VOL. 9. NO.022 N50THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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Front Page CommentAREGBE ON THE MARCH AGAIN

Who KilledChief Bola Ige,former Attorney-

General andMinister of

Justice? IGE

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed), addressing his numerous admirers during his official commissioning of Baptist Central Elementary School,Ilare, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, last Tuesday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

Aregbesola Honoured: Gets INL Man Of The Year Award

We ‘re Unstoppable•Says Aregbesola As He CommissionsBaptist Elementary School In Ile-Ife

The Symbol of good gov-ernance in the state of Osunhas been on a positive tra-jectory. Recognition forplanning, meticulous atten-tion to details as well as hisperchant for sustainedhard-work has come infrom far and near.

On the 21st of February,the Symbol will be awardedIndependent NewspaperLimited’s Man-of–the-yearaward. The editorial boardof the Newspaper chose him

because he has visiblylaid the emphasis on goodgovernance as a way ofachieving social welfare aswell as social solidarity.

This thrust is important.The process of developmentis predicted on it. Toachieve socially cohesivesociety, Aregbe has had toput together the fiscal pru-dence

required to re-directcapital to build up the pro-ductive base. This is of enor-mous importance for theproductive base to generatesustainable long–term em-ployment. Long term sus-tainable employment is vi-tal for individual self-es-teem. It is also a veritabletool to fight social deviancy

at individual and com-munity level. This translatesinto social solidarity at thelevel of society.

The understanding of,and interpretation of theconcept of society under-pins Aregbe’s socialprogrammes.

This is why hisprogrammes have been re-ally transformative.

CONTINUE ON Pg. 5

2 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, February 20, 2014News

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•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (with mic) cutting the tape to commission Baptist CentralElementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife; with him, are his wife, Sherifat, (2nd left) and the deputy governor, Otunba (Mrs)Titi Laoye-Tomori (right).

Aregbesola Honoured: Gets INL Man Of The Year AwardCONTRARY to the saying that a prophet has no

honour in his own town, the governor of the Stateof Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has been selected

among numerous others for an award by the IndependentNewspapers Limited (INL) tagged: INL Man of the Year Award.

According to the Editor, DAILY INDEPENDENT

Omoworare AssuresAregbesola Of FreeRide To Second Term

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

SENATOR Babajide Omoworare, representingthe Osun East (Ife/Ijesa) Senatorial District ofthe State of Osun at the National Assembly, has said

that Governor Rauf Aregbesola does not need to worryabout reelection for second term, going by hisunprecedented landmark achievements.

According toOmoworare, thedevelopmental projectsbeing executed across thestate by the Aregbesolaadministration are morethan enough to win theAugust 9, 2014governorship election forhim.

Omoworare stated thisin a press statementissued by his MediaAssistant, ComradeTunde Dairo in applaudingthe governor on thecommissioning of BaptistCentral ElementarySchool Ilare, Ile-Ife onTuesday.

The senator, whoexpressed his satisfactionfor Aregbesola’sperformance, describedthe commissioning of theschool as a timelyprogramme to shut updetractors that arepolitically blinded to seethe tremendousachievements of thegovernor.

He said: “Withoutmincing words, my joyknows no boundwhenever I recount thetremendous achievementof Ogbeni RaufAregbesola and the AllProgressives Congress inthe State of Osun and Ile-Ife in particular.

“This is a reflection ofa true Omoluabi; apassionate, visionary andfocused leader, who seesno obstacle asinsurmountable to takeOsun to the desired heightwith his words as hisbond.

Omowarere describedwhat he called therevolution in the educationsector through the schoolfeeding programme,O’MEAL, modernizationof school infrastructure,free uniform, Opon Imoand a host of other uniqueinnovations, as right stepsin the right direction toreposition the educationsector in the State ofOsun.

He stressed: “Give aman education, and he isforever liberated.Education is the bestlegacy that anyone canhave and the directiontaken by Ogbeni is tomake public educationattractive to both the richand the poor. We canboldly say we arereturning to the goldendays of Chief ObafemiAwolowo’s freeeducation era in theWestern Region.”

He maintained thatAregbesola has equallyscored pass mark in youthand agriculturaldevelopment via OYES,road reengineering andconstruction, agriculturalrevolution in O’REAP,O’BEEF and O’ Birds.

The senator stressedthat the achievementswere not onlycommendable, but worthyof emulation by bothfederal and other stategovernments, just as heassured the governor ofundaunted support fromthe Ile-Ife people.

Civil Rights Group Calls For Probe OfViolence In Osun Schools

WORRIED by the incessant misconduct of publicschool pupils in the State of Osun, an Osun basedcivil rights organization, the Peoples Welfare

League (PWL), has urged security agencies in the state toinvestigate the reasons behind indiscipline andgangsterism among the pupils.

According to the PWL,the growing publicmisconduct among thepupils is fast becoming athreat to the peace of thestate, charging the securityagencies to unravel theclashes in some of the highschools in the state.

A press statement issuedand signed by theCoordinator of the group,Comrade AbiodunAgboola, on Wednesday,said it would not be out ofplace to say that therecurring violence amongthe schools’ pupils mightbe ordinary rivalry amongthe pupils after the schoolmerger .

Agboola said should thesecurity agencies discoverthat the pupils were being

used to foment trouble byindividuals or groups, stifferpunishment should be metedout to them, while theirsponsors should beprosecuted accordingly.

He maintained thatrestructuring andreclassification of publicschools by the stategovernment should not bethe basis of chaos, but ratherpromote excellence in theschool system.

The coordinator arguedthat the pupils might havebecome instruments ofanarchy in the hands ofunscrupulous politicians thatare bitter with theuninterrupted peacefulatmosphere of the state.

Calling on parents andguardians to instill

discipline in the theirchildren and wards bygiving them the rightcounseling, Agboola saidproper attention must begiven to the activities of thepupils , so that they do notbecome the devil’sadvocate.

He also urged the parentsand guardians toreciprocate intervention ofGovernor Rauf Aregbesolathrough the educationreform, by ensuring thattheir children and wardsconduct themselvespeacefully and orderly intheir various schools.

Agboola stated that theconstruction of modelschools, the provision ofteaching materials,payment of WASCexamination fees, purchaseof school buses to commutethe pupils and goodwelfare package for theteachers by Aregbesola’sadministration should becommended andreciprocated with goodbehaviour, not only by thepupils, but by their parentsas well.

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

We ‘re Unstoppable

Newspaper, Mr RotimiDurojaye, the award was tocelebrate the governor’sexemplary performance sincehis inauguration in office onNovember 27th, 2010.

Speaking further on theaward, Durojaye stated thatGovernor Aregbesola’snomination for theprestigious award was alsobased on his outstandingaccomplishment, especiallyon the innovative applicationof Opon Imo, tablet ofknowledge as a way ofenhancing academicperformance of pupils inpublic schools across thestate.

In a statement by theorganizers of the event, theaward programme will startwith a lecture to mark thecountry’s centenarycelebration.

The lecture titled:“Nigeria: A BackgroundGlance and the Next 100Years,” will be delivered byProfessor Itse Sagay.

The trio of GovernorsBabangida Aliyu of NigerState, Rochas Okorocha ofImo State and wife of EkitiState Governor, Erelu BisiFayemi will each do a 15-minute critique of ProfessorSagay’s presentation at theevent.

The INL award will be oneof the numerous awards inthe collection of the State ofOsun governor since heassumed the mantle of thestate’s leadership.

Other awards in GovernorAregbesola’s kitty include

but not limited to theOMATEK GoodGovernance Award; AfricanDigital Award and BestGovernor of the Year Award.

It would also be recalledthat Governor Aregbesolawas recently invited to theUnited Kingdom to addressthe British parliament on hisadministration’s O’Mealprogramme, in which pupils

in elementary schools acrossthe state are fed withnutritious meals, which hasresulted into an astronomicalincrease in school enrolmentacross the state.

Responding to the INLaward, the Chairman ofCanada Branch of the AllProgressives Congress(APC), Mr Bolaji Oladoyinstressed that he was lesssurprised by the numerousawards coming thegovernor’s way in view of themonumental development hehas brought to bear on thestate since his inauguration

in 2010.“I am least surprised that

Governor Aregbesola ishonoured by various groupsand organisations, as he hasbrought monumentaldevelopment to all spheresof governance in the statesince his inauguration on27th November, 2010.

“The state of Osun hasnever had it so good sinceits creation in 1991,”Oladoyin emphasized.

THE people of Ile-Ife, top political functionaries inthe State of Osun, stakeholders in education sectorand leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) stormed

the ancient town of Ile- Ife on Tuesday for the commissioningof the Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare in Ile-Ife.

•Says Aregbesola As He Commissions Baptist Elementary School In Ile-IfeBy KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

The school happened to bethe first model elementaryschool to be commissioned inthe state.

The people of the city, whocould not hide their support forGovernor Rauf Aregbesolatrooped out in several

thousands to welcome thegovernor to the city.

Aregbesola, who appearedin the elementary schooluniform headed straight to thepalace of the Ooni of Ife, ObaOkunade Sijuwade andproceeded to the Baptist

Elementary School in companyof the monarch.

Addressing the crowd whogathered for the schoolcommissioning, the governorsaid: “The ongoing monumentaltransformation of education inthe State of Osun isunstoppable. Nobody can stopus.

“Even if we have to step ontoes, we shall continue to build asolid future for the generationyet unborn. The school is notfor Muslims, Christians or

traditionalists, but rather for thepeople of the State of Osun.

“The education of ourchildren must be takenseriously, and we must not playpranks with it under anydisguise to secure a better futurefor our state and the society atlarge.”

He stated that the vision ofhis administration was to buildan educational system thatwould produce great men andwomen in the society.

Aregbesola added that his

administration has built 13elementary schools, 20 middleschools and 13 high schools,with all totaling 46, which wouldbe commissioned before the endof his administration’s firstterm in office.

He also revealed that thestate government is spendingN27.1 billion annually onteachers’ salaries and pension,while Opon Imo project has sofar gulped N1.2 billion.

The governor stressed thatthe capital expenditure so far oneducation stands at N31.1billion.

He also commended thefounding fathers of the BaptistElementary School, Ilare fortheir vision in establishing theschool, which has producedeminent personalities withinand outside Ile-Ife.

The Ooni of Ife in hisaddress, expressed gratitude forthe location of the school andcommended the governor’s giantstrides on education, whileurging the people to rallysupport and continue to prayfor the governor.

Reverend Jeremiah Olakunle,who spoke on behalf of theBaptist Convention traced thehistory of the school anddeclared that the convention isnot in anyway against theeducation policies of thegovernment.

Speaking earlier, the deputygovernor, Otunba (Mrs) GraceLaoye-Tomori, said the newschool has 25 classrooms thatcan house 1000 pupils withmodern facilities.

She said: “The schoolsymbolises possibilities and thatchange is inevitable, despite thefact that some people aremischievous about the project,the government is right on topof the situation and we shallcontinue to work towards betterfuture for our children.

Dignitaries at thecommissioning included theSpeaker of the State House ofAssembly, Honourable NajeemSalaam, APC State Chairman,Elder Adelowo Adebiyi,members of the State ExecutiveCouncil among others.

3 News OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, February 20, 2014

•(R-L) Alhaji Fatai Kolawole, Osun SUBEB Permanent Secretary; Mr Kola Olabisi, OSUN DEFENDER ManagingEditor; Barrister Kunle Oyatomi; Osun APC spokesman, Alhaji Bisi Kolawole and Mr Oyemade during thecommissioning of Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola last Tuesday.

Osun Assembly Orders Conduct Of Referendum For LG CreationBy KAZEEM MOHAMMED

•Amends OSSIEC Law

THE State of Osun House of Assembly hasdirected the State Independent ElectoralCommission (OSSIEC) to proceed to prepare

referendum as part of the process for the creationof additional local government council areas in thestate.

The Speaker,Honourable NajeemSalaam, gave the directiveduring a plenary session atthe floor of the House onMonday.

He also directed the

House committee in-charge of the creation ofmore councils to visit theproposed headquarters ofthe new councils.

According to him, afterthe submission of thereport of the committee

and the referendumorganised by thecommission, the Assemblywould then consider thefinal passage of the OsunState Local GovernmentCreation andAdministration Bill 2014.

Governor of the state,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,had, late last year,presented the bill before theAssembly, seeking the

approval of the House tocreate additional 27 localgovernment council areasin the state.

Meanwhile, theAssembly had passed intolaw, the OSSIECAmendment Bill 2014,seeking to create the officeof an Executive Secretaryas the administrative headof the commission.

Presenting the policy

thrust of the bill before itspassage, the Leader of theHouse, HonourableTimothy Owoeyeexplained that the bill,when passed into law,would give the ExecutiveSecretary the power tohold forth in the absenceof members of thecommission, who aremainly political appointees.

Look at the size andresponsibilities of thecommissioners, Owoeyeargued that there is needto create the office for thepurpose of record-keeping.

In their separatesubmissions, HonourablesJohnson Ojo (Ede South),Samson Fafiyebi(Obokun), Kamil Oyedele( I r e p o d u n / O r o l u ) ,Adegboye Akintunde(Osogbo) and Dejo Bello(Ayedire) canvassed forthe quick passage of thebill.

The lawmakers statedthat an ExecutiveSecretary, who will be acivil servant is needed in thecommission to guide thepolitical heads.

They commended thegovernor for coming upwith such bill to ensurecheck and balances in thecommission.

In his remark, theSpeaker noted that thepassage of the amendmentbill will allow for synergybetween members of thecommission who aremainly political appointeesand civil servants.

Earlier, the Osun StateHotels and other TourismIndustry EnterprisesLicencing AuthorityEstablishment Bill 2014 hadpassed the first reading atthe floor of the House.

The bill was sponsoredby the lawmakerrepresenting Ife CentralConstituency, HonourableAdetilewa Sijuwade.

‘Omisore Is Deceptive’By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

THE claim of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)governorship aspirant in the State of Osun,Senator Iyiola Omisore, that he would employ

500,000 youths at a time has been said to have clearly shownthat he is deceptive.

The Special Adviser tothe Governor on LocalGovernment and ChieftaincyAffairs, Mr Bisi Odewumi,who stated this on Monday,said that the claim was notcoming from somebody whohas credibility.

Considering the amountthe state is taking asallocation, he noted thateven if all the workerspresently working with thegovernment are sacked byOmisore, the resources ofthe state can never cater fortheir salaries, especiallywhen he allegedly promisedto pay N75,000 to each of theemployees.

According to him, unlikeOmisore, the antecedent ofGovernor Rauf Aregbesolasince his school days to thetime he became acommissioner in Lagos Stateand now as a governor, hasshown that he can be trustedat any time.

“What Omisore said thathe would employ 500,000youths is coming from aperson who has no

credibility to justify it. Overthe years since he has beenin government, we have notseen him assisting themasses or standing on theside of the masses, as he hasalways been a capitalist allthrough his life.

“Considering the amountthe state is taking asallocation and its multipliereffect on the masses, you willdiscover that he is just adreamer.

“I see him as a dreamerbecause he has no realisticbasis upon which he isbasing his assumption.

“Even if he is going tospend the whole allocationon employment alone andsack all the workers that arethere now, there is no way hecan achieve that. I know it isnot realistic and it is comingfrom someone who cannot betrusted.

“Omisore has nowherewithal to confrontAregbesola in the electionbecause they are notcomparable.

“When you considerAregbesola’s antecedentssince his school days andwhen he was in Lagos as acommissioner, and now as agovernor, you will discoverthat he has added valuewherever you see himserving the people,” he said.

Noting that the stock-in-trade of the PDP is to causeviolence all in the name ofgetting power, Odewumistressed that no one is afraidof them.

He said that rigging wouldno longer be possiblebecause people will be morevigilant and “make it difficultfor hoodlums to rescuepower from a moreresponsible government”.

Reclassification Of Schools, Good For Education - LecturerBy SHINA ABUBAKAR

THE reclassification of public schools embarkedupon by the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola-ledadministration in the State of Osun has been

described as necessary for revitalising public schools in

the state.This was disclosed by an

educationist and lecturer atthe Obafemi AwolowoUniversity (OAU), Ile-Ife,Mr Laolu Folorunsho, in aninterview with journalists inhis office.

According to him, pupilsof primaries five and six, whowere moved out ofelementary schools weremoved into middle schools,which were formally theprimary schools within thevicinity, saying the pupilsautomatically complete theirJSS classes within the samestructure.

He added that the middleschool also houses pupilsof Junior SecondarySchools, while they move toa high school, which is alsowithin the radius of theirvarious communities.

Folorunsho stressed thatbuilding new model schoolsbecomes a necessity torepositioning education inthe state, to this end; aconducive teaching-learning environment mustbe put in place for pupilsand teachers.

He added that record hasshown that government haspulled down over 4,000dilapidated schoolstructures across the state,saying if the presentconstruction of schools iscompleted; it wouldaccommodate 20,000elementary pupils, about thesame number at middleschools and 30,000 pupils at

high school.The lecturer counseled

that government should notstop at that but shouldcontinue to build moreschools; however, it shouldalso ensure the massiverehabilitation of the existingstructures, which are stillconducive for learning.

According to him,schools are among the bestbuildings in thecommunities in the past, buttoday are among the worst,assuring that the revolutionin the education sectorwould ensure that the statecompetes academically

among the best globally.“The immediate-past

administration in the stateknew that new buildings forschools are necessary,considering that the existingones have been there fordecades, yet they lacked thewill power to execute thenoble idea”, he said.

He also disclosed that thepresent structures being putup by government wouldremain there for years tocome, signifying that theAregbesola administrationis building not just for today,but for the futuregenerations.

Murder: Four Brothers Bag Life ImprisonmentBy ISMAIL UTHMAN

FOUR biological brothers have beensentenced to life imprisonment by a Stateof Osun High Court, sitting in Ila-Orangun,

Headquarters of Ila Local Government CouncilArea of the State of Osun, for killing a farmer.

The convicts were:Olabisi Adeniji, AdelowoAdeniji, Oladapo Adenijiand Kolawole Adeniji.

According to the chargesheet obtained by OSUNDEFENDER onWednesday, the brothersconspired to kill oneBamidele Ajiboye at Oyifarm on April 13, 2004,

following a disputebetween their family andthe deceased’s family.

The court presided overby Justice J. O. Oloyedefound the four convictsguilty in the murder ofAjiboye, a farmer in Oyi,a community in IfedayoLocal GovernmentCouncil Area of the state.

The convicts, who hadbeen standing trial since2006, were arraigned on atwo-count charge ofconspiracy and murder.

The Director of PublicProsecution in the StateMinistry of Justice, MrDapo Adeniji told the courtthat the offencescommitted by the convictswere contrary to sections324 and 319 (1) of thecriminal code Cap 34 lawsof Osun state, Nigeria2003.

The convicts had earlierbeen sentenced to death by

a State High Court, but aCourt of Appeal sitting inAkure presided over byJustice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun later ordered for theretrial of the case at theState High Court.

The case howeverresumed for hearing in theIla-Orangun Division ofthe State High Court in2009 and it suffered longadjournment.

In his ruling, JusticeOloyede convicted theaccused persons andsentenced them to lifeimprisonment.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, February 20, 20144 News

•(L-R) Mrs Folashade Femi-Lawal, Segment Head, Public Sector and Telecoms, MFS, First Bank; Senior SpecialAssistant to the Governor on Youth Empowerment, Barrister Femi Ifaturoti; Chairman OYES ImplementationCommittee, Mr Ayotokunbo Ogunlade; Technocentral System-Firstmonie Super Agent, Mr Femi Oyedele; SSA to theGovernor on General Duties, Mr Adebayo during a press conference in conjunction with State of Osun Governmentat Governor’s Office, Osogbo, recently.

Change Of NameI, formerly known as

B A M G B A L AWALIYU, now wish tobe known andaddressed asB A M G B A L AWALIYU TOBI. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic should take note.

Change Of NameI, formerly known as

SALAWU SEYIEMMANUEL, now wishto be known andaddressed as SALAWUO L U W A S E Y IEMMANUEL. All formerdocuments remain valid.General public shouldtake note.

Change Of NameI, formerly known as

OKUNADE RAMONIOLAYINKA, now wishto be known andaddressed asOKUNADE RAMONADEYINKA. All formerdocuments remain valid.General public shouldtake note.

Change Of NameI, formerly known as

S A L A W UOYEGADE, now wishto be known andaddressed as SALAWUO Y E G A D EABIODUN. All formerdocuments remain valid.General public shouldtake note.

Change Of NameI, formerly known as

O Y E D O K U NK H A D I J A TMHORADEKE, nowwish to be known andaddressed asO Y E D O T U NK H A D I J A TMORADEKE. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic should take note.

Change Of NameI, formerly known as

A D E B I S IMUYDEEN OLA,now wish to be knownand addressed asA D E B I S IM U Y D E E NOLALEKAN. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic should take note.

First Bank, OYES Empower 3,000 YouthsBy KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

TO promote entrepreneurial development and skillacquisition in Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria,through its mobile payment solution, FirstMonie,

has successfully empowered 3,000 cadets of the OsunYouth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) as First Monieagents.

The First Bank and OYESpartnership plan as one ofthe initiatives to curbunemployment in the stateand will equip the cadetswith sound business ideas,customer service skills andfinancial management.

As FirstMonie agents,who are OYES cadets, theywill be required to educatecustomers on the stepsrequired to log on to theFirstMonie platform andensure that businesslocation remains open forrendering of Firstmonieservices during normalbusiness hours.

They will also maintainsufficient cash and e-moneyfloat balances forcustomers’ enquiries andneeds with the Firstmonieservice, which operates asimplified process thatrequires customer name andmobile telephone number.

According to the Head,Marketing and CorporateCommunications, FirstBank, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, with the OYESand FirstMonie partnership,

the bank aimed at drivingfinancial inclusion, as wellas wealth creation byproviding opportunities for

youths in the State of Osun.The bank is also serving

as merchants and agentsinstrumental to deepeningfinancial inclusioncampaign through agencybanking, while leveragingon the First Bank brand andwide network of branchesthrough its mobile moneysolution, FirstMonie.

Confab: Yoruba Group Urges Stakeholders To Select Delegates On MeritTHE conveners of the Yoruba Constitutional

Conference have urged all stakeholders who are tonominate delegates to the forthcoming National

Conference to be cautious before endorsing anyone as adelegate.

In a letter signed onbehalf of the conveners byNigeria’s former NationalTeam Captain, Chief

Olusegun Odegbami(MON), the group advisedthat would-be delegatesmust not “trivialize the

forthcoming NationalConference or reduce it to aplatform for canvassingesoteric interests at theexpense of all-inclusivenational interests.”

The letter, titled:“Imperatives of a NationalConference,” said: “TheNational Conference willsoon commence and yourorganisation is expected tonominate some delegates.We have noticed that manyare those jostling for a sloton your delegate’s list. Wetherefore want to appeal toyou to be circumspect inendorsing anyone as adelegate on your platform.Whatever you do todayshall be history tomorrow.

“In choosing yourdelegates, remember that thehistory of agitation for aNational Conference isprimarily a movement for anew Nigeria. All

altruistically patrioticNigerians hold the view thatthe country would neverachieve its touted potentialsas the Giant of Africa unlessit is restructured to reflecttrue political and fiscalfederalism, as we had in theFirst Republic.

“Since that structure wastruncated by military fiatand replaced with a unitarystructure, we have beentalking about the good olddays, while other countrieslook to a better future. Toput it in another context, ouryesterday was better thantoday and if nothingchanges in terms of politicaland fiscal restructuring, ourtomorrow may even beworse, with risingunemployment, poverty,extremism and other socialvices.

“The advantages ofreturning to a truly federal

structure are many. It wouldengender significantreduction in the cost ofgovernance and this in turnwould magically reducecorruption. Mostimportantly, it wouldunleash the inherentcreative and developmentpotentials of all federatingunits.

“It is also important tocorrect the misconceptionthat ethnic jingoists arepushing for a NationalConference in order tobreak up the country.Agitation for NationalConference was actuallystarted by foremost civilsociety activists like thelate former President ofNigerian Bar Associationand pioneer Chairman ofCampaign forDemocracy, Alao Aka-Bashorun, late BabaOmojola, Real Admiral

Ndubuisi Kanu, ComradeShehu Sanni, and manyothers.

“The idea of a NationalConference is primarily torestructure a country in away that is agreeable toall its peoples. If alldelegates unite to pursuethis purpose, then ourconstitutional activistswould not have foughtand laboured in vain.Please, consider theirsweat and blood, considerthe future of your children- born and unborn - andselect your delegatescircumspectly.”

The group promised itsreadiness to work with allstakeholders “in a waythat will empower thisconference to restructureNigeria for the benefit ofall Nigerians.”

Aregbesola CommendedFor Style Of Governance

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

A political group, Equity Vanguard, has lent its voicein lauding the activities of the state government ofOsun under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

in bringing good governance to the grassroots, as exemplifiedin his efforts across the different sectors, without leavingout his six-point integral action plan.

In a press statement signedby the group’s Public RelationsOfficer; Komolafe Kunle andmade available to OSUNDEFENDER, it stated thatbecause of the acceptability ofthe progress made in theexecution of the six-pointintegral action plan and thesuccess of the mass registrationof people into the AllProgressiveS Congress (APC)in the state of Osun, EquityVangaurd decided to identify.

In its words, “EquityVanguard applauds the massregistration of the people intothe All ProgressiveS Congress(APC) as an advantage over theopposition parties in theforthcoming elections.”

It also appreciated thetransformation programmesbeing enjoyed in all the APC-

controlled states in thecountry and called forconcerted efforts in theimplementation of morep e o p l e - o r i e n t e dprogrammes.

The group added thatgood governance is theability of any leader,governments or governingbodies to meet the specificneeds of her people, asopposed to selected groupsor individual feasting on theresources of the state, asseen in the past.

It also implored allstakeholders to be vigilantand proactive as they movecloser to the gubernatorialelection come 9th of Augustin the State of Osun.

We Support GoodGovernment - Osun NURTW

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

THE Osun State Council of the National Union of RoadTransport Workers Union (NURTW) has stated that as aforemost union that upholds peace at all levels, it is

committed to good government and will stand by theadministration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to make life easierfor the people, adding that it would not oppose the good plans

of government but rathersupport such plans.

This statement was containedin a speech made by the StateChairman; Alhaji IsiakaOlayiwola Afolabi, recentlyduring a press conference calledto address the media on activitiesof the union which was held at itssecretariat beside Sadiat Hotel,Osogbo.

Alhaji Afolabi also stated thatthe NURTW being an effectiveorgan of peace and goodgovernance without political biasdoes not support any politicalparty.

“The NURTW does notsupport any political party butwould support the government ofthe day. Towards this end, theunion has consistently promotedthe activities of the governmentin power”.

While fielding questions fromjournalists, the NURTW chiefstated that the Union was thecustodian of peace in the stateand they had helped thegovernment of the day.

“The NURTW in the State ofOsun is the most disciplined unionand as a result, any governmentthat succeeds is as a result of theco-operation of the union”, headded.

While commending thegovernment of the State of Osunfor the massive network of roadconstruction, he solicited the handof friendship of governmentcalling on it to always see theNURTW as a partner in progress.

In his words, “ the ultra modernroad network has madetransportation easier, lesshazardous, safer and vehiclemaintenance-compliant.

We count on the support ofgovernment for our activities. Asa union, we pledge to alwaysuphold the dignity of the NURTWand work in accordance with theunion’s constitution.”

The NURTW helsman

appreciated the government forproviding 50 buses for the unionwhich was obtained through abank soft loan.

He revealed that the one yearcomprehensive insurance on eachof the vehicle and the paymentof 20 per cent bank interest ofthe loan that would furtherenhance the capability of theunion in discharging itsresponsibilities to its clients.

Afolabi maintained that OsunNURTW was the first to establishwar against motor park thuggerytherefore with its membershipstrength of 250,000 spread acrossthe 30 local governments and areaoffice were effective partakersand contributors to the economyof the state and in the playing ofkey roles in the overalldevelopment of the state.

“As Chairman of NURTW inthe state, it is my duty to upholdthe constitution of the union andensure that members dischargetheir socio-economic duties in anatmosphere of peace, law andorder.

“To give effect to this, I ledmembers of the union on a tourof all the local governmentcouncils last year to sensitizemembers on the need to supportthe government of the day.”

In his contributions, a formerstate chairman of the union andnow National Vice-President ofthe union, Alhaji AdegboyegaTomori, charged members not togo against the government of thestate.

He reminded members thatthey had gone beyondhooliganism and thuggery andwere vital to the economy of thestate and called for a symbioticrelationship between the union andthe state government so as toallow for peace and developmentto take place and for thegovernment to be favourablydisposed to them.

Mrs Folake said FirstBank aims to leverage thewidely accepted mobiletechnology to serveNigerians with the mostinnovative financialservices by providingbanking services to thelarge segment of theunbanked.

5 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, February 20, 2014

AREGBE ON THE MARCH AGAIN

The abuse of the termtransformative hasunfortunately diminishedits importance. Indeed ithas made it rather trite.Nevertheless, in Aregbe’scase the results have beentransformative. The state ofOsun today is at peace withitself. It has not always beenso. Not so long ago underthe ancient regime the statewas associated withmayhem, blood andthunder.

The people have since said,NEVER AGAIN. It’s goodbyeto all that. The state of Osunis today focused on long-termsustainable development. Ag-riculture is being modern-

ized. The school system is be-ing refurbished. This meansthat an entire generation is be-ing prepared to face the future.There can be no greater em-powerment.

Across all areas of humanendeavor a sustainable founda-tion is being laid. Aregbe istruly on the March again. Thishas left what remains of a con-fused opposition in Osun com-pletely wrong-footed. OgbeniAregbesola has become toopowerful a monster for themto defeat in the coming gover-norship election due to hissterling performance. Win-ning the next gubernatorialelection for the oppositionlooks very much like pursuinga mission impossible.

The opposition of coursehave unwittingly become

Aregbe’s chief campaign manag-ers. With elections just monthsaway they have not transformedthemselves. By now they reallyought to be not just an opposi-tion but a government-in-wait-ing. The problem here is that agovernment-in-waiting actuallywaits armed with a credible, al-ternative programme.

The Osun branch of the PDPhas significally failed to developany form of programme. This isobviously because of intellec-tual poverty and a lack of focus.Since the PDP’s modus oper-andi is about 'come and chop'perhaps there is no need for aprogramme in the first place.What for example was launchedrecently by a governorshipwannabe - Iyiola Omisore - can-not be described as aprogramme as it lacks any formof structure. It is in reality noth-

ing but confused thoughts. Theemphasis here is on confusedthinking and not ideas. It is notthe kind of thing that will mo-bilize let alone galvanize theelectors.

This is why the electorate isindifferent to the PDP in Osun.Indeed hostile might be a bet-ter word. In contradiction theresponse to the APC registra-tion has been overwhelming.This shows that hope has beenrenewed through Aregbe’s in-tervention. In a few monthstime, Aregbe’s well meritedmandate will be re-invali-dated. The endorsement willbe overwhelming and unprec-edented. He has earned it.With a second term Osunwould have been fully trans-formed under him. For thepeople of the state of Osun itwill be a great leap forward.

Osun LG Creation Is Commendable

I want to use thisopportunity to laybare my mind on the

bill for creation ofadditional localgovernment council areaspresented by thegovernor of the State ofOsun, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola to the StateHouse of Assembly forapproval.

There is nogainsaying the factthat local governmentis the closest arm ofgovernment to thepeople and anyadministration thatdeems it fit to createmore localgovernment councilareas should be seenas one that iscommitted to thedevelopment at thegrassroots.

I could recollectthat former GovernorAdebisi Akande had

proposed to createadditional localgovernment councilareas before theexpiration of histenure in 2003 due tohis commitment tothe development at thegrassroots, butunfortunately, the

administration ofOlagunsoye Oyinlolathat came after himcancelled the wholeprocess.

However, now thatthe presentadministration ofAregbesola has soughtthe approval of thestate parliament tocreate addition 27

local governmentcouncil areas, it mustbe commended.

Besides, there is theneed to implore thestate legislature toshow proactiveness inthe passage of the bill,so that the purpose forwhich it was proposed

can be fulfilled.I understand that the

bill has passed itssecond reading, butfor the benefit of thegenerality of thepeople, the lawmakersshould expediteaction on it. Theyshould bear in mindthe fact that people areanxiously waiting to

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see the bill approved,because that is whatthey have beenwaiting for.

In considering thebill, however, the law-making body shouldnot forget that thereare grouses on thechoice of coverageand locations of theproposed councils,which must beaddressed beforepassing the bill intolaw.

Also, the people ofOsun should acceptthe local governmentwherever it is locatedin good faith, andremember that not alltowns will beheadquarters of thoselocal governmentcouncil areas.

• I B R A H I MBADMUS, Ikirun,State of Osun.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, Febraury 20, 20146 INTERVIEW

Osun Is Working On Daily Basis - OladejoAbiodun Oladejo is a member of the Board of Rural Development, Water

Resources and Infrastructure in the State of Osun and in this interview withMOSES MOBA of OSUN DEFENDER, he spoke extensively on the prob-lems with the nation’s polity and Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s style ofadministration. Excerpts:-

OSDF: Can we meet you sir?OLADEJO: Thank you OSUN

DEFENDER team. My name is AbiodunOladejo, by the compacted fate of life; I wasborn in Aagba in Boripe Local GovernmentCouncil Area of the State of Osun over 50years ago. My father was a successful farmer.I attended a primary school in one of theremote areas in the state, after which I went toKiriji Memorial College, Igbajo, whichhappens to be one of the oldest secondaryschools, even in the then Western State beforeI proceeded to The Polytechnic in Ibadan,where I studied Mass communication. So,conveniently I can say that, I am a Journalist.I served my nation in the National Youthservice Corps scheme in Calabar and I was thecalled PRO at that time. The unforeseencircumstances in Nigeria then, which are alsorampant today, catapulted me to Austria inEurope about 23 years ago, where I was tryingjust like others to seek greener pasture. It wasa turbulent experience, so to say, but whenhome was not providing what it should, thenone needed to do what I did some years back.I did not regret going to Europe because Ilearnt a lot of lessons positively andnegatively. And they were my parameters andyardsticks and templates that have been mybedrock holding my life till date. You see,Europe was built by people. Nigeria must alsobe built by people. Manna cannot fall fromheaven. These are some of the reasons Idecided to come home, to participate actively,politically and on business level and also tocontribute my quota and to join hands withthe government to alleviate the “suffering andsmiling” of my people and to put succour totheir pains. That is where I am today.

OSDF: Why your choice of the progressivecamp?

OLADEJO: Let me draw from the well ofPlato that said: “One of the penalties ofpeople running away from the politics is thatthey will be led by the inferiors. AlbertEinstein, a German philosopher, alsocorroborated with Plato theory, that the worldcannot be destroyed by evil doers, but thosewho are urged, but did nothing. Thecorroborative effect of these wise sayingsenveloped my thinking, my passion and myvision to go into politics. Yes, back to yourquestion that why not the other politicalparties. You will agree with me that inAmerica, we have the democrats and therepublicans, to the left or to the right.

I learnt from the progressive qualities of thelate Chief Obafemi Awolowo. My father wasan active member of UPN and those of hissiblings and as a matter of fact, some of themhave newly joined the progressive APC.Progressive, as the name connotes, representsthe interest of the generality of the people. Itis not a politics of the few people, wheresome will be enjoying and wallowing in theocean of affluence and many will be in abjectpoverty. So, these are some of the progressivelegacies that Chief Obafemi Awolowo gave tous, built in us, and inspired us to practice. Itis a synergy that has really worked well,especially in the South West Nigeria. Do youwant to talk about education which is aprogressive discovery of our ignorance? Thatis one of the reasons why I have come to joinhands with my people to follow this line ofemancipation. I am very happy to be in thisgroup, I will stay in this group and I willcontinue to perform my right to the later.

OSDF: As a Nigerian in Diaspora, whatremarkable difference can you point out inthe political system in Nigeria and inEurope?

OLADEJO: Well, some people would saythat, Rome was not built in a day. Yes, that istrue! I think there is a sharp differencebetween the political participation, politicalremuneration and political ejaculation,depending on how you use the words. Interms of political mechanism, Europe has gonefar ahead. What we are seeing today in Nigeriais what I sometimes call political Nazism; Itdoes not augured well with the masses. That iswhy I am participating as a progressivemember to bridge the gap. There is going to bechanges and it must be done according tointernational standards, in order to achievesame level with the European and American

systems. There is a lot of work to be done.OSDF: What is your take on the nation’s

political system?OLADEJO: The nation’s political system

is a very nascent one. Sometimes, it could bevery nauseating. I am mortified, petrified andstupefied for the present federal governmentof today in Nigeria. It is a government that issuffering from narcolepsy, a sleeping problem,because when people sleep a lot, thensomething is wrong somewhere. It is very,very unfortunate. Despite all the resources inthis country, we are still struggling. I havebeen to many countries in Europe and eventhe US. I have discovered that one of theblessed countries is Nigeria. Why? Why?Why? Those are the questions in peoples’minds. Why are we suffering? Infact,sometimes I see us as a people that are over-fed. By nature, Nigeria is over-fed withpotentialities. In Europe, the weathercondition and the environment where I livewith my family in Austria, the people liveonly on taxes and technologies. They do nothave seaports, no mineral resources likeNigeria. In fact, the population of Austria isabout 9 million. Nigeria has almost 200 milliontoday. We do not have the accurate figure. Thepotentials we have today, we are not able toharmonize them. So who is to be blamed? Ofcourse, we have to blame ourselves for theabundance. We have everything, but we havenothing. In Europe, many countries have fewthings, but have almost everything. It is anirony, it is an in paradox. There must be avoice against oppressive system in Nigeria.

OSDF: What message do you have for thepeople of the state of Osun?

OLADEJO: Very well, the State of Osunin the last three and a half year has been onwhat I call a salvable redemption beingushered by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. I metGovernor Aregbesola when he was theCommissioner for Works in Lagos State. WhatI saw then in his office is still lingering in mymemory today because Aregbesola is apaladin, who has empathy for the people andnot like others that has apathy for the people.Some people come to you as a blessing, whileothers come as a lesson. He is a quintessential,

a celebrant and an activist. Today, in the Stateof Osun, Aregbesola is a blessing to thepeople. The progressive and theinfrastructural development that is going on inthe state are unprecedented and can also befelt by the deaf the blinds. This state hasbecome a reconstruction and re engineeringsite. Aregbesola is a re-jigging, a sharpdeparture from the whole of others. In Nigeria,we need people who have sharp minds. Andthat is why today, the level of development inthe State of Osun has been very gargantuanunder the Ogbeni’s administration. Theinfrastructural development that the otherparty could not achieve for close to eightyyears, in just three and a half years,Aregbesola has surpassed them. Probably, theother party would have needed 100 years tomatch Aregbesola’s three years achievements.I am not a praise singer, but what I have seenon the ground in the State of Osun is thatOsun is working on daily basis. This is goodfor democracy and for the people of the stateand Nigeria at large because others will borrowa leaf from the Ogbeni’s administration.

OSDF:What is your take on Aregbesola’sstyle of administration?

OLADEJO: He is an unusual personrunning an unusual government. I went toLagos when he was the Commissioner forworks then, to inform him of my ambition torepresent my constituency at the House ofRepresentatives and he said, Ok, you are inEurope, come over and let us work together.My federal constituency consists of Boripe,Ifelodun, Odo-Otin. Within one and a halfyears that I combed the nooks and crannies ofthe three LGAs, I was endorsed as theircandidate during AD days. I went to theprimaries, and was voted and nominated, butbecause of the political manipulation, I wasrobbed of the dream to be in Abuja then. Thevision I saw in Aregbesola, even though, theother party, PDP, invited me to come overwith the promise to give me something, I stillstick till date with Ogbeni and the APC.Today, I am a member of one of the boards,Rural Development, Water Resources andInfrastructure. I will continue to play my rolesactively and subsequently to get to the place

of my dream to serve my people at the highestlevel. Interestingly today, PDP as a party is asdead as dodo. Nobody can revive it again. So,we are telling our people to vote for APCbecause APC is a party for the people. So,when people come to APC, they recognizethat it is a progressive party working for thepromotion of an egalitarian society. Nigeriansmust have relief come 2015. Progressives willtake over the government at the centre andNigeria will work again.

OSDF: What are your observations if youare to compare between Oyinlola andAregbesola’s administration?

OLADEJO: You see, I believe in reality, Iam not fetish and I do not want to praise-singanybody. In fact, this is not a political talk.There is a sharp difference between Oyinlola’sseven and half years and Aregbesola’s threeand a half years administrations respectively.The difference is clear. It is the samegovernment that was there and could notperform or construct all the roads embarkedupon by the Aregbesola’s administration.Take a look at the schools reclassificationprogramme going on in the State of Osun.Aregbesola came up with O’YES innovationand today the Os have been spread intodifferent groups. We have O’ meal, O’ reap,O’ Agric and so on. I think in the next fewyears, Aregbesola will have hundreds of Os forthe benefit of our people in State of Osun. Itis all about vision and we must live in anorganised society. The society must be re-arranged for the betterment of our people. Itmust be scientifically and electronically done.The world is changing technologically, andState of Osun cannot afford to be left behind.By the grace of God, we shall lead for othersto follow. It is a critical job that thisadministration is handling and several toes arebound to be stepped upon. I can assure youthat at the end of the day, everybody will behappy. So, the difference is enormous thatcannot be compared. The developmentalprojects that Ogbeni is doing are alarming andencouraging. The APC States in the SouthWest, including Edo State, are working andpeople can testify to this. It is not a party ofangels, but they are better off than others. Weare working assiduously to win the centre, so,that there will abundance for all. We do notwant kleptocratic system of government.

OSDF: Do you have any massage for themembers of your constituency.

OLADEJO: Yes! Let me start from thestate. Two elections will be held in the statethis year, and I want people to come out andvote en masse for APC because it is aprogressive government. According to masterMartin Luther King (Jnr.), you do not have todemand justice from the oppressors, butfreedom must be demanded. This was the zealthat made Aregbesola to fight for three and ahalf years to reclaim his stolen mandate. He isa fighter, and we supported him. Therefore, Iwant the people of the State of Osun tosupport this government in this direction.

As local government election is fast-approaching, as well as the gubernatorialelection, I want my people to vote en mass forAPC for the continuity of Ogbeni RaufAregbesola’s administration. Some peoplehave arrogated themselves that they will rulefor 60-100 years. Who knows tomorrow?They are talking like God. We thank God thattoday, the government of the State of Osununder the leadership of Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, is a powerful and ordainedgovernment. I want my people in the state andin my constituency to support sterlingperformance of Ogbeni Aregbesola because hehas given a midas touch to everything in theState of Osun. For instance, free education,free medical attention, free Opon Imo (TabletOf Knowledge) for our children and so on andso forth. I also want Nigerians to vote en massfor APC in the presidential election come 2015for a progressive change in the system.

•OLADEJO

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, Febraury 20, 2014 7PHOTOTALK

Official Commissioning Of Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, StateOf Osun, By Governor Rauf Aregbesola, In Ile-Ife, Last Tuesday. Photo: GBENGA

ADENIYI.

•A sea of heads at the programme.

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed) acknowledging cheers from his admirers.

8 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, Febraury 20, 2014PHOTOTALK

Official Commissioning Of Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, State OfOsun, By Governor Rauf Aregbesola, In Ile-Ife, Last Tuesday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•(L-R) Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam; Chief of Staff to State of Osun Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola and Special Adviser to State ofOsun Governor on Security, Barrister Adekunle Amos at the event.•

•State of Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) interim Chairman, Elder Lowo Adebiyi; state former deputy governor, Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin and state deputy governor,Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori.

•(L-R) The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat, on the occasion.

9OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, Febraury 20, 2014 PHOTOTALK

•Governor Aregbesola (arrowed) acknowledging cheers from his admirers on the occasion.

•A cross section of pupils during the programme.

•Some of the teachers at Baptist Central Elementary School.

Official Commissioning Of Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, State OfOsun, By Governor Rauf Aregbesola, In Ile-Ife, Last Tuesday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

10 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, Febraury 20, 2014PHOTOTALK

•Enthusiastic supporters of Aregbesola at the event.

•Governor Aregbesola (2nd left); his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori and some of the State of Osun Executive members in elementary school uniform on theoccasion.

•Aregbesola (2nd left); Laoye-Tomori (2nd right) with some Baptist Central Elementary School pupils.

Official Commissioning Of Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, StateOf Osun, By Governor Rauf Aregbesola, In Ile-Ife, Last Tuesday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

11 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, Febraury 20, 2014FEATURE

Now That Schools Are Schools

By AMIEL M. FAGBULUB

THE arrival of a new childshould ordinarily be a thingof joy, not only for the lucky

parents, but also for those aroundwho love them and know the hazardsand hardships of child-bearing. So,one who knows what it means for achild to be seated and learning in apleasant environment cannot butrejoice with those state governmentsthat are bending over backwards toprovide first-class physical facilitiesfor the children to learn in.

Most people take for granted thatgovernments are only doing what theyneed to do by providing functional,spacious and convenient facilities forthe children at school. They hardlypause to think of the extreme cost ofthose facilities and the juggling ofbudgets that have to be done to meetthe other needs of the parents ofthose children for good roads, healthcenters, safe drinking water, and tosome extent work. I think if they do,very few of them will want to be Stategovernors for whom we should reallybe sorry because of the stress theyundergo just to make a dent on thestate of hopelessnessin which mostNigerians have found themselves.

Being blessed with a child isunfortunately just the beginning ofmany human problems. Children needfood and clothing; they are helplessand so need to be attended to likekings most of the time. They alsoknow how to yell when they lackanything! God bless them.

Those governments that areshunning cheaper, less safe andeffective school structures and are atthe same time increasing the numberof children going to school are notunaware of the need to ‘feed andclothe’ these children who need to beattended to properly. It is a heroic actand one of great commitment foranyone to take up the expensivechallenge of putting up many purpose-built learning institutions across a stateas large as that of Ìcun, and providingat the same time food, uniform andinstructional materials that aredelivered at the cuttingedge oftechnology.

Fortunately, these children have noreason to yell now because they areprovided with almost everything thatthey need to enjoy schooling, learning,and securing their future. The qualityand quantity of teachers have beenassured; parents have also beenrelieved of the burden of paying for athousand and one things for theirchildren’s education; and childrenhave not had it so good in Nigeriasince independence. They shouldtherefore guard what they have beengiven on a platter of gold jealously.

A long time ago, I attended King’sCollege, Lagos. I taught at theGovernment College, Ibadan. I wasPrincipal of Edo College, Benin City.As an inspector, I visited educationalinstitutions from Warri to Ilaro. As aChief Inspector, I knew intimately allsecondary schools in the old WesternRegion. Above all, I was part of the

Aiyetoro Comprehensive High Schooldream. I feel qualified therefore to saythat the standard of the provisionsbeing made systematically for childrenof the State of Ìcun match and insome respects surpass what thoseschools of the past that have becomelegends had.

With the injection of dedicated andproperly oriented head teachers, andthe internalization of theÌmÍluabiphilosophy, there is no reasonwhy these schools cannot match orsurpass the greatness of King’s,Igbobi, Baptist Academy, Queen’s,St. Anne’s, Aiyetoro, Ikenne, andother great schools that have becomelegends of our time. That however is astory for another day at anotherplace.

Now that schools are really schoolsand qualified teachers and not quacksare in-charge of the future of ourchildren, some of us who have beenaround for almost too long arealready concerned about the future ofthe schools that are being celebratedtoday.

Once upon a time, there was abeautiful super-building known simplyas ‘1004’ in Lagos. Within ten or soyears, it still looked beautiful on theoutside, but it had been turned into arat-infested slum inside. I lived thereonce and so did top civil servants Thesame is true of some hostels at ouruniversities that became slums andhealth hazards after a few years ofglamour. One can go on and on.

Already at Sabo in Ilesa some

people have found it very attractive touse the premises of a school forconvenience and other suspiciouspurposes on a regular basis. Not onlyare they unrepentant, but also sodegenerate as to attack those whoquestion their presence there. Thatsingle incidence is a good pointer towhat future challenges could be.

These structures built at great costby visionaries, who have resisted theurge to use the funds available forcauses less important to the future ofthe State will no doubt be degradedby use. It will need foresight andcalculated planning to ensure that theyare used with care and are maintainedappropriately.

There are many strategies thatcould be adopted to safeguard thefuture of these buildings. An obviousone is for government to employ oneor two guards to keep watch aroundthe clock especially after schoolhours. Another is for the buildings tobe handed over to the community toupkeep and secure. The third is forthe local government council in whichthe school is located to takeresponsibility for keeping themproperly maintained and secure.Another is to have a dedicated bodyto do nothing more than maintain allsuch facilities as they becomecommonplace in all our towns andcities.

The demerit of the first is thatbecause schools belong to the people,it is an absolute disservice to thecommunity for it not to make an input– any input - to providing educationfor its children. What one gets free iseasier forgotten than what one really

worked for.Handing the building over to the

community has its downturn. Do thepeople feel committed enough toundertake the responsibility ofkeeping the school absolutely clean atall times? What if the will is there butthe wherewithal to accomplish what isdesired is not? These and otherquestions need to be asked andanswered satisfactorily before anyaction is taken in that direction.

Of the first three options, the mostappealing is that the schools behanded to the LGA to maintain andguard vigilantly. That body, unlikecommunities, can be sanctioned, if itfails to perform this duty. Also, thebudgetary obligations can be met byany LGA that is serious andresponsible. And since the LGA issupposed to be the people’sgovernment, the communities in whichthey are situated will be involved inone form or the other in their upkeepand proper use.

Finally, a Schools MaintenanceBoard that will also have a TrainingSchool attached to it, to train andcertify janitors at the highest level toupkeep schools, and public andprivate facilities could be establishedto do the work. Expertise would bedeveloped and costs would beminimized by offering paid services toinstitutions and private companies. Ifproperly managed it could be theanswer to elongate the lives of thesestructures.

We are witnessing history today.Let us ensure that those who made itpossible are there tomorrow.

•Front view of Ilare Central Elementary School.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, Febraury 20, 2014

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- Management

BECAUSE I took my time tounderstand the richness of mylanguage, I found out that there

are ready made answers to all givenand yet to happen issues. Agreed,some of the axioms, truism, andparadoxical statements weregenerated from unverifiablesuperstitions arriving at from fablesand innuendoes. But when a Yorubaelder says: “Iyan ogun odun a magbona felifeli” meaning (pounded yamprepared twenty ago could suddenlybecome hot, too hot to eat) thosewho do not understand the figurativemeaning may justifiably disagree,because ordinarily, pounded yamdoes not have the capacity to be toohot when it is ready for dinning, letalone being kept for twenty years.

However, the scenario at the floorof the Senate of the Federal Republicof Nigeria while one of the ministerialnominees from the State of Osun, Mr.Jelili Adesiyan aka Jalo, acontroversial former Commissionerfor Education appeared before theupper chamber has further reinforcedthe axiom that “a 20 year oldpounded yam could actually be toohot to handle”, as the past visited himbefore the world, for what obtainedthere was aired live on nationaltelevision. It was painful for his family,friends and associates, who hadthought their man would sail throughthe ministerial screening without hitch,given the fact that his party menpopulated the majority of thelawmakers, but the past robbed onhis present, and our Jalo wept likebaby, because the evil of the pastrefused to recede, rather it turned arecurring decimal.

Remember when the Cicero of EsaOke, Chief Bola Ige, the latepolitician with outstanding credentialscoupled with erudition and wizardrythat made his sworn enemies to begreen with envy, was murdered atdawn right inside his bedroom as aserving Attorney General of theFederation and Minister of Justice,some people, who had benefittedfrom his large heart, but turncoat andturned sworn political enemies werecelebrating the gruesome death visitedon the polyglot.

Oh, the entire space of politicalspectrum of the South West Nigeriawas thrown into turmoil, at that time,a fine lawmaker but with eccentrics inthe state parliament, OdunayoOlagbaju was killed in Ile Ife veryclose to a police station by unknownassailants, but obviously politicallymotivated. So, the camp of the thenembattled deputy governor, IyiolaOmisore in which Adesiyan was achieftain felt the slain of Ige was agood retaliation of Olagbaju. Note, Idid not insinuate that they killed Ige,but for rejoicing at the violent murderof the great man was an unforgivablesin on its own.

Suddenly, a lyrics of war developedfrom the camp of Omisore, the thennew entrant in the PDP, who couldnot simply wait for his estranged boss,Chief Bisi Akande to complete histwo terms in office before he aspiredto take over, that: “awa na l’Omisore,awa na l’Omisore, oun to mu Ibadanto fi l Adedibu’ awa na l’Omisore”meaning( we have Omisore in ourcamp, for Ibadan had LamidiAdedibu, the infamous Amala andGbegiri politicians based in Ibadancity, Oyo State.)

Oh, it was a new lease of life forAdesiyan in company of his friends,Omisore inclusive, who was in Agodi

Prison for over three years on theallegation that he had something to dowith the death of Ige, as the PDPtook over the rein of power, forAdesiyan became a Commissionerunder Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola,and Omisore was said to have wonsenatorial election withoutcampaigning from the prison, anotorious history that can only berecorded in a pariah state likeNigeria.

Adesiyan, having returned fromprison on a warped and manipulatedwheel of justice that led to the suddendeath of Ige’s wife, was appointedCommissioner, and he became lord ofmanor. He boys became regularguests of the special anti robberysquad in Osogbo, Osun state capital,the education sector of the state wasleft to rot to hell for crookedpoliticking.

Odeomu, his native communitywould not forget his role in the 2007compromised election, for scores ofopposition politicians then were giventhe treatment of blood and iron.However, when Ogbeni RaufAregbesola took over the mantle ofleadership of the state, the reign ofterror naturally died down, and thelikes of Adesiyan, the weepingministerial nominee methodicallyquietened into oblivion, we did nothear from him until he appearedbefore the upper chamber of thenational parliament.

Chief Bola Ige was in 2002 brutallyassassinated, but those whocelebrated his demise have since lostsleep, as sorrow and tears keep ontrailing their path. That reminds me,Omisore, Adesiyan’s friend has beenbattling his own side ever since he hasindicated interest to vie for thegovernorship of the State of Osun,because instead of him to campaignon what he could do to make adifference, the question that keepsresonating is: ‘Who killed Bola Ige?”certainly, 20 year old pounded yamcould be too hot to handle.

•Butika is the Press Secretary tothe Speaker, State of Osun Houseof Assembly.

Jelili Adesiyan: Once Upon Lord Of ManorBy GOKE BUTIKA

•ADESIYAN

OPINION

12 OPINION

13 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, Febraury 20, 2014

Job Vacancies In Nigeria

You can subscribe to Job Vacancies in Nigeria, Jobs in Nigeria via your e-mail: www.recentnigerianjobs.com

Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) recruitment for TeachersEdo State Government - This is to invite applications from suitably qualified candidates for the post of teachersin the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Benin City.

Job Title: TeachersRequirementsInterested applicants must possess a minimum of National Certificate of Education (NCE), Teachers CertificateGrade II and other higher qualifications in education.Teaching experience and Basic knowledge in computer applications will be an added advantage, as vacanciesexist in all cadres in the teaching service.Method Of ApplicationInterested applicants with the above qualifications should apply to the: Executive Chairman, State UniversalBasic Education Board (SUBEB), P.M.B 1666, Benin City, Edo State with a hand written application with thefollowing documents:Full names and permanent addressLocal Government of OriginState of originNationalityMarital statusSpecific services to local and national communities (give name and date)Present employment, status, salary etcExtra-curricula activitiesNames and addressed of 3 refereesInstitutions attended with datesAcademic qualifications with datesProfessional qualification with datesWorking experiences(organisations name and date)Two recent passport photograph.Note: prospective applicants are expected to undergo written and oral interviews.

Signed:PRINCE STEPHEN ALAO(Yerima Fugar)Executive ChairmanState Universal Basic Education BoardBenin City.

Application Deadline 28th February, 2014——————————————————Sterling Bank Plc Job Vacancy for Research Analysts in NigeriaSterling Bank Plc isa full service commercial banking in Nigeria with 2,600 professional employees. It commencedoperations as NAL Bank in 1960.Following the indigenization decree of 1972, it became a government owned institution and was managed inpartnership with Grindlays Bank Limited, Continental International Finance Company Illinois and AmericanExpress Bank Limited between 1974 and 1992.

At Sterling Bank, we take your development very seriously. We will ensure that you receive the training andsupport you need to progress, every step of the way in your career. We will ensure that your skills, drive andsuccesses are recognised and rewarded irrespective of what part of the Bank you join.

Sterling Bank Nigeria Plc is seeking to employ:

Job Title: Research AnalystJob Ref: JR - ECN 01Location: Any City, NGDepartment: Corporate Planning & StrategyDescription

Analyze and interpret micro and macroeconomic conditions; and make forecasts from which the Bank can makeinformed business decisions.Provide invaluable economic understanding of the dynamics of the Nigerian economy, government economicpolicies, company analysis and the international economic environment for paper content and stories.Monitor external economic and social research.Make valuable presentations at Management/Executive/Performance Review/Strategy sessions, with a view toaddressing current and future economic issues, their impact on the Bank’s business, and attendant recommendations.Start the production of a quarterly economic journal by the Bank which could be distributed to internal andexternal users.Plan, design, and conduct researches to aid interpretation of economic relationships within regions, and modifiedto the Bank’s client base.Track monetary policy of Central Bank of Nigeria and present management with monthly economic data andanalysis addressing how the forecast movement of the economic indicators might impact interest rates, inflationrate, and other monetary and fiscal indices.Head and monitor economic research, generating under his/her direction regular economic briefing reports toExecutive Management and other users, on the key issues influencing the global economy, Nigerian economy andfinancial markets.Key Performance Indicators:Create awareness in the Bank and provide frequent feedback on the implications of prevailing money marketpolicies.Develop of short and long term economic strategies for the Bank.Competitive and industry analysis on a quarterly basis.Produce an economic journal every quarter.QualificationsThe ideal candidate should have recognized footprints in economics and finance or banking.Masters degree in Economics, Finance, or Statistics or related discipline or an equivalent combination ofeducation and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills may be acquired.Minimum of 8 years work experience.Previous experience in the economic function in a bank/other cognate financial institutions, professional firm,analyst firms economic research agencies, and related institutions is required.Strong analytical skills in applied macroeconomics.Significant understanding of monetary policy, central banking, international financial markets, payment system,and banking regulation, and experience in directing economic research impacting these areas.How to ApplyInterested and qualified candidates should:http://careers.skyebankng.com/apply.aspx?job_id=5

Application Deadline 28th February, 2014.——————————————————Chevron Nigeria Job Vacancy for a Cargo Supervisor (Escravos LPG FSO)Chevron is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies, with subsidiaries that conduct businessworldwide, including Nigeria.

Chevron Nigeria Limited hereby invites applications from qualified candidates for employment. These positionswill he initially located in Lagos. The company also provides career opportunities to its workforce in otherChevrons worldwide operations.

Chevron is committed to sound environmental and safety practices and exhibits cultural diversity. Our employeesconduct their day-to-day work with the principles outlined in The Chevron Way which expresses our vision tobe the global energy company most admired for its people, partnership and performance.

If you are interested in becoming a valued employee of Chevron Nigeria Limited, a company that providesexcellent career opportunities and welfare packages, this opportunity awaits you! Will you join us?

Chevron is recruiting to fill the following positions:

Job Title: Escravos LPG FSO - Cargo SupervisorRequisition Number: 037133817Locations: Escravos, Delta State, NigeriaOverview External:Chevron Nigeria Limited is accepting online applications for the position of Escravos FSO Cargo SupervisorCargo Operations and Maintenance:The Escravos LPG FSO Cargo Supervisor is responsible for all cargo, ballast and offloading operations.As minimum, the Cargo Supervisor shall know and meet the performance expectations of the Escravos FSOCargo Operator, and be prepared to advice and direct in any of the areas covered.The Cargo Supervisor shall be intimately familiar with required FCC organization modes applicable in allsituations and would be able to take steps to institute them.He shall ensure proper documentation of FSO cargo, ballast and liquid-freeing activities to protect ChevronNigeria’s legal and commercial interests with respect to international and local regulations and custody transfer.

He shall be able to make written plans for all aspects of the above with time lines as needed for overall planning,and be able to designate manning resources to ensure efficient and effective coverage.The Cargo Supervisor shall have the technical expertise to detect the nature of problems on the cargo system andits equipment, and will be able to work with maintenance supervisor when necessary to correct them and usealternative means of carrying through plans when such are available. The Cargo Supervisor shall have a detailed knowledge of cargo planning, tank preparation, loading, stowage,discharging, sampling of cargo and the preparation of reports and records related to the cargo in compliance withsound marine practices.He shall maintain the FSO Control Center – FCC cargo operation watch as required by FSO manager’s standingorders.The Cargo Supervisor shall be able to handle routine situations primarily unsupervised, but would still showgood judgment on when the FSO Manager should be alerted to attend the FCC in a supervisory or observercapacity.The Cargo Supervisor shall work with the FSO maintenance department to align manpower and other resourcepriorities, and will actively contribute to planning FSO strategy under the direction of the FSO manager.Regulatory and Compliance:The Cargo Supervisor shall have a good depth of knowledge of the requirements of MARPOL, as appropriate forthe FSO operations.He shall know the requirements of such regulations as, but not limited to, the loadline, SOLAS, IMO, SIGTTOand port state conventions; and those of the flag state, classification society, to the extent that the FSO meets theirstandards in the deck department and is prepared for inspection at any time.He shall be familiar with all sections of the CNL Operational Procedures System. The Cargo Supervisor shall bea proponent of Chevron policy.Leadership:The Cargo Supervisor shall be capable to act as second in command of the FSO when necessary in the FSOmanager’s absence.The Cargo Supervisor shall have responsibility for the deck department administration and act as a member of theFSO management team.He shall manage all aspects of deck department organization to achieve goals set by the overall FSO organizationand maintenance strategy.The Cargo Supervisor shall support the FSO manager in maintenance of shipboard discipline.At this level, he will take a leading role under the FSO manager in maintaining good order and disciplinethroughout the FSO.HESThe Cargo Supervisor shall be thoroughly familiar with all on-board firefighting equipment and installations, tothe extent that subordinates can be successfully trained and directed in its use and maintenance.He shall ensure that test and maintenance records are maintained up to date, and that required schedules aremaintained.He shall play a leading role in training personnel in all aspects of shipboard safety and firefighting techniques, andbe able to take charge of on-site emergency countermeasures.He shall be completely familiar with all aspects of such procedures as (but not limited to) enclosed space entry, hotwork, lockout/tagout, pollution prevention, working aloft and safe lifting.

Personnel Development:The Cargo Supervisor shall assist the FSO Manager to develop the FSO marine/cargo personnel in all the aspectsof cargo and ballast operations, particularly when they are new to the position.He/She shall be able to manage and motivate junior operators and crew in a businesslike and reasonable mannerto achieve required end results, and keep people informed as to what is required of them and will monitor forresulting quality and quantity of work.He shall not be afraid of advocating an unpopular course when necessary.Budget:The Cargo Supervisor shall take an active part in economic FSO operation.He shall be thoroughly familiar with FSO spending objectives and the systems in place to monitor and directthese.He shall prepare requisitions and manage inventory levels according to the FSO manager’s directions, ensuringproper storage and utilization of material once on board, and take an active role in managing the FSO in an energy-efficient manner.He shall control manpower and exercise control of overtime to obtain best return.RequirementsThe Escravos FSO Cargo Supervisor shall hold a valid STCW Reg II/2 Master Mariner Unlimited License andthe Petroleum / Gas and dangerous goods endorsements. He should have at least, 10 years sea service on largeseagoing Crude/LPG/LNG tankers and a minimum of 3 years experience at Chief Officer rank or equivalent offshoreexperience.

The Escravos FSO Cargo Supervisor is responsible for ensuring the CNL Management System and associatedStandard Operating Procedures are implemented effectively. This position has authority for the marine and cargoactivities such as LPG loading and offloading. This position reports to the FSO Manager of the Escravos LPGFSO.

Method of ApplicationInterested and qualified candidates should:h t t p s : / / w w w . c h e v r o n . a p p l y 2 j o b s . c o m / P r o f E x t /index.cfm?fuseaction=mExternal.showJob&RID=33817&CurrentPage=1

Application Deadline 28th February, 2014——————————————————MTN Nigeria Career Vacancy for a Project Coordinator in LagosMTN Nigeria - The leader in telecommunications in Nigeria, and a part of a diverse community in Africa and theMiddle East, our brand is instantly recognisable.It is through our compelling brand that we are able to attract the right talents who we carefully nurture bycontinuously improving our employment offerings even beyond reward and recognition.

MTN Nigeria is recruiting to fill the below position:

Job Title Project CoordinatorDivision: Enterprise SolutionsLocation: LagosReporting To: Program ManagerRequired Skills:A first degree in the Social sciences, Engineering, Communications or Project ManagementFormal Project Management certification and or training would be an advantage4 yrs project management experience preferably in a telecommunications business environment-customer care &billing systems, CC&BS Enterprise Resource Planning ERP systems environmentKnowledge of measurement processes methods for assessing progress toward goals and project outcomesAn understanding of project management methods and practices, including methods of preparing designs, plans,specifications, estimates, reports and recommendationsJob Description:Develop the Project scope, problem statement and goal statement.Assist with Project delivery within budget time and financial and within defined quality criteria.Assist with project-planning in line with recommended tool setsAssist with negotiating and managing supplier contracts and service level agreementsAssist with formal project success reviewsDocument weekly reports or any other reports identified as relevant to the projectOrganise and facilitate project meetings, sessions and workshopsMaintain project plan, update and adapt where necessaryPrepare and circulate project status update reportsBuild relationships with suppliers and subcontractorsDevelop and enforce escalation procedureInput into, monitor and execute SLAsKeep abreast of business process changes and communicate these to team membersEnforce project plans’ conformity to planning guidelinesCo-ordinate input and maintains plans throughout project life cycleProvide Project manager with up-to-date financial position on all projectsProvide stakeholders with up to date information on all projects where applicableProactively escalate project risks where applicableMeasure progress per project worker against weekly targets and deliverablesManage agreed quality measures accordinglyAssist with project integration managementJob Conditions:Normal MTNN working conditions May be required to work extended hours Working in an open plan officeWorking 5 days per week with some late,early and weekend work A valid drivers license

Qualification:A first degree in the Social sciences, Engineering, Communications or Project Management Formal ProjectManagement certification & or training would be an advantage Application Deadline 26th February 2014——————————————————

14 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, February 20, 2014IN RETROSPECT

A Memorable Quote From A PDPAspirant In The State Of Osun

“Recently, Chief Bola Ige cameon radio here (Osogbo the state

capital), to insult me and myfamily. THAT IS THE LAST

TIME HE WOULDINSULT ME. He was

beaten yesterday. The people ofIle-Ife beat him up and he wascrying like a baby, as they re-

moved his cap and glasses. If ithad been at a

political gathering, he will bedead by now..... In fact, what thepeople wanted to do was morethan removing his glasses and

cap....” -IYIOLA OMISORE.

•Culled from Vanguard Newspaper.

15 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, February 20, 2014 PHOTOTALKAt The Maiden Conference Of Ahlus-Sunnah of Nigeria (COAN) At Tafawa BalewaSquare, Lagos, Last Saturday.

•(R-L) Alhaji Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar; the governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; the Vice-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, ArchitectNamadi Sambo and National Chairman, Jama’atu Izalatil Bid’ah wa’ Iqamatis Sunnah (JIBWIS) and Conference of Ahlus-Sunnah of Nigeria (COAN), Sheikh Abdullahi BalaLau, during the Maiden Conference of Ahlus-Sunnah of Nigeria (COAN) at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, last Saturday

•Aregbesola; Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal and Sambo, during the Maiden Conference of Ahlus-Sunnah of Nigeria (COAN) at TafawaBalewa Square, Lagos, last Saturday.

•(L-R) Aregbesola; Tambuwal and a leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, during the Maiden Conference of Ahlus-Sunnah of Nigeria (COAN)at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, last Saturday.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2014

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