VOL. 9. NO.060 NNNNN5050505050TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

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Who KilledChief Bola Ige,former Attorney-

General andMinister of

Justice? IGE

•(L-R) The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, duringthe two-day conference of foremost traditional rulers in the State of Osun on the overall development of the state, at Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding,Abere, State of Osun, last Friday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

2014: Identify YourLandmark Achievements•Osun APC Challenges Omisore

Ooni, Orangun, 76 Osun Foremost Obas Rally Support For Aregbesola

Reject Jeun S'iku!Protect your votes

The PeoplesDemocratic Party(PDP) and itsgubernatorial'wannabe' in thestate of Osun,Iyiola Omisore Mr.'Money miss road',are unrelenting intheir desperation

to coast homevictory in the com-ing August guber-natorial election inthe state as it's now

obvious that they arebent on using everycrook means toachieve their muchdesired victory.

Already thereare threats ofviolence fromthis far frombeing demo-cratic party onmembers of theruling party,APC as they(PDP) are

Continue on pg4

2OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014

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News

•A cross section of traditional rulers during the commissioning of South-Western zonal office of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria inOsogbo recently. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

2014: Identify Your Landmark Achievements•Osun APC Challenges Omisore

THE All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State ofOsun has challenged the PDP’s flagbearer, IyiolaOmisore to identify what landmark achievements he

has recorded in his over two decades of active participationin the politics of the State of Osun in particular, whichqualifies him to challenge Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in orderto replace the governor in November 2014, while the partywould want him to start from his home-base in Ile-Ife.

According to the party,Omisore should first tell thepeople of Osun whatspectacular thing he has donefor Ile-Ife which he plans toreplicate across the state thatsurpasses what Aregbesola hasdone in Ile-Ife in just 42 monthsas governor.

“For instance, beforeAregbesola became governor,most roads were impassable inIle-Ife. It took the governorless than two years to amongstothers, make the followingroads motorable: Lokore -Okesoda, Mbabi-Mbayo,Lafogido, Agbedegbede, Igboya- Fajuyi, and Mokuro roads.

“Besides, BaptistElementary School was a

dilapidated, sorry sight untilAregbesola made it a spectacleto behold, which amongstothers drew a comment fromHis Royal Majesty, the Ooniof Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwadethat ‘Aregbesola has performedbeyond expectation... I seethis’. There is also amagnificent Middle School.

“This is just a tip of the ice-berg of what Ogbeni Aregbesola

has done and continues to doin Ile-Ife alone, not to talk ofthe whole state,’ the APCstressed.”

The party therefore, askedOmisore to tell the people ofOsun what verifiable thing hehas done or influenced to bedone in Ile-Ife that surpasseswhat Aregbesola has donebetween 2010 and 2014 in thehometown of Omisore, thatshould make Ile-Ife vote for himto take over Aregbesola’s job.

“If Omisore can point to onesuch project in his ward, he mayqualify to run as a councillor,but unfortunately, there isnothing in his ward to qualifyhim to run as a councillor, as helost that ward in 2011.

“So why does Omisorethink he can challenge OgbeniAregbesola as governor in theState of Osun?”, the APCasked.

Ooni, Orangun, 76 Osun Foremost Obas Rally SupportFor Aregbesola

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

FOREMOST traditional rulers in the State of Osun onThursday described the governor of the state, OgbeniRauf Aregbesola, as the best governor in the history of

the state and resolved to support his vision to place Osun ona global map.

The 78 foremost traditionalrulers led by Oni of Ife, ObaOkunade Sijuwade, whoconverged at the Centre forBlack Culture and InternationalUnderstanding, Osogbo, thestate capital, for a two-dayconference on “Osun OverallDevelopment,” said Aregbesolais doing its uttermost for thestate.

The Ooni of Ife, in hisremarks, said traditional rulersin the state are comfortablewith the level of developmentin the state and assured thegovernor of their total supportto develop the state.

Oba Okunade said: “We areimpressed with theperformance of the governorand no doubt, Aregbesola isdoing his uttermost to developthe state. His ideas andinnovations are completedeparture from the old trendand he must not fail. We aregoing to support him not to fail,even if it requires committingour personal resources tosupport his dreams.”

He also advised the governorto continue respecting andpreserving traditionalinstitutions, as it was done bythe late sage, Chief ObafemiAwolowo and commended himfor organizing the conference,which, according to him, hasfurther strengthened unityamong the traditional rulers.

The Ooni said: “ObafemiAwolowo that you arefollowing his footsteps told meone day that if not for thesupport of the traditionalrulers, he would have failed, but

today, he is one of the mostsuccessful African leaders. Youare succeeding already and byGod’s grace, you will be one ofthe most successful leaders inthe world.”

The foremost traditionalruler also cautioned politiciansin the South-West to refrainfrom comments that may causedisharmony, saying this is theperiod to harness strength andunity to develop the region asthe leading light of the country.

The Orangun of Ila, ObaAbdul Wahaab Oyedotun, saiddespite the political neutralstance of the traditional rulers,as a result of their sacred stools,it would be “ungodly not toacknowledge the excellentperformance of the governor.”

Orangun said: “If we fail tosay it, our subjects, the teemingmasses of the state alreadyknow that Aregbsola is the bestgovernor in the history of thestate. A sincere traditional rulerwill support any governor thatis performing. Aregbesola isperforming and by the grace ofGod, he will continue.”

Responding, GovernorAregbesola said the grace of thetraditional rulers is from Godand if not for financialconstraints, there is no amountof money allocated totraditional authorities that istoo much considering the loadof work on the throne.

The governor commendedthe massive turnout of thetraditional rulers for theconference despite the fact thatit was convened lately, sayingif not for the conference, theymay not understand the

esteemed level hisadministration has placed onthem.

Aregbesola commended thetraditional rulers forsustainable steady peace intheir domains and urged themto not to spare any effort inpromoting communal peace,especially during electionperiod.

Aregbesola said: “Asideminor communal crisis overboundary disputes, Osun is themost peaceful state in Nigeria,and the traditional rulers, as thecustodians of security, mustalso take the credit for theexisting peace. The state hashowever, entered a criticalperiod, which is election periodand our royal fathers mustdiscourage any form ofviolence.

“In a civilized society,election must be a peacefulcontest. For instance inAmerica, despite being a world

power, they conduct violence-free election. In the UnitedKingdom, no one will beatanother and even in Ghana,very close to us, is alsopeaceful, but in Nigeria, thedesperate politicians, whowant to rig, will not want peaceand you must use your powerto stop them and maintainpeace in your domains.

“As the custodians of themost sacred authority, youmust see to it that peace reignsin your domains by regularlyconvening stakeholders’meetings on securityconsciousness and vigilance,”the governor stressed.

Aregbesola added that thefocus of his administration isto place Osun on an irreversibledevelopment pace as done inLagos and promised toreposition Ile-Ife as the sourceof the universe through urbanrenewal.

The Alake of Egbaland, Oba

Adedotun Gbadebo, in hislecture, urged the Obas toreturn to the traditional basicsof being the natural leaders ofthe people, by speaking thetruth to the authorities andresist partisan politicaltemptations.

Lecturers at the eventincluded the Akinrun of Ikirun,Oba AdulRauf Adedeji, theAragberi of Iragberi, ObaFolorunso Makanju amongothers.

Dignitaries included thedeputy governor, Otunba(Mrs) Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, the Chief of Staff tothe Governor, Alhaji GboyegaOyetola, the StateCommissioner for LocalGovernment and ChieftaincyAffairs, Barister Kolapo Alimi,Special Adviser to theGovernor on LocalGovernment and ChieftaincyAffairs, Mr Bisi Odewumi, theState Head of Service, MrSunday Owoeye among others.

SpecialAllocation OfLand ToDisplacedTraders

THE State Governmentof Osun has reiteratedits commitment to its

urban renewal agenda of thenine major selected cities inthe state as entrenched in itssix-point integral actionplan.

The State Commissioner forLands, Physical Planning andUrban Development, State ofOsun, Architect OlumuyiwaIge, stated this whiledistributing allocation papersof lands to the displaced MDSmarket men and women inOsogbo, the state capital.

Ige, who was represented bythe Permanent Secretary in theMinistry, Architect Wale Ojo,appreciated the traders for theirendurance and perseverance,while appealing for theircontinuous support for theOgbeni Aregbesola’sadministration, noting thatmore meaningful programmeswere still in stock, if voted fora second term.

He added that every policyof the current administrationwas aimed at boosting theeconomy of the state and alsoto make life better for thepeople, stressing thatgovernment was not out tocause hardship for anybody.

Ige then called for absoluteco-operation of the people ofthe state.

ADC Presents Candidate For Osun Gov Election

THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has presentedComrade Gbenga Ojo Gabriel as the party’s flagbearerto contest the August 9, 2014 governorship election in

the State of Osun.The ADC held its

governorship primary electionon Saturday at the Secretariatof the Nigeria Union ofJournalists, Osun Council,Osogbo, where Gabrielemerged as the unopposedcandidate.

National Chairman of theparty, Chief Ralphs Nwosu,who was represented by theNational Secretary of the party,Alhaji Saheed Baba-Abdullahi,said the party decided to go forprimaries to choose itsflagbearer to strengthen theinternal democracy of the

party.According to Nwosu, the

ideology of the party was togive a level play ground to allits members, who might beinterested in certain politicaloffices, even where there is asingle contestant.

Nwosu charged Gabriel notto engage in campaign ofcalumny but present hismanifestoes that would betterthe lots of the people andconvince them to cast theirvotes for him.

Chairman of the ADC in thestate, Alhaji Adelakin Ajao, saidthe party would give all what

it officially andconstitutionally takes to winthe governorship election,adding that the ADCgovernorship candidate woulddefinitely put smiles on thefaces of the people of the state,if elected.

Ajao urged members of theparty to drum up support forthe party’s candidate andensure that he wins thegubernatorial election.

In his remarks, Gabriel saidhe was contesting thegovernorship election in anattempt to deliver differentforms of dividends ofdemocracy and bring goodgovernance nearer to thepeople.

He said he would addressunemployment and socio-economic challenges facing the

state, if elected, adding that hewould run a modestadministration that would becharacterized by prudence andprobity.

The governorship candidatemaintained that he would notderail from the ideology andmanifestoes of the party, whichare centred on infrastructuraland socio-economicdevelopment, employmentopportunities, promotion offunctional education, provisionof water and adequate securityof lives and properties.

He stressed that his partywould continue to promote thecurrent peace in the state andensure that the party membersremained peaceful before,during and after thegubernatorial election.

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

3 News OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

Public Complaints Commission Warns Police Affairs MinisterAgainst Causing Anarchy In Osun, South-West

A strong warning has gone to the Minister of PoliceAffairs, Mr. Abdul-Jelili Adesiyan, to be cautiousin ways and manners he conducts himself both in

Abuja and his home state, Osun.

The warning came on theheels of an allegedbrigandage he orchestratedduring the April 3 PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP)primaries conducted at theIdeal Nest Hotel in Osogbo,

the State of Osun capital.The minister was alleged

to have used policemen toharass, intimidate andprevent the first ExecutiveGovernor of the state,Senator Isiaka Adeleke, who

was contesting thegovernorship primaries withSenator Iyiola Omisore, wholater emerged the candidateof the party.

In a letter dated 11 April2014 and signed by itsNational Commissioner,Professor Razaq Abubakre,the Public ComplaintsCommission, described theconduct of the minister at

the primaries as a recipe foranarchy.

The Nigerianombudsman stated thatsuch action by the PoliceAffairs Minister wascapable of sending wrongsignals to all stakeholders inthe state and one that mayobstruct peace, fairplay andjustice.

The letter entitled:

‘Complaint on Arbitrarinessand Abuse of Office’ read inpart: “I wish to recall thedisturbing incident of 3rdApril 2014 at the Ideal NestHotel, Ilobu Road, Osogboin which you were allegedto have used policemen toharass, intimidate andembarrass Senator IsiakaAdeleke, the first civiliangovernor of Osun State andthe contestant to your ownfavoured candidate in yourparty for the gubernatorialticket in your capacity asthe Honourable Minister ofPolice Affairs.

“It is obvious that thisreported conduct is a recipefor anarchy if all ministerswere to act in the samemanner. As a citizen of theState of the Virtuous, yourreported action, if correct,will send a wrong signal toall the believers in justiceand fair play around theglobe.

“Thus, there is need tothread with caution to avertinsinuations making theround that you are actingout a script in collaboration

with the HonourableMinister of the State forDefence, Senator MusiliuObanikoro to causeproblems in the South-West.”

Professor Abubakreadded that the commission,as ombudsman, has a dutyto draw attention ofanybody, whose act maylead to injustice against anycitizen of the state orcountry.

He noted that the reportthe intimidation andembarrassment causedSenator Adeleke was onecapable of engenderinginjustice and causinganarchy.

The Public ComplaintsNational Commissioneradded that such an act fromthe minister is mostworrisome, given the factthat election is around thecorner in the state.

It would be recalled thatthere were reports makingthe rounds that Adesiyanand Obanikoro haveperfected plans to rig ordisrupt the governorshipelection slated for August 9in the state.

‘Osun Cocoa Industry BecomesOperational Soon’ By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

GOVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, has assured that the moribund CocoaProduct Industry (CPI) in Ede would soon become

operational again.He spoke through his

Senior Special Assistant onCommunity Forum,Olatunbosun Oyintiloye onFriday at a publicsensitisation programme inEde on government policiesand programmes.

According to him, thegovernment had since lastyear signed a Memorandumof Understanding with aChinese company for theresuscitation of the industry,saying; “the resuscitationprocess is now at the finalstage”.

He said: “The resucitationprocess of CPI is almost atthe final stage and what thismeans is that we are bringingthe industry back to life fully.

“When it is back to life, itwill boost the economy ofEde, its environs and Osunin general and it would createjobs for our youths.

“The last administrationalso promised to do the samething, a huge amount ofmoney went into it, but therewas nothing to show for it,”he said.

Aregbesola then notedthat the ongoing resucitationof the industry was one ofthe promises made byAregbesola’s administration,which has now become areality.

Calling for the continoussupport of the people before,during and after the August9 governorship election, the

governor emphasised that hewould continue to encourageinvestors through hispolicies and programmes toboost the economy of thestate.

He then re-emphasised the

need for the people to ensurethe sustenance of thepeaceful co-existence in thestate, urging that the youthsshould not allow themselvesto be used for securitybreach.

Responding, the Timi ofEdeland, Oba MunirudeenAdesola Lawal, drummedsupport for Aregbesola toensure success in hisdevelopmental policies and

US Varsity Don In Osun Over Opon-ImoBy SHINA ABUBAKAR

AN Assistant Professor from Murray StateUniversity, Bellarmine Ezumah, was on afact-finding mission to the State of Osun

to study the award-winning computer devicetagged Opon-Imo.

While addressing theacademics accompaniedby a lecturer from theState University,UNIOSUN, Mr Olawaleand Miss ItunuLawanson, the StateCommissioner forInformation and Strategy,Mr Sunday Akere, saidthe device is a product ofreal thinking of GovernorRauf Aregbesola.

He disclosed that theconcept behind the deviceis to make learningattractive and simple forthe pupils and bring outthe best in them.

Akere added that theobjective of GovernorAregbesola for the

education sector is tomake Osun a role modelfor other states in thecountry and Africa as awhole.

According to him, thestate-of-the-art schoolbuildings, coupled withemployment and trainingof teachers, as well as thecomputer learning deviceand feeding programme,were to prepare a solidfoundation for the futureof students like the freeeducation policy of thelate Chief ObafemiAwolowo impacted onthe lives of many leadersin the South Western partof the country.

Akere added that thegovernment is not justimproving on theeducation sector, but alsousing it to create jobs forthe teeming unemployedyouths in the state.

He said the companybuilding the device was onthe verge of completing itsfactory in the state,where 100,000 of thedevice would be builtengaging youths in thestate as workers in thefactory.

Earlier in her address,Dr. Ezumah stated thather research work led herto stumble on thecomputer device on theinternet and she wascurious to know about thedevice, particularlybecause as it containsmost of the issues sheraised in her doctoralthesis.

She said her institution

programmes.He stated that the

programmes of theadministration havebenefited the generality ofthe people of the state anddeserve to be supported.

The monarch noted; “weare fully in support of theadministration and with thissupport, we are optimisticthat more development willcome to this state”.

sponsored her trip to thestate, with a view tolearning more about thedevice and improve on itto meet the challenges ofthe 21st Centurytechnology.

She added that she wasmost impressed with thelocal content applied in thedigitalisation and the inputof home teachers in thecontent.

According to her, theMurray State Universityand UNIOSUN wouldcollaborate on a four-yearlongitudinal study of thedevice, with a view tomaking it a better tool andmake other states benefitfrom its numerousadvantages as a learningtool.

She urged the stategovernment to extend itsassistance to theinstitutions as soon as theproject commences.

•(L-R) The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola andState Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Kolapo Alimi, during the conference185 endorsement of the governor for second term in office by Conference 185 at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park,Osogbo, recently. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

300 PDP MembersDefect To APC In Odo-Otin

NO fewer than 300 members of the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) defected into the AllProgressives Congress (APC) in Oyan/Asi-Asaba

in Odo-Otin Local Government Council Area of the Stateof Osun last Wednesday.

On the occasion,Honourable RaufSalaudeen, the leader of thedecampees, stated that theirdecamping into the partywas voluntary and notinfluenced by anyone.

“Our coming into the APCis voluntary and withoutany influence from anyangle. We did it just for thepurpose of supporting thegovernor and the party ofthe progressives

“We want progress in ourcommunity and with allwhat APC is doing in Osun,

the only way to contributeto the development of Oyanand Asi-Asaba is to join theprogressive-minded party.Oyan and its environs isnow a one-partycommunity,” he said.

Salaudeen thereafter,stated that, what promptedthem into crossing over tothe APC were thesuperlative achievements ofthe governor of the state,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

In his address at theevent, the Interim StateChairman of the APC, ElderAdelowo Adebiyi,welcomed the decampeesinto the APC, urging themto be vigilant and try asmuch as possible to preventthe PDP in their disastrousplan to gain power at all cost.

The APC chief stated thatthey should endeavour towork hand-in-hand withother party members toensure the re-election ofAregbesola in the August 9governorship election in thestate.

The venue of the eventwas turned into a carnivalas the decampees and theirhosts were dancing, singingand exchangingpleasantries.

Salaudeen who led thedecampees pledged onbehalf of others that theywould do everything legallyto ensure the re-election ofOgbeni Aregbesola in theAugust 9 governorshipelection.

Throughout the period ofthe event, Oyan stood stillas several hundreds of theresidents trooped out toidentify with thedevelopment.

By ABRAHAM JESUDOYIN

4 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Reject Jeun S'iku! Protect your votes

threatening fire againstAPC members. Going bytheir antecedent violenceand rigging are theirstock-in-trade. And sincethere is no hope for themof winning the comingelection through 'Oneman One vote' then theirhope lies in repeatingwhat they know how todo best.

Another way throughwhich the PDP is hopingto claim victory is bythrowing money andother valuable gifts out toentice voters to sell theirvotes. In this regard thehandwriting had for longappeared on the wall.With the distribution ofkerosene to their mem-bers and some membersof the public whichstarted last year their

journey to entice voterswith the aim of buyingtheir votes started.

This stratagem ratherthan strategy, beingviciously employed bythe PDP in the state ofOsun, is what we seeas 'jeun s'iku' shouldcitizens get swayed byit. 'Jeun s'iku' literallymeans 'eat and die' or'eat the food that willlead you to your grave'.The money and otherforms of gift which thePDP and IyiolaOmisore rely on to buycitizens' votes arenothing but 'Greek gift'and 'blood money' andcollecting them to dotheir biding meansdoing so at one's peril.It simply meanssending our state backto the pre-Aregbesolaera; backwater ofdevelopment. May God

forbid!

But it's not enough topray to God to forbidevil things. We thecitizens must also notuse our own hands tobring evil things on ourheads. To collectPDP's blood money tosell our conscience inthe coming election willbe tantamount to 'jeuns'iku' the consequenceof which will be direfor our state. Of coursethe citizens can collectthe gift of money andother gifts the PDP isready to offer them butthey must not do so todo their bidding. Thevotes in the comingelection are for OgbeniAregbesola who hasraised the bar of goodand responsible gover-nance in the state andshould never go to anyother party let alone the

PDP.

The PDP and IyiolaOmisore are free togo about to throwcarrot to the people intheir desperation tocapture the con-science of voters butnever should thevoters allow theirconscience to becaptured by theseunscrupulous elementswho have nothing tooffer our state.The PDP has been inpower for close toeight years herewithout any positivething to show for it.All it had to show forits eight years ofmisrule are purelynegative; violence,hunger, unemploy-ment, collapsed schoolsystem, bad roads andgeneral under-devel-opment across thestate.

Omisore, Cover Your Face In Shame

I was surprised whenI learnt that as oneof the

g o v e r n o r s h i paspirants of thePeoples DemocraticParty, Senator IyiolaOmisore who hasemerged the candidatewas planning to use thenewly-constructedNelson MandelaFreedom Square inOsogbo for thedeclaration of hisambition.

When I heard it, Ilaughed and asked:“Does it mean thatOmisore and even hisparty have no shame,or they have acceptedthat Ogbeni RaufAregbesola is actuallyworking?

It is this sameOmisore and the PDPthat were sayingAregbesola has notdone anything.

For seven and a halfyears that the PDPspent in power, theynever thought of doing

anything in that area,but within two and ahalf years, Aregbesolahas turned around theplace to the extent thatthe PDP saw thesquare as somethingbeneficial to them.

I even learnt that

when Omisore visitedthe square, he wasbragging that nobodycould stop him fromusing the place for hiscampaign, because theparcel of land, onwhich the square islocated belong to the

Federal Government.When I also heard

this, I asked again,could anyone everthought of holdingsuch a big event in thearea when the PDPwas there? The answeris ‘No’.

This scenario hasclearly proven thePDP wrong and thatindeed, Aregbesola isworking and the factthat Omisore thoughtof using the newly-constructed square, isa testimony to thatfact.

Omisore shouldcover his face inshame because thepeople of Osun cannow see clearly that hehas nothing to offerthem.

Even the deaf cansee while the blind canhear that Aregbesolahas turned aroundOsun for better and hedeserves another term.

• S A M U E LOLUWATOSIN, Ode-Omu, State of Osun.

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going to sell theirconscience. We believefervently that their voteswill be for Aregbesola asthey are not ready to 'jeuns'iku'. However, it's onething to vote, the nextimportant task beforethem come election dayafter voting is for them toprotect their votes.

Our people must guardtheir votes jealously sothat these visionlesselements who rely on votestealing like they did in2007 and who havenothing to offer the stateand its people don'tsucceed in their fraudu-lent and evil plans. Forthem not to succeed theball is in the court of thepeople. Our responsibili-ties are clear; to vote andto protect our votes.These are what we mustdo to ensure the return ofthe Aregbesola-ledprogressive governmentthat has done so well forour state.

And on the part of theparty's candidate,'Mr. Money miss road'himself, he too had nothingpositive to show forrepresenting the state atthe highest legislativebody of this country evenas he held a juicy positionin the Senate, beingChairman AppropriationCommittee for four years.Rather than serving thepeople and made positiveimpact in their lives he wasonly there to serve his ownpocket. So in what way arethey - both the PDP andOmisore - going to effectany meaningful change inthe life of the state as theyare shouting around?We know that the virtuousand responsible citizens ofour state who haveenjoyed dividends ofdemocracy in unprec-edented term under theable and visionary leader-ship of Ogbeni Aregbesolawill not waste their votes.We are sure they are not

Continued from pg1nt

5555

FinanceOSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014

High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (II)

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.

6 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014MAGAZINE

High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (II)

Contiuned from page 5

Contiuned on page 11

THE last edition gave considerationto the year 2013 and what the yearhad been, especially the fact that it

ended well in fulfilling the yearnings andaspiration of the people of the State ofOsun, most particularly in the area ofbudget performance and the delivery ofthe dividends of democracy to the door-steps of the teeming populace of the state.We did this so carefully and so conscien-tiously that we aligned it with the Six-Point Integral Action Plan of the RaufAregbesola administration and the entiregoodies encapsulated in the Pact that heentered into with the people of the stateway back 2005 or thereabouts as he un-veiled his election campaign promises tothe people. The edition ended at a conve-nient point where we drew reference tothe highlighted of the nitty-gritty of bud-get 2014 budget, which had been the fun-damental guiding star for earlier budgetsand booster to their high performances.It is with these guiding stars that we in-tend to open this particular edition; start-ing with a recap of the Six-Point IntegralAction Plan of the Aregbesola adminis-tration:

“SIX-POINT INTEGRAL ACTIONPLAN

· Banish Poverty· Banish Hunger· Banish Unemployment (Cre-

ate Work/Wealth)· Restore Healthy Living· Promote Functional Education· Enhance Communal Peace

and Progress”“From the2014 Appropriation Bill of the

State 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” is an-chored on the following policy thrusts: -

(i) a complete turnaround of agri-culture such that it will be revolutionised,made attractive and profitable with aview to improving the welfare of thepeople and the economy of the State;

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

•ADEGBOYE,

(ii) provision of necessary and du-rable infrastructure like roads, electrifi-cation, ICT etc that will ensure develop-ment 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 waste man-agement and beautification schemes torid our communities of filth;

(vii) development of diverse economicpotentials of the state and reactivationof commercial activities;

(viii) reactivation and speedy comple-tion of abandoned water schemes;

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

(x) reforming the court system, up-grading of courts and introduction of Al-ternative Dispute Resolution mechanismwith a view to ensuring speedy access tojustice by all individuals in the State.”

We shall henceforth proceed to giveconsideration to the workings and per-formances of budgets of earlier years ofthis administration; doing this as carefullyand honestly as is possible. The essenceof conducting this analysis at this veryjuncture is ti appraise the extent of per-formance of the Rauf Revolution andcompare it with the situation that obtainedduring the years which preceded its ad-vent into the reins of power and gover-nance in the State of Osun. We wouldhave commenced the analysis from theperformances of budgets since the re-turn to democratic rule since 1999, butthis is reserved till a later segment.

The detailed analysis of the variouscomponents of the 2011 Budget shall nowseize our attention. This shall be done vis-à-vis the revenue profile for 2010 andthe implementation of mechanisms ap-proved by the Government for the suc-cessful implementation of the approvedbudget.

The total actual revenue of Govern-ment for 2010 was Sixty-Four Billion,Eight-Hundred and Forty-Nine Million,Two-Hundred and Ninety-Two Thou-sand, Three-Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira,Thirty-Seven kobo (N64,849,292,356.37). The revenue projectionfor the 2011 was, therefore, higher thanthe 2010 actual revenue by a sum ofThirty-Eight Billion, Five Million, Three-Hundred and Forty-One Thousand,Three Naira, Sixty-Three kobo(N38,005,341,003.63) representing 58.59per cent increase. This shows the incum-bent administration’s awareness of thelow Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR)base of the state which accounts for un-due dependence on allocations from theFederation Accounts. The new adminis-tration, given this trend of events appeareddetermined and ready to take the bulls bythe horns so as to ensure enhanced In-ternally-Generated Revenue (IGR) for thestate. It became glaringly revealed, there-fore that as a gigantic step toward achiev-ing this feat, the State Government hadapproved the appointment of a Tax Con-sultant, by name, Messrs Infiniti Segment.Justifying this choice, it was argued thatthe tax consultant had proven trackrecord of efficient performance in the areaof Internally-Generated Revenue (IGR).Also, it was uncovered that as part of itsstrategy, the current administration wasalso determined to reposition the InternalRevenue Service of the State towardsgreater efficiency through the recruitmentof qualified personnel and provision ofall necessary logistics that will enhanceits performance. Efforts would equallybe made to reduce leakages in the tax col-lection and administration processesthrough the implementation of electronicrevenue collection system. This, it wasrevealed had started to be addressed bythe Infiniti Segment. As revealed by theanalysis, the target of the State Govern-ment was to raise the monthly InternallyGenerated Revenue (IGR) collection toat least N1 Billion before the end of the2011 fiscal year. This feat has alreadybeen realized.

To enhance and facilitate the achieve-ment of the above-stated enviable andlofty feat, the following Internally-Gen-

erated Revenue (IGR) policies were ap-proved by the Governor, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola early in the year. They are;

(i) Agencies of Government are ex-pected to double their efforts and be ag-gressive in their Internally-GeneratedRevenue (IGR) efforts in the 2011 fiscalyear so as to surpass their targets;

(ii) All agencies should be proac-tive in revenue generation by ensuringthat their current revenue base is wid-ened

(iii) All revenue collected should bepaid into the General Revenue Accounts,using the appropriate Heads and Sub-Heads of revenue while the Treasury Re-ceipts of such payments should accom-pany returns to the Office of the Accoun-tant-General. It is illegal to keep Gov-ernment revenue in private purse or un-authorized Departmental Account;

(iv) Collection of revenues shouldnot be left alone with the Field Offic-ers, the appropriate Head of Depart-ments must be personally involved inrevenue mobilization, collection andrendition;

(v) Returns of revenue collectionmust be made monthly by all Agenciesof Government to the Ministry of Fi-nance, Economic Planning and Bud-get and the Office of the Accountant-General, failure in that regard will at-tract sanction;

(vi) The release of funds for the ex-ecution of programmes and projectswould, in relevant cases, be tied to therevenue performance of Agencies ofGovernment;

(vii) All agencies of Governmentshould involve internal strategies to en-sure greater efficiency, probity and ac-countability in their revenue collectionand rendition;

(viii) Top career and political func-tionaries shall be specifically held liablefor any lapse in revenue collection andrendition;

(ix) All agencies of Governmentshould give greater attention to RevenueCollection than to Expenditure since noexpenditure dreams can be actualizedwithout adequate revenue backing;

7 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014 PHOTOTALK

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) presenting a gift to the Assistant Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Zone“F”, Oladayo Amujare, during his courtesy visit to the governor in the Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun, last Friday.

Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps Chief, Assistant Commandant-General,Zone ‘F’, Mr Oladayo Amujare, Paid A Courtesy Visit To The State Of Osun Governor,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At The Government House, Osogbo, Last Friday.

•

•Governor Aregbesola (4th right); Amujare (4th left); Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola (3rd right); State of Osun NSCDC Commandant, Engineer GboladeFelix (3rd left); Deputy Commandant, Operations NSCDC, Issa Akanbi (2nd left); Deputy Commandant NSCDC, Basiru Abdulazeez (right); Assistant Commandant, Head ofTraining, Adebiyi Ishola (left) and Interim Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun Chapter, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi (2nd right), during the Assistant Commandant-General’s visit to the governor in the Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun, last Friday.

8 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014 PHOTOTALKA Two-day Conference Of Foremost Traditional Rulers In The State Of Osun On TheOverall Development Of The State, At Centre For Black Culture And InternationalUnderstanding Last Friday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•(L-R) State of Osun Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye; State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister Kolapo Alimi and Chief of Staff to theState Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola.

•Some of the traditional rulers at the programme.

•(L-R) The Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Oyedotun; the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, at the event.

9 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014PHOTOTALK

•A cross section of traditional rulers at the event.

A Two-day Conference Of Foremost Traditional Rulers In The State Of Osun On TheOverall Development Of The State, At Centre For Black Culture And InternationalUnderstanding Last Friday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•A cross section of dignitaries during the programme.

•Another cross section of dignitaries at the event.

10 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014PHOTOTALK

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), presenting a gift to the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), State of Osun chapter,Alhaji Isiaka Afolabi (middle). With them is the state deputy governor, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, during a dinner organised for the NURTW members, atGovernment House, Osogbo, State of Osun recently.

State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Hosted National Union Of RoadTransport Workers (NURTW) Executive Members At The State Government House,Osogbo, Recently.

•

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola ( 4th left); Alhaji Afolabi (4th right); Laoye-Tomori (3rd left); patron of the union, Oba Rasaki Aluko (2nd left); NURTW deputy chairman, ComradeTaiwo Shitu (left); Alhaji Abdulasisi Najimu (3rd right); 2nd Vice Chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulaman (2nd righ), 1st Vice Chairman, Alhaji Lateef Akanji (right) in a groupphotograph during the dinner organised for the NURTW members, at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun.

11 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014 MAGAZINE

High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (II)Contiuned from page 6

Contiuned on page 12

•AREGBESOLA •LAOYE-TOMORI

(x) All agencies of Governmentawarding contracts must ensure that allrelevant, charges, levies and other ex-penses are staturtorily required to beborne by the constructors are not loadedin the cost of the project to be paid byGovernment. Taxes, levies and othercharges should not be included in thecost of projects which should have beendetermined by necessary economic con-siderations. While Agencies of Govern-ment are expected to make budgetaryprovisions for 5 per cent VAT chargeson the contracts fees as in the case forall goods and services consumed by theGovernment, withholding tax charges,development levy and legal fees are tobe deducted from the fees payable to thecontractors;

(xi) Legal fees payable at the timeof execution of a Contract Agreementor deductible at source at the stage ofpayment shall continue to be paid byall contractors/suppliers;

(xii) The payment of Water Devel-opment levy is mandatory for all tax-able adults in the state, whether in thepublic or private sector;

(xiii) All contractors handling projectsworth N100,000.00 and above shall con-tinue to pay 5 per cent Development Levyto Government;

(xiv) Tender fees shall continue to bepaid to the client Agency in respect ofall categories of contracts in accordancewith the existing regulations;

(xv) Government shall give incen-tives to Revenue Collectors who exceedthe set targets in other to motivate themwith greater performance while sanc-tions (e.g. withholding of running costs)will be introduced for non-performance.The appropriate incentives will howeverbe determined at the material time;

(xvi) All Revenue Collectors and Ac-count Officers must be conversant withthe provisions contained in Chapters 6-12 of the State of Osun Financial Regu-lations. This is necessary in order to en-sure that they do not run foul of anyregulation.

From a careful review of the budgetof the State of Osun for the year 2012,OSUN DEFENDER Magazine found outthat the balanced budget for the year wassized at One-Hundred and Fourteen Bil-lion, Four-Hundred and Eighty-Nine Mil-lion, Seven-Hundred and Fifty Thousand,Three-Hundred and Twenty-Four Naira(N114,489, 750,324.00). It was an al-ready-settled case that the budget, anobvious legacy from the oustedOlagunsoye Oyinlola administration, wasof an initial size of Eighty-Eight Billion,One-Hundred and Forty-Three Million,One-Hundred and Thirty-One Thousand,Six-Hundred Naira (N88,143,131,600.00). However, the eventualsize of the 2011 fiscal year budget, asapproved by the defunct State of OsunHouse of Assembly, which was assentedto by the new Governor, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola was One-Hundred and TwoBillion, Eight-Hundred and Sixty-FourMillion, Six-Hundred and Thirty-ThreeThousand, Three-Hundred and SixtyNaira (N102,864,633,360.00). As re-ported, this figure was arrived at, follow-ing various adjustments carried out onthe original document by the outgone leg-islative house of the state, which wasproposed by the governor of the state,Ogbeni Aregbesola, upon his assumptionof office on Saturday, November26,2010. That proposed budget was sizedat Eighty-Eight Billion, One-Hundred andForty-Three Million, One-hundred andThirty-One Thousand, Six-Hundred Naira(N88,143,131,600.00), It had also beenconstantly affirmed that when these sizesof proposed and approved budgets withthe 2010 Budget figure of the Oyinlolaadministration alone, especially, when thevarious programmers, projects and poli-cies lined up with them by the incumbentadministration are considered, it wouldcome to full glare that the Biblical injunc-tion that the little you have is enough, ifnot sufficient, to achieve what you in-tend, is golden.

Much has been considered concern-ing the eventful, historic occasion of the

presentation of the proposed Appropria-tion Bills for the 2013 fiscal year and ear-lier years to the incumbent House of As-sembly by the governor of the state be-fore the passage of each outgoing year.In further portions of the presentationspeech which we now find relevant andappropriate, more facts came to the foreon what transpired to produce the finaldocument which was passed as the 2011Appropriation Act. Also, the true and cor-rect assessment of the performance ofthe economy of the state for year 2011was conducted.

In the review of the implementation ofthe 2011 Budget, it was placed on recordhow the governor recalled that the sizeof the 2011 Appropriation Bill passed bythe House of Assembly was One-Hun-dred and Two Billion, Eight-Hundred andSixty-Four Million, Six-Hundred andThirty-Three Thousand, Three-Hundredand Sixty Naira (N102,864,633,360.00).According to him, the initial Total Recur-rent Budget was Forty-Nine Billion,Seven-Hundred and Eighty-Three Million,Five-Hundred and Sixty-Nine Thousand,One-Hundred and Ninety Naira(N49,783,569,190.00) or 48.40 per cent,while Capital Expenditure was Fifty-ThreeBillion, Eighty-One Million, Sixty-FourThousand, One-Hundred and SeventyNaira (N53,081,064,170.00) or 51.60 percent of the total budget. But the 2011 Bud-get was reviewed during the year to ac-commodate the additional provisions re-quired to implement the New MinimumWage and the implementation of the newsalary structure fur medical doctors,health workers and the staff of the statetertiary institutions. With the approval ofthe State House of Assembly of the time,it was revalued; a reallocation of the bud-getary provisions on certain heads andsub-heads was carried out. In all, the re-alignment brought the total Recurrent Ex-penditure to Fifty-Three Billion, Two-Hundred Million, Three-Hundred andForty Thousand, Seventy Naira (N53,200,340,070.00) or 51.72 per cent, whilethe Capital Expenditure was Forty-NineBillion, Six-Hundred and Sixty-Four Mil-lion, Two-Hundred and Ninety-Three

Thousand, Two-Hundred and NinetyNaira (N49, 664,293,290.00) or 48.28per cent. It was however pointed out bythe governor that the reviews notwith-standing, the size of the initial budget ap-proved by the State House of Assemblydid not change.

It was also placed under observationby the Governor that the draft 2012 bud-get which he was presenting at the occa-sion was the very first annual budget tobe conceptualized and formulated by hisadministration. While taking his audiencedown the memory lane, Aregbesola re-called that the processes for the prepara-tion of the 2011 budget had been con-cluded by the immediate past administra-tion before he assumed office on Novem-ber 27, 2010 after the validation of hiselectoral victory by the courageousjudges of the Federal Court of Appeal sit-ting in Ibadan, Oyo State the earlier day;on the note of which Aregbesola was fullof praises to the Almighty God for givinghim the privilege to present the budgetand to serve the good people of the state.

If the philosophy, principles and policythrust of the government of the day andthose of its umbrella party, the ActionCongress of Nigeria (ACN) are anythingto go by, then a note of reminder deservesbeing sounded at this juncture on the highpremium placed by the Rauf Aregbesolaadministration on the resuscitation of theold values of hardwork, moral disciplineand integrity for which the Yoruba nationwas reputed in the illustrious past. Onthe basis of this focus, it is in line withthe pursuance of its lofty goals and ide-als that the Government of the State ofOsun considers it fit to first of all, lay asolid moral foundation upon which fur-ther development would be based. Thisfocus, according to Governor Aregbesolahimself, informed the idea of completerebranding of the state as the State ofOsun; with new sobriquet as the State ofthe Virtuous i.e. Ipinle Omoluabi; addedto which brand-new logo (crest), flag,anthem and colours were introduced forthe state for the purpose of identity andsocio-cultural rebirth. This feat was re-corded in February, 2011.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014 MAGAZINE 12

High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (II)

Continued on page 13

Continued from page 11

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

In his operational definition, OgbeniAregbesola defined a budget as an esti-mation of income and expenditure for afiscal period. Time and time again,Aregbesola spared no available opportu-nity to implore the people of the State ofOsun to continue to uphold the virtuesand cherished values of honesty, integ-rity and dignity of labour. Also, the em-phasis of his government and the exer-tions of his governance are focused onthe fact that the philosophical underpin-nings of budgets are more important thanfigures. To Aregbesola and his team, theirbackground and the trajectory of theircoming to government; coupled with theroughening the people and the state wentthrough in the hands of political bucca-neers in the not-too-distant past; all haveprovided them with adequate preparationwhich has whetted their passion aboutservice, redeeming lost grounds and ush-ering in progress, which, as it has provenso far are not misplaced priorities.

All over again, readers need to be re-minded of the bedrock principles whichform the pillar-post of the incumbent ad-ministration in the State of Osun and allits efforts at good budget preparation andimplementation. The emphasis of the gov-ernor had always been on the complianceand conformity of his budget presenta-tion with the guidelines of the state’s Vi-sion 20: 2020 First Implementation Me-dium Term Plan (2010-2013), which,according to him, had been comprehen-sively reviewed to accommodate and in-corporate the Six-Point Integral ActionPlan of his administration, as the maindriver. The cardinals of the Six-Point In-tegral Action Plan, it would be recalled,include the following:

(i) To Banish Poverty;(ii) To Banish Hunger;(iii) To Banish Unemployment

(Create Work / Wealth);(iv) To Ensure Healthy Living;(v) To Promote Functional Educa-

tion; and(vi) To Enhance Communal Peace

and Progress.In the light of the foregoing, and in

consonance with the tenets of these spe-cifics, Governor Aregbesola confidentlydeclared that the Budget 2012, his first

full document in office, was his team’sown budget; as it epitomizes their dreamsand vision. Also, he brought out to thefore how gratifying it was to note that itwas in compliance with the Five-YearFiscal Strategy Paper of the State of Osunthat the budget was prepared. In addi-tion, he reflected that the draft budget2012 had been fashioned towards theaccelerated achievements of the Millen-nium Development Goals (MDGs) by2015.

We need at this very juncture to com-ment briefly on how well the budgets ofthe state had fared at implementation sincethe coming on board of the Aregbesolaadministration in the State of Osun. Inhis comments on the quarterly review onthe implementation of the 2011 Budgetprepared by the Ministry of Finance, Eco-nomic Planning and Budget, it wasbrought to attention that the Total Rev-enue which accrued to government fromall sources from January to September2011 was Forty-Four Billion, Eight-Hun-dred and Forty-Nine Million, Five-Hun-dred and Twenty-Five Thousand, Nine-Hundred and Sixty-Nine Naira, EightyKobo (N44, 849,525,969.80). The TotalExpenditure of government, inclusive ofall recurrent and capital expenditure forthe corresponding period was Thirty-OneBillion, Six-Hundred and Fifty Million,Three-Hundred and Nineteen Thousand,Four-Hundred and Twenty-Nine Naira,Five Kobo (N31,650,319,429.05).

Before we move to other segments ofthis edition, we need to emphasize howthe administration of Ogbeni RaufAregbesola had been guided by the prin-ciples of prudence and proper account-ability in the disbursement and appropria-tion of funds. According to the gover-nor, the government had been very pru-dent, not only in the management of thestate’s financial resources; but also withregard to human and material resources.He further remarked that from the per-formance of the 2011 Budget as high-lighted, it became obvious that the fi-nances of government had been keptafloat. In view of the foregoing, ratherthan running into deficit, the State Gov-ernment of Osun had been ending itsyears since 2011 on a credit note.

THE nitty-gritty of the 2012 Budget ofthe State of Osun was indeed highly re-

vealing and relieving. In the budget pre-sentation was found the promise and re-assurance of a year that was set out towitness massive achievements in termsof execution of projects. Apart from thephysical achievements recorded, the at-tention of the incumbent administrationduring the 2011 fiscal year had been fo-cused on laying a solid moral foundationupon which developmental programmeswould be based. The governor himselfacknowledged this when he pointed outthat the necessary socio-economic plan-ning frameworks required had been putin place to pave way for the socio-eco-nomic reconstruction of the State of Osunin the 2012 fiscal year.

As it turned out, the people’s trust onthe good promises of the Aregbesola ad-ministration had not been misplaced. Theexperience during the just-concluded year2013, as has been traced in the first partlast week has shown that year to be trulyeventful and full of laudable accomplish-ments. Last year showcased the Govern-ment Unusual of Ogbeni Aregbesola asone that really means business; one thatis fully devoted to delivering dividends ofdemocracy at the doorposts of the peopleof all socio-economic strata; one that isfully at work – and purposely too! It isnot in doubt therefore that the currentyear 2014 wields still greater promise ofa year of highly monumental achieve-ments which shall outstrip those of lastyear in their sizes, enormity, reach andimpact.

In year 2012, Governor Aregbesolamade it known categorically in his bud-get presentation that the budget had beencarefully packaged for the effective utili-zation of his team’s vision as encapsu-lated in the Six-Point Integral Action Plan.The governor said it was necessary tonote that skeptics had been confoundedin that past one year by the strings ofachievements recorded by his adminis-tration in the area of maintenance of lawand order, agricultural revolution, empow-erment programmes, changing the out-look of the state in terms of sound envi-ronmental planning and beautification,etcetera. He gave his promise and thepromise was constant; giving full assur-ance to the good people of the state thatwith God on our side, the achievementsof previous years were going to be a tip

of the iceberg, given the higher targetsset to be attained for the incoming years.It is sure then that year 2013 shall not bean exemption in this regard.

We shall devote the remaining segmentsof this edition to the various aspects ofprovisions in the 2013 Appropriation Act,how they have so far been fulfilled, andhow we can effectively compare this tothe achievements recorded in previousyears; particularly, year 2012. Unveilinghis budget for the year 2012, GovernorAregbesola declared his budget as beingchristened: “Budget of Service andProgress.” Spelling out the nitty-grittywhich formed the specifics of the bud-get, Aregbesola laid down the followingprovisions as the cardinal objectives ofthe budget. It is from the viewpoint ofthese that OSUN DEFENDER Magazinefinds it most convenient to approach thebedrock for the Budget 2013. They werelaid down as follow:

(i) Provision of enabling environ-ment to ensure increase in food pro-duction and to encourage agro alliedindustries with substantial participa-tion of the private sector;

(ii) Reconstruction of social infra-structure, economic and the industrialbase of the state;

(iii) Creation of conducive eco-nomic environment that ensures jobcreation and empowerment of youthsand women;

(iv) Promotion of culture of excel-lence and conducive work environ-ment in the state’s public service;

(v) Development of opportunitiesfor wealth creation through tourismand culture;

(vi) Promotion of industrial peaceand socio-political harmony that wouldlead to revitalization of commerce andrestoration of wealth;

(vii) Restoration of healthy livingto the people of the State of Osunthrough the provision of affordable,effective and quality health care forall;

(viii) Promotion of functional edu-cation by improving basic educationalinfrastructure and by enhancing ca-pacity of teachers at all levels;

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High Expectations; Rekindled Hope (II)Continued from page 12

(ix) Promotion of clean environmentand healthy living; and

(x) Reformation of commerce by restor-ing standardization of weight and measure.

On the basis of the foregoing, the governor wentahead to declare that the size of the draft 2012Budget; Budget of Service and Progress, was One-Hundred and Forty-Six Billion, Six-Hundred andSeventy-Four Million, Two-Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand, One-Hundred and Forty Naira(N146,674,283,140.00). As already adduced to inearlier parts of this edition, this size of the Budget2012 had been upwardly reviewed for reasons statedto accommodate more spending for various minis-tries and agencies of government. Much of therationale for the upgrade in the size of the initialsize of the draft budget before it passed through theapproval of the Parliament had been bared in thelast edition. For now, the aspect that seizes ourattention is the one bordering on the details of thebudget and the extent of its implementation at theclose of year.

Tuesday, January 22 2013 is indeed a red-letterday for the Government and the governed in theState of Osun; a state which is conspicuously lo-cated in the nucleus part of the South-Westerngeopolitical zone of the federation called Nigeria.On that very day, the Government of the day inthe state under the dynamic and visionary leader-ship of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola met up withthe dictates of office placed upon its ample andauspicious shoulders by the promptings of statu-tory provisions and requirements laid down underthe Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nige-ria. On that day, Governor Aregbesola took the bullby its horns when he, fully accompanied by hiscabinet members, political associates, supporters,admirers and critics alike, adorned the hallowedchambers of the State of Osun House of Assemblyto lay bare before the legislators and all present,formally, the full details of the 2013 Draft of Esti-mated Revenue and Expenditure, which shall gov-ern the policy thrust and direction of the adminis-tration as well as determine the collective fate anddestiny of the people in one full fiscal year. Theevent of the day was a follow-up to the earlierevent of December 21, 2012, which involved theGovernor’s forwarding his draft 2013 Estimate ofAppropriation Bill to the hallowed chambers oflegislators for consideration. Since that time, thedraft budget had been in the custody of the HouseCommittee on Finance and Appropriation for itsperusal and surgical operation.

The governor in his opening remarks expressedhis great delight over his presence at the hallowedchamber to present the 2013 Draft Budget to thepeople of the State of Osun through the distin-guished House which comprised the representativesof the people. He noted that the 2013 Budget pre-sentation under presentation was the second an-nual budget to be fully conceptualized and formu-lated by his administration within three years of itscoming on board; as the 2010 Budget had alreadybeen concluded by the immediate past administra-tion before his administration assumed office inNovember, 2010. Justifying the timing of publicpresentation of the draft budget at a time when thenew financial/calendar year had started; Aregbesolaquoted relevant portions of the Constitution of theFederal Republic of Nigeria to prove that the tim-ing was still in order. According to him, Section 121(1) of the constitution states that:

“The Governor shall cause to be prepared andlay before the House of Assembly at any time be-fore the commencement of each financial year,estimates of the revenues and expenditures of thestate for the next following financial year”

On the basis of this provision, the governorexpressed his deep-seated joy that his administra-tion had complied without breach because long be-fore the end of December 2012, the draft budgetbeing publicly presented on date had been laid be-fore the State of Osun House of Assembly. He thenpointed out that the presence of the executive armof government at the hallowed chambers of theHouse of Assembly on that date was in response toinvitation of the Assembly to publicly present thebudget, in line with the openness and transparencypolicy which marked the guiding principles of hisadministration.

The helmsman of the State of Osun was full ofappreciation to the Honourable Speaker, Houseleadership and the entire honourable members ofthe House for their support and cooperation sinceinauguration. According to the governor, it waswith the continued cooperation of these sets offunctionaries that the administration could meetthe yearnings and aspiration of the people. Thegovernor’s appreciation also went to the Judiciary:the Acting Chief Judge, the President of the Cus-tomary Court of Appeal and the honourable judgesof the State Judiciary for their unalloyed coopera-tion and support for the administration of the day.

He reflected that it was only through the collabora-tive efforts of the three arms of government in thestate that the State of Osun is being developed inline with the dreams and aspiration of the foundingfathers of the state.

The governor devoted some quality time to high-lighting the onerous and delicate nature of the sen-sitive task involved in the preparation of budgetsand financial estimates. According to him, craftingthe budget is the most important work of govern-ment. Defining budget, the governor opined that:

“It is what in summary encapsulates the wholebusiness of government for the whole year. Thecontent of the budget will determine the outcomeof the lives of millions of the citizens, enterprises,institutions and agencies. It is a solemn affair thatmust therefore be approached with every sense ofresponsibility. It is not a perfunctory act or a rite ofpassage. It is a very, very serious business and thatis why we have taken our time to carefully considerall the ramifications in shaping the destiny of thegovernment and our people for the next one year.”

Casting a retrospective glance at the anteced-ents of the State of Osun before the advent of theadministration, Governor Aregbesola recalled howhis administration met the state in a state of near-collapse in 2010; owing to careless, negligent, un-scrupulous and inadvertent leadership which heldsway in the state for several years. He howevergave thanks and appreciation to God Almighty forhow hi administration had been empowered, withinthe first half of its first four year mandate-period,to vigorously and assiduously pursue the re-orien-tation of the people. He then reasoned that the2013 Budget under presentation was to ensure theconsolidation of the achievements which the ad-ministration had recorded in the various sector andsub-sectors of the economy of the state. This rev-elation confirmed the predictions of OSUN DE-FENDER Magazine in our serial editions where wesolemnly resolved to counsel the incumbent ad-ministration to devote the current year’s budget toconsolidating its numerous achievements, complet-ing on-going projects, as well as initiating new ones.Far from dwelling on figments of imagination, rel-evant excerpts of the governor’s speech which touchon these run as follow:

“It is to be recalled that when we came on boardin November 2010, we met the social as well asphysical infrastructure almost in shambles, but tothe glory of God, within the first half of our four-year mandate, we have been able to vigorouslypursue the re-orientation of our people, give themassurance and hope. The 2013 Budget being pre-sented today is to ensure the consolidation of theachievements we have recorded in the various sec-tors and sub-sectors of the economy in the last twoyears. The budget will also ensure the continuity ofthe well-tested and well-intended policies andprogrammes of our Administration. The budget isequally targeted towards ensuring the completionof on-going projects and the starting of new onesthat will bring about continued im provement inthe socio-economic well being of the people ofOsun. Our resolution in this regard is total andirreversible. Like the 2012 budget, the 2013 Bud-get is in line with the Six-Point Integral ActionPlan of this administration. It is also in compli-ance with the Five-Year Fiscal Strategy Paper ofthe State. The 2013 Budget has also been pack-aged towards ensuring achievements of the Millen-nium Development Goals (MDGs) in Osun by 2015.I want to assure Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Mem-bers of the State House of Assembly and the goodpeople of the State that this administration willcontinue to ensure the formulation and implemen-tation of policies, programmes, and projects thatwill guarantee freedom for all, life more abundantfor our people.”

We have always emphasized that the focus ofthe policy-thrust of the incumbent administration,as well as that of the ruling party in the State ofOsun, is hinged on the Six-Point Integral ActionPlan under reference in the above-quoted excerpts.For the benefit of doubts, the Six-Point IntegralAction Plan which marks the hallmark of the in-cumbent administration is here again recaptured:

(i) To Banish Poverty;

(ii) To Banish Hunger;

(iii) To Banish Unemployment (Create Work/ Wealth);

(iv) To Ensure Healthy Living;

(v) To Promote Functional Education; and

(vi) To Enhance Communal Peace andProgress.

•This piece, first published in Tuesday Janu-ary 28, 2014 edition, is repeated due topopular demand. - Editor

To be continued

Commission Of Inquiry On DisturbanceOf Public Peace In The State Of Osun: Call

For Submission Of Memoranda

The Secretariat of the Standing Commission of Inquiryon the Disturbance of Public Peace in the State of Osunwishes to invite the general public to submitmemoranda by way of AFFIDAVIT EVIDENCEwhether the complainant is a victim or otherwise onany reports or complaints or allegations of acts and/orattempted acts of disturbance of public peace and/oracts and/or attempted acts of violence, terrorism,hooliganism, civil disturbance and other acts capableof disturbing public peace etc. for possible inquiry bythe Commission.

All memoranda shall be clearly typed and presented inthe following format:

1. INTRODUCTION OF THE SUBJECT MATTER

2. STATEMENT OF FACTS ON THE SUBJECTMATTER

3. ISSUES FROM THE STATEMENT OF FACTSFOR DETERMINATION

4. ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF ISSUES FORDETERMINATION

5. RELIEFS/PRAYERS SOUGHT

The name, address, telephone number(s) andsignature(s) of the writer( s) should also be clearlyindicated and submitted (between 8a.m-4p.mMONDAY TO FRIDA Y) in FIVE (5) HARD COPIESand TWO (2) ELECTRONIC COPIES (in pdf and MSWord formats) on or before Friday, 6th June, 2014, tothe respective address below:

The Secretary,The State of Osun Commission of Inquiry onDisturbance of Public Peace, c/o, Office of the Hon.Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice,Ministry of Justice,State Government of Osun Secretariat, Osogbo.

SIGNED:Mr. Bisi Babalola

Secretary to the Commission.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014 14

15OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 20, 2014 FEATURE

Osun: Before Making New Councils PublicOLUSESI ISAAC writes that if the State of Osun House of Assembly had assumed that the Mojeed

Alabi recommendations could be copied uncritically from the conventional model and had so passedthe recommendations hook, line and sinker, then the whole stuff remains an exercise in monumentalfutility.THE capacity to optimize the

acceptable purposes of the creationof development councils, especially

positive obligations to stimulatedemocratic self government, actualparticipation of people in the generaldevelopment and management of theirown affairs, mandatory maintenance oflaw and order, and political participationand control for further political stabilityand strength in the state is a crucialelement in the Governor RaufAregbesola’s bid to create more councilsin the State of Osun.

However, if the Mojeed Alabi ad-hoccommittee on council creation had takena stereotype of the usualconceptualization as the paradigm forOsun, then the panel’s recommendationscould be far away from strategizing forsocial justice, social equalization andsocial integration that eliminate probabledisruptive cleavages at the grassroots.

And if the State House of Assemblyhad assumed that the Alabi councilcreation recommendations could becopied uncritically from the conventionalmodel and had so passed therecommendations hook, line and sinker,then the whole turf or stuff remains anexercise in monumental futility. Andbefore making the new councils public,the state legislature could still go back tothe drawing board to ensure that the stategovernment maintains an effective statepresence in the locality in order to be ableto determine and control the pace andquality of the developments largelyinitiated or generated at the local/community level. The need is to havedevelopment-oriented councils that couldfill the gap between developmentcouncils’ plans and state developmentplans, with emphasis on self-help effortsand leadership potential.

While acknowledging that it is part ofdemocracy for states in the federation tocreate councils if they have the resourcesto run them, the issue rather should behow the new councils deliver services tothe people and provide effective co-operation and execution of governmentprogrammes and services in theirrespective areas. In Osun, the existinglocal government councils today had beeninoculated against corruption and otherabuses of the system. Prior to theAregbesola superintendence on the state,that is, in the People Democratic Partygovernment in Osun, corruption at thecouncil level was worst in proportion andthe councils were ineffective in servicedelivery, due to much premium put onlocal autonomy and PDP’s institutionalcorruption. All the local governmentcouncils in the state under PDP failed forlack of funds, effective leadership anddedication to service.

Today however, nearly into the fourthyear of Aregbesola’s government, thecouncils are financially transparent,implement development projects,establish the state governmenteffectiveness in their areas; and areeffective, enhancing performance andsuch ethics and values of public serviceas integrity, accountability and team spirit.Under Aregbesola, the existing councils’attitudes had been overhauled to theirscope of authority, responsibilities andfunctions, and monitoring andmeasurement as well as appropriatesanctions for laxity. And then, it is goodthat Aregbesola could now venture intocreating more councils to key into thevulcanized existing ones in the state, to

devolve state authority to more councilsthat will bring governance to more peopleand get more people involved in thedevelopmental and policy makingprocesses in the grassroots.

The maxim lex cogit ad impossibilia-that the law cannot command theimpossible has only made the option ofdevelopment councils the lesscumbersome alternative to the creationof local government councils in Nigeria.Development councils are closer to thegrassroots than the local councils in thesense that the development councils onceoperated in Nigeria the community councilsystem before the Maccido Dasuki LocalGovernment System Harmonizationexercise of the late 1980s.

Regrettably, by every index, sections7 and 8 of the nation’s currentconstitution make the creation of newlocal councils by the states of thefederation difficult, if not outrightimpossible. It is unhealthy when the newlocal councils should have to be ratified

by the National Assembly. It is awkward,to be modest not in the best interest ofthe federal parliament to ratify the localcouncils whose terrain, traditions andcultures it is not familiar with.

The constitutional requirement ofratification of the new local councils bythe federal government creates problemsin the polity. It creates dual loyally forthe local councils which have to be loyalto the federal and state governments,even more loyal to the centre because ofrevenue allocation from the center, thatalso removes the local councils from thegrassroots.

The prevailing constitutionalprocedures amount to commanding theimpossible that aborted efforts to getcouncils created by Bayelsa, Ebonyi andLagos states ratified by the NationalAssembly. These states did not revert tothe status quo, but had instead settled fordevelopment councils, at least by allmeans to solve the issue of “minorities”in the states and involve the people in the

governmental and developmentalprocess. The superior argument is thatdevelopment councils promote morebalanced growth at the bare grassroots,paying more attention to the educationand socialization of the peasants and ruralmasses, emphasize the concept of self-reliance, and de-emphasis the dependenceof local government on external financehandouts.

In Osun, the thinking of Aregbesola isthat the nation’s constitution should bereviewed to give the states actual powerto create local government councils.True. The polity should be restructuredto true federalism, and an equitable wayof creating the councils should befashioned out to avoid chaos, should allthe states of the federation decide toembark on the exercise. Hear Aregbesola:“Let there be true federalism. In a truefederalism, the third tier of governmenthas nothing to do with the centralgovernment. It is under the fiscalumbrella of the states.”

Aregbesola’s bid to create a numberof development councils in Osun is hiscapacity to generate change resulting intransformation to progress and enhancedquality of life through economic and non-economic elements; and he is promptedby a number of factors includingexigencies of his desire to developbackward areas of the state and the needto solve or ameliorate some pressingurban or semi-urban problems, notwaiting until further undesirable trendsand problems emerge.

But the formal announcement of thenew councils in the state appearssuspended, for its electoral implications.The new councils will require theIndependent Electoral Commission(INEC) adjust their electoral boundaries,or re-delineate them for electoralpurposes, but the time to do all that isalready closed in, especially as thegovernorship election in the state isalready at the door. Except if it is grantedthat the new development councils couldbe accommodated within the extantelectoral boundaries in the state, then theannouncement of, the new councils maycome after the governorship election.

It is however certain that Aregbesolawill make development councils come tostay soonest in Osun to diffuse politicalpower on an area basis, and to allow forcommunity determination of politicalaffairs and inculcate the noble ideals ofimpartiality, protection of “minority”rights and integrity, all of which areconsidered germane to the furtherevolution of liberal democracy in thestate. The new development councils inthe state will enhance the governance ofthe state, just as they become traininggrounds for politicians who may aspireto leadership and partnership positions atthe state level, even at the federal level.

Good enough. Osun is not bedeviledby such reasons as the uncertainty, andirregular release of funds to the councils.The anticipated capacity of the councilsto effectively mobilize the masses for leadparticipation in the socio-economic andpolitical development of the areas is theraison d’etre for the new developmentcouncils on the way.

OLUSESI is Assistant Director,Directorate of Publicity, Research &Strategy, All Progressives Congress(APC), State of Osun

“And if the State House of Assembly had assumed that the Alabi councilcreation recommendations could be copied uncritically from theconventional model and had so passed the recommendations hook, lineand sinker, then the whole turf or stuff remains an exercise in monumentalfutility. And before making the new councils public, the state legislaturecould still go back to the drawing board to ensure that the state governmentmaintains an effective state presence in the locality in order to be able todetermine and control the pace and quality of the developments largelyinitiated or generated at the local/community level. The need is to havedevelopment-oriented councils that could fill the gap between developmentcouncils’ plans and state development plans, with emphasis on self-helpefforts and leadership potential.”

“Hear Aregbesola: “Let there be true federalism. In a true federalism,the third tier of government has nothing to do with the central government.It is under the fiscal umbrella of the states.”

Aregbesola’s bid to create a number of development councils in Osun ishis capacity to generate change resulting in transformation to progressand enhanced quality of life through economic and non-economic elements;and he is prompted by a number of factors including exigencies of hisdesire to develop backward areas of the state and the need to solve orameliorate some pressing urban or semi-urban problems, not waiting untilfurther undesirable trends and problems emerge.”

•DAVID MARK: Senate President •NAJEEM SALAAM: Osun Speaker

TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

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

By ADE OLUGBOTEMI

IT is a common thingin Nigeria to refer tosome people as

Statesmen or ElderStatesmen; so much that wedo not understand whetherthose coinages originatefrom people with correctunderstanding of thecategory of people to be soregarded. Some are so called for reasonof longevity of age, when it is assumedthat Octogenarians or Septuagenariansmust have gathered enough experience;with a strong conviction that nobodywithin that age bracket with somemodicum of popularity would not havecontributed to national or territorialdevelopment.

Many of similar assumptions havesomehow proved to lie within the realmof operational fallacy, because not onlyhave those so regarded failed toshowcase footprints of positive impacts,many of them have to their discreditexhumed loads of moral decadence thatis not worthy of emulation. Many ofthem cannot even receive familyaccolades that wives and children ofexemplary husbands and fathers givetheir own as proves of extraordinarylegacy. Family, as a social structure,cannot even feel their positivecontributions; but the short-cutsyndrome that has dubbed our nationas backward is often explored to attainthe status of statesmanship.

A statesman is such a man, who is aleader in national or international affairs.The concept is also attributable to apolitical leader, who promotes thepublic good or who is recognized forprobity, leadership, or the qualitiesnecessary to administer a state. AStatesman shows direction to thepeople, and his leadership quality rankshim high to the extent that people lookup to him as pivotal in producing themuch needed impetus for survival. Allthese qualities must be found in anybodythat intends to showcase self as such;not those who will be drumming for warwhen they obstinately intend to winelections or perpetrate themselves inoffice.

Many of the leaders we have todaymay be said to be lacking most of thesecredentials. In fact, most of them are abunch of opportunists, who through oneinordinate means or the other get undueadvantage for self-enrichment thatsuddenly catapulted them to stardom.The ill-gotten wealth is subsequentlyused for image laundering andphilanthropic gestures to cover up pastmisdemeanours. They quickly buildaround themselves an empire for the

OSUN 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.

Nigeria In Need OfTrue Statesmen

unscrupulous that also float aFoundation that will paint their principalsas models that are passionate aboutbettering the lots of the downtrodden.

Nigeria’s problems had their roots inthe wrong statuses being accorded thenew crops of Statesmen that are justemerging in our national life. Theycannot be seen to be charting a coursefor the future of our teeming youths,who are supposed to ensure thesustainability of Nigerian socialstructure. At best, we now havereplacement system that ensureseconomic security for their respectiveoffsprings. Other youths are left to themercy of speculative economic prospectthat only ensures that a negligibleproportion of the struggling youthsbreak even and break through.

Educational pursuit is no longer aguarantee for socio-economic

emancipation in our country, as in thecase in liberal economies, wheregenerational succession plan is well-mapped-out and definitive programmesare put in place to ensure that little timeis needed for crisis management due tolow prevalence. When youths aremeaningfully engaged, the propensity tocommit crime will be very low. Thesocial maladies that are nowpredominant amongst the upcomingyouths are traceable to what theStatesmen of today failed to do whensome of them were in control of ournational life.

Leaders are required to be decorousso as to command the respect of theirfollowers; but what we see prevailingin our midst today is the multiplicity ofrascally behaviour. Our moral valueshave been consigned to the dunghill ofdegenerated moral suasion. Majority of

those that are to take chargetomorrow now believe that cuttingcorners and short-changing othersare normal tools to propel themto the top and appropriateopportunities in life. Honesty hastotally evaporated from ourmomentum and the principle

behind dignity of labour does notoccupy the pride of place in our dailylife any more.

There are some cultural valuespeculiar to different ethnic groups in thecountry; for instance selected languageof communication is applied for eldersin Yorubaland, so that elders are seento be accorded full respect by theyounger ones. That laudable attributeis now considered obsolete andunfashionable. Foreign culture that putseverybody on the same pedestalirrespective of age grade is entirely aliento our culture, but that seems to be thething in vogue in our society now. Thisis the fallout of the overbearing influencethat foreign culture has foisted andnobody seems bothered about this.

The political class can be said to bemost guilty because they use theeconomic power at their disposal to lureinnocent girls to sleep with them; andthey quickly turn around to claiminnocence and overtly condemn thesame girls that they have cunninglyabused. Some of our Elder Statesmenstill chase about girls who are equal inages with their grand children, and theaberrations they are expected to labouragainst are nurtured and perpetrated bythem. Self- indulgence has eroded agenuine concern that should beexpressed against the rottenness thatsuddenly becomes the order in ourpolitical circle; and we seem not to beperturbed so long as our comfort zonesare relatively secured.

The few ones that possess the rightattributes of true nationalists must arisenow to re-orientate the incidentalgladiators that now go about asstatesmen but are lacking in purpose andintent. Restoration of value systems ofrespective nationalities must be pursuedwith full vigour, while the youths areencouraged to imbibe dints of hardwork and industry as enduring legacy.Our statesmen must be able to generateideas that will be translated in concreteterms to strategic plans that are capableof transforming our economy to one thatwill sustain our teeming populace, andmove our youths especially, from beingaimless wanderers to a state of gainfulemployment to improve our per capitaincome.

•The Late Chief OBAFEMI AWOLOWO