a reality for me.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?

Nothing worries me, so I cannot feel embarrassed.

You favorite holiday spot?

Faro, Portugal Your favoriIe quotes?

Saying of the Holy Prophet Mohammed Favourite holiday spot?

I am an all rounder. No favorite.

What are the funniest things you do since you became king?

The funniest thing I do is telling people what they are, telling them the truth!

What are the sports or activities you cannot do without?

Table tennis and swimming. I go to some of the clubs like Ikoyi Club, Boat Club and the Officer’s Mess.

How much time do you spend with your children dally?

I encourage my children to live outside the palace. When children are growing up, they want to enjoy the honour and glamour of the palace but I told them it will not be possible. The child of a king today might become the younger brother of a king tomorrow I saw what happened to some of my leader’s children. There was one of them boot in the palace and he spent over thirty years there.

When it was time for him to leave, he started smashing cars there, where he would go. He was boot there. As for my grand children, I always make sure I take them to the Boat Club twice or thrice a month and I stay with them.

During summer, I make them attend their lessons and take Arabic studies. Out of ten weeks, they spend eight studying. The remaining two they go outside. Four days to resumption day, they come back looking fresh. I make sure I visit them after a month or two, I play with them and I enjoy going out with them. Sometimes, I go out twice or thrice a week to the Boat Club with the children to have salad with shredded fish or shredded chicken What do you despise?

Lies and deceit. If you commit the worst crime and you tell me the truth, before heaven and earth, I will forgive you.

If you could· change one thing about your life, what would It be?

My quick temper. I still pay to God to help me on that one.

What virtue do you value most in people?

Honesty, bravery, courage, chivalry, empathy, punishing and correcting those who do wrong, being God-fearing and beauty.

How would you describe yourself?

I will describe myself as a special, blessed person by Almighty Allah. It may be because of the name given to me by my parents, Riliwanu which means, Eyonu Olohun. I lost my mother when I was nine

and my father when I was 11 and here I am today. All thanks to God Almighty.

Who are those you ant grateful to?

I’m grateful to Almighty Allah for my people, the chiefs, some friends, Ahmed Bola Tinubu and other people who influenced my ascension to the 1hi’one. I am very grateful to them but I will not be a rubber stamp.

How would you want to be remembered?

As a forthright person, always ready to help those who genuinely are in need and truthful. I’m not a reservoir of knowledge but I will tell people the 1ruIh as I know it I won’t lie.

What do you mean punishing and correcting offenders?

If a person does something wrong, you find out if the person did it mistaken1y or deliberately. If it was a mistake, correct the fellow. If the person did it purposely and you correct the first, second and third time, then you can do as you wish to punish the fellow. .

If Ambode Is elected governor of Lagos State, what specific Infrastructural projects would you want him to pursue with vigour?

First, plan and leave the rest in the hands of Almighty Allah. I am aware of what he has been able to do before, particularly the financial engineering he did for us when the Conner president Olusegun Obasanjo unlawful1y and unconstitutionally withheld Lagos State funds. That made me to have a lot of respect for him and I know that he is the hope of Lagos State and Nigeria.

What’s your view on the pending Petroleum Industry Bill?

I believe the National Assembly is working hard to ensure passage of the bill I am using this medium to appeal to Nigerians to make it work.

•Culled from SUNDAY SUN

INTERVIEW

519

Nigerians Are Ready To Elect Buhari Even With ‘Nepa Bill’ As His Certificate - Lai Mohammed

National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (ACP), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, speaks with KATE ANI on issues bordering on the build-up to next month’s general elections.

Excerpts:

•MOHAMMED

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused APC of being behind the attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan’s convoy in the North during his campaign. What is your take on that?

It is not so. After all, even the governor of Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda, who is a member of the PDP, confirmed that it was PDP that is responsible for the attacks; that it was the fallout of a political rivalry between him and Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). In Katsina, it was again the PDP that was responsible. In Plateau, it was infighting in the PDP. So, nobody can hold us responsible for the violence.

Are you saying this because you are an APC member?

Is Yuguda also a member of the opposition party?

What is your take on the hoopla about General Muhammadu Buhari’s

certificate? While some are saying that he forged his certificate, others kept asking why he lied under oath about its whereabouts. Don’t you think it will affect his chances of winning the election?

On the contrary, I think what Nigerians are saying is that even if all he has to show is a NEPA bill, they will vote for him. If you look at the polls conducted by AIT (African Independent Television) recently, they had to shut it down because Buhari was beating Jonathan by 75 per cent. Having said that, the issue of certificate is cooked up by the PDP because they know that Buhari is a threat to them and more than qualified to win the election. Where was PDP in 2011, 2007 and 2003, when he (Buhari) contested for the presidential election? Are you saying that a man who used to be a General in the Nigerian Army does not have a privilege of a school certificate? Can anybody in his right sense except PDP, who are so desperate, start peddling this kind of

rumour?

Why do you think the PDP is laying emphasis on his qualifications?

Because they are terrified that he is going to win. You see, all looters, all saboteurs, all corrupt people are afraid of Buhari coming to power and they are taking all measures to weaken his growing popularity. But the common people want him to win the election because he is going to clean this country.

But he has contested three times and lost. What makes you think he will be lucky this time?

If you failed at something once, twice or thrice, won’t you try again?

If he loses the election, do you think he will concede defeat and congratulate Jonathan?

You should ask Jonathan that question;

that if Buhari wins, will he congratulate him because from all indications, he is going to win? And again, help us ask Jonathan why he wants to postpone the election.

Jonathan never said he wanted the election postponed; the statement was credited to the National Security Adviser…

Go to page eleven of Wednesday’s Punch Newspaper and see the advertorial by the PDP. That will convince you beyond doubt that it is Jonathan that is behind the planned postponement of the election.

The National Security Adviser said the reason is the problem of distribution of PVCs to voters.

Continued on page 20

INTERVIEW

20

osun Defender Tuesday, February

‘We Expect Jonathan To Congratulate Buhari After The Election’

you in the Alliance for Democracy (AD). Are you still relating with him?

Continued from pagge 19

If INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission) tells us that they are ready for election, so be it. It is not for the NSA to tell us that election will not hold anywhere. He has no cause to say that.

On a personal note, yes. I have known him since our days in the University of Ife. Of course, we relate very well, why not?

Your press release, in which you asked the president to look in the mirror, has been described as demeaning the office and the person of the president.

What do you say to that?

You recently alleged that Dr Doyin Okupe said Jonathan said he would rather have the military take over than hand over power to the APC candidate.

How true was the statement and don’t you think you are heating up the polity with such a claim?

You see, Jonathan is a politician and I am also a politician and when I asked Jonathan to look in the mirror and see who really he is referring to, it was a reaction to Jonathan’s statement. You see, you must understand one thing: if you don’t like a smell and cannot stand the heat, you should get out. You can’t be in politics and expect that your opponents will not throw bricks at you or laugh at you. The problem here is that these people lack sense of humour.

Because you are the president doesn’t mean that the opposition should be pampering you. It happens everywhere in the world. Why should we have this mentality that because he is the president, we should not criticise him?

Yes, he did say that and Doyin Okupe has not denied it and neither has the presidency denied it. They should not try anything funny, because it won’t be easy for them.

What are the chances of APC winning the election next month?

I am sure we are going to win the election, by the grace of God, if it is free and credible. In fact, it must be free, fair and credible. The only person that can make the election free and fair is the president, if he decides to be neutral. He controls the security agencies and INEC.

What is your take on the European Union’s decision not to monitor election in the North-East?

What will Buhari do differently to improve the economy if elected the president?

He will act on the manifesto of our party which believes that Nigeria must be weaned from dangerous addiction to oil. Today, oil alone accounts for 80 per cent of our public spending. That is why when the price of oil goes down, we would be in trouble. So, what Buhari will do is to invest in the productive sector like agriculture and look at other areas like tourism and sport which, we are sure, will grow our economy. As a party, we will move Nigeria forward, again, by investing massively in public work programmes.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has deplored Buhari’s statement on his commitment to Sharia. People are afraid that he might Islamise Nigeria. That is probably the reason Bishop Oyedepo allegedly threatened to open the gate of hell on those who don’t want peace to reign in the country. Do you think Buhari will get the support of Christians?

I would rather not comment on Bishop Oyedepo. However, whoever says that Buhari will Islamise Nigeria is being mischievous and ignorant.

Buhari was Head of State between 1984 and 1985. The Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Major General Tunde Idiagbon, was also a Muslim, yet, he did not turn Nigeria into an Islamic state.

So, how can you now say that Buhari will Islamise Nigeria?

Some of your critics call you ‘Lying’ (Lai) Muhammed, accusing you of distorting facts and using propaganda to prosecute opposition politics. How would you react to this?

I don’t care what they call me but

•MOHAMMED

let them fight me with facts and not on emotions. Let them come out and tell me one thing that I have said that is not true.

They know that I am very blunt and I say things as they are. So, whoever calls me ‘Lying’ Muhammed should be checked.

Buhari says that he is poor, but can he really be, being a former Head of State. It was even alleged that his nomination form was bought for him

by Timipre Sylvia?

I don’t know who bought his form for him, but on the issue of his financial status, you should ask Buhari himself.

But on a more serious note, he is the only Nigerian I know to have been a minister, head of state and yet, has no personal house in either Lagos or Abuja.

What is bothering some people is the man’s integrity. He is the only man who refused to accept, on the grounds of morality, N23 million that is paid monthly to former heads of state. He would rather take only 10 per cent of it. Why are people worried that he is upright, honest? He is the kind of man we need in Nigeria today to help us fight corruption, which has brought us to where we are today.

So, who are the moneybags behind Buhari?

I will name them now. The moneybags behind Buhari are the masses of this

country.

What is your take on NCC’s ban on your party’s platform to donate money to his campaign?

It is just another plot of the PDP not to provide a level playing ground. If they can advertise on television, radio and newspapers, is telephone not also a means of communication? And yet, everyday, private companies use this telephone for their promotions, to sell their products, sell houses and even pass information about their companies. Why is it now criminal or wrong for APC to also use that platform to raise money?

We are taking them to court and have already started the process.

What is the guarantee that elections will be successful in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states?

INEC has assured that they would conduct elections there and we don’t need further proof or assurance.

Lagos State PDP has vowed to take over the state this year…

They have a right to say that. We are talking about their safety, their lives.

That does not mean that we are not holding elections in the North-East.

Why is it that many APC and PDP leaders in Lagos have their children contesting elections and shut out others?

My child happens to be one of them and they all have constitutional rights.

If, for instance, 40 people are contesting for the House of Assembly and there are three or four politicians’ children among them, I don’t think there is anything to it.

They are Nigerians and have the right to contest. It is left for the voters to decide whether or not they want them.

Many people believe that Senator Bola Tinubu is the one bankrolling Buhari’s election campaign and that Buhari may become his puppet when he gets to power…

Is it possible in democratic settings to hijack power from the president or become a politician’s puppet? People simply have a morbid fear of Tinubu.

That is simply ridiculous.

What is your take on Governor Ayo Fayose’s advertorial against Buhari?

Frankly speaking, that advertorial is consistent with the personality of Fayose. Who else can do that kind of advertisement if not him?

APC is notorious for reacting to attacks. How come you people haven’t reacted to it?

We did but our comment was more civilised than the advert.

How do you unwind?

By treating questions as we are doing now. I am enjoying myself as we speak.

They vowed in 2003, 2007 and 2011.

Let them continue to vow, don’t stop them. We are used to their empty vows.

The party’s governorship candidate in the state, Jimi Agbaje, was one of

Culled from Saturday Tribune

521

Afenifere Crosses The Endorsement Rubicon Afenifere, inappropriately described as the pan - Yoruba socio- cultural organisation, has reportedly endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) for a second term . Whether the organisation’ s leaders like to admit it or not , the implication is that it is now official that Afenifere has endorsed the PDP , for Dr Jonathan cannot be divorced from the PDP anymore than the PDP can be extricated from Buruji Kashamu. They are all intertwined, soul and body, follies and foibles , and in manners and egregiousness . It is unlikely that Afenifere entertains any illusion about the full ramification of its endorsement, or that all along it has been a political and ambitious organisation. It gave the endorsement boldly and proudly, indifferent to whether it was wise or foolish. Last week in Akure, after a meeting at the residence of the organisation’ s leader , Reuben Fasoranti, Afenifere offered its soul to Dr Jonathan in the presumptuous conviction that of the two main contestants to the Nigerian presidency, Dr Jonathan better approximates the Yoruba yearning and worldview.

There is nothing in their statements and actions to indicate that Afenifere still represents all Yoruba people. Indeed, over time , its moral force has weakened considerably , its political sagacity and logic waned , its judgement dulled , and its compass so twisted it is a wonder its leaders can still find their way home after every endorsement they give out to undeserving politicians . But they hold on to past glories , just as they won ’t let go of past prejudices and bigotries . Notwithstanding the formation of the more ideological and principled Afenifere Renewal Group ( ARG ) , the rump Afenifere still believes it is the main deal among the Yoruba, that it can crack the whip and the gelding would respond , that the little rudder it imagines itself to be literally and figuratively can still imaginatively steer so large a ship and so complex and intransigent a people as the Yoruba.

The endorsement comes barely three weeks to the general elections, and was hatched in Akure under the tempestuous and conspiratorial noses of Governor Olusegun Mimiko , Chief Fasoranti and Gbenga Daniel, former Governor of Ogun State , among others . Dr Mimiko was once hailed as the rallying point for Yoruba renaissance by the same Afenifere enigmas who a little while back were famished for a hero, anyone , any type . Dr Mimiko wins elections, but he possesses little else by way of sagacity , spunk and character . He is the archetypal Machiavelian who thinks nothing of giving his word with quiet dignity, but desperately disavowing it at the first hint of a challenge or difficulty , and with all the contrived ruefulness his melancholic spirit will allow . Today , the Afenifere enigmas have moderated their expectations .

Chief Fasoranti may have inherited the stool dignified by the late Adekunle Ajasin and the late Abraham Adesanya , but there is little else to indicate that the contemplative quietude and regal aloofness with which the founding leaders presided over the Yoruba group are inherent in the current leader . In particular, Pa Adesanya not only exhibited an expansive view of history and culture , and was deep , reserved and magisterial, his judgement was also incomparably and intuitively sound, his style avuncular , and his view of leadership noble , rich , kaleidoscopic , selfless, metaphysical , almost infallible. Under Chief Fasoranti, Afenifere ’s endorsement of Dr Jonathan illustrates the wide gulf between inheriting a throne in its physical ordinariness and inheriting a throne in all its dignity , nobility , and intangible etherealness . What Afenifere ’ s soul looked like under Pa Ajasin and Pa Adesanya was indisputably robust and magnetic; now who can tell what it looks like and what strange and indecipherable signals it emits ?

•Adesanya

By IDOWU AKINLOTAN

Otunba Daniel was also reported to be present at the meeting where Afenifere ’s endorsement was peddled for a trifle .

Like Dr Mimiko , Chief Fasoranti and a few others , Otunba Daniel pretends to be imbued with the attribute of a Yoruba leader . But when he governed Ogun State , his mind wandered promiscuously between the esoteric mysticism of his past , complete with a fondness for cultural miniatures and gargoyles , not to say the dark arts of native alchemy , and the more open and conventional orthodoxy of his Christian upbringing . He perhaps excuses this fondness for the dark arts , this strange besottedness , on cultural grounds , but no one is fooled . It is not for nothing that the mind of this self – appointed Yoruba leader is seething with reactionary politics and discordant dialectics , as evidenced by his eight years in office.

All three , together with their personal and dedicated clearing house and cultural and political Ouija board , Yinka Odumakin, have engineered Afenifere ’s questionable and reprehensible endorsement of Dr Jonathan and the PDP. Finally , after many years of rigmarole and epic struggle with their identity and conscience, Afenifere has now become a subset and subject of the PDP in a galling and anticlimactic way. It has shut its eyes to all the weaknesses, not to say the crass conservatism , of the ruling party. It convinces itself that neither the PDP nor the APC is progressive, and that if it comes to bureaucratic and leadership shenanigans , there is apparently no settling the precedence between the two leading parties .

More , it believes without substantiation that the deceptive affability of Dr Jonathan , as it sees him , is preferable to the mercurial and brutally competitive nature of one or two APC leaders .

The Afenifere position on the presidential election is anchored on two leprous legs, both of which attempt to justify the endorsement. Hear the group : ‘’As far as Afenifere is concerned , the presidential election is to decide between two options, freedom or slavery. We have elected to choose freedom , freedom from bondage , internal enslavement and internal colonialism that hold most Nigerians down under the bastion of domination and we are convinced that the 2014 national conference report has laid the basis for the proper restructuring of the country … We want to warn the people of Yorubaland to be careful of those who promise change and do not believe in the restructuring of Nigeria and those who boycotted national conference and described it as diversion . ’’ While it is clear the reasons Afenifere

•Fasoranti

endorsed Dr Jonathan , it is not quite clear why and how they became heedlessly trapped in the ethnic divisions and prejudices of the past . Using hysterical language, the Yoruba group talks sweepingly and anachronistically of the choices they claim are before the country : of freedom and of slavery . It is hard to explain why they are stuck with this nonsense . The revelation of the 2011 elections is that no one , no region, no ethnic group can singlehandedly win a presidential election , let alone dominate and enslave others .

More profoundly , it is also crystal clear that the North has to work with the South to win , and the South must ally with the North to sweep the polls . East - West alliance never worked, and never will .

Northeast - Northwest alliance is even more preposterous . It is dead on arrival.

The 2011 elections put paid to the military aberration that distorted and undermined the polity for decades . Whether we like it or not , for peace and stability to reign, cooperation between North and South is unavoidable , and is in fact the crying need of the moment. Instigating ethnic loathing , such as Afenifere is doing , and fanning sectarian distrust , such as Dr Jonathan is himself doing , should be viewed warily and denounced.

It is likely Afenifere spoke of slavery in respect of the quest by the North , in this instance , through Muhammadu Buhari, to win the presidency . In the Second Republic , the ordinary south- westerner was harried by the ghost of northern hordes swooping on the South and forcefully Islamising them .

Many southerners outgrew this childish apparition and have yielded themselves to the prospects and possibilities of inter - and intra – regional relationships . But not the regular Rip Van Winkles of the Afenifere who canonise this outdated and indefensible argument with the quizzical zealotry of kid soldiers introduced to killing for the first time . And except Afenifere leaders who self - righteously reduce the presidential poll to a choice between one thing or the other, every other person , including foreigners and an assortment of half- wits , knows the issues that are uppermost in the minds of Nigerians.

Foisting a discredited and silly agendum on Nigerians is unworkable.

Second , and more revealingly, the Yoruba group went beyond endorsing Dr Jonathan to warning the Yoruba to avoid the All Progressives Congress ( APC) whose mantra is change . Since a few leaders of the opposition party advocated a boycott of the national conference , it was enough for Afenifere to appoint themselves as leaders and prefects of the Yoruba and issue what amounts

to a political fatwa on the APC. Given how they worded their warning, and the effrontery with which they issued it , it is abundantly clear that the leadership of the group is consumed by malice , bitterness and unadulterated hatred for one or two of the APC national leadership . It is such personal grievances and petty animosities that Afenifere has shockingly elevated into group and regional policies . In previous statements, leaders of Afenifere even insinuated that the APC was polliticising the Chibok abductions , without explaining how , and had sold the Southwest to the Hausa - Fulani , without suggesting how anyone can win the election by alienating a whole region .

Without doubt , the presidential poll is all about the economic downturn, with unemployment rate close to a quarter of the workforce; insecurity in large swathes of the country , a fact dangerously underestimated and misread by the Jonathan government; cancerous corruption ; the nine- month old abduction of 219 Chibok schoolgirls that has outraged the whole world; the personal ineptitude of Dr Jonathan ; his obtruding wife ; the president ’s wellknown ethnic prejudice and provincialism evident in his indulgent handling of the provocations of Ijaw militants ;, and his obvious demonstration of inability to comprehend the demands of his office.

The poll is certainly not about Afenifere ’s so - called choice between freedom and slavery, two gaseous and malignant words signifying nothing . The world is appalled by events in Nigeria ; the African continent is ashamed of Dr Jonathan and bewildered by our connivance ; Nigeria no longer commands respect of any sort in Africa; and Nigerians themselves are so dismayed and frustrated that they are lost for words to describe the sorry pass to which their country has tragically come . It is a shame that the Yoruba, famed for their education , political activism and progressivism , can host a socio- cultural organisation that blindly ignores the reality of the moment, embraces a chimera, and instigates ethnic and in some ways sectarian hatred with violent words .

Rather than have Nigeria face two choices, it is Afenifere itself that is staring down the barrel of two disconcerting choices. By endorsing Dr Jonathan and throwing in their lot with the PDP , thereby abjuring their apolitical nature, they have indicated their preparedness to swim or sink with their new masters . If inconceivably he wins, Dr Jonathan can still not rise above his modest talents to offer Nigeria quality and inspiring leadership , and may in fact come to grief sooner rather than later.

Afenifere will thus be exposed for backing the wrong horse . But if he loses , as he seems fated to do , Afenifere will lose everything dramatically . What were they promised for them to make this mad and desperate gambit? In short , Afenifere is damned whether Dr Jonathan wins or loses . For a Yoruba organisation that galloped resplendently into the people ’s view and consciousness on a revolutionising and liberating ideology , they have found themselves in a peculiar and uncomfortable position indeed . It is sad that barely three leaders since the Sani Abacha years , the Afenifere knights errant are impaled on their own swords in one massive , tectonic unravelling.

•Culled from THE NATION

FEATURE

22

osun Defender Tuesday, February

The Spirit Of Abuja Peace Accord (2)

I

had thought that Mr. President was going to educate politicians that, losing an election is not the end of life as recently witnessed with the defeat of the incumbent in Sri Lanka. I had thought he will also use the occasion to canvass for good governance, so the incumbents will not entertain fear about life after office. But Mr. President and our politicians need to realize that no matter how many years they luxuriate in office, they will have to come back home to roost among the people they neglected while in government.

Of note is the fact that all participants at the peace workshop concurred that for peace to reign, political leaders must eschew violence by preventing provocative statements and campaigning within the bounds of civility. This they must do by not using indecent or intemperate pronouncements that could lead their followers to take to arms against the opponents. That our politicians must also avoid fanning embers of discords through divisive manipulations such as appealing to religious or ethnic sentiments. Issues bordering on corruption, power, education, insecurity and youth unemployment are enough to contend with in the forthcoming elections.

Another issue that came up at the august workshop was the tactical deployment of youths to execute politicians’ violent inclinations. We however need to know that not all the youths that participate in post-election violence are induced financially.

Many do this out of frustration. A course mate of mine was jobless for over a decade some years ago even after obtaining a masters degree with distinction. Many are in this category and we all must know that the youth age is the golden age of man.

This month’s election is bound to fail if INEC is yet to realize that many Nigerians are bound to be disenfranchised, as many queue up daily but unable to receive the permanent voters’ cards. Currently, delineation of constituencies, due to migration, is yet to be done after the last general elections; ditto the modality to enfranchise those displaced in the three states under the state of emergency rule in the North Eastern part of the country.

As it is, INEC is just acting like the legendary bourbons that learn the mistakes of the past in order to make new ones.

Even in the United States, NGOs are mobilized and well-

•jonathan

By Adebayo Oguntayo

funded by the US Congress to engage in voters’ education and voters’ registrations, including movement of indigent and the aged to and from polling units to cast their votes, so as to help them to exercise their civic duties. I had been involved in this process in the past and I wish Nigeria could learn more about democratic practices in other climes. The oldest voter in 2008 US presidential election, a 104year old woman had her ballot paper posted to her in Germany.

Today, no doubting Thomas needs be told that INEC is illprepared for this onerous task ahead. Election preparations go far beyond printing ballot papers and ensuring ballot boxes are in stock. What lessons have we learned from past exercises, when for sixteen years of civilian rule in Nigeria, INEC is still having headache on the issuance of PVCs to voters less than two weeks to the general elections.

A child born sixteen years ago is sitting comfortably in front of a professor in the classroom as an undergraduate. So, that child is no longer a toddler in every sense.

Nigerians do not need rhetorics from INEC any longer. We need actions.

Moreover, who appoints INEC leadership? Why is INEC still attached to the apron strings of the Presidency? From a report few weeks ago, INEC is yet to be given about two-third of the funds for the preparations for the elections.

How independent is INEC when the presidency still meddles in its affairs and cannot source its funds from federation account independently? How then will the agency adequately prepare for the elections? These are prelude to the outcome of election results.

Surely, one who fails to prepare has already prepared to fail.

Nevertheless, what role will the security and other federal agencies play? Attahiru Jega had boasted that Osun election was the best he had conducted since 2011.

Contents of the pact must have included the resolve by the ruling party to stop using state apparatus, including the media and security agencies, to intimidate and harass the opponents. This trend was witnessed in the gubernatorial election in Ekiti State last year.

The APC leaders, including serving state governors, were prevented by the security agents from entering the state to attend solidarity rally in support of former Governor Kayode Fayemi with impunity. Several people were hounded into the cells by operatives of the Department of

State Security (DSS).

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC spokesman was abducted by men of the DSS at wee hours on the eve of gubernatorial election in Osun last August. Hundreds of the leaders were abducted and detained in this manner across the state. DSS State headquarters in Osogbo was literally turned to a refugee camp with APC leaders, who were left to wallow in the premises for weeks, when the cells were filled up. These people were not only disenfranchised, their fundamental human rights were infringed with impunity, even with complicity from the ruling party, whose members boasted of federal might and moved freely before and during the election.

But we could have witnessed the worst election-related violence in Nigeria’s history if Osun and Ekiti people had not persevered.

Osun people saw the election as a liberation struggle, hence they endured in the hands of overzealous hooded security agents, who brandished guns like tots and paraded the streets menacingly in unmarked vehicles.

One hope Nigerians in other states will learn a lesson from Osun and help to liberate Nigeria from the claws of primitive predators perching over our common heritage.

If this trend continues in the general elections, will the pact be respected? Surely, Nigeria belongs to all and like the adage affirms that “those who make peaceful change impossible, will definitely make violent change inevitable” as witnessed in the French Revolution of 1786.

The proposed National Peace Committee as a fall-out of this workshop has to include eminent people of proven integrity,, who are also committed to the ideals of a unified Nigeria. Such issues as infringement of fundamental rights of citizens during election period and security for all must form part of the committee’s mandate.

Above all, we all know INEC has a primary duty to organize the general elections without compromising ethics and sacrificing the rules of the game on the altar of partisanship. If issues raised are not resolved before February 14, I doubt how we can have a credible and acceptable free and fair election.

Otherwise, the Abuja Accord is just an exercise in futility and shows that we are just acting like the proverbial drunkard whose bunch of keys got lost on the right side of the road, only to cross to the left side under a lamp post in

FEATURE

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Tribute To Senator Isiaka Adeleke At 60

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enator Isiaka Adetunji Alani Adeleke, was born on January 15, 1955 in the coal city of Enugu, Enugu State to late Papa Senator Raji Ayoola Adeleke and Madam Esther Adeleke, both of blessed memory During the Civil war (1967 1970), the young Isiaka Adeleke was forced to leave Christ Church School, Enugu to complete his primary education at Alafia Institute, Mokola, Ibadan, Oyo State. He later found himself at the prestigious Ogbomoso Grammar School for his secondary school education, which he completed with flying colours. A man with love for his hometown, Ede, Isiaka Adeleke got employed as a Rate Clerk in the then Ede District Council, under the supervision of Late Alhaji Abubakar Adeyemi Alowolodu, Alias Alhaj 1000. This experience enabled Senator Isiaka Adeleke to have very close rapport with the grassroots people, thus firing his interest in philanthropy and large-heartedness for the lessprivileged. His meagre salary of N40 (then twenty pounds), was always made available for those in need to help themselves, without complaining.

The quest for higher education took him to United States of America, where through doggedness, knack for hard work and studiousness, gained a Master ’s degree in criminal jurisprudence and public administration. A situation that prepared him for future higher public service.

No man in Nigeria’s march to democracy attracted more glamour, candour and visible charisma than the first elected civilian governor of Osun State 1992 – 1993. He exudes admirable air that arouse extreme emotions in friends and foes alike. Isiaka Adeleke electrifies any gathering he finds himself, becoming the cynosure of all eyes.

It is God’s doing.

Urbane, upwardly mobile and brightly decorated in every phase of political authority. This profile of courage like an abstract force has settled at the heart of Osun State and held it in thrall. He walked the precipe without caving in. He traverses the political landscape like a Colossus.

Senator Isiaka Adeleke is a celebration of antonyms, who uses his winning spirit and streak to emerge the custodian of people sovereignty between 1992 and 1993. Nothing, therefore could stop an idea, which time has come ‘THE GUV’, as he is fondly called by his admirers, also arrive the scene with intimidating credentials – youthful, vivacious, witty and a scion of a distinguished political family, elegantly backed up by hard-earned monstrous wealth and a galaxy of eminent friends, who were always there for him at his points of need.

Through hard work, the grace of God and sheer luck, Isiaka

•ADELEKE

By OLUMIDE LAWAL

Adeleke and his brother, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, set up many business ventures, which today has become a conglomerate, among which is the prestigious ADELEKE UNIVERSITY, Ede, an institution of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Who then, is querying the political authority of Otunba Isiaka Adeleke and his impact on socio-economic development of his fatherland and indeed, the State of Osun?

Because, here is a man, who has given so much to life, asking for little, and indeed offering his wide shoulders for all to lean on. A rare quality, that has stood him out as first among equals. The man of the people in its true sense of it, ALLAU AKBAR!!!. A politician of note, who has corned many honours both at home and abroad. They are too numerous to mention.

While in office as the first executive governor of the State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke achieved the creation of a zone for Ede, which today encompasses, Ede South, Ede North, Egbedore and Ejigbo L.G Areas with Ede as the headquarters. He took Osun on global reckoning, having put in place, one of the best civil service in Nigeria and this has impacted positively on successive administrations in the state. With lean resources during his tenure as governor, he facilitated many infrastructural developments in all the nooks and crannies of Osun, inclusive of a buoyant economy for the private sector, a norm that was

motorcycles; cars, hairdresser salon equipment among others.

In 1992, as the governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke partially solved the water problem in Ejigbo, Iwo, Orile-Owu, Ikoyi and Apomu by putting up miniwater schemes. This was in addition to the up-grade of satellite campuses of Ibadan Polytechnic at Iree and Esa-oke to full-fledged polytechnic and College of Technology respectively, while not losing sight of his establishment of the Radio and Television stations that are today Osun Broadcasting Corporation with various annexes.

The Cooperative College, Odeomu, was also the brain-child of Senator Isiaka Adeleke as the governor of Osun State.

On coming to office as the governor in 1992, he through the wisdom of Solomon, filled the then vacant OLUWO stool, which has been a subject of contention for many years. He gave Iwo people an Oba that made Iwo to grow in leaps and bound.

Having performed so well as a governor, Ede community on January 1, 1994, conferred on him, the prestigious title of Asiwaju of Edeland (leader of all) as he was able to put many Ede indigenes in reputable appointments in local government administration. At Ejigbo, Oba Oyeyode Oyesosin made him the Otunba of Ejigbo, in Ikirun, he is the OGA’NLA and at Iree, the Ajagunla. Otunba Isiaka Adeleke’s experience at the Senate between 2007 and 2011 has given him broader focus and clearer vision, which he intends to articulate the more for the benefits of the people of Osun West District on his return to the Senate in June, 2015.

The first Executive Governor of Osun State, as an elder statesman, represents the rare breed of principled and committed politicians, who seeks the good of his people through humanitarian gestures and philanthropic disposition to all and sundry, without let or hindrance, is legendary.

To Isiaka Adeleke, our youths should not allow themselves to be used to destroy lives and properties.

They should not allow themselves to make our nation volatile and unstable, because at the end of the day, no gains are recorded.

To this quintessential “birthday boy” – Isiaka Adeleke, many happy returns.

acknowledged by all and sundry, many years after he left office.

To Asiwaju of Edeland, civility is something that cannot be faked, as it is a frame of the mind, that can be cultivated with patience and discipline. Senator Isiaka Adeleke, therefore sees all Ede people and indeed those of Osun West District as his mentors and benefactors, to whom he owes a world of gratitude at all times and will do all within his capability, to promote those things that unite them rather than those that divide.

At 60, Senator Isiaka Adeleke would rather want his people to let them discuss issues that help the less-privileged, which is a way for great people to understand themselves, their characters and values. To Isiaka Adeleke, the greatest birthday gift, his people of Osun West District could offer him, is their votes for a return to the Senate, to enable him continue to make life more abundant for them, through well-meaning developmental programmes and projects, in addition to the Federal Government getting the 260 Chibok school girls liberated.

Be it recalled, that his tenure in the Senate between 2007 and 2011, •LAWAL wrote in this piece from brought a lot of visible welfare Ede, State of Osun. programmes to the people of Osun West District, as evidenced in awards of scholarships to indigent students, comprehensive health centres, I.C.T Library at Federal Polytechnic, Ede, motorized boreholes in different locations in the Osun West senatorial district, various empowerment programmes for artisans in form of Okada

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he elders are kitted with manifold wisdom, and they are equipped with understanding; having aphorisms they apply to shed light on the realities of life as, and when due. It is often said that the crafty that uses time as cover-up for reason of its harmlessness will soon realize that time that is taken for granted as harmless is more dangerous upon the total accomplishment of its mission, and later turns out to be wiser than the crafty and his folly. Time will never be friendly to a man, who intends to be faster than it because tide, its twin brother, will never allow it to wait for any man, let alone lagging behind mere mortals to be humiliated. Whether an event is slated for twenty years, and another is slated for thirty months, time and tide will soon ripe on them both.

The die is almost cast; and one probability that is sure to change toga and become a content of reality is the election that has been slated for 2015, a year that many thought might never come. All seem set for the biggest of them all, with all stakeholders expressing optimism that popular will that will determine who propels the fates of millions of Nigerians from May 29, 2015, when the tenure of the current Nigerian Head of State comes to an end. Nigerians will have the choice of allowing the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan for another term of four years in office, or allow for a change of guard to see if they can have a better bargain in governance.

We have discovered over the years that whatever good or bad prospect is bequeathed from governance, it is always the general mass of people, who may well correctly be called the downtrodden, that have greatest feeling.

Our experiential reality is engrossed in gloom of maladministration, such that most of our leaders that start well, don’t always end well. Certain events are factored into the process of governance that the intention of wellness is circumvented in cabals’ inordinacy. Leaders soon get embroiled in controversies with their intents and purposes, and the hopes of the masses get hoodwinked and strangulated in debilitating conventional imperialism, where plans and purposes become frustrated.

Anytime people troop to polls to exercise their franchise, it is always with the hope that their portions will receive appropriate consideration from wouldbe leaders. Keeping hope alive has thus become so intrinsic that they often forget those disappointed expectations that have left them more impoverished.

The dictum: ‘When there is life, there is hope’ has so much assumed dominance in shaping our psychic, bearing that rather than give up on evolutionary trend, we make up for inflicted pains of disappointment with internalized iconic doggedness and immunity. This is characteristic of average Nigerian voters, who have as their trademark ‘never-say-die’ nature.

People’s equanimity has remained at the precipice of frustration with successive regimes. Our leaders’

By ade olugbotemi

Afflictions Of The Innocent And Thought Of Redemption

•buhari

exhibition of insensitivity has given the outside world no modicum of assurance that any interventions to assuage the suffering masses will achieve the desired result. Their desire for intervention has been frustrated by our perceived indifference; and they have taken our tolerance as a product of inherent natural timidity. It is therefore considered mere wastage to apply their hard-earned resources on any rescue mission. That is why it has become imperative for us to seek for internal solution, instead of waiting endlessly for a lifeline that may never come, or bring total respite, even if ever availed.

The burden of 2015 is weighing heavily on the ruling class; much more on the presidency and the Federal Executive Council members. This is so because they have just woken up from their long standing slumbering state and it now dawns on them that the time of reckoning is very much around the corner. Nigerians are surprised that President Jonathan and the rulingPeoples Democratic Party (PDP) have become so passionate about ameliorating the pains and sufferings of Nigerians, who are already overburdened by the misrule of and recklessness of six years, when Jonathan has been in-charge, first as acting President for months, when

the late former President kept the whole country in suspense about his true state of health in far away Saudi Arabia, and in full capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief for five years running, with claims by impoverished Nigerians that they have never had it so bad. President Goodluck Jonathan will be the first President in Nigeria to be sworn-in three times, if he emerges victorious in February 14, 2015 general elections.

The Year 2015 is also overburdened in the hands of the ruling class because so many projects and proposals are on PDP’s accomplishment radar for this year only, more than they packaged for the past five years put together. The inclement global economic climate has also failed to provide a traditional hiding place that has shrouded the shortcomings of mismanagement of past years. The year will be able to absorb the pressure, if only the President’s New Year speech is matched with sincere desire to have elections conducted honestly and uninterrupted. The next two months are going to be devoted to electioneering process, with little or nothing to be expected in the area of budget implementation. This period can only be spared unnecessary burden of crises if electoral process turns out to

be free, fair, and credible.

Nigerians are hopeful that afflictions that have hampered the joy of the past are about to abate because people are eagerly looking forward to express their preference of candidates in another round of general elections. With destiny firmly in people’s grip, Nigeria is about to cross a rubicon of travail to a realm of comfort and rest.

This is not considered the best time to surrender to sentiment or give in to surreptitious compromise. Next month’s general elections are as important as the 1993 general elections that have become reference point to date. The same enthusiasm that preceded the elections that produced winner in the late M.K.O. Abiola is saturating the atmosphere once again. The mood then is also almost the same as now. The only difference is that whereas the former was considered as transition from a military to civilian governance, this one is from civilian to civilian.

People believe that the PDP government at the centre has showcased exhaustively her administrative acumen since 1999, when the country returned to civilian rule. So, no verbal expressions or promises of a new thing seem expedient to change the voting pattern of the people any more. Incidentally, All Progressives Congress (APC) also has some states under her control with proofs at their level of how lives can be impacted if and when given opportunity to mount the central podium to administer the whole country. Time has availed people an ample opportunity to objectively compare and contrast through exhibited indices of development before arriving at which of the two major political parties to trust with their future.

Nigerians are doing nothing wrong to willingly surrender their mandate to a leader and, or a political party. Many things will be wrong however with choices of wrong candidates at whatever level, knowing full well that it is the destiny of the whole country that is at stake, at least for another four years.

We must consider objectivity as the propelling force behind any decision we intend to make. With no intervention in election procedures from the ruling party as pledged, and the determination of the electoral umpire to be impartial, the innocent voting populace should be able to save the whole country through their voting rights, so that the next four years will change the trend of dissatisfactions that have plagued our democratic values.

I welcome Osunians, and indeed Nigerians to a blissful election year, when rational decision to have it right at the polls will propel us out of the woods that corruption, greed and avarice, maladministration and carelessness have pitched us. A year, when our destiny, if appropriately treasured like valuable jewels will be redeemed from her pollution of incontinence. Happy New Year!

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