VOL. 9. NO.115 NNNNN 505 05 05 05 0THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

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Front Page Comment

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•(L-R) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) in handshake with former Lagos State Governor and All ProgressivesCongress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during a courtesy visit to Tinubu in his office in Lagos State lastMonday.

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Osun Guber Election:

PDP Plans AttackOn Osun INEC Hqrs•Recruits 8-man Gang Of Thugs For Operation

INEC Bombs Owolade’s Petition By Filing 128-page Reply To His 98-page Petition

OsunAssemblyPasses 24Bills Into Law

AkinrunIdentifiesAttributes InAregbesola

We Need ToRescueNigeria Now - Tinubu

Weeks before theAugust 9th gubernato-rial elections which waswon by the pragmaticOgbeni RaufAregbesola of the APC,it was obvious we wereup against forces otherthan the people of Osunstate which naturallyshould be the determi-nant of

how the elections willswing. The Allprogressives Congress(APC) still smartingfrom its shocking defeatin the previous Ekitielections had literarilysworn it will lose Osunover its dead body. Themurderous villain fieldedby the Peoples Demo-cratic

The War Called The OsunElections; By Segun Tomori

Party (PDP), outrightlyunpopular with barely afew dozens of peopletrailing him at campaignshowever woretheconfidence of a Gover-nor-In-waiting. He they

didn’t care a hoot aboutthe people’s wish, allthat matters was the fullcompliment of theparaphernalia of Stateactivated by an

imperial Presidentthough utterly clueless,but desperate to addOsun to his conquest infurtherance of his still-born second term bid. Solo and behold, the diewas cast!I have notbeen emotionally at-tached to any electionsin Nigeria as I was withthe Osun elections,

maybe June 12, 1993Presidential electionspresumed to have beingwon by my President,M.K.O Abiola could bean exception.It wasn’t because I hadaffinity with anyone inOgbeni’s government orbecause I enjoyed anyform of patronage butbecause

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2 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014

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

•Holy Trinity Elementary School, classroom in Ilesa constructed under the administration of Governor RaufAregbesola, as captured by our cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, recently.

News

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

PDP Plans Attack On Osun INEC HqrsBy KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

THE State of Osun chapter of the Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) has concluded plans to burgle the stateheadquarters of the Independent National Electoral

Commission (INEC) should the current trend of not findinganything to back its petition against the election of theincumbent governor and candidate of the All ProgressivesCongress (APC) candidate, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

OSUN DEFENDERgathered from authoritativesources within the state PDPthat the plan to attack theINEC head office in thestate was hatched at anocturnal meeting held atthe residence of one of theparty chieftains in ObokunLocal Government CouncilArea of the state few daysago.

According to one of thesources, the meeting wascalled at the instance of oneof the chieftains, who wassaid to have been promisedthe Commissioner forFinance portfolio, if the PDPhad won the election.

At the meeting, those inattendance were asked to

come out bluntly on theirobservation so far on theongoing inspection ofvoting materials used forthe August 9, 2014gubernatorial election inthe state.

Once they were promisednon-reprisal for whatevercontribution they made atthe meeting, it then becamea no-hold-barred session,as all in attendanceexpressed their doubts onthe outcome of their partypetition at thegovernorship electionpetition tribunal.

In the reasoning by themajority, so far, none of theallegations raised in thetheir party petition has been

found to hold, as none of theelection materials inspectedso far has found the rulingparty (APC) and the INECculpable, as alleged by thePDP and its candidate, IyiolaOmisore, in their petition.

With the majorityexpressing their pessimismon the tribunal outcome,members were then calledupon to come up with theirsuggestions on how besttheir party could securevictory through the backdoor.

At the end of various

suggestions, the meetingagreed on two lines ofaction, which in theircalculation and support bythe presidency, should beenough to award victory tothe PDP at the end of theday.

The first of the planswould be to burgle the stateINEC office through theback of the buildingcomplex, and head straightfor the room where thecommission is believed to bekeeping sensitive electionmaterials used for the

August 9 gubernatorialelection in the state.

To this end, an eight-mangang of Osun-basedpolitical thugs was raisedunder the supervision of theduo of one Layi andSamson, who wouldcoordinate the entireoperation along with thoseto be brought in from Ekitiand Delta states.

Should the first plan fail,the meeting further came upwith another alternative,which would be tocompletely set the entire

building on fire through theuse of dynamite and otherexplosive devices with therooms housing the electionsensitive materials asprimary targets.

To facilitate easyexecution of the operation,an INEC-inscribed ToyotaHilux van with fakepolicemen with tags, arealready on stand-by for theassignment.

“The fake policemen andother security operativeswould soon be deployed tothe commission’s office inthe state capital to takecharge to prepare ground forthe final operation,” thesource stressed.

Group Charges Youths To ParticipateIn 2015 Elections

AS Nigerians approach the 2015 general elections, asocio-political group, Advocate for CollectiveTransformation (ACT), has called on youths in the

country to participate actively in politics for developmentof the country.

ACT said thedevelopment of the countryshould not be left for theaged alone, who were self-centered to the extent ofinstalling their own childrenin political offices.

The group specifically

called on youths in theSouth West geo- politicalzone to participate in the2015 general elections,urging them to showinterest in elective offices inthe coming elections.

National Coordinator of

ACT, Mr OluwatayoFashogbon, made the callduring the inauguration ofthe State of Osun chapterthe group in Osogbo, theState of Osun capital onMonday.

Fasogbon encouragedthe youths not to beintimidated by the presenceof aged politicians, whowere not ready to leave thestage in politics, stating thatthe future of the countryshould not be placed in the

hands of the vulnerablepoliticians.

“The present crop ofNigerian leaders are selfishindividuals, who are onlyafter their children,” hestated, noting that thecurrent occupants ofpolitical offices in thecountry are preparing theirchildren to take after them.

The group coordinatorurged the youths to take upthe challenges of leadershipand participate in all politicalactivities ahead of the nextyear’s election.

Lamenting the negligenceof youths in Nigeria politics,the South WestCoordinator of the ACT, MrKunle Adepoju, chargedNigerian youths to team upto challenge poorgovernance in the country.

The objective of the ACT,according to Adepoju, wasto advocate for theinclusion of youths in alllevels of governance.

Adepoju said it therefore,behoved on the youths toensure that the bestcandidates occupy politicaloffices through credibleelectoral process.

He however, called onNigerian leaders to startgiving the youths neededencouragement and trainingfor leadership positions.

Diekola Celebrates BirthdayAmidst ThanksgivingFor Election Success

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

THE peaceful atmosphere in which theSaturday, August 9, 2014 election wasconducted without vendetta, bloodshed

and rancour has been ascribed to the grace andlove of God for the people and the State of Osun.

The people of the statewere also urged to see theoutcome of the electionsas the will of God.

This remark was madeduring the thanksgivingprayer made to mark the58th birthday anniversaryof Prince Fatai DiekolaOyedele, an AllProgressive Congress(APC) stalwart in thestate.

In his sermon lacedwith words of exhortation,an Islamic cleric, AlhajiMoshood Oyedele,harped on the need forhumans to always givethanks to God Almightyfor every successrecorded in one’sendeavours.

The cleric described thecelebrant as a good manwith a large heart andprayed that histhanksgiving would beaccepted by God.

Prince TajudeenOyedele, a familymember of the celebrant,thanked God forpreserving all themembers of the familyfrom 2007, when OgbeniRauf Aregbesolacontested thegovernorship position ofthe state under the ActionCongress of Nigeria(ACN), when he wasgiven the mandate in 2010

and this year that he wonthe election for anotherterm in office.

He encouragedeverybody not to beagents of mischief, asaccounts would have tobe made to the Creatorone day.

At the birthdaythanksgiving prayerswere members of thefamily, which included;Princess Rafatu Alabi,Princes Rasaki Bolakaleand Busari Oyedele withthe father of thecelebrant, Prince GaniyuOyedele in attendance.

Osun Assembly Passes 24 Bills Into LawBy KAZEEM MOHAMMED

THE current parliament of the State of Osun has, sofar, passed a total of 24 bills into law within the lastthree years.

Deputy Leader of theHouse, Honourable AfolabiAtolagbe and Chairman,House Committee onInformation, HonourableAjibola Akinloye disclosedthis in Osogbo on Monday.

The duo said there are 15other bills under processingbefore the House, whilefour of them have beenproposed to go throughpublic hearing beforefurther consideration.

They noted that the billsthat have been passed werethose that have direct

developmental impacts onthe lives of the people of thestate.

Atolagbe said the first billpassed was a private memberbill, which was Osun StateAgency for the Control ofHIV/AIDS (OSACA) Bill,adding that the bill wassponsored by him and it hasassisted the stategovernment in the control ofthe disease.

According to him, due tothe law that had been passedon the disease, thegovernment has been able to

get assistance from foreigndonors for the control of thedisease, whilediscrimination against thosesuffering from the diseasehas gone donetremendously.

Akinloye, in his own,identified OmoluabiConservative Fund Bill,Security Trust Fund Bill,Protection AgainstDomestic Violence Bill andLegitimacy Bill, as well asAppropriation bills, as someof the bills that have beenpassed and impacted on thelives of the people.

He said virtually all thebills passed by the Househave been assented to bythe governor, except the onerecently passed in

September 2014.Noting that all the bills

pending have been pencileddown for passage beforethe expiration of the tenureof the current legislature, thelawmaker noted that thebills would further addvalue to the governance ofthe state.

Describing the presentAssembly as unusual,vibrant, committed andcomprising of worthyprofessionals, he said thishas assisted the arm ofgovernment in its activities.

He said the experienceand transparency of theleadership of the House hasalso assisted in itslegislative business.

•Recruits 8-man Gang Of Thugs For Operation

3 News OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014

•Ajia Estate road in Ijebu-Jesa, State of Osun, rehabilitated under the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola,as captured by our cameraman, GBENGA ADENIYI, recently.

INEC Bombs Owolade’s Petition By Filing 128-page Reply To His98-page Petition •Asks Tribunal To Strike Out 23 Of 46 Paragraphs Of His Petition

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

THE Independent National ElectoralCommision(INEC) has filed a 128-page replyto the petition filed by Barrister Niyi

Owolade, candidate of Accord Party, who polled 377votes at the August 9, 2014 governorship electionin the State of Osun.

In the reply dated 19thday of September, 2014and signed by ChiefAdegboyega Awomoolo(SAN); A.B Mahmoud(SAN), OON; Dr. OnyechiIkpeazu (SAN), OON,Hassan M. Liman (SAN);Ahmed Raji (SAN) and 17other lawyers, the INEC isasking the court to strikeout paragraphs 17, 19, 22,23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29,

30,33,34,36,37,40,41,42(I)42(II) 42(vii) (2)(3)(4)(5),42(ix),43,44 and46 of the petition, on theground that they aregeneric, vague andimprecise.

The paragraphs soughtto be struck out by INECare 28 out of the 46paragraphs’ petition of thepetitioner.

If the INEC’s prayer is

granted, the implication isthat there will be nothingleft for the petitioner toprove at the hearing of thepetition.

Apart from thepreliminary issue raised inits reply, INEC contendedthat Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, sued as the 1strespondent, was validlyelected and returned on the9th August, 2014 in OsunState gubernatorialelection.

The electoral bodyfurther contended that theelection substantiallycomplied with theElectoral Act, as well asthe INEC Manual for

Election Officials 2014.According to INEC,

there were no irregularitiesor acts of non-compliance, whichsubstantially affected theelection in the 30 localgovernment council areasthat comprise Osun State.

On the allegation thatO’YES cadets were usedas INEC Ad-hoc staff,INEC in its reply statedthat in line with its regularpractice and policy, thethird respondent usedmembers of the NYSC asPresiding Officers andAssistant PresidingOfficers at the election.Supervisory Presiding

Officers and othersensitive positions werefilled with staff of federaltertiary Institutions, aswell as federalestablishments.

The third respondentalso invited NationalCommissioners of INEC,Resident ElectoralCommissioners from otherstates, SupervisingDirectors from INECOffices nationwide and somany other staff withinthe state to ensure that theelection was duly-conducted.

Ad-hoc staff wereinvited by INEC withoutany interference from thegovernor or his party, APCor other interest groupsand there were noirregularities or non-compliance attributed tothem, which substantiallyaffected the result of theelection.

To cap it all, INECmaintained in its reply,contrary to the lies of the

petitioner, that the ad-hocstaffers engaged for theelection swore to the Oathof Neutrality in compliancewith Section 28 of theElectoral Act.

Members of INEC didnot engage in “post-electionswearing of oaths” and theagents of the 3rdRespondents were neutraland objective in thedischarge of their electionduties, as they duly-executed the requisiteforms and depositions.

In support of the replyto the petition, INEC front-loaded 31 witnessstatements on oath,majority of whom were theElectoral Officers of all thelocal government councilareas in the State of Osun;all testifying to the fact thatthe election was free, fair,credible and in substantialcompliance with theElectoral Act.

They urge the tribunal todismiss the petition forlacking in merit and awaste of time of the court.

APC Aspirant Gives N2.5m Scholarships To PupilsBy KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

AN aspirant for the State of Osun House ofAssembly, on the platform of AllProgressives Congress (APC) in

Egbedore Local Government Council Area,Abidemi Faboye, popularly known as ABIFABon Saturday presented scholarship letters to 60secondary school pupils.

The scholarship worthN2.5 million waspresented to thebeneficiaries during hisformal declaration tocontest Egbedore StateConstituency seat, held atBaptist Day School,Iragberi.

The pupils, accordingto Abidemi, would beprovided free registrationof National ExaminationCouncil with 16 weeks’Summer Class in Lagos,which includes feedingand accommodation.

The scholarshipcommittee selected fivesecondary school pupilsper ward including thosewho had failed the O’Level Examination in thepast and wish to rewrite

the examinations to furthertheir studies in higherinstitutions.

Speaking during thepresentation, Abidemi saidthe scholarship hascommenced since 2013with only 10 pupils andanother 10 pupils in 2014,who all passed their examswith minimum of six-eightcredits.

He said he decided toexpand the scheme toprovide the opportunity formore pupils across the 10wards in the council area.

According to him: “ Thebest favour you can do fora man in life is to give himeducation, especially at thefoundation level, which westrongly believe that ourintervention will produce

more lawyers, medicaldoctors, engineers whowill make our communityproud.

“This gesture is not byaccident, it is a result ofour consciousness aboutthe philosophy of ourparty, to make life moreabundant for the peopleand provide education forall.

“This philosophy isobvious in the six-pointintegral action plans ofGovernor RaufAregbesola with hisu n p r e c e d e n t e dcommitment in providingsound and quality freeeducation in the state.This is also our vision”.

Chairman of theoccasion, Chief M.DOguntimehin, ChairmanKoboko Group ofCompanies, describedAbidemi as a honest andreliable person, who couldbe trusted with leadershippositions.

He urged the people ofEgbedore localGovernment Council Area

to support the ambition ofAbidemi and assuredthem that his emergencewould lead to massiveinfrastructural andeconomic development ofthe area.

Abidemi also presentedhelmets to commercialmotorcyclists and clothsto the aged people in thecouncil area.

Two Suspects ArraignedFor Stealing

TWO suspects, Akinlolu Akingbade andFolakemi Mankinde, have appeared beforean Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for

allegedly conspiring to commit felony to witstealing.

By MARYAM AFOLABI

The charge sheet readin court that the accusedpersons in company ofothers at large on 17th ofSeptember 2014 at Oke-Baale Osogbo stole thesum of N80,000 belongingto one Akinlolu Akinlola.

It further stated thatthe offence committedwas contrary to andpunishable underSections 516 and 309 ofthe Criminal Code CapVolume 2 laws of OsunState of Nigeria 2003.

However, the twoaccused persons pleadednot guilty to the three-count charges levelledagainst them.

Meanwhile, defence

counsel for the twoaccused persons, NnenaUgwu, pleaded for the bailof the two in the mostliberal terms.

While announcing hisappearance, theprosecutor, InspectorSolomon Oladele, did notoppose to the bail of thetwo accused persons butstressed that there shouldbe provision for sureties.

The presidingmagistrate, M.A Lasisi,then granted the bail to theaccused persons in thesum of N50,000 with onesurety each, whileadjourning the case tillNovember 10, 2014 forfurther hearing.

Man In Court OverDestruction Of Property

By REBECCA ADENIRAN

POLICE in the State of Osun has arraignedone Ganiyu Abolubode before an OsogboMagistrate’s Court for allegedly destroying

two shops worth N200,000.According to the

charge sheet, the accusedon September 9, 2014destroyed two shopsworth N200,0000 atFiwasaye area of Osogbobelonging to one EngineerAdetunji Ajulo.

It stated further thatthe offence is contraryand punishable undersection 451 of thecriminal code.

The defence counselfor Mrs D.Y Dadapleaded for the bail of theaccused in the most

liberal terms.However, the

prosecutor, InspectorOladele Solomon, did notopose the bail but urgedthe court to ensure that thesureties were available.

The presidingmagistrate, M.A. Lasisi,granted the accusedperson bail in the sum of N100,000, with two sureties before adjourningthe case to November 17,2014.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 20144 News

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

•A scene of an auto-accident along a street in Osogbo, State of Osun, last Thursday. Photo: SEGUN ADEJUMO.

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

Ebola: Parents Commend Osun Govt Over Schools’ Resumption

PARENTS in the State of Osun haveapplauded the state government for itsprompt action over the issue of school

resumption in the state, describing it as bestmeasure for stakeholders’ welfare.

Some parents, whospoke with OSUNDEFENDER during the

week, described the stategovernments decision totrain teachers on how to

handle the virus asproactive and the bestway of handling parents’fear on the disease.

According to MrSherrif Babawle, aresident at Ita-OlokanArea of Osogbo, thedecision to shiftresumption to October 6,

to allow government trainteachers on how to handlehygiene issues and sickchildren in the schools, isa good one.

He added that there isno way any parent wouldwant to send his childrenor ward to school andnurse fear that they may

fall sick or contact anyvirus, saying such couldlead to crisis in the state.

According to him, it isunfortunate that theFederal Governmentcould reverse its decisionquickly without putting inplace necessarymeasures to curtail the

problem in the event itbreaks out in schools inany part of the country.

Speaking at a seminarrecently, Chief AtandaAwoniyi described thedecision of the stategovernment to trainteachers in each school,as an effective way oftelling parents that theschools are safe.

He reiterated that noone would allow his childto go out of the housewith the fear that suchchild may never return orwake at a hospital fortreatment of a deadlydisease, adding that it isonly when one is sure thatthe schools are safe thatnormalcy could return toplaces of learning.

In her own view, MrsHannah Opawoledisclosed that ifgovernment had notextended the resumptiondate, some parents wouldnot have allowed theirchildren to resumeschooling in the face ofthe deadly scourge.

She commended thatstate government fortaking the bold steps ofensuring that the scourgedid not spread to the state,saying if the state hadwitnessed a single case ofthe disease, it would takeit time to convinceparents to release theirchildren to return toclasses.

Meanwhile, otherparents who spoke underanonymity had imploredthe state government toensure prompt completionof training before theOctober 6 resumptiondate, so that no hiccupswould further delay theopening of schools in thestate.

‘Stomach Infrastructure’ Earns PDP Votes InOsun - Lawmaker

THE lawmaker representing Ayedaade StateConstituency in the State of Osun Houseof Assembly, Otunba Yemi Taiwo, has said

it was the distribution of rice, kerosene andmoney that assisted the Peoples DemocraticParty (PDP) to poll such high number of votes inthe August 9, 2014 governorship election in thestate.

Governor RaufAregbesola of AllProgressives Congress(APC) polled 394,684 todefeat his PDPcounterpart, IyiolaOmisore, who scored292,750 votes.

Taiwo during the chat,said, if not for the“stomach infrastructureand money-for-vote”tactics adopted by thePDP, there was no wayOmisore could havescored such votes highnumber of votes.

He added thatAregbesola could havescored more votes if notfor the arrest of APCmembers and leaders, asituation which scaredmany people to come outand vote.

“What is responsible forthe high number of PDPvotes was money, rice andkerosene they distributedbefore the election and onthe election day.

“Also, the arrest ofsome of our partymembers reduced thevotes we could havegotten because apart fromthose arrested, manyothers could not come outto vote due to the fear ofbeing arrested.

“They pounced on ourpeople; they arrested ourparty agents, the leadersand they were notreleased until after theelection,” he said.

Explaining the rolesplayed by the Minister forPolice Affairs, JeliliAdesiyan in the election,he lamented how theminister was boasting toarrest, detain and even killAPC members, especiallyin Ayedaade LocalGovernment Council Areaof the state.

The lawmaker, whoattributed the victoryrecorded by the APC atthe election to divineintervention andA r e g b e s o l a ’ s

performance, hecommended the people ofthe state for standing firm.

He stated that despitethe heavy presence of

masked and unmaskedsecurity personnel, thepeople of Osun defied thefederal force and stood bytheir votes.

Taiwo then called onthe people of the state notto renege in their supportfor Aregbesola to ensuremore success of hisadministration.

Akinrun Identifies Attributes In AregbesolaBy MURTALA AGBOOLA

THE Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba AbdulraufOlayiwola Adedeji II, said recently at theOsun State Muslim Community (OSMC)

meeting at Ikirun Central Mosque, Oja ObaIkirun, that he alongside with some othertraditional rulers in the State of Osun identifiedan altruistic quality in Governor Rauf Aregbesola,hence their decision to identify with him.

He said they could nothave done otherwisebecause Aregbesola is aserious and a goodgovernor.

Oba Adedeji, whocame to the meeting withthe Aragbiji of Iragbiji,Oba Rasheed AyotundeOlabomi Odundun II, theOloyan of Oyan, ObaKilani Adekeye OyedareOluyeye I and t h eElende of Eko Ende, ObaAbdul-Rauf AdebayoAjiboye, stressed that asthe custodians of thepeople they are notpoliticians but saw inAregbesola the desire todevelop the state in haste.

Oba Adedeji made theremark in response to astatement credited to

Sheikh Salaudeen AdeOlayiwola, the President-General of the MuslimUmmah in the State ofOsun.

The Muslim leaderstated that he gave creditto some traditional rulersin the state, especially theAkinrun and others forstanding by the governorto ensure his success inthe last gubernatorialelection.

The monthly meeting ofOSMC, which is rotatedamong major towns in theState of Osun, was well-attended by Muslimfaithful.

The meetingcommenced with therecitation of the HolyQuran, while Alhaji

Mustafa Ghazali, duringhis sermon (Dawah),urged Muslims to beshining examples toothers.

He also admonishedMuslims to enjoin theirfellow human beings notto go against theinjunctions of Allah.

The Vice-President I ofOSMC, Alhaji MustafaOlawuyi, traced thegenesis of the body to ameeting held in Mecca,Saudi Arabia by some bysome indigenes of thestate, where thosepresent decided that thereshould be a forum for allMuslims in the state tocome together.

Olawuyi advisedMuslims to give their off-springs good education,so that they can be usefulas professionals in thefield of law, engineering,medicine and manyothers.

Muslims were told thatthey could availthemselves with theSharia Court in the state,

which sits at theheadquarters of the bodyat Surulere, off RingRoad, Osogbo on the firstThursday of every month.

Pastor IfagbajesuPeter, who got convertedon his pilgrimage to Israel,is now Bro. Ahmed Ojo,who now practices hisnew faith with hisimmediate familymembers and his mother.

Among the Muslimdignitaries and clerics thatattended the meetingwere Alhaji OlapadeHashim, the Secretary-General of theorganization and theChief Imam of Ikirun,Alhaji Yunus Balogun.

Others were the OsunCentral Senatorial Leaderof the All ProgressivesCongress (APC), AlhajiGbadamosi Owoseni,Chief Imam of Ifelodun,Alhaji AbdulAzeezArisekola, AlhajiAbdulLateef Olayanju,Alhaji Yunus Yayi amongothers.

5 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

The War Called The Osun Elections -By Segun Tomori Continued frompg1I just couldn’t imagine my home State go back to thedisastrous “years of the locust”. I had participated activelyin the campaigns, interacted with the people, felt their pulseand the story was the same – Osun has never had it so good,the people vowed to defend their votes by all meanspossible! From that moment I had made up my mind to givemy all and put myself at harm’s way if need be to ensurewe form a bulwark of resistance against the machinery ofState to be deployed to thwart the people’s wish.

When I was about to proceed on my journey to Osogbo, theOsun State Capital on Monday preceding the elections Iprepared for the worst. Few associates privy to my tripadvised strongly that I removed any APC sourvenir frommy luggage,any ID card that can associate me with theparty amongst other security tips. They were right to beapprehensive, soldiers, officials of the Department of StateSecurity(DSS) including the hooded ones,lorry loads ofmobile policemen had since being deployed across the nookand cranny of Osun State. Bearing in mind the desperationof their paymasters, we knew they could stop and searchvehicles and abduct anything synonymous with APC, so Itook all the precautions. I took off on the journey which initself was dramatic.

As we got close to Oshogbo, a discussion ensued in the busand I found out I was not alone in the Save-Osun initiative.Most of the passengers shared the same sentiments with meand were also natives of the State. They spoke emotionallyand fiercely about their determination to ensureAregbesola’s victory. Speaker after speaker reeled outprogrammes and interventions of the Governor that hasbrought smiles to the faces of the people. They concludedhe was the best thing to happen to the State since its creation.The menacing apparatus of State then suffocating theenviroment will not deter them, they thundered! “Ko si ohunti soja o se, a ma duro gboin gboin lati dibo Aregbe” theysaid in yoruba dialect meaning “there is nothing Soldiers cando, we will stand firmly to vote for Aregbe”. I thought tomyself, we are about to witness mass resistance unequallyin our national history if anything go against the people’swill. Hopefully, the soldiers we met on the various check-points didn’t stop and search, they just peeped through thebus windows and passed us on. I heaved a sigh of reliefwhen I arrived Osogbo safely late in the evening.

I have attended rallies, mega-rallies , name it, but what Isaw on Tuesday at the grand-finale of the campaign was

frightening. A stadium whose capacity can’t be more than60,000 almost caved in due to pressure from an unprecedentedmammoth crowd. Every space on the covered stands wereover-filled, the main bowl of the Stadium was virtuallyunpassable. My associates and I had to hold ourselves tonavigate our way through the crowd, it took us about an hourfrom the entrance of the stadium to find somewhere to perch!Yet thousands more extend to adjoining roads outside thestadium. It was the APC mega-rally and to say it wasawesomely mega is an understatement! We even heard that theLord of Aso-rock caught an instant migraine seeing themagnitude of the rally! The effect of that was seen in thesealing off of the freedom park that was supposed to hostworkers rally the next day by “hooded soldiers” They got thenow familiar, albeit emergency “orders from above” toforcefully if need be halt the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)and its affiliates endorsement rally for the Ogbeni.

Co-incidentally, Wednesday, 6th August was my birthday but Iwas in no mood for celebrations of any kind. I told my well-wishers, family and friends that you don’t clink glasses in abattle-front! Interestingly, one of my compatriots who was alsoa major ‘battle-axe” and good friend’s birthday was 8th Augustso I told him we’ll do a birthday plus victory party on the 10th,a day after the elections,when we triumph at the polls. Weknow we had the people behind us, we never gave defeat athought! By Thursday, preparations had reached feverish pitch,the towns, hamlets and villages was now massively flowingwith uniformed men of all hues and shades. Some DSSoperatives came to the restaurant we were having dinner,Thursday evening, apparently on surveillance mission. We gotthe message and we left in a jiffy! On our way to our location,we noticed a car trailing us, so we had to take a decoy to a bar.As we turned to the bar, the car also turned in another direction.Their mission still remains a mystery. Thank God for littlemercies!

When we arrived our abode, we swung into action to putfinishing touches to our master-plan which was to run a co-ordinated and effective live broadcast of the elections on socialand online media in collaboration with the APC situation roomwhich was to start from Friday evening till the announcementof the results on Sunday. This was necessary because leakingthe plans of our devious opponents was key to frustrate theirrigging machinery; announcing results online as we get itdirectly from our agents was also crucial to frustrate anymanipulation at the collation level. By Friday afternoon, I hadto tactically separate from my friends who then proceeded to ahigh security location. The curfew was going to start around 5-6pm. By 4pm, I arrived at my own secure location and quicklymoved to set up. I surveyed the enviroment to assess the

possible threat level. I saw that it was negligible so I settled downfor the task ahead.

By Friday evening we got intelligence report that notorius electionrigger, Chris Uba was in town with a unit of 50 soldiers attached tohim. We sent that out and made sure it went viral. Later that night,information about the arrest of our leaders ranging from APCPublicity Secretary, lai Mohammed, the Attorney-general OfOsun State, barr. Wale Afolabi, Tinubu’s Special Adviser onmedia, Mr Sunday are, Commissioner for Agric among otherswere swiftly publicised with dispatch. The far-reaching effect ofthe noise we made contributed in no small measure to the releaseof most of those picked up by Saturday morning. We discoveredby Saturday morning that fake soldiers and policemen hadsurfaced in many locations. Their logo was a red ankara tied totheir left hand. Quickly we activated our instant alert to ourpeople,through all means possible. That again thwarted efforts tomanipulate the elections from the beginning.

The elections started peacefully however in most locations withaccreditation going on smoothly. The only snag was the continuedharassment of APC leaders across the State. The case of the 1stCivilian Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke was quiteinstructive. After failing to assasinate him over-night due toresistance by his security aides, he was trailed from the pollingunit to his mother’s residence where he went after accreditation.He escaped the siege by the whisker after he was discreetlynotified. He couldn’t come back to exercise his franchise. Theresults started trickling in by afternoon and the PDP demolitionsquad sensing their rejection quickly switched to a plan B to disruptthe collation process. We instantly alerted the public about theirnorturnal meeting and evil plot. What really helped the APC apartfrom the determination of the people was our access to classifiedinformation. We were always a step ahead of them and thatfrustrated the election riggers.

I got an anonymous call from a patroitic police officer around8pm who claimed he was at a location at modakeke and that resultsbeing collated was about to be altered. You could detect the fear inhis voice as he asked me to ensure his cover. He was an igboofficer deployed from other states, he wasn’t familiar with theterrain but what was gratifying that there could still be few men ofintegrity in the corruption-ridden Nigeria Police Force. In order toconfirm the authenticity of his Statement, I asked the Apapa LocalGovernment Chairman who was with me to speak to him. Hesounded credible, he concluded. So I made some calls to theauthorities and sent text message to our men to act immediately.

Before 11pm, we already had all the results and we had won,though unofficially. What sealed the deal for us and put paid to

any manipulation the PDP had in stock was the unexpectedcongratulation of Aregbesola as the winner of the electionaround 9.40pm by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.Omisore according to our sources had already informed Aso-rock that there was fighting in his home-town of Ile-Ife becauseaccording to him, the results we were circulating were fake andhe was actually leading in the “original” results. The Ooniswiftly debunked that, not only congratulated the Governor-elect, but also stated that nobody was fighting in Ife! That tookthe sail out of the wind of Omisore and his treacherous gang.

If we thought the threats have been subdued, we were in for ashocker! The returning officer whose task it is to announce thefinal result was under pressure to collect a whooping N1b andannounce Omisore winner! They were ready to damn theconsequences and ask us to go to court. So we had to practicallygo on our knees! I salute the indefatigable people of Osun State,they were resolute, they stood like a rock, stayed on the streetsall through and formed a human shield around the collationcentre. Then the returning officer came in around 1.35pm. Theresults of all the local governments were announced before5am. Then we now witnessed dilly-dallying of the highestorder. It got to a point around 7am, anxious journalists andpeople started singing asking for the results. Lo and Behold, atabout 7.10am, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was finally pronouncedthe winner!

There was instant jubilation across the nook and cranny ofOshogbo. Never in the history of elections have I seen suchspontaneous excitement pervade the landscape because ofresults announcement. Within the twinkle of an eye, the wholetown went agog with people clutching their brooms- symbol ofthe Governor’s party, congratulating themselves, okada ridersdriving menacingly in such euphoric ecstasy and finally wecould say hurray! We won! We didn’t win an election, we wona WAR with a stone like the biblical david. Goliath came tobattle with the best arsenal at his disposal but we came with thewill of a determined people that vowed that never again shallthey go the road of perdition they once trodded. Who says thevoice of the people is not the voice of God? Because ultimatelythe hand of the Almighty saved the day and gave us victory.Osun ti dara ooooooo.

Segun Tomori

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IN recent time, the death oftwo prominentpersonalities in their

respective calling raises afundamental question in myheart and make it moreassured to me that there istime for everything on earthas the Holy Bible stated.

It is so clear and known byall men born to this world thatdeath is a natural phenomenonand there is no man that willnot taste of it.

The death of the PresidentGeneral, League of Imamsand Alfas, South-West, Edoand Delta, Alhaji SheikhMustapha Ajisafe, shows howimportant it is to becommitted and faithful towhat one is doing.

This religious leader diedafter many years of beingChief Imam of Osogbolandbut all areas and aspects of hiswork were well-spoken aboutafter his death.

Sheikh Ajisafe did not holdany public office but his impactin the affairs of his communitycannot be overemphasized.

His contribution to thedevelopment of his state wascrystal clear for even infants tosee;this shows there is life afterdeath and this kind of lifespeaks soundly than physical

life.Dimgba Igwe is also another

man that took life like a storm,though he is now late.

A Yoruba proverb says: “tieeye o ba fi ye niran, oju oruntan eyee fo lai fara kanra”, which means that, “If a birdwon’t bother another, the sky iswide enough for them all to fly.”

The life of these two men hasgiven me several sleeplessnights and I keep asking myselfof what I would be rememberedfor as a youth, who has notstarted doing anything and forthose who has been in oneposition or the other, what willthey be remembered for?

These two men were not of thesame profession, buteach of themcontributed his quota tohis chosen career.

Both Dimgba Igweand Sheikh MustaphaAjisafe did not hold any

political post that attractedpeople’s attention to theirdeeds, but they will forever beremembered as to touchingpeople’s lives in their ownpeculiar ways.

•SEGUN ADEJUMO,Agunbeelewo Area, Osogbo,State of Osun.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 20146 INTERVIEW

We Need To Rescue Nigeria Now - TinubuPiqued by the state of the nation, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC),

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, called for immediate action in order to rescue the country fromtotal collapse. In an interview he granted during his condolence visit to the widow of the late ViceChairman of The Sun Publishing Ltd, Pastor Dimgba Igwe, Obioma, the former Lagos Stategovernor spoke briefly on the problems confronting the nation and his rumoured sickness recently.Excerpts:

WITH the death of DimgbaIgwe, what have you to sayon the state of the nation

with the myriad of problemsconfronting her?

At a period when oil revenue hasremained stable for the last number ofyears at $100 per barrel, if the quality oflife of our people is still as this, it isunfortunate. Poverty, insecurity,unemployment! In fact, if the per capitaincome of an individual, I mean thepurchasing power of an individual isimproved upon, you will be better off.That is the truth. And if the gap betweenthe poor and the rich is widening andsome few, very tiny people are movingtowards the ceilings while some peopleremain on the floor, permanently on thefloor, crawling, and wallowing in poverty.We have to think about the type ofsociety we want to build.

Here is a man’s house; simple. Whenyou hear the name of Dimgba outsidethere, you will think he is wealthy. Youwill think he is living in affluence. On hispart, you will see sign of someone stillstruggling economically in thisenvironment. Is that the type of Nigeriawe will continue to build with sentiments,emotions and wrong assumptions? All wehave to do is to rescue our nation andbuild ourselves in a way that will bringhappiness and prosperity to our people.That is what we should think about now.

People are worried about yourhealth, what is the state of yourhealth?

My appearance puts an end to thatrumour. Wait a minute. I have not takena rest since 1994 after MKO Abiola’selection. In the Social Democratic Party

(SDP), days when we were in trenches,it was either you were in exile orsomewhere else. It was a day-in-day-outworking machine type of life. It is eitherone person was facing this direction orthe other man facing the other direction.When the late Chief Anthony Enahorocame back, may his soul rest in peace,he came back with a walking stick. Youknow it was a gruesome period thatnobody could sleep and take an adequaterest.

Then came 1999; and ever since then,we have been on a political horse race,barefooted, fighting a war while somepeople are on the horse. The body mustrest. A whole lot of you might not know.Sometimes I don’t go to bed until 4.30 inthe morning and by 8:00 am I am alreadyup answering questions and planningelections.

What then happened?I have promised myself and my family

that, one day I will escape, go to rest andnobody would be able to reach me. Andthat was what I did. I didn’t do anythingrather than general medical checkup inApril. Okay? It was not even up to a timeto check. I went to my doctor mend tosay do I have to, or do you have toexamine me again with all these rumoursgoing on? And he said forget it. Now,tomorrow, if you like I would bring myexercise bike out and I will ride for you.E-e-eh... There is nothing (wrong withme). That is the truth. I didn’t even havea need for a Panadol or Paracetamol sinceI have been away. That is the gospeltruth.

And if you go to Lagos State Ministryof Health, some people are insinuating that

Lagos State is paying his medical bills.That he has been there. You go to theministry and find out.

What then is your advice tojournalists on this type of rumour?

I think as a member and leader in thisprofession-Journalism, I will say youmust be challenged to question some ofthese hearsays from those who will justgo to Isi Ewu centers and cook storiesbecause it tells on your profession,integrity and honesty. Again, if you try to

cry wolf, wolf, and wolf when there isnone, the day wolf comes; nobody willbe there to rescue you. Then, intellectuallywe have seen that in the area of politics,this is political genocide as far as I amconcerned. Is there anybody there whohad planted poison in my body, expectingit to incubate and germinate and kill meby now? Or hospitalize me by now? Thatis making my family members worried.

•Culled From THE SUN

•TINUBU

FEATURE

Osun’s Sukuk BondWITH a meagre monthly allocation

of an average of less than onebillion naira from the Federation

Account and an Internally GeneratedRevenue (IGR) of less than N1bn naira amonth, Governor Rauf Aregbesola hasmaintained a motivated workforce paid asat when due; built, renovated andreconstructed primary and secondaryschool building across the state;rehabilitated, reconstructed andconstructed health facilities; built andreconstructed roads and streets designedand completed with covered drains, walkways and street lights; providedcommunities across the 30 localgovernment areas in the state withpotable water and electricity as well asflood control, environmental sanitationand beautification. Osogbo, the OsunState capital, is undoubtedly a cleaner,safer, orderly and beautiful city comparedto the decay of the past. Compared withsome Niger-Delta oil producing states’huge monthly allocation of an average ofN20bn and IGR receipt of N8bn, GovernorAregbesola by all standards qualifies tobe termed a genius in financialmanagement, prudence, accountabilityand transparency.

Governor Aregbesola introduced SukukBond to fasttrack the state’s economicdevelopment. He knows that Sukuk,commonly referred to as the Islamicequivalent of bond, is opposed toconventional bonds, which merely conferownership of a debt. Aregbesola knowsthat Sukuk grants the investors a share ofan asset, along with the commensuratecash flows and risk. As such, Sukuksecurities adhere to Islamic laws

sometimes referred to as Shari’ahprinciples, which prohibit the charging orpayment of interest. Governor Aregbesolawants to achieve rapid economicdevelopment for the people of the stateand other Nigerians by catalysing bothnational and international tradinginfrastructure, product innovation andinformation flow within strong,transparent and well regulated standardsand guidelines. The governor wants topromote acceptance and integration withmainstream markets.

According to the issuing houses,Governor Aregbesola’s sukuk initiativewas said to be the first Islamic bond insub-Saharan Africa. The Sukuk bond wasissued in accordance with enactment ofthe Osun State Bonds, Notes and OtherSecurities Law 2012 and setting up theOsun Sukuk Company Plc. Though thegovernor knows that Sukuk is Islamic innomenclature, the Sukuk bond is aconventional bond and coordinated bythe regular investors in the nation’scapital and money market. The bond wasissued in accordance with the Securityand Exchange Commission’s rules andregulations. The N14. 4 billion sukuk (14.75 percent) fixed return tranche 2 has 42investors with Lotus Capital Limited asthe leading issuing house and Augustoand co, one of Nigeria’s leading rating

agencies, as the rating agent. The bond,which is being used to finance roads andschool constructions across the state, isdue in 2020. While authorising andapproving the offer at the board meetingfor the Sukuk Company, Aregbesola saidhis government took the sukuk bond asan opportunity for the development of thestate. “In name, the bond is Islamic but ithas the conventional bonds’characteristics and is coordinated by theregular capital and money marketinvestors.Out of the 42 investors, onlyone of them (Jaiz Bank) is Islamic and thename sukuk is just a nomenclature. Theinvestors are regular Nigerians,” thegovernor said.

The emergence of Sukuk in Osun andindeed Nigeria has been one of the mostsignificant developments in Islamic capitalmarkets in recent years. Put simply, Sukukinstruments act as a bridge. They linktheir issuers, primarily sovereigns andcorporations in Osun State,, Nigeria,Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia,with a wide pool of investors, many ofwhom are seeking to diversify theirholdings beyond traditional asset classes.In this way, funds raised through Sukukcan be allocated in an efficient andtransparent way to infrastructureinitiatives and other deserving projects inthe 56 member countries of IDB, as well ascommunities in over 100 non-membercountries.

The Debt Management Office (DMO)

in Abuja has said that Osun’s debt profileis a sustainable one which is healthy forits economic development. Dr AbrahamNwankwo who is the Director General ofDMO in the Presidency has said thatOsun State is one of the best states in thefederation with public debt management,describing the claims that Osun washeavily indebted as mere propaganda andhoax. Nigeria wants to make sure that allsegments of the society is captured in thebond market because there are somegroups of people or individuals who donot want to participate in ordinary bondbecause of interest. Osun took theinitiative and helped in introducing Sukukin Nigeria. This is Governor Aregbesola’svision for the people of Osun and the restof Nigeria by introducing Sukuk bond tosub Sahara Africa.

The governor understands howdomestic and foreign investors buy Sukukwhich have various structures approvedby Shari’ah boards of Islamic scholars. Heknows that Sukuk issuance has proven itsresilience during recent periods ofturbulence in global capital markets.

Governor Aregbesola understands thatSukuk will play a major role in thedevelopment of infrastructure and this iscrucial to his vision of establishing Osunas a commercial hub for the South West ofNigeria.

•Donald is the Director of JusticeResearch Centre, Benin City.

By CHARLES ADEGBITE

By INWALOMHE DONALD

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014 7PHOTOTALKFaces At The 58th Birthday Anniversary Prayer For Prince Fatai Diekola Oyedele,In Oosogbo, Recently.

•(L-R) Princess Rafatu Alabi, Princess Rasaki Bolakale, Pa Ganiyu Oyedele (Fatai Oyedele’s father) and Busari Oyedele.

•A cross section of Islamic clerics at the prayer session.

•A cross-section of well-wishers.

•Another cross-section of well-wishers.

8 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014PHOTOTALKNewly-posted Coordinator, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), State Of Osun,Mr Abada Okpiroro, Paid A Courtesy Visit To Governor Rauf Aregbesola At TheGovernment House, Osogbo, Recently.

•(L-R) Dr Isaac Akinmokun, his wife and Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

•(L-R) State Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Mr. Stephen Kola- Balogun; Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi-Laoye Tomori andGovernor Rauf Aregbesola on the occasion.

•Mr Abada Okpiroro (right), presenting a congratulatory card to Governor Aregbesola.

State Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Paid A Courtesy Visit To Chairman,Isoglass Industries, Dr Isaac Akinmokun, In His House At Ira, State Of Osun, Recently.

•(L-R) Governor Aregbesola; Olura of Ira-Ikeji, Oba Julius Fatanmi and Oloosi of Osiland Ife,Oba Adeoye Ademakinwa.

9OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014 PHOTOTALK

•(L-R) General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Funsho Kumuyi; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Laoye-Tomori.

State Governor Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Attended A Three-day Crusade Of Deeper LifeBible Church At Agunbelewo, Osogbo, Last Friday. Photo: SEGUN ADEJUMO.

•A cross section of the congregation during the service.

10 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014PHOTOTALK

•(R-L) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Megbon Awo, Chief Tunde Falolu and President, Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TRAWSO),Osun Branch, Chief Idowu Awopetu, during the traditional worshippers’ visit to the governor at the Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun, last Saturday.

•Governor Aregbesola (3rd right); Chief Awopetu (3rd left); Chief Falolu (2nd left); TRAWSO Treasurer, Chief Idowu Esuleke (right); TRAWSO Coordinator, Osun CentralSenatorial District, Chief Tunde Aberefa (2nd right) and others, during the traditional worshippers’ visit to the governor at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun, lastSaturday.

Traditional Religion Faithful Association Paid A Courtesy Visit To The Governor,State Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At The Government House, Osogbo, StateOf Osun, On Saturday.

11 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014INTERVIEW

Real Construction Just Beginning In Osun – OkanlawonSemiu Okanlawon is the Director of Press to the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf

Aregbesola. In this interview with CORRESPONDENT, BAMIDELE OGUNWUSI, he bareshis mind on the last governorship election in the state, the on-going projects of the APC-ledgovernment, issues surrounding the Opon-Imo tablets and other issues. Excerpts…

WHAT’s your observation onthe outcome of the August

9,2014, governorship election

in the state?We never had doubts about victory.

Up till two weeks before the election,we were still beginning new projects.We were so convinced of victory. It isnot possible for people to drop what isgood for what is bad. People hadtasted performance, they had tasted akind of government that had elevatedthem and provided for them. So, wedid not expect the people to jettisonthat for what was not good.

What are some of the projectsinaugurated during that time?

Shortly before the election, thegovernor did the turning-of-the-sod ofthe assembly plant of small buses wecalled Korope. The assemby plant isat Dagbolu in Osogbo. If we were notso confident of victory, we would notbe doing that. So, the issues ofabandoning projects did not arise.Though we had some hitchesfinancially before the election, and itwas not only in Osun State – it wascaused by unforeseen circumstancesby the Federal Government. We had a40 percent reduction in allocation andthis was not a joke. It affected usbadly but thanks to theforesightedness of our governor, RaufAregbesola. We had anticipated suchthings and we were able to paysalaries. Our opponents did not expectus to pay salaries but we were able topay without borrowing. They did notexpect us to pay salary and tried toturn the people against us and thankGod we scaled through the turbulentwaters. If you go round the state, youwill see that the road projects, buildingprojects are ongoing. We haveassured people that at the end of thisyear, we are going to have megaclassrooms that will contain not lessthan one hundred thousand pupils. So,if we are assuring people of that, weknow what we are saying. So far, wehave constructed not less than 900kilometers of road all over the stateand more and still ongoing. We haveso many other projects on health,security, agriculture and otherinfrastructure spread across the state.Just a few weeks before the election,we distributed state-of-the-artequipment and Armoured PersonnelCarriers (APC) to the Police. This isto tell you that we were neverbothered. Our opponents are so goodat propaganda and they were able tochange the mind of some people butthey were not able to do that for themajority of our people because theyknow them. Election came and it hasgone, we have fought a battle andnow we are concerned with how wewill make life more meaningful to thepeople of the state. The government isa continuum and we will continue withour good works. Of course, if agovernment knows that the onlyreason why the people are sopersonate about it and so adamant thatthis is the kind of government theywant, then the only thing you can do isto keep on doing what endeared youto them.

There is this fear that mostgovernments and governors whowon second term don’t perform theway they did in their first term.What is your take on this?

Let me tell you one thing: thisgovernment of Rauf Aregbesola is agovernment that put people at thecentre of all that it is doing and I tellyou it can never falter, whether firstterm or second term. I don’t see thereason that will make Governor RaufAregbesola not to perform more thanwhat he did in the first term. The firstfour years was like when a plane wastrying to take off, which was the mostturbulent time, now that it has reachedthe cruising level, it has stabilized. Therate at which people will seedevelopment will even be faster thanbefore. When we came, we met arotten state, now, after removing allthe obstacles to development, is it nowthat we have solved all the problemswe met on the ground that we will notbe able to perform? When we came,we met a terrible situation and thankGod we have put an end to thoseproblems and the people of the stateare beginning to see developments likethey had never seen before. If youhave seen anything like governors notperforming in second term in otherstates, that cannot happen in this state.I assure you that in four years’ time,the people of the state will tell you thatthe first term was just a steppingstone. The real construction in the

state has just begun.What is the assurance that

developments going on in the statewill get to the nooks and crannies ofthe state?

Let me tell you this, I can beat mychest anywhere that what is beingwitnessed in the state has never beenseen before now. There is no part ofthe state that is not experiencingdevelopments. Places were there areno schools now have schools, placeswithout hospitals now have it, in mostplaces where hospitals have collapsed,the Rauf Aregbesola’s governmenthas rebuilt them with drugs, schoolpupils are not been well fed. In Osunof today, everywhere is witnessingdevelopments.

You said hospitals have beenrebuilt, but when I was coming intothe state, I saw an abandonedgeneral hospital at Ikire, what isthe state doing about rehabilitatingit, or is there any other hospital inthe town?

There is another hospital in thetown. It was relocated several yearsago when they people said the placewas been regularly attacked by armedrobbers. The place has been like thatlong time ago, it even precededOyinlola’s regime.

On Opon-Imo tablets, ProfAdeyeye spoke on a Televeisonprogramme before the election thatthe Opon Imo has some issues. Howsoon will those issues be resolved?

There are no serious issues

surrounding Opon-Imo. The oppositionjust tried to make an issue out of thecollection of the tablets back from thepupils. They made it looked to thenpeople that the collection was becauseof any fault. The agreement was thatwhen you are passing out of school,you are going to drop it. There was acase of a few of them who failed toreturn those tablets and we have toretrieve it from them.

What I learnt was that the tabletshave technical issues from EvansPublishers, which owns thecopyright for the e-book used forthe tablets. How true is this?

It was from Evans that we got thee-book and if there is no problem withthe hard book, there cannot be anyproblem with the Opon-Imo tablet.There is no issue whatsoever with thetablets. Currently, the Opon-Imo isbeing revised. Let me tell you, is thereany device that doesn’t needupgrading? Look at ipad by Apple;they keep upgrading it with severalinnovations. I don’t know why somepeople are afraid of innovations. Thequestion we should ask those who aremaking noise about the tablet is that,did they come close to this innovation?The answer is no; and I don’tunderstand why they are making noiseabout it. They said it is Ibo made.Even if it is Hausa made or Chinamade, the fact is that we are doingsomething. If we do not attempt to dosomething, will there be an Opon-Imotablet? Let them also begin to think ofwhat they can do and not to pull downand innovation like this. Nobody candestroy Opon-Imo and it has come tostay. Subsequent governments after uswill only build on it. It has become oureducational standard. Nobody, nomatter how wicked a government it is,will tell the people that it can notcontinue with Opon-Imo. The peoplewill revolt, parents will revolt andstudents will stone such person. Youcan only come and improve on it.

At the launch of Opon-Imo, theGovernor said the state will build afactory where the tablets will bemanufactured. How far has thestate gone with that?

Yes, the factory is on-going and it isone of the ways the governor want tocreate employment for the people.The Governor said out of the 1,500units of the tablets, 50,000 will beimported and that the rest 100,000units will be manufactured by thecompany.

Will the 50,000 units be enoughfor the SS1 to SS3 in the state?

When we first took delivery of thefirst batch, we prioritized it and wefirst gave them to those students in thefinal year. I mean students that areabout to write their West AfricanExamination Council exams. We weregiving them out as we collect them.We collected them in batches. Therewas no student who did not get histablet.

•Culled from DAILYINDEPENDENT

•OKANLAWON

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 201412

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Guinness Nigeria Plc recruitment for an Assistant Brand Manager in LagosGuinness Nigeria Plc - We are Guinness Nigeria, member of Diageo Plc the world’s leadingpremium drinks business with an unrivalled collection of beverage alcohol & non-alcoholbrands across the Spirits, Wine & Beer categories.Guinness Nigeria operates a Total Beverage Business (TBB). A key contributor to thesuccess of the GNPLC strategic plan is an effective & flexible field sales force demonstratingindustry leadership in both volume driving & brand building activity. We put the customer atthe heart of everything we do, and through this, will deliver sustained, mutual growth for ourbrands, categories, customers and partners. Will you partner with us on this journey?We are recruiting to fill the position below:Job Title: Assistant Brand Manager - GuinnessAutoReqId: 43343BRFunction: MarketingLocation: LagosReports To: Senior Brand Manager - GuinnessQualifications and Experience RequiredBachelors3 – 5 years relevant experienceGood communication and presentation skillsCommercial acumen, confident, enthusiastic and persuasiveAttention to details/Good Project Management SkillsStrong interpersonal skills to build good working relationships across all functions and marketsConvincing personality, good planner, self –starter and committed to resultsContext/ScopeGuinness Nigeria plc is a strategically important market for Diageo and for the Global GuinnessPortfolio being one of the most competitive globally.Purpose of RoleTo support the design and implementation of Brand strategies in order to achieve targetedprofit, market share and volume objectives in the Guinness categoryTo develop and execute brand building activities and projects within the Guinness brand team.Dimensions:Develops & executes plans against strategic growth opportunities.Maintains business critical controls & compliance documentationIs responsible for embedding and day to day management of SmartBrand Approvals andimplementation of the Digital Code of Marketing Practice.FinancialSupport the Guinness team in the Management and accountability for implementation of A&Pspend across portfolio, efficiencies and evaluation across all activities.Market ComplexityWork across all Nigeria to drive growth and profitability and to deliver market shareLeadership and Functional ResponsibilitiesThe role holder will work with the other members of the Guinness Team to deliver the BigIdeas/Growth Drivers initiativesTop 3 AccountabilitiesPlay a supporting role in the following activities:Support the development of GAME Plans for Guinness in Nigeria and the execution of allGuinness brand initiatives.Brand and Commercial execution including evaluation of Big ideas/Growth Drivers initiatives forthe brand.Significant contact with cross-functional teams e.g. Sales,trade marketing,procurement andsuppliers of marketing services in the delivery of brand initiativesHow to ApplyInterested candidates shouldhttps://sjobs.brassring.com/TGWEbHost/jobdetails.aspx?partnerid=11729&siteid=208&jobid=2314592—————————————————————————————

Cornerstone Insurance Plc Jobs in Lagos for Sales Representative/MarketersWe are Cornerstone Insurance Plc. Incorporated on 26th July 1991 as a private limited liabilitycompany and became a Public Limited Liability, quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in1997.Our organisation was established to conduct Insurance business in a professional, ethical andcustomer-focused manner and has remained committed to these values over the years.

CornerStone Insurance Plc. is recruiting to fill the position below:Job Title: Sale Representative/MarketerLocation: LagosQualificationsFirst degree (B.sc/ HND) or minimum of OND in Marketing (with Insurance experience).Mature and good communication skills (both orally and written).Be able to demonstrate a keen ability to inter-relate with people of diverse backgrounds andhave a service-orientated disposition.Must have been resident in the intended territory for the last 12 months and must have had aworking knowledge of the location for at least 12 months within the last 5 years.Should be aggressive, effective communicators, team player, sociable, versatile, resourceful,hardworking and have initiative.Sales experience in the insurance industry an added advantage.Good presentation skills.How to ApplyInterested candidates should forward their CV’s to: mrasaki@cornerstone.com.ng orkbsanya@cornerstone.com.ngApplication Deadline 1st October, 2014————————————————————————————————Jobs in Abuja for a Graduate Field Marketing & Sales Officers at HiiT PlcHiiT Plc is an experienced Company in the ICT Industry with major focus on IT training/Education, Publishing, IT Solutions Development & Services, e-Learning Solution Developmentand Implementation among other businesses.We seek to recruit passionate, competent, committed and result-oriented person to fill thefollowing position:Job Title: Graduate Field Marketing & Sales OfficersLocation: AbujaRequirementsCandidate must hold B.Sc/HND in Marketing or any other Social Science discipline.Must be resident in Abuja.Must possess HiiT ICT Proficiency License.At least 1 year post-NYSC experience in Sales and Marketing of FMCGs.Excellent Communication skills and Capacity for meeting Sales targets.Proven track record of performance.How to ApplyInterested and Qualified candidates should send CV to: msmhac@hiitplc.comApplication Deadline 30th September 2014.——————————————————————————————————Jobs in Onne, Rivers State at FMC Technologies for a Warehouse TechnicianFMC Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: FTI) is a leading global provider of technology solutions forthe energy industry. Named by Forbes® Magazine as one of the World’s Most InnovativeCompanies in 2013, the Company has approximately 19,500 employees and operates 30production facilities in 17 countries.FMC Technologies designs, manufactures and services technologically sophisticated systems andproducts such as subsea production and processing systems, surface wellhead systems, highpressure fluid control equipment, measurement solutions, and marine loading systems for the oiland gas industry.Job Title: Warehouse Technician IILocation: Onne, NigeriaRequisition ID:#51074841

ResponsibilitiesResponsible for timely and accurate physical receipt, issuance, quality certification, tagging andlocation of all PO inventory and non inventory (Consumables) materials and documentation ofall proof of deliveries.Main TasksPerform work in line with FMC Safety and Quality policies and Procedures.Timely receipt/issuance of inventory and non inventory items, quality certification, tagging andbin location in a proactive manner.Carry out Back Loading and Load Out activities to ensure seamless customer success delivery.Followup in a timely manner to assign appropriate storage/bin location and hand overinformation to supervisor update in SAP.Manage fuel receipt and consumption process and ensure adequate records. Generate weeklyreport.Ensure proper storage of all chemicals, lubricants and compressed Gas Cylinders. Trackmanufactured and expiry dates and ensures compliance with MSDS, ISO 14000, and FMC Safetyand Quality policies.Ensure all chemicals are issued on FIFO bases.Interface with third part to coordinate logistic equipment needed for material movement.Monitor and ensure accurate/timely docummentation of all Proof of deliveries. Scan and uploadinto Supply Chain Shared Point, Back loading, MSDS, Mill Test Certificate for record purposes.Ensure storage/bin location uptimization. Ensure yard is orderly and clean all the times in linewith FMC 5S housekeeping standards.Liaise with supervisor for timely preservation of all inventory items.Timely issue all material request base on pick ticket and ensure close out, in SAP /bin locationin a proactive manner.Carry out all Cycle and Physical inventory count exercise to establish level of accuracy, stockavailability, storage/bin location and SAP information .Monitor preservation material consumption and ensure material availability.RequirementsMinimum HND Engineering, Social Science or equivalent. Minimum 2 years experience inWarehouse material receipt system. Subsea production system is added advantage. APICS orCIPSMN certification an added advantage.Ability to handle multiple tasks in a high volume environment and meet dead lines andpriorities.PC skills including proficiency in spreadsheet and word processing applications required.Should be able to interpret job requirements and coordinate equipment required.Must demonstrate good communication skills with co-workers in team basedenvironment.Accuracy andattention, and ability to identify deviation from standards. Ability to read and understanddrawings and to perform moderately complex calculations.Must be able to demonstrate good organization and planning skills.Method of ApplicationInterested and qualified candidates shouldhttp://careers.fmctechnologies.com/JobPosting/51074841Application Deadline 19th September, 2014———————————————————————————————Da Viva Jobs for Sales Representative (Contract) in LagosDa Viva is a brand for the fashion lover, blending cutting edge designs with the vibrant coloursassociated with traditional African fabrics.Da Viva - a leading brand in fashion is currently looking for an enthusiastic, self motivated andtarget driven candidates for the position below:Job Title: Sales Representative (Contract)Location: LagosQualificationMinimum of OND in any discipline.Marketing/Sales Representative is an added advantage.Method of ApplicationInterested candidates should send their CV’s to: official@da-viva.comApplication Deadline 1st October, 2014——————————————————————————————Nestle Nigeria Plc recruitment for a Planning and Distribution ManagerNestle Nigeria Plc - As the Leading Nutrition Health and Wellness Company, we are committedto enhancing People’s lives, everywhere, every day. Infact enhancing lives will influenceeverything we do together.A presence in more than 130 countries and factories in more than 80 research centres bringsmany global benefits. We believe in long term career development and appreciate howchallenges and motivation will help you reach your potential. Nestle Nigeria Plc upholds theprinciple of Non- Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities in its recruitmentprocesses.Applications are hereby required from suitably qualified candidates to fill the vacant position of:Job Title: Planning and Distribution ManagerJob Number: 140005OJLocation: NigeriaJob Description‘As the leading nutrition, health and wellness company, we are committed to enhancing people’slives, everywhere, every day’

ResponsibilitiesDistributionEnsure the delivery of outstanding service at minimum “cost to serve” by putting in place astructured continuous improvement approach based on the application of Tools and theimplementation of Best Practices.Set targets for transport service and cost and continuously keep track on KPIs close to thetarget values by driving cost saving initiatives to improve the performance and costs intransportationImplementing, monitoring and managing Safety, Health and Environment, Quality and CAREregulations and Best PracticeSupply PlanningEstablishes an 18 month production plan for the factories within their responsibility (includingsub/contracting factories where within scope of role)Creates a feasible production plan that respects capacity defined (available capacity)Entry Requirements3 or more years of operational experience at market/business level is useful, in at least one ofthe following areas:Factory PlanningSupply Network Planning / IMS PlannerCustomer ServiceSalesWarehouse ManagementFinance: Business Planning, budget control, cost managementPurchasingFactory Production team leaderDemand PlanningExperience in the management of projects such as:Distribution Network RedesignDistribution Costing and Finance.Strategic decision making related to Transportation.High Performance LogisticsCustomer Logistics.How to ApplyInterested candidates shouldhttps://tas-nestle.taleo.net/careersection/3/jobdetail.ftl?job=140005OJApplication Deadline 2nd October, 2014———————————————————————————————

13 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014 FOREIGN NEWS

U.S. Backed By Arabs, Launches First Strikes On Fighters In SyriaTHE United States and Arab allies bombed Syria for

the first time on Tuesday, killing dozens of IslamicState fighters and members of a separate al Qaeda-

linked group, pursuing a campaign against militants into awar at the heart of the Middle East.

“I can confirm that U.S.military and partner nationforces are undertaking militaryaction against (Islamic State)terrorists in Syria using a mixof fighter, bomber andTomahawk Land AttackMissiles,” Rear Admiral JohnKirby, Pentagon presssecretary, said in a statement.

U.S. Central Command saidBahrain, Jordan, Qatar, SaudiArabia and the United ArabEmirates participated in orsupported the strikes againstIslamic State targets around theeastern cities of Raqqa, Deir al-Zor, Hasakah and Albu Kamal.

Targets included “fighters,training compounds,headquarters and command andcontrol facilities, storagefacilities, a finance center,supply trucks and armedvehicles,” it said.

Separately, U.S. forcesacting alone launched strikes inanother area of Syria against anal Qaeda-linked group, theNusra Front, to “disruptimminent attack” against U.S.and Western interests by“seasoned al Qaeda veterans”,CentCom said.

The Syrian Observatory forHuman Rights, which monitorsthe war in Syria, said at least20 Islamic State fighters werekilled in strikes that hit at least50 targets in Raqqa and Deiral-Zor provinces in Syria’seast.

It said strikes targeting theNusra Front in the northernprovinces of Aleppo and Idlibhad killed at least 50 fightersand eight civilians. The NusraFront is al Qaeda’s officialSyrian wing and Islamic State’srival. The Observatory saidmost of the fighters killed therewere not Syrians.

The air attacks fulfillPresident Barack Obama’spledge to strike in Syria againstIslamic State, a Sunni Muslimgroup that has seized swathesof Syria and Iraq, imposing amediaeval interpretation ofIslam, slaughtering prisonersand ordering Shi’ites and non-Muslims to convert or die.

Islamic State vowedrevenge.

“These attacks will beanswered,” an Islamic Statefighter told Reuters by Skypefrom Syria, blaming the “sonsof Saloul” - a derogatory termfor Saudi Arabia’s ruling family- for allowing the strikes to takeplace.

The Sunni fighters, whohave proclaimed a caliphateruling over all Muslims, shookthe Middle East by sweepingthrough northern Iraq in June.They then alarmed the West inrecent weeks by beheading twoU.S. journalists and a Britishaid worker, raising fears thatthey could attack Westerncountries.

The strikes took placehours before Obama goes to theU.N. General Assembly in NewYork where he will try to rallymore nations behind his driveto destroy Islamic State.

The action pitchesWashington for the first timeinto the three-year-old Syriancivil war, which has killed200,000 people and displacedmillions.

U.S. forces have previouslyhit Islamic State targets in Iraq,where Washington supportsthe government, but had heldback from a militaryengagement in Syria, where theUnited States opposesPresident Bashar al-Assad.

SYRIAN GOVERNMENT

INFORMEDThe Syrian government said

Washington had informed ithours before the strikes.Secretary of State John Kerryhad sent a letter to Damascusthrough his Iraqi counterpart,it said.

A ministry statement readon state television said Syriawould continue to attackIslamic State. It was ready tocooperate with anyinternational effort to fightterrorism and was coordinatingwith the government of Iraq.

The United States haspreviously said it would notcoordinate with Assad’sgovernment. Washington saysAssad must leave power,particularly after he wasaccused of using chemicalweapons against his ownpeople last year.

Islamic State’s Sunnifighters, now equipped withU.S. weapons seized duringtheir advance in Iraq, are amongthe most powerful opponentsof Assad, a member of aShi’ite-derived sect. They arealso battling against rival Sunnigroups in Syria, against theShi’ite-led government of Iraqand against Kurdish forces onboth sides of the border.

In recent days they havecaptured villages from Kurdsnear Syria’s Turkish border,sending nearly 140,000refugees across the frontiersince last week. The UnitedNations said it was bracing forup to 400,000 people to flee.

Washington is determined todefeat the fighters withouthelping Assad, a policy thatrequires deft diplomacy in awar in which nearly all the

region’s countries have a stake.The Western-backed Syrian

opposition, which is fightingagainst both Assad and IslamicState, welcomed the air strikeswhich it said would help defeatAssad.

The targets included Raqqacity, the main headquarters inSyria of Islamic State fighterswho have proclaimed acaliphate stretching fromSyria’s Aleppo provincethrough the Tigris andEuphrates river valleys to theoutskirts of Baghdad.

Photographs taken in Raqqashowed wreckage of what theIslamic State fighter said was adrone that had been shot down.Pieces of the wreckage,including what appeared to bepart of a propeller, were shownloaded into the back of a van.

A video posted online,

filmed through night-visionapparatus, showed lights fromjets flying overhead firing astream of projectiles at theground. It was not clear whereor when the video was filmed.

Jordan, confirming itsparticipation, said its air forcehad bombed “a number oftargets that belong to someterrorist groups that sought tocommit terrorist acts insideJordan,” although it did notspecify any location.

Israel shot down a Syrianaircraft over air space itcontrols in the Golan Heightsbut there was no indication theincident, confirmed by Syria,was linked to the U.S. action.

WEAPONS SUPPLIES,CHECKPOINTS HIT

U.S. officials and the SyrianObservatory said buildingsused by the militants, their

weapons supplies andcheckpoints were targeted inthe attacks on Raqqa. Areasalong the Iraq-Syria borderwere also hit.

Residents in Raqqa had saidlast week that Islamic State wasmoving underground afterObama signaled on Sept. 11that air attacks on its forcescould be expanded from Iraq toSyria.

The group had evacuatedbuildings it was using asoffices, redeployed its heavyweaponry, and moved fighters’families out of the city, theresidents said.

“They are trying to keep onthe move,” said one Raqqaresident, communicating viathe Internet and speaking oncondition of anonymitybecause of safety fears. “Theyonly meet in very limited

gatherings.”The addition of Arab allies

in the attacks was crucial forthe credibility of the American-led campaign. Some U.S. alliesin the Middle East are skepticalof how far Washington willcommit to a complex conflictset against the backdrop ofIslam’s 1,300-year-old riftbetween Sunnis and Shi’ites.

With the backing of Jordanand the Gulf states,Washington has gained thesupport of Sunni states that arehostile to Assad. It has not,however, won the opensupport of Assad himself or hismain regional ally, Shi’ite Iran.

Some traditional Westernallies, including Britain whichwent to war alongside theUnited States in Iraq andAfghanistan, have so far stayedout of the campaign.

Israel Says Its Troops Kill Hamas Men Accused Of Slaying Teens

ISRAELI troops shot dead two Palestinians in the WestBank city of Hebron on Tuesday and the military saidthey were members of Hamas responsible for the killing

of three Israeli youths in June, an attack that led to theGaza war.

Marwan Kawasme andAmar Abu Aysha, both in their30s, were shot dead during agun battle after Israeli troopssurrounded a house in the citybefore dawn, the army andresidents said. Israel had beenhunting the men for threemonths.

Kawasme and Abu Ayshawere suspected of carrying out

the kidnapping and killing ofthe three teenage seminarystudents, who were abductedwhile hitchhiking at night neara Jewish settlement in the WestBank on June 12.

The military said army andpolice forces were trying toarrest the two suspects whena firefight erupted.

“We opened fire, they

returned fire and they werekilled in the exchange,” Israelimilitary spokesmanLieutenant-Colonel PeterLerner said.

The governor of Hebron,Kamel Hmeid, confirmed onPalestinian radio that the twowere dead.

“It’s clear now the twomartyrs, al-Kawasme and AbuAysha, were assassinated thismorning during a militaryoperation in the HebronUniversity area. We condemnthis crime, this assassination,

as deliberate and premeditatedmurder,” he said.

VIOLENCE SPREADKawasme and Abu Aysha

were affiliated with Hamas,which initially denied any linkto the June attack.

Last month, however, thegroup acknowledgedresponsibility, although itsleadership said it had noadvance knowledge that themen were planning to abductthe students.

“Hamas praises the rolemartyrs Abu Aysha and

Kawasme played in chasingdown Israeli settlers and westress that their assassinationwill not weaken the resistance,”Hamas spokesman Sami AbuZuhri said in Gaza.

Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu praisedthe operation. “We willcontinue to strike terrorismeverywhere,” he said at thestart of a cabinet meeting inJerusalem. “This morning thelong arm of Israeli justice caughtthem.”

Israeli forces haveconducted widespread sweepsacross the West Bank in thepast three months, rounding uphundreds of suspected Hamasmembers in house-to-houseraids in the hunt for thesuspects behind the attack.

The abduction and killing ofEyal Yifrach, 19, and GiladShaer and Naftali Fraenkel,both 16, caused alarmthroughout Israel and set off acycle of violence, including thekilling of PalestinianMohammed Abu Khudair, 16,by three Israelis who have beenarrested and charged.

Khudair ’s killing led toclashes between Palestinianyouths and Israeli police in EastJerusalem, while the round-upof Hamas suspects across theWest Bank provoked rocketfire at Israel from militants inGaza, leading to the war.

Gaza medical officials say2,100 Palestinians, most ofthem civilians, were killed inthe 50-day conflict, while 67Israeli soldiers and six civiliansin Israel were also killed.

Efforts to forge a lastingpeace agreement following thewar are set to resume in Cairoon Tuesday.

Afghanistan’s Karzai Slams U.S., PakistanIn Farewell SpeechOUTGOING Afghan President Hamid Karzai on

Tuesday blamed the United States for his country’slong war, a final swipe at the country that helped

bring him to power 13 years ago but towards which he hasbecome increasingly bitter.

His farewell speech camedays ahead of the plannedswearing in of a newpresident, Ashraf Ghani,after months of potentiallyviolent crisis over adisputed election that endedin a power-sharing deal, yetto be tested, with rivalAbdullah Abdullah.

Karzai blamed both theUnited States andneighboring Pakistan for thecontinuing war with theTaliban-led insurgency andwarned the new governmentto be “be extra cautious inrelations with the U.S. andthe West”.

The conflict killsthousands of Afghans eachyear and has claimed thelives of more than 2,200American and otherinternational forces inAfghanistan.

“One of the reasons wasthat the Americans did notwant peace because theyhad their own agenda andobjectives,” Karzai said. Hedid not elaborate, but in thepast has suggestedcontinued violence hasbeen an excuse for theUnited States to keep basesin the country.

He also accused Pakistani

power players of trying tocontrol Afghanistan’sforeign policy.

“Today, I tell you againthat the war in Afghanistanis not our war, but imposedon us and we are thevictims,” Karzai said. “Nopeace will arrive unless theU.S. or Pakistan want it.”

In recent years, Karzaihas sharply denounced theUnited States for the deathsof Afghan civilians in airstrikes and for holdingsuspected Afghan militantsprisoner without trial. Therelationship deteriorated tonear breaking point this year,when Karzai refused to signa key security pact with theUnited States.

He said he had traveledto Pakistan, where much ofthe Taliban’s leadership isbelieved to be based, at least20 times seeking a

negotiated end to the war,but his efforts werethwarted.

Neither the U.S. nor thePakistani embassies inKabul had immediatecomment on Karzai’sspeech.

Karzai has been in powersince 2001 after beingplucked from virtualobscurity by the UnitedStates following theoverthrow of the Taliban’sradical Islamist governmentfor sheltering al Qaeda’sterrorist leadership after the9/11 attacks on the U.S.

The deterioration of hisrelationship with the Westwas seen by some as aneffort to shape his legacy asan independent leaderrather than a U.S. puppet asmaintained by the Taliban.

Karzai was barred by theconstitution from runningfor a third term this year.

•oUnited States and Arab allies to tackle terror.

14 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014NEWS

The People’s Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, has been re-elected to carry on for another term of fouryears.

Ogbeni Aregbesola recorded a resounding success in the just-concluded election.

The election shows that the Governor is well embraced by all thepeople of the State of the Virtuous.

In view of this, your popular grassroots tabloid, OSUN DEFENDERnewspaper, is doing a supplement to congratulate the People’sGovernor.

Individuals, corporate bodies, institutions and well-wishers can availthemselves with the pocket-friendly advert rate of OSUNDEFENDER newspaper.

Advert RateFull Page Colour - N150,000Full Page Black & White - N120,000Half Page Colour - N80,000Half Page Black & White - N70,000Quarter Page Colour - N50,000Quater Page Black & White - N40,000

- Management

Congratulations

Any of these phone lines can be contacted: 08033927286, 08033880205, 08061197897 and 08023191891

If you were harassed, arrested, detained,assaulted by any suspected agents of thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP)whether in uniform or mufti, during theAugust 9, 2014 governorship election inthe State of Osun, visit our office,opposite Guarantee Trust Bank, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, or call either of thesephone numbers – 08033927286 and08033880205.We are interested in your plight by

recording it for history.- Management

August 9, 2014 GovernorshipElection Victims

Osun Guber: ‘Omisore ShouldStop Propagating Falsehood’

THE All Progressives Congress in theState of Osun has appealed to themedia to tread softly on the falsehood

being pushed out to the public by theState’s PDP and it’s gubernatorialcandidate, Iyiola Omisore, who are in thehabit of manipulating information to distortfacts in regards to Osun poli tics in generaland the August 9 governorship electionwith its fallout in particular.

The APC said that it was particularlydisturbed by the repetitive falsehood ofOmisore in the last three years over theperson of Ambassador Rufus Akeju inrelation to the APC, whose integrity is beingcrucified by the falsehood of Omisore andthe PDP. According to the APC, Omisorehas been lying against Akeju and the APCthat the former Ambassador is a protégé ofBola Ahmed Tinubu as a result of which hehas bias for Tinubu’s political affiliation;first for the ACN and now for the APC.

The Independent National ElectoralCommissioner has refused to acceptOmisore’s allegations against Akeju exceptOmisore can substantiate them withincontrovertible evidence in the court oflaw. For three years now, Omisore hasavoided the court, yet he keepspropagating falsehood in the media,believing that Nigerians generally, andOsun people in particular were so un-intelligent that they can hardlydistinguished truth from falsehood. Theinsult on the intelligence of Nigerians hasto stop. And only the media can stop it.

The APC was reacting to the latest ofOmisore’s allegation that Prof. Attahiru Jegahas redeployed Akeju to Osun to frustratePDP’s petition at the Tribunal againstAregbesola’s victory at the August 9gubernatorial election. Omisore wasreported to have addressed a press

conference in Osogbo last Saturday at whichhe alleged that the purpose Akeju wasreturned to Osun by Jega was to ‘stultify,scuttle, frustrate and hinder the process ofinspecting all the electoral materials usedfor the August poll by installing obstaclesto completely slow or hinder the PDP’sefforts to inspect the materials.

Besides, Omisore tried to further play onthe intelligence of everybody by rehearsinga dead event when he referred to a so- calledFederal High Court injunction, preventingAkeju from parading himself as Osun REC.The INEC immediately appealed that ruling.But the PDP in a strange move, went backto the court to withdraw the case. That moveby the PDP surprised the Judge who thenadjourned the matter sine dine since 2010till date In effect Akeju stands vindicateduntil proven guilty of allegation against hisintegrity by Omisore and the PDP. The APCtherefore challenged Omisore that heshould show Nigerians and the worldthrough the media what contra ry judgmenthe had to the effect that Akeju iscompromised.

‘If Omisore cannot produce suchjudgment made by any court after the PDPwithdrew the case from the court in 2010;‘the APC submitted, ‘then he should stopusing precious media space to lie and malignthe integrity of an innocent man, who thePDP has found totally impossible tocorrupt’, the APC said. On the issue ofinspection of electoral materials of theAugust 9 polls, the APC said the procedurefor inspection of these materials stipulatedby the INEC is applicable to both the PDPand APC in every material particular. ‘Sowhat. Is Omisore’s problem’? the APC asked‘possibly ‘, the party continued, ‘the PDPis on edge because the procedure put inplace by the INEC makes it impossible forthe PDP to fraudulently manipulate,’ theAPC declared.

By ABOSEDE AKINPELU

15 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, September 25, 2014 PHOTOTALK

•Worshippers at the programme.

•A cross section of congregations during the service.

•A cross section of Deeper Life Bible Church members during the service.

At The Three-day Crusade Of Deeper Life Bible Church At Agunbelewo, Osogbo,Last Friday. Photo: SEGUN ADEJUMO.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

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

By ADE OLUGBOTEMIWE are having so

many unfoldingscenarios now

that constant remindersneed easy passage to thestable of the general public,so that Nigeria will besaved from sinking deeperinto the mud of mess thathas begun to blot ourpsyches, that need urgentrescue and rehabilitation.We have had no vacuum actually ingovernance and national life, it is onlythat those who have been privileged toso occupy have done so with moreconcentration on what will benefitpersonal ego, as against the nationalneeds that must be met, so that allNigerians can derive maximumbenefits from sustainabledevelopment.

Our country is currently at acrossroad because we are at a pointwhere majority of citizens havebecome pessimistic about leaders’ability to create secured future formillions of people, who are strivingassiduously to work hard and make aliving out of personal efforts that aremore assuring that dependency onimaginary benefits that have neverderived full expression from endlesspromises emanating from seat ofpower. Ironically, our economyoperates in such a way that theremust be some basic facilities in placeto fashion a way in a competitiveworld. Failure to put those facilities inplace has always hampered attemptsby individuals to maximize potentialsthat are innately domiciled in individualingenuities.

We need no soothsayer to reveal tous the next presidential candidate ofthe Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).All intents and purposes point to thedirection of incumbent PresidentGoodluck Ebele Jonathan, because theonly co-contestant for the post hasfizzled out of the configuration. Onlylast Wednesday, Jigawa Stategovernor; Sule Lamido, who wasgenerally believed to give Jonathan afierce fight for the coveted seat,stepped down. All members of theBoard of Trustees, except formerPresident Olusegun Obasanjo and theSpeaker of the Federal House ofRepresentatives have unanimouslyadopted President Jonathan as solerunner under PDP. So all is now set tomake PDP’s primaries that arecoming up later in the year mereformalities.

Every aspirant for other posts willnow begin to jostle to gain MrPresident’s attention for endorsement,as is the usual practice in our politicalterrain. Over ninety percent of thecandidates will emerge throughconsensus because their issues wouldhave been trashed behind the scene.Only those acceptable to the loyalistsof President Goodluck Jonathan wouldbe considered for elective posts andselection into various appointments.The summary of the matter is that thesame set of people that have beensuperintending over Nigeria wouldcontinue to determine the fate of over

one hundred and seventy millionNigerians if re-elected into power inFebruary general elections.

However, the implication of allthese is that the PDP are tellingNigerians that the best they canshowcase to them as their secondterm presidential candidate isPresident Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,under whose regime people aregrappling with myriads of problems,ranging from insecurity to lives andproperties, to mass unemployment,fraud and corrupt practices,unresolved power problem, and manymore. Many concerned citizens havecome to the conclusion that Nigeria isdoomed, if President Jonathan is thebest available material that can leadthis country for another four years.

Most Nigerians are wonderingwhether Nigeria is so bedevilled bylack of experts that can turn thingsaround for the citizens to experiencebetter living condition than we have itnow under PDP-led administration.Nature has been very kind to us; so

much that Nigeria is spared thetrouble of periodic disaster that manynations grapple with in accordancewith climatic change. No earth tremoror earthquake, no volcanic eruption, notyphoon wind, and many resources arethere untapped; yet those who aresupposed to be think-tanks for thecountry are busy thinking about howwhat is available for Nigerians tomanage will become booties for a fewto ration among themselves.

Majority of Nigerians have thechoice to terminate the contractbetween us and the few supposedsuper humans that have succinctlypocketed the entire country with hervast resources. Political instrumenthas become petty for all Toms, Jacks,Dicks and Harries to manipulate forpersonal whims and caprices; resultingin policy somersaults that clip ourwings, so it has become extremelydifficult for our Eagles to fly, perchand do what others who havesimilitude of underdevelopment dowith ease. We pride in our size as the

populous country in Africa, butwe are not ashamed that we areincapable of doing the feats ofLilliputian countries. The bigquestion now is: Do we have thesagacity to press through ourwish?

The only way to get to poweris through political partyplatform; except by illegitimate

means of military take-over throughcoup d’état, which has becomeunpopular around the world. That isthe reason most countries work onviable alternatives to the ruling parties,so that the goofing of the ruling partywill automatically pave way for thestrongest opposition party. In our case,the All Progressives Party (APC)remains the most viable alternative, asthe strongest opposition party. It isthen the duty of leaders and membersof the party to convince Nigerians thatthey are indeed ready to take up thechallenge.

Most Nigerians are not oblivious ofthe arrangement that led to the moveby PDP not to have more than onecontestant during party primary. It isbelieved that as the self-acclaimedbiggest party in Africa, the only wayto convince the electorate that there iswell-entrenched internal democracy isto avoid the rancour that is usuallyassociated with primary elections thatmakes it possible to choose oneamongst many. It is usually at thispoint that those who are dissatisfieddefect to other political parties or getinvolved in anti-party activities. These,PDP seem to have put behind them.

Time is fast running out on anypolitical parties that are yet to get theiracts together about the choice of flag-bearers for the coveted seat of MrPresident during the fast-approachingFebruary 2015 elections. Choice ofcandidates at this point in time must becarefully addressed because of theassociated intricacies that often causeresentment and disaffections amongparty members. This is a time thatAPC will convince people that theyare very ready to provide morecredible alternative platform ofgovernance that will be devoid ofunhealthy rigmarole that has cost usimpetus of development andadvancement in the competitiveworld’s economy.

Other political parties can afford toplay games as is often the case andthereafter fizzled into oblivion until thethreshold of another term of fouryears, when it will become necessaryfor them again to pick their crumpsfrom where they left them. Thisattitude has deprived innocentNigerians opportunities that areelusive through political incontinencethat has characterized our politicalevolution over the years. We need tobe more fervent in prayers now thanever before, so that come 2015, thebest Nigerian for the post of presidentwill emerge to take us to the nextenviable level. This remains the onlyway we can have a better futureguaranteed. Nigeria must survive.

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. Allcorrespondence to the Managing Editor, KOLA OLABISI, Telephone: 08033927286 (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.

A Nation In Search OfBetter Alternative

•JONATHAN