VOL. 9. NO.045 NNNNN5050505050TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

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

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Front Page Comment

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Who KilledChief Bola Ige,former Attorney-

General andMinister of

Justice? IGE

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (with mic), addressing after winning the All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship Primary Nomination Election, atNelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun, last Saturday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI

Aregbesola Picks APCGuber Ticket With Fanfare

•El-Rufai, Akamukali Warn Against Election Rigging

Defeating Aregbesola More Impossible Than Difficult - Osun APC

Orji Kalu's assessmentof Aregbesola

From another PDPstalwart came a mes-sage of 'well done agood ambassador' tothe workaholic and re-sult-oriented Governorof the state of Osun,Ogbeni RaufAregbesola over theweekend.

The pat on the back

given to Mr.Aregbesola by aformer Governor ofAbia state, Dr. UzorOrji Kalu who was ontour of South-West

with his team is quitenotable. And it reminds usof that very importantquote from that greatthinker, Jerome K.Jerome;

"It's always thebest policy tospeak the truth un-less, of course, oneis exceptionally aliar".

Truth, they say, isbitter. But nopolicy surpassesspeaking the truth.

Continue on pg5

2OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014

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

News

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

Aregbesola Picks APC Guber Ticket With Fanfare•El-Rufai, Akamukali Warn Against Election Rigging

GOVERNOR of the State of Osun,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has emerged theflagbearer of All Progressives Congress, APC

in the August 9 governorship election in the state.The governor, after the

collation of the partycongresses results in the332 Wards in the statescored 269,631 votes outof 355,729 registeredmembers of APC in state.

Announcing the result atthe state collation centre,

Nelson Mandela FreedomPark, Osogbo, APCNational AssistantSecretary and Chairman ofthe Congress Committee,Mallam Nasir Elrufai, lastSaturday, said thecongress was peaceful

across the state and urgedpeople to protect theirvotes in August 9.

He assured that the APCwould not relent in givingthe best to Nigerians ifgiven another opportunityby people of the statecome August 2014.

He said: “The NationalWorking Committee of theparty is proud ofAregbesola and haveresolved that as soon as theAPC takes over leadership

at the federal level, threeout of the many goodprogrammes of thegovernor would beadopted. The OYESscheme will be introducedin 36 states of thefederation as well as theschool feeding programmeand the “Tablet ofKnowledge (Opon Imo).

“A political party gaveits ticket to someone theybelieve can rig election butthe people of the state must

protect their votes. I urgethe people of Osun not toallow any form of rigging;you should be prepared tovote wisely and at thesame time protect yourvote jealously.

“We are going to be hereto protect our mandate;they can not rig SouthWest. Those who riggedthe South-West in 1964knew what happened” El-Rufai said.

The former minister

later presented theCertificate of Return toGovernor Aregbesola.

Obviously elated on hisemergence, GovernorAregbesola commendedmembers of the APC forpresenting him for anotherterm, saying the APCwould not let the peopledown, considering itsachievements in the lastthree and a half years.

He said the task beforethe people of Nigeria is towrestle power from thePDP at the federal level,saying it is not the destinyof Nigerians to be inpenury.

Aregbesola said: “Since1999, a party has been atthe helm of affairs inNigeria and that party hasdone nothing but wreckedthe nation, from North toSouth and in every part ofthis country, there ischaos, instability andviolence everywhere and itis caused by the samebunch of destroyers,

“They failed us ineducation, health, securityand many others. The APCwill guarantee security andstability throughout thecountry if voted intopower.

“For seven and a halfyears, that party ofdestroyers reigned inOsun; they virtuallycrippled and destroyed ourstate, the APC is ready torestore the glory of ourdear state and rescue itfrom backwardness. Wemust all do everythingwithin our power to ensurethat the destroyers don’treturn to power in thisstate”

The governor assuredthe gathering that thedevelopment which thestate has witnessed withinthe last three and a halfyears will continue as hisgovernment is ready tocreate wealth and ensurethat there is enough foodfor all.

“With what you haveseen that we achieved inthe last three and a halfyears, it shows that we arenot just a government thatdwells on empty promises,we don’t just promise andtalk, we work out ourpromises. Before we cameinto power, the task beforeus was to do everythinghumanly possible to movethe state forward and weshall continue with thattrend.

“The APC will ensurethat there is food security,the APC will guaranteeliberty and justice. Ourparty will make happinesspossible again, peace willreign in our land throughthe APC, progress willcome and we shall restorehuman dignity. These arethe promises of our party.

“We should all begin totell ourselves that it is onlythe APC that can delivergood governance in thecountry; we should notleave the campaign topoliticians alone,” henoted.

Osun Assembly Promises Support For PoliceBy KAZEEM MOHAMMED

THE State of Osun House of Assembly has promisedto give all the necessary support to the statecommand of the Nigeria Police to prevent any

security breach before and during the August 9governorship election in the state.

Speaker of the Assembly,Honourable Najeem Salaam,gave the assurance whilereceiving in his office thestate Commissioner ofPolice, Mr IbrahimMaishanu, on Thursday.

This was just as thepolice boss promised not tobe dissuaded to stick to hismandate to be fair to everyparty.

Salaam who stressed thatthe activities of somepoliticians have beenshowing signal of violence,said, such attack like the oneagainst a former governor,Isiaka Adeleke, who wasattack by politicians fromthe same party, PDP, mustbe checkmated.

He said: “We have beenenjoying the peace since theassumption of the presentadministration, until recentlywhen the election isapproaching that we arewitnessing intimidation fromsome quarters.

“We see this period as aperiod of challenge for you,especially when the rulingparty here is not the samewith the one at the centre

and recently that somebodyfrom here from another partystruggling to take over thestate, was appointed asMinister Police Affairs.

“We are not sayingsomebody should notenjoying his power, butevery step that would betaken must be lawful.

“We urge the police andother security operatives towork together to maintainthe peace we are enjoyinghere and whoever wants todisrupt that peace should bebrought to book”, Salaamsaid.

Responding, theCommissioner of Policeallayed the fear of thepeople, saying, “the factthat the Minister of PoliceAffairs is from here wouldnot dissuade us from beingfair”.

He said that his mandatefrom the Inspector-Generalof Police was to be firm, fairand professional, assuringthat the mandate would bestrictly followed.

Maishanu also said thatthe fact that Osun is verycalm would not make the

police authority to relax,especially at this criticalperiod of election.

Promising to insist on therule of law, the police bossurged the people of thestate to give him benefit of

doubt and report anyincidence to the police,instead of taking laws intotheir hands.

At the event were thedeputy Speaker,Honourable Akintunde

Defeating Aregbesola More ImpossibleThan Difficult - Osun APC

Adegboye; Chief Whip,Ipoola Binuyo;Honourables SamsonFafiyebi, Ajibola Akinloye,Bello Osuolale andBabatunde Komolafeamong others.

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

IT is mere wishful thinking for PDP National Chairman,Alhaji Adamu Muazu, to say that, “it is difficult butpossible for Omisore to lead the PDP to victory in the

August 9 governorship election in the State of Osun.The All Progressives

Congress (APC) in a swiftresponse has describedMuazu’s wish to replaceAPC’s Aregbesola withPDP’s Omisore as, “moreimpossible than difficult.”

According to the APC,what Muazu wants to do islike replacing a WinstonChurchill with an AdolfHilter in Great Britain.IMPOSSIBLE”, the partysaid.

“Omisore is the antithesisof Aregbesola in everymaterial particular of theOsun political landscape,“the APC said, adding that“these two people are polesapart; the one notorious forviolence and terror while theother is popular for thelandmark development and

progress he has brought tothe State.

“Mu’azu’s wish for Osunpeople”, the APC said, “is apoisoned chalice; it is evil”.According to the party,“you cannot replacegoodness with evil in broaddaylight against the wish ofthe people who arebeneficiaries of thatgoodness.

“What the PDP Chairmanperhaps does not know isthat the only purpose ofOmisore in seeking Osungovernorship is a diabolicalpassion to reverseeverything Aregbesola hasdone since November 2010to date.

“These include thoselandmark project initiativeswhich the United Nation’s

agencies, the BritishParliament, the Deputy HighCommissioner of GreatBritain to Nigeria andseveral other internationalorganizations havecommended and cited asmodels for Africa and otherdeveloping countries.

Even the PDP-ledgovernment hadacknowledged andreplicated some ofAregbesola’s spectacularinitiatives. “So what couldbe their purpose forsponsoring a candidate whois sworn to destroyeverything Aregbesola hasdone in the state?” The APCasked.

The party continued:, “Itis ok that at least the PDPchairman recognizes thedifficulty of his misplacedwish to return PDP to powerin Osogbo”.

However, the APCassures Mu’azu that hisparty’s wish is outside therealm of possibility.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, addressing members of the Nigerian Union of Tailors, State of Osun Chapter, during theconferment of Life Patron of the union on him and endorsement of his second term in office in Osogbo last Tuesday.

3 News OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), addressing a mammoth crowd during Endorsement ofhis Second Term in Office by Iwo Community, in Iwo Local Government, State of Osun, last Friday.

Osun Awards N710mFertilizer ContractTHE State Government of Osun at its last Executive

Council meeting approved contract for the procurementof fertilizers ahead of the 2014 planting season to the

tune of N710 million.

Osun Bomb Blast: Prison Warder Revealed Suspect Was Not in PrisonTill Aregbesola’s Declaration •We Do Not See Any Diary - Police

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

MEMBERS of the audience at an Osogbo High Courtwere on Friday stunned when a prison warder, MrToye Ayotunde Ajibade, disclosed that the prime

suspect in the July 15, 2007 bomb blast that rocked the Stateof Osun Secretariat, Mr Adesanmi Abayomi, was not inprison custody for close to three years.

Abayomi was ordered to beremanded in prison custody byMagistrate (now Justice) JideFalola on March 10, 2008alongside some chieftains ofthe Action Congress who wereaccused of complicity in thebomb blast.

But Abayomi, according tothe prison warder was notbrought back to the prison untilNovember 26, 2010 when

Governor Rauf Aregbesola wasdeclared the winner of the April14, 2007 gubernatorial electionby the Appeal Court.

Abayomi, according tosources, was taken to theGovernment House Annex,Osogbo by the PeoplesDemocratic Party governmentwhich compromised thesuspect to implicate chieftainsof the Action Congress of

Nigeria (ACN) in the bombblast.

Testifying before JusticeAdeyinka Aderibigbe onFriday, the prison warder saidAbayomi spent two years;eight months and sixteen daysoutside prison without any bailpaper presented to the prisonauthority.

Ajibade who was admittedat the hearing of the matter asProsecution Witness 5, statedthat Abayomi was firstreminded in prison onNovember 9,2007 and taken tothe magistrate court on March10, 2008 but did not return tothe prison until November 26,2010.

Investigation revealed that

Abayomi was surreptitiouslyrushed to the prison when thenews of Aregbesola’s victoryat the court filtered into thestate.

Also, a Police Inspector, MrElisha Olusegun, who led ateam of policemen from theState Crime InvestigationDepartment (SCID), OsunPolice Command, to the sceneof the crime, said the police didnot recover any diary in thewreckage of the explodedvehicle.

According to Olusegun, whowas the Prosecution Witness4, after thorough search, onlya tin was found inside theexploded Peugeot 505 car withsome electronic gadgets and

some business cards.The police inspector stated

that his team was the firstinvestigative team to arrive atthe crime scene.

Olusegun’s revelationcontradicted the claim of theInvestigating Police Officer,Inspector Danlandi Audu, fromthe then Special Anti-RobberySquad, who took over thematter after the purporteddiscovery of the mysteriousred diary.

Audu who failed to producethe red diary when he wastestifying before the court onMarch 10, 2010 said that thepolice indeed recovered the reddiary under the driver’s seat ofthe car wreckage but he did notknow what happened to thediary or its whereabouts.

He said that the diary wasnowhere to be found, disclosingthat the diary was never shownto Adesanmi and that thesuspect was not also with thepolice when they recovered thediary.

It would be recalled that theChairman of the Action

Congress then, now theSecretary to the Governmentof the State of Osun, AlhajiMoshood Adeoti, the thenSecretary of the Party, PrinceGboyega Famodun, theDirector of Publicity, Researchand Strategy now theCommissioner for Informationand Strategy, Mr SundayAkere, an elder brother to theDeputy Governor, ElderSunday Laoye popularly called‘Akunamatata’ an AssistantDirector, Bureau ofCommunication and Strategy,Mr Gbenga Fayemiwo, werearrested, arraigned andremanded in prison based onthe content of the said diary.

The state Commissioner forJustice and Attorney-General,Mr Adewale Afolabi, who ledother counsel from the stateMinistry of Justice, asked foran adjournment of the case toenable him search for otherwitnesses.

However, the case wasadjourned till May 16, 2014.

received the approval of thestate government.

He said the types offertilizers to be purchasedinclude 3500 metric tonnes ofNPK at N6000 per bag and2500 metric tonnes of Urea atN5800 per bag.

According to thecommissioner, the companysupplying the product,Sunshine Oil ChemicalDevelopment Limited, woulddeliver the consignment beforepayment is to be effected.

He added that the contractsum covers logistics and haulage,saying the consignment must beinspected by both the StateTender Board and StatePlanning Committee prior to thepayment to ensure conformitywith the contract terms whileno variation will be acceptedfrom the contractor.

A press statement issued bythe state Commissioner forInformation and Strategy, MrSunday Akere, after the meetingdisclosed that the StateAgricultural DevelopmentProgramme (OSSADEP)request to procure six thousandmetric tonnes of fertilezer

Aregbesola Lays Foundation Of Modern Abattoir In IwoBy KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

GOVERNOR of the State of Osun, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, last Friday turned sod for the foundationof the Ultra Modern Central Abattoir at Popo area of

Olupona.The abattoir, according to

the project manager, will havethe capacity to handle 200heads expandable to 400 headsof cow per day.

It is expected to becompleted in the next 15months on Public PrivatePartnership arrangementaccording to the collaboratingcompany, Hanfirqul NigeriaLimited.

Speaking at the ceremony,Governor Aregbesola said thatIwo was chosen because of itslong history in cattle rearing andbutchering, adding that theabattoir when completed willcreate job opportunity for thepeople of the area, as theworkers will be selected withinthe area.

He said:” This abattoirproject, on-completion willattract graduates, as they willsee for themselves thatcontrary to the belief in somequarters that the business is forilliterate class, they will thensee that meat business goesbeyond what people think”.

He described the abattoirproject as one that will attracthuge economic benefit to thestate when completed as thereis an already made market inLagos because the people in thecity consumes over 6,000cattles everyday.

“The abattoir has an alreadymade market especially inLagos and this is why we havesituated the abattoir very close

to the railway line,” thegovernor said.

State Commissioner forAgric and Food Security, Hon.Wale Adedoyin, declared thatthe meat industry in the statehas been in a pitiable conditionfor quiet a long time withprevious governments payinglittle or no attention to the uglysituation which is whygovernment of OgbeniAregbesola has decided to takethe bull by the horn.

“The intervention ofgovernment in the sector hastransformed to job creationwhich has necessitated theemployment of nine qualifiedVeterinary officers and othersupporting staff engagedmainly in the meat inspectionduties and other vetinaryactivities”.

Adedoyin pointed out thatthe abattoir to be built in Iwois one out of six which will bereplicated in all the six zonesin the state, announcing that thenext sod will be turned inOsogbo this week by OgbeniAregbesola.

He added that it is thebeginning of a new era forbutchers, cattle dealers andultimately the consumers ofmeat in the state, as veryhygienic and wholesome meatfit for human consumptionwould be made available to theconsuming populace.

Representative of thepartner company, Hanfirqul

Nigeria Limited, Mr DapoAdelosu, emphasized that thecompany is proud and happyto be part of history in the Stateof Osun.

He said for the fact that themodern abattoir is the first tobe built in the whole of WesternNigeria, it is a pointer to thefact that Osun is a unique,target-oriented state in thecountry.

In their separate remarks, the

Chairman of the Butchers’Association of Nigeria, OsunChapter, Alhaji TiamiyuGafaru and the Chairman, IwoCow Sellers Association, AlhajiWale Olufare, who both saidthat the two associations havejointly adopted the secondterm bid of Ogbeni Aregbesolastated that the abattoir whencompleted will go a long wayin boosting their business.

They said the abattoir is

what they have been yearningfor, noting that marketers fromwithin and outside the state willstart coming to Osun to learnfrom them and this will boostthe economy of the state.

Present at the event were thestate the deputy governor,Otunba (Mrs) Grace TitilayoLaoye-Tomori, the SSG, AlhajiMoshood Adeoti, butchers inIwo, cow sellers and excitedpeople of Iwo and environs.

Accreditation: NITDA Commends RLGAdulawo Factory

AS part of its efforts to get accreditation from the Federal Government of Nigeria, communications giant,RLG Communications Nigeria Limited, conducted a

tour of their newly-commssioned RLG and Adulawo Factorylocated on the Akure-Ilesa Expressway with a delegation fromthe National Information Technology Development Agency(NITDA), Sheda, Abuja.

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

Speaking during the accredi-tation and assessment tour,RLG Communications Coun-try Director; Ilesanmi Tosin,disclosed to the inspection teamthat the communications giantstarted operations in 2011.

He also revealed that the rea-son why NITDA was comingfor a visit after a long while wasbecause of the agency’s insis-tence that visible infrastructuremust be on ground before aninspection visit would be fea-sible.

The country director statedthat RLG got majority of itswork force from the State ofOsun Government Youth Em-ployment Scheme, OYES, whowere trained in information tech-nology.

According to him, ‘the train-ing was spread across the nineFederal Constituencies with

technical labs spread across.The offshoot of the training

gave birth to the opportunityof setting up a factory in Nige-ria which was commissioned on30th of January, 2014 by thestate governor.”

He explained that with thecommissioning of the factoryand training of workforce done,the RLG was now ready to ren-der services to Nigerians whichwas an important ingredient inadding value, adding that thecommunications company wasthe first to locally assemblecomputers and GSM phones inthe country.

Ilesanmi also revealed that fornow, software and applicationwere done abroad while the as-sembly was done locally withthe provision of local content.

He maintained that the RLGCommunications was not in the

market to run down competi-tion but rather to encourage it,stressing that the companyalone could meet the phone andlaptop needs of Nigerians.

As part of its encouragementof bio-diversity, the director re-vealed that it had installed a gasplant for bio-fuel, adding thatwith time, the factory would bereplicated in other states of theFederation.

The NITDA team which wasled by Director, Admin and Hu-man Resources; Mr. JonathanOlaonipekun, took a tour roundthe factory to the research anddevelopment lab, training cen-tre, technical lab, mobile phoneand laptop assembly plants,warehouses, common rooms,kitchen and hostels, enterpriseskiosks, locker rooms for maleand female, show rooms, of-fices (admin and reception),customer services, controlroom, bio conversion plant andthe 500 KVA transformer whichwas donated by the state gov-ernment.

In his response, Mr.Olaonipekun stated that it wasa very interesting tour and he

was impressed by the level ofwork done.

He assured the RLG teamthat the accreditation theysought would be given.

Olaonipekun also charged themanagement of RLG to requestthe assistance of the state gov-ernment in the provision of astandard police post to takecharge of the security since thefactory is sited along a busy ex-pressway.

Other members of the in-spection team also commendedthe RLG team for the goodwork it had done and also ad-vised them to get fire fightinggadgets and make available amedical unit in case of suchemergencies.

Others on the NITDA en-tourage included: Mr. DejoOlawunmi; Assistant DirectorInfrastructure and TechnicalSupport Service; Mr. SarafaLawal; Assistant Head Soft-ware and Outsourcing, Mr.AbdulMalik Bello; PrincipalScientific Officer, Standards,Guidelines and Regulations andMr. Oladokun Lukman; SeniorExecutive Officer, CorporateAffairs.

4 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Orji Kalu's assessment of Aregbesola And this is the reason

why our society mustnot hesitate to recognisea few men of honourwho have chosen to fol-low the path of honestyby being able to speakthe truth when the needarises irrespective oftheir political, religiousand other ideologicalbeliefs.

The positive com-ment by Dr. Kalu aboutthe performance ofOgbeni Aregbesola inthe state of Osun showsthat there still existamong our leaders,those who prefer to saythings as they see it ir-respective of whose ox

is gored. We believe thisto be the hallmark ofhonourable people. Evenas a member of op-posing political party Dr.Kalu would not close hiseyes to the reality hefound on ground in Osunapropos the sterling per-formance of OgbeniAregbesola.

With his objective as-sessment of Ogbeni'sperformance in the statethe former number onecitizen of Abia state hasidentified himself as a per-son who would not seewhite and call it black andvice-versa. In his wordsover the weekend as re-ported by Sunday SunDr. Kalu had said among

other things that;"though I am a memberof the Peoples Demo-cratic Party, I cannotclose my eyes on the nu-merous achievementsthe government ofAregbesola has re-corded which spreadacross almost all areasof human life".

While we cannotquote verbatim all thatthe candid Dr. Kalusaid, it is still importantto quote him further;"with what I have seenin Osun, I have come tothe conclusion that thePDP has nothing to of-fer in this state. This is astate where you can seetrue development, a

state where the govern-ment is committed to thedevelopment of its stateand its people. We willnot because of our partydivides not to say thetruth".

Dr. Kalu's courage forsaying the truth as quotedabove deserves to beappreciated. We areproud of him for his senseof candour. The PDP inthe state have also heardfor themselves from oneof them. Thus what thismeans is that no amountof desperation on itspart, no amount of run-ning from pillar to postand no amount of cam-paign of calumny againstthe government ofAregbesola can make theparty (PDP)

Omisore: Let’s Be VigilantTHIS is the time for

the people of Osunto be vigilant and

wary of the man who hasbeen desperate for yearsto assume thegovernorship seat of thestate without making anyheadway, but now has theticket of his party, PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP).

The fact is that the manI am taking about, IyiolaOmisore, has thetrademark of violence andhis actions and utteranceswithin the past years,months and weeks haveexplained the kind ofperson he is.

Don’t forget that thisman, alongside hiscohorts, including thepresent Minister of PoliceAffairs, Jelili Adesiyan,was fingered in the killingof the former Attorney-General of the Federation,Chief Bola Ige, but wereeventually discharged and

acquitted. His dischargewas suspicious and stillraising questions till today.

We should not alsoforget that the role playedby Omisore in April 14,2007 governorshipelection in Ile-Ife,whereby many peoplewere killed cannot beover-emphasised.

People would also notforget in a hurry, the killingof five innocent personsin a church in Ile-Ife atthe eve of the 2011National Assemblyelections. The killing wassuspectedly sponsored byOmisore.

The most recent onewas the attack on the

former governor of thestate, Senator IsiakaAdeleke, who was also anaspirant of the PDP in thecoming August 9governorship election.

With all theseantecedents amongothers, one would wonderwhy this man is stillwalking freely on the

streets without anybodychallenging him, to theextent of coming out toagain say he wants to bea governor by hook orcrook means.

There is no doubt thefact that if this maneventually becomes thegovernor of this state, Godforbid, Osun will be a

violent society, wherecriminals would have theirways.

One other question thatpeople need to ask is,what are the programmesthis man has to transformOsun? This is because,somebody who is jostlingfor the number one seatof the state is expected tohave come up with hisprogrammes.

Though, it is left for thepeople of Osun to decidewho they want asgovernor, but in deciding,we must be vigilant andnot allow ourselves to bedeceived, so that we willnot be returned to the eraof violence which Osunwas before Ogbeni RaufAregbesola came in.

•WASIU ADEYEMI,Ilobu, Irepodun LocalGovernment Council,Area, State of Osun.

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

win the coming gover-norship election. Nodoubt the victory is forOgbeni Aregbesolawhose government hasdone much good for thestate. It's also importantto mention it at this junc-ture that Dr. Kalu wouldnot be the first PDP big-wig to commendAregbesola's perfor-mance. We recall herethat SenatorChukwumerije didopenly applaudAregbesola's good workin the state when he andother members of theSenate Committee oneducation came on as-sessment tour to the statein 2011. He even recom-mended his (Aregbe's)style of governance espe-cially his education r

reforms to other stategovernments then.

In the light of theabove we believe thetruth has spoken for it-self. Truth, asthesaying goes, is con-stant. It's uncoverablejust as it's unchange-able. It will alwaysspeak for itself as itwill speak in the com-ing election when thewish of the Osun elec-torate will prevail;when OgbeniAregbesola will havecause to stand beforehis people again to say;'thank you for return-ing me, the good workcontinues'.

Until then, who willtell the PDP and itsdesperate candidatenot to continue tochase shadow?

Continued from pg1

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RenaissanceOSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Humanizing Education Through Reclassification (III)The intention of this edition is to close chapters on the relevance of the

schools’ reclassification exercise of the incumbent administration to theinculcation and propagation of the concept of Omoluabi in the present-day State of Osun. NIYI OLASINDE concludes the series as an openerto further issues to come on the Omoluabi ethos.

THE OMOLUABI CONCEPT IN THE STATE OF OSUN

•O’CALISTHENICS, ONE OF THE INTEGRAL TENNETS OF THE OMOLUABI CONCEPT:A cross section of participants displaying calisthenics of ‘RAUF REVOLUTION’and ‘OSUN A DARA’ during the Oodua Children’s Day celebration at Osogbo City Stadium in May last year. Inset: (L-R) The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; the governor,State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on the occasion.

6 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014MAGAZINE

Humanizing Education Through Reclassification (III)

Contiuned from page 5

Contiuned on page 11

•BOLD STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF SCHOOLS’ RECLASSIFICATION: The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed), addressing his numerous admirersduring his official commissioning of Baptist Central Elementary School, Ilare, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, recently.

· Continued from last week.

WE find it most apt once again to maintain a linkwith the last edition in order to maintain a flow offacts in such a manner that no single aspect of

idea brought to the fore is lost, hence we draw reference tothe following relevant portions of the closing parts of theedition:

Following the declaration of a state of emergency in theeducation industry in the state, the administration ofOgbeni Rauf Aregbesola swung swiftly into action whenin February 2011, the first-ever Education Summit was puttogether for the State of Osun. The agenda and thrust ofthe summit was to actively engage a rich pool of ideas,skills, experiences and expertise of participants; drawn fromdiverse and related disciplines from Nigeria, Africa and theDiaspora in order to fashion out lasting panacea to themultifaceted hydra headed challenges that had hithertoplagued the sector.

As part of the findings and recommendations of thesummit, which was chaired by no less a personality thanthe academic icon and internationally reputed NobelLaureate in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka, theteaching-learning environment was identified to be of highpreponderating and contributory influence on impact ofdelivery, efficacy and good outcome. It would not be amismatch, therefore, to attribute the emergence andevolution of the State of Osun Schools InfrastructureDevelopment Project, known for short as O’SCHOOLS tothe numerous landmark breakthrough achievements of theinaugural Education Summit for the State of Osun held inFebruary 2011.

Another in the list of programmes rolled out by theincumbent administration sequel to the State of OsunEducation Summit is the ongoing Schools Reforms andReclassification. By the tone of the reclassification, noschool was going to, in nomenclature or identity lose thename given to it by its initial owners before the take-overof the mission schools by the government in September1975. Also by it, the speculation that some pupils or studentswould have to trek long distances to and fro schools ondaily basis is off-track. It is also an unfounded fallacy thatgovernment has the ulterior motive of partial or massiveretrenchment of teachers at the back of its mind by initiatingthe programme. In addition to this, the calculated liefabricated that the Government Unusual has embarked onthe mass demolition of school structures claimed to havebeen erected by the immediate past administration is bothunsystematic and irrational. The governor has continuouslyspared no available medium to debunk these rumors. TheDeputy Governor, who also doubles as the StateCommissioner for Education has never relented indisabusing the minds of citizens and residents andinsulating them from believing these bunches of lies. Beloware excerpts from responses by Otunba Lai Oyeduntan toquestions bordering on these malicious insinuations:

On the negative protestation against the whole essenceof providing the public education sub-sector with brand-new infrastructure, this response provides the most aptresponse:

“Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Committeeis the Project Management Office (PMO) of SchoolsInfrastructure Development Project for the State of Osun.The Schools Infrastructure Development Project is an

intervention mechanism, one of the interventionmechanisms introduced by the government of Ogbeni RaufAdesoji Aregbesola to revamp the education sector of thestate. Our project is essentially to superintend thedevelopment of the most decayed and largely dilapidatedstructures in the schools for basic education in our state.I don’t know whether I will agree with you that the publicdoes not know. If anything at all, we have had a lot ofexposure in terms of what we stand for, what we do, howwe do it and even the activities that we have been engagedin. The name, the coinage ‘’O’SCHOOLS’’ has been thename for the committee to the extent that many of us havehad to answer to the name ‘’O’SCHOOLS’’. O’SCHOOLSis the alias of the committee.”

The impetus for the new infrastructural development ishere given in lucid terms:

“Firstly, there’s no difference. It is a development. It isan enhancement. It is an enhancement of the environmentwhere our teaching and learning functions take place.Why I say there’s no difference? One, the setting on whichwe are doing our intervention is based on the existingschools. The schools are there, but they have deterioratedso badly that they had become dysfunctional. Yes, somepeople started that idea in the past, and it is time to improveon it, to modernize it, to bring it up to track with modernTwenty-First Century standards. So what we’ve beenmaking is a transformational projection of what we havebeen doing and bringing it up to track with the bestpractices all over the world.”

Reacting to the insinuation that demolished schoolstructures are strong edifices that are legacies of theimmediate past administration in the state, the chairmanresponded as follows:

“Well, the truth is that we have had to removedangerously dilapidated structures from our schools. One,at the beginning of this committee’s assignment, we touredthe schools and found structures that constitutedimmediate danger to the users of the premises and thismade us to invite the heads of the schools; that is theheadmasters and the principals to give us reports and filetheir returns and give us details of such structures in theirpremises that are considered to constitute immediatedanger to students. We received their requests and wefound out that four thousand and fifty five (4,055)structures were noted to be dangerously dilapidated. Youmust know, for emphasis, we only go to remove thosestructures that have been identified by the schools. So weonly go to those schools on invitation by the heads of theschools to help remove dangerously dilapidatedstructures. What that means in essence, is that whateverstructures we remove, would have no adverse effect on thecapacity of the affected school to function the morningafter; because we are only invited to come and removestructures that were not in use as at the date of removal.So it is not true that the intention was to put the schoolsand the users in hazard or difficulties; the intention wasnot haphazard. The structures were demolished based onthe specification of the users. It was structured and it wasmapped out.”

The devilish notion contrived that the administrationintended through the O’SCHOOLS or the Reclassificationexercise to make pupils or students of schools to trek longdistances to and fro schools is debunked with thisresponse:

“It is not true. It is not possible. It is not practical that

we ever moved pupils/students from Ipetu-Ijesa to Ijebu-Ijesa or any of such locations. First of all, I’ve thrown achallenge to the public. Anybody who can identify astructure that was removed without the invitation of theaffected schools should please let us know or contact us.I don’t want you to confuse an attempt by a committee inthe Ministry of Education to implement the new schoolingstructures. That is a different thing entirely. That was arecent event and the government is on top of it to makesure that this is done properly. For us as O’SCHOOLS,our relics, purview, our mandate is to superintend theintroduction of infrastructure in our schools, and nobodyhas suffered any deprivation as a result of our activities.The only wholesale demolition we witnessed so far arethose school structures marked for demolition for thepurpose of immediate redevelopment; and as of today,twenty-four (24) of such schools have been developed.”

Lastly in this edition, we shall refer to the Chairman’sresponse to questions bordering on speculated schools’merger and the imminent submerging of initial ownership.Also, this response allays the fear of teachers’ retrenchment:

“I would have to clarify certain things. The policy ofrestructuring the schooling system, the policies of eventhe average size, optimum size of these schools are notarbitrary. They are not new and they are not even far-fetched. The results of that reorganization will justify theexercise. Right now, most of these schools are already ofthat same size. We have primary schools with thepopulation in excess of one thousand (1,000) all over thestate. We have secondary schools with population in excessof 2,000 plus all over the state. But what do you have? Inone premises, you have three, four schools. In one premises,you have several schools. All we are doing isrationalization; which is optimizing the allocation, theapplication of resources. Part of the resources is theteachers, and they are on top of the chart. Why do youhave schools with two teachers, three teachers; fourteachers; five teachers; and they have two or more schoolsin that same premises? Why not aggregate them andreschedule them and make the time table and allocationof teachers a lot easier? Then comes the issue ofmaintaining the schools. The environment is very, veryimportant for the development of the mind. That is evenmore so for the young mind, the young impressive mind.That is the budget and that is what we are aiming at -That the environment should be conducive; and be ofsupport to a developing mind that is learning andmaturing into wholesome personality.”

These question and answer sessions were held at a timewhen the schools’ reclassification exercise had not begunto take effect. At the time the responses were made, theidea of reclassification had not yet been publicly known itwas then at the conception stage. Yet the responses arestill found apt and relevant! This shows the depth andextent of the preparedness, commitment and consistencyof the Government Unusual to its programmes and policies.

The programmes and policies of the incumbentadministration in the Sate of Osun are mutuallyreconstructive. They are integrative, well-knit, symbiotic,interdependent and interwoven.

OUR last edition closed at the point at which we wereclarifying issues that had come up in previouseditions pertaining to the events and happenings in

7 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014 PHOTOTALK

APC Congress And Governorship Primary Election In The State Of Osun LastSaturday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•(L-R) Senator Bayo Salami; Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam; Chairman, State of Osun APC Governorship Congress Committee, MallamNasir El-Rufai; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; State APC interim Chairman, Elder Lowo Adebiyi; member of the committee, Hajiya Ramatu Aliyuimmediately after Governor Aregbesola collected his certificate of return last Saturday.

•(L-R) Secretary of the congress committee, Mr Olishe Emeka; Hajiya Aliyu and Mr Sunday Jacob (members).

•(L-R) Honourable Leke Ogunsola; Honourable Lasun Yusuf; Senator Jide Omoworare and former Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Mojeed Alabi at theAPC governorship congress.

8 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014 PHOTOTALK

APC Congress And Governorship Primary Election In The State Of Osun LastSaturday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•A sea of heads at the programme.

•Governor Aregbesola (with mic), addressing after winning the All Progressive Congress (APC) Governorship Primary Nomination Election, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park,Osogbo.

9 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014PHOTOTALK

•Some of the INEC officials from Abuja at the Osun APC governorship congress last Saturday in Osogbo.

•(L-R) The Chairman, State of Osun APC Congress Committee, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in a handshake with Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the congress in Osogbo last Saturday.

APC Congress And Governorship Primary Election In The State Of Osun LastSaturday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•(L-R) Deputy Governor State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori congratulating her boss, Governor Aregbesola after he was presented certificate of return.

10 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014PHOTOTALKAPC Congress And Governorship Primary Election In The State Of Osun LastSaturday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•Barrister Ajibola Bashir (in glasses) with APC members during the ward congress at Ward 7, Osogbo local government, Osogbo, last Saturday.

•A cross section of APC members at ward 5, Osogbo local government, Osogbo, during the ward congress.

11 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014 MAGAZINE

Humanizing Education Through Reclassification (III)Contiuned from page 6

Contiuned on page 12

•AREGBESOLA: Governor, State of Osun •LAOYE-TOMORI: Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Education

the public education sub-sector in the State of Osun. Theprevious edition had sought out to dig deep in to the cruxof the matter that constituted rot, decay and deteriorationin the sub-sector; to the extent that as at the time of take-over of the reins of power and governance by the Aregbesolaadministration, the public education sub-sector in the statehad so deteriorated that it was becoming almost extinct. Itwas in that regard that we set out at the earlier stage of thatedition to trace the events which constituted theantecedents of the man Aregbesola in power, hisdetermination and deep-seated interest in assuming theresponsibilities of power and governance of the state, hiselection campaigns and his pact with the people of thestate. There is a relevant portion of this pact which hasbecome a sort of terms of reference for us in virtually alleditions pertaining to ongoing reforms in the affected sub-sector. Owing to the down-to-earth relevance of thatparticular portion of the Pact, OSUN DEFENDERMagazine shall here draw reference to it all over again, atleast for the purposes of emphasis and reminder. It runs asfollows:

“My mission and ambition are to restore to the people,a state of peace, opportunity, for progress and room forthe pursuit of prosperity in our time under a peoplefriendly government.

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

SIX POINT INTEGRAL ACTION PLAN· Banish Poverty· Banish Hunger· Banish Unemployment (Create Work/Wealth)· Restore Healthy Living· Promote Functional Education· Enhance Communal Peace and Progress”Further in the line of drawing specific reference, we have

the following:CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS

“There is the need for a civil service reform that willnot lead to any loss of jobs as I Rauf Aregbesola do notbelieve in laying people off in the name of reforms.

Our reform will make the work environment moreconductive, stimulating and development oriented.

Bonuses, incentives and regular awards shall beinstituted to promote a culture of excellence in the civilservice along with the prompt payment of salaries,allowances, leave bonuses and year end performancebonuses.

Promotions and comprehensive salary reviews andincreases shall be regular.

Internal and external training, work exchangeprogrammes and overseas training shall be activelyreinstituted for comprehensive human development in thecivil service.

New Tutor General/Permanent Secretary Cadre shallbe created for Teachers in new education districts forbetter school administration.

We shall institute Home Ownership Scheme forpublic servants and also support and encourage theirbackyard food production business ventures.

We shall do a comprehensive review of civil servicenames and conventions as part of our efforts to create apeople- friendly civil service.

Appropriate nomenclature will enhance accountabilityand promote public access to the services of the ministry.A citizen with a complaint of blockage of drainage willfind a Ministry of Roads and Drainages easier to identifywith than Ministry of Works, a Ministry of HumanResources and Development will more appropriatelycommunicate its services than a Ministry ofEstablishment.”

WE now swing to the Education sub-heading of thePact, which we quote as follows:

PROMOTE FUNCTIONAL EDUCATIONVision: Eradicate the frustration of youths caused by

education that does not lead to employment.“To achieve this, the government of AC under Rauf

Aregbesola shall:· Provide free education at all levels in Osun State.

Focus on functional education. Education that makes oneuseful to himself and society.

· Improve incentives to teachers and work withthe NUT to restore the dignity of the teaching profession.

· Restructure administration of schoolmanagement and create Tutors-General (PermanentSecretary Cadre) from among Head Teachers in threeEducational Districts which we will establish.\

· Fix all collapsed educational infrastructures inall the schools.

· Support with modern teaching aids and well-stocked libraries.

· Ensure cooperation with parents and teachersto improve discipline and morality.

· Introduce non-partisan community-basedgoverning boards for all schools.

· Reduce number of students per classroomimmediately.

· Introduce home development plans for teacherswho wish to build houses in their home towns, throughaccess to special mortgage packages.

· Promote mass adult literacy and numeracyprogrammes.

· Promote and support Special programmes thatgive special attention to education of girls and women.

· Establish institutions that impart life-long skillsfor all, in and out of formal schooling.

ON HIGHER EDUCATION AND UNIVERSITY· I am committed to ensuring that an Osun State

University takes off on a sound footing and becomes afirst-class institution with linkages to renowneduniversities in the developed world.

· I will make every tertiary institution in Osun Statean independent degree-awarding one.

· Encourage use of services of retired, but not tireddons and administrators, from reputable institutions.”

After the introductory and background aspects tracedabove, the last edition went ahead to dig deep andpungently the assiduous and dedicated efforts of theadministration at turning the tide around in the publiceducation sub-sector immediately after assuming the reinsof power and governance in November 2010. In the light ofthis, we traced the declaration of a state of emergency inthe entire sector and the holding of the first ever State of

Osun Education Summit, a convergence which wasconvened to brainstorm and rub minds over the numerouschallenges which had plagued the Education sub-sector ofthe Social Services Sector of the state over time. We thenperused the archives as we brought out relevant words ofwisdom concerning the rich, resourceful and time-testedpolicies and programmes of the incumbent administration.

Particularly, it was at the clarification of issues borderingon the much speculated proposed merger of schools andthe ensuing insinuated effect of pupils having to be giventhe untold hardship of trekking long kilomtres distances toand fro their schools daily that we drew curtains on the lastweek edition. That speculation was confirmed to be untrue,unfounded, baseless and quite illogical.

One of the first proactive and decisive steps taken in thedirection of stemming the tide of rot and deterioration whichbefell our public schools was the revival and rejuvenationof the schools’ learning environment. It was a worthy;deserving and apposite step that if education washumanized by developing befitting environment, that actionalone would go a long way in reviving the spate of declinein the entire education industry in the state. These reactionsby the Chairman of the State of Osun Schools’Infrastructure Development Committee Project, Otunba LaiOyeduntan gives the background of the impetus for theschools’ develo0pment in infrastructure as pursued by theincumbent administration:

“There is no maximum figure, and governance is acontinuum. That means until all schools are brought upto par with the set standards, government should not relentin this direction. So we designed and redesigned ourschools and they have not changed within the fundingcapacity of the government. Since funding is limited, wecan now only go for what the government can afford andthat is why we are limiting our projections to the statedfigures. Well, I have this to say that no school project isbeing left untouched, why? It is because the concept ofdilapidation and reconstruction is precise. Every schooltaken into consideration will not be abandoned.”

Commenting on the number of units of these schoolstructures to be constructed, the Chairman had this to say:

“There is no maximum figure, and governance is acontinuum. That means until all schools are brought upto par with the set standards, government should not relentin this direction. So we designed and redesigned ourschools and they have not changed within the fundingcapacity of the government. Since funding is limited, wecan now only go for what the government can afford andthat is why we are limiting our projections to the statedfigures. Well, I have this to say that no school project isbeing left untouched, why? It is because the concept ofdilapidation and reconstruction is precise. Every schooltaken into consideration will not be abandoned.”

On the plans ad intents of the administration at the initialstage, vis-à-vis the reality on ground as at the zero hour ofimplementation, this contribution represents the mind ofgovernment:

“Yes, the practical it is. I mean it’s not just the optimists;even the realist should have cause to be hopeful. Why?Our plan is a minimum delivery of at least 50 Elementaryschools, 33 Middle schools and between 10 to 20 Highschools, within the next 15 months. I said 15 monthsbecause the high schools is a much bigger project whichare projects that will take a longer time to accomplish orcomplete. And we have started. Out of those numbers,

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014 MAGAZINE 12

Humanizing Education Through Reclassification (III)

•PROMOTING THE ETHOS OF OMOLUABI THROUGH MASSIVE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT: The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (with fez cap), leadingthousands of OYES cadets in the endurance trek. With him are his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori (right) and other dignitaries sometime ago.

Continued on page 13

Continued from page 11twenty-four sites are already under construction and

some of them would be delivered in a matter of weeks. It ispossible and it is not exceedingly optimistic that peopleare expectant. Government of the State of Osun iscommitted and we are, on our part as committee, we sharethe passions of the governor; we share the vision of thegovernment and we are committed to that delivery ofquality service and programmes for which this governmentis renowned.”

The reality has not been denied; neither has theadministration drifted from its promises to deliver this andthat number of these structures for the various categoriesof schools. Reporting the plans of action of the State ofOsun Schools’ Infrastructure Development Committee,OSUN DEFENDER Magazine once documented asfollows:

“At its inception, O’SCHOOLS as the ProjectManagement Office (PMO) of the Government of the Stateof Osun was set out for the purpose of the development ofinfrastructure in Osun schools. In the beginning of itsassignment, the primary mandate was to take all necessarysteps to build and deliver within 24 months:

· 100 elementary schools (2,100 classrooms);· 50 (62?) middle schools; and· 20 high schools

Though the committee has not in any way wavered fromits commitment to deliver its initial mandate to the peopleof the State of Osun, exigencies of the present time,governed by limitations imposed by available funds andtime has caused it to streamline its efforts to immediatelyaffordable units of structures. According to Otunba LaiOyeduntan, the O’SCHOOLS Chairman, in a chat withOSUN DEFENDER Magazine crew earlier in theoutgoing year, the immediate mandate of the O’SCHOOLSCommittee is a minimum delivery of at least:

· 50 elementary schools;· 33 middle schools; and· Between 10 and 20 high schoolsAll within the next 15 months! The Chairman also

revealed that out of these figures of school structures, workhad started and was already progressing on 24 units;with high hope that some completed units shall bedelivered latest before the winding of the 2012/2013academic session.”

In September this year, at the occasion of the officialcommissioning of the first in the list of 900-seater ultra-modern schools built throughout the length and breadthof the state, the governor of the State of Osun, OgbeniRauf Adesoji Aregbesola made a declaration whichconfirmed that the claims adduced to by Oyeduntan in theabove-quoted response has not turned out to be a farceeventually. The declaration as reported earlier in one ofOsun Defender Magazine editions is recapped as follows:

“With the present effort of the Government Unusual inthe Education sub-sector of the state, we owe theadministration nothing short of our kind understanding,support, cooperation and prayers. Let it be noted that asat the time of compiling this report, thirteen (13) units ofElementary schools; fifteen (15) of Middle schools; and

ten (10) of High schools are under constructionthroughout the nooks and crannies if the state. But onceagain, if anyone would kick against any policy rolled outfor revamping the public schools by government asproprietor of the schools, such one also has the right so todo. But then, let us ask him and do the necessaryverification if the accuser has any ward in those schools.It is only those who have wards in those institutions thatare genuine stakeholders. It is only those whose childrenare in those schools who truly know how the experiencehad been, so they can now best compare what and whatconstitute the difference.”

What the foregoing implies is that as at the time ofreleasing this edition, there are not less than thirty-eight(38) pieces of school buildings in the various categoriesof reclassification waiting for official commissioning onthe occasion of commemorating the third year anniversaryof the Aregbesola administration on Wednesday, November27, 2013. These brand-new school buildings are one-in-town; as they have dramatically transformed the State ofOsun into the first among equals, and indeed in consonancewith its famous journalistic slogan, a state that is a stepahead of others.

The Salvation Army School located at Oke Fia /Alekuwodo Area of the state capital is a project executedas a demonstration master-piece to show to the wholewide world the high, lofty intents of the administration,with regards to turning around the fortunes of our publicschools, especially in the area of infrastructuredevelopment. Since its official commissioning lastSeptember, the school has been effectively put to properuse as a middle school; to the pride of students who areenrolled in the school, admiration of all and sundry inthe state; and envy of those who are yet to move into theirown brand-new school buildings.

As reflected above, the school buildings are soonexpected to go round all the nooks and crannies of thestate. We also need to add that the schools reconstructiondrive of the incumbent administration is directed relatedto rebuilding of dilapidated buildings; but it is not limitedto it. The blueprint encapsulating the tenets of activitieswhich form the terms of reference of the State of OsunSchools Infrastructure Development (O’SCHOOLS)Project Committee reveal the following:

a) School buildings as designed and approved;b) External works as designed and approved;c) Landscaping as designed and approved;d) Furniture for students and staff;e) Library, laboratory and workshop equipments;f) Sporting facilities; andg) Any other facility, structure and equipment that

may be considered necessary for effective teaching andlearning in the schools.

It is contained in the said blueprint that to achieve themandate set for it, the O’SCHOOLS committee assumedthe ordinary meaning of infrastructure in this context tobe, but not limited to these afore-listed areas ofconstruction; thus the committee has a broad area ofactivity. It is further revealed in the blueprint that themega schools are intended to be large enough to attract

necessary amenities and facilities to make learning andteaching environments more conducive and at par withmodern-day schools. In actual fact, the school facilitiesput in place so far are conforming with these conditions.

Commenting on the wholesome value of the EducationSummit held for the state, its positive outcome and thevarious activities and events which formed a build-up toit, Otunbe Oyeduntan had the following to say:

“Well, I’m sorry to say that I’m not aware that anybodyhas criticized that summit. I have not seen any fellow doingthat! The summit was widely attended. It was widely gracedfrom all over the world by people who are knowledgeablein education, policies, and even in intellectual aspect ofit. I am going to answer that question simply because Iwas involved, both in planning and implementation; andthe after-effects. How did we come about the summit? Longbefore Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came into office, right fromthe moment he indicated interest and was given the ticketto contest, he had shown a lot of interest in education. Asfar back as 2004, he sponsored a remedial programme forOsun boys and girls preparing for external examinations.That time, 2,000 candidates were involved. Extra-muralclasses were organized in Osogbo, in Iwo, in Ilesa - about2,500 candidates I think. And Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesolapicked the bill to fund the classes, paid for their schoolcertificate entry fee and paid them (the candidates)allowances. When the results came, it was disappointing!It was obvious that there was a lot more wrong with theeducation sector than trying all these cosmeticapproaches for a solution. So between 2005 and 2011,there were so many committees he instituted focusing oneducation! That is why it was possible that within the first100 days of his being sworn in, an education committee -a summit chaired by no less a personality than ProfessorWole Soyinka took place; inviting resource people fromall over the world; many of them, our own people, whohad made marks in the United States, in Europe, in theAmericas and other parts of the country and Africa. Okay,the summary of the findings at that summit identified thatit takes more than the teacher, it takes more than the pupil,it takes more than all of these to have all the impact thatit requires to increase the fortunes of the education sector.One of these is that the teacher who will teach must bemade more efficient. The students must be well prepared,and of course, the environment must be made more friendlyand befitting - more enabling! So, the environment mustbe properly taken care of and that led to the uniformconcept introduced by the Government of the state toencourage and of course to motivate the pupils. Teachersare being recruited and being retrained via programmesof training, retraining and promotion courses. Now, weare talking of the environment - we have the O’MEALprogramme, we have O’UNIFORM, even O’TEACHERS,so to say, all came as a result of experts identifying andpointing out the crucial steps to take, to set the sectorback on track.”

On the place of the State of Osun Schools’ InfrastructureDevelopment Project (O’SCHOOLS) among the synergyof programmes which share the “O” acronym under theAregbesola administration, this was his contribution:

13 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014MAGAZINE

Humanizing Education Through Reclassification (III)

Continued from page 12

•Oyeduntan: O’School Chairman•KOLABALOGUN: Social Welfare, Youth Sports andSpecial Needs•AWOFISAYO: SUBEB Board Chairman

“Yes. I would like to approach your question in two parts. One,“O” concept which is essentially branded; and for students ofPsychology and Marketing, we understand issues from the back.Really to anchor the subconscious of the citizens, to harness theirtalents to the political unit - and this is all over the world. Go toAmerica. America the beautiful! The average child in Americadoes not know anywhere else other than America. And it instillsand imbibes in them to accord the loyalty and commitment toservice and the selflessness to contribute their quota to that Americathe beautiful. What we have now - Osun the beautiful!O’SCHOOLS, O’YES – “O” projects! “O” programmes! O’Commitment! O’ Loyalty! O‘

Governance! A governance concept that focuses on the physical;that enters with programmes and activities that are measuredwith success or failure or the benefits obtained from it by thepeople. For the “O” concepts, the branding works well andwroughts wonders. That is one aspect of our programmes. Thesecond question is the economic impact of projects andprogrammes. As I’ve always said that we cannot be talking of thenaira or monetary value of projects we are having withoutconsidering the overall contribution in non-monetary terms to theoverall economic development of the state. Also, well, ourphilosophy in O’SCHOOLS for the completion, philosophy forthe supervision and the strategy for the site work focuses on thelocal economy. Go to any of our sites, every resource being usedare largely sourced locally. Local builders, local artisans, localtradesmen, local supplies of materials and to a large extent, it’s aleverage policy to put the money that we are spending into thepockets of the people and looking at the big share which theprojected capitals committed to the school projects, we are lookingat the overall benefit the people can derive or which can accrue tothem, even at the implementation stage.”

It is the core policy of the Aregbesola administration to makesound quality control mechanism the hallmark of all projectsexecuted with the taxpayers’ money. In road projects, schoolbuildings, hospital facilities and virtually all physical projects putin place by the administration; all hands are always on deck toensure that they are durable and of long-lasting quality. Thisclaim is lent credence to in this response by the O’SCHOOLSproject committee Chairman:

“O sure, yes! O yes! Look, the essence of having O’SCHOOLSas Project Management Office is to ensure that our office is tohelp the contractors deliver - not just being there to supervise, wehelp them to deliver high quality jobs. In all that we do, we are notcompromising on quality at all. Our mechanisms for control andsupervision, both before, during and after the constructionexercises are superb. In fact, I am very proud to say that we haveinvolved a lot of supervision professionals across constructionindustries. We have approached the Nigerian Institute ofArchitects, the Nigerian Institute of Engineers, the NIB - theNigerian Institute of Builders, and Institution of Surveyors -Institutions that control professionals in the building industry towork with us in supervision. From their members, we haveappointed people we call TSRs - Technical Site Representativeswhose duties are likened to those of site engineers they are residenton the sites, they monitor the construction processes, and that iswithout prejudices! They hammer on standard professionalrequirements of supervising consultants as well as our owntechnical-in-house technical capacity to monitor and supervisework done; to supervise construction work on the site.”

Concerning the abolition of special schools and single-sexschools, I think this is to the best advantage of all; the students inparticular. Classification of schools as schools of science,commerce, arts and /or other branches of knowledge, to me, isunnecessarily discriminatory, and as such should be done awaywith. Also, single-sex schools impair and retard the developmentof students in heterosexual relationships, especially in later life.As a qualified teacher and expert in the field of education, I havelong had my reservations over the expediency of entrusting achild to a single-sex school. Thank God that we now have aresponsible and responsive government who thought it likewise.

ON the whole, OSUN DEFENDER Magazine has the followingconcluding remarks to make. Concerning the unfoundedspeculations of schools’ merger, the good gestures of theGovernment Unusual deserve much of praises than denigration.With the few cases of completed new school facilities that we haveseen, the old names of those schools have not been lost in theprocess. The most visible case in hand is that of Salvation ArmyMiddle School at Alekuwodo in Osogbo, the state capital. At atime in the 1980s, precisely during the Buhari / Idiagbon militaryregime, when the merger of schools was earnestly in vogue,nobody dared question the wisdom of the administrations thatcarried out the reforms in the old Oyo State of which we in thepresent-day State of Osun were part and parcel.

We have spoken extensively on the pitiable conditions of publicschools that were inherited by this administration upon itsassumption of office three years ago. During the time of theimmediate past administration in office, the situation of our schoolsdeteriorated so badly that we who are proud products of thosepublic schools could not hold back our tears for our variousAlma Mater. But the old proprietors of those schools (Christianmissionaries, Muslim missionaries and communities) neverdecried the spate of rot, neglect and abandonment which the schoolswere made to witness. There was apparent conspiracy of silenceas our schools were turned into public toilets, arena for socialparties, Indian hemp joints, hide-outs for hoodlums and the restof worst things that a school should represent.

Upon this background, it is true and sacrosanct that he whoblows the trumpet should be the one dictating the tune. It is alsowise to admit that whoever sits in the driver’s seat determines themotion and movement of an automobile. In times past, someadministrations in the state had managed the meager resourcesat the disposal of the state so badly that activities of governmentwere almost dragged to a grinding halt. Also, some governmentshad failed woefully in the dispensation of social and otherresponsibilities to the governed. In these areas, they had theshortcoming of being counted among the list of responsible andresponsive governments. A case in hand is that of the immediatepast administration; during which time in office, subterfuge andprofligacy stank to high heavens. Like the scriptures attest, weare all living witnesses to these contrasts.

The Rauf Aregbesola administration in the State of Osun hasso much impacted positively that it constitutes brazen show ofingratitude and wicked selfishness on the part of any person orgroup of whatever political leaning to attempt at castigating it juston the grounds that it has succeeded in blocking leakages fromthe treasury and for making most efficient use of our resources.The administration has also succeeded in increasing the revenuestatus of the state. These are supposed to be pluses on the groundthat the administration should be awarded the highest pass markwhen compared with any of the previous ones we ever had; or allof them put together.

Though we on the crew of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine maynot be in government; holding brief for the government of the day

would not constitute an act of mischievous meddlesomeness. Wehave the constitutional right like any other citizen of the FederalRepublic of Nigeria to express our take and opinions on issuesbordering on welfare, well-being and prosperity of our people. Asresponsive and responsible news media agent, we owe it a duty todirect the thought and mindset of our teeming readers along theright positive values. Today, if all our old schools should bereturned to their initial owners, how many of these owners wouldbe able to cope with all the present challenges of ownership in theEducation sub-sector?

With the present effort of the Government Unusual in theEducation sub-sector of the state, we owe the administrationnothing short of our kind understanding, support, cooperationand prayers. Let it be noted that as at the time of compiling thisreport, thirteen units of Elementary schools; fifteen of Middleschools; and ten of High schools are under constructionthroughout the nooks and crannies if the state. But once again, ifanyone would kick against any policy rolled out for revampingthe public schools by government as proprietor of the schools,such one also has the right so to do. But then, let us ask him anddo the necessary verification if the accuser has any ward in thoseschools. It is only those who have wards in those institutions thatare genuine stakeholders. It is only those whose children are inthose schools who truly know how the experience had been, sothey can now best compare what and what constitute the difference.After all, he who wears the shoe knows where it pinches!

We on the crew of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine are notprophets. But sounding prophetic at this stage could not be sinister.In view of this, we foresee that as the morning shows the day, it isonly political stability that can enable progress. Our students area part of the society just like all the rest of us. The Aregbesolaadministration is on course doing its best by providing a conduciveenvironment to enable them achieve their goals. Therefore, allmust try hard to create that environment because that will reducethe rate of distraction in the surroundings. We agree very muchwith this submission by one of our sages.

So far, we have devoted time and space to discussions onongoing State of Osun Schools’ Redesign and Reclassification.The next one week or more so shall be interesting and eventful inthe state. This shall be so because the administration of OgbeniRauf Adesoji Aregbesola in the state shall be celebrating its thirdyear anniversary in office. The administration and the entirecitizenry; most especially those who are progress-loving haveevery cause to celebrate. At the instance of this occasion, theadministration shall be commissioning manifold projects; whilenew ones would be rolled out afresh. We on the OSUN DEFENDERMagazine crew are proud to be part of this celebration –celebration of excellence in administration.

We therefore promise you a juicy special anniversary package.Weeks ago, we made a prelude to the anniversary package. Weimplore our teeming readers to be on the look-out for thecommemorative package that would soon hit the newsstand withan amazing thunderous thud. We mutter our happy anniversarywish to all patriots. Osun a dara o.

· Concluded.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014 14FEATURE

APC And Osun Guber PollDespite the Governor Rauf Aregbesola developmental politics and policies with colossal empirical evidence everywhere in the State of

Osun, would his ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) win the August governorship election in the state, asks ISAAC OLUSESI, pointingup the monumental grounds for the continuity of Aregbesola’s in office.THE contrast is manifest. Certain

ramifications safe guard the characteristiccohesion, unity, discipline, solidarity and

interest articulation in the All Progressives Congress(APC), Nigeria, from diving into sheer politicalimmaturity and anarchy, insensate hostility andmutual suspicion, and unbridled antagonism and actsof incendiarism.

In the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP),Nigeria, however, the personalization of the partystructures and an illiberal and anti-democraticpolitical culture are political pathologies that haveengendered a view of violently competitive politicsand processes, meaning the Olusegun Obasanjo do-or-die politics, and which have also continued toencourage the subversion and desecration of thesanctity and inviolability of the electoral process,with disastrous consequences for democracy inNigeria. In the PDP, the flexing of muscles oftenoriginates not most infrequently from theexchanges meant to show raw power, arrogance ofoffice and a shameless exhibition of clownishnesssuch that the embattled PDP, afflicted by thedevaluation of its political morality, staggerscontinually from one moment of storm and stressto another moment of trial and depression. Hence,its escalated vulnerability to consistently unresolvedinternal rifts and haemorrhage, nursing self-inflictedwounds, having boxed self into the abyss of self-liquidation, obvious even to a political neophyte.

For the ruling APC in the State of Osun, a publicelection means more than the ritual of voting. Butwould the APC win the August governorship poll inOsun? Public elections in Osun, to the Osun APCconnect many things like high degree of the Osunvoters’ political participation at the individual andgroup levels in the political process; Osun voters’relevance within the political process and actualcontrol of the government; and Osun voters’freedom of views on participation, policies andactions of the government without inhibition tothe free flow of ideas and discussion for a qualitativeimprovement of the system. All of these for onepurpose: to reach the goals of the Osun GovernorRauf Aregbesola’s 6-Point Integral Action Plan, atthe governance level. In Osun politics, the ActionPlan and the APC are one and only one,an agendafor democracy and development. The Osun votershave entrusted their political being, political welfareand political future in the Action Plan and the party;and both the Action Plan and the party havedemonstrated willingness and capability to look afterthe collective interests in the State. That is thesociology of the Action Plan and the APC, with theparty leaders, party members and Osun voters asthe seeing eyes, hearing ears and moving hands.

The correlation between the APC effectiveleadership in the State and its effective membershiphas gummed up the Action Plan and the party, withthe party leadership exerting desirable influencethat moves the whole collectivity of Aregbesola’sstate cabinet and the state parliament in a shareddirection that has delivered such essentials asfunctional education, functional water, functionalphysical infrastructure, functional health, functionalemployment, functional agriculture, functionalsecurity and functional economy.

Functional education. Primary school andsecondary school basic funding grants wererespectively raised to over N448 million and overN427 million per annum, respectively from theannual N7.8 million and N117 million; 252,793elementary school kids being fed nutritious lunchmeals daily through O,Meals, increasing primaryschool enrolment by 25 per cent; strengthened thephysical and health profile of over 8,000 pupilsthrough O’Calisthenics; strengthened the capacityof the State Ministry of Education by establishingzonal and local offices and three educationaldistricts and creation of the office of tutor-generalsand permanent secretaries; strengthened thecapacity of teachers by exposing them to structuredtrainings; 50 model elementary schools, 31 modelmiddle schools and 9 model high schools being built;150,000 e-learning tablet computers, Opon Imobeing provided for senior secondary school studentsin the State; and the State has moved up from 35th

position in 2010 to 18th position in WAEC.

Functional water. Ede headworks and Eko-Endeand Ipetu-Ijesa waterworks rehabilitated andupgraded with water production capacity increasedfrom 17% to 30%; 122 hand pumps provided to 61communities, with massive repairs of hand pumpsacross the state; 123 kilometer of waterways dredgedand de-silted that have wonderfully kept Osun flood-free.

Functional physical infrastructure. The Ido-OsunAerodrome named MKO International Airport, 128kilometers of 61 township roads and 294 kilometersof 20 inter-city roads being upgraded; OsogboRailway Station, modernized; free and innovativerail service between Lagos and Osogbo beingprovided; Ultramodern mall with over 1000 shops,office spaces, key lamps, cinema, and trailer parksbeing built; new markets- Dagbolu market, Aje and

Aiyegbaju International markets, soonest to becommissioned; 1,132 kilometer of roads, 74kilometer highway connecting Osun to Lagos and47 kilometers highway linking Osun to Kwara State,218 kilometers of roads in all the local governmentcouncils, and N14.4 billion worth of rural accessroads to agricultural production clusters beingconstructed/reconstructed; transformers weremassively distributed to 80 rural communities forelectrification; Asejire- Gbongan-OwenaExpressway, and selected strategic spots across theState, beautified and rebranded.

Functional health. 74 new primary health centresbuilt; 9 state hospitals and 12 comprehensive healthcentres being renovated; 50 state of the artambulances for emergency services bought anddistributed; 51 contracts for the renovation of allthe state hospitals awarded at N1.7 billion; wellover 363,253 and 502,174 patients benefittedrespectively from the medical services at primaryhealth and secondary health centres; N320 millionworth of drugs provided for state hospitals andprimary health centres; over 1000 Osun peoplehave benefitted from the 6 medical and surgicalmissions, providing free treatment and surgeries.

Functional Employment. 40,000 youthsemployed through Osun Youth EmpowermentScheme (OYES); 18,000 youths absorbed into theState civil service through O’YES; 600 youthsemployed through Osun Rural Enterprise &Agriculture Programme (O’REAP); 3,000 youthtailors employed through O’UNIFORM; 3,000caterers engaged through O’MEALS, 400Paramedics supported through O’AMBULANCE;220 youth farmers supported through O’BROILER;280 youth farmers supported through O’MAIZE;5,000 youths trained through O’YESTECH; 1,500fish youth farmers supported through O’FISH andhundreds of thousands of direct and indirectemployments provided.

Functional agriculture. N2.1 billion set asidefor commercial agricultural credit scheme; 128cooperative groups supported for maize and cassavaproduction; over 300 farmer groups financed torun out-grower schemes (O’BOPS and O’FISH);cooperative farmers group supported to cultivate a500 hectares vegetable farm, and a 400 hectaresyam farm; 1,765 hectares of land cleared to supportfarmers; 2,000 farmers supported to plant 1.3millions plantain suckers for refined plantain flourproduction; 27 existing farm service centres beingupgraded, new ones being built; PPP-driven farmers,input supply scheme being developed; 610 youthfamers trained in modern agricultural techniques;various agriculture intervention programs being setup in secondary schools; N14 billion IDA credit for500 kilometer access road development toagricultural production clusters; 10,000 capacitycattle ranch being built; N320 million grain mop-up fund being set up; and warehouses with 1,500MT of capacity being completed.

Functional security. Dedicated crime responseteam set up and equipped with 5 APCs and 25 patrolvans; 100 vehicles being procured to support theinitiative; 2 mega police stations built, with 7 morebeing built; state-wide distress management systembeing developed ; and a surveillance helicopter,purchased to boost security monitoring in the state.

Functional economy. The state internally

generated revenue (IGR) improved from N320million monthly in 2010 to N1.5 billion per month;hidden investments valued at about N850 millionrecovered; N44.8 billion fund set up for operatingexpenses if / when federal allocations are delayed;successfully issued a seven-year bonds totaling N32billion; N10.3 billion SUKUK bond secured to enablethe raising of low- cost, long-term capital projects;introduction of e-governance system to enhancefinancial discipline in the use of state resources;State Tenders Board established that has savedsubstantial resources in the management ofcontracts, substantial resources accrued from thereview of contracts, are being allocated to ruraldevelopment programmes.

The cluster of Aregbesola’s 6-Intellectualproperty, that is, the recoded State of Osun, StateFlag, State Crest, State Pledge, State Anthem, andState Motto are the insignia of Aregbesola’spurposeful leadership that has stirred the desiredmindset in the Osun electorate for empathy andpatriotism and as corollary, growth and developmentof democracy and governance in the state. Whilethe near eight years of the PDP in Osun governmentonly showcased visible lack of manifest intellectsfor inventions that could position the State on thehousetop, for distinction. All that came from thePDP were shoddiness, atrophy, rottenness,rustiness, decay, incompetence, corruption,irresponsibility, illogicality, cheating, thievery,serenity, imbecility, and such other governance vicesthat have rather worked the PDP into frenzy overthe heroics of Aregbesola in intellectual governance(i-governance) in Nigeria.

By incisive and penetrating analysis, theAregbesola’s intellectual property has provided theState with a rallying point for its internal andexternal affairs, displayed Osun virtues at homeand abroad, provided the state with protectionsfrom misrepresentation and fraud, identified theState in any national enterprise, repositioned theState significantly on national ranking, and garneredin the varied peoples resident in the State theconsciousness of patriotism and emphatism,wherever and whenever.

The Aregbesola Walk-To-Live (WTL) has raiseda corps of patriotic and dedicated followership acrossthe state who determinedly continues to giveeffective leadership by example, that for instancehas recently steered clear of manipulation ofelectoral procedures. The WTL inducts themobilized people into the APC stable pattern ofbehavior, identity and loyalty just as the psycheand social sensibilities, economic perspectives andpolitical views of the mobilized people are brokendown and remodeled.

While the Governor-Public Interactive Meeting,coded Gbangbadekun (GGD) effects meaningfulparticipation in the state political space. The GGDre-awakens and re-orientates the people of the stateto face, with renewed faith and re-invigorated visionthe challenges of developing the state. Both theWalk-To-Live and Gbangbadekun inculcate in theOsun people the progressive values, progressivehabits, and progressive orientation that have putthe State on the path to greatness, created the rightenvironment for the sustenance of democracythrough the mutually reinforcing mechanisms ofthe WTL and GGD.

The mechanisms further permit widespreadeffective public participation in the affairs of thestate, eliminate apathy, alienation and cynicism,and bring a positive change in the quality of politicsin Osun. Practically, the Aregbesola Walk-To-Liveand Gbangedekun have institutionalized otherpolicies of government, placed high premium onaccountability, political virtue, leadershipresponsibility in the governance and party, andobligation of the Osun people.

No wonder. There was an impressive turn-outof the people of the State for the recently heldIndependent National Electoral Commission(INEC)’s voters registration exercise, thatconfirmed that the State of Osun APC’s publicadministration and governance in the state haveuprooted apathy and indifference, and re-kindledinterest of Osun people in the electoral process.Building to the exercise, the APC was busy, educatingthe registered and prospective voters on the dangersof apathy, and mobilizing the people to be defendersof democracy. The APC’s political education hasregenerated an enlightened, politically consciousand vigilant electorate in the state; while theopposition party in the State, the PDP’s recenteruption of conflicts, killings, manning and lootingat the INEC voters’ registration centres in the statehave only made the PDP’s prospective voters veryvulnerable to the fraudulent manipulation by thePDP dominant politicians and dominant groups.The demagogues in the PDP have thus signaledwhat absurd and grandiose manipulation of voters’registers, brazen incidents of cheating and fraud,wide spread disparity between the number of votesat the polls and the final results of votes cast, toexpect, come the August 9 governorship election.

“Rigging in the past had clearly ruined thenation’s previous efforts at building a virile anddemocratic polity in Nigeria,” remarked HRH ObaAbdulrahaman Babatunde, Olosunjela of OsunjelaIjesa in Atakunmosa West Local Government Areaof the state when a team of sitting parliamentarianspaid a courtesy call in his palace after they hadgone round some voters’ registration centres inIjesa zone of the state. And Hon. Isreal AjibolaFamurewa, of the National Assembly, speaking forthe visiting lawmakers of the APC extraction, hadnoted that “a voter’s card empowered the voter toelect leaders of clear vision and strong commitmentto democracy and progress.”

The APC has re-fired enthusiasm of Osun peoplein politics and elections by its appropriateenlightenment, mobilization, and empowermentof Osun electorate to use their electoral power wiselyand decisively to elect leaders and representativesof requisite integrity. Even the youths in Osun APCpossess greater potential of energy and dynamismfor effective political campaigns; as though theyouths elsewhere constitute a threat to partysurvival and stability, should they be left un-empowered as in the PDP. And the potentiality ofthe party women in the Osun APC has not beenmisused, misappropriated or misapplied. Thewomen are fully integrated into the main stream ofthe APC development efforts that rub-off on theperformances of the party in power in the state;and the APC women are committed to the partyresponsibilities as they bring sanity to the conductof the party affairs.

Aregbesola deploys every opportunity to deplorethe politics of non-issues. He has always urged thevoters in the state to vote for politics of goodgovernance. And rightly, the APC in Osun hasstaunchly transformed the Osun environment ofpolitics, economy and culture by the deploymentof its capability, leadership and communicativecapabilities.

Unlike the imperfect or diminished hegemonyof the ruling PDP at the centre, arising from theintended or unintended enormous intra-PDPconflicts; the hegemony that has itselfcontaminated the acceleration and sustenanceusually associated with the epochs of perfecthegemony of revolutionary changes, to the totaldisadvantage of the suffering masses nationally, thatalso translated at the then PDP’s governed Osuninto a volatile mix of fear and frustration,uncertainty and confusion, and hunger anddeprivation of the Osun people.

Today, the mix, volatile or less volatile has nowbeen totally obliterated, blotted out in the State ofOsun. No more fear and frustration. No moreuncertainty and confusion. And no more deprivationand hunger, with Aregbesola as governor, alwayshaving a good head above his shoulders. TheAregbesola-APC continuity in office is thecollective option of the Osun electorate. And theAPC will win the state guber election.

•Olusesi is Assistant Director, Directorate ofPublicity, Research & Strategy, All ProgressivesCongress (APC), State of Osun.

•AREGBESOLA •OMISORE

15OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, April 15, 2014 PHOTOTALK

Nigerian Union Of Tailors, Osun Chapter, Endorsed State Of Osun Governor, OgbeniRauf Aregbesola, For Second Term In Office At Nelson Mandela Freedom Park,Osogbo, State Of Osun, Last Tuesday.

•(L-R) Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba (Mrs) Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; President, Nigeria Union of Tailors, State of Osun Chapter, Alhaji KasaliAkinloye and Vice-Lady President, Mrs Oluwatoyin Abiola Alabi, during the conferment of Life Patron on the governor/endorsement of his 2nd term in office by the NigeriaUnion of Tailors in Osogbo last Tuesday.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (in glasses) addressing his supporters during his endorsement by Progressives Congress (APC) in Iwo for second term inoffice, last Friday.

Iwo Community Endorsed The State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf AregbesolaFor Second Term In Office At Iwo Local Government, State Of Osun, Last Friday.

TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014

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

By TATALO ALAMUAS a prelude to the “democratic” war of successionthat will make or mar Nige-

ria, irrespective of the outcome ofthe ongoing National Conference,the old west is being graduallymilitarised. The entire region ap-pears to have been placed on thepolitical equivalent of a war foot-ing. The siege is on. It is the kind ofshock and awe military terror thatwill turn Stormin NormanShwarzkopf to a whimpering oldbugger.

A pincer movement is unfolding with the majorstrategic objective of paralysing the dominantpolitical tendency in the region, or at the mini-mum render it hors de combat in the bid to cap-ture power at the centre. You cannot be advanc-ing when your stronghold has been set on fire.Militarily, it is known as a bridge too far.

With Musiliu Obanikoro, the newly ap-pointed Minister of State for Defence, war-gam-ing from Lagos all the way to the Ilaje coastline,with lyiola Omisore and JeIiIi Adesiyan sadisti-cally probing the heart and plexus of the oldregion in Osun state, and with a column of reac-tion heading from Ondo to link up with joyousthugs and fifth columnists already in place inEkiti-land, once again the Yoruba nation is beingturned into a theatre of war and strife.

This time around, it promises to be the motherof all political wars. But it is the charge of thelight and light-headed brigade, and once again,they shall not pass. After the rubble might havecleared, Nigeria will never be the same again. Nopolitician or political group will ever be allowedto come to the western sphere again with thethreat of war as the antidote to peace andprogress. Even for a libertarian and seeminglycarefree people, there is time for everything.

This is not an idle intellectual speculation,but a conclusion reached alter a rigorous interro-gation of the unfolding political process in theregion. It is either the dawn of a new era ordarkness forever. The reasons for this stark con-clusion are threefold, and they are historical andsociological in nature. It is proper to delve intorecent history first.

After the annihilation and political oblitera-tion of the PDP from the region, the whole placehas experienced a period of development andaccelerated modernity. It IS not a perfect statebut the fruits are showing for all to see. Noteven personal hatred for the individual actorsinvolved or animus towards the chief motivatorcan remove the fact. From Benin to Ekiti, throughOsun, Oyo, Ogun and unto Lagos, the old Westis experiencing a developmental resurgence akinto a religious revival.

The people are grateful for the relative peaceand stability that being relatively well-governedhas brought unlike many other places in thecountry that have degenerated into hell-holesbefore our very eyes. You cannot give what youdon’t have. At the federal level at least, the rul-ing party has shown itself to be ideologicallybereft and politically bankrupt. As a party, thePDP is beyond soap and water.

You cannot confront light, however imper-fect, with darkness however perfect in order tomake a dent in the evolving political conscious-ness of the sophisticated electorate of WesternNigeria, the PDP will have to come up with asuperior paradigm of development and progress.It will have to come up with a visionary blue-print for the radical amelioration of the sufferingand biblical misery which have plagued this landand turned Nigeria into the world capital of can-nibal capitalism.

But after fifteen fruitless years in power, it isclear that the PDP lacks the intellectual cadre,the political discipline, the psychologicalstamina, the moral magnitude and imaginationto come up with a transformative blueprint. Asits body language reveals, it is obvious that itrelies mainly on force and thuggery, when it isnot fanning the ember of religion and ethnicityin a dangerously polarised polity like Nigeria.The kind of murderous and misbegotten indi-viduals its primaries have thrown up in westernNigeria shows its contempt for the feeling andsensitivity of the Yoruba people.

The PDP is relying on old tricks where only

new techniques will suffice. It will meet morethan its match in the old West. You cannot fighta modern battle with ancient weapons, particu-larly a battle also joined at the level of an intel-lectual contestation for human consciousnessand the greater good of the greater community.Unlike the old guard progressives who were soldon law and order, the hazards of the Hansardand other parliamentary canards, the new gen-eration of progressives cut their teeth on thestreets and in the trenches fighting against mili-tary despotism.

There is always a tide in human affairs. Any-body who witnessed the dogged ferocity, therelentless commotion with which Oshiomhole,Aregbesola and Fayemi and even the normallyurbane and debonair Abiola Ajimobi fought toreclaim their stolen mandate will be living in afools’ paradise to ever imagine that they willallow themselves to be flushed out of their re-spective gubernatorial mansions like terrifiedmice, more so when they have the might of themultitude behind them.

Anybody who mistake Oshiomhole’s gameygamboling for complacency, Aregbesola’s steelysangfroid and diligent defiance for loss of con-centration, or Kayode Fayemi’s donnish demure-ness for loss of power appetite will have them-selves to blame when real political hostilitiescommence.

It is curious that despite all the informationavailable to him on the disposition of the region,President Jonathan has allowed himself to besold the impossible bêtise that all he needs to dois to spring some politically expired thugs onthe region and the people will scatter. We hopethe federal collaborators and their new recruitstake note of this show of love and admiration.

The people of the west have never scatteredbefore bullets. As their tormentors always findout to their peril, when they retreat it is usuallyto gather momentum for the next determinedpush against the bastion of reaction. In the his-tory of modern Nigeria, the west has neversought to dominate anybody, but it will resistdomination, whether internally or externally in-spired.

All the west had tried to do is to extend itsvision of modernity and life more abundant foreverybody, irrespective of race, region and reli-gion. In this seemingly quixotic venture, it hasmet impossible and impregnable impedimenta,not to talk of an iron road block, and it has paidterrifying price in the loss of many of its goldenchildren.

But whenever these moderate ideals of hu-man emancipation are brutally suppressed suchas happened during the First Republic, the re-pressed always return with greater vigour andferocity such as we witnessed in the SecondRepublic and the aborted Third Republic whenan impossible coalition headed by M.K.O Abiolawon a presidential election that was summarilyannulled. In the Fourth Republic, the very sameideals have turned out to be the most potentthreat to a clueless Federal Government.

We cannot try to hang the messenger whileignoring the message. There must be somethingabout this progressive ideal of an emancipatedcommunity which must explain their durabilityand persistent eruptions. What Jonathan andhis henchmen should do is to study this ideal ofgovernance, interrogate it intensely and seewhether there are no lessons to be learnt.

There is no harm in picking the brains of your

political adversaries. As old Abe Lincolnfamously demonstrated, there are im-mense political advantages accruing fromconverting political adversaries to prin-cipled collaborators. The Nigerian project,or whatever remains of it, is too impor-tant to be left at the mercy of small minds.

Having said all this, it is also time forour progressives to engage in intensesoul-searching and deep introspectionabout the tortured trajectory of progres-sive politics in contemporary Nigeria and

the kind of progressive ideals they want to be-queath to coming generations. There can be nosuccessful externally induced plot without a suc-cessful internal conspiracy. Yoruba modern his-tory is steeped in internal treachery, betrayalsand perfidy. It may be due to the libertariannature of the people which abhors despotismand unwarranted domination. In post-colonialNigeria, the cloak and dagger politics have ac-centuated rather than diminish. This may be dueto the epic sweepstakes of a predatory economy.But the question the progressives need to askthemselves is why since independence and uptill now, the people who have always given themthe worst troubles and headaches are peoplewho have at one time or the other been part ofthe progressive umbrella.

In the First Republic, the Action Group frac-tured irretrievable as a result of external plotsand internally rebellion. In retrospect, it can beseen that the Action Group was a disaster wait-ing to happen, being an ersatz and unstable coa-lition of modernists, monarchists and outrightrightwing reactionaries. But a firm lid could beplaced on the simmering cauldron as long as therewas a strong and charismatic leader like ObafemiAwolowo at the helm.

In the Second Republic, the party fissured asa result of the jostling and jockeying for posi-tion among Chief Awolowo’s closest aides andlieutenants. In retrospect, it can safe be said thatit was ironically the military bell that saved theUPN from catastrophic implosion. Awo himseIfhinted at this in his last epistle to the faithful inwhich he made an allusion to a coming Hegeliansynthesis.

Just before the Third Republic could be prop-erly inaugurated, the entire party machinery se-ceded to the waiting military thus sealing Abiola’sfate. From that moment, the Republic died invitro, as they say. Now in the Fourth Republic,we are witnessing a wearisomely familiar scriptwith so many falcons deserting the falconer. Takea count of the following and find out where andhow they originated: Omisore, Obanikoro, DayoAdeyeye, the late Wahab Dosunmu, GbengaDaniel and now the young and youthful MichaelOpeyemi Bamidele.

The situation calls for a candid evaluation ofthe following the mode of leadership recruit-ment to the progressive fold, the pattern of po-litical preferment and the process of consensusbuilding among the progressives. It is m humannature for those who have been given undue andpremature preferment to develop outsize appe-tite for power and glory.

While those who are sworn to the progres-sive ideal as a lifelong commitment to funda-mental principles could afford to be sidelined ortreated with brutal disregard, it should now beobvious that the political wayfarers and thosewho have not reached the level where individualego can be subordinated for communal goodwould have none of that. Bar a few sublime souls,the anarchic ego is an outgrowth of anarchic andinchoate human societies.

These are the historic demons the progres-sive leadership would have to grapple with asthey seek to protect their political strongholdeven while making a bold pitch for the centre. Itis going to be a tough call, particularly given thecultural anxieties and markers of political in-compatibilities the coalescing factions bring tothe alliance. But it is not an impossible task. Asfor the light Brigade, perhaps it is time to re-trieve their history books from roasted plantainhawkers.

•Culled from THE NATIONOSUN 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.

The Siege Of The Light Brigade

•AREGBESOLA