VOL. 9. NO.064 NNNNN 505 05 05 05 0THURSDAY, MAY 29, 2014

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Front Page Comment Who KilledChief Bola Ige,former Attorney-

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•A mammoth crowd during the official flag off of Campaign for Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s re-election into office at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, lastTuesday. INSET: (L-R) Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomeori; Governor Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat, regally seated at the campaign.

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Aregbesola CampaignReceives Ooni’s Blessings

•Says His Administration Has Constructed 51km Of Roads In Ile-Ife•As Huge Crowd Welcomes Him To The Ancient City

Osun 2014 Governorship Election:

Osun 2014: Aregbesola Takes Fight To Omisore’s Doorstep

PDP's Desperation OverEkiti, Osun

Who will advise thePeoples DemocraticParty (PDP) to take iteasy in

its desperation tocoast home victory inthe coming governor-ship

elections in Ekitiand the state of Osun,even as it's glaringthat all the factors on

ground are in favourof the incumbent gov-ernors of these twostates?

This is the fundamental question that

arises in view ofPDP's

unwarranted des-peration to win thecoming elections at allcost

against the wishes ofthe electorate.

Though the com-pass points to thehouse of the ruling AllProgressives

Congress (APC)as the direction towhich the pendulumof electoral

victory is mostlikely to swing in themuch awaited elec-tions - due to

Continue om pg5

2 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 2014News

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

•Senator Isiaka Adeleke (left) joining “THE BIRTHDAY BOY,” Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in cutting his 57th birthdayanniversary cake last Sunday at Government House, Osogbo.

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

Aregbesola Campaign Receives Ooni’s Blessings•Says His Administration Has Constructed 51km Of Roads In Ile-Ife

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

THE popularity of the state governor, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, was on Tuesday put to test in Ile Ife, atthe flagg-off of his governorship campaign in Ife

Federal Constituency, as the ancient city was at a standstillfor several hours while the campaign rally lasted, withthe Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, showering royalblessings and encomiums on him.

Aregbesola, who arrivedthe city at exactly 2.00 pmwas followed by a mammothcrowd from ObafemiAwolowo Universitycampus gate throughLagere, Sabo to the palaceof the Ooni of Ife, ObaSijuwade.

The governor, cladded inwhite traditional attire, saton top of a mini luxury bus,waving at the excited crowd,who were trooping out from

different corners of theancient town anddistributing variouscampaign materials.

Aregbesola later arrivedthe palace at exactly 3.05pmand moved to the house ofchiefs within the palace.

The securityarrangement at the palacewas doubled to minimisethe flow of crowd into thepalace, as there weregridlocks of supporters of

Governor Aregbesola, whohad stormed the palace.

In the entourage of thegovernor were the StateDeputy Governor, Otunba(Mrs) Grace Laoye-Tomori,former Deputy Governor,Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin,Senator BabajideOmoworare, Senator SolaAdeyeye, HonourableRotimi Makinde, the Chief ofStaff to the Governor, AlhajiGboyega Oyetola, the StateCommissioner for Tourism,Alhaji Sikiru Ayedun amongothers.

The governor was givena grand reception bydifferent traditional dancersin the presence of traditionalchiefs at the palace.

The Lowa Adimula of Ife,Chief Joseph Ijaodola, whowelcomed the governor onbehalf of the Ooni-in-Council, said all the peopleof Ife at home and in thediaspora are in support ofthe governor’s second termbid.

Speaking at the palace,the Ooni of Ife, Oba

Sijuwade, showeredblessings on the governorto secure victory in thecoming election.

The monarch said: “Wedon’t have anything thanGod. You have come to thesource for royal blessingand by God’s grace, you willsucceed, and we are goingto support you to succeed.”

Oba Sijuwade describedGovernor Aregbesola as aperforming governor, whohas raised the bar ofgovernance andadmonished the governor toensure peace in Ifelandbefore and after the August9 election.

“I have convened themeeting of all politicalstakeholders in Ifelandincluding the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP)National Secretary,Professor Wale Oladipo, onthe need to maintain peace.No one will kill each other.Nothing will happen to youand I have told your peopleto also be peaceful. ByGod’s grace, you will get

there again.“I have seen the letter my

children, who are membersof your party, wrote to thesecurity agencies on thealleged threat to their lives.I can assure you, there willnot be any form ofviolence,” the monarch said.

The governorcommended the monarchfor his usual support since2006, when he launchedOranmiyan CampaignOrganisation and hisfatherly advice at all timessince his assumption ofoffice on November 26,2010.

The governor said it hasbecome a tradition to kickstart all his party electioncampaign in Ile-Ife since2006, 2007 and 2011.

Aregbesola later arrivedthe venue of the rally,Government TechnicalCollege, Ile-Ife around 4pmin the midst of severalthousands of hissupporters, who had waitedto receive him.

Speaking at the rally,

Aregbesola said the April 9election will put the PDP toshame to the extent thatthey will not move near anyelectoral contest in the stateagain.

Aregbesola said he isseeking re-election tosustain development, goodgovernance and brighterfuture for the yet-unborngeneration.

He stressed that for thosewho are not sure of hisperformance, hisadministration hasconstructed 51 kilometres ofroads in Ile-Ife and builtmany model schools andalso renovated majorhospitals in the federalconstituency.

According to thegovernor, his administrationhas also distributed 1,400tablets of knowledge in thefederal constituency anddredged major rivers in IfeCity, where they normallyexperienced flooding andpromised the people to domore.

He then urged the peoplenot to exercise any fear andvote for the APC in thecoming election.

Ife Zone APC Political Players Confident OfAregbesola’s VictoryPOLITICAL players of All Progressives Congress (APC)

extractions in Ife Federal Federal Constituency of theState of Osun have expressed their confidence that

Governor Rauf Aregbesola would have a landslide victory inthe area and the state in general during the forthcomingAugust 9, 2014 governorship election.

They gave the assurance atthe flag-off of Aregbesola’scampaign in Ile-Ife for hissecond term bid.

Ile-Ife is the hometown ofone of the major contenders forthe governorship seat, IyiolaOmisore, the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP)candidate.

Declaring the campaignopen, the Chairman, APCCampaign Committee in thezone, Honourable FolorunshoBamisayemi, said that there wasno cause to entertain any fear,as the party has gained enoughground to emerge victorious.

“We have all seen reasonswhy we should vote Aregbesolaagain, because under hisadministration, Ile-Ife and itsenvirons have changed for thebetter.

“Despite the fact that oneof the major contenders for thegovernorship race is from Ile-Ife, Aregbesola would win inIle-Ife and other parts of thestate,” he insisted.

Also, the senatorrepresenting Osun EastSenatorial District, BabajideOmoworare and his OsunCentral counterpart, ProfessorSola Adeyeye, said the onlyoption the PDP is working onis to kill people in the name ofelection and steal votes, havingrealised that they lack politicalstrength.

Omoworare stated that thePDP candidate has beenoccupying positions ofauthority since 1999 and he hasnot been able to attract anydevelopment, even to hishometown, Ile-Ife, until

Aregbesola assumed office.“Ask my brother, what does

he want again. He was a deputygovernor and he was a senator,who chaired the appropriationcommittee in the Senate, yet,there was nothing to show forit.

“He had contested forgovernorship seat for, at least,three times, and he failed. Heshould succumb to fate that heis not destined to be governor.

“Having realised that theyhave no strength, the onlyoption they have now is to killpeople and snatch our votes.We should not allow them toachieve that dream because itis anti-people,” he noted.

Also, Adeyeye stressed thatthe love and support thatAregbesola received in Ile-Ifehave shown that the people ofthe ancient town want him fora second term.

According to him, the PDPcandidate has no strength towin just a councillorship seat,as he was defeated in his wardwhen he contested forsenatorial seat in 2011.

In his own address at theevent, the House ofRepresentatives member,representing Ife FederalConstituency, HonourableRotimi Makinde, expressedhope that the election wouldbe free of violence, saying theadministration of Aregbesolahas provided jobs for theyouths who would have beenused as thugs.

He stressed that the APCmembers would not fight, butwould rather stand firm todefend their votes, as the onlyfocus of the PDP is to causeviolence.

In his remark, the StateActing Chairman of the APC,Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, saidAregbesola has notdisappointed the people on thepromises he made prior to hisfirst term election.

According to him,Aregbesola’s administrationhas brought rapid developmentto the state and therefore,deserves a second term, with aview to allowing him completehis developmentalprogrammes.

Ile-Ife Rally, A Carnival AmidstPump And Pageantry

By SHINA ABUBAKAR

•Ancient City Standstill For Aregbesola

POLITICIANS and residents of Ifeland last Tuesdayturned the inaugural electioneering campaign ofGovernor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun in

Ile-Ife into a carnival, as the ancient town from EnuwaSquare to Technical College at Ilode stood still for the AllProgressives Congress (APC) loyalists and theirsupporters.

Many party members hadto abandon their vehicles atLagere end of Ilode andwalked to the venue in a bidto witness the entireprogramme.

The entourage of thestate’s First Lady, Mrs.Sherifat Aregbesola,comprising of wives ofcommissioners, lawmakersand council chairmen wereheld in the traffic jam forhours.

Some commissioners hadto drop from their vehiclesand walked to the venue,while others joinedcommercial motorcyclists toease the heat on the road.

When OSUN DEFENDERgot to the venue of the rally,the school’s field was filledto capacity, as severalpolitical organisationscompeted for relevance andtest of their popularitystrength.

Nollywood actors andmusicians were not left outof the rally, as some of them,led by Toyin Adegbola,Taiwo Amusan and SaheedBalogun added glamour andglitz to the rally.

Similarly, Tony Tetula ledother musicians to thevenue and entertainedpeople at the rally.

As Governor RaufAregbesola arrived thevenue, swamps of broomswere dancing in the air,welcoming the governor tothe rally, who wasaccompanied by somenational party leaders.

One of the partychieftains in the state, AlhajiFatai Diekola, whileaddressing the crowd,disclosed that GovernorAregbesola is currently notjust seeking second term inoffice, but seeking thesupport of the people of thestate towards making Osuna pride for indigenes athome and in the Diaspora.

He urged the people notto be afraid of anyone thatmight be attempting tointimidate or harass thembefore or during the polls,charging everyone in Ile-Ifeand its environs to comeout and vote en masse forAregbesola come August 9,2014.

Diekola disclosed thatthe APC-led administrationin the state has deliveredon its 2007 electioneeringcampaign promises andshould be re-elected foranother four years tofurther make Osun proud.

Also speaking, thelawmaker representing Ife-Federal Constituency at theNational Assembly,Honourable RotimiMakinde, was appreciativeof the love and support thepeople of Ifeland showedthe party since 2011,adding that the support atthe rally was awesome.

He wondered if theopposition party candidatehails from Ife, particularlywith the support the partyenjoyed from the teemingresidents of the ancienttown.

Makinde describedAregbesola as God-sent,whose ascendency topower has brought relief tothe populace, particularlyin Ile-Ife.

The lawmaker furtherdisclosed that prior to theadministration ofAregbesola, roads in Ile-Ifewere neglected only for thegovernor to break the jinxand commencedconstruction of roads in theancient town.

Many political groups,including OranmiyanSupport Group, MandateGroup, Osun ProgressiveTorch Bearers, The YoungAregbesola Victory Groupand many others toonumerous to mentionadded glamour to theevent.

AREGBESOLA’S RE-ELECTION MEGA RALLY IN ILE-IFE

•As Huge Crowd Welcomes Him To The Ancient City

3 News OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 2014

•Some of the State of Osun House of Assembly members and State of Osun Executives at the flag-off of All ProgressivesCongress (APC) 2014 Governorship Campaign at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, last Tuesday.

Photo: SHOLA ADERINTO.

Osun 2014: UPP Picks Gov Candidate, Running MateBy ISMAEEL UTHMAN

THE State of Osun chapter of the United ProgressiveParty (UPP) has picked an indigene of Ase-Ijesa, inObokun Local Government Council Area of the

state, Prince Victor Adeniyi, as the flag-bearer of the party,while Mrs Christiana Oluwatoyin Morondiya wasdesignated as his running mate to contest the August 9,2014 governorship election in the state.

Over 200 delegates at theparty’s congress held inOsogbo, last Friday,unanimously adoptedAdeniyi as the UPPgovernorship candidate,following the refusal ofother members of the partyto obtain the governorshipintention form of the party.

The 31 local governmentcouncil area chapters of theparty, including the AreaOffice in Modakeke,presented three delegateseach for the congress.

Secretary of the party inthe state, Mr Adesoji Alabi,moved the motion for theadoption of Adeniyi as thetouch bearer of the partyand was was seconded byAkeeb Adedeji, a delegate.

Presenting Adeniyi to thepublic, the National ViceChairman of the party,Prince Segun Olusola, saidthe UPP was contesting theforthcoming governorshipelection in the state toliberate and give the peopleof the state a total freedom.

According to Olusola,the emergence of theparty’s candidate was borneout of the passion to renderselfless service for thedevelopment of the state,stating that Adeniyi would

bring more fortune to thestate if he wins theforthcoming gubernatorialelection.

Olusola, whocommended Governor RaufAregbesola for what hecalled sudden andunexpected developmentrate of the state, said theUPP candidate wouldcontinue from whereA r e g b e s o l a ’ sadministration stops andexecute the projects it isunable to achieveimmediately the party takesover the mantle of power

after the August 9 election.He described Aregbesola

as the best governor so farsince the creation of thestate, even as he said theUPP would offer bettergovernance thanAregbesola, adding that theparty would deliverdividends of democracy topeople of the state,regardless of their politicalaffiliations.

Speaking at the event, thestate chairman of the party,Alhaji Idowu Omidiji,described the UPP as aparty that was ready toprovide political sanctuaryand hope for the oppressedand marginalized people ofNigeria.

Omidiji, who maintainedthat the party was formedto fight for the plight of themasses, expressed optimismthat the party would surely

emerge in the August 9gubernatorial election.

He enjoined all themembers of the party towork very hard in theirvarious domains to ensurethat the UPP candidateemerged victorious in theelection.

Delivering hismanifestoes, Adeniyi, thecandidate, said he decidedto vie for the governorshipposition in order to be aninstrument of change for thestate and makes it a betterplace of abode foreverybody.

Adeniyi said he wouldreform agriculture, healthand education sectors, aswell as housing andenvironment if eventuallyemerged, promising that hewould run an open-dooradministration.

Obokun APC Endorses AregbesolaBy ABRAHAM JESUDOYIN

THE Obokun Local Government Council Area Chapterof the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State ofOsun, has endorsed the governor of the State, Ogbeni

Rauf Aregbesola, as its flag-bearer, in the forthcominggovernorship election in the state on Monday.

Party members that werepresent at the event came intheir thousands as they allclaimed to have confidence inthe governor.

According to them, theirconfidence was due to theincomparable andunprecedented projects andthe good name the governor hasgiven the state by hisnumerous projects.

The State Commissionerfor Lands and PhysicalPlanning, Mr. Muyiwa Ige,represented by his aide, Mr.Lekan Odediran, thanked thepeople of the area for theirmassive turn-out for theprogramme.

He therefore, urged them toturn out en masse to vote forthe governor during the August9, 2014 gubernatorial electionin the state.

“I am expecting a 100 percent vote for GovernorAregbesola in Obokun andespecially in Esa-Oke,” hesaid.

He thereafter, urged themnot to fear any antics of theopposition, as there is no causefor alarm since the people arein total support of the party

In his address, Mr. Soji Ajayi,the Chairman of ALGON in thestate, stated that the turn-outof the people had shown howprepared the party was for theforthcoming governorshipelection in the state.

He added that he had no fear,as it was glaring that thegovernor of the state remainsthe people’s choice, whoseunprecedented performance hasspoken volume of his ability.

“Without mincing words, nogovernment has done so well asthe governor of the state. Hisperformance over the years isincomparable to any and thathas made preparation very easyfor us.

“Although, we are preparedto win the gubernatorial election,but the major preparation forthe election has been done bythe governor himself”

Aregbesola Advocates Collaboration On Schools’ Competition•School Literary Champions Get Prizes •Winner Spends A Day With Governor

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

GOVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, wrote another history in the hallmarkof the state on Monday by marking his 57th birthday

with the Champion of Inter-schools Debate held recently inOsogbo, the state capital.

Habibullah Ayodele, thewinner of the debatecompetition, spent a day withthe governor in the same attireand performed official dutiestogether throughout Monday,which was the first of its kindin the history of the state.

The schools’ debate grandfinale was organized byOmoluabi Support Group andOramiyan Worldwide on 13th

May, 2014 at the Centre for

Black Culture and InternationalUnderstanding, while the cashpresentation and ceremony wasfixed for Monday, the 26th, theday after the governor’sbirthday.

People defied the heavydownpour on Monday nightand stormed the GovernmentHouse, venue of the programme,in their hundreds to celebrate thegiant strides of the governor inthe education sector, which

reflected in the school debate.Dignitaries on seat at the

Dinner Night included the FirstLady of the State of Osun, MrsSherifat Aregbesola, the DeputyGovernor, Otunba Grace (Mrs)Laoye-Tomori, Senator OlusolaAdeyeye, representing OsunCentral Senatorial District,members of the Federal Houseof Representatives from thestate and members of the StateExecutive Council.

Lagos State House ofAssembly members alsoflooded the venue led by theSpeaker, Honourable AdeyemiIkuforiji, the Deputy Speaker,Honourable Kolawole Taiwoand Honourable Muyiwa

Jimoh, while the State of Osunparliament was also led to thedinner by the Deputy Speaker,Honourable AkintundeAdegboye.

Speaking after thepresentation of certificates andcash prizes to the winners,Governor Aregbesola urged thecorporate organizations andphilanthropists to collaboratewith the state government onschools competition, especiallyin Mathematics, CivicEducation and indigenouslanguages.

According to him, thecompetition will encouragestudents and teachers to put intheir best in providing quality

knowledge that can stand thetest of time.

He said: “If not this simpleeffort, we may not discover thetalent in our schools. Theirbrilliant performances duringthe debate and logicalpresentation of issues inspiredme. I was so excited with theirperformances.”

“Brilliance is not determinedby oratory. That is why bynext year, it is important tointroduce competition inMathematics, civic educationand local language. We aretherefore, calling on the peopleto collaborate with us at alllevels of our basic education,elementary, middle and highschools.”

“Competition in schools isa process to stimulateacquisition of knowledge andother skills to succeed and wemust support them to succeed,”Aregbesola said.

The governor, whileexpressing satisfaction on theacademic performance of thestudents at the basic level, urgedthe teachers to improve onphysical education, urging themto develop the spirit of sportsto become active children.

Aregbesola also commendedthe Omoluabi Support Groupfor the initiative and urgedmembers not to relent in theireffort to impact positivechanges in the society.

Earlier in her address, thedeputy governor, who doublesas the State Commissioner forEducation, said the studentswere justifying the stategovernment’s huge investmenton education with theirperformances in internal andexternal examinations.

Laoye-Tomori stressed thatthe state has produced overallbest student in Basic EducationCertificate and overall beststudent in the last Junior SchoolCertificate Examination andmost-recently, the bestChemistry student in Nigeria.

Early in the morning, thegovernor’s convoy had gone tothe residence of the champion,Habiblai Oyedele and pickedhim with security escort to hisschool, Osogbo High School,where he addressed the assemblyof the students.

He also accompanied thegovernor to Delightsome Hotel,where the governor declaredopen a two-day seminar oncapacity building for securitypersonnel in the state.

He was later presented anundisclosed cash prize duringthe dinner, while N750,000 wasdonated for the development ofhis school, while the first runner-up, Miss Jacob Mary, receivedN500, 000 for the developmentof her school, Apara HighSchool, Kajola, State of Osun.

Ile-Ife APC Mega Rally: RTEAN ProvidesFree Transportation

By ISMEAL UTHMAN

AS the campaign for re-election of GovernorRauf Aregbesola gathers momentum, theRoad Transport Employees Association of

Nigeria (RTEAN) has offered free transportationfor governor’s supporters to any part of the stateduring the campaign.

The RTEAN hadsupplied over 15 buses toconvey loyalists of the AllProgressives Congress(APC) to the flag-offcampaign rally in Ile-Ife,

on Tuesday, withouttaking a dime from them.

The buses wereassembled at the spotopposite AregbesolaCampaign Office,Gbongan/Ibadan road,

Osogbo, the state capital.According to members

of the RTEAN who drovethe buses to Ile-Ife, theywere contributing theirown quota to the re-election of Aregbesola,who they described as theirbenefactor.

“To any part of the state,we are ready to conveyAPC supporters free-of-charge in the interest ofAregbesola. We have saidit that Aregbesola is ourman and we will continueto stand by him.”

Dignitaries At The EventSecretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood

Adeoti, Commissioner for Information and Strategy,Mr Sunday Akere, Commissioner for Home Affairs,Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Sikiru Ayedun, DeputySpeaker of the State House of Assembly, AlhajiAkintunde Adegboye, Chief Whip of the House, IpoolaBinuyo, Majority Leader of the House, Hon TimothyOwoeye, Hon Atetilewa Sijuade, First Woman DeputySpeaker in Nigeria, Nike Omoworare, the Director,Ogbeni Aregbesola Door-to-Door CampaignOrganisation, Mr Segun Omoworare, Civil ServiceCommission, Prince Felix Awofisayo, Special Assistantto Aregbesola on Youths, Sport and Special Needs,comrade Biyi Odunlade and Hon Ayo Omidiran.

Other are: Elder Peter Babalola, Former SupperEagle’s coach, Chief Adgboye Onigbinde and popularNigerian artists and musician like Aderupoko, BolajiAmusan, Lola Magret, Folake Olowe, Yemi Faloyin,Babtunde Omidina (baba suwe), Tony Titular, SaheedBalogun, Toyin Adegbola, Alhaji Sule Alao Malaika,Tejo Tufulu, Lanre Omiyinka (Baba Ijesa), FadeyiOloro, Charles Olumo (Agbako), Aderupoko amongothers

Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, AdeyemiKuforiji, Cardinal James Odunbaku (Baba Eto),

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 20144 t

•Newly-powered electricity transformer at Ilahun, under the administration of the governor of the State of Osun,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Photo: ABRAHAM JESUDOYIN

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

Change Of NameI, formerly known

and addressed as MRSADEREMI DEBORAHOLUKEMI, now wishto be known andaddressed as MRSATANDA DEBORAHOLUKEMI. All formerdocuments remain valid.General public shouldtake note.

Change Of NameI, formerly known

and addressed as MISSADEREMI GLORYGRACE, now wish tobe known andaddressed as MISSATANDA GLORYGRACE MODUPE. Allformer documentsremain valid. Generalpublic should take note.

Change Of NameI, formerly known

and addressed as MRADEREMI ATANDAOLUSEGUN, now wishto be known andaddressed as MRATANDA OLUSEGUN.All former documentsremain valid. Generalpublic should take note.

Suicide Bombing, Result Of Social Animosity - AregbesolaBy KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

THE governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, stated on Monday that suicide bombingand terrorism have no origin in African continent and

attributed it to social hatred and ignorance.

The governor added thatpeople must eliminate socialanimosity, with a view toensuring that there is steadypeace in the society, whileadvocating poverty eradicationand provision of qualitativeeducation across the country.

Aregbesola said this whiledeclaring open a two-day

capacity building seminar forsecurity personnel facilitatedby Society for Peace Studiesand Practice (SPSP), held atDelightsome Hotel, Osogbo,the State of Osun capital.

He said: “Peace is notabsence of violence. Not thatpeace cannot end conflicts,violence or war, but the most

important of it all is eliminationof animosity, which includeanger, hatred and religiousintolerance”.

He said recent wave ofinsecurity in the Africancontinent has proved thatpeace is not an end to violence,rather a means to an end andurged people to struggle toeliminate those animosities inNigeria.

The governor, who linkedincreasing crime rate in thecountry to economicdepression and socialinstability, also challenged the

security apparatus to conducta further research on the sourceof courage and motivation forsuicide bombers.

According to him; “therecannot be greater expression ofgrief than for someone to engagein suicide bombing. It may bepoor education, bad influenceor misguidance, but by my ownfindings in African context, itis beyond these conventionalissues. Human animosity is theproblem.”

“By nature and Africanculture, an African will desireto live long despite poverty and

penury. Suicide bombing isnever an option for a black man,but quite unfortunately, it ishappening in Nigeria now andignorantly they are usingreligion as an excuse.”

To eliminate this socialanimosity, we must ensure thatno one is cheated ordiscriminated on the basis offaith. People must be allowedto full expression of theirreligion, since there is nocollective salvation.”

“In all the religious books Ihave read, there is no whereGod promised collectivesalvation. I am a Muslim and itis not in the holy Quran.”

Governor Aregbesola, whilequoting from holy QuranChapter 18 verse 29 said:“Truth is from you lord, letpeople believe or disbelieve.

For those who believe, we haveprepared the good place forthem in heaven and for thosewho disbelieve, we haveprepared their punishment,”arguing that people shouldallow God to judge.

“We must accord all faithequal respect and not allowingindividuals to assume that hisor her religion is superior toanother,” Aregbesola said.

Speaking earlier, ChairmanBoard of Trustees of SPSP saidthe institute brought togetherthe security agents in the statefor the capacity buildingseminar to increase their skillson civic responsibility andintelligence gathering andcommended the governor forthe steady peace in the Stateof Osun.

Osun 2014: Ijesa-NorthTraditional Rulers DeclareSupport For Aregbesola

Ahead of the August 9th, 2014 gubernatorial electionin the State of Osun, all the traditional rulers inIjesa North Federal Constituency, comprising of

Obokun and Oriade Local Government Council areas, havedeclared their maximum support for Governor RaufAregbesola’s re-election.

The traditional rulers, attheir meeting with themembers of AregbesolaCampaign Committee inObokun and Oriade councilsrespectively, unanimouslyagreed to give theirunflinching support for thegovernor ’s re-election,adding that Aregbesola’sperformance in less than

four years had spoken forhim.

Speaking at the meeting,the Chairman, ObokunChieftaincy Committee, ObaEnoch Adejare Oyooyo 11,Owa Ooye of Imesi-Ile, saidthe traditional council in thearea would giveAregbesola’s re-election fullsupport because he hastransformed the areathrough his infrastructuraldevelopment programmes.

The traditional headmaintained that thegovernor had placed highpremium on the welfare ofthe citizenry.

Urging the governor tosee to the elevation oftraditional rulers in the area,Oba Adejare said traditionalrulers, being the custodiansof culture and security oftheir domains, needed to beproperly taken care of,adding that the joy of thetraditional heads will reflectin the community’sdevelopment.

In the same vein, thechairman, OriadeChieftaincy Committee, ObaAdebayo Ogunmokun,praised GovernorAregbesola for histransformation agenda andthe way he had fast-trackedseries of development in thestate; particularly in all thetowns in Oriade LocalGovernment Council Area.

Oba Ogunmokun saidA r e g b e s o l a ’ sadministration, in three andhalf years, had put smiles onthe faces of all and sundryin the state.

Aregbesola Hosts One-day Alternate GovernorSTATE of Osun One-day Alternate Governor, Master

Habibllah Ayoola Ayodele, has said he was overwhelmedby the enormity of the purposeful leadership provided

by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to the good people of the state.Master Ayodele who was

selected as the overall beststudent in a keenly contestedOmoluabi High Schools’Debate across the state said helearned the virtues and value ofhard work and diligence fromhis parents who are his rolemodels.

He said he knew that Nigeriawill only survive itsinnumerable man-madeafflictions when good peoplewho understudy society likeGovernor Rauf Aregbesolaassume positions ofleadership.

Asked about his impressionof the governance of the state,Master Ayodele intoned that hehas never had any negativeimpressions about politics andgovernance of Nigeria, only thatpolitical scene in the countryscares a good number of well-intentioned Nigerians.

“I have never had anynegative impressions about thepolitics and governance of mycountry. If good people likeGovernor Rauf Aregbesola stayout of politics, bad people arein it, then the good will sufferand the bad will takepreeminence

“The development I haveseen in some parts of thestate today on my tour withthe symbol of moderngovernance, Governor RaufAregbesola, has shown thatthere is hope for my country ifthis is what is going on all overNigeria.

“I will also like to contribute

my quota to the governance ofOsun and Nigeria when I comeof age too.

“Beyond anything else, Iwant to implore OmoluabiSupport Group to make thedebate competition an annualevent so that others can benefitfrom it”, Master Ayodele said.

Earlier, Governor Rauf

Aregbesola told MasterAyodele that his guidingprinciples as governor arepatterned after one of his rolemodels, Chief ObafemiAwolowo’s slogan of “freedomfor all and life more abundant.”

“My administration ispatterned after Chief ObafemiAwolowo’s philosophy whichsays freedom for all and lifemore abundant.

“So, my guiding principle isto become an agent of positivechange, which will impact on

the people in a way that willimprove their conditions.

“Those who seek power forthe sake of it and other personalentrenchment often realise thatpower without socialenhancement for the societyresponsibilities is useless”, thegovernor.

Master Ayodele is an SS 2(Grade 11) student at OsogboHigh School, Osogbo.

Ayodele had earlier arrivedat the Oke-Fia GovernmentHouse in the morning and

received by wife of theGovernor, Alhaja SherifatAregbesola.

He later accompanied thegovernor to some events suchas the opening ceremony oftraining work shop organisedby the Society for PeaceConflict Practice.

A dinner was later held inhis honour at the GovernmentHouse where prizes were givento other winners in the debatecontest.

NGOs Push For Tax Payment In Osun

GOVERNMENT of the State of Osun has begun to getsupport for the increase in its Internally GeneratedRevenue, as a non-governmental organisation,

Students’ Tax Advocacy Initiative in partnership with Centrefor Youths Initiative and Self Education have pushed forprompt payment of taxes to governments.

This emerged in Osogbo onMonday, as the groups organiseda seminar, themed: “Building aTax Paying Culture in NigeriaYouths - the Key to Social andEconomic Development” forsome selected students of bothprivate and public schools in thestate, as advocates for taxpayment.

Speaking at the seminar, theExecutive Director, Center forYouths Initiative and SelfEducation (CEYISED),Mohammed Sarafadeen, said theprogramme was organised toenhance the understanding ofchildren about taxation, with aview to grooming worthy taxadvocates that would be able toenlighten the people on taxpayment.

He stated that the efforts ofthe organisations have startedyielding results, as the trainedchildren have been encouraging

their parents to pay taxes.“This seminar is not all about

taxation alone, it is also aboutleadership and talents, so thatwhen these youths grow up, theywill know the importance of taxpayment and those of them inthe position of authority wouldknow how to use the tax-payersmoney judiciously.

“We are not just using this toencourage the people to paytaxes alone, we are alsomonitoring people at the helmsof affairs for effective usage ofthe taxes.

“We have seen that thegovernment of Osun is actuallyusing the resources of the statejudiciously, but it still has to domore, so that people will bemore encouraged to pay theirtaxes,” Mohammed said.

Also speaking, the ChiefOperating Officer, StudentssTax Advocacy Initiative(STAI), Robo Oduwole, said that

the students were being used foradvocacy on tax in recognitionof their roles in the developmentof the country.

Adding that taxation is keyto revenue generation, she addedthat without taxation, it wouldbe difficult for government toprovide all the necessaryamenities for the people, hence,the need to embark on effectiveadvocacy for tax.

Oduwole said that the eventfurther underscored the STAI’scommitment towards equippingthe children to become taxadvocates to ensure building of

a better nation through taxes.The STAI operator then

noted that the students of Osunhave actually taken the lead rolein educating their parents, unclesand the general public on theimportance of taxation.

She also hinted that theprogramme is being replicatedacross 12 states of thefederation and the FCT throughover 170 schools.

Highlight of the programmewas presentation of drama,documentary and paperpresentation by resourcepersons.

5 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 2014

PDP's Desperation Over Ekiti, OsunContinued from pg1

the impressive performances of theincumbent governors of these two

states, the PDP in its desperate na-ture is hell bent on winning the

coming elections at all cost; an am-bition that has been described by

political analysts as a pipe dream.

But if the party is lucky to get goodadviser/s, is it ready to take

to wise counsel? Another importantquestion again. The answer to this

second question is not farfetchedreally. Going by the party's

antecedent it cannot listen to goodadvice as it has always been

behaving like the proverbial hunter'sdog destined to go astray and

for that never can he listen to hismaster's whistle.

Based on reality on ground it willbe easier for the camel to pass

through the eye of the needle thanfor the PDP to win the coming

governorship elections in these twostates. This is a statement of

fact which the party itself is aware

of. And it's for this very factthat the party is unnecessarily des-

perate. But clearly no amount ofdesperation can help the PDP's cause

and it's high time it gets thissunk into its head.

For one, like we stated above the chiefhelmsmen in these two states

have endeared themselves to the elec-torate through provision of

responsible and credible leadership.The people are satisfied with the

level of unprecedented transforma-tions going on in the states and they

are not in the least ready to give theirvotes to any other party -

even apart from the PDP - except theparty in power as they know that

to do that will be tantamount to wast-ing their votes.

Secondly having ruled in these twostates with little or nothing to

show for it the PDP as a party haslost its credibility completely and

in Yoruba land fake and fraudulentpoliticians can only succeed in

deceiving the people for just once. Tobelieve that you can fool or

deceive our people twice is to live in

fool's paradise. This is whythe journey of desperation the PDP

currently embarks on cannot yieldany positive result.

PDP must also be warned against en-gaging in its usual trades of

unleashing violence and rigging as theparty cannot find it easy this

time as it used to. People know thatwhen the party is boasting of

taking over power in a particular stateof the federation it's not

saying so with the aim of winning elec-tion through the democratic

praxis of one man-one vote but throughviolence and rigging just as we

witnessed in 2007 especially in theSouth-West here where the party's

'do or die' election philosophy washighly practised.

This time around the PDP should knowthat it isn't going to be

business as usual as the consequenceof rigging in these two states

will be dire indeed. So the party betterwarns itself against rigging

and its members against perpetratingviolence. It (PDP) should not

forget that the era of Professor Maurice

Iwu whom it found a willingtool in carrying out its rigging plan in

2007 is gone.

So also the party should bear it inmind that Olusegun Obasanjo, the

proponent of 'do or die' election is nomore in power. And more

importantly, much as the incumbentPresident may wish that his party

wins these elections, he will not bewilling to associate with any act

capable of adding salt to injury forhim as rigged election will

further tarnish the already batteredimage of his administration.

In the light of the above, it will bebetter for the PDP to follow the

path of honour by being a gallant loserin the coming elections rather

than engaging in acts that will bringmore opprobrium to the party's

doorstep and destroy the future of theparty the more. The coming

elections must be free of fraud andviolence. That's the only

condition for peace in these twostates. Half a word, they say, is

enough for the wise.

Of Osun And Kerosine Politics

THERE was the timewhen Oyo Statenay Ibadan, the old

administrative capital ofWestern Nigeria, was inthe hold of the ‘GarrisonCommander andCommander-In-Chief’ of‘Amala Politics’, HighChief Lamidi Adedibu.

The man kicked thebucket in 2008 and Oyogained ‘independence’.

Unfortunately, thephoenix has risen again inmy beloved Osun in theguise of one SenatorIyiola Omisore and hiskerosine politics.

I just wonder what theman wants this timearound? He is bent onruling Osun by all meansand he would useeverything at his disposalto grab that seat at BolaIge House.

He is a man that hasachieved many firstsnegatively and by God’s

OSUN DEFENDERPublisher – Moremi Publishing

House Ltd.

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

Editor – Kayode Agbaje (0803-388-0205)

Lagos Editor – Kola Odepeju(08023191891)

Production Editor – Pet-Kola Taiwo Ibitowa

Senior Reporter – Sola JacobsSenior Reporter – Kazeem Mohammed

Magazine Editor – Niyi Olasinde

Reporter – Kehinde AyantunjiReporter – Francis Ezediuno

Photographer – Oluwagbemiga AdeniyiPhotographer – Olushola Aderinto

Admin. Manager – Murtala Agboola

Computer Operator – Saheed AfolabiComputer Operator – Mary AkintolaAssistant Computer Operator – Lukman Oseni

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

grace, his failure at thepolls would help todepreciate his already-lean curriculum vitae.

In Osun as of today, heis the first and onlydeputy-governor to beimpeached.

The first prisoner to beelected a ‘DistinguishedSenator’ of the Federal

Republic.The only politician, who

has been defeated on allfronts; gubernatorial andsenatorial.

For his information incase he has a shortmemory, the governor ofthe State of Osunfacilitated the sale ofkerosine round the state at

N50:00 per litre two yearsago and there was nomuch noise.

Now Omisore is sellingkerosine at N400 per 5Litre and before you areentitled to it, the customermust part with a passportphotograph and voter’scard inside the PDP/Omisore Campaign

Secretariat in Osogbo.Aregbesola came out

with an innovation calledbio-gas, though it is notnew, but it has never beenused in Osun and hereyou are distributingkerosine.

Permit me to ask?How many days wouldthat meagre quantity lastan average Osun family?

And are they entitled tocome for more since theyhave been foolish enoughto surrender their voters’cards?

As I round off thisletter, I call on all worthyOsun indigenes andresidents, who know theironions, to vote wisely andvote out anybody whowants to govern them byall known and unkowndubious means.

‘One good turndeserves another’ and thepresent APCadministration hasmanaged Osun well andit deserves a secondterm.

Also, for what he hasdone, only posterity wouldjudge him.

Osun A Dara O!• O K A N L AW O N

OMOBOLANLE, Iree,State of Osun.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 20146 FEATURE

Osun PDP Trading In Electoral CriminalityOLUSESI ISAAC writes that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s trades in electoral

bribery, electoral nepotism, and electoral misappropriation in the manic desperation for the2014 governorship poll in the State of Osun is paradigmatic of the party as a poorlyfunctioning one in endless proportion.

“Affix your recent passportphoto on the form; and supplyyour names, vin number, dateof registration, batch number,serial number as you havethem on your voter’s card; andthen, you are automaticallyhanded a fifteen thousandnaira (N15,000) from OmoiluFoundation, the precursor ofthe form on which you alsofill your other personal data”–Authoritative

THERE are numerousunresolved problems ofthe Peoples Democratic

Party(PDP) in the State ofOsun. The party’s electoralfraud symbolizes theunwholesomeness of the partyin incidence and magnitude.The Omoilu Foundation is theupsurge of the PDP’s electoralcriminality, alarming andastronomically dangerous tothe ethical hygiene of thegubernatorial election comeAugust, and other polls in thestate.

The form has been widelycirculated free to the studentsof the tertiary institutions and afew vulnerable civil servants inthe state, by the Foundation.Take a more than cursory lookat the form and on lines 10 and11, before the MEMBERSHIPID CARD, you willeffortlessly point up the PDP’sdirect collaboration andconspiracy in criminality, withimpurity.

The Independent ElectoralCommission (INEC), StateSecurity Services (SSS), thePolice and other relevantsecurity agents should watchout for the address of OmoiluFoundation and phonenumbers of its functionaries onthe form. The Osun PDPultimate objective is to printcounterfeit voters’ cards thatwill only canonize the party’selectoral decadence, withlavatorial rottenness.

In Osun electoral history, itis the conservative party, thePDP that permits electoralrecklessness and allowsnormative chaos that erodessane electoral values. In the2007 elections in the state,particularly the governorshippoll, the PDP inflated electoralirregularities by such behaviorsas electoral bribery, usingrewards that perverted thegovernorship election;electoral nepotism thatallotted victory at the polls byreasons of ascriptiverelationships; and electoralmisappropriation that illegallyappropriated ballot papers forillicit electoral reasons.

The trio of electoral bribery,electoral nepotism and electoralmisappropriation areparadigmatic of the PDP’selectoral corruption, that alsosymbolizes the party as apoorly functioning political

party, the characteristic thatpractically undermined thesocio-economic and politicalgrowth and development ofOsun, all the years of PDP inthe Oke-Fia government house,Osogbo, the state capital.

And in the manic desperation

for the 2014 gubernatorial pollin the state, the PDP, deployingseveral fronts includingOmoilu Foundation hasstarted trading in money-change-hands, trading invoters’ cards, trading in ballotpapers, trading in special

favours, trading in coercion,trading in intimidation, tradingin votes inflation, trading inresult fabrication, and tradingin diverse interferences withthe freedom of election to foistself on the Osun electorate,with the attributive intent to kill

some and maiming others inthe name of election.

Of course yes, such illicittrades are embedded in the PDPethos, practices, conducts,beliefs, sayings, culture,idiosyncrasies, and heritage, justas the party’s chieftains’ tradingin the misuse of electoralresources have always led to alitany of sordid electoralpractices that reduced, forinstance the 2007 governorshipelection in Osun to a fraudriddled farce, with votes turnedup in areas where votes were notcast and the losers, the PDPended up as winner in theelection, the scenario thatdestabilized the state; andtarnished the image of INEC.

And the farce made possiblepersonal enrichment,ostentatious living, squanderingof riches, praise-singing, andoverwhelming depredation of aseries of electoral corruption,abuses and unaccountablegovernmental activities as thePDP lasted in the governance ofOsun. As consequence, thequality of state goods andservices available to the publicbecame too poor while Osun wasrobbed of valuable resourcesthat could have been used fordevelopment. In the main, thevery process of socio-economicand political development of thestate was stultified.

In government, the PDP seeOsun as a source of wealth andinfluence whose treasury isassumed inexhaustible that mustbe pilfered, exploited by allmeans, without regards for dueprocess and the rule of law. It isthis mind-set that intenselydominates the instincts andstruggles by the Osun PDP tocapture Osun again this year,and exploit its commonwealth,not for the good of all, but forpersonal gains, with stagnatedpublic economy, unstablepolitical system, and high-pitchpoverty, diseases and hunger,inflicted on the electorate asconsequences.

The use of INEC voter’s cardreaders to detect probablediscrepancies on the voters’cards becomes exigent andexpedient in face of the PDPOmoiluFoundation form andsuch other forms in circulation inOsun today, meant to generatefake voters’ cards, the INECvoter’s card exact replica,enthroning the reign of PDP’sunvarnished dishonesty andcriminality to deface and corrodeelectoral mores and sabotage theelectoral free-will and electoralpreferences, expressive in thevotes cast. Like Nigeria’sTransition Monitoring Group(TMG) observed Nigeria’s pollsand concluded. “It is doubtfulwhether the elections can in anyway be considered to bereflective of the will of thepeople”.

The PDP is the causal factor.

•Olusesi is Assistant Director,Directorate of Publicity,Research and Strategy, AllProgressive Congress, State ofOsun.

“And in the manic desperation for the 2014 gubernatorial poll inthe state, the PDP, deploying several fronts including Omoilu Foun-dation has started trading in money-change-hands, trading in voters’cards, trading in ballot papers, trading in special favours, trading incoercion, trading in intimidation, trading in votes inflation, tradingin result fabrication, and trading in diverse interferences with thefreedom of election to foist self on the Osun electorate, with the attribu-tive intent to kill some and mainin others in the name of election.”

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 2014 7PHOTOTALKFlag-off Of All Progressives Congress (APC) 2014 Governorship Campaign With AMega Rally At Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State Of Osun, Last Tuesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI And SHOLA ADERINTO.

•(L-R) The deputy governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; the Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola and Senator Jide Omoworare in the palace of the Ooni of Ife before proceeding to the mega rally at Government Technical College, Ilode, Ile-Ife, last Tuesday.

•Governor Aregbesola (on an open bus), acknowledging cheers from his supporters after paying homage to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, during the flag-off ofcampaign for his re-election into office at Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, last Tuesday.

8 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 2014PHOTOTALK

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (on a bus), acknowledging cheers from his numerous supporters during the official flag-off campaign for his re-election into office, at GovernmentTechnical College, Ilode, Ile-Ife, last Tuesday.

Flag-off Of All Progressives Congress (APC) 2014 Governorship Campaign With AMega Rally At Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State Of Osun, Last Tuesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI And SHOLA ADERINTO.

•A cross section of traditional chiefs in Ile-Ife during the visit of Governor Aregbesola to the Ooni Okunade Sijuwade last Tuesday.

•Ecstatic supporters of Aregbesola in Ile-Ife.

9OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 2014 PHOTOTALK

•A cross section of Ile-Ife indigenes at the campaign.

Flag-off Of All Progressives Congress (APC) 2014 Governorship Campaign With AMega Rally At Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State Of Osun, Last Tuesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI And SHOLA ADERINTO.

•

•A sea of heads of a cross section of Aregbesola’s supporters and admirers at the Ile-Ife APC mega-rally last Tuesday.

10 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 2014PHOTOTALK

•

•Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left), dancing with his supporters during the official flag-off of his re-election campaign for second term in office, at GovernmentTechnical College, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, last Tuesday.

Flag-off Of All Progressives Congress (APC) 2014 Governorship Campaign WithA Mega Rally At Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State Of Osun, LastTuesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI And SHOLA

ADERINTO.

•

•Some of the Aregbesola supporters on the tree struggling to catch a glimpse of their political idol during the Ile-Ife mega-rally.

11 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 2014

Media Recruit Current Opening Job CategoriesEditorial Input Head

Responsibilities

Intake editor is responsible for providing content.Required to prepare operating budgets and collaborate with top management. Will approve and give go-ahead for story ideas they have.Will decide movement of DSNG vans across the country.Will have overall responsibility for forward planning. In conjunction with the Home News Desk, should have a compiled day plan reflecting theNigerian stories being covered from across the country for when he comes for the morningmeeting.In conjunction with the Foreign News Desk, should have a list of major non-Nigerian storiesbeing offered by our foreign correspondents and the TV news agencies;Will provide editorial insight on all stories.Will be responsible for deciding breaking news and its importance.In case of breaking news situations, will immediately inform appropriate units.Will be accountable for any miss and error, editorially.Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Requirements

Minimum of 5 year’s experience as an Editorial Input Head in a media house.Interested and qualified? http://www.themediarecruit.com/job—————————————————————————————————————

Content Acquisition/Programme Head

RESPONSIBILITIES

Creating the strategic short and long term catalog programming plan to drive viewing andelevate profile of the entire library;Identifying appropriate films to acquire and participating in all aspects of negotiation(financial analysis and forecasting and contract drafting) as well as long-term partnermanagement;Communicating strategy to internal and external stakeholders on on-going and project-by-project basis;Tracking library performance and key industry trends and shifts to assess potentialimplications on new and existing deals and make changes accordingly;Tracking competing offerings and business models and stay up-to-date on importantindustry, cultural and social events to better program the service;Liaising with the marketing and PR teams on opportunities to promote catalog programmingthrough social media and other outletsWorking with internal teams on on-going improvements to catalog merchandisingQualifications and RequirementsCandidate must have a good university degree related fields.Candidate must have 3-5 years working experience.A Masters’ Degree is added advantage Interested and qualified? http://www.themediarecruit.com/job—————————————————————————————————————News Editor

ResponsibilitiesNews Editor is responsible for initiating, organising coverage and gathering all news storiesoccurring within the borders of Nigeria.He is responsible for liaising with our bureaux, and also with state correspondents andstringers across the country.News Editor is expected to set the news agenda for the coverage of domestic news storiesand features. In conjunction with the Head of Input, he will assign stories to, and brief beforehandreporters. News Editor is also responsible for overseeing the content and rundowns of the newsbulletins, and lead the way in “breaking” news stories for domestic consumption.Other duties as assignedQualifications and Requirements

Candidate must have a good university degree in Communication Arts / Journalism / EnglishArts. She must have experience in editing stories and news and must be a prolific writer. A Masters’ Degree is added advantageInterested and qualified? http://www.themediarecruit.com/job—————————————————————————————————

Reporter

RESPONSIBILITIES:

A general news reporter is one who can cover any event, from hard news to features, on anygiven day.Before leaving the station, the reporter will research the story, set up interviews, and discussthe plan with the News Editor . At this point the crew will set out to get all the elements forthe story. At some time in the field the reporter will want to do a stand-up, which adds apersonal element to the story and gets the reporter some on-camera time.Upon returning to the station, the reporter will then view and log the video, noting thesound bites, b-roll and natural sound. The reporter will then write the script, and have thescript approved by a manager or senior producer. The reporter will then return to the editbooth to record a voice track and put the story together. When the package is complete, thereporter may be asked to “front” the story via a live shot or set piece. In this case thereporter will take a toss or “throw” from an anchor and handle the intro and outro of thestory.

Qualifications and Requirements

A degree in a relevant fieldAt least 3-5 years of experienceAbility to work in a real-time news environmentProven track record of strong writing, storytelling and live reporting skillsVery strong speech skills with the ability to ad-lib effortlessly in various types of situation.Strong understanding and demonstration of editorial judgment and journalistic ethics,including a current knowledge of the lawsInterested and qualified?http://www.themediarecruit.com/job—————————————————————————————————————

Producer

Responsibilities:

A news producer is one of the most integral members of any news-production team. Takes all the elements of a newscast (packages, video, graphics, etc.) and compiles theminto a cohesive show.

Write the script for the news anchor(s) to read. Organize the show, to ensure that there is good “flow” Gather leads for possible stories. Monitor the wire agencies/network feeds for potential stories. Ensure videos are edited for voice-overs. Keep in touch with reporters and crew in the field in order to monitor how stories aredeveloping Write in-show and pre-show teases Co-ordinate live shots Other duties as assigned

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A News Producer with T.V knowledge. The person should have minimum of OND and preferably have studied masscommunication or its affiliates. The person must be a good script writer, resourceful and creative. The person must be living in Lagos and can come from any part of the country. The salary is negotiable based on experience and ability to meet set targets. It’s prevalent with industry standards. Must have good communication skills. Must have had a hands on experience Must look good and speak well with good dress sense.Interested and qualified? http://www.themediarecruit.com/job—————————————————————————————————————

Assistant Producer

Responsibilities

Assist a Producer in putting the newscast together.Duties may include writing, editing, organising scripts, running the teleprompter, or helpingthe Planning Editor by making check calls.May often be called upon to make simple editorial decisions when editing video by choosingthe shots that match the copy.Generally be required to re-write wire copy.May also be responsible for cueing up tapes; making sure scripts are in order, andmonitoring the wires and feeds during the news bulletin.To support the Producer(s) in all aspects of making programmes for the channel – from thedevelopment and commissioning stages through to studio and location filming and post-productionTo provide back-up to the Producer(s) and, where required, assist in every aspect of contentproduction, assuming any role delegated by the Producer(s)To undertake Programme research and coordinate production teamsTo be able to deputise for Producer(s) where necessary, including liaising with crew onlocation who may be freelance producer/directors, production outfits etc.Other duties as assigned

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LIBRARIAN

RESPONSIBILITIES

Finding and checking information, using sources such as the internet; Discussing news/programme ideas and research needs with producers; Searching media libraries and archives for music, photographs and film footage; Writing briefs for presenters, or briefing scriptwriters; Checking copyright and arranging permission to use archive material; Meeting with producers, presenters and writers to discuss the research needs of aprogramme; Generating and developing news leads; Conveying findings accurately to others in report form and ‘briefs’. Other duties as assigned

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Interested and qualified? http://www.themediarecruit.com/job—————————————————————————————————————Web Online Researcher

Responsibilities

An online producer oversees the making of content for websites and other online properties.Online producers are sometimes called “web producers.”The online producer’s responsibility is to create, edit and arrange the text, video, audio,images and other materials that may be included on a website.Online producers define and maintain the character of a website, as opposed to running itfrom a technical stand.The role is distinct from that of web designer, developer or webmaster. However, technicaland design knowledge is imperative for a web producer to be effective at his/her job.Online producers also work with web teams to conceive, design and launch new webproducts such as blogs, community forums and user profiles.Other duties as assigned. Qualifications and Requirements:

Minimum of BSc/HND in Computer Science or relevant fieldProven Web Design experience with a creative flair. (Examples of Work will be required)Minimum 1-3 years work experienceMust be computer literate.Good communication and writing skill

Interested and qualified? http://www.themediarecruit.com/job

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 201412 VOX-POP

Osun People Bear Their Mind As Aregbesola KickStarts Campaign With Mega Rally In Ile-Ife

It is not news again that the governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is thedarling of the people of the state. Nothing better could attest to this fact than by the largenumber of his supporters and admirers who thronged the expanse compound of GovernmentTechnical College, Ilode, Ile-Ife for the flag-off of the mega rally for his second term. OSUNDEFENDERman EZEDIUNO FRANCIS was there to x-ray the views, hopes and opinions ofthe people for their beloved governor and candidate in the upcoming August 9th, 2014gubernatorial election in the state.

ALHAJI ISSA AZEEZADESIJI (ExecutiveSecretary Ilesa-West )

First and foremost, wewant to thank the AlmightyGod for realizing that Ogbeniactually worth to begovernor of the State of Osunfor the second time.

My own assessment is thatI am overwhelmed with joyon the kick-off of thiscampaign and by the numberof people who have troopedout.

Surprisingly, they havebeen here as early as 6:00am and still waiting for theOgbeni even till now, itshows that they appreciatethe good works and thetransformation that hisadministration has brought tothis state.

To say the least, I am notsurprised at the large turnoutof the crowd, who came outto witness this campaign. Itis a testimony of the goodworks that he has done forthe people of Osun in the lastthree and a half years.

The idea of the governorkick-starting his campaign inIle-Ife is a tradition becausein 2007, he started hiselectioneering campaign inthe ancient town. It isbecause Ile-Ife is the cradleof the Yoruba race.

Our expectation is thatOgbeni should alwayscontinue with his goodworks and should prove tothe opposition that he meansbusiness. In short, we wanthim back as the governor forthe next four years.

I strongly advise theelectorate to holdtenaciously to their voters’cards and refuse to sell itbecause it is their electoral

weapon. They should notexchange it for money, nomatter the circumstances,because it cannot be equatedto any amount of money.

HONOURABLEKOLAWOLE SAMSON(Youth Leader)

There is no doubt thatOgbeni Rauf Aregbesola has

performed better in this threeand a half years. Evenoutside Osun, there aretestimonies that he hasworked well for the peopleof Osun and the people arestrongly behind him.

He is well-known and awise leader and that is whythe people of Osun have

decided to support him for asecond term.

He has made his promisesand fulfilled them in the lastthree and a half years and hewould keep his promises inthe next four years.

OLADIRAN AJIBOLAI am extremely happy for

Ogbeni kicking off hissecond term campaign fromthe ancient city of Ile-Ife. Iam an indigene of Ile-Ife andI am absolutely sure thatOmisore and the PDP willnot have any vote comeAugust 9.

For coming to Ile-Ife, wehave adopted RaufAregbesola as an Ifeindigene from our heart.

We are not in support of thePDP at all and its candidate.All Ife indigenes andresidents are in support ofAregbesola and I want toadvise the electorate to bemindful and not to fomenttrouble and always guardtheir votes.Continued on page 13

•Alhaji MURAINA OLAOYE Chief ADEGBOYE ONIGBINDE

•Elder BISI OLA

13 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 2014VOX-POP

Osun People Bear Their Mind As Aregbesola KickStarts Campaign With Mega Rally In Ile-Ife

TEMILADE KAZEEM (IlareWard 3)

Something good has come to thecity of Ile-Ife and we are happyabout it.

In all honesty, I am telling youtoday that by the grace of God,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will comeback as governor of the State ofOsun for a second term.

PDP and any other politicalparties should just pack their thingsand leave Osun for us.

In fact, they should go back toAbuja.

Omisore should not thinkbecause he is an Ife indigene thathe can win our votes. Our vote isfor our true governor and that isOgbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

ALHAJI MURAINA OLAOYEOYEOLA (Interim Deputy APCChairman, Ife Zone)

I am happy for today because itis approved by God and inaccordance with the wishes of thepeople. I will define it as acelebration of success in a grandway.

Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesolahas indeed shown himself to be a

colossus through all he has doneand people will continue to supporthim because of all what he has done.

By the presence of a massivecrowd here for this mega campaignrally, it’s a testimony that OgbeniRauf Aregbesola is our nextgovernor come Saturday 9th ofAugust, 2014.

There are many programmes inplace, which qualify him to begovernor. He has given us O’Meal,O’School, good roads, Opon Imoand a host of other laudableprogrammes, which are all people-friendly.

He is not a proud person and he

is into governance because of themasses of the people. He is apeople-oriented governor.

You can see that from hisphysique. When he wascampaigning in 2007, he had blackbeard and now, he has grey beardall over. That shows that he eats,drinks and sleeps Osun.

CHIEF ADEGBOYEONIGBINDE (Modakeke HighChief)

As you can see, the turnout ofpeople is like a sea of heads. Surely,Rauf Aregbesola is very popularamong the people of the state.

I sincerely dind’t think thepresence of anybody here is as aresult of a joke. Our presence hereis because we appreciate him andwhat he is doing in Osun.

Some leaders among the PDPhave come and testified that he is aperforming governor, even betterthan some of the governors in theirown party.

Not only that, the governor haswon a series of awards from withinand outside the country, all showingthat he is widely acceptable to all.

As per the coming election, Idon’t think there is need to talkmuch because there is a differencebetween the administration ofOgbeni Rauf Aregbesola and hispredecessors in terms ofeducation, infrastructure, schoolfeeding, roads and him getting asecond term as governor wouldafford him the opportunity of evendoing more.

We don’t only owe Aregbesola asecond term, but we owe ourselvesbecause his good works mustcontinue.

We don’t want to put the vehicleof our progress and advancementin a reverse gear and I believe thatthe only man who can do that is theOgbeni.

ELDER BISI OLA (APC ElderModakeke)

Without any doubt, RaufAregbesola is our next governorafter the August 9th election.

We have seen physically what hehas been doing. Rather than sharingand distributing money, he engagedin O’Meal, O’School, andemployment of 40,000 OYEScadets and roads.

He is strictly following thefootsteps of Chiefs ObafemiAwolowo and Bola Ige.

We are praying that by the graceof God, he will win as governor andeven the opposition cannot contestthat.

Continued from page 12

•Mr OLADUNNI AJIBOLA •Mrs. TEMILADE KAZEEM

•Alhaji AZEEZ ADESIJI•Mr KOLAWOLE SAMSON

14 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 2014

Osun 2014: Aregbesola TakesFight To Omisore’s DoorstepONE of the strategies to maintain political

dominance is to weaken your oppositionand ostracize it in every way. In the case

of tough opponent, the strategy is to alwaysappear happy, focused, resolute and untouchedby banters and criticism and portray theopponent as a ranting dog and a feeble being. Ittakes a courageous and dedicated opposition towrestle power from the incumbent, and it isonly a fool incumbent that will take theopposition for granted, no matter how small orweak it might appear. What an incumbent needsis to totally crush the enemy. Politically, anyparty that does not have representative ingovernment naturally considers itself as anopposition, even if it just left the officeyesterday.

The Alliance for Democracy (AD) was anopposition party in the April 14, 2007governorship election in Osun State as then was.The AC candidate was Mr Rauf Aregbesola, aformer Commissioner for Works andInfrastructure in Lagos State. AC, which latermetamorphosed to the Action Congress ofNigeria (ACN), underwent what was meant tobe an opposition, especially, in the hands of aparty that rigorously knows how to wield powerand use it with impunity. Few days to thegovernorship election, Aregbesola was declaredpersona non grata in the state. Some of the ACNleaders were sent into exile. The April 14, 2007was a black day in the state. Many dieddefending their votes. Many were maimed, whilemany were raped in the cause of voting forAregbesola, who they perceived then as thesymbol of change. Aregbesola eventually wonthe election but he was not declared the winnerironically. It took three and a half years of legalfireworks to reclaim his victory. Aregbesola isnow the incumbent, while the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP), which wielded thepower then is now an opposition. Power istransient and change is permanent.

Aregbesola, who many people consider nowas a symbol of good governance and hope forbetter Nigeria, is seeking re-election in the August09 governorship election. Senator Iyiola Omisoreis the PDP candidate for the same election. Thetwo elephants that contested the 2007governorship election are on the field again.Though, Omisore did not contest the 2007election, he played strategic roles in awardingunderserved victory to former GovernorOlagunsoye Oyinlola. The political skirmish wasactually between Oyinlola, a well-connectedretired Army General, the PDP, Alhaji TajudeenOladipo, PDP National Vice-Chairman, South-West, all the 31 local government councilchairmen, all the National Assembly membersfrom Osun, all the councilors, all the membersof the PDP Board of Trustees from Osun, allthe PDP governors in the South-West, to mentionbut a few and Aregbesola. Each and every one ofthem engaged in one activity or the other,including spiritual, to retain Oyinlola at all cost,but Aregbesola defeated them.

Ile-Ife is believed to be the stronghold ofOmisore because Omisore hails from there.According to political analysts, Omisore mightget chunk of Ile-Ife votes based on indigenoussympathy. Aregbesola is an Ijesa man. He sharesthe same senatorial district with Omisore. Thetwo politicians are strategists; schemers andmasterly skilled in political calculations. But oneis known for terror, thuggery and politicalbrigandage, which has raised the fear ofreoccurrence of what the AC went through inthe 2007 governorship election.

Eventfully, Aregbesola chose to take the battlefor his re-election to Omisore’s doorstep. Hestarted his campaign rally in Ile-Ife, the acclaimedOmisore’s stronghold. Aregbesola was daringand courageous, as many people had remarked.But the political gimmick is to shake Omisore’sstronghold to its foundation. Aregbesola hadexecuted numerous developmental projects inIle-Ife, thus, he has the morality and conscienceto face Ife people and demand for another fouryears. If he had not performed well in the ancientcity, Aregbesola would not have summoned thatcourage to stand before the thousands of theIfes, who cut across all the political parties inNigeria.

Aregbesola was welcomed by a mammothcrowd at the Ife mega-rally held at the TechnicalCollege, Ilode, Ile-Ife. The horde of people thatwelcomed Aregbesola at the rally did not depict

the common saying that Omisore has the grip ofIle-Ife. One would have expected a sparsegathering at the rally, because the ancient townproduces a governorship candidate in the personof Omisore. The irony was however the case atthe rally. As early as 11:30am, the road leadingto the Government Technical College, venue ofthe rally, had been hit by heavy traffic. The rallyheld Ile-Ife to a standstill. Commercial activitieswere partially paralyzed, as shop owners onthe roads closed their shops to attend the rally.It was a lucky day for traders of schachete water,soft drinks and kolanuts sellers, food vendorsand others, as they sold beyond expectationsdue to the influx of people into the city.

Many abandoned their vehicles on the roadas a result of the traffic jam and walked on thestreet to get themselves to the venue. Series ofbanners, uniforms, placards were displayed bythe APC/Aregbesola’s supporters. The sea ofheads at the venue could easily scare away light-minded persons. Chanting different politicalsongs, the APC supporters were undaunted, asthey forced their ways through the securityagents to catch a glimpse of the governor.

A helicopter was roving in the sky for securitysurveillance, though no right-thinking hoodlumwould dare attempt to cause mayhem in thatvicinity. The fear had been that since Omisore isfrom Ile-Ife, his supporters might attack the APCmembers before and during the rally. It would berecalled that a pastor, Prophet Joseph Akinola,his son, Wale, Tope Ologbenla, TaofeeqKolawole and Opeyemi Omisakin, were killedin the early hour of the 2011 National Assemblyelection in Ile-Ife. Omisore’s loyalist, MrAdedotun Adebowale, known as Meree wasaccused of being the mastermind of the killingand he was charged to court for murder. Severalcriminal activities had been carried out againstmembers of the APC in Ile-Ife and its environsby the Peoples Democratic Party, a developmentthat portrayed Ile-Ife and as a threat zone to theAPC. But that did not deter Aregbesola fromtesting his popularity in the ancient city, as heflagged off his campaign therein.

Aregbesola’s entry into Ile-Ife was triumphal.It was very hectic for Aregbesola’s convoy topass through to the Ooni’s palace. The governorhad stopped to pay homage to the Ooni of Ife,Oba Okunade Sijuwade. Aregbesola’s supportersbombarded the palace, a development thatgrounded the area. The arrival of the governor,however, changed the disposition of the crowd.The advent of Aregbesola at the event thrilledthe crowd. The crowd even multiplied upon thearrival of Aregbesola. The crowd was electrifyingand intimidating. With smiles on his face,Aregbesola waved to the crowd with APC

symbol - broom in his hand.Honourable Folorunsho Bamisayemi, who is

the Chairman, Ile-Ife Federal ConstituencyCampaign Committee, declared the campaignopened at exactly 2:36pm. Bamisayemiexpressed his optimism that Aregbesola wouldwin the August 9 election, adding that hisachievements in the Ife Constituency wouldsecure victory for him. Engineer Sola Akinwumi,former Secretary to the State Government, underChief Bisi Akande’s administration, said thegovernorship election is all about Aregbesola.He commended the Ooni of Ife and the peopleof Ile-Ife for standing behind Aregbesola.

Elder Peter Babalola, who spoke at the eventsaid: “It is only a stupid politician that wouldattempt to buy people’s votes with kerosene.We are in Ile-Ife, and we know ourselves. Letthem come out and face us. Their style ofgovernment is do a little spot-patching andembezzle the rest of the state allocation. Howdo you explain a governorship candidate thatdoes not have manifestoes. I have been saying ittime without number that those that workedunder the PDP administration in the state weresenseless. I did not exclude myself. Let theirgovernorship candidate come out for a debatewith Aregbesola. I am sure he does not haveanything to offer. The fact is, Aregbesola willwin the August 9 election.”

An APC leader, Alhaji Fatai Oyedelepopularly known as Diekola urged Ile-Ife peopleto come out en-masse and vote for Aregbesola,maintaining that no one could scare them awayfrom voting. He said: “Policemen, soldiers andother security agents are human beings like you.Don’t let them scare you away from voting. Tellthat short man that his time is over. We havemachinery do deal with anybody that thinks heor she can frustrate the electorate. We, Yoruba,have the mechanism to deal with soldiers,policemen and anybody that want to frustrateus.” Alhaji Sule Alao, an APC chieftain from Edecanvassed for one man-one-vote. He warned thepeople against releasing their voters’ cards toanybody that requested for them through whathe called kangaroo empowerment. Alaopromised the youths that Aregbesola wouldcontinue to empower them and banishunemployment. He said: “Aregbesola hastransformed Osun. Look at the Nelson MandelaFreedom Park in Osogbo, it was a place wherepeople played pool. Now, it is a beauty to behold.Shamelessly, the useless opposition used theplace for declaration of their ambition. They areshameless.”

Professor Sola Adeyeye, while speaking atthe event, said: “Those that are opposingAregbesola in Ile-Ife contested with us in the2011 general elections and they lost. One wasqualified for a local government chairman,

another was qualified for a councilor and theother could not even win his ward. That showsthat they are rejected politicians. I am veryexcited with the crowd that welcomed this flag-off.”

Senator Babajide Omoworare said: “Mybrother in Ile-Ife is just chasing the shadow.Aregbesola is an installation of God. My brotherhas nothing to show for three and a half years asdeputy governor. He was chairman, SenateCommittee on Appropriation for eight years anda he has nothing to show for that too. In justthree and half years in office, Aregbesola hastransformed Osun. Lokore and Omi-Okun roadswere constructed by Aregbesola. I urged mypeople from Ile-Ife to continue supportingAregbesola and reject any politician who playswith their intelligence. Osun is no longer formiscreants like them.”

Honourable Rotimi Makinde in his ownaddress at the event said: “Is our brother notfrom Ile-Ife again? Where is he? Who are thepeople supporting our brother again? Ourbrother has absconded. the Ooni has spoken;the Ooni said we should vote for Aregbesola.Men and women should vote for Aregbesola.Let us be careful. We know them. They aremurderers. They use guns and cutlasses. But allthe youths they used to use for violent activitieshave been engaged in OYES, O’REAP and otherempowerment programmes. What they haveresorted to is to snatch ballot boxes and causeviolence. We should resist them. Aregbesola hasperformed well in Ile-Ife an in Osun generally.What else could our brother do? Does he wantto build road in the air? He wants to kill, butGod will guard us. We will not fight them, butwe will protect ourselves. Let us all vote forAregbesola on the election day.

Aregbesola had entered Osun politics throughOranmiyan organization in 2005. Oranmiyan isthe name of one of the sons of Oduduwa. Historyrecorded him as one of the youngest and oneimbued with restless, but valiant attributes. Heled and won several war campaigns even beforehis father’s death. He was a successful diplomatand Prince from Ile-Ife. He was remarkable forhis intelligence, bravery, industry and leadershipqualities. He was an exemplary nation builder inthe real sense of the word. The Ife ancestorswould like and always support Aregbesola forthe resuscitation of the Oranmiyan. “Oran MiYan” meaning “My Issues have been resolved”.Oro Gbogbo Wa Lo Ma Yan O. May all ourissues be resolved. Amen.

The Ile-Ife mega-rally has dispelled theinsinuation that Omisore has the grip of Ile-Ife.Like any part of the state, Aregbesoa’spopularity soared in Ile-Ife and the crowd thatgreeted the mega-rally was incredibly impressive.If the crowd alone vote for Aregbesola in Ile-Ife,his victory is certain in the August 9, 2014governorship election.

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

FEATURE

•Aregbesola’s supporters and admirers at Ife APC mega rally last Tuesday.

15 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, May 29, 2014 PHOTOTALK

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori (left) and other dignitaries, acknowledging cheers from the crowd, during the official flag-off of the Aregbesola re-election campaign in Ile-Ife last Tuesday.

•Aregbesola’s admirers and supporters in Ile-Ife on their way to the APC mega-rally.

Flag-off Of All Progressives Congress (APC) 2014 Governorship Campaign With AMega Rally At Government Technical College, Ile-Ife, State Of Osun, Last Tuesday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI And SHOLA ADERINTO.

TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2014

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

By FUNSHO BAMIDURO“Welfarism is anattempt ingovernance to bringhealth, wealth andhappiness to all”

THERE is thispervasive viewof politics in

this part of the world thatclaims that politics is all aboutinterest of individuals, orgroups and the best ways toachieve this self-interest,however it is true that goodgovernance is one that strivesto please all, notwithstandingreligious or social affiliation,while also maintaining socialorder and upholding societalvalues.

The above task looks sosimple on paper andespecially, when being debatedupon in the worlds of publicopinion and social evaluation,but as a student of politics, Iknow it just happens to be adaunting herculean task tobring about consensus andprovide general welfare for all.I believe it is obvious to themost-biased of political mindsthat the State of Osun, underthe welfaristic auspices ofOgbeni Rauf Aregbesola, hascarried out the best welfareoriented government since thegreat AWO in the 60s withmany positive changes andstrategy oriented visionaryprogrammes that, if duly-followed, will not only takeOsun to greater height, but putthe humble Ogbeni on thesame historical pedestal withthe likes of AWO and othergreat progressive minds. It isvital to note that the key to asound politics of welfarism issound strategic planning whichBaba Awolowo utilised withgreat grace and one which theSouth West will continue toenjoy.

However, it is onlycourageous and boldindividuals like our amiableOgbeni that can choose totranscend the petty “play safe”politics of Nigeria and insteaddecide to be a statesman, who

will do all in his power,according to the rule of law, toensure and secure the futureeven, at the risk of losing so-called political points gradedby biased opposition. But Iam sure the good people ofOsun know better. CHANGEis the accepted creed ofprogressives and a changeforward is what Osun mustembrace.

In the history of politicaldevelopment of nations, it isimportant to note that anynation or state that will beeconomically and sociallybuoyant has to go through aperiod of revolutionary uneasy

changes. One I can liken to aprocess involved in “Roadconstruction” where signssuch as “SLOW DOWN,CLOSED, and DIVERSION”are boldly inscribed to warnroad users of the changesgoing on. For road users, thisperiod often takes greatmeasure of patience, due totraffic, longer diversion routesor closed pathways, but whenthe road is done, everyone ishappy. Aregbesola’sadministration has parted wayswith the status quo in manyways, as he has takenseemingly impossible albeit

bold steps to redeem theimage of our dear stateand all he is asking for ispatience and anotherchance, as every steptaken culminates into apromise kept. There aremany so-called truths

being peddled by some biasedminds, but the real truth is that;although Ogbeni is not thereyet, but he is on the right trackand closest to the best welfareoriented governor we have hadin decades. It is real to pointout that asking for patiencefrom the good people of Osunis a big demand since pastadministrations have shownthat government is simply notto be trusted. Ogbeni RaufAregbesola is notdisconnected from this truthand pain of the people and thatis why he has been doingmany things at once, trying toconvince the good people ofOsun that he will deliver on allhis promises. To discerningand unbiased minds, he seemsto realise that to whom muchtrust is given, much servicesare also expected, hence hisdown-to-earth, open-doorpolicy, and charismatic publicdisplay approach backed upby strategic, welfare orientedgovernance.

Ogbeni asked for ourmandate before, secured it,was denied and eventuallyfought to claim it, and he hasshown that the State of Osuncan go places if strategic plansare followed; He has beenwidely-acclaimed and awardedon his numerous programmes.In fact, he has done well, andwe can only strive forward toachieve the much-neededchanges, which can only beachieved when we give himanother chance at the polls tofinish this unravellingwonderful political welfaristicstrategic masterpiece.

•This piece, first publishedin the Tuesday, February 25,2014 edition is repeated dueto popular demand.

-EditorOSUN 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.

Aregbesola: The Poli-tics Of Welfarism

•AREGBESOLA