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VOL. 9. NO.081 N50 50 50 50 50 TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014 www.osundefender.org THE 6TH MOST-VISITED NEWSPAPER WEBSITE IN NIGERIA Front Page Comment - See Story On Page 2 Who Killed Chief Bola Ige, formerAttorney- General and Minister of Justice? IGE •Wife of the governor, State of Osun, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola (with mic), addressing market women and men during her visit to New Orisunmibare Market in Osogbo, State of Osun, last Thursday. Photo: Presidency’s DMO Clears Osun On N350bn Debt Claims •Say’s It’ll Introduce Osun’s Sukuk To Other Parts Of Nigeria The axiom 'who the cap fits let him wear it' is apt in describing the as- cension of former CBN Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to the throne of his forefathers as Sanusi Lamido Sanusi: A Truly Outstanding Emir Of Kano the fourteenth Emir of Kano. After the demise of Alhaji Ado Bayero, Kano Emirate stool needs a personality of equal (if not a higher) pedigree, in- tegrity and sagacity of the deceased Emir to con- tinue to run the traditional and cultural affairs of Kano. No doubt the K a n o kingmakers found the right personage in Sanusi

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Page 1: Osun Defender - July 8th 2014, Edition

VOL. 9. NO.081 NNNNN5050505050TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014

www.osundefender.org THE 6TH MOST-VISITED NEWSPAPER WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

Front Page Comment

- See StoryOn Page 2

Who KilledChief Bola Ige,former Attorney-

General andMinister of

Justice? IGE

•Wife of the governor, State of Osun, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola (with mic), addressing market women and men during her visit to New Orisunmibare Market in Osogbo, State ofOsun, last Thursday. Photo:GBENGA ADENIYI.

Presidency’s DMO ClearsOsun On N350bn Debt Claims

•Say’s It’ll Introduce Osun’s Sukuk To Other Parts Of Nigeria

The axiom 'whothe cap fits let himwear it' is apt indescribing the as-cension of formerCBN Governor,Mallam SanusiLamido Sanusi tothe throne of hisforefathers as

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi: ATruly Outstanding Emir OfKano

the fourteenthEmir of Kano.

After the demiseof Alhaji AdoBayero, Kano

Emirate stoolneeds a personalityof equal (if not ahigher) pedigree, in-tegrity and sagacityof the deceased

Emir to con-tinue to run thetraditional andcultural affairsof Kano. Nodoubt theK a n okingmakersfound the rightpersonage inS a n u s i

Page 2: Osun Defender - July 8th 2014, Edition

2OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 8, 2014 News

By SHINA ABUBAKAR

Presidency’s DMO Clears Osun On N350bn Debt Claims•Say’s It’ll Introduce Osun’s Sukuk To Other Parts Of Nigeria

CONTRARY to persistent claims by thecandidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Mr. Iyiola Omisore, who alleged

that Osun’s government under Governor RaufAregbesola is indebted to the tune of over N350billion, the Debt Management Office (DMO) inAbuja has said Osun’s debt profile is a verysustainable one, which is healthy for its economicgrowth.

Dr. AbrahamNwankwo, who is theDirector-General of theDMO in the Presidency,disclosed that the state isone of the best states inthe federation with publicdebt management,describing the claims toheavy debt burden inOsun as merepropaganda and hoax.

Fielding questions fromnewsmen at MicComGolf Hotel and Resorts,Ada in the State of Osunduring a three-day retreatfor members of the HouseCommittee on Aids,Loans and DebtManagement, Dr.Nwankwo declared thatOsun’s status is verysustainable.

A former Head ofService under theA r e g b e s o l aadministration, ElderSegun Akinwusi, hadequally built and sustained

his campaign for thegovernorship seat on theclaim that Osungovernment owes overN350 billion.

The state governmenthad severally told theworld that only thoseignorant of operations ofthe financial world wouldagree that a bank cangive a state or individualloans more that itscapacity to pay bothinterest and the principal.

Nwankwo, who did notgive figure on the actualdebt figure of the state,explained that the stateneeded to be encouragedin terms of managementof debt because it has notborrowed beyond itscapacity.

The DMO boss statedthat the State of Osun isone of the states in thefederation with good andstable public debtmanagement, adding that

his office recognizes thestate as the first state totake Sukuk.

“By our plan toencourage the issuance ofSukuk in Nigeria because,we need to diversify theinstrument in the bondmarket.

“We want to make surethat all segments of thesociety are captured inthe bond market becausethere are some groups ofpeople or individuals, whodo not want to participatein ordinary bond becauseof interest.

“Our office, DMO andothers are working hardto introduce Sukuk inNigeria. We are delighted

that Osun took theinitiative and helped inintroducing it in Nigeria.So, by that, Osun is oneof the best states in publicdebt management.”

He also stated that thenation’s debt GDP ratiohas fallen from 22% to13%.

He added: “Our debt issustainable because GDPis much lower now.However, in spite of that,government will continueto be very prudent andconservative in itsspendings.”

According to him:“From my submission, Itold the lawmakers thatthe GDP ratio is about

12% and this includesboth external anddomestic debt for both thefederal and stategovernments.

“I emphasised in mydiscussion with the Houseof RepresentativesCommittee on Aids, Loanand Debt Managementthat focus should be onhaving more revenue toservice debts andtherefore, even based ofdebasing of Nigeria GDP,our debt GDP ratio hasfallen from about 22% toless than 13%. This doesnot mean that we are in aposition to borrow more,because GDP hasimproved dramatically.

“However, the poorattitude of Nigerians topaying their taxes asmany enterprises in thecountry - small andmedium scale businessesthat should be in the taxbracket - are not in the taxbracket and becausemany Nigerians, whoshould pay tax are notwilling to pay their taxes,the tax revenue GDP ratiois low and it is fromrevenue that governmentis able to service the debtor borrow. Therefore,until our tax revenue toGDP ratio improvessignificantly, governmentwill continue to beconservative inborrowing,” he stressed.

PDP Seduces APC Supporters WithN20,000 To Sell Voters’ Cards’ Photocopies

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

THE rattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)in the State of Osun has been accused ofseducing supporters of the All Progressives

Congress (APC) with N20,000 to make photocopiesof their permanent voters’ cards and submit sameto some designated PDP chieftains.

OSUN DEFENDERgathered that the PDP hascommissioned some of its

party members to list thenames and addresses ofsupporters of GovernorRauf Aregbesola in theirvarious domains, with theaim of approaching themfor possible compromise.

Investigation revealedthat the PDP wasspecifically going for theAPC supporters tocompromise them, whichwould in turn reduceAregbesola’s votes in theforthcoming August 09,2014 gubernatorial electionin the state.

In the case of non-compromise, the PDP issaid to be offeringN20,000 to buy thephotocopy of the APC

supporters’ voters’ cards,which many mightconsider insignificant tothe electoral process.

However, sourceswithin the PDP havedisclosed to the mediumthat the party has a teamof experts that are well-trained in hackingsystems, saying that theteam was the one to makeuse of the photocopiedvoters’ cards.

According to thesources, the PDP hackingteam could clone thephotocopied voters’ cardsbought from the APCsupporters andsurreptitiously insert theminto the voters’ registerwith the IndependentNational ElectoralCommission (INEC).

“The implication of themove is that the names ofthe APC supporters wouldappear twice and thecomputer would deregister

it,” said the sources.The names of the APC

supporters whose cardshad been given to the PDPwould no longer appear onthe voters’ register thatwould be used to conductthe coming gubernatorialelection.

Such move, accordingto the PDP sources, wasaimed at reducing the votesto be cast for GovernorRauf Aregbesola by hissupporters, whose lovefor the governor is capableof sending jitters down thespines of the PDP and itsgovernorship candidate,Senator Iyiola Omisore.

The sources confided inthe medium that theassignment is being fundedby the South-WestMobilisation and ContactCommittee of the PDP,headed by Buruji Kashamu.

Aregbesola Has Served Us Well – Onirun, Oluresi•Deserves Second Term

TEEMING supporters and loyalists of the AllProgressives Congress (APC) thronged the streetsof Iresi and Oke-Irun in Boluwaduro Local

Government Council Area of the State of Osun, to receivethe party re-election campaign team, canvassing for votesahead of the forthcoming governorship poll in the state.

The crowd walkedthrough the major roads inIresi and Oke-Iruncanvassing for votes amongthe residents, as well asexplaining the manifestoesof the candidate of the APC,Governor Rauf Aregbesolato the teeming masses in thecommunity.

Addressing the APCsupporters in their palaces,the Onirun of Oke-Irun andthe Oluresi of Iresi, ObaIsaac Adetunlurese and ObaSikiru Adeseun respectivelydescribed GovernorAregbesola as an excellentperformer who deserves tobe supported for anotherterm of office.

Onirun said the governorhas not only donecreditably, but he has alsobeen fair to all sectionsacross the state, even inpolicy implementation.

According to him,Aregbesola has judiciouslyutilized the state resourcesto provide equitableinfrastructure to the peopleas envisioned by thefounding fathers, addingthat his administration is thefirst to initiatedevelopmental projects thatlaunched the state intolimelight.

“Aregbesola is a divinemessenger to the people ofthe state and Nigeria as a

whole. What we can do as apeople is to support him tosucceed, which wouldbenefit Nigeria as a whole,”the monarch said.

In his view, the Oluresiopined that GovernorAregbesola is a rarepolitician, who should beallowed to use hisexperience to fully transformthe state to a viable onesocially and economically.

Addressing the residentsof the communities,Chairman of the campaignteam, Mr Sunday Akere, saidGovernor Aregbesola hasshown the people of thestate through his six-pointintegral action plan in hisfirst term of office by turningall moribund sectors alive.

Akere assured the peopleof Iresi, Oju-Eri communitiesthat the state governmenthas approved theconstruction of the roadlinking Ajaba, Ajebamideleto Ikoro in Ekiti State tofurther open up the area forcommercial activities.

Page 3: Osun Defender - July 8th 2014, Edition

3 News OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 8, 2014

•A mammoth crowd during Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s re-election rally in Iwo recently. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

PDP Unleashes Terror In Obokun LG•Party Leader Locks Boy, 14, In Dog CageTHE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has begun to

unleash terror in the State of Osun, as one of theparty leaders in the state, Mr Francis Fadahunsi,

locked a 14-year-old Olubiyi Olamikun, in a dog cage inhis house at Ilase in Obokun Local Government CouncilArea of the state.

This was just as theYouth Leader of AllProgressives Congress(APC) in Iponda wasattacked by PDP thugs ledby one Adekanmi Aderopoon an alleged Fadahunsi’sdirective.

It all happened onWednesday whenOlamikun, who wasconsidered to be animbecile, tore a PDP posterin Iponda, a neighbouringtown to Ilase, which waspasted on that of APC,following an argumentbetween him and one of hisfriends identified as Ope.

Some PDP members, whilesubsequently beating upOlamikun at the scene, werereportedly challenged byAderopo’s wife and theyallowed the boy to go afterhot arguments.

Recounting his ordeal,Olamikun said around9.00pm on the said day,some PDP thugs stormed hishouse where he wasresiding with his father intwo vehicles, forcedthemselves into thebuilding, beat him uprepeatedly and took himaway to Fadahunsi’s houseat Ilase.

He noted that on gettingto Ilase, Fadahunsi directedthat he should be locked inthe dog cage, until his fathercame beggin for his release.

Also lamenting, the fatherof the victim, Mr SamuelOlubiyi, said shortly afterhis son was taken away, heleft his house on the samenight and trecked down toIlase, with a view to savingthe life of his son.

He further related that ongetting to Fadahunsi’shouse at Ilase, he startedbegging profusely before hewas allowed to come intothe house to see his son.

Olubiyi added that after

begging Fadahunsi forhours, his son wassubsequently released tohim around 1:00am, with awarning that no matter thecircumstances, he shouldnever engage in such act forwhich he was punishedagain.

According to him, he andhis son trecked back toIlase in the same night afterthey were released.

He said he and his sonhad related what transpiredat Obokun Police Stationand written a statement tothat effect.

Olubiyi, who claimed notto be either a PDP or APCmember, then called on thegovernment and other well-meaning Nigerians to helphim seek justice, as he hasno one to fight for him.

Meanwhile, Aderopo,whose wife challenged thePDP members while beatingOlakunmi also related thatfew minutes to 9.00pm ofthe same night, some thugsstormed his house withbroken bottles, cutlassesand guns in a Sienna Busand White Hilux Vanbelonging to Fadahunsi,which they used to whiskOlakunmi away.

He mentioned some of thethugs as Sanmi Adeboyejo,whom he identified as aNigerian Security and CivilDefence Corps (NSCDC)officer, Kehinde Olohundaand Gbenga Omoseebi. Hesaid Sanmi is currentlyliving in Fadahunsi’shouse.

Aderopo said when hediscovered that the thugshad come and expectinghim to open the door, hequickly asked his wife andchildren to run away to hisfather’s house through theback door.

He added that the thugs

subsequently broke hisdoor, forced themselves in,but they could not foundhim in the house, becausethere was no light.

The APC Youth Leaderexplained that when thethugs could not found him,they went out again andSanmi started shooting into

the air before moving toOlakunmi father’s house.

He said he had gone tothe police station in Ibokunto make report and hadwritten a statement to thateffect.

Reacting, the Chairman,APC Leaders’ Forum inObokun Local Government

Council Area, OtunbaJumoke Ogunkeyede,described the attack by thePDP thugs on the APCYouth Leader and the 15year-old Olakunmi as unruly.

He said that thoughreports have been made atthe police station, butalleged that efforts are beingmade by some PDP leaders

Masked Terrorists Guard Omisore At Campaigns- APC Raises Alarm

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State ofOsun has raised an alarm that the Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore,

has introduced the terrorist culture of armed masked menon his campaign trail in a flagrant public gesture intendedto intimidate the electorate.

According to the party,Omisore was spotted duringone of his campaign trailsclosely guarded by a masked,suspected armed terrorist,the first of its kind to be seenanywhere in the politicalhistory of electioneering inYorubaland.

Reacting to thisdevelopment, the partyobserved that whilePresident GoodluckJonathan fights armed andmasked terrorists in the Northwith Nigerian soldiers, thereverse is being done inOsun, by Jonathan’s man,hiding behind security coverto intimidate the electoratewith masked and armedsuspected terrorist guards.

The party therefore, calledfor a full scale investigationby the security agencies, if itwas not privy to the exercise“because,” the partyemphasised, “this potentiallydangerous dimension ofelectioneering violence is ahigh risk factor that can deraildemocracy and threatenNigeria’s corporateexistence.”

Besides, the APC said itheard it on good authoritythat the PDP had brought itin bales of fake policeuniforms with subtantial armsinto the state with theintention to replicate thescenario of Ekiti and enact thebombing experience in Ile Ifein several other cities of thestate.

Deploring the impunitywith which PDP and Omisoreare operating, the APC said“this country and thedemocratic process are interrible times”, adding thatas the August 9, 2014governorship electionapproaches, PDP’sdesperation to win by forceof arms, rather than the votesof the people, is manifestingever so clearly.

“Political terrorism hasarrived in Nigeria’sdemocratic space by the evilconstruct of the PDP,” theAPC reasoned.

The party drew attentionto the fact that in all of hiscampaigns and appearancesso far, the theme of Omisore’scampaign is that,arrangement has alreadybeen made to removeAregbesola from office, nomatter whatever he is doing.

“Nobody has heard thisfellow articulate a plan ofgovernance for Osun, whichcan be publicly evaluated assuperior to what Aregbesolais doing. All he has onoffered is a so-called ‘plan’that has been made to replace

APC with PDP governmentcome August 9th.’

The APC said it wants tomake it abundantly clear thatJonathan’s and the PDP’sresort to terrorism andelectronic manipulation ofthe voting process will failbecause it is not in the wishof the citizens of Osun toreplace Aregbesola’sexcellence in governancewith a clueless character, whohas now added politicalterrorism to his violentcredentials.

“Osun wants adependable gentleman ingovernment; not aninsurgent, masquerading likea blood-thirsty terrorist inpublic view,” the APC said.

‘Stop This Terror And Descent To Anarchy Now’

THE Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has issued a strong warning to the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) in the state, its

governorship candidate in the August 9 election, SenatorIyiola Omisore, its supporters and others breaching thepeace of the state to stop causing chaos in the guise ofpolitical campaigns.

This warning came on theheels of a rising wave ofplanned violent politicalattacks on the supporters ofthe All ProgressiveCongress (APC) across thestate.

In a statement by theparty’s Director of Publicity,Strategy and Research,Barrister Kunle Oyatomi, theparty cautioned all agentsand promoters of conflictsand chaos to refrain fromsuch acts or face the wrathof the law.

The party issued thewarning after a politicalviolence was averted by theState Police Command inObokun Local Government

Council Area of the state; adevelopment whichfollowed series of othersimilar attacks againstsupporters of the APC.

The statementcatalogued series of attackson the supporters of APC insome areas of the state inrecent times, which it saidcould snowball into fullviolence but for theunderstanding andcontainment attitude of thegovernment.

The party listed theattacks on its members in Ila-Orangun, Iwo, Ikirun,destruction of GovernorRauf Aregbesola’s campaignbillboards along Osogbo-

in connivance with somepolice officers to ensure thatthe young boy reverted hisstory.

Calling on the police notto sweep the matter underthe carpet, Ogunkeyedestressed that the partywould do everythinghumanly possible to get tothe root of the matter.

Ilesa Road, Ibokun and Ile-Ife, where unknownhoodlums had also plantedminor explosive devices toscare people a few days agoas some of the instances inwhich APC supporters havebeen at the receiving end ofPDP’s crusade of violence.

The statement noted thatit is the restoration of peaceafter a long reign of PDP’sterror government thatendeared Aregbesola to thepeople of the state.

“People could stillremember that during itstenure, the PDPadministration promotedchaos, terror and violence toan unimaginable level.

“Since PDP’s exit frompower however, peacereturned to Osun. Ourpeople have from 2010embraced the peace andharmony that Aregbesola’sgovernment heralded.

“It has been shown to thewhole world that this statevalues, enjoys andpromotes harmonious livingamong its various peoples.

“This is one of thecardinal programmes of theAPC government. Ours isnot a government that fansthe embers of disquiet,discord and chaos.

“Government will doeverything humanlypossible to sustain theatmosphere of peace andtranquility that havebecome the state’s hallmarkin the last four years.

“Any attempt byopposition agents to plungethe state back into the stateof nature where life is nasty,brutish and short’ will beprevented.

Hence, the peace-lovingpeople of the state will riseup and defend the peacewhich they had enjoyed foralmost four years now,” theparty said.

Page 4: Osun Defender - July 8th 2014, Edition

4 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi: A Truly Outstanding Emir Of Kano

Thus there is no denying thefact that the right choice has beenmade to continue to steerKano's cultural ship.

Until the new Emir became theGovernor of the Central Bankof Nigeria (CBN) little wasknown of him publicly. But theposition of the Governor of thecountry's apex bank is a nomean one not to bring its occu-pier into public glare. In fact, theposition of CBN Governorcould be compared only to thatof the President in terms ofpopularity and prestige. Hardlycan the CBN Governor openshis mouth to say anything with-out being reported by the mediaespecially as it concerns thecountry's finances.

Thus just like his predecessors,immediately Malam SanusiLamido Sanusi became the Gov-ernor of CBN his name became ahousehold name throughout thecountry. But to say that his namerang bell or that his name was onthe lips of many people more thanthose of his predecessors is to sim-ply state the obvious. In fact, that'sone fact that remains incontestableand the reason isn't unconnectedwith his controversial nature.

As the Governor of the CBNthe new Emir of Kano broughtcompetence to bear in the bank-ing sector. Under his regime thebanking sector underwent a lot ofreforms and his was a regime ofzero tolerance for corruption.Though his reform efforts were notwithout criticisms from financial ex-perts and economic analysts, it willcontinue to be on record that thebanking sector witnessed appre-

ciable level of sanity and transfor-mation under his watch. For this wegive him kudos.

Apart from exhibition of compe-tence in the course of his career, an-other attribute that is worth mention-ing about him as the CBN Gover-nor is his activism. Sanusi LamidoSanusi behaved more like an activ-ist and this was why he fell out offavour with the power that be to-wards the tail end of his tenure asCBN boss.

As a personage who has theblood of activism flowing in his veinSanusi Lamido could not see with-out kicking. Being a candid and pa-triotic person he could not stomachsome inherent rots in the system.That was why he had to blow thewhistle concerning the non-remis-sion of $20b oil proceeds into theFederation Account by the Nige-rian National Petroleum Corpora-

tion (NNPC). It was that exposéfrom him that created frosty rela-tionship between him and the au-thority which led to his suspensionand eventual sack.

At Osun Defender we admireSanusi Lamido Sanusi's courage, hissense of candour and patriotism asthe CBN Governor. We ferventlybelieve that, these, amongst others,are the virtues we need to propelour country. It's our hope that hewill bring all these good attributesto bear as the new Emir of Kano.

We thank Almighty Allah formaking his life to be characterisedby glories. His is a case of 'from oneglory to a higher glory'. We cannotbut wish him long life and goodhealth to stay on his forefathers'stool. May Kano be peaceful dur-ing your reign-Amen.

Aregbesola Not Wooing Workers With Salaries

G O V E R N O RR a u fAregbesola of

the State of Osunrecently paid theoutstanding salaries ofworkers in the state. Thiswas received with joyand much commendationby the workers whoappreciated this as aproduct of great financialengineering, knowing thatthe monthly allocation tothe state from theFederation Account haddropped by 40 per centsince last year. However,a section of the media,especially The Punch,reported this as thegovernor wooingworkers.

The slant of the storyis disturbing and betraysa poor professionaljudgement, not just inbeing speculative and

tendentious, but inportraying opinion asnews.

Workers in the statewere owed May salary,but this was in late June.However, as soon as thecheque from theFederation Accountallocation cleared on

Tuesday June 24,salaries were paid andworkers started receivingalerts from their banksthat very moment.

Pray, how then doesthat translate intowooing? Is payment ofsalaries not a statutoryresponsibility? When an

employer pays hisworkers, does thatamount to wooing them?

Governor RaufAregbesola has been‘wooing’ the workerssince December 2010when it gave them 25 percent of their salaries as13th month bonus, which

has never happened in thestate. He progressivelyincreased the percentageevery year untilDecember 2013, whenhe gave them 100 percent as bonus. He hasgiven workers in the statehousing loans and, earlierthis year, car loans. He

OSUN DEFENDERPublisher – Moremi Publishing

House Ltd.

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Editor – Kayode Agbaje (0803-388-0205)

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Senior Reporter – Sola JacobsSenior Reporter – Kazeem Mohammed

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OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing HouseLimited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust BankGTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun.All correspondence to the above mail address.ISSN: 0794-8050Telephone: 0803-392-7286, 08033880205Website: www.osundefender.com/index.phpe-mail: [email protected]

has restored foreigntraining trips to the seniorcadre, which had beensuspended more than 15years ago.

These are what wooedthe workers, not payingsalaries. The tendentiousreport of wooingworkers with salaries isinnocuous except that itwas done with theintention of portraying thegovernor as using salariesas campaign instrument;that he has only paidsalaries because of theimpending election, orelse, he would not havepaid them at all.

A newspaper as anorganisation, can takesides, but asprofessionals, let us stickto the facts and not passopinion as news.

•SOLA FASURE,Osogbo, State of Osun.

Continued frompg1

Page 5: Osun Defender - July 8th 2014, Edition

5555

PoliticsOSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Ikirun Mega Rally: Rekindled Commitment, Redoubled Effort

The Gubernatorial Election in Ekiti State was expected by wishful thinkers to producea spill-over effect in the State of Osun. This effect in detractors’ wildest imaginationwould suffocate the fold of progressives in the state. It however turned out that detractorswere disappointed as there was a tumultuous crowd that trooped out penultimate Tuesdayto demonstrate their support and acceptance for the second term bid of Ogbeni RaufAregbesola in office. That development put to rest the wave of apprehension nursedand expressed in some quarters that the spill-over effect would cast shadows or dampenthe morale of the progress-loving people of the state, as a vibrant subset of the volatileSouth-West. In Ikirun however, NIYI OLASINDE was part of the events which playedout. He succinctly captures it as beginning of a line-up of redoubled efforts in thecollective bid to clinch Ogbeni’s governorship ticket and his return back to theGovernment House, come August 9.

Aregbesola On The March Again

•Double Tenure; Double Goodies; Quality Governance – Symbol’s Re-assurance

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (waiving broom), acknowledging cheers from his ecstatic admirers during a mega-rally for his re-election in Ikirunrecently.

Page 6: Osun Defender - July 8th 2014, Edition

6 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 8, 2014MAGAZINE

Ikirun Mega Rally: Rekindled Commitment, Redoubled Effort

Contiuned from page 5

Contiuned on page 11

AT Ikirun, the headquarters of Ifelodun FederalConstituency of the State of Osun, it was a joyous crowdof supporters who converged to accord rousing welcometo the Symbol of their collective mandate, OgbeniAregbesola, who led his campaign train to the area onTuesday, June 24, 2014. The people trooped out en masseto reassure the governor of their support and commitmenttoward returning him to the seat of governance in the fast-approaching Gubernatorial Elections in the State. Inresponse to the demonstrated reassurance, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola in turn assured the people of his avoweddetermination to double the utilitarian value of hisadministration through value-added service provision inall spheres. In his speech, Aregbesola described the stridesmade so far in the lifespan of the first tenure of theadministration as just a tip of the iceberg. According tohim, the second term would be the back-buster that wouldsweep all opposition off their feet and make them absolutelyirrelevant in the politics and life of the twenty-three-year-old state.

This election season is becoming more and moreinteresting. Obviously, as the coast is becoming clearer,things are getting better. The campaigns preceding theGubernatorial Elections in the State of Osun have gatheredmomentum. As a matter of fact, it is an undertaking in statingthe obvious that we are midstream into a fresh round ofelections. The moment of decision is round the corner. In amatter of a month and few days, we, I mean all eligibleadults who had registered as voters and who had collectedtheir Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), introduced by theIndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shallbe exercising their franchise; through the power of thethumb. Now, it is becoming more down-to-earth that thethumb is more powerful than force of arms; especially ifand when it is used to poll majority votes cast for a particularcandidate and / or his political party.

It is in reasonable response to this stark reality that theruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state hasrecently intensified efforts at massive voter education andawareness creation as it roves round the nine federalconstituencies into which the state is delineated, with theintent of reaching the electorate in their domains andpresent them with the programmes and policies the partyhas in stock for them. Over a period of time spanning almostfour years now, the state has witnessed monumentalprogress, growth and development, measured with thewidespread developmental projects springing up,jumpstarted and bankrolled under the aegis of theGovernment Unusual spearheaded by the indefatigable teamof achievers led by Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.

The landmark achievements of the administration aremany. So plenty are these ground-breaking feats thatmaking an attempt at reducing them to writing would requirea voluminous work! This medium has done that over andover again. Yet in our avowed determination at providingthe public with true, unbiased, accurate and authenticinformation we shall not shy out at this crucial stage to re-emphasize the joy of having a competent government inplace at the helm of affairs. It is safe here to conclude thatthis Government Unusual is working. This is the truth thatis quite visible in every stratum of life in the State of the

Virtuous.At a time like this, prior to the Gubernatorial Elections of

year 2007; a young, vibrant, enterprising and promisinggentleman – an engineer by profession - expressed interestin providing the kind of leadership the state had longthirsted for. Unfortunately, since the creation of the statein 1991, this kind of administration had been a matter ofdesideratum, i.e. necessary but missing. The man, whochristened his campaign appellation after one of theillustrious legendary forebears of the Yoruba race,Oranmiyan, stormed the entire political landscape withrallies, campaigns and public forums with which heintimated the populace with the innovations he was aboutto bring to bear in government, should he be given themandate. Not to bore my readers with too much of well-known details, I hereby venture into adumbrating the entireelection promises in the presentation of his Six-Point IntegralAction Plan, encapsulated in the pact he made with thepeople of the state:

· Banish Poverty· Banish Hunger· Banish Unemployment (Create Work/Wealth)· Restore Healthy Living· Promote Functional Education· Enhance Communal Peace and ProgressToday, we all are living witnesses to it that he has kept

faith with his promises. Little wonder that the first civiliangovernor of the state Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke, did at the IkirunMega Rally name the achiever behind these countlessprojects in Ibo as Ekwueme, meaning a man of his words;or better, a man whose word is his bound. Aregbesola has,within his almost four years in office touched the lives ofthe citizenry in all facets. Boldly, we assert that there is nohousehold, sector, class, caste or stratum of the state wherethe hand of his administration has not been prominentlyfelt.

It is in appreciation of this kind gesture; somagnanimously bestowed that people troop out in theirdroves whenever the call is made on them to give of theirtime, attention, interest, love and support. In most cases,most of these variable constructs, which the people of thestate possess in abundant dosage, are given unsolicited.Naturally, it is a matter of one good turn that deservesanother. But the people insist on giving more than these.They are fully committed to doing it all over again for Ogbeniand his administration so that the good work could continue.

So far, five mega rallies have been held in five out of thenine federal constituencies in the state. Aside this, localcampaign rallies are ongoing all over the corners, nooksand crannies of the state, all at the instance of the AllProgressives Congress (APC) to publish the policies andprogrammes which the party and its candidate have in stock.This fact is against the backdrop that some other parties inthe contest are not being noticed as convening anygathering at all. Some of them do not appear to have anywell conceptualized manifestos! Aside these ralliesorganized by a well-known, widely accepted political party,other gatherings are being held on daily basis by groupsof diverse interests, adopting the candidature of Ogbeniand endorsing his stay in office beyond year 2014.

At all the mega rallies held so far, the experience hasbeen awfully wonderful. The surging crowd of supportersthat trooped out to grace these rallies is astonishing. Little

wonder that members of the leading opposition in the statemarvel to the extent that they carelessly mistake theexplosive figure of attendees for hired cronies from otherlands. Once, I overheard some of their idlers arguing onhow the statistics of a single political party at just one ofits rallies could appear to surpass the aggregate populationfigure of the entire state! To such ones and others who aresimilarly confounded, I give this candid answer: Time willtell, or better still, our votes shall soon tell. It is as simple asthat.

THE recently-held mega rally at Ikirun has multiplied thealready numerous woes of traducers. Since the rally day, Ifor one have not been able to come out with a self-satisfactory solution to the puzzle in my mind. The puzzleis whether or not the Reinhard Bonnke crusade which firstopened the venue to mammoth crowd was as large as thispolitical convergence it drifted into of late. Speaker afterspeaker, including Senator Isiaka Adeleke and GovernorAregbesola himself could not hide their rapturousamazement at the turnout of people at the event. Thepetrifaction of doubting Thomases caused their lower lipsto droop. The story is told of how some of them began todevelop high blood pressure; while those who had longbeen afflicted had their cases aggravated. WHY? Becausethey thought, in their wildest imagination, that the charadeof Ekiti would cause a set-back for camp of progressives.Gladly, they are disappointed.

The mega rally held in Ikirun, the seat of Ifelodun LocalGovernment Council Area of the State of Osun wasconvened at the instance of the Ifelodun FederalConstituency, comprising three local council areas, namely,Ifelodun, Boripe and Odo-Otin. Every component of therally, including the huge turnout, the spacious andexpansive venue and the orderliness which pervaded theatmosphere spoke of work of ingenuity in planning andevents management. Thus, one could not but appreciatethe grand homework done by the Aregbesola Second TermCampaign Committee for the constituency, under thedistinguished chairmanship of the Chief of Staff to theGovernor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

As early as eight o’clock on that day, the ancient townof Ikirun had already woken up to the frenzy atmospherethat was destined to last all-day. The streets fast becamebeehives of activities as crowds built up rapidly for thegreat event. At the centre of the town, especially, Oja Obaand areas adjoining the Akinrun’s Palace, attitudes oftraders, commercial motorcycle operators (popularlyreferred to as okada men) and the presence of securitymen indicated that the stage was being set for an interestingevent.

At Total Area, down to Station Road, up to MondayMarket and across the Ofa / Osogbo Expressway toAkinorun Grammar School, the situation was as if the weeklyMonday Market was going to be extended one more day.This was also the situation at the popular Oja AlamisiJunction. The popular Eko-Ende Road did not takeexemption from the hustle-bustle. The apparently mostaffected area was the old Inisa Road, stretching from theold Mobil Junction, through Labaeka / Emiloju Area downto the Coker Memorial High School, overlooking the venueof the great meet.

Entrances to the town were not spared. Outskirts along

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat, at the Ikirun re-election campaign recently.

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7 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 8, 2014

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8 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 8, 2014 PHOTOTALKWife Of The State Of Osun Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, Visited Some MarketsIn Osogbo, Last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•Another cross section of market women and men at New Orisunmibare Market, Osogbo, welcoming Mrs Aregbesola to the market.

•(L-R) The Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun and Mrs Aregbesolaat the palace.

• (L-R) State of Osun All Progressive Congress (APC)Women leader, Mrs Kudirat Fakokunde; Iyaloja of Gbajumo Market, Mrs Adeosun Bolanle; Mrs Aregbesola and Barrister AjibolaBashir during the visit.

•A cross section of market women at Gbajumo Market, Osogbo.

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9 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 8, 2014PHOTOTALK

•Another cross section of Oja-Oba market women in Osogbo listening to Mrs Aregbesola’s speech.

•One of the Aregbesola billboards vandalized by the PDP thugs in Ilare.

•Another Aregbesola’s billboard vandalised by PDP thugs in Idominasi.

•Another Aregbesola’s billboard vandalized by PDP thugs in Otan-Ile.

Wife Of The State Of Osun Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, Visited Some Markets InOsogbo, Last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Thugs In The State Of Osun Vandalised Billboards Of TheGovernor, State Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Recently.

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10 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 8, 2014PHOTOTALK

•Oyetoro (right, with fez cap) on the Assembly Ground with pupils of Salvation Army Middle School, during his visit to the school at Alekuwodo, Osogbo, State of Osun, lastThursday.

•Oyetoro (right), asking questions from the pupils of Salvation Army Middle School, during his visit to the school at Alekuwodo, Osogbo, State of Osun, last Thursday.

Nollywood Comic Actor, Mr Hafiz Oyetoro Also Known As Saka, Paid A Courtesy Visit ToThe State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, In Osogbo, Last Thursday.

•(L-R) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlawon; Chief Executive Officer, DuduProductions, Mr Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin and Nollywood Comic Actor, Mr Hafiz Oyetoro also known as Saka, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Osogbo, State of Osun,last Thursday.

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11 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 8, 2014 MAGAZINE

Ikirun Mega Rally: Rekindled Commitment, Redoubled EffortContiuned from page 6

Contiuned on page 12

Inisa, Obaagun to Coker, Obaagun via Oke’ba, Iragbiji /Ada end, Eko-Ende and the rest were beefing up withcongestion. The Osogbo end of the outskirts had expectantpeople attracted to it as they expected the appearance oftheir beloved emancipator – Ogbeni Aregbesola. MotorParks in the town were not spared. Unions of publictransport operators also organized themselves into groupswith which they set out to identify and solidarize with theman who turned their fortunes around positively in adramatic fashion. Student bodies, market men and womenand various trade unions and associations used the ampleopportunity provided by the august occasion to troop outand make their gratitude and support known. Needless tosay, multifarious political groups and associations struggledto outdo one another as they registered their presence atthe rally.

On arrival at Ikirun, the first port of call for the governorand his entourage was the palace of the monarch of thetown, where all the royal fathers were already seated,waiting for the arrival of the man in who they are well pleased.The host, Akirun of Ikirun, His Royal Majesty, Oba RaufOlayiwola Olawale Adedeji, led others to receive thegovernor on arrival as prayers were rained on him and thesuccess of his second term bid.

Thereafter, the governor made straight for the venue ofthe occasion. The mammoth crowd that heralded his arrivalat the palace, the ones that lined all the streets, and thecumulative crowd that accompanied him all the way to thevenue suggested the expectation and arrival of one of theprophets of old, say, Mohammed or Jesus Christ. Alreadywaiting at the venue was another large crowd. It was indeeda glorious occasion.

Speeches after speeches were made at the occasion. Thehigh point was the speech of the governor, the man of themoment. Aregbesola thanked the people for the continuedfaith in, and their support for his administration, even as hesolicited their massive votes on the Election Day. Hebrought out the unique and intricate elements whichdistinguished the State of Osun and its politics from Ekiti;just as he cautioned the electorate to spurn all forms ofintimidation and troop out in droves on Election Day toperform their civic obligation. He also counseled lawenforcement agents to endeavour in their operations todwell strictly within the ambit of constitutional provisions;as that was the only proviso for the people to stretch olivebranches to them.

Most impressive was how Aregbesola recounted his listof achievements; just as he promised to do more in hissecond term. According to him, he was seeking re-election,not just for the sake of it, but to do better in terms of goodgovernance and service delivery to the people, In his wordsat the occasion, his seeking re-election was governed bythe doctrine of “double tenure; double goodies”. Byimplication, the benefits derivable from giving him mandateto serve another term in office shall outstrip those alreadyderived from the first tenure.

Among dignitaries who graced the occasion are formergovernor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Wife of theGovernor, Alhaja Sherifat Abidemi Aregbesola, DeputyGovernor, Otunba (Mrs.) Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori andthe visiting Wife of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs.Olufunsho Amosun. Others include the rank and file of theAll Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun ledby the Acting Chairman, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi and ActingSecretary, Prince Gboyega Famodun. Among the membersof the State Executive Council in attendance are theSecretary to the State Government, Alhaji MoshoodOlalekan Adeoti, Chief of Staff to the Governor, whodoubled as the Chief Host at the event, Alhaji Gboyega

Oyetola, Commissioner for Information and Strategy,Honourable Sunday Akere, his Justice Ministry counterpart,Mr. Wale Afolabi and a host of others.

Also in attendance are federal and state legislators,executive secretaries of local government council areas,political bigwigs, representatives of trade and professionalassociations and groups and others. Nollywood actors andmusicians were not left out as usual. The chief entertainerat the occasion was King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (K1).

Leading the Obas at the Akinrun’s Palace are their RoyalMajesties, the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Abdul-Rauf OlawaleAdedeji (Ifelodun); Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul-RasheedAyotunde Olabomi Odundun IV (Boripe); and Olokuku ofOkuku, Oba Samuel Abioye Oyebode Oluronke II (Odo-Otin).

AS has been noted earlier, the programme of events atthe Mega Rally had kicked-off prior to the arrival of thegovernor at the venue. The programme featured speechesby numerous speakers as well as entertainment bits bymusical artistes and Nollywood actors and actresses whograced the occasion. It was part of the feature of the orderlycrowd to announce lost but found articles; in spite of thepopulation explosion at the venue.

On hand at the event to announce to the teemingaudience the availability of their Permanent Voters’ Cards(PVCs) at the local government Office of the IndependentNational Electoral Commission (INEC) nearest to theirplaces of registration was the State of Osun Commissionerfor Information and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere.He further aired the announcement that the PVCs for thosewho transferred from other states and parts of the federationwere already available at the state headquarters of theIndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC);stressing the all-important nature of the voters’ cards inthe forthcoming elections, with a caution that anyone wholacked the card would not be allowed to vote.

Mounting the soapbox to address the august gatheringafter Akere was a staunch member of the constituencycommittee for the Ogbeni’s Second Term Campaign Project,who doubles as the Chairman of the Board of Directors ofthe Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC),Honourable Kola Akanji. Akanji hammered his speech onthe multifarious benefits of having the Aregbesolaadministration back in office via votes polled massively forit in the approaching round of elections. He alsocorroborated the essence of having a permanent voter’scard and urged all registered voters to effect its timelycollection in order not to be left out in the voting exercise.

Honourable Akanji went further to give the assurancethat the massive votes of his constituents would returnOgbeni as duly elected. He urged the people to shun thedevilish antics of the leading opposition – the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) whose stock-in-trade are lies anddeceits; noting that the vehemence of their antics couldnot over-sway the All Progressives Congress (APC) in theconstituency. On the contrary, the opposition party’smechanisms could not insulate it or break its defensesagainst abysmal failure at the polls.

Speaking on behalf of Iyalojas, market men and womenin the state, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade cast a retrospectiveglance at the new landmark achievements of the Aregbesolaadministration since its inception. According to her, thoseachievements include donation of buses to their groups allover the state, building of modern, state-of-the-artinternational market structures with modern facilities,revival of industries and manufacturers’ outlets which shesaid was in the pipeline. She cited numerous market complexprojects ongoing in the state and confirmed that Ikirunwould not be left out in the final analysis.

Alhaja Asindemade cited how Aregbesola had alreadymade easier and more cost-effective the process of stock-

replenishment for traders without taking the risk of travellingto Lagos and other distant lands. She then opined that atsome non-distant future date, Osogbo would have attractedan impressive turnout of traders from all over the country,thereby reviving its old fond position as a commercialcentre – all as positive effects of Aregbesola’s commercial/ industrial drive. She concluded by appealing to all andsundry, traders in particular, not to listen to mischievousinformation and deceits but to troop out massively to votefor Aregbesola in the forthcoming elections.

There were several other speakers who kept the peopleoccupied and productively engaged prior to the arrival ofthe man of the moment, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.Also, various entertainers performed to the delight of all asprelude to the take-off of the events-proper.

The arrival of Ogbeni Aregbesola and his team was firstnoticed at the venue of the rally at exactly 4:05 p.m. Thegovernor got to the venue in company of dignitaries likefirst civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Senator IsiakaAdetunji Adeleke, Secretary to the State Government ofOsun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and the Chief of Staff to theGovernor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, among others. It isplaced on note that a larger segment of dignitaries hadremained comfortably seated at the venue prior to theappearance of the governor. Having engaged in the usualexchange of pleasantries, Governor Aregbesola settleddown for the take-off of events.

At about 4:15 p.m. the National Anthem and the State ofOsun Anthem were sung back-to-back; followed closelyby the anthem that is now becoming usual with suchgatherings – “On Your Mandate We Shall Stand…” Theintroduction of guests and dignitaries was done and theprogramme proceeded without further delays.

As the Chief host of the event, the Chairman of theCommittee for the Second Term Campaign of GovernorAregbesola in the area, who also is the Chief of Staff to theGovernor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, gave a welcome address.He thanked the attendees of the programme for making it apoint of duty to be present. According to him, the acronymfor the local government councils under the constituency,i.e. Ifelodun, Boripe and Odo-Otin was IBO; which in mothertongue translates to “votes”; and as such, the people ofthe area conveyed their resolve to poll massive votes forthe governor in the fast-approaching round of elections.He used the opportunity presented by the occasion toreprimand critics of the stock of opposition over their falseallegations that the party was in the habit of hiring crowdfrom some distant lands. He attributed the usual hugeturnout at campaign rallies to the genuine interest, loveand support of the people; promising the administration’sdetermination to give back more of selfless service to thepeople for the ultimate growth and development of the state.

The next speaker at the occasion was the State InterimChairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in theState of Osun, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi. Dwelling on theillegality and dire consequences of selling their voters’cards for pittances, the chairman cautioned the electoratenot to sell their cards but to use them to cast their votes forGovernor Aregbesola on August 9. Elder Adebiyi urgedthe people to spurn rumour making the rounds on the hatredof teachers or other civil / public servants for theadministration, saying that such rumours are baseless andunfounded. Adebiyi clarified that instead of widespreadrumours that the administration was about to retrenchworkers, it would embark on massive recruitment to blockvacancies that exist in all segments. Also, he debunkedrumours that all serving political officers in the state and allawardees of contracts are non-indigenes; citing concreteexamples and justifying them as bona fide indigenes of theState of the Virtuous. He then went ahead to shower the

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Ikirun Mega Rally: Rekindled Commitment, Redoubled Effort

Continued on page 13

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appreciation and gratitude of the party hierarchy onworkers, cadets of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme(OYES) and pensioners for their patience and forbearanceover slight delays being recently experienced in the releaseof their monthly pay. He revealed that arrangements werein top gear to pay their May salaries, stipends and pensionsas the case may be.

Adelowo announced that reports had it that followingthe scenario at Ekiti, some fake tax collectors suspected tobe cronies of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) hadstarted parading the premises of traders and shop ownersdemanding for a sum of N10, 000 as tax. He authoritativelydisclaimed the State Government’s involvement in theunwholesome affair and directed affected traders to reportsuch swindlers to law enforcement agencies as soon astheir presence was noticed around their premises. Finally,he announced that prospective voters who were yet tohave their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) should approachINEC’s LGA offices closest to their initial registrationcentres to claim them in order to quality as eligible votersin the forthcoming elections.

The member representing Ifelodun / Boripe / Odo-OtinFederal Constituency of the state at the Federal House ofRepresentatives, Abuja, Honourable Yinka Ajayi rose nextto speak. In an emotion-laden rendition, Ajayi summed-uphis intended speeches and supplication in two songs, whichhe led the people to sing. The songs are the immortal hymnsung as follows:

Olorun Agbaye, Owo ni f ’oruko Re,Iwo l’a gbeke le, La’i ma je k’oju ti wa.Chorus: Bi ko se pe O ko ‘le naa Osise nse e l’asan Wo Alpha ati Omega Ran iranwo Re si wa.The second is the reigning traditional number:Dagunro o se e je / 2ceIje ti e je tete; e ma je dagunroDagunro o se e je!After the federal lawmaker’s song session, the next

person to engage the crowd in a speech was none elsethan the senator representing the Osun Central SenatorialDistrict at the Senate of the Federal Republic, Senatorprofessor Olusola Adeyeye.

According to the university don-turned politician,Aregbesola had through his performance demonstrated thathe was God-sent on a mission to the people of the state;cautioning the people on the need to be wary of killers,thugs and violence-prone figures paraded by the leadingopposition party in the state; as such people couldobviously have no divine mission to deliver. Al that theycould inflict was tears attendant to sorrow, tears and blood.

Clarifying the clear difference between the State of Osunand Ekiti State in terms of body politics and yearnings forprogressive brand of governance, Adeyeye flashed backto memory the distinct voting patterns elicited by voters inthe two states in 2011 General Elections, whichdistinguished the State of Osun as the only state in thefederation where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) failedwoefully.

In the speech of the former and first civilian governor ofthe state, who also represented Osun West SenatorialDistrict at the Senate between 2007 and 2011, Senator IsiakaAdeleke, he expressed his great delight at being at home,being a honourary chieftaincy title older in towns in thearea among which are Ikirun, Iree, Inisa and Faji. Hecounseled that the only wise option open to the electorate

is to return Aregbesola elected. He attributed the wisdomin this decision to the nature of the governor who makespromises and keeps them. He then gave the Ibo name of“Ekwueme” to Aregbesola, meaning the man who lives tohis promises. As earlier pointed out in this report, heexpressed confidence that all salaries, pensions andstipends were already being paid at the time of the stagingof that rally. Finally, he promised that the crowd that wouldbe attracted at Ede would surpass the astonishing one thatwas being beheld at Ikirun.

The Deputy Governor of the state spoke next. Sheengaged the people in vehement and rapturous brandishingof the brooms, counselling them thereafter on theirwholesome duties on the Election Day, that is, how theyshould vote and protect their votes till collation stage.

FINALLY, the long expected speaker, GovernorAregbesola mounted the stage at exactly 4:52 p.m.Aregbesola’s appearance up-stage was heralded withsongs supplied by King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall (K1); whichwas reciprocated by the waiting crowd who wielded theirbrooms in wild jubilation. Prior to the governor’s erudition,the popular anthem, “On Your Mandate We Shall Stand”was sung in unison. Following his usual long list ofacknowledgement, Governor Aregbesola went into hisspeech, breaking it intermittently with songs. It was a highlycharged atmosphere.

Ogbeni Aregbesola brought out the many peculiaritiesof Osun and Ekiti. He went into the archives of the South-West and brought out peculiarities and uniqueness invoting behaviour of the people. He pointed out how thepeople of the state voted out Jonathan and his party in theGeneral Elections of 2011 as he foretold nothing less of hatfate as befalling their party in the forthcoming GubernatorialPolls.

Commenting on the just-concluded GubernatorialElections in Ekiti, in which the candidate of the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Ayodele Fayose wasreturned elected, Aregbesola said that the truth of thesituation that led to the verdict laid with God, the judge ofthe entire Mankind. He then charged the people to troopout and vote massively as well as get prepared to protecttheir votes from the nefarious activities of Mandate thieveswho may likely be on the rampage in their desperation tofind “empires” to rule by all means.

Responding on the boastings of the Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) and its Federal Government to descend on theState of Osun with a lock-down, the Chief Executiveexpressed the absolute impossibility of such tyrannicalmeasure and called on the people not to bow to intimidationbut to go on discharging their civic obligation as stipulatedby the provisions of relevant portions of the law.

Promising double portions of dividends of democracyto the people, he enumerated the achievements of hisadministration so far, including breakdown of monthlysalaries and pensions; stating categorically how themonthly statutory allocation from the Federation Accountshad been grossly inadequate to fund the monthly bills ofthe state since mid-2013.

Openly at the rally, Governor Aregbesola debunked theinsinuations that his administration was about to cancelthe operation of commercial motorcycle operators,popularly called okada riders in the state, should he beelected for another term of office. He said that he never hadsuch intentions.

It is safe to conclude here that the Ikirun Mega Rallyrecorded utmost success; more so when traducers hadwagged their tongues that the party would not be able to

carry on with its campaigns with much vigor. The partywaxed stronger and stronger, and there were indicationsthat all hands are now on the deck to re-strategize towardgood outing at the poll.

It is with great courage that OSUN DEFENDERMagazine asserts that in the State of Osun of today, theruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is still the party tobeat in any political contest. In terms of concrete solidachievements, no single party could pride itself as beingable to deliver as much as the ruling party. Not even theboastful PDP which had occupied the seat of governancefor about eight years with little or no remarkableachievement. Not even all the opposition parties combined;as they cannot agree.

AT this juncture, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine shalldraw excerpts from the pact given to the people of the stateupon rolling out of the Oranmiyan campaign team of OgbeniRauf Aregbesola eight years ago; for the purposes ofreference and setting the records straight:

My mission and ambition are to restore to the people, astate of peace, opportunity, for progress and room for thepursuit of prosperity in our time under a people friendlygovernment.

I give you Six-Point Integral Action Plan, to the intentthat they constitute my actions of faith concerning which Iwant to be held accountable at any time during mystewardship.

SIX POINT INTEGRAL ACTION PLAN· Banish Poverty· Banish Hunger· Banish Unemployment (Create Work/Wealth)· Restore Healthy Living· Promote Functional Education· Enhance Communal Peace and ProgressBANISH POVERTYCOMMERCEVision: To make Osogbo the second hub in international

trade in goods and commodities in the Southwest.Osun people’s natural affinity for commerce has been

dampened over the years by unfriendly and unfocusedeconomic policies of government thereby popularizingpoverty among a people, who are naturally hardworking,industrious and adventurous.

Our purposeful government of ACN shall revitalizecommerce and restore wealth back to the land through:

· Market friendly policies that will revive thecustomary commercial activities in Osogbo and othertowns in Osun.

· Promotion and support of activities focused onwealth promotion for our people.

· Transformation of Osogbo into an Internationalmarket where goods will be procured at pricescomparable to any other part of West Africa.

FINANCE& ECONOMIC PLANNINGI shall increase the internally generated revenue of the

state and also improve in mileage on every kobo accruingto the state by:

· Ensuring real time online access to actualposition of the state finances to prevent misuse and otherforms of abuse by receiving agencies.

· Reducing leakages in the tax collection andadministration process.

· Running a transparent and accountablegovernment.

· Ensuring prudent management of the state’s

•(L-R) Laoye-Tomori; first civilian governor in the State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Governor Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat and wife of Ogun State Governor, PrincessFunmilayo Amosun, at the Ikirun mega rally.

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Ikirun Mega Rally: Rekindled Commitment, Redoubled Effort

Continue from page 12· Ensuring that the funds of the state are used for developmental

purposes.

· Create viable Public/Private sector partnerships to jump start theeconomy.

· Our overall goal is to reduce dependence on federal allocation asa means of funding the government.

BANISH HUNGER

FOOD& AGRICULTURE

Vision: Our government shall banish hunger in Osun and enhance wealththrough massive increase in food production and agriculture.

Every farmer shall sell his products and be prosperous. The labour of the farmershall no longer be in vain because we shall provide assistance and support tofarmers in finding and exploiting profitable market for their goods.

We do not presently grow enough food in Osun to feed us round the year andthis should concern a government that cares for its people.

Our government shall support farmers to attain increase in food production,better storage and delivery. We shall provide assistance to farmers in exploitingprofitable markets and market opportunities for their products.

To maximize the benefit of resultant massive increase in food production, weshall improve:

· Access roads and general transportation to even the most remote areasof the state.

· Storage process and capacity.

· Processing of agricultural produce.

· Rural electricity and water supply.

CASH CROPS

· Encourage production of cash crops which can enhance farmer’sincome and provide basis for an effective agro-industrial society in the state ofOsun.

· Specified to vigorously develop extensive farming in palm trees tocreate a fully integrated oil palm processing industry.

· To target and capture minimum of 10% of the multibillion naira- perday food market of the neighbouring states.

· Support cooperative efforts by farmers

· Be a catalyst to the development and promotion of micro, small andmedium enterprises that will exploit available raw materials.

· Set up price support scheme for farmers through commodity exchangeboard.

BANISH UNEMPLOYMENT (CREATE WORK& WEALTH)

No job loss, more jobs.

Osun people are peaceful, dignified and hardworking people who desire anddeserve gainful employment for their children and themselves. Rather than policiesthat will create employment and wealth for the people, the policies of the PDPgovernment in place serve to enrich few at the expense of majority of our people.

As part of our GOVERNMENT UNUSUAL programme, I Rauf AdesojiAregbesola make a pact with you good people of the State of Osun, in thepresence and by the grace of God Almighty that our government shall createimmediate employment for 20,000 people within our 100 days in office.

5,000 of these places shall be reserved for those who were retrenched and arestill willing and able to work.

As a people-friendly government, our policies shall help to:

· Create economic environment that ensures availability of jobs for allOsun indigenes.

· Establish one LIFE ACADEMY in each of the three Senatorialconstituencies for the building of life- long skills in out of schools, youngstersas well as adults seeking alternative competencies.

· Promote labour exchange centres to facilitate employment of graduatesfrom our Life Academies.

CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS

There is the need for a civil service reform that will not lead to any loss ofjobs as I Rauf Aregbesola do not believe in laying people off in the name ofreforms.

Our reform will make the work environment more conductive, stimulating anddevelopment oriented.

Bonuses, incentives and regular awards shall be instituted to promote a cultureof excellence in the civil service along with the prompt payment of salaries,allowances, leave bonuses and year-end performance bonuses.

Promotions and comprehensive salary reviews and increases shall be regular.

Internal and external training, work exchange programmes and overseas trainingshall be actively reinstituted for comprehensive human development in the civilservice.

New Tutor General/Permanent Secretary Cadre shall be created forTeachers in new education districts for better school administration.

We shall institute Home Ownership Scheme for public servants and alsosupport and encourage their backyard food production business ventures.

We shall do a comprehensive review of civil service names and conventions aspart of our efforts to create a people- friendly civil service.

Appropriate nomenclature will enhance accountability and promote publicaccess to the services of the ministry. A citizen with a complaint of blockage ofdrainage will find a Ministry of Roads and Drainages easier to identify with thanMinistry of Works, a Ministry of Human Resources and Development will moreappropriately communicate its services than a Ministry of Establishment.

TOURISM

Vision: Tourist’s cradle in Africa

The State of Osun is the cradle of Yoruba people and our rich culture. Theopportunities for wealth creation in Osun state through tourism have beenunderexploited. We shall:

· Develop State of Osun tourism potentials to its fullest to promoteemployment and wealth among people of the State of Osun.

· Encourage development of Yoruba museum and world heritage centreat Ile-Ife.

· Encourage programmes that nurture and promote arts and talent.

· Enhance the image of traditional rulers and institutions.

· Mobilize our traditional rulers to showcase the state’s tourismpotentials to Yorubas in the diaspora (e.g. Brazil, Cuba and West Indies).

ROADS

Vision: Roads to and in all towns and villages in Osun. Road constructionand maintenance shall be used to generate employment for the indigenes of theState of Osun.

· Community based road maintenance units will be established to ensuretimely repairs and deduce overall maintenance costs.

· Development and regular maintenance of urban and rural roads to gettop priority.

· Access roads to evacuate agricultural produce shall be constantlyimproved and expanded.

· Create partnerships with the private sector on road development andprovision of infrastructure.

TRANSPORTATION

We shall produce a transport master plan to provide direction for developmentof the sector.

The safety of the lives of the indigenes of the State of Osun is of great concernto us. We shall:

· Reduce to the barest minimum, road traffic accident within 6 monthson all roads starting with Federal roads.

· Create a motorized division of the Osun troopers to patrol roads toprevent accidents on the highways and organize rescue and recovery operations.

INNOVATION

Europe, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and now China have made life for their peoplepermanently comfortable through innovation, research and development, thriftand hardwork.

We Africans especially the people of the State of Osun are thrifty (a ki se oninakuna) and hardworking (ati agbe at onise owo lo ka imele si aida nile Yoruba)but we have been backward in looking forward.

We have not been innovative enough, we have not invested enough in researchand we have not developed the fruits of innovation and research. In other wordswe remain backward, poor, unscientific and losers (eni igbehin) among the familyof nations.

It is a matter of concern that our leaders do not car or worry enough about theseissues.

I care and I’m deeply concerned. As your Governor I will do everythingpossible to:

· Create awareness and dissatisfaction among all in the State of Osunabout our position among the world’s people and the need to move up the ladderof human ascent and development away from permanent and persistent poverty.

· Ensure that ideas with original creativity are tapped for the enrichmentof all.

· Give real importance to education with skills development so thatwe can make what we need and become more competitive in the world as a peopleby creating more skills development centres in the State of Osun.

· In these centres we shall teach Men and Women to think with theirhands, sharpen our already proven entrepreneurial skills and stop Nigeria fromimporting:

TOOTH PICK (IGI OPARUN FUN ITAYIN) FROM CHINA, ORANGE JUICE(OROMBO) FROM KOREA, SHOES (BATA) FROM SPAIN/ ITALY, FAN BELT/CAR TYRES (RUBBER) FROM JAPAN AND FRANCE.

When I know that these can be easily manufactured here.

I shall turn the State of Osun into a creative agro-industrial zone Godwilling.

INDUSTRIALISATION

Key to banishing unemployment permanently anywhere is promotingconducive atmosphere for manufacturing and production. Our Government shall:

· Develop integrated industrial estates for mini, micro and largemanufacturing enterprises in the three senatorial zones of the State of Osun.

· Provide the estates with infrastructural facilities that reduce the costof setting up industries (roads, electricity, water and telecommunications).

· Provide incentives targeted at attracting manufacturers/ investors.

· Develop skilled personnel through our Life Academies, Universitiesand colleges to service specialized industrial and manufacturing needs.

Continued on page 15

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (on top of a bus), acknowledging cheers from his supporters and admirers at the Ikirun mega rally.

Page 14: Osun Defender - July 8th 2014, Edition

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 8, 2014 14

Ife Bombing, PDP And Boko Haram (Part 1)‘The PDP has set the stage for its tacticsahead of the elections in 2015 and it’ssimple; bomb parts of Nigeria andindeed Nigerians and place the blameon the door of the opposition APC. Menlike Femi Fani-Kayode are being usedto attack them in the press and variousonline media as sponsors of terror. Isn’tit queer that days after Fani-Kayodeaccused the APC without proof ofhaving a militant terror wing and anevil character in Musiliu Obanikoroaccusing Bola Tinubu and his friendsas starting Boko Haram that suddenlyIle-Ife was bombed?’

Ife Bombing Site of an explosion inNigeria

We are living in desperate timesnow and it’s becoming clear asthe days go by that the PDP and

President Goodluck Jonathan’s burningambition to be re-elected would come atall cost even with the blood of Nigerians.The recent bomb explosion in Ile-Ife inthe State of Osun has all but exposed thehands of the PDP and shown that BokoHaram is of three types; there is thereligious Boko Haram led by AbubakarShekau, which we all know; there is thecriminal-minded ones and there is thepolitical Boko Haram, which in the run-up to the 2015 elections, everyone wouldfind out is the militant wing of the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP).

In my article some months back onBoko Haram, I mentioned the three formsof the terrorist group including thepolitical one. I gave the example of Kanoduring the 2012 fuel subsidy protest andreminded Nigerians of the churchworshippers, who were killed accordingto eyewitness account with semi-automatic rifles, the type issued togovernment secret service agents, thattogether with other incidences includingthe Boko Haram suspects that werearrested in an abandoned Bayelsa StateGovernment building in Ijora-Lagos State,plus the bombing in Ile-Ife penultimateTuesday, shows for a fact Boko Haramhas a political arm used by faces in thispresent government to terrorise Nigerians(see my article titled Musings on BokoHaram and its Sponsors as published onthis medium: http://saharareporters.com/article/musings-boko-haram-and-their-sponsors-its-time-stop-them-or-they-stop-nigeria-ola%E2%80%99-idowu).

The PDP has set the stage for its tacticsahead of the elections in 2015 and itssimple - bomb parts of Nigeria and indeedNigerians and place the blame on the doorof the opposition APC. Men like FemiFani-Kayode are being used to attackthem in the press and various onlinemedia as sponsors of terror. Isn’t it queerthat days after Fani-Kayode accused theAPC without proof of having a militantterror wing and an evil character in MusiliuObanikoro accusing Bola Tinubu and hisfriends as starting Boko Haram thatsuddenly Ile-Ife was bombed?Coincidentally, the crown witness in Fani-Kayode’s EFCC corruption case wasnowhere to be found when the trialresumed last week, an obvious steptowards throwing out the case by thejudge for lack of diligent prosecution asscripted by the Presidency and the PDPin exchange for his recruited job ofblackmailing the APC and its leaders. Thesame Fani-Kayode, who has no knownpolitical constituency and has never wonan election as a politician, is the onecastigating the APC and pontificating forthe people of the South-West and indeedNigerians. He defected to the APC andcalled the PDP all sorts of names but came

back to the same PDP and now the APCis the evil party. A man, who calledPresident Barack Obama of the US theAntichrist prior to his re-election in 2012.In a sane and civil society, such a manwould not be taken seriously and wouldhave been forced to have himself checkedto prove his mental sanity, but in Nigeriansuch people bestride our airwaves feedingus with garbage.

Obanikoro on his part I wouldn’t blametoo much, I lay all the blame on Tinubu’sshoulders. Tinubu it was in 1999, whobrought back such dubious anti-democratic element from exile in the US,claiming he wanted technocrats and ‘sonsof the soil’ in his government.

Tinubu did this against all the adviceof Lagosians then who cited howObanikoro burnt down the ancientlandmark City Hall building in Lagosduring the Sani Abacha regime, when hewas the Chairman of Lagos Island LocalGovernment and a popular campaignerfor Abacha’s life presidency, at a timeTinubu was in exile, fighting fordemocracy with NADECO. He didn’tlisten and rehabilitated Obanikoropolitically, going on to make him a senatorin 2003 under the Alliance for Democracy(AD) banner and today his fingers arebeing burnt with those decisions. Of allthe so-called technocrats Tinubu broughtinto government, its ‘non-technocrats’like Babatunde Fashola and RaufAregbesola that are still standing strongby him today. Most of the rest have sincebitten the fingers that fed them. I lay theblame on Tinubu for not identifying andeven up till now talents amongst the die-hard party supporters, who have stoodwith the party from AD, AC, ACN andnow APC and are the foot soldiers, whohave the grassroots appeal but I believe

things are changing now.

An Obanikoro, who after leaving theAD for the PDP, did not win thegovernorship primaries in 2007, losingout clearly to Hilda Williams (the widowof the late Funsho Williams) ,but the ticketwas still given to him by Bode Georgeand then PDP Chairman Ahmadu Ali. Hiscampaign in 2007 proved to be the mostviolent in the history of Lagos Stateperhaps in the entire South-West. Everysingle campaign he held from Idumota toOjota to Ikeja, at least, five AC supportersand innocent bystanders were killed inhails of bullets. It was the darkest time Iever witnessed in the history of LagosState, not even Abacha’s regime was thatterrifying in the state. It was so bad,Lagosians were asking themselves ifObanikoro’s thugs kill everyone, whowould be left to vote for him on electionday? Not surprisingly, he lost the electionby a handsome margin. Now, that sameterror template is being imported into theWest ahead of the elections in the Stateof Osun on August 9th and the electionsin 2015.

In the lead up to the election in Osun,Ile-Ife (where PDP candidate IyiolaOmisore hails from) has been bombedand obviously, it would be pinned on APCby the likes of Omisore, Obanikoro andFani-Kayode. The plan is to get Omisoreinteracting with the masses eating pop-corn and climbing iron horses (Okada)and claiming to be popular with the people,then the political Boko Haram, the militantwing of the PDP would be bombing partsof Osun including Ife and claim it’s theAPC doing it because they are jittery ofhim winning like Fayose did in Ekiti Stateand they are trying to stop himcampaigning especially, in Ife where hehails from.

It’s the same template they would useacross the whole South-West, so as to

win sympathy for President Jonathan andclaim the APC are the demons, who haveprevented him from performing and thatis where I worry. The real Boko Harampromised to bring their campaign of terrorto the South particularly our oil refineriesand oil installations in Rivers, Bayelsa andDelta states, but definitely not Ife.

Everyone remembers Akure prisonswas attacked by people suspected to beBoko Haram, but it was to release theirmembers jailed there, but they have noreason to bomb Ile-Ife. Lagos Statenaturally is a target for any terrororganisation, as its the commercial nerveof the country, but the state governmenthas done well so far to limit attacks therethrough prompt intelligence operationsand arrest of suspected extremists andaliens including the ones arrested in theBayelsa State Government Lodge in Ijorabut to bomb Ile-Ife is far-fetched for thereal terrorists as it gives them no politicalmileage. The APC governor in the Stateof Osun, Aregbesola, cannot bomb hisstate as that would be senseless. Thebombers were clearly the militant wingof the PDP, the political Boko Haram,who would soak the feet of Jonathan inblood so as to get re-elected.

There is clear danger for the Yoruba,Nigerians and indeed the opposition APC,as this PDP government of Jonathan isready to turn their terror machine oneveryone. The signs are as clear asdaylight, and places where they feel theywould struggle for votes like in the South-West would be the epicentre of bombingcampaigns. Expect to see their activitiesincrease in Osun, then they move toLagos, Ogun and Oyo states with morebombings, as all those places arecontrolled by the APC. On standby wouldbe the likes of Fani-Kayode andObanikoro to blame it on Tinubu and APCand try to turn the people against himrather than against Jonathan, who hasshown generally, he does not care aboutBoko Haram, believing they are killingNortherners. Anyway, it’s none of hisbusiness. But for me’ these terror warhas become personal’ as I have familiesin Lagos and Ogun, lots of friends in Oyoand Osun states. It’s also time Tinubu,APC governors and stalwarts organise ahigh-powered emergency securitymeeting (call it the COBRA meeting likethe UK Prime Minister chairs’ when thereis clear danger) and face this new threatfrom the PDP’s Boko Haram militantwing’ who are hell-bent on bombingYoruba and indeed Nigerians in the South-West to death.

In part two of this article, I wouldhighlight why the life of the Ooni of Ife,Oba Okunade Sijuwade, is in danger andhe needs urgent security protection beforehis cousin allegedly kills him and pins iton Boko Haram, APC and Tinubu, whowas reported to have generally madesome remarks against some Obas in theSouth-West. I would also explain whythe lives of Obas in Yorubaland are at risk(Boko Haram has killed and attempted tokill Emirs in the North, so its easy to killa high profile Oba in the west by PDP’spolitical Boko Haram and blame it onTinubu), while I would give myrecommendations to the APC on whatneeds to be done urgently before thingsget out of hands. Also, I would give myone pence advice to President Jonathanand hopes he listens, as he hassurrounded himself with immature,power-hungry and evil men, who wouldassist him in bringing our country to theend.

•Idowu, a Management Consultantand Researcher writes in from the UK.

FEATURE

By OLA' IDOWU

•JONATHAN

Page 15: Osun Defender - July 8th 2014, Edition

13 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, July 8, 2014MAGAZINE

Ikirun Mega Rally: Rekindled Commitment, Redoubled Effort

Continue from page 12· Ensuring that the funds of the state are used for developmental

purposes.

· Create viable Public/Private sector partnerships to jump start theeconomy.

· Our overall goal is to reduce dependence on federal allocation asa means of funding the government.

BANISH HUNGER

FOOD& AGRICULTURE

Vision: Our government shall banish hunger in Osun and enhance wealththrough massive increase in food production and agriculture.

Every farmer shall sell his products and be prosperous. The labour of the farmershall no longer be in vain because we shall provide assistance and support tofarmers in finding and exploiting profitable market for their goods.

We do not presently grow enough food in Osun to feed us round the year andthis should concern a government that cares for its people.

Our government shall support farmers to attain increase in food production,better storage and delivery. We shall provide assistance to farmers in exploitingprofitable markets and market opportunities for their products.

To maximize the benefit of resultant massive increase in food production, weshall improve:

· Access roads and general transportation to even the most remote areasof the state.

· Storage process and capacity.

· Processing of agricultural produce.

· Rural electricity and water supply.

CASH CROPS

· Encourage production of cash crops which can enhance farmer’sincome and provide basis for an effective agro-industrial society in the state ofOsun.

· Specified to vigorously develop extensive farming in palm trees tocreate a fully integrated oil palm processing industry.

· To target and capture minimum of 10% of the multibillion naira- perday food market of the neighbouring states.

· Support cooperative efforts by farmers

· Be a catalyst to the development and promotion of micro, small andmedium enterprises that will exploit available raw materials.

· Set up price support scheme for farmers through commodity exchangeboard.

BANISH UNEMPLOYMENT (CREATE WORK& WEALTH)

No job loss, more jobs.

Osun people are peaceful, dignified and hardworking people who desire anddeserve gainful employment for their children and themselves. Rather than policiesthat will create employment and wealth for the people, the policies of the PDPgovernment in place serve to enrich few at the expense of majority of our people.

As part of our GOVERNMENT UNUSUAL programme, I Rauf AdesojiAregbesola make a pact with you good people of the State of Osun, in thepresence and by the grace of God Almighty that our government shall createimmediate employment for 20,000 people within our 100 days in office.

5,000 of these places shall be reserved for those who were retrenched and arestill willing and able to work.

As a people-friendly government, our policies shall help to:

· Create economic environment that ensures availability of jobs for allOsun indigenes.

· Establish one LIFE ACADEMY in each of the three Senatorialconstituencies for the building of life- long skills in out of schools, youngstersas well as adults seeking alternative competencies.

· Promote labour exchange centres to facilitate employment of graduatesfrom our Life Academies.

CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS

There is the need for a civil service reform that will not lead to any loss ofjobs as I Rauf Aregbesola do not believe in laying people off in the name ofreforms.

Our reform will make the work environment more conductive, stimulating anddevelopment oriented.

Bonuses, incentives and regular awards shall be instituted to promote a cultureof excellence in the civil service along with the prompt payment of salaries,allowances, leave bonuses and year-end performance bonuses.

Promotions and comprehensive salary reviews and increases shall be regular.

Internal and external training, work exchange programmes and overseas trainingshall be actively reinstituted for comprehensive human development in the civilservice.

New Tutor General/Permanent Secretary Cadre shall be created forTeachers in new education districts for better school administration.

We shall institute Home Ownership Scheme for public servants and alsosupport and encourage their backyard food production business ventures.

We shall do a comprehensive review of civil service names and conventions aspart of our efforts to create a people- friendly civil service.

Appropriate nomenclature will enhance accountability and promote publicaccess to the services of the ministry. A citizen with a complaint of blockage ofdrainage will find a Ministry of Roads and Drainages easier to identify with thanMinistry of Works, a Ministry of Human Resources and Development will moreappropriately communicate its services than a Ministry of Establishment.

TOURISM

Vision: Tourist’s cradle in Africa

The State of Osun is the cradle of Yoruba people and our rich culture. Theopportunities for wealth creation in Osun state through tourism have beenunderexploited. We shall:

· Develop State of Osun tourism potentials to its fullest to promoteemployment and wealth among people of the State of Osun.

· Encourage development of Yoruba museum and world heritage centreat Ile-Ife.

· Encourage programmes that nurture and promote arts and talent.

· Enhance the image of traditional rulers and institutions.

· Mobilize our traditional rulers to showcase the state’s tourismpotentials to Yorubas in the diaspora (e.g. Brazil, Cuba and West Indies).

ROADS

Vision: Roads to and in all towns and villages in Osun. Road constructionand maintenance shall be used to generate employment for the indigenes of theState of Osun.

· Community based road maintenance units will be established to ensuretimely repairs and deduce overall maintenance costs.

· Development and regular maintenance of urban and rural roads to gettop priority.

· Access roads to evacuate agricultural produce shall be constantlyimproved and expanded.

· Create partnerships with the private sector on road development andprovision of infrastructure.

TRANSPORTATION

We shall produce a transport master plan to provide direction for developmentof the sector.

The safety of the lives of the indigenes of the State of Osun is of great concernto us. We shall:

· Reduce to the barest minimum, road traffic accident within 6 monthson all roads starting with Federal roads.

· Create a motorized division of the Osun troopers to patrol roads toprevent accidents on the highways and organize rescue and recovery operations.

INNOVATION

Europe, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and now China have made life for their peoplepermanently comfortable through innovation, research and development, thriftand hardwork.

We Africans especially the people of the State of Osun are thrifty (a ki se oninakuna) and hardworking (ati agbe at onise owo lo ka imele si aida nile Yoruba)but we have been backward in looking forward.

We have not been innovative enough, we have not invested enough in researchand we have not developed the fruits of innovation and research. In other wordswe remain backward, poor, unscientific and losers (eni igbehin) among the familyof nations.

It is a matter of concern that our leaders do not car or worry enough about theseissues.

I care and I’m deeply concerned. As your Governor I will do everything possibleto:

· Create awareness and dissatisfaction among all in the State of Osunabout our position among the world’s people and the need to move up the ladderof human ascent and development away from permanent and persistent poverty.

· Ensure that ideas with original creativity are tapped for the enrichmentof all.

· Give real importance to education with skills development so thatwe can make what we need and become more competitive in the world as a peopleby creating more skills development centres in the State of Osun.

· In these centres we shall teach Men and Women to think with theirhands, sharpen our already proven entrepreneurial skills and stop Nigeria fromimporting:

TOOTH PICK (IGI OPARUN FUN ITAYIN) FROM CHINA, ORANGE JUICE(OROMBO) FROM KOREA, SHOES (BATA) FROM SPAIN/ ITALY, FAN BELT/CAR TYRES (RUBBER) FROM JAPAN AND FRANCE.

When I know that these can be easily manufactured here.

I shall turn the State of Osun into a creative agro-industrial zone Godwilling.

INDUSTRIALISATION

Key to banishing unemployment permanently anywhere is promotingconducive atmosphere for manufacturing and production. Our Government shall:

· Develop integrated industrial estates for mini, micro and largemanufacturing enterprises in the three senatorial zones of the State of Osun.

· Provide the estates with infrastructural facilities that reduce the costof setting up industries (roads, electricity, water and telecommunications).

· Provide incentives targeted at attracting manufacturers/ investors.

· Develop skilled personnel through our Life Academies, Universitiesand colleges to service specialized industrial and manufacturing needs.

Continued on page 15

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (on top of a bus), acknowledging cheers from his supporters and admirers at the Ikirun mega rally.

Page 16: Osun Defender - July 8th 2014, Edition

TUESDAY, JULY 8, 2014

www.osundefender.org THE 6TH MOST-VISITED NEWSPAPER WEBSITE IN NIGERIA

By ADEMOLA ABOLUWARINWHEN a dramatic changeoccurs in ideas orpractice, a revolution has

occurred or is in progress. Arevolution does not have to be abloody overthrow of government.The most important element in anyrevolution is change and a dramaticone for that matter. A suddenchallenge to a given social order canin itself be beneficial in awakeningand testing a society. But more oftenthan not, people do not like a changethat will upset their mindset and/ortheir social status. The people thatdetest any change in the social status quo are,usually, the rich few, the educated elites, thepolitical elites, and the religious overlords whoprofit immensely from the ignorance of thegeneral population.

Leaders of most of the revolutions that hadoccurred in human history were not immediatelyunderstood by their own people. In fact, the massesof people they fight for hardly ever see that their‘chicks were being delivered from the onslaughtof the hawk’. Jesus Christ’s revolutionary and thechanges he brought to the religious hypocrisies ofhis days were seen as heresy. His own people didnot understand him! (Luke 19:41-42) What wecan see in the State of Osun under the leadershipof Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola is a revolutionthat will, at the end of the day, benefit everycitizen of the state. The passion of this visionaryleader can be taken for arrogance, if we do notcarefully look beyond our present situation.Aregbesola is not affected by praises or criticisms,if they will not help him to achieve his goals.Only one thing is important to Aregbesola; thatthe people he has opportunity to govern enjoymore abundant life.

People complain that the man does not listento advice. What we have come to see in the livesof great leaders is that they see far ahead of theirgenerations. If an adviser is now offering anoutdated advice or, worse still, a reactionary advice,no progressive-minded leader will listen. If anarchitect plans a building long before itsconstruction commences, the architect will be acompound fool if a hair-dresser makes him changehis plans.

According to Microsoft Encarta, 2009,“Revolution is the most extreme political optionof a dissenting group; a course taken generallywhen more moderate and legal attempts to achieverecognition or reform have failed. Even whenfomented by a political minority, revolutionsusually reflect a general climate of discontent.Whether occurring spontaneously, which is rare,or through careful planning, revolutions dependfor their success on crucial timing, the fosteringof popular support, and the nucleus of a newgovernmental organization.

“A revolution is distinguished from a coupd’état, which is a sudden seizure of state power bya small faction or element of the government; acoup does not necessarily cause profound, far-

reaching change in the social system. Distinctionshould also be made between a revolution and revoltor a rebellion, which may be either a failed attemptat revolution, a violent expression of grievanceswith limited purpose, or merely a change inallegiance. The term revolution is more broadly

applied to any significant historicaltransformation.

“Modern societies owe much to past uprisingsagainst repressive governments, stagnant orrestrictive economic conditions, and rigid class

divisions. On the other hand, revolutionshave often replaced one evil with another,as through harsh recriminations, self-serving leadership, or betrayal of thepeople; these excesses sometimes lead toopposing counterrevolutions.

“In modern history, perhaps the mostimportant revolution, in terms of itscontagious effect on other nations, was theAmerican Revolution, although somehistorians would define it as a war ofindependence, rather than a revolution. A

war of independence is an armed struggle by onenation against an alien colonial power; it need notlead to revolutionary changes but only to anindigenous government in a sovereign state.”

The man, Aregbesola, loves his people so muchthat he took a far-reaching step to alleviate theirsorrows. He saved the State of Osun from the‘Great Deluge’ that had devastated many states inNigeria. Ever before the rains started, this manhad dredged most of the channels of water knownto have brought woes to the people of the state intimes past. Of the 19 states affected by flood inNigeria in 2012, it was only in the State of Osunthat there was no death, no displacement, no refugeecamp and no sorrow of any kind, as a result offlood disaster.

What shall we say on the issue of constructionof roads? Residents of every nook and cranny,who had never dreamt of feeling government’spresence for another twenty years, are nowenjoying the wonderful initiatives of Ogeni RaufAregbesola. Here is a man who knows the answersto the questions on ground.

The immediate-past administration busied itselftelling the people that the global meltdown wouldnot allow it to execute developmental projects.Here we are in the regime of the son of Aregbesola(Omo Iya Olobi) witnessing all-round changes inthe face of global meltdown. What a reactionarygovernment could not achieve for seven and ahalf years, a visionary leader has surpassed withinless than three years.

Ogbeni is convinced that nobody can ever makea success of governance if he keeps on using theold methods. Only a fool will be travelling thesame road and expect to reach a differentdestination! The governor of the State of Osun,together with his amiable deputy, Otunba GraceTiti Laoye-Tomori, is a very good example ofprogressive politician.

We do not need to begin again to list themyriads of achievements of this Pathfinder ofProgressive Politics, they are clearly visible forall to see. All we are saying is that wise people donot change a working formula; therefore becausewe are wise in the State of Osun, let us use ourvotes to bring in Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesolaas governor again in 2014.

Mr. Governor, please don’t be discouraged bymany protests against your style of administration;you are leaving a legacy that posterity will judgeworthwhile. Meanwhile, we are praying in our ownlittle corner that you will win and consolidatewhat you have achieved so far. No politicalvagabond will have the chance to destroy whatyou have painstakingly built. Amen!

I want to intimate you with the way Christ wastreated even when all his actions were meant toliberate the people. Even when the judge couldnot find fault with him, the people demanded thathe be crucified, while a murderer should be released.The people voted for violence instead of peace!May that not be our lot in the State of Osun inJesus’ name! Amen! “And he said unto them thethird time, Why, what evil hath he done? I havefound no cause of death in him: I will thereforechastise him, and let him go. And they were instantwith loud voices, requiring that he might becrucified. And the voices of them and of the chiefpriests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that itshould be as they required. And he released untothem him that for sedition and murder was castinto prison, whom they had desired; but he deliveredJesus to their will.” (Luke 23:22-25)

•Aboluwarin wrote in from Ila-Orangun, Ward3, State of Osun.

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. Allcorrespondence to the Managing Editor, KOLA OLABISI, Telephone: 08033927286 ([email protected]); Editor, KAYODE AGBAJE, Telephone: 0803-388-0205, E-mail:[email protected], [email protected]. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org.

Aregbesola: A PathfinderOf Progressive Politics

•AREGBESOLA

•BIZZARE: A masked terrorist (left) who accompanies the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator IyiolaOmisore (3rd left), to campaigns in the State of Osun.