VOL. 9. NO.057 NNNNN5050505050TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2014

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Who KilledChief Bola Ige,former Attorney-

General andMinister of

Justice? IGE

•(L-R) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr Segun Aina; Special Adviser to State of OsunGovernor on Budget, Mr Adesina Bade and Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Macdoff Efetabore Okoro, at the commissioning of South-Western Zonal officeof the CIBN in Osogbo last Thursday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

Osun Is Reaping Massive DividendsOf Democracy – CBN Chief

City Bus Drivers Endorses Aregbesola

Omisore And Osun'sImaginary Debts

Going by thefrenetic pace ofproject deliveryacross the state, acasual observerwould naturallywonder how astate that was onlya few years ago

consigned to thebackwaters ofdevelopment hasbecome the toast o

f investors and devel-opment partners alike.The story of how astate which the

hurriedly de-parting PDPadministrationleft prostrateand bankrupthas within threeyears not onlyreceived thekiss of life,

Continue on pg4

2OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014

If you have a story or advert for us, contact 08033927286, 08033880205, 08061197897, 08023191891.

News

•Entrance of the newly-constructed L.A Elementary School at Obada Area, Ede, State Of Osun under the administra-tion of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, as captured by our cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, recently.

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

Osun Is Reaping Massive Dividends Of Democracy – CBN Chief

THE ongoing transformations in the various sectors ofthe economy of the State of Osun have been describedas indices that have shored up the economy of the

state in no small measure.

Assistant Director, CentralBank of Nigeria, OsogboBranch, Mr. MacduffEfetabore Okoro, noted thatthe current administration ofOgbeni Rauf Aregbesola isaffecting lives in manners neverwitnessed before in the state.

The apex bank chief statedthis at the commissioning of theSouth-West Zonal Office of theChartered Institute of Bankersof Nigeria.

While proposing a toast tothe State of Osun, Okoro saidthe state is currently reapingsome enduring dividends ofdemocracy in the past threeand a half years.

Highlighting the areas ofdevelopment, the CBN bossidentified quality and affordableeducation, youthempowerment, roads and otherinfrastructural developments,as some of the areas, wheremassive impacts have beenrecorded.

He said: “It is pleasing tonote that in the State of Osuntoday, there is Osun RuralEnterprises and AgriculturalProgramme (O’REAP) whichhas engaged tens of thousandsin food crop cultivation,fisheries, beef production andeven cocoyam cultivation.

“Also, there is the private

partnership participationarrangement with Tuns Farmas the”Scheme Manager” tomanage the state’s broilerproduction scheme and about200,000 birds are produced onmonthly basis.

“In the area of YouthEmpowerment, the state isexcelling through Osun YouthEmpowerment Scheme(O’YES), which has engagedover Twenty Thousand(20,000) youths and wonseveral commendations frominstitutions like the World Bankand O’YESTECH throughwhich over five thousand(5,000) youths had beensuccessfully trained for self-empowerment,” he said.

According to him, with thevarious job schemes, there ishardly any home or family inthe state that has not felt theimpact of government.

He added that theintroduction of the Tablet ofKnowledge (Opon Imo) intothe education sector in thestate has impacted positivelyon the standard of education,ranking the state among thebest in the country.

Okoro continued: “Theeducation system had alsobeen impacted upon such thatthe standard could be said to

be among the best in thecountry.

“The major highlight in thisarea is the Opon ImoTechnology Enhanced LearningSystem (O’TELS) initiative,where computer tablets weredistributed to senior secondarypupils in public schools in thestate. It is on record that OponImo has won numerous awardsin Nigeria and abroad.

He identified other areaswhere the government hasearned the praises of thecitizenry as investment in roadinfrastructure, where hundredsof kilometres of urban and ruralroads had been repaired andsome constructed andinvestment in security, whichhas made the State of Osun tobe reputed as one of the safeststates in Nigeria.

While speaking, Aregbesolasaid his administration hasshown the path to be takennationally, if the problem ofunemployment would besolved.

He noted that through thecareful execution of his policyon banishment ofunemployment, Osun hasengaged 40,000 youths indecent ventures through theOsun Youth EmpowermentScheme (O’YES).

The governor also addedthat the state is workingtowards making a hugecommercial success of hisagricultural programmes,ranking high in the promotionof investment in agro-processing.

According to him: “Ourinitiatives in the educationsector of the state driveempowerment and increaseeconomic activities. The OsunElementary School Feeding andHealth Programme(O’MEALS) ensures thatabout 300,000 children are feddaily.

“The farm produce used tomaintain this programme,which is sustained with N3billion annually, are sourcedfrom farmers in the state. About3,000 women are employedand empowered to prepare andserve the food.

The governor said the CIBNand his administration havecertain goals in common, listingthe vision to diversify theeconomy and establishment ofthe state as a hub of enterprise,trade and commerce in South-West Nigeria, as part of thegoals.

“As for the institute, it ispositioning the state as a centreof professional bankingeducation in the region,” thegovernor told the gathering.

He then assured that hisadministration is committed toensuring the security of livesand property in the state,adding that in the last three anda half years, it has improvedthe security condition in thestate.

Aregbesola averred that it isnot accidental that Osun todayis one of the most peacefulstates in Nigeria.

He said: “We will continueto consolidate this and see toit that, at all times, banks andother business areas in ourstate are formidably secured.

“Armed bandits androbbers, who dare to test oursteely security presence willnever live to tell the tales oftheir misadventure,” thegovernor assured the audience.

Responding, the President/Chairman of Council of theCIBN, Dr. Segun Aina,described the opening of thezonal office as anotherlandmark achievement in thehistory of the institute.

Aina expressed optimismthat the opening of the office

would trigger huge economicactivities and commercialbenefits in the state.

“I have no doubt in my mindthat the opening of the CIBNSouth-West Zonal Office inOsogbo will bring enormouseconomic and social benefits tothe people of Osun andsurrounding states,” Aina said.

In his remark on behalf of alltraditional rulers present on theoccasion, the Akinrun of Ikirun,Oba AbdulRauf OlayiwolaAdedeji, said the establishmentof the institute’s coordinatingzonal office of the South-Westin Osogbo is a great honour tothe state.

Akinrun, who is also apatron of the institute, said theidea of establishing the zonaloffice is to enhanceprofessionalism in the practiceof banking in Nigeria.

“It is a singular honour to usin the State of Osun that theactivities of the institute andits branches in six states willbe coordinated henceforth fromhere in Osogbo. This is a greathonour done to us in the Stateof Osun,” the monarch said

Osun Speaker Tasks Security Agencies OnSeized Weapons, Voters’ Cards

SPEAKER, State of Osun House of Assembly, HonourableNajeem Salaam, has tasked all security agencies inthe state to dig deep into the purpose of the car loaded

with voters’ cards and cache of arms found with a PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) chieftain in the state recently.

Operatives of the NigeriaPolice Force had last week inIkirun, headquarters ofIfelodun Local GovernmentCouncil Area of the state,reportedly seized a car loadedwith voters’ cards and cache ofarms.

In a statement signed by hisPress Secretary, GokeButikakuro, the Speaker notedthat the seizure has furtherreinforced the fear of the peopleabout the plot of theopposition to destabilize thestate.

According to him, thepurpose of the arms and voters’cards loaded in a vehicle by thesuspect must be investigated,

with a view to finding outwhere such other arms are beingkept.

“The purpose of the cacheof arms and voters’ cardsloaded in a vehicle by thesuspect, who is a politicalplayer in Osun, must not onlybe unveiled, the suspects mustbe drilled to reveal other areaswhere guns and dangerousammunitions had been kept foruse in the forthcominggovernorship election in thestate.

“We have learnt about somepolitical players, who wereboasting around the state thatthey would turn the State ofOsun into the theatre of war

during the forthcominggovernorship election.

“They even said they havethe backing of the presidencyon the plot, and now that alocal PDP chairman has beenfingered in a seized vehicle,heavily loaded with guns inIkirun, the need to investigateother local chapters of the PDPby the security agencies hasbecome imperative,” hestressed.

Salaam also urged theIndependent National ElectoralCommission (INEC) to moveswiftly into action to knowhow its official property(voters’ cards) wascompromised by somepolitical players, who went tothe extent of loading them in avehicle in thousands.

He added that the significantresponse of the electoralumpire would go a long way toreassure the confidence of the

electorate in Osun.The Speaker then tasked all

citizens of the state to bevigilant and protect theprevailing peace reigning in thestate, asserting that the BokoHaram menace started with theambition of some politicians inBorno State to take over powerby hook or crook, only tosnowball into a national andinternational terrorist networklater.

“There is peace is Osun inthe last three years, theenabling environment hasbrought investment from farand near, the state is gettingmentioned on thedevelopmental index, newroads and schools are springingup, cities and towns arebeautified, and security of livesand properties are guaranteed.

“These are indices of lifeabundance that must beprotected by all and sundry,and must not be mortgaged onthe altar of “do or die”politics,” he further stressed.

Osun Gov Election: IPAC InauguratesOsun Chapter Executive

By ISMAEEL UTHMANThe Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) has

established its branch in the State of Osun with a seven-man executive committee to run the affairs of theorganization.

IPAC election andinauguration of electedstate executives took placeat the Osun Secretariat ofthe Independent NationalElection Commission(INEC) located opposite theState of House of AssemblyComplex, Abere onThursday.

The election wasconducted by the nationalexecutive members of thepolitical group, led by theirChairman, Alhaji YinusaTanko and Head ofDepartment, Election andParty Monitoring, INEC,State of Osun, Mr NiyiOpadiran, who representedthe Resident ElectoralCommissioner, AmbassadorRufus Akeju.

Tanko, who is theNational Chairman, NationalConscience Party (NCP),had in his opening remarksstated that IPAC consistedof all the political parties inNigeria with a mission topromoting democracy in thecountry.

According to Tanko, theideology of the group wasto ensure that all politicalparties come together andensure that there is credible,free and fair election acrossthe 36 states of thefederation.

Tanko stressed that IPACwas not an oppositiongroup but an organizationformed to monitor and workwith INEC on political andelection matters.

The chairman stated thatthe establishment of theState of Osun IPAC chapterwas to formally present toINEC a data base of theexisting political parties inthe state.

He said IPAC works withINEC to have adequateinformation on political andelection matters; to carry outo n e - m a n - o n e - v o t emandate, and to haveelection devoid of rigging,

manipulations and violence.In his remarks, the Osun

Resident ElectoralCommissioner, AmbassadorRufus Akeju, who wasrepresented by the Head ofDepartment, Election andParty Monitoring of INEC,Niyi Opadiran, assured thepolitical parties of credibleelections.

Opadiran maintained thatINEC was ready to delivercredible, free and fairelection in the forthcomingAugust 9, 2014governorship election in theState of Osun.

The INEC official said thecommission was ready togive the IPAC goodcooperation and necessaryinformation needed for thepromotion of election andcredible election in thecountry.

The election brought inPrince Adesoji Masilo of theUnited Democratic Party(UDP) as the IPACChairman; Alhaji AdetunjiOyolola of the ProgressivePeoples Alliance (PPA) asDeputy Chairman, MrIdowu Omidiji of the UnitedProgressive Party (UPP) asthe Secretary and ComradeBello Adebayo of theIndependent Democrat (ID)as Deputy Secretary.

Also, Chief GabrielFasorepo of the NCP as thePublicity Secretary, AlhajiRafiu Anifowose of theCitizen Popular Party(CPP)as the Financial Secretaryand Alhaji Ajao Adelakin ofthe African DemocraticCongress (ADC) asTreasurer.

Seventeen of theregistered 26 political partiesin Nigeria participated in theelection, including the AllProgressives Congress(APC) and the Labour Party,while the chairmen of thePeoples Democratic Party(PDP) and other remainingparties were absent at theevent.

Masilo won with 17 votes,Oyolola won with 15 votes,Omidiji won with 16 votes,Adebayo won with 15votes, Fasorepo won with 16votes, Anifowose won with15 votes while Adelakin wonwith 16 votes.

3 News OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014

By BOLANLE BABALOLA

•The State of Osun United City Bus And Taxi Association in a group photograph at a rally in support of GovernorRauf Aregbesola’s second term in office at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Old Garage Area, Osogbo, lastSaturday.

Group Demands Prosecution Of Voters’ Cards Syndicates SuspectsBy KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

A pro-democracy organisation, Democracy Vanguard,has called on the State of Osun Police Commissioner,Mr Ibrahim Maishanu, to thoroughly investigate the

alleged illegal possession of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PCV)by some politicians in the state.

The groups said if suchtrend is not checkmated by thesecurity agencies, it is capableof undermining free and fearelection in the state.

A statement by the OsunState Coordinator of theorganisation, Comrade OlowuEmmanuel, said such action isnot only criminal, but acoordinated attempt by anti-democratic forces to subvert thewill of the people in exercisingtheir franchise freely.

According to him:“Democracy Vanguard wishesto alert the security agenciesand electorate in the State of

Osun on the alleged purchaseand mass collection of voters’cards by politicians fromunsuspecting members of thepublic.

“The most recent of thiscriminal action was reported inIkirun, Ifelodun LocalGovernment Council Area,where a politician was said tohave been arrested by thepolice for being in possessionof over 100 Permanent Voters’Cards (PCV) in his car.

“It has also been widelyreported in the media that somepoliticians have commencedpurchase of voters’ cards ahead

of the August 9 gubernatorialelection in the state.’

“Democracy Vanguard istherefore, calling on the StateCommissioner of Police, MrIbrahim Maishanu, tothoroughly investigate thealleged stocking of voters’cards and ensure that the cardsare recovered, while thesuspects, their sponsors arenot only exposed and arrested,but equally prosecuted inaccordance with the 2010Electoral Act.”

Olowu said such action isnot only criminal, but acoordinated attempt by anti-democratic forces to subvert thewill of the people in exercisingtheir franchise freely, whichrequires serious attention ofthe security agencies in thestate and vigilance of thepeople.

He stressed that voter’s card

is critical as the licence forparticipation in any election,saying “any individual, groups,or political party with theintent of compromising free,fair and credible electionsthrough such act must face thewrath of the law.”

The group also urged the

Police, State Security Service,Nigeria Civil Defence Corpsand other security agencies toalso be on 24-hour surveillanceto halt such action.

The group’s coordinatorhowever, cautioned membersof the public to resist

Aregbesola Re-election Committee InIfeland Hits The Ground Running

THE Re-election Campaign Committee of Governor RaufAregbesola in Ife Federal Constituency of the State ofOsun under the chairmanship of Honourable

Bamisayemi-Oladoyin Folorunsho, representing Ife SouthState Constituency in the state House of Assembly has hitthe ground running.

The committee which held itsexpanded stakeholders’ meetingof chieftains of All ProgressivesCongress (APC) in theIpetumodu residence of theinterim state Vice-Chairman ofthe party, Alhaji Muraina Iyiola,last Thursday charged all thestakeholders of the party in thezone to work assiduouslytowards the return of GovernorAregbesola.

The committee chairmanwho said it was a jointresponsibility of all and sundryto forget about bickering inwhatever form reminded themthat it is only when Aregbesola’selection is perfected thatanybody can think of becominganything in the party andgovernment, calling forunalloyed joint effort to ensurethe return of the governor.

Bamisayemi-Oladoyin saidthe effort to return the governorbecame easier because of hissuperlative performances whichare ubiquitous across the state.

He however, cautioned theopposition to stop beating itsdrum of war in the constituencyand learn how to play politicsaccording to the rules, saying itwould not be business as usualfor those who think they havemonopoly of violence to rigelections in the constituency.

His words: “We are fullyprepared for the governorshipelection in our constituency. Let

me however sound this note ofwarning that no party will leavethe constituency for anotherparty. Our party membersshould be law-abiding in thezone during the campaign andelection but should vehementlyresist any ploy by anybody torig the election.

“I am happy to inform youthat there is nothing like IfeAgenda as it is being propagatedby members and chieftains ofthe Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Ile-Ife. If there is anyagenda at all, it is to returnOgbeni Aregbesola in the August9 governorship election.Aregbesola has improved thefortune of Ifeland by making ita construction site for roads.

“We, members of theAregbesola Re-electionCommittee in the constituency,visited our father, the Ooni ofIfe, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, inhis palace yesterday and thetopmost monarch agreed thatour governor has deservedlyworked for his re-election. Inessence, we have received aroyal blessing from our father.The Ife Agenda is to returnAregbesola in which you allhave prominent roles to play.”

The chairman cautioned theleadership of the PDP in thezone to stop circulating leafletsin villages with a threat messageto banish any supporters ofAPC from their farms,

cautioning that suchdevelopment is inimical togenuine democracy.

He however, promised togive the PDP’s threat to thesupporters of the APC in Ifevillages the statutory attentionit deserves.

The State Commissioner forArts and Culture, HonourableSikiru Ayedun, enjoined all theyouths in the party to brace upon the Aregbesola re-electionassignment, pleading that anyidentified past anomalies againstthe youths by both elected andappointed chieftains of theparty in the constituency wouldbe corrected soonest.

There were goodwillmessages from some of theleaders of the party in theconstituency like ChiefAdegboye Onigbinde fromModakeke Area Office; PrinceFelix Awofisayo from Ife-East;Alhaji Iyiola from Ife North;Chief Ologbenla from Ife-South;Honourable Biyi Odunlade fromIfe-Central; Honourable BisiOdewumi from Ife-North; MrKola Olabisi from ModakekeArea Office; Barrister KunleOyatomi from Ife-North andAlhaja Mulikat Bello fromModakeke Area Office amongother dignitaries.

Honourable Ipoola Binuyo,representing Ife-North StateConstituency in the House ofAssembly and HonourableAdeyeni Olusegun Busolarepresenting Ife- East FederalConstituency in the State Houseof Assembly and all theExecutive secretaries manningthe local government councils inthe constituency were also in

attendance.A prominent member of the

committee, Pastor OlutayoKehinde, was also in attendance.

The chairman of thecommittee told the members ofthe party to be on look-out forthe names of members of sub-committees of the actualcommittee to be announcedsoonest.

25,283 Osun Students In 73 InstitutionsEnjoy Bursary Award

NO fewer than Twenty Five Thousand, Two Hundredand Eighty Three (25,283) students of the Osun originhave benefited from bursary awards with a sum of

N521 million.The state government said

the effort is in furtherance ofits determination to ensure thateducation is available to allindigenes irrespective of theirfinancial conditions.

The Permanent Secretary,Ministry of Education, Mr.Lawrence Oyeniran, at theweekend, explained that a sumof N275.7 million was paid tofinal year students of the stateorigin across Nigerian tertiaryinstitutions for the 2012/2013academic session.

He added that a special grantto the tune of N17.3 millionhas also been paid to LawSchool students of Osun originin six campuses of the NigerianLaw School for the 2012/ 2013.

Oyeniran stressed that thesum of N208.6 million waspaid to 20,215 final yearstudents from 74 institutionsand N18.5 billion to 185 lawschool students in fivecampuses last year.

According to him: “Whatthe Rauf Aregbesola-ledadministration has done with

the payment of bursary to thestudents is in compliance withone of the six-point integralaction plan that focuses on theprovision of functionaleducation.

“We should not forget thatN2,000 used to be paid asbursary to final year studentsin colleges of education,N3,000 to all undergraduatesand N10,000 to law studentsand their counterparts incolleges of medicine.

“With the coming ofAregbesola, bursary award tostudent in tertiary institutionsis now N10,000 flat,irrespective of the student’scourse of study, whileN20,000 is being paid to finalyear students of law andmedicine and a generous reviewof the N10,000 to students ofNigerian law schools toN100,000". The director noted.

The Bureau ofCommunications and Strategyin the Office of the Governor,while restating theadministration’s commitment

to the restoration of functionaleducation, said that all theeducation initiatives of theadministration that are beingcommended from far and nearare aimed at producingstudents who are well-prepared and who can competewith any student in any partof the world.

“It is less than four yearsthat this revolution started.The results are alreadyshowing. The surest way tochange the society is to changethe way people are educated.This, this government haschallenged itself to achieve,” theBureau’s Director, Mr. SemiuOkanlawon said.

He added that the manyrecognitions received by thestate’s education policies areenough testimonials that Osunhas the template for solvingmany of the disturbing nationalquestions.

“For instance, the FederalGovernment has now realisedthe need to introduce theschool meal programme. Thisis one programme that hasincreased school enrolments inOsun. It alleviates poverty andcreates jobs for local foodvendors and farmers. Theripple effects are just simply

tremendous,” Okanlawonadded.

City Bus Drivers Endorse Aregbesola•As Governor Promises More Dividends Of Democracy

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

temptation, persuasion ormonetary inducement in sellingtheir voters’ cards, saying the2010 Electoral Act presumesthe buyers and sellers ascriminals with stifferpunishment of being in jail forsix months.

IN a bid to further boost the economy of the state, Governorof the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, haspromised to provide forty mini-buses to members of the

Osun United City Bus and Taxi Association otherwise knownas “Korope drivers”.

He said the mini-buses,which will be distributed nextweek, would be followed byanother forty before the August

9 governorship election.The governor stated this in

Osogbo at a continuity rally insupport of the his second termambition organised by the OsunUnited City Bus and TaxiAssociation in conjunction with“De Raufs” held at the NelsonMandela Freedom Park.

Ogbeni Aregbesola, whoexpressed happiness that thepeople of the state recognisedthe efforts of the hisadministration in moving thestate forward, promised that hisgovernment will endeavour tofurther develop the state ifvoted back into office in theAugust 9 election.

He then expressed hisgratitude to the organisers of therally, while promising that allthe developmental efforts of hisgovernment will continue.

Speaking on behalf of theCity Bus and Taxi Association,the Chairman of the association,Comrade Saidu Raji, whodescribed Ogbeni Aregbesola asGod-sent, stated that they nowvisit motor mechanics lessfrequently as a result of theefforts of the governor in termsof road construction andrehabilitation.

He then pledged the supportof the members of theassociation to the governor inthe coming elections.

In his welcome address, theDirector General of “De Ruaf”a volunteer group, ComradeAmitolu Shitu, stated that theachievement of the presentadministration is unprecedentedin the history of the state.

He stressed that members of“De Raufs” and the City Bus

Association have decided toshow their support for thegovernor to serve asencouragement and motivationfor him to continue to move thestate to greater heights.

Also, another volunteergroup, “I Believe Ogbeni RaufAregbesola” (IBORA),gathered in their thousands atthe Nelson Mandela FreedomPark to show their support forthe continuity of the governorin office.

President General of thegroup, Mr Olusola Okiki, statedthat the main reason for theestablishment of the group wasto show support and ensure thatthe good governance which theOgbeni Aregbesolaadministration is giving to thepeople of Osun continues.

He noted that the only waythe people of the state cansupport and appreciate thegovernor is to vote him backinto office in the forthcominggovernorship election.

Also speaking on theoccasion, the Speaker of theState House of Assembly,Honourable Najeem Salam,described the governor as aGod-sent comforter to thepeople of the state.

He explained that OgbeniAregbesola is a father to theelementary school pupilsthrough the “O Mealprogramme, a son to the agedthrough the “Agba Osun”programme and also a husbandto the widow through theassistance given to widows inthe state.

It was a day that members ofthe popular “Korope” driversabandoned their job to showsolidarity for the governor.

Present at the occasion werethe First Lady in the state,Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, toppoliticians in the state, membersof the state executive council,market women associationamong others.

4 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Omisore And Osun's Imaginary Debts

but has become a pace-setter across the boardas transformation hasobviously remained acompelling one. Clearly,the resounding verdictacross the federation isthat the State of Osuncurrently ranks tallamong the states wherethings are happening.

From the towns andcities now adorningnew looks courtesy ofthe Aregbesola's urbanrenewal initiatives, tothe physical transfor-mation due to themassive road con-struction going onacross the state; fromthe overhaul of the

education sector to theemerging industriallandscape; the tourismsector currently beinggiven a new lease, theintegration of informa-tion technology intothe learning andgovernance processand the on-goingrevolution in agricul-ture, the state hassince emerged as aclear leader among itspeers in the federation.

However, if the peopleare basking in theexultation that finallythe people's money isworking wonders fortheir benefit, or that afocused administrationtruly committed totheir welfare is finallymaking governmentmoney to deliver fullvalue for every naira

spent, the crowd ofrevisionists from thePDP - are apparentlyfar from impressed.Not that we expectthem to be - anyway.Not with the pace ofdevelopment leavingthe PDP breathlessand confused. How-ever, to cook up somephantom figures onwhat is supposed tobe the extent of thestate's indebtednessobviously comes to usas a new low in theparty's desperatesearch for relevance.

What to make of theutterly laughable andfalse claim by the PDPgubernatorialwannabe, IyiolaOmisore that the stateowes N630 billion?

Even if we excuse thePDP candidate's well-known penchant toelevate lying to an art,the revelation that aman who seeks totake over the runningof the state of Osunnot only knows next tonothing about publicfinance ought toprovide the citizens ofour dear state withsomething to chewupon.

Good citizens of thestate only need torecall the Omisore'segregious claims aboutawarding contracts forsome state roads whileserving as a senatorwhen he was not theminister of works toappreciate his infinitecapacity to trade inuntruths!

Omisore’s Ranting On Osun RECIT was Joseph Goebbels,

Adolf Hitler ’spropagandist-in-chief who

made the infamous statementthat “If you tell a lie big enoughand keep repeating it, peoplewill eventually come to believeit”. It is this same infamouspath that Senator IyiolaOmisore, the governorshipcandidate of the PeoplesDemocratic Party PDP) in theAugust 9, 2014 election, hasbeen threading, with hisrepeated call for the removalof Ambassador Rufus Akeju,the Osun State ResidentElectoral Commissioner.

He has been making this callsince 2012 and has heightenedit since he emerged the flagbearer of his party. Theallegation is actually a two-in-one. The first is thatAmbassador Akeju is biasedbecause, according to Omisore,he had a relationship with APCleader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.The second is that a court hadordered the removal of Akeju,which INEC refused to carryout, thus retaining him inflagrant disregard for the court.

The unsaid implication ofthis allegation is thatAmbassador Akeju is an APCmole in Osun ready to do the

bidding of APC with INEC’stacit approval.

Omisore in his characteristicrecklessness threatenedsolemnly at his partysecretariat in Osogbo that hewould never allow Akeju toconduct the cominggovernorship election. How hewould stop the election is stillnot known. He might as wellhave it in mind to violentlydisrupt the election and I hope

the security agencies havetaken note of this threat to theelection and should call him forquestioning. To be forewarnedis to be forearmed.

He could also have meantthat he would crash Abuja’spower on INEC to have Akejuthrown away from Osogbo.Whatever is in the darkrecesses of his mind, he did notmean well.

However, the truth of thematter is that there is no

subsisting court order onAmbassador Akeju. PDP hadgone to court and obtained aninjunction against INEC for theconduct of the 2011 elections.Strangely, the same PDP wentback to court to ask for ‘stayof execution’. The judge, BabsKeuwumi, was alarmed, andtold them pointedly thatnormally, it is the defendantwhom judgement was awardedagainst, that seeks ‘stay of

execution’ and not the plaintiff,who won the relief he soughtfrom the court. He then grantedPDP the ‘stay of execution’.

It is therefore, the height ofmendacity for Omisore to turnaround to allege that INEC isdisobeying court order. I askagain, which order?

When the PDP at themeeting of political parties withINEC Chairman in Osogboasked for the removal of Akeju,Professor Attahiru Jega told

them that they should bring‘credible evidence’ of Akeju’sbias or any allegation theymight have against him. Theyhave not done this; instead,they have continued on thisGoebbelian path of repeating alie so often with the false hopethat people will believe it.

Interestingly, the defeatedOsun PDP candidates in the2011 elections did not challengetheir defeats. Even SenatorOmisore, who was roundlythrashed and humiliated by hisopponent, Senator BabajideOmoworare, even in his ward,did not challenge the result atthe tribunal or the regularcourts. Only Honourable WoleOke went to the tribunal andthe appeal court and came backempty-handed.

Osun PDP did not boycottthe elections conducted byAkeju and no electionconducted by him has beenupturned by any electionpetition tribunal, Appeal Courtor the Supreme Court. Whatthen is the basis of thevilification of this man byOmisore and his gang? Is helooking for the fall guy for hisinexorable defeat in the comingelection, as always?

•FEMI IGBAYILOLA,Osogbo, State of Osun.

OSUN DEFENDERPublisher – Moremi Publishing

House Ltd.

Managing Editor – Kola Olabisi(0803-392-7286)

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: osundefender@yahoo.com

Continued from pg1Lest we forget, theother well-knownpathology suffered bythe PDP candidate ishallucination. It refers toa condition of assumingwhat is not there. Thetruth of course is thereis no N630 billion debtanywhere. If it exists atall, it must be in hisfecund imagination. Orcould the PDP bereferring to the N30billion bond issued intwo phases to financecritical infrastructurewhich are already beingpaid back by the stategovernment?

The trouble withOmisore and his PDPis clearly their poorunderstanding of whatgovernance is allabout. Not for themthe years of painstak-ing preparation, or thelabour of love thatpublic service entails;or more still, theappreciation of thefinancial re-engineer-ing needed to turnthings around; not forhis ilk, the iron disci-pline that has broughtthe state thus far.As it is, citizens ofOsun obviously havefar better things toengage in than dwellon Omisore's fables.

FinanceOSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014

High Expectations; Rekindled Hope

The budget for the last calendar year in the first tenure of the Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola’sadministration was recently passed by the State of Osun House of Assembly. This democraticprocedure is sequel to the official presentation of the proposed appropriation bill to the House onthe last day of Year 2013. Based on available facts, NIYI OLASINDE beams searchlight on thevarious aspects of the budget; especially those which are of great coherence with the anticipation,expectations, yearnings and aspirations of the people and which hold high promise for their improvedstandards of living and life abundant.

2014 Budget Of Growth, Enhancement And Development

•Build-Up To Approaching Polls

•Representative of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Mr Bade Adesina (2nd left), answering questions from newsmen after the budget presentation. With him are, State Commissionerfor Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere, (3rd right); Special Adviser to the Governor on Agric and Food Security, Mr Agunbiade Festus (left); Special Adviser to theGovernor on Tourism and Culture, Mr Oladipo Soyode (at the back 2nd left ) and other dignitaries.

5555

6 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014MAGAZINE

High Expectations; Rekindled Hope

Contiuned from page 5

Contiuned on page 11

THE year 2013 ended quite on aglad and promising note for theprogress-loving people of the

State of Osun in the South-Westgeopolitical zone of the Nigerianfederation. Prior to the end of that year,apprehension had been high in certainquarters where pessimism prevailedover the ability of the administration ofthe day to come out, as statutorilyrequired, with the proposedappropriation bill for the incoming year,2014. As the case is always withmembers and patronizers of the leadingopposition party in the state, thePeople’s Democratic Party (PDP); theview of these pessimists, majority ofwhom are in the camp of the party isthat of never seeing anything good inthe efforts of the Government Unusualat turning around the fortunes of thestate, its economy and its teemingpeople around. The proposed budgetfor year 2014 would mark the fourth inthe life span of the administration; eventhough it is truly the third which couldbe regarded as fully being formulatedaccording to its ideology, policies,principles and philosophies. The first inthe series, the 2011 annual budget wasa creation of the ousted administrationof Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.Readers are here reminded that sincethat administration was shown the wayout of office in late November 2010;thereby signaling the beginning of a newera for the state, the documents of the2011 annual budget had already beenprepared by that administration andwere just about to be ratified by theState House of Assembly of the timewhen the courageous judges of theFederal Appellate Court sitting inIbadan, Oyo State sounded the knellfor it. The options left to the incomingadministration; which it grabbed withthe two ample hands was to effect areview / upgrade of the budget to makeit suitable for and amenable with thepolicies, plans, programmes andagenda of the party in government; then,

the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN);which has today metamorphosed intothe All Progressive Congress (APC).

In promoting good understanding ofthe good intents of the administrationof the day and justifying the people-oriented thrust of the administration sofar in the entire three years of itsgovernance of our state, we surely shallhave to turn to the policy statement ofthe administration as contained in thepact entered into with the people of thestate by Ogbeni Aregbesola at the wakeof his election campaign way back2005. Most striking part of the pact isthe portion referred to as the Six-PointIntegral Action Plan of theadministration, which has remained theguiding star for it in all its exertions andactivities. No doubt, the 2014Appropriation Bill and the ensuing Actshall nit present any deviation from thepact and the Six-Point Integral ActionPlan. Hence, according a place oprominence to the pact early enough inthis series shall not constituteoverbeating the pact and its contents;as they are the formidable basis uponwhich adequate understanding of theworkings of the Rauf Revolution in theState of Osun could be adequately andconsummately understood. NowOSUN DEFENDER Magazineturns to the pact and al its contents:

“MY PACT WITH THE PEOPLEOF THE STATE OF OSUN

“In September 1886, at a campbetween Okemesi and Igbajo thearmistice ending the twenty year civilwar in (KIRIJI), our Obas, generals andleaders pledged themselves to thepursuit of PEACE PROGRESS andPROSPERITY among the children ofOduduwa. This grace we enjoyed tillabout 1962 when the Western Houseof Assembly was sacked and theFederalism which gave the Yorubaroom to pursue the promise of KIRIJIwas terminated in all but name. The endresult is that today as we approach the2007 general elections Peace, Progress

and Prosperity can no longer be takenfor granted amongst us. There isimminent fear of

1) Political disenfranchisement2) Economic stagnation3) Socio-psychological insecurity The above are the reasons I decided

to run for the office of Governor in theheartland state of Osun –ipinleOmoluabi.

What I offer you therefore can betermed Government Unusual-AGovernment totally committed tounlocking the latent potentials in ourpeople, a phenomenon unknown insouthwest Nigeria since the days ofChief Obafemi Awolowo.

What obtains today is a ruling classtainted with greed, avarice, ineptitudeand barefaced terrorism while ourpeople continue to languish in hunger,insecurity, disease and squalor.

My mission and ambition are torestore to the people, a state of peace,opportunity, for progress and room forthe pursuit of prosperity in our timeunder a people friendly government.

I give you Six-Point Integral Actionplan, to the intent that they constitutemy actions of faith concerning which Iwant to be held accountable at any timeduring my stewardship.

“SIX-POINT INTEGRALACTION PLAN

•Banish Poverty•Banish Hunger•Banish Unemployment (Create

Work/Wealth)•Restore Healthy Living•Promote Functional Education•Enhance Communal Peace and

Progress“BANISH POVERTYCOMMERCEVision: To make Osogbo the

second hub in international tradein goods and commodities in theSouthwest.

Osun people’s natural affinity forcommerce has been dampened overthe years by unfriendly and unfocused

economic policies of governmentthereby popularizing poverty among apeople, who are naturally hardworking,industrious and adventurous.

Our purposeful government of ACNshall revitalize commerce and restorewealth back to the land through:

•Market friendly policies that willrevive the customary commercialactivities in Osogbo and othertowns in Osun.

•Promotion and support ofactivities focused on wealthpromotion for our people.

•Transformation of Osogbo intoan International market wheregoods will be procured at pricescomparable to any other part ofWest Africa.

FINANCE& ECONOMICPLANNING

I shall increase the internallygenerated revenue of the state and alsoimprove in mileage on every koboaccruing to the state by:

•Ensuring real time online accessto actual position of the statefinances to prevent misuse and otherforms of abuse by receiving agencies.

•Reducing leakages in the taxcollection and administrationprocess.

•Running a transparent andaccountable government.

•Ensuring prudent management ofthe state’s resources.

•Ensuring that the funds of thestate are used for developmentalpurposes.

•Create viable Public/Privatesector partnerships to jump start theeconomy.

•Our overall goal is to reducedependence on federal allocation asa means of funding the government.

“BANISH HUNGER

•Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam, during thebudget presentation.

•ADEGBOYE,

7 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014 PHOTOTALK

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (centre), acknowledging cheers from his admirers during the rally. With him is the bearded Comrade Amitolu Shittu (2ndright).

The State Of Osun United City Bus And Taxi Association In Conjunction With DeRaufsVolunteer Group Held A Continuity Rally In Support Of the State Governor, OgbeniRauf Aregbesola, At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Old Garage, Osogbo, LastSaturday.

•A cross section of Governor Aregbesola’s supporters at the rally.

•Another cross section of Aregbesola’s supporters at the rally.

8 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014 PHOTOTALKOld Garage At Oju-Irin In Osogbo Before Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s RenovationAnd Reconstruction Of The Park. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

•One of the sides at Old Garage, Osogbo, before renovation and reconstruction.

•Bad road and dilapidated buildings at Old Garage.

•Another dirty side of the Old Garage. •Part of the Old Garage.

9 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014PHOTOTALK

•Front view of new Nelson Mandela Freedom Park.

And Now Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Under The Administration Of GovernorRauf Aregbesola, As Captured By Our Cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI.

•Side view of Mandela Park.

•New road at Mandela Park.

•Another side view at the park.

10 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014PHOTOTALK

•The Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Honourable Najim Salaam (1st left) with Governor Rauf Aregbesola during the rally.

The State Of Osun United City Bus And Taxi Association In Conjunction With DeRaufsVolunteer Group Held A Continuity Rally In Support Of the State Governor, OgbeniRauf Aregbesola, At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Old Garage, Osogbo, LastSaturday.

••A cross section of Governor Aregbesola’s admirers at the rally.

•A cross section the city buses popularly known as Korope parked at the rally.

11 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014 MAGAZINE

High Expectations; Rekindled HopeContiuned from page 6

Contiuned on page 12

FOOD& AGRICULTUREVision: Our government shall

banish hunger in Osun and enhancewealth through massive increase infood production and agriculture.

Every farmer shall sell his productsand be prosperous. The labour of thefarmer shall no longer be in vain becausewe shall provide assistance and supportto farmers in finding and exploitingprofitable market for their goods.

We do not presently grow enoughfood in Osun to feed us round the yearand this should concern a governmentthat cares for its people.

Our government shall support farmersto attain increase in food production,better storage and delivery. We shallprovide assistance to farmers inexploiting profitable markets and marketopportunities for their products.

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

•Access roads and generaltransportation to even the most remoteareas of 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’s income andprovide basis for an effective agro-industrial society in the state of Osun.

•Specified to vigorously developextensive farming in palm trees to createa fully integrated oil palm processingindustry.

•To target and capture minimum of10% of the multibillion naira- per dayfood market of the neighbouring states.

•Support cooperative efforts byfarmers

•Be a catalyst to the development andpromotion of micro, small and medium

enterprises that will exploit available rawmaterials.

•Set up price support scheme forfarmers 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 theirchildren and themselves. Rather thanpolicies that will create employment andwealth for the people, the policies of thePDP government in place serve to enrichfew at the expense of majority of ourpeople.

As part of our GOVERNMENTUNUSUAL programme, I RaufAdesoji Aregbesola make a pactwith you good people of the State ofOsun, in the presence and by thegrace of God Almighty that ourgovernment shall create immediateemployment for 20,000 peoplewithin our 100 days in office.

5,000 of these places shall bereserved for those who were retrenchedand are still willing and able to work.

As a people-friendly government, ourpolicies shall help to:

•Create economic environment thatensures availability of jobs for all Osunindigenes.

•Establish one LIFE ACADEMY ineach of the three Senatorialconstituencies for the building of life-longskills in out of schools, youngsters as wellas adults seeking alternativecompetencies.

•Promote labour exchange centres tofacilitate employment of graduates fromour Life Academies.

CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS

There is the need for a civilservice reform that will not lead to

any loss of jobs as I Rauf Aregbesolado not believe in laying people offin the name of reforms.

Our reform will make the workenvironment more conductive,stimulating and development oriented.

Bonuses, incentives and regularawards shall be instituted to promote aculture of excellence in the civil servicealong with the prompt payment ofsalaries, allowances, leave bonuses andyear end performance bonuses.

Promotions and comprehensive salaryreviews and increases shall be regular.

Internal and external training, workexchange programmes and overseastraining shall be actively reinstituted forcomprehensive human development inthe civil service.

New Tutor General/PermanentSecretary Cadre shall be created forTeachers in new education districtsfor better school administration.

We shall institute Home OwnershipScheme for public servants and alsosupport and encourage their backyardfood production business ventures.

We shall do a comprehensive reviewof civil service names and conventionsas part of our efforts to create a people-friendly civil service.

Appropriate nomenclature willenhance accountability and promotepublic access to the services of theministry. A citizen with a complaint ofblockage of drainage will find a Ministryof Roads and Drainages easier toidentify with than Ministry of Works, aMinistry of Human Resources andDevelopment will more appropriatelycommunicate its services than a Ministryof Establishment.

TOURISMVision: Tourist’s cradle in Africa

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

•Develop State of Osun tourismpotentials to its fullest to promoteemployment and wealth among peopleof the State of Osun.

•Encourage development of Yorubamuseum and world heritage centre atIle-Ife.

•Encourage programmes that nurtureand promote arts and talent.

•Enhance the image of traditionalrulers and institutions.

•Mobilize our traditional rulers toshowcase the state’s tourism potentialsto Yorubas in the diaspora (e.g. Brazil,Cuba and West Indies).

ROADSVision: Roads to and in all towns

and villages in Osun. Roadconstruction and maintenance shallbe used to generate employment forthe indigenes of the State of Osun.

•Community based road maintenanceunits will be established to ensure timelyrepairs and deduce overall maintenancecosts.

•Development and regularmaintenance of urban and rural roadsto get top priority.

•Access roads to evacuateagricultural produce shall be constantlyimproved and expanded.

•Create partnerships with the privatesector on road development andprovision of infrastructure.

TRANSPORTATIONWe shall produce a transport master

plan to provide direction for developmentof the sector.

The safety of the lives of the indigenesof the State of Osun is of

•AREGBESOLA •LAOYE-TOMORI

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014 MAGAZINE 12

High Expectations; Rekindled Hope

Continued on page 13

Continued from page 11

great concern to us. We shall:•Reduce to the barest minimum, road

traffic accident within 6 months on allroads starting with Federal roads.

•Create a motorized division of theOsun troopers to patrol roads to preventaccidents on the highways and organizerescue and recovery operations.

INNOVATIONEurope, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and

now China have made life for theirpeople permanently comfortable throughinnovation, research and development,thrift and hardwork.

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

We have not been innovative enough,we have not invested enough inresearch and we have not developed thefruits of innovation and research. Inother words we remain backward, poor,unscientific and losers (eni igbehin)among the family of nations.

It is a matter of concern that ourleaders do not car or worry enoughabout these issues.

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

•Create awareness anddissatisfaction among all in the State ofOsun about our position among theworld’s people and the need to move upthe ladder of human ascent anddevelopment away from permanent andpersistent poverty.

•Ensure that ideas with originalcreativity are tapped for the enrichmentof all.

•Give real importance to educationwith skills development so that we canmake what we need and become morecompetitive in the world as a people bycreating more skills development centresin the State of Osun.

•In these centres we shall teach Menand Women to think with their hands,sharpen our already provenentrepreneurial skills and stop Nigeriafrom importing:

TOOTH PICK (IGI OPARUN FUNITAYIN) FROM CHINA, ORANGEJUICE (OROMBO) FROM KOREA,SHOES (BATA) FROM SPAIN/ITALY, FAN BELT/ CAR TYRES(RUBBER) FROM JAPAN ANDFRANCE.

When I know that these can be easilymanufactured here.

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

INDUSTRIALISATIONKey to banishing unemployment

permanently anywhere is promotingconducive atmosphere formanufacturing and production. OurGovernment shall:

•Develop integrated industrial estatesfor mini, micro and large manufacturingenterprises in the three senatorial zonesof the State of Osun.

•Provide the estates withinfrastructural facilities that reduce thecost of setting up industries (roads,electricity, water andtelecommunications).

•Provide incentives targeted atattracting manufacturers/ investors.

•Develop skilled personnel through ourLife Academies, Universities andcolleges to service specialized industrialand manufacturing needs.

“RESTORE HEALTHY LIVINGVision: To work to save our people

from all avoidable deaths due toaccidents, emergencies, poverty andinadequate health facilities.

To achieve this for all andparticularly our children and seniorcitizens, we shall:

•Provide effective and availablehealthcare for all.

•Provide efficient accident and

emergency ambulance service.•Provide primary health clinics within

10 kilometre radius of every Osun town,with special attention to the needs ofchildren, women and the elderly.

•Provide functional General hospitalswithin 20 kilometre radius of humanhabitation.

•Provide referral hospitals within 30kilometre radius of human settlement.

•Establish free blood pressure checksin conjunction with private organizationsat every local government office.

•Undertake special programmes forthe upgrading, retraining and workingcomforts of all health personnel.

•Encourage and nurture alternativemedical therapy.

•Free treatment for malaria to childrenbelow age 18 and senior citizens (60+).

ENVIRONMENTVision: To embrace current

scientific methods in controlling thegeneration of waste and theconversion of waste to wealth.

The state of the environment,especially waste generation,management and the embarrassing filthin our communities demand specialattention. The CAN government shall:

•Encourage all houses in the State ofOsun to have a modern and affordabletoilet facility through a special scheme.

•Provide private sector driven wastemanagement and beautification schemesto rid our communities of filth whichthreaten public health.

•Beautification of town centres as astarting point of general urban renewal.

•Work with the private sector toestablish appropriate waste-to-wealthprojects under a composite wastemanagement policy.

WATERVision: Water for all in the state of

the living spring.It is a painful regret that most cities in

Osun do not have potable water runningat any time and Osun is the state of theliving spring!!!

Our Government will do everythingpossible to bring potable water to all partsof the State of Osun and correct thisanomaly.

All abandoned water schemes shallbe reactivated and speedily completed.

AFFORDABLE HOUSINGOur ACN Government shall:•Help Osun indigenes realize their

dreams of house ownership orrehabilitation of failing structures throughdeliberate programmes that improvetheir income earning capacity.

•Support mortgage schemes thatmake house ownership pocket friendly.

•Actively support research anddevelopment on the use of localmaterials to force down building costs.

ELECTRICITYElectricity for all shall be the creed of

ACN Government in Osun. We shall:•Ensure that electric energy is

available in the state for domestic,commercial and industrial activities.

•We shall endeavour to provideelectricity to all villages, hamlets andfarm settlements in the state.

•Private sector-led power agenciesshall be encouraged to set up energystations in the state.

SECURITYSecurity of lives and properties are

of paramount importance to us. OurGovernment shall:

•Have special programmes for thepolice and neighbourhood securityoutfits.

•Provide special allowance to allsecurity agents deployed to Osun Stateand enhance their operational facilitiesfor efficiency.

Respond to the operational needs ofsecurity agents through provision ofmobility, communication gadgets,protective gears and conducive workingenvironment.

•A cross section of members of the State House of Assembly during the budget presentation.

13 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014MAGAZINE

High Expectations; Rekindled Hope

Continued from page 12FIRE SERVICES

We shall improve capacity of fire servicesto respond to emergencies.

PHYSICAL WELL-BEING

Our Government will promote physicalexercises as a deliberate policy which willform a crucial aspect of our healthy-livingprogramme. This is in keeping with theadage that a sound mind only resides in asound body.

“PROMOTE FUNCTIONALEDUCATION

Vision: Eradicate the frustration ofyouths caused by education that does notlead to employment.

To achieve this, the government of ACunder Rauf Aregbesola shall:

· Provide free education at all levelsin Osun State. Focus on functionaleducation. Education that makes one usefulto himself and society.

· Improve incentives to teachers andwork with the NUT to restore the dignity ofthe teaching profession.

· Restructure administration ofschool management and create Tutors-General (Permanent Secretary Cadre) fromamong Head Teachers in three EducationalDistricts which we will establish.\

· Fix all collapsed educationalinfrastructures in all the schools.

· Support with modern teaching aidsand well-stocked libraries.

· Ensure cooperation with parentsand teachers to improve discipline andmorality.

· Introduce non-partisancommunity-based governing boards for all

schools.

· Reduce number of students perclassroom immediately.

· Introduce home developmentplans for teachers who wish to build housesin their home towns, through access tospecial mortgage packages.

· Promote mass adult literacy andnumeracy programmes.

· Promote and support Specialprogrammes that give special attention toeducation of girls and women.

· Establish institutions that impartlife-long skills for all, in and out of formalschooling.

ON HIGHER EDUCATION ANDUNIVERSITY

· I am committed to ensuring that anOsun State University takes off on a soundfooting and becomes a first-class institutionwith linkages to renowned universities inthe developed world.

· I will make every tertiary institutionin Osun State an independent degree-awarding one.

· Encourage use of services ofretired, but not tired dons andadministrators, from reputable institutions.

“ENHANCE COMMUNAL PEACE ANDPROGRESS

Vision: To restore the bond of trustbetween the Governor and the governed.

Over time, people have disconnected fromgovernment because those in authority havenot shown enough concern about theirwelfare or actively engaged them informulating policies that affect them.

Our Government shall restore partnershipbetween government and people through:

SAGES COUNCILS (EGBE AGBA)

Our state is blessed with a large pool ofelderly folks who are invariably welleducated, have enjoyed successful careers,travelled widely in the world, but arecurrently reduced to irrelevance in thesociety.

Our Government will support theformation of non partisan community basedsages councils, capable of providingguidance in management, moral and ethicaldevelopment in our society.

Our Government will seek elderlyguidance and advice as inputs to our policyformation and implementation.

Government will support the seniorcitizens and help in their management ofsocio-economic problems peculiar to thegroup (pension, health and education).

YOUTHS COUNCIL (EGBE ODO)

People age 30 and below constitute themajority of our population but unfortunatelyare often frustrated and unfulfilled as aconsequence of intolerable social andeconomic policies.

Our CAN Government shall support thecreation of non partisan community basedyouth councils to provide a platform forthem to articulate and work out solutions tovarious problems confronting them.

Our Government will encourage crossfertilization of ideas between the Sages andYouth Councils through which publicpolicies would be influenced.\

Government will promote sportingactivities and creation iof physical facilitiesforb sporting and related activities.

We shall reinstate the abandoned ‘boys’and girls’ clubs’ and name them OmoluabiBoys’ and Girls’ club to perform the rolessimilar to boys’ and girls’ scouts, boysbrigade and more.

JUSTICE SECTOR REFORMS

An attribute of good governance is topromote justice, equity and fair playamongst citizens of the state.

Government of CAN will e3nsurespeedy access ti justice try all individualsin Osun State, by reforming the courtssystem and procedural rules, introducingalternative dispute resolution (ADR)mechanisms and fee legal services.

To complement these, CANgovernment shall improve welfarepackages of Judicial Officers and upgradecourts with modern IT andcommunications facilities.

COMMUNICATION

Our Government will restructure OSBCto:

Ensure its professional are motivatedand continuously trained for competency

Provide digital equipment andinfrastructure upgrade to conform tointernational best practices inbroadcasting.

Exploit its tourism promotionalcapacity and capability.

CONSUMER PROTECTION

Consumers deserve to have the bestgoods and services at the best price andnot have to pay more for goods andservi9ces than their counterparts in otherparts of the world.

Our government shall support theestablishment of a consumer watchagency and also cooperate withorganizations that have similar objectiveof protecting our people from unfairbusiness practices.

In all the above and above all these Iintend to run a people-friendlygovernment – a Government of the people,by the people, FOR THE PEOPLE. AGOVERNMENT UNUSUAL inContinued on page 14

•(L-R) State of Osun Commissioners; Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Kolapo Alimi; Finance, Dr Wale Bolorunduro and Specia Duties, Barrister AjibolaBashiru, during the budget presentation.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014 14MAGAZINE

High Expectations; Rekindled Hope

this land.

Infrastructures and facilities forreaching, advising, guiding, warning mewill be given constant nurture.

Outside these I have no riggingmachinery and will strongly appeal to youall Osun voters to fight and defend yourvotes.

Do not sell your vote and our future toa moneybag or vote people who do notcare enough about our future as Ipassionately do.

I am entering into a pact with each andall of you as you read this that I and mycolleagues shall work in all honesty,tirelessly to bring marked improvementsto your life.

Apart of this pact you will be able tosee that your children are better educatedand have jobs; farmers, artisan, tradersare more prosperous, general quality ofhealth has improved and you are no longerafraid to go to the hospital.

Osun will again be producing foodenough for its people.

Through my Government Unusual, Ishall work with and for you to createwealth through our toil as our fathers andmothers did to make us prosperous until1962.

Only you and I can bring change butthrough new ideas and work.

Oluwa Olorun a ti wa l’ehin.

Oodua a fun wa se

E je k’a le ise wo’gbo

K’a le osi sonu

K’aye dara fun wa t’omo t’omo.

This is my pledge; my PACT with you

people of Osun State.”

The New Year 2014 is symbolic inmany respects. First is the fact that theyear is the last in the four-year termpackaged into the first tenure of the RaufAregbesola administration in the State ofOsun. The earlier three years of theadministration has witnessed the massiverolling out of programmes, projects andpolicies; mostly in infrastructure; whichOSUN DEFENDER Magazine hascommitted lengthy volumes of essay tochronicle. Another significant angle fromwhich the New Year 2014 could be viewedis that it promises to be a year ofreckoning, during which most of theprojects already kick-started would becarried to their 100 per centimplementation, delivered to theGovernment of the State as their sponsor,as well as officially commissioned to theGlory of God and for the ultimate use ofthe people of the state. There is no doubtabout it that during the just-started year,many more projects, programmes andpolicies would be initiated by theadministration of Ogbeni Rauf AdesojiAregbesola. So this fact constitutesanother symbolism of the New Year.Another in the list of the significance ofthe year 2014 is the fact that it is a yearthat would witness the creation of morenew local administrations. Known eitheras local council developmentadministrations (LCDAs) or localgovernments, these creations are thereto bring government closer to the peopleand make development spread to thegrassroots in some astronomical scale.In addition, they increase the depth ofparticipation in governance and makeknown in greater details the impact ofgood governance; the kind that the RaufRevolution is out to dispense to people atthe grassroots.

Above all, the year 2014 is a year whensome series of elections would beconducted at the two tiers of governmenton ground in the state. Though OSUNDEFENDER Magazine may not be the

appropriate and competent authorities torelease the election timetable for theseelections; we know for sure thatsometime between the end of the firstquarter and the end of the first month inthe second quarter, the state should beapproaching the polls for the localgovernment ballots. In similar vein,sometimes in July same year, the stateshould be heading for the polls for theconduct of another round ofGubernatorial Elections. For all we know,we in the State of Osun at this junctureare not in need to vote for some vacantposition. What we are all set out toaccomplish is to fulfill all righteousnessin consolidating an already establishedadministration and getting same firmlyenthroned with our power of the thumbto be able to complete dispensing thegoodies of its mandate to the people ofthe state. We should not therefore forgetthe deprivation and neglect of the pastseven-and-a—half years of the holocaustand desist from acts which are mostcapable of returning the state to thewilderness. It’s high time we took ourdestinies in our own hands. OSUNDEFENDER Magazine wishes the stateand its people another season of free, fairand credible elections; devoid of rancorand violence.

From the2014 Appropriation Bill of theState of Osun therefore, much provisionare expected to reflect on the items ofsignificance here mentioned and manymore. Specific mention shall be made ofprovisions in subsequent editions as wecontinue the consideration of the bill. Stillfor a start, we need to emphasize that asin earlier years, the draft 2014 Budgetwhich is tagged “Budget of Growth,Enhancement and Development” isanchored on the following policy thrusts:-

(i) a complete turnaround ofagriculture such that it will berevolutionised, made attractive andprofitable with a view to improving thewelfare of the people and the economy

of the State;

(ii) provision of necessary anddurable infrastructure like roads,electrification, ICT etc that will ensuredevelopment of the economy of the State;

(iii) creation of job-friendly economicenvironment to ensure empowerment ofyouths, Women, cooperative movements,Artisans etc;

(iv) development of public servicethat is result-oriented, efficient, effectiveand responsible with a view to making itone of the best in the federation;

(v) provision of effective health caredelivery for all with special attention tothe needs of children and women;

(vi) provision of effective wastemanagement and beautification schemesto rid our communities of filth;

(vii) development of diverseeconomic potentials of the state andreactivation of commercial activities;

(viii) reactivation and speedycompletion of abandoned water schemes;

(ix) transformation of the educationsector with a view to providing functionaland qualitative education;

(x) reforming the court system,upgrading of courts and introduction ofAlternative Dispute Resolutionmechanism with a view to ensuring speedyaccess to justice by all individuals in theState.”

To be continued.

Continued from page 13

•Some of the State House of Assembly Commission members at the programme.

•This piece, first published in Tues-day January 21, 2014 edition, isrepeated due to popular demand.- Editor

15OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 13, 2014 PHOTOTALK

Egbe Omo Yoruba In North America Paid A Courtesy Visit To The State Of OsunGovernor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, In His Office At Abere, Last Weekend.

•(R-L) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; ex-President, Egbe Omo Yoruba, North America, Mr Adeola Odusanya; member, Mr Ajibola Osunnubi and otherdignitaries, during the group’s courtesy visit to the governor in his office, Abere, State of Osun, at the weekend.

•Aregbesola (centre); Odusanya (3rd left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovations, Mr Kunle Ajayi (2nd right); Osunnubi (left); Mrs Abiola Popoola (2nd right); MrFolarin Dasilva (left); Mr Solomon Adio and others in a group photograph during the group’s courtesy visit to the governor in his office at Abere, State of Osun, at the weekend.

TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2014

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

By ADE OLUGBOTEMIIN liberal democracy,where no constituent unitis allowed to suffer in the

overall interest of the whole,systemic collapse isconsidered grave; it is seenas a misnomer that should begrossly repudiated. This is atvariance with what we haveat the moment in Nigeriaunder President GoodluckJonathan, where the party at the centreseems poised to see that all states beinggoverned by opposition continue ineconomic quagmire, as if they are notpart of Nigeria, to create wrong signalsthat unless people in those states changetheir minds to vote-in PDP’scandidates, they cannot perceive thearoma of democratic dividends.

The President recently confirmedpeoples’ impression of him as beinginsensitive to aggregate of opinions,when he cancelled the weekly FederalExecutive Council meeting, for hiscabinet members to commiserate withVice-President Namadi Sambo overthe loss of his junior brother in a motoraccident. Nobody would have raisedany eyebrow if similar concern wasexhibited when scores of innocent liveswere exterminated in recent Nyanyabomb blast. Another blast in the samearea in the night of May Day wasresponded to with mere verbalcondemnation, and the assurance tothose billed to attend an internationalconference in Abuja that there was nocause for alarm.

Recent appointments in which twoministerial nominees from the SouthWest states were given the portfoliosof the ministries of Police affairs andDefence as Minister and Minister ofState respectively have furtheraccentuated people’s consternation thatthe President is resolute in his attemptto recapture the states that were lost toopposition in the fast-approachingelections. The two recently-confirmedministers have also not helped mattersbecause the way they have reacted toissues in their respective states of Osunand Lagos left much to be desired. JeliliAdesiyan recently allegedly maltreateda former governor of the State of Osunin a hotel in Osogbo, using his policeorderlies; while Musiliu Obanikoro’sfirst official assignment was to stopthose working in a State’s HousingEstate in Lagos with soldiers on theprowl.

The President should be happy thatsome governors somewhere, though inopposition, are working in tandem withhis well-taunted transformation agenda.He ought to have developed a very largeheart to make the states that are workingsome sort of reference models to thosein his party (PDP) with the culture ofcake-sharing that has labelled us“Profligates who are not poor”, (as theOSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondenceto the Managing Editor, KOLA OLABISI, Telephone: 08033927286 (kolaolabisi@yahoo.com); Editor, KAYODE AGBAJE, Telephone: 0803-388-0205, E-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com,kayodeagbaje@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org.

Why Jonathan, PDPMust Go (2)

•JONATHAN

President has emphasized severally) butcannot provide for the basic needs (asopposed to wants in Economics) of thepopulace. This is to tell us that the much-orchestrated Transformation Agenda isa fluke after all.

Recently, the Minister of Finance; andthe coordinating Minister of theeconomy came up to tell the wholenation that the recovered money fromLate Head of State, General SaniAbacha has been spent to develop therural areas. Nigerians are yet to knowwhat exactly the money was used forin the rural areas that depictdevelopment. As a rural dweller, I amyet to feel any federal impact that mayjustify the position of our ‘Super-powerful Minister’. The minister owesNigerians explanations as to themodality applied to pick selected areas,and in which states of the federation theareas are located. This is part ofcorruption per excellence that has

become permanent stain on ourchequered status in the comity ofnations.

The recently-concluded WorldEconomic Forum has been said to haveinjected into our economy billions ofdollars, the manifestation of suchbenefits may never be felt by ordinaryNigerians because we only hear withour ears, and the more we look, theless we see. We are now in an era whenmoney is chameleonic and occasionallygrows wings to fly to unknowndestinations. The World Bank expertisein our supervising minister has onlyavailed us illogical explanation aboutissues that appear comical on missingbillions of foreign currencies that oughtto have given our economy survivalimpetus.

We may appear boastful about ourdemocracy that has been in place foralmost fifteen years now; the question

we need to ask ourselves is: whatdemocratic values have we reallyimbibed? Not even the rulingPeoples Democratic Party canboast of valuable democratictenets. The ruling PDP stillbelieves in rigging as a ‘legitimate’means of winning elections. Theydo not believe in the rule of law,

and to them, the principle of separationof powers remains a sham; yet, we saythere is democracy in place.

Recently, a PDP stalwart wasarrested with voters’ cards that musthave been collected either from theowners for money, or our electoralumpire with financial inducement.Members of PDP in the State of Osunhave ubiquitously become boastful thattheir flag bearer will defeat theincumbent governor in the August 9 poll.It is now crystal clear that theconfidence they have is in riggingmastery that will be aided by thatunscrupulous source that made itpossible for voters’ cards meant formany voters to get to a politician, to beused against opponents illegally. ManyNigerians will not be too surprised ifthe culprit is let off the hook and thecase is unheard of till eternity comes.

There is no way a country candevelop if the leadership is corrupt. Ourown corruption has reached thecrescendo of epidemic, and unless thepresent crop of leaders in the rulingPDP are eased out of power, Nigeriamay never have a modicum of progressand peace which can only be availedby genuine and functional democraticculture. It is only in big-for-nothingNigeria that a non-performing centralgovernment will be audacious to boastthat they will defeat a performing stategovernor, since the power to hire andfire electoral umpire is vested in anautocratic President.

Given the current security challenges,which the ruling PDP has failed to tacklein the past three years, the failedpromises on power, transportation,employment generation, and economicmeltdown that has brought excruciatingdevastation, there is no morejustification for President GoodluckJonathan and PDP to either remain inpower beyond 2015, or aspire to takeover any of the states currently beinggoverned by opposition. People havebeen bombarded with numerouspromises since 1999 and all thepromises have failed. There is nothingwrong in trying another political party,so that Nigerians will be able to alsoassess the alternatives that are availablein all the tiers of government, so as toknow whether we have respitesomewhere or we should send allpolitical gladiators packing.