VOL. 9. NO.031 NNNNN 505 05 05 05 0THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2014

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PEOPLE FIRST

Front Page Comment Who KilledChief Bola Ige,former Attorney-

General andMinister of

Justice? IGE

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left); his Lagos State counterpart, Barrister Babatunde Fashola (right); Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon.Suraj Adekunbi (2nd right) and father of the bride, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (2nd left), during his daughter’s wedding in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, last Sunday.

Crisis Rocks Osun PDP•State Chair, Scribe Suspended•Omisore May Be Dropped For Adeleke

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How Akinlabi’s Attempt To Buy Religious Title Failed

2007 Bomb Blast: Police Fail To Produce Red Diary

All stand for APC’s registration

When all is said anddone, there is somethingto be noted about the re-cently concluded AllProgressives Congress’registration exercise thatspeaks to the aspirationsof Nigerians for change.Aside the sheer energythat went into it, theorganisation and sophis-tication was exemplary. Sowas themass participation.In the quest to do thingsdifferently this time around,

there was no missing theimperative to put the ordi-nary citizens in the saddle ofthe political process.

Beyond showing class,the APC has shown that itmeans business; that it hassomething to showcase tothe world. Perhaps, it wasjust as well that the party thatstarted with loads of prom-ise would seek to do

things with some pa-nache. Despite thegrassroots appeal of theparty, it took nothing forgranted. The message to thepeople was crisp and directto the point: Nigeria sorelyneeds new tending hands.After nearly 15 years of mis-rule in the hands of the PDP,it was time to put new menin the saddle.

Men with ideas aboutmodern governance; indi-viduals not only imbuedwith the love of countrybut would regard thepeople as the object ofgovernance. And APC,with its promise of change,was the vehicle for itsrealisation.No wonder thepeople responded in kind.They turned out in largenumbers to register. Menand women,

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2 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 2014News

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

By SHINA ABUBAKAR

•The Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam (2nd left), collecting his PermanentVoter’s Card (PVC) at Ward 4, Unit 6, Ilupeju, Ejigbo, State of Osun, last Friday.

Crisis Rocks Osun PDP•State Chair, Scribe Suspended •Omisore May Be Dropped For Adeleke

CRISIS rocking the State of Osun Chapter of thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken anotherdimension as a faction of the party has suspended

its scribe, Major R.A Towobola (rtd) (a.k.a. Major Rat)and another faction suspended the State Chairman of theparty, Alhaji Gani Ola-Oluwa.

OSUN DEFENDERinvestigation gathered thatthe suspension of the scribewas not unconnected withhis alleged romance with theleadership of the ruling party,which his supporters saidwas not true.

According to findings,

Towobola was suspendedbecause of his support forone of the aspirants of theparty from the same areawith him.

However, the PDPleadership in the state isbent on forcing formerSenator Iyiola Omisore on

other aspirants, hence, itsdecision to axe anyonesuspected not to be insupport of the Senator’sambition.

A supporter of the sackedscribe was said to haveclaimed that the retiredsoldier has nothing to hide,particularly the allegation ofromancing with the rulingparty in the state, which hesaid was far from the truth,saying his suspension wasmere witch-hunting, addingthat the move would be

resisted at all cost.However, in a swift move

to counter the GaniOlaoluwa-led faction, thelocal government councilarea’s chairmen of the PDPin the state met at anundisclosed location anddiscussed the issueextensively and announcedthe suspension of the statechairman of the party.

According to the 27 partybosses in the council areas,

the deputy chairman of theparty should take immediatecontrol of the party.

Findings also revealedthat aftermath of thesuspension of the scribe,some chieftains of the partyin the state have startedcalculation on how to dropOmisore and have evenstarted begging a formergovernor in the state,Senator Isiaka Adeleke, topick the intention form of theparty.

A source close to theparty secretariat hinted thatthe party’s present crisiswas not unconnected withOlaoluwa’s disposition toevents in the party in recenttimes, putting everything onthe line for a particularaspirant.

Also, it was gathered thatanother reason for the crisisin the party is the mannerOmisore nominated aministerial candidate fromthe state without theconsent of other partymembers, describing it as anaffront on the foundingmembers of the party in thestate.

It was learnt that Omisoreboasted of enormity of hisinfluence in the presidencyand could get whatever hewants without recourse tothe party leadership in thestate.

Check showed that othermembers of the party havesince decided to make thesenator regret his move,especially as he has decidedto go to war with the partyelders in the state.

As it stands, the mediumgathered that as soon as theformer governor agrees topick the party’s nominationticket, Omisore would bedropped, as all aspirantswould be asked to go for themandatory primary election.

Meanwhile, the Omisorecamp is also working to fightdirty and ensure that themove to lure the formergovernor into the race doesnot materialise, particularlyas Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan hasalready been made minister.

It was also gathered thatthe Omisore camp of theparty is not resting onensuring that any partymember that works againsthis ambition is dealt withand made to face the music.

Osun Assembly Makes Case For LAUTECHTeaching Hospital’s Disintegration

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

THE Ladoke Akintola University of Technology(LAUTECH) ownership crisis between Osunand Oyo states resurfaced again on Tuesday,

as the State Assembly of Osun has resolved thateach of the states should shoulder the finances ofthe university’s teaching hospitals in its domain.

The resolution followedthe failure of the HouseCommittee on Finance andAppropriation to submit thereport of the committee on2014 budget defence tothe House at the plenary onTuesday, due to theinability to harmonise thebudgets of the twoteaching hospitals inOsogbo, Osun andOgbomoso, Oyo State.

Moving a motion for theresolution, the Chairman,House Committee onHealth, Honourable LekeOgunsola, stated that thebody language of OyoState government hasshown that it is no longerinterested in the ownershipventure.

He recalled that theteaching hospital inOsogbo went on strike forabout three months lastyear because Oyo Stategovernment refused to paysalaries, after Osun hadpaid its part, noting that it

was Osun that had tocome in again to pay thestriking workers beforethey could return to work.

“What is giving usproblem now is theteaching hospital. Osunhas nothing to lose if wetake that of Osogbo upbecause we have all thenecessary equipment tostand alone.

“We should concentrateon our teaching hospitalhere and whateverappropriation we haveshould be made for ourown teaching hospitalhere,” he added.

Also, the Chairman,House Committee onEducation, HonourableFolorunsho Bamisayemi,regretted that the twostates pay the sameamount of money on six-month basis every year,but do not have the samenumber of personnel.

He said: “The ratio ofpersonnel there is about 90

per cent to Oyo and 10 percent to Osun, yet we paythe same amount as grant.

“Bringing in the teachinghospital in Ogbomoso to thesystem will be so unfair toOsun people. The entireuniversity is in Oyo, withabout seven faculties there,while we have just theteaching hospital here, yet,another one is in Oyo,which we are being askedto finance again.

“It is a great disserviceto continue the jointownership, because it isobserved that our brothersin Oyo State have made uptheir minds to unilaterallyhave the institution,” thelawmaker stressed.

In their separatesubmissions, the DeputySpeaker, HonourableAkintunde Adegboye; ChiefWhip, Ipoola Binuyo; DejoBello and Wasiu Adebayoamong others, argued thatthe state parliament shoulddirect the governor, OgbeniRauf Aregbesola, to meethis Oyo State counterpart,to find a lasting solution tothe problem.

Also, the Speaker,Honourable NajeemSalaam, said thatLAUTECH is a joint

patrimony of the twostates and remains so fornow, but the situation inthe teaching hospitals inthe two states requires thatthey should be separated.

He concurred withother lawmakers for aresolution, empoweringthe governor to liaise withhis Oyo State counterpart,with a view to settling thematter.

IRS Revenue ServiceStaff Embark On Training

By FRANCIS EZEDIUNO

WITHOUT increasing tax levies whatsoever on anytax payer, the State of Osun is now on the pathwayto making the state self-dependent, as far as

revenue generation in the state is concerned.This was made known by

the Acting Chairman/CEO,Internal Revenue Service(IRS), Mr. Dayo Oyebanji,while receiving the FidelityBank team members, whoare in charge of training.

According to him, part ofthe modalities employed tomake a wholesomeachievement in revenuegeneration was theengagement of staff on taxrelated skill acquisition.

Meanwhile, theprogramme is set to engage

Osun Internal RevenueService (OIRS) Tax StationManagers, and train themon more skill acquisition,that would prepare themtowards realizing incrementin internally generatedrevenue in the state.

Therefore, the step takenon staff training, accordingto Oyebanji, was borne outof a need, to keep themabreast of the contemporaryissues in the domain ofrevenue generation throughthe use of Point of SaleTerminal (POS)

Take Voters’ RegistrationSeriously - Osun Speaker Counsels

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

SPEAKER of the State Assembly of Osun,Honourable Najeem Salaam, has chargedNigerians to take the ongoing voters’

registration update with seriousness, as it is theonly power they have to elect credible leaders.

He spoke on Friday,shortly after receiving hisPermanent Voter’s Card athis Ward 4, Unit 6, EjigboLocal Government CouncilArea of the state.

According to him, bytrooping out en masse forregistration and updatingof voters’ cards, it wouldbe difficult for anypolitician to shortchangethem for any election.

Commending theprocesses adopted by theIndependent NationalElectoral Commission

(INEC) in the exercise, hehoped that the commissionwould continue in the likemanner and even improveon it.

“This registration updateis a thing that must betaken seriously, becausethis is the power we allhave to elect credibleleaders, either at the stateor national level.

“Regardless of themisgivings facing thiscountry, we can still dobetter, if we have goodleadership and part of the

process required to havegood leaders is to registeras voters.

“If we have goodleaders, we can remain asone, unemployment ratecan be drastically reducedand the infrastructuralfacilities would beadequately catered for.

“I am appealing to ourpeople that this is theirright and power as citizensand they must troop out inmillions to retrieve theircards and register asvoters,” Salaam stressed.

While urging the peoplenot to be careless with theirvoters’ cards, he added,“be vigilant and don’tallow some politicaljobbers to take your cardsfrom you”.

3 News OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 2014

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

By SHINA ABUBAKAR

(R-L) Dr. Oladele Temitope, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health; Dr. Usamatu, Special Adviser to the Governoron Community Health; representative of Healthcare Herbal Products, Dr. Olaosebikan; Pharmacist Oladele; SpecialAdviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs) Temitope Ilori, Health Commissioner; Dr. Kayode Ogunniyi and Mr.Bolarinwa; Desk Officer (Trado-Medical).

2007 Bomb Blast: Police Fail To Produce Red Diary•Say Suspect Did Not Mention AC Leaders’ Names

THE purported red diary that was claimed to have beenrecovered in the wreckage of the Peugeot 505 carthat exploded at the Ministry of Water Resources

on June 14, 2007 at Abere, State of Osun Secretariat, isnow nowhere to be found, according to the InvestigatingPolice Officer, Inspector Danlandi Audu.

Audu failed to tender thered dairy at the hearing ofthe trial of Richard AbayomiAdesanmi, the survivingsuspect caught at the sceneof the explosion.

The Attorney-General

and Commissioner forJustice in the State of Osun,Mr Wale Afolabi who ledthe prosecution counsel,had asked Audu thewhereabouts of themysterious diary, which was

mentioned in paragraphs 19and 20 of the affidavitsworn to by Adesanmi.

The police inspectortestified at an Osogbo HighCourt, when the matter cameup for hearing on Mondaybefore Justice AdeyinkaAderibigbe, saying that‘the police indeed recoveredthe red diary under thedriver’s seat of the carwreckage, but he neitherknew what happened to thediary, nor its whereabouts.

Audu stated this just ashe disclosed that the diarywas never shown toAdesanmi, adding that thesuspect was not also withthe police when theyrecovered the diary insidethe wreckage of the car.

He said: “I was with theSpecial Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS), Osogbo, when theaccused person wasbrought to our office at Oke-Baale, Osogbo with a swornaffidavit by Deputy

Superintendent of Police,Mr Ayuba Adekunle (nowlate).

“I asked the accused towrite a statement on theaffidavit and he did. Thesuspect was arraigned incourt. Based on the contentof the affidavit, somemembers of the ActionCongress were alsoarrested and charged tocourt.

“In the affidavit, theaccused mentioned a reddiary. The diary was in theexploded vehicle. Thepolice went to the wreckageof the exploded vehicle andfound the diary under thedriver’s seat.”

Audu disclosed that thediary was given to the thenCommissioner for Police,Mr John Moronike, whoalso transferred it to hissuccessor, Mr OlusegunSolomon (now rtd AIG).

According to Audu, hedid not know whathappened to the diarybetween Adekunle Ayuba,who was the Officer In-Charge of Legal Matters ofthe police and Olusegun.

Adekunle was theprosecutor of the matterbefore he was transferredout of the state.

He said: “I did not knowwhat happened to the diarybetween the O/C (Legal)and CommissionerOlusegun Solomon. I did

not know where the diary isnow.”

Afolabi interjected thestatement of the witness andtold the court that he neversaw the diary and that it wasnot handed over to him asexhibit for the prosecution ofthe case, just as he lamentedthe sudden disappearance ofthe diary, which was one ofthe vital exhibits needed forthe prosecution of the case.

It would be recalled thatthe Chairman of the ActionCongress then, now theSecretary to the Governmentof the State of Osun, AlhajiMoshood Adeoti, theSecretary of the party, PrinceGboyega Famodun, theDirector of Publicity,Research and Strategy nowthe State Commissioner forInformation and Strategy, MrSunday Akere, elder brotherto the deputy governor,Elder Sunday Laoye,popularly calledHakunamatata and anAssistant Director, Director,Bureau of Communicationand Strategy, Mr GbengaFayemiwo, were arrested,arraigned and remanded inprison, while the currentgovernor of the state, OgbeniRauf Aregbesola, was alsohaunted and harassed,based on the content of thesaid diary.

When cross-examined bythe defence counsel, ChiefWilson Atirene, Auduaffirmed that the suspect’saffidavit did not contain thenames of the AC leaders,adding that the accusedperson did not see the diarywhen it was recovered.

Other witnesses called bythe prosecutor; the AttorneyGeneral were: Alhaji FataiAdeleke, who was workingwith the Ministry of WaterResources and a PrincipalRegistrar, Mr Taiwo Jacob,who was the Commissionerfor Oath for the suspect’saffidavit.

Adeleke claimed that hewas looking through thewindow of his office whenthe Peugeot 505 exploded.

The matter has howeverbeen adjourned till March 21,2014 for further hearing.

Health Ministry To Organise Trado-Medical Conference - Commissioner

IN continuation of its policy of achieving sound healthfor all the citizens of the State of Osun, the StateMinistry of Health, in conjunction with Health Care

Herbal Products, would be organising a conference fortraditional medicine practitoners.

According to the StateCommissioner for Health;Dr. (Mrs.) Temitope Ilori, theaim of the conference wasto generate a data base fortraditional medicinepractitioners and also toavail them the opportunityof being under an umbrellabody.

The health commissionerstated this during a pressconference held in her officeto intimate journalists on theproposed trado-medicalconference.

According to Dr. (Mrs)Ilori, the conference, whichwould be held in April,would serve as an avenuefor the traditional medicinepractitioners to be duly-accredited with regulatorybodies such as NAFDAC,SON and others, so as toensure quality of theirproducts and the generalsafety of consumers.

She explained that formswould be distributed free-of-charge from next week topractitioners, while sheenjoined traditionalmedicine practitionersoperating in the state tocome to the office of theState Tradomedical DeskOfficer, Ministry of Health,Abere to pick up their forms.

She revealed that beforethe decision to organise the

conference in the state, theministry had written to thenational body through thestate branch to intimatethem of the impendingworkshop.

Ilori added that the planto organise the conferencehad been in the pipeline fora long time, but had been

delayed because offragmentation within thebody, but now things havebeen settled, the ministrycan relate with them as abody.

The health commissioneralso revealed that resourcepersons from fromNAFDAC, WHO, legalpractitoners and otherrelevant agencies wouldattend to them on thebenefits, what to avoid andlegal limitations of theirprofession.

While fielding questions

from journalists, she notedthat the conference wasintended to be a continuousexercise.

“We want to use theconference to establish arelationship and it would bea continuous exercise.

“We aim to learn fromeach other, so as to promotea healthier society.”

Present at the pressconference, which was heldat the office of the healthcommissioner, was the Dr.(Mrs.) Temitope Ilori; theHealth Commissioner, Dr.

Oladele Temitope;Permanent Secretary,Ministry of Health, Dr.Rafiu Usamatu; SpecialAdviser to the Governor onCommunity Health;Pharmacist GboyegaOladele, Special Adviser tothe Governor; Dr. KayodeOgunniyi, Director ofPrimary Health and DiseaseControl; Mr. SamuelBolarinwa; State Trado-Medical Desk Officer andDr. Bola Olaosebikan,representative of HealthCare Herbal Products.

Osun Movement For Peace Tasks Citizens On Political WatchfulnessOSUN Movement for Peace, a non-partisan socio-

cultural group based in Osogbo, the State of Osuncapital, has tasked all well-meaning stakeholders to

come together to resist attempts by unscrupulous personsto use politically-motivated divisive arguments to threatenthe current peace, unity and progress of the state.

Speaking to newsmen in Edetown recently on themotivation for the forthcomingSymposium on OsunEducation Policy, beingsponsored by the group,Coordinator of the group,Comrade Temidayo Bankole,noted that some politically-advantaged elites haveperfected plans to wage amedia war, aimed atbastardising some laudablepeople-oriented projects andinitiatives of the incumbentadministration in the state, inan attempt to score politicalpoints.

“We are worried about thecurrent spate ofmisrepresentations and tensionbeing created around importantbut delicate issues like

education, religion and unity inour state by a tiny, but veryvocal segment of the politicalelites, who seem to havemastered the art of infiltratingand recruiting allies in themedia to drum-up war beats inour state, where religious andcultural tolerance is a verydesirable bedrock of theunfolding new rebranding anddevelopmental order”.

Comrade Bankole said itwas unfortunate that a uniqueand rich policy like the newOsun Education Policy thatcould have translated into anational strategy for bail-out ofthe shambolic public schoolsector, has suddenly assumedreligious and politicalcolourations, fuelled largely bymischief and partisanship.

“With what one could notefrom current trend ofdiscussions relating to theOsun school system in circlesexpected to churn-out informedopinions, there are obviouspolitically-motivated efforts toplay down the holisticbeneficial impact of the variouscomponents of the policy suchas the O’Uniform, OMeal andOpon Imo, which have beenadjudged as revolutionaryconcepts in public schoolmanagement approach in thecountry.

“We see attempts to get themedia to focus solely on thereclassification of schools-even this is clearlymisrepresented- and an attemptto rubbish the wider publicspirit and mission of the policythat ordinary Osun people aredescribing as the bestintervention in the state’seducation system since the eraof the late Chief ObafemiAwolowo’s Free Education

Policy”.He said the One-day

Symposium on EducationPolicy themed: “OsunEducation Policy inPerspective: Issues,Challenges and Imperatives” isthe group’s contributiontowards garnering a robustsupport base for the policywhich has emerged as a surestrategy for the socio-economic development of thestate.

Comrade Bankole addedthat the symposium, withcritical stakeholders drawnfrom the media, civil society,religious groups, academia,professions and traditionalinstitutions in attendance,would seek to evaluate thevarious components of themuch-maligned Osun policyon public school management,with a view to enhancing publicunderstanding and appreciationof its desirability.

The symposium, he

stressed, would also serve as aplatform for constructiveengagement of criticalstakeholders to ensure the non-derailment of the noble visionbehind the policy formulation.

“We hope the symposiumwill be able to dissect the on-going rejuvenation of the publicschool sector in Osun as astrong rebranding project andsee how the project has begunto impact positively on thestate’s overall educationmanagement profile, as well asthe state’s economy in keyareas like job creation,empowerment and agriculturaldevelopment.

“Where there is need to helpthe government in the area offine-tuning the policy withregard to the sustenance of itslong-term vision for the over-all transformation of the state,the symposium will definitelyserve as a veritable platform,”he explained.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 20144 News

•The Deputy Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye, signing the condolenceregister. With him, Honourable members, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourables Biodun Awolola (left);Ipoola Binuyo (2nd left) and Olanrewaju Ajibola (right) during a condolence visit to family of the late Speaker, OndoState House of Assembly, Honourable Adesina Ajayi recently.

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

PUBLIC NOTICEThis is to inform

members of the public thatMISS SADIKU AYISATMORENIKEJI is the sameperson as MRSABDULRAUFU AISHAMORENIKEJI. Generalpublic should take note.

Students’ Protest: Osun APC Fingers PDP Gov Aspirant

THE All Progressives Congress in the State of Osunhas fingered a governorship aspirant on the platformof the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the brain

behind last Monday protest embarked upon by the studentsof the state-owned tertiary instititutions in Osogbo, the statecapital.

According to the rulingparty in the state, it has in itspossession, authenticinformation that a PDPgovernorship aspirant is behindthe agitation by the studentsof tertiary institutions in thestate.

According to APC findings,the final plan to cause chaosthrough students’demonstration was finalisedlast Thursday in an hotel inIjebu-Jesa, where the studentswere mobilised to hit the streets

and disrupt normal businesslife.

The aspirant in question, theparty affirmed, is seeking to getthe students’ support for hiselectoral ambition.

“According to information,he promised to supply buses,only if they could go on thestreets to demonstrate anddisrupt business activities.

“The students were enticedwith huge sum of money tostart the operation on Mondayand continue with a larger

turnout during the week,” thestate APC stressed.

The party therefore, calledon the security agencies toensure that the state remainspeaceful, because students’demonstration, if not properlyhandled, easily turns violent.

In a swift reaction to thestudents’ demonstration, theAPC expresseddisappointment that after allthe good things Ogbeni RaufAregbesola did for theprotesting students byincreasing their bursary from

N2,000 to N10,000 andreducing the school fees paidfrom N42,000 to N25,000, theirgratitude is to disrupt thepeace that the governor istrying to create in the state, sothat the same people who madelife difficult for them before

Osun Speaker WarnsAgainst Open Defecation

Speaker of the State Assembly of Osun, HonourableNajeem Salaam, has warned the people of the state againstopen defecation.

This, he said, is with aview to preventing anyoutbreak of cholera andother related diseases in thestate.

He spoke in Ejigbo onFriday while commissioninga two-room public toilet,which he built at IyapoCompound of the ancienttown.

According to him, thegovernment is makingfrantic effort to ensurehealthy living for the people,but the efforts would beuseless if the people are notsupportive.

“The presentadministration has done somuch interms ofenvironmental cleanlinessand this effort would beuseless if the people refuseto key into it.

“Though, we are happythat the people are buyinginto the idea of thispreventive measure, but westill need to do more, for usto continue to remainhealthy.

“Because I believe thatthe government cannot doit alone, that was whatinformed my decision, as arepresentative of the people,to build this toilet on myown, for the use of the

people,” he added.The Speaker then urged

other well-to-do individualsin the society andrepresentatives of thepeople to be ready to assistany section of the society,wherever they see that theyare in need of this kind ofgesture.

Voters’ Cards: NCP Accuses Police, PDP Of FrustratingAgents Out Of Polling Units

By ISMAEEL UTHMAN

THE National Conscience Party (NCP) has accused thepolice and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) offrustrating agents of the party out of some polling

units in the State of Osun in the ongoing collection ofpermanent voters’ cards organised by the IndependentNational Electoral Commission.

The Deputy NationalChairman of the NCP in theSouth-West, Alhaji WaheedLawal, said the party’s agentswere not allowed to monitorthe distribution of the cards insome polling units in Ila,Boluwaduro, Ife-East, Ife-Central and some other localgovernment council areas in thestate.

According to Lawal, theNCP agents were accused offorming alliance with the AllProgressives Congress (APC)by the PDP, while the police

ignorantly bought theaccusation.

Lawal, in a press statementmade available to journalists onSaturday, called on theIndependent National ElectoralCommission (INEC) to addressthe issue as a matter of urgency.

He refuted the allegation thatthe NCP has formed alliancewith the APC on the monitoringof the permanent voters cardcollection or any other politicalissue in the state.

The NCP boss also called onthe Commissioner of Police in

the state, Mr IbrahimMaishanu, to enlighten his menon the need to allow all theparty agents monitor the cardcollection exercise.

Lawal said: “On Friday,NCP and UDP party agentswere not allowed to monitorthe collection of permanentvoters’ cards at Eripa, acommunity in BoluwaduroLocal Government. The samething happened in Igbajo andsome other towns in the localgovernment council area.

“The same thing happenedin some polling units in Ila, Ife-East, Ife-Central and someother local government councilareas in the state. Our agentswere chased out by the police,

acting on the allegation of PDPthat NCP has formed alliancewith the APC.”

Lawal said the denial of theNCP agents at the polling units

Osun Monarchs DeclareSupport For Proposed Councils

TRADITIONAL rulers in the State of Osun have againdeclared their total support for the proposed creation ofadditional local government council areas in the state.

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

Change Of NameI, formerly known and

addressed as MISS RAJIAMINAT OMOLARA,now wish to be known andaddressed as MRSADEBARE AMINATOMOLARA. All formerdocuments remain valid.General public should takenote.

Aregbesola came in, should nowreturn to government.

The party therefore, calledon parents of these protestingstudents to call their wards toorder and teach them that incivilised community,ingratitude is never tolerated.

is unconstitutional andundemocratic, stressing thatthe NCP is an independentparty like the PDP and theAPC.

How Akinlabi’s Attempt To Buy Religious Title Failed

By SHINA ABUBAKAR

EMERGING facts have shown the reasons behind thefailure of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)governorship aspirant in the State of Osun, Senator

Akinlabi Olasunkanmi, to purchase an Islamic religioustitle ahead of the August 29 gubernatorial election in thestate.

Findings showed that thePDP governorship aspirantis already seeing thehandwriting on the wall thathe may not get the partyticket in the said electionand has therefore, begunmoves to strategicallyposition himself for the postof a running mate to anothercandidate in the party.

However, knowing fullthat the supposed flag-bearer of the party is aChristian, Akinlabi began torun from pillar to postbegging Muslim clerics inhis community to honourhim with a Muslim title thatcould convince the massesthat he is a convert.

It was gathered that theMuslim-born politicianconverted to Christianity

long time ago, along withbeing a title holder in thechurch, only deeming it fitto re-convert to Islam, whenthe permutation foractualisation of being adeputy governorshipaspirant of his partydemands.

The Christian titledholder politician was said tohave contacted someprominent Muslim clerics inhis home town to approachthe Chief Imam of the statethat he has re-converted toIslam and now fit for anIslamic title.

He was also said to haveagreed to bankroll the entirecelebration, which, he said,he would prefer to takeplace at the Osogbo CentralMosque, as a sign of

authority and acceptabilityamong Muslims in the state.

Two weeks before thescheduled event, thegovernorship aspirant hadstarted sending textmessages to friends andpolitical associates,including those in the rulingparty in the state, as well asannounced the event onpublic broadcastingstations.

However, on hearing ofthe event, Muslims acrossthe state were baffled,considering the status ofthe Chief Imam in theSouth-West and Edo and Deltastates.

Several religious leaders,particularly those withradical views, frowned at thedevelopment on the groundthat no one should beallowed to desecrate Islamfor political gains.

Various Islamic groupshave therefore, vowed tomake the event impossible,even if the aspirant’s claimof reconversion to Islam istrue.

Threatened by the variousgroups, particularly theyoung Imams group, to lockup the Central Mosquebefore the purported event,the Muslim leaderscommunicated theirdecision not to go aheadwith the event.

Faced with imminentembarrassment, the formersenator quickly went backto the public broadcastingstations that the celebrationof his Islamic title could nolonger be celebratedelaborately and thanked theaffected Muslim leaders forhonouring him with a title.

He also sent similarmessages to his friends andassociates, as well asopposition party membersfor their support. Hehowever went on socialmedial posting a picture ofbeing turbanned at anunidentified place byunidentified persons,claiming to have beenturbanned as the SerikiAdini.

The monarch said this whenthe House of Assembly Com-mittee on Local Governmentand Cheiftancy Affairs visitedthem in their palaces during thetour of proposed headquartersof the new council areas.

Governor Rauf Aregbesolahad on December 16, 2014 pre-sented a bill to the state parlia-ment for creation of additionalcouncil areas in the state.

The Timi of Ede, ObaMunirudeen Lawal, said in hispalace in Ede that the proposedcouncil areas would bring gov-ernment closer to the people atthe grassroots.

He added that the proposednew councils would also bringdevelopment, employment andinvestors to the grassroots.

The monarch, who notedthat Ede community would beglad, if the proposed Ede-WestLocal Government Council Areacan be created, said the commu-nity would see to its sustenance.

Also speaking in his palace,the Olufon of Orolu Kingdomin Orolu Local GovernmentCouncil Area of the state, ObaAl-Marof Magbagbeola, said he

was in support of the creationof the new council areas.

He said the proposed coun-cils would enhance economicdevelopment at the grassroots.

The monarch explained thatthe proposed new councilswould also improve the stateInternally Generated Revenueand also bring governmentcloser to the people.

On his part, Oba KareemOlagunsoye, the Alie of IlieKingdom in Olorunda LocalGovernment Council Area, saidthe creation of new council ar-eas was long overdue.

Oba Olagunsoye said cre-ation of additional council areaswould enhance economicgrowth at the grassroots.

In his response, HonourableWasiu Adebayo, the committeechairman, said the state legisla-ture would ensure the speedypassage of the new council cre-ation bill.

He affirmed that the pro-posed council areas would bringgovernment closer to the people,while he assured that the assem-bly would do thorough justiceto it.

5 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 2014

All stand for APC’s registration

Attention! Osun Waste Management AgencyI write to call the

attention of the Stateof Osun Waste

Management (OWMA)to the challenges ofwaste disposal of thepeople in the state capital,which is becoming moredifficult andunacceptable.

It is important tomention that the currentadministration hasperformed in anunprecedented manner inthe area of environmentalsanitation and wastemanagement.

It is on record thatbefore thisadministration, theprevalent situation wasflooding across the state,which always resulted todeath and loss ofproperties worth millionsof naira.

Not only that, the 90

days emergency onsanitation also helped thepeople of the state to alsoachieve hygienicenvironment, records ofthe health expertsindicated that the effortshave drastically reducedthe malaria, cholera in the

state.These are bold steps

that are commendable,but that efforts of the stategovernor in the area ofwaste managementappear unsustainable bypartnering agents.

It will be recalled thatthe governmentcommissioned some

trucks to be pickingrefuses in houses, whichwill be paid for.

The commissioningresulted in theinvolvement of the privatesector in refusecollection.

I can however inform

authoritatively that theprivate agents engagedby government are notliving up to the task. Atthe moment, in areas likeOgo Oluwa and someothers within the statecapital, they haveabandoned collection ofthe refuse, which haseven forced some

OSUN DEFENDERPublisher – Moremi Publishing

House Ltd.

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

Editor – Kayode Agbaje (0803-388-0205)

Lagos Editor – Kola Odepeju(08023191891)

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Senior Reporter – Sola JacobsSenior Reporter – Kazeem Mohammed

Reporter – Shina AbubakarReporter – Ismaeel UthmanReporter – Niyi OlasindeReporter – Kehinde AyantunjiReporter – Francis Chukwuma

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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

households to terminatethe contract.

The governmentpartners appeared not tohave capacity to do thejob and to save the statefrom imminent diseasesand not to sabotage theefforts of thegovernment, it isimportant to increasetheir capacity, or recallthose that were doing thejob before.

The situation isbecoming terrible and ifnot addressed timely,people may be forced tobe dumping refuses onwater ways which hasbecome a thing of historyin the state.

• H A L I M A TA F O L A B I ,Agunbeelewo Area,Osogbo, State ofOsun.

clamoured for.It was more than

the leadership of theparty could havebargained for. In theend, it became inevi-table that the exer-cise be extended bytwo days to accom-modate those in-tending members.Here is how LaiMohammed, theparty’s Interim Na-tional Publicity Sec-retary surmised thesituation with youngand old; they allshook off the gar-ment of indifferenceas they took the firstdecisive steps in thedirection of thechange t hat they

had barely 24hours to the initialdeadline: “Even withone day to go in theoriginal registrationschedule, we haveexceeded the num-ber of members weset out to register,and many morehave reached out tous to give them theopportunity to jointhe APC train ofchange, hence ourdecision to extendthe registration.”

Hardly could therebe better confirma-tion that the APCmessage hasreached the nookand crannies of

a

planted in theirmidst by the desper-ate administration.Finally, we expectthe party to maintainthe present courseof deepening itsroots across the six-geo-political zones.That, to us, is theonly way to maintainits current status asa grassroots move-ment.

continued from pg1 the republic – or

better evidence thatthe party enjoyswide acceptanceacross the federa-tion. Without ques-tion, the APC hasnow positioned itselfas the party to beatin the 2015 generalelections. For major-ity of Nigeriansyearning for goodgovernance asagainst the arro-gance, tyranny, arbi-trariness, incompe-tence, impunity andcorruption that havesince become thesecond name of thePDP, that is somepiece of goodnews.sk ahead re

Admittedly, the tamains daunting. Tobe sure, this ishardly the time tounderstate the chal-lenges ahead. Thatthe party has comethus far has beendescribed as noth-ing short of amiracle. We under-stand the miracle tobe the hard workand personal sacri-fices by the leader-ship, particularlytheir willingness tosubordinate theirpersonal ambitionsto the larger impera-tive to rescue thenation from the

rampaging bandsof the PDP. It is im-portant that therank and file con-stantly bear this inmind. The truth ofthe matter is that theparty would needlarger doses of thetwin pills of hardwork and disciplinein its journey towrest power fromthe clueless admin-istration currentlyin the saddle. Inthis, the party andits leadership willdo well to watchout for fifth colum-nists – agents ofdestabilisation thatmay have been

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 20146 INTERVIEW

The Hijab Crisis Is DangerousPolitics To Play With

- Osun O'SCHOOL Chair Lai OyeduntanChief Lai Oyeduntan, a former Osun State Commissioner for Health, is the chairman,

Osun School Infrastructure Development Committee (O’SCHOOL). In this interview withGBENGA ADERANTI, SEGUN AJIBOYE & PAUL UKPABIO, he speaks on thereclassification of schools in the state, the efforts of the government to develop the decayinginfrastructure in the education sector and other challenges of rescuing the falling standardof education by the Rauf Aregbesola administration, among other issues. Excerpts:

LET’s talk about school infrastructure in Osun State.Between now and the time that Governor Aregbesolacame into office, how has it been?

I think we should first of all look at the background.Why this type of intervention; the scale for the interven-tion and the need for the intervention? I always like to tellthe story so that we know how we got to where we are now.

Firstly, the school system that is the educational sectorbecame or fell into abandonment and became rotten. A situ-ation that became totally unsatisfactory by virtue of theresources but we were getting. By the time Ogbeni RaufAregbesola became governor, the result from internal andexternal examinations were totally unsatisfactory. It waslower than five per cent for public schools, in a state whereeducation is highly valued, and where the foundation forthe relationship between the people and western educa-tion had existed for over half a century. For us to find our-selves in that kind of situation is so unfortunate.

It will be irresponsible of a government that professes tohave the love of its people, which professes to want tomake a charge, to fail to take action. However, a criticalappraisal of the situation suggested that the interventionwould have to be drastic and far reaching; we couldn’thave had a cosmetic change. That would have been peopledoing things the way it was being done then. It was obvi-ous that nothing was working anymore. Every attempt atintervention, every attempt to ameliorate the situation inthe past resulted in a situation of being in a hole and stilldigging. We needed to claw our way out of that hole.

The result from examinations is the only measure of theeffectiveness of the school system. A situation wherebyan average Osun State pupil attending public school maynot graduate until the a.ge of 30 could not be said to besatisfactory because it means our kids will suffer disad-vantage when it comes to competiveness in the job market.This may have a lasting effect on even the future of thepoor pupil. Therefore, we had to have this comprehensiveintervention.

The intervention, having done a through conferenceappraisal, at an education summit that was attended byexperts from all over the world, and having done compara-tive studies and seeking experts’ advice on policy Optionsopened to us which are limited, decided that the basic com-ponents of the education sector must be taken care of. Thestudents, who were no longer motivated to learn, must bebrought back. They must begin to appreciate the impor-tance of education. The teacher who was not as muchmotivated and had become disgruntled, must be made toaccept teaching and see it as a respectable professionaland also see himself as making significant contribution tothe society. That is motivation.

How about the school infrastructure?The status of the infrastructure required a major over-

hauling. Thinking back, many of us will remember when wewent to school. The school used to have the best environ-ments in our neighborhoods and villages. Not anymore. Ihave pictures of what it was like three years ago when wegot to Osun. If the student is ready to learn, if the teacheris ready to teach, what of the environment in which allthese is going to take place? It must be brought to par withtoday’s world.

In motivating the students, we started to tackle all these,one at a time. That is what brought about the restructuring,the governance change and all the restructuring that istaking place today. The reform became necessary becausewe have to encourage the pupils and the teacher viz a vizthe economic reality on the streets of Osun and the level ofpoverty that is apparent in Osun. We had to intervene tosupport the parents too in the society.

Last month was kind of hectic for the Osun State gov-ernment with the crisis of hijab and other things and claimsand counter claims.

What do you think went wrong?The issue of hijab is not new in Osun, I was Commis-

sioner for Health in year 2000, Chief Bisi Akande’s time. Ihad to contend with the issue of hijab at the School ofNursing as far back as that time. It is a readymade tool inthe’ hands of an upstart religious person, religious busi-

ness person that is about to make a name. What has kept itfrom blowing up is the larger society that has been able tooverride the sensationalism with level-headedness when itcomes to religion in Yoruba land. The issue specifically isthat a set of people objected to the wearing of hijab in theirschool, in only one school in the whole of Osun. That didnot mean that we down played it. We have engaged thatparticular school, the particular set of people in construc-tive engagement, trying to find a common ground.

Please check your records, Governor Rauf Aregbesolahas never made any pronouncement about hijab. A com-mittee of seven was put together to decide the school uni-form, the secretary ‘of that committee is a reverend father.Out of the seven four of them are Christians, the schooluniforms were designed without any religious bias beforethe government of Rauf Aregbesola came into being. Theissue of hijab has been an issue; that was why a bodycalled NIREC was set up in Osun. It is the leadership ofMuslims and Christians coming together so as to smoothenover at these rough edges in the relationship. Fortunatelyfor us in our society, religion hardly comes into a relation-ship between two people except when there are some vestedinterests to be protected.

The past month has been a well orchestrated propa-ganda by” those who thought they could make profit outof creating that scenario. When they started wearing funnyattire to school, we found it was so obvious that it was

orchestrated; to that extent, weknow that this issue must be brought into the open. We

need a change process, we knew that will always be ac-companied by resistance and that so much work has to bedone to overcome it. That is what we are doing. The truthmust be told and we will need every well-meaning’ respon-sible person to think more of the society in leading thechange.

You must have seen the picture of the governor visitingthe same school and the way he was received by the stu-dents. The church itself did not oppose the change; theBaptist church did not oppose the change, the Baptistchurch is one of the Churches that bought into the reclas-sification. That is why the first school to be built is BaptistDare. So we must situate these things properly. Is it thechurch that opposed or some individuals that have vestedinterests? What exactly is the opposition all about andhow has it got to do with Rauf Aregbesola? The allegationis not right. You accuse Rauf for Islamisation, is that notridiculous?

Let’s talk about the governor himself, his private life, hisprivate capacity, he is one of four children of his parents,two of them are Christians, two are Muslims. If he has notbeen able to Islamise his siblings, how would he nowIslamise his environment, his community? The man is fromDesha. The governor is a declared Muslim and he owes

Continued on page 7

•OYEDUNTAN

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 2014 7INTERVIEW

nobody an apology for being who he is.But if you know him, he’ has never affectedhis relationship personal and official, or hissocial linkages. This man has been in thepublic sector and as a public manager atthe topmost level for several years, howcome he did not do it in Lagos? How comeit is not reflected in his appointments? Howcome it is not reflected in the compositionof all those bodies that he has implemented?Those who are orchestrating this, this istheir own way of playing politics, but theymust be aware that in all of these, they knowthe beginning of this attrition but you maynot be able to project and predict the out-come of it. It is dangerous thing to playwith.

In Yoruba land, we do not have a historyof religious violence or disagreements,should this ugly trend continue, what areyou doing to stop it?

I said earlier on that we will continue toexplain that there is no act or action of thisgovernment that has been influenced byany religious consideration.

The governor swore to an oath to do jus-tice and protect the rights of every citizenof Osun irrespective his or her political orreligious lineage and the governor wouldnever stop to remind you that in his privatecapacity, that he is a Muslim Osun was tobe one of the six states where this was totake place. When it got to Osun, what wasdone was not that much of encouragement.Primary one to three were given food thatwas not consistent and regular. When werecognised that as a motivational element,and nutrition playing a lot in the develop-ment of the brain at early age, as recognisedby experts that the capacity of the brain forboth cognitive and intuitive is formed atthat age, we brought experts together toformulate a diet for the pupils.

Primary 1-4 would be fed at the cost ofN4billion a year. The governor was readyto go along with the idea. But then again,periodical challenges. By the time the foodvendors brought the food to the youngerprimary school pupils, their older brothersin primary 5 and 6 could no longer concen-trate, especially when their younger oneswere eating eggs and chicken, and theyknow the time table off head. That becamea challenge.

What were those challenges?Of course part of the issues we had was

the issue of the psychology of managingthese people. The psychology of a six-year-old is different from that of a 10-year-old.When you take a six-year-old to school, hewants you to take him into the classroom.But by the time he is 10, you drive him toschool, he wants to jump out before youpark the car. He doesn’t even want to beseen with you. That is reality. So the teacherof a six-year- old adopts a different meth-odology to that of a 10-year-old.

This influenced the thinking that primary1-4 should stay together and primary 5 and6 can move in with the junior students,whereas the high school pupils are the se-nior secondary school, which is the reasonfor the classification. It is about the con-tinuous intervention in the school gover-nance itself, the psychology of it, and themethodology of it. So we will continue tothink. Uniforms were given to students aspart of the motivational aspect that we aretalking about. The citizens of Osun too mustbuy into the need for us to see ourselves asa self-respecting set of people. That led tothe rebranding which targeted the psychol-ogy of the average Osun person, who ei-ther has become lethargic with his relation-ship with the government or he didn’t careabout what they say. So we create psycho-logical impact, even ordinary pin you puton his shirt can motivate him, which to himbecomes like bonding, a sort of loyalty. Andthen we have our anthem, we have all thosethings being done to motivate the society.

So how about the teachers, how have youbeen able to motivate them?

Now many of the teachers are staggeredby their salary scale, many had not beenpromoted for years. So teachers that weredue for promotion were promoted. We’veincreased the teacher’s stock by over 50per cent. We found during our schoolanalysis review that we have schools with60 pupils in primary’s 1-6, with two threeteachers, the schools have become soitemised that it became ineffectual and thatis the need. All these schools were createdin the last 10, 15 years since when the edu-cation sector suffered neglect and total fail-ure. So it wasn’t as if there were plenty pu-

pils in the school, but each person wantedto take a school to his neighbourhood ashis own dividend of democracy. Teachersposted to those schools and when they gothere, a teacher teaching eight pupils in aclass is not as motivated as the one teach-ing 20 or 25. This structure has been recti-fied. It is not just structure of upgradingschools; it is the totality of reviving theeducation system. Students have been in-creased drastically. If a teacher is motivated,if the pupil is encouraged and the environ-ment of learning is okay, all is well. We saya journey with one thousand steps startswith the first one.

Can you tell us more about the reclassi-fication that you have done?

The re-classification has not created newschools and new sites at all, all we havedone is to move the pupils around the sameschools that have been in existence, so thepupils do not have to do more walking thanthey were doing before. Then beyond thattoday, we have been operating that systemfor about four months. We have gone be-yond that. What we have now is the feed-back.

The elementary school that had just beencommissioned in lie-He had only one 162pupils before our intervention. Today, it hascapacity for 1,000. It had no toilets; it hadnothing because everything had caved in.Today, they have 16 toilets, they have 25teachers for the 25 classrooms, and theyhave every facility with even play grounds,equipment that keep them happy to comeback from school. And that is the most im-portant thing.

There is no child that cannot be taught,even those with language difficulties. So itis not the fault of the child if the societyfails to train him. A responsible governmentmust therefore accept the responsibility forhelping the society to transform into a moremodernised society where the citizens seethemselves has part owners of the govern-ment.

You said that the elementary school atHe-He use to contain 162 students, but nowit can occupy 1,000 students. Is it that otherschools in that neighbourhood have beencollided into one school? No, that is thebeauty of it, let me now use lie-He as anexample, we have a comprehensive record,before we embarked on the re-classification,we did a situation analysis that took us toevery school in Osun. We know the distri-bution and the enrolment. He-He is centraland more than 50 per cent of the total num-ber of students in He-He is-within onekilometre. So it was about moving pupils

across the road into another school. Thatis because some classes or school struc-tures had totally broken down. So we movedprimary 1-4 to join those ones in the elemen-tary school at Ile-Ife. There is St. John’sschool across the road too on the left side.Don’t forget that these schools we are nowtransferring pupils from, used to have pri-mary five and six. So we now moved theprimary five and six to St. John’s where wehave moved primary one to four.

So we are not colliding, we are just mov-ing. The truth now is that it is a lot easier toschedule 25 teachers than six teachers inteaching· so many pupils. Don’t forget thatas we are moving them, those teachers arebecoming more available from all thoseclasses and schools, and when you nowaggregate them, we are talking of capacityand they were not the same numbers. Youfind out that some schools are so popularthey will have 80 in the class and some forwhatever reason, within the same commu-nity had far less.

In addition, you cannot continue to man-age that school the way you are managinga school of 162, 300 or 400. With this num-ber of people, the governance imperativechanged with the number of facilities intro-duced. You cannot leave the head teacherto be running around for water because thepump is not okay. We now have a boreholethat has to be kept alive, we now havegrasses and facilities that must be keptwholesome, and so we now have a schoolmanager who is now in charge of the facili-ties, while the teacher teaches. In Osun weall have freedom, professionalise teaching,a teacher in primary school can go all theway to the last salary grade recognising hisprofessionalism but does not have to goand change into something else.

Looking at schools like the Baptist GirlsHigh School, St. Charles, very good schools,one would have expected that you improveon those schools rather than bringing stu-dents from other schools to that place. St.Charles is a boy’s only school, now thatgovernment has taken over...but how aboutmaintaining tradition and legacies?

I am not going to contradict what youare saying but it is a reality of a public man-ager, you must realise that for you to makeamendments, you may have to break a neck!What is the advantage of having a girls onlyschool or boys only school nothing! I as amanager of a public space am concernedabout the generality of the society. My ob-ligation is to every citizen of Osun State inrespective of his station or status in life.Every child in Osun has the opportunity to

go to school. In the situation that we foundourselves, there was no room for continu-ing a practice that has grown out of need.

Don’t forget that there was a time whenwe had modem school. We had teachersgrade 2. We had teachers grade 3, theyserved a purpose and they became out-dated. So also is this girls only school andboys only school, the question simply isthis, where does it lead to? The boys camefrom a primary school that was mixed, willend up in a university that will be mixed orend up in a society that is mixed and comesfrom a home where he has a father andmother. So what is the advantage of havingboys only? Every secondary school, virtu-ally every secondary school started as boysonly, my school started admitting girls onlyin 1967 because of the perceived disadvan-tage for girls, there was a need to set upgirls only schools to address some of thepsychological barriers of sending girls toschool.

Today, you and I ·do not discriminate be-tween daughters and sons in the kind ofeducation exposure you give them. So itdoes not have that thing, but we recognisethe sentimental attachment of the old boysor the old girls, you cannot run away fromthat, but apart from that, what else? Theschools that we had became just a salutaryshadow of what we experienced, they arenot the same thing anymore, yes many oldstudents association have come to help theirschools, they’ve built new buildings,they’ve repaired structures many of themeven employ teachers but that cannot beadmitted as a government policy which ad-dresses generality. Accessibility to qualityeducation is what we are aiming for nowand not a sporadic intervention by public-spirited, well-placed people. And you cancount on the fingers the number of schoolswith effective old student association,should government policy be based on that.

All these educational renovations thatyou are carrying out, what if another gov-ernment comes and changes it, what do youthink?

Sustain ability, yes, I don’t see why anyother government will not continue whatwe are doing. We have not gone outside ofwhat is available for the government to do.What we are doing is construction works;it is about judicious allocation of resources.Let us ask the questions, four billion nairais being spent a year to feed the childrenbut that money goes into the street of Osunto boost the economy of Osun, what is thegovernment for? You mention the govern-ment efficiency and service by the economy.That is why everyday all over the world,indices are published, employment, hous-ing, inflation to measure how a governmenttouches the citizens. A government mustdeliberately put up policies that will putmoney in the pockets of the citizens. It isabout the citizen being able to meet his ba-sic needs and to achieve his potentials.With school feeding, 3,500 women in Osunare engaged every day. Also, because ofthe school feeding system, more youngpeople are going into poultry because rightnow, we have to go to Kwara, Oyo, andneighbouring states to buy eggs, to supple-ment what is produced in Osun, these areeconomic activities. There is no input inthe school feeding system that is externalto Osun; they eat fish; they now eatcocoyam, there is a new breed of farmersthat produce cocoyam only and it is a pro-fessor that has come to introduce cocoyam.If you see the number of people that isbrought into all that is going on, then youwill understand the passion to continue withit and cocoyam is such an interesting prod-uct: put it there and you come back, it’s allgrown. It is more nutritious, according tothe nutritionist.

The government of Aregbesola spendsN200 million every month on OYES; thatmoney puts money in somebody’s pocket.Where is it getting it from? He spendsN4billion on school meals, it goes directlyto the citizens that could be forgotten bygovernment. I can track who collectedone kobo for every construction site, wemust use our people, you must use locallyavailable tradesmen and artisans theimpact is already on the streets of Osun.We ranked third from bottom in revenueallocation but today, Osun is one of thetop economies in Nigeria, beating manyoil-producing states.

•Culled from THE NATION

‘No Policy Is Influenced By Religious Consideration In Osun’Continued from page 6

•OYEDUNTAN

8 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 2014PHOTOTALK

•New AUD Elementary School, Osogbo, built by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.

•Old AUD Primary School, Osogbo, as it was before it was reconstructed by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.

Compare And Contrast Between The New AUD Elementary School, Osogbo UnderThe Administration Of Governor Rauf Aregbesola Of The State Of Osun And OldAUD Primary School In Osogbo. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

9OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 2014 PHOTOTALK

•(R-L) House of Assembly members, Honourables Kamil Oyedele; Leke Ogunsola; Taiwo Adeyemi and Akinloye Oluseye at Erin-Osun.

•A cross section of traditional rulers in Iwo during the visit.

Osun House Of Assembly Committee On Local Government And Chieftaincy AffairsOn Tour To Proposed Local Government Headquarters In The State Recently.

•The Elerin of Erin Osun, Oba Yusuf Omoloye (2nd left); Honourable Wasiu (left);Honourable Johnson Ajagbe (3rd right) and others at Erin-Osun during the visit.

Assistant Chief of Staff to State of Osun Governor, Honourable Toogun Oguntola (left);Leke Ogunsola (2nd left) and other dignitaries in Iwo.

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 2014

11 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 2014

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Jobs at Vanguard Media LimitedVanguard Media Limited invites applications from suitable and qualified candidates to fill the vacant positionbelow:

Job Position: Production ManagerLocation: LagosRequirementsMinimum qualification of HND or equivalent in Printing TechnologyAge: Not more than 45 yearsExperience: 8 - 10 years on Web Offset press.Must have ability for Production Planning and Control.Must have experience in Newspaper and commercial printing.Must have knowledge of both Pre-Press and Press digital machines.Must be a team leader, plan and ensure quality control.Must be good in troubleshooting and have passion for the jobMust also possess experience on Goss Machine.Must be computer literate.Must be able to work under pressure.Job Position: Printing SupervisorLocation: LagosRequirementsMinimum qualification of HND or equivalent in Printing TechnologyAge: 25-35 yearsExperience: 5 - 10 years on Web Offset press.Must have experience in Newspaper and commercial printing.Must be a team leader, plan and ensure quality control.Must be good in troubleshooting and have passion for the jobMust also possess experience on Goss Machine.Must be computer literate.Must be able to work under pressure.Job Position: Asst. Printing SupervisorLocation: LagosRequirementsMinimum qualification of OND or equivalent in Printing TechnologyAge: 25-35 yearsExperience: 3 - 5 years on Web Offset press.Must have experience in Newspaper and commercial printing.Must be a team leader, plan and ensure quality control with ability to solve problems with minimal supervision..Must be good in troubleshooting and have passion for the job.Must also possess experience on Goss Machine.Must be computer literate.Must be able to work under pressure.Job Position: Senior PrinterLocation: LagosRequirementsMinimum qualification of OND or equivalent in Printing TechnologyAge: 25-35 yearsExperience: 3 - 5 years on Web Offset press.Must have experience in Newspaper and commercial printing.Must be a team leader, plan and ensure quality control with ability to solve problems with minimal supervision..Must be good in troubleshooting and have passion for the job.Must also possess experience on Goss Machine.Must be computer literate.Must be able to work under pressure.Job Position: PrintersLocation: LagosRequirementsOND or equivalent in Printing TechnologyAge: 24-32 yearsExperience: 3 - 5 years on Web Offset press, preferably on Goss Machine.Must have experience in Newspaper and commercial printing.Must be a team player and quality conscious with ability to solve production problems.Ability to work under pressure.Job Position: Mechanical SupervisorLocation: LagosRequirementsMinimum qualification of B.Sc/HND in related field.Age: 25 35 years.Experience: 5 - 10 years cognate experience on Goss Community Machine.Ability to work under pressure.Must be good in troubleshooting and have passion for the job.Must be a team player.Job Position: Mechanical TechnicianLocation: LagosRequirementsMinimum qualification of HND or equivalent in related field.Age: 25-35 years.Experience: 3 - 5 years cognate experience on Goss Community Machine.Ability to work under pressure.Must be a team player and have passion for the job.Job Position: Electrical TechnicianLocation: LagosRequirementsMinimum qualification of HND or equivalent in related field.Age: 25-35 years.Experience: 5 - 10 years cognate experience on Goss Community Machine.Must be a team player, able to work under pressure.Must have passion for the job.Job Position: Electrical SupervisorLocation: LagosRequirementsMinimum qualification of B.Sc/HND in related field.Age: 25-35 years.Experience: 5 - 10 years cognate experience on Goss Community Machine.Must be a team player, able to work under pressure.Ability to solve problem with little or no supervision.Must have passion for the job.Job Position: Pre-Press SupervisorLocation: LagosRequirementsMinimum qualification of HND or equivalent in Printing Technology/Graphic Arts.Age: 25-35 years.Experience: 5 - 10 years cognate experience on Newspaper.Production/Commercial Printing.Ability to prepare pagination imposition.Sound knowledge of Coreldraw, Photoshop, Pagemaker, Adobe In-Design and other related computer applicationsfor production process.Ability to operate Computer to Plate machine is an added advantage.Must be a team leader and have passion for the job.Job Position: Pre-Press AssistantLocation: LagosRequirementsMinimum qualification of OND or equivalent in Printing Technology/Graphic Arts.Age: 25-32 years.Experience: 3 - 5 years cognate experience on Newspaper Production/Commercial Printing.Ability to prepare pagination imposition.Sound knowledge of Coreldraw, Photoshop, Pagemaker, Adobe In-Design and other related computer applicationsfor production process.Ability to operate Computer to Plate machine is an added advantage.Must be a team player.Must be able to work under pressure.Job Position: R & A TechnicianLocation: LagosRequirementsMinimum qualification of OND or equivalent in Electrical Engineering.Age: 25-35 years.Experience: 3 - 5 years experience.Must be versatile in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.Must be a team player with passion for the job.Job Position: Forklift DriverLocation: LagosRequirementsMinimum qualification of OND or equivalent in Electrical Engineering.Age: 25-35 years.Experience: 3 - 5 years experience.Must have sound knowledge of forklift operation.Must be able to work under pressure and have passion for the job.

Must have a minimum of SSCE with current drivers license.

How to ApplyInterested and qualified candidates should submit their applications to:

Administration ManagerVanguard Media Limited,Kirikiri Canal, Berger Yard B/StopApapa/Oshodi Expressway,Lagos.

Application Deadline 24th March, 2014.—————————————————————————————Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) recruitmentThe Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) invites interested and suitably qualified candidates to fill vacantpositions at some of PCN offices across the country (Nigeria).The various positions, requisite educational qualifications, work experience and remuneration package are asspecified below:Job Title: Computer AnalystLocation: AbujaApplicants for the above position must:Possess a Bachelor degree in Computer Science or Computer Engineering from a recognized University;Have completed NYSC;Not be more than 30 years of age; Job Title: Administrative OfficerLocations: Abuja, Niger and BayelsaApplicants for the above position must:Possess a Bachelor degree in any discipline in the Social Science or Humanities from any recognized University;Have completed NYSC;Not be more than 30 years of age;

Job Title: Legal OfficerLocation: AbujaApplicants for the above position must:Possess a Bachelor degree in Law from a recognized University;Have been called to the bar;Possess at least six (6) years post- registration cognate experience. Experience in the Federal or State PublicService will be an advantage;Not be more than 37 years of age;Be computer literate. Job Title: Director (Legal Services)Location: AbujaApplicants for the above position must:Possess a Bachelor degree in Law from a recognized University;Have been called to the bar;Possess at least sixteen (16) years post- registration cognate experience. Experience in the Federal or State PublicService will be an advantage;Not be more than 47 years of age;Be computer literate. Job Title: PharmacistLocations: Bayelsa, Rivers, Oyo, Edo and OndoApplicants for the above position must:Possess a degree in Pharmacy from a recognized University;Be registered with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and have a current practising licence;Have completed NYSC;Not be more than 30 years of age;Be computer literate. Job Title: Principal PharmacistLocation: LagosApplicants for the above position must:Possess a degree in Pharmacy from a recognized University;Be registered with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and have a current practising licence;Possess at least Seven (7) years post- registration cognate experience. Experience in the Federal or State PublicService will be an advantage;Be computer literate.Not be more than 38 years of age; Job Title: Chief PharmacistLocation: LagosApplicants for the above position must:Possess a degree in Pharmacy from a recognized University;Be registered with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and have a current practising licence;Possess at least ten (10) years post-registration cognate experience. Experiance in the Federal or State PublicServices will be an advantage;Not be more than 42 years of age;Be computer literate. Job Title: Assistant Director (Pharmacy)Location: AbujaApplicants for the above position must:Possess a degree in Pharmacy from a recognized University;Be registered with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and have a current practising licence;Possess at least thirteen (13) years post- registration cognate experience. Experience in the Federal or State PublicService will be an advantage;Not be more than 45 years of age;Be computer literate.Job Titile: RegistrarLocation: AbujaQualifications:Applicants for the above position must:possess a degree in Pharmacy from a recognized University;be registered with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and have a current practising licence;possess at least twenty (20) years post- registration cognate experience;not be more than 55 years of age;Additional qualification in Pharmacy or relevant discipline as well as computer literacy would be an advantageAnyone below Conhess 14 or Grade Level 16 or its equivalent in the private sector need not applyFunctionsThe Registrar shall serve as Secretary to the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and its Disciplinary Tribunal. Theofficer shall perform duties as stipulated in the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Act Cap P17, LFN, 2004 inaddition to other duties as directed by the CounciLTenureThis appointment will be for four (4) years in the first instance, but following a satisfactory performance it maybe renewed for anotherfour(4) years.

RemunerationSalary and fringe benefits are as applicable to similar officers in the Public Service.

Conditions of ServiceConditions of service are similar to those obtainable in the Public Service,Method of ApplicationCandidates are required to forward ten (10) copies of handwritten application with copies of relevant educationaland professional qualifications as well as detailed Curriculum Vitae to reach: pcnig@yahoo.ca

The Ag. Registrar,Pharmacists Council of Nigeria,Plot 7/9, Idu Industrial Layout,P.M.B 415,Garki, Abuja

Application Deadline 21st April, 2014—————————————————————————————Recent Job for an Account Officer in Lagos at Firstrust Investment Managers LimitedFirstrust Investment Managers Limited is a registered Company in Nigeria with core strength in the areas ofFunds Management, Portfolio Management, Real Estate, Mutual and Syndicated Credits as well as AssetsLeasing and Intermediation in Stocks, Ventures Capital and Insurance.Our clients requires the urgent service of a male account officer with the following qualifications:

Job Title: Account OfficerLocation: LagosRequirementsHe must be an OND/HND holder in accountancy.He must not be more than 27yrs old.He must have a minimum experience of 2yrsHe must be able to use excel, peachtree.Method of ApplicationInterested candidates should forward their resume to: yinkaadedeji@firstrust.com.ng

Application Deadline 21st March, 2014

OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 201412

ELDER STATESMEN

1. Dr. Tunji Braithwaite2. Chief Ayo Adebanjo3.Chief Richard Akinjide4.Chief Olu Falae5.Erelu Olusola Obada6.Chief Afe Babalola, SAN7.General Ike Nwachukwu8.Iyom Josephine Anenih9.Senator Jim Nwobodo10.Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN11.Senator Azu Agboti12.Chief Peter Odili13.King Alfred Diete Spiff14.Edwin K. Clark15.Daisy Danjuma16.Prof. Evara Ejemot Esu, OFR17.Chief Nduese Esiene18.Prof. Ambrose Okwoli19.Alhaji Abdulahi Ohoimah20.Prof. Ibrahim Gambari21.Mr. Dogara Mark Ogbole22.Prof. Jerry Gana23.Gen. Jonathan Temlong24.Prof. Jubril Aminu25.Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Muazu26.Arc. Ibrahim Bunu27.Amb. Yerima Abdullahi28.Mr. John Mamman29.Alhaji Adamu Waziri30.Alhaji Umaru Musa Zandan31.Prof. Mohammed Jumari32.Mallam Tanko Yakassai33.Senator Ibrahim Idah34.Hon. Justice Usman Mohammed Argungu35.Prof. Sambo Jinadu36.Ishia Aliyu Gusau37.General A. B. Mamman

RETIRED MILITARY AND SECURITYPERSONNEL

(i) RETIRED ARMY, NAVY & AIR FORCEOFFICERS (RANAO) ASSOCIATIONOF NIGERIA (ARPON)

1.Gen. Zamani Lekwot2.Maj. Gen. Alex Mshelbwala3.Rear Adm CS Ehanmo4.Brig. Gen. (Barr.) DO Idada-Ikponmwen5.Group Capt Ohadomere6.Gen. Raji Rasaki

(ii) ASSOCIATION OF RETIREDPOLICE OFFICERS OF NIGERIA(ARPON)

1.R. O. Osanaiye, AIG (rtd)2.Alh. (Barr.) Mamman Misau, AIG (rtd)3.Alhaji Bashiru Albasu, AIG (rtd.)4.Chief (Barr.) Nicholas Duru Nkemdeme, CP(rtd)5.Barr. J. I. Ebinum, DCP (rtd)6.Barr. Samuel Adetuyi, CP (rtd)

(iii) RETIRED STATE SECURITY ANDNIA OFFICERS

1.Chief Jeremiah Okwuonu2.A. K. Horsfall3.Mr. Iliya Danga4.Chief Babatunde Ala5.Amb. B. M. Sani6.Amb. J. K. Shinkaiye

TRADITIONAL RULERS

1.His Royal Highness, Alh. Dr. ZayyanuAbdullahi, Emir of Yauri2.His Royal Highness, Alh. (Dr.) NuhuMohammed Sanusi, Emir of Dutse3.His Royal Highness, Dr. MuhammaduBarkindo Mustapha, CFR, Lamido ofAdamawa4.His Royal Highness, Alh. Abdullahi IbnMuhammad Askirama III, Emir of Askira5.His Royal Highness, Alh. Sulu Gambari,CFR, Emir of Ilorin6.His Royal Highness, Elder Jacob GyangBuba, Gbong Gwom Jos7.His Royal Majesty, Oba Michael GbadeboAdedeji, JP, CON, Ariyowonye Lim Owaoyeof Okemesi8.His Royal Majesty, Oba Arc. Aderemi A.Adedapo, Alayemore of Ido Osun,Coordinator9.His Royal Highness, Eze (Dr) Cletus I.Illomuanya, Obi of Obinugwu10.His Royal Highness, Eze Elder Agom Eze,OON11.His Royal Highness, Dr. Edmund Daukuro,FNSE, Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom12.His Royal Highness, Chief NosakhareIsekhure, Chief Priest of Benin Kingdom13.HRM Ismail Danlami Mohammed, Sarkiof Karshi

RETIRED CIVIL SERVANTS

1.Engr. Ebele O. Okeke2.Dr. Edet A. Ekerendu3.Mr. Akin Arikawe4.Chief Robert Audu5.Ammuna Lawan Ali

6.Dr. H. U. Sanusi

LABOUR REPRESENTATIVES

NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS

1.Abdulwahed Ibrahim Omar2.Chris Uyot3.Kiri Mohammed Shaibu4.Joe Ajaero5.Promise Adewusi6.Issa Aremu7.Lucy Offiong8.Ayuba Wabba9.Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson10.Emma Ugboaja11.Ibrahim Khaleel12.Michael Olukoya

TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA

1.Bobboi Bala Kaigama2.Barrister Musa Lawal3.Mrs. Dinatu Asibi Assani4.Olasanye Oyinkan5.Sunday Olusoji Salako6.Olakunle Olanrewaju Olaitan7.Peter Esele8.Augustine Etafo9.Maryam Jummai Bello10.Hassan Salihu Anka11.Bede Opara12.Aliyu Musa

ORGANISED PRIVATE SECTOR

NIGERIA EMPLOYERS’ CONSULTATIVEASSOCIATION (NECA)

1.Chief R. U. Uche2.Mallam Mahmud Othman

MANUFACTURERS ASSOCATION OFNIGERIA (MAN)

1.Chief Kola Jamodu, OFR2.Alhaji Ali Madugu, mni

NIGERIA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE,INDUSTRY AND MANUFACTURERSASSOCATION (NACCIMA)

1.Alhaji Mohammed B. Abubakar, MON2.Chief Bassey E. O. Edem, MFR

NIGERIAN ECONOMIC SUMMIT GROUP(NESG)

1.Mr. Bukar Kyari2.Mr. Frank Nweke II

NIGERIA YOUTHS ORGANISATIONS

NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OFNIGERIA

1.Comrade Henry Nwabueze2.Ajani James Olawale3.Abdullahi Abdulmajeed4.Mallam Hamma Bello Bilkindo5.Charles Ibiang6.Ben Duntoye

NATIONAL ASSOCATION OF NIGERIANSTUDENTS (NANS)

1.Yinka Gbadebo, GCNS2.Sylvester Okoh3.Abdullahi Ali-Kano4.Chinonso Obasi5.Clifford Abur6.Olayinka Dada (JP)

OTHER YOUTH ORGANISATIONS

1.Hassan Rilwan2.Yadomah Bukar Mandara3.Yakubu Shendam4.Kasim Akande5.Mosunmola Umoru6.Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu

WOMEN GROUPS

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN’SSOCIETIES (NCWS)

1.Chief (Mrs.) Nkechi Okemini Mba2.Mrs. Love Ezema3.Mrs. Remi Kuku4.Dr. (Mrs.) Patricia Ogbonnaya5.Chief (Mrs.) Anthonia Balogun6.Chief (Mrs.) Temitope Ajayi7.Hajiya Ramatu Usman, mni8.Chief (Mrs) Hannatu Lohor9.Mrs. Princess Rabi Ibrahim10.Mrs. Safiya Ibrahim Ogo11.Hajiya Miriam S. Mohammed12.Mrs. Princess Hadiza Ibrahim

MARKET WOMEN ASSOCIATIONS

1.Mrs. Sheila Tamuno Abiye2.Hajiya Alina Usuma3.Hajiya Marvyatu Iliasu

4.Mrs. Sarah Benjamin5.Mrs. Felicia Sanni6.Mrs. Ifeayinwa Ezenwa

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OFWOMEN LAWYERS (FIDA)

1.Ms. Hauwa Evelyn Shekarau2.Mrs. Ezinwa Okoroafor

NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF WOMENJOURNALISTS (NAWOJ)

1.Asabe Baba Nahaya, JP2.Brenda Akpan

WOMEN IN MANAGEMENT, BUSINESSAND PUBLIC SERVICES (WINBIZ)

1.Mrs. Ifeoma Idigbe2.Hajiya Bola Shagaya

POLITICAL PARTIES

ALL PROGRESSIVES GRAND ALLIANCE(APGA)

1.Chief Chris Ejike Uche2.Dr. Sagir Auwal Maidoya

ACCORD PARTY

1.Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja2.Hon. Muhammad Lawal Nalado

LABOUR PARTY

1.Chief (Barr.) Dan Nwanyanwu, mni2.Comrade A. A. Salam (Baraden Paiko)

PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP)

1.Dr. Ahmadu Ali2.Commodore Olabode George (rtd.)

ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC)

1.Yet to forward nominations2.

MUSLIM LEADERS

1.Prof. Muhammad Nur Alkali2.Prof. Is-haq O. Oloyede3.Hajia Amina B. Omoti4.Mal. Muzzammil Sani Hanga5.Alh. Nurudeen Lemu6.Nomination yet to be completed

CHRISTIAN LEADERS

1.Bishop Joseph D. Bagobiri2.Prof. Andrew Haruna3.Elder Barr. John A. Achimugu4.Pastor Emmanuel Bosun5.Dr. Mrs. Kate Okpareke6.Barr. Godswill Iyoha Iyoke

CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS

1.Rev. Nnimmo BasseyHealth of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF)2.Mahmood AminuPublic Interest Lawyers League3.Dr. Isaac OsuokaSocial Development Integrated Centre (SocialAction) & Pan Niger Delta Conference (PNDC)4.Joe Okei-OdumakinWomen Arise for Change Initiative & Campaignfor Democracy

5.Ezenwa NwagwuPartners for Electoral Reform6.Festus OkoyeHuman Right Monitors7.Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SANLeader, Civil Society Organization8.Ebuchukwu EzikeCivil Liberties Organization (CLO)

9.Femi Falana, SANLeader, Civil Society Organizations10.Dr. Abiola AkiyodeWomen Advocates Research & DocumentationCentre11.Wale OkuniyiPRONACO12.Bisi Olateru OlagbegiWomen Consortium of Nigeria

13.Kyauta GiwaCommunity Action for Popular Participation(CAPP)14.Steve AlukoCivil Liberties Organization15.Jaye GaskiyaUnited Action for Democracy16.Rommy MomLawyers’ Alert

17.Auwal Musa RafsanjaniCivil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre18.Mallam Naseer KuraBasic Rights Action – Kano19.Dr. Emma ShehuInternational Institute of Journalism

20.Dr. Maryam AbdullahWomen for Peace in Nigeria

21.Hajia Shetu AlfaFOMWAN22.Y. Z. Ya’uCentre for Information Technology &Development23.Abubakar Saidiq IbrahimCampaign for Democracy & Development24.Dudu PalomaResponsible Citizenship

NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA

EUROPE

1.Adebayo Oladimeji2.Christian Chukwudozie Udechukwu

AMERICA

1.Mr. Gabriel Okoye2.Hon George Anibowel

AFRICA

1.Abdulahi Abubakar2.Amb. Vincent Okobi

ASIA

1.Dr. Jonathan Obaje2.Dr. Balarabe Yushau

PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES

1.Dandeson Hart2.Barr. Ayodele Adekanmbi3.Ms. Ekaete Judith Umoh4.Kenan Mamman5.Esther Andrew6.Zainabi Argungu

NEWSPAPER PROPRIETORSASOCIATION OF NIGERIA

1.Mr. Nduka Obaigbena2.Mal. Kabir Yusuf

NIGERIA GUILD OF EDITORS

1.Isaac Ighure2.Is’haq Modibo Kawu

NIGERIA UNION OF JOURNALISTS

1.Alhaji Mohammed Sani Zoro2.Mr. Lanre Ogundipe

BROADCASTING ORGANISATION OFNIGERIA

1.Abubakar B. Jijiwa, MFR2.High Chief (Dr.) Aleogho RaymondDokpesi, PhD, OFR

SOCIO-POLITICAL/CULTURAL ANDETHNIC NATIONALITY GROUPS

SOUTH SOUTH GEO-POLITICAL ZONE

1.Okon Osung2.Idongest Nkangha3.Ray Ekpu4.Amb. (Prof.) Lawrence Ekpebu, OFR5.Prof. Kimse Okoko6.Sen. Musa Adede7.Ntufam (Dr.) Josephat Okey8.Hon. Orok Out Duke9.Chief Joshua B. Fomudo10.Gen. Paul Omu11.Chief Paul Enebeli12.Sen. Yisa Braimah13.Barr. Chris Agbonmwanegbe14.Chief Sergeant Awuse15.Dr. Silas Eneyo

SOUTH WEST GEO-POLITICAL ZONE

1.Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele2.Supo Sonibare3.Sir Olaniwun Ajayi4.Dr. Adetokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu5.Chief Ajibola Ogunsola6.Barr. Niyi Akintola, SAN7.Mr. Yinka Odumakin8.Senator Anthony Adefuye9.Senator Femi Okunrounmu10.Hon. Salvador Adegoke Moshood11.Bashorun Sehinde Arogbofa12.Dr. Amos Akingba13.Chief Gani Adams14.Dr. Femi Obayori15Pastor Tunde Bakare

SOUTH EAST GEO-POLITICAL ZONE

1.Gary Enwo-Igariwey2.Chief Onyema Ugochukwu3.Chief Chukwu Wachukwu4.Prof. I. C. Madubuike5.HRH Igwe (Amb) L. O. C. Agubuzu6.His Excellency, Amb. Fidel Ayogu

Continued on page 13

Names Of Delegates To National Confab

13 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 2014

7.Chief Goddy Uwazurike8.Dr. Dozie Ikedife9.Chief Chris Eluemunoh10.Chief Uzoma Nwosu Iheme11.Prof. Chinedu Nwajiuba12.Dr. Joe Nwaogu13.Dr. Sam Egwu14.Dr. Clement Mgbada15.Prof. Nnenna Oti

NORTH EAST GEO-POLITICAL ZONE

1.Mallam Mohammed Ibrahim2.Hon. Mohammed Umara Kumalia3.Mr. Paul Bassi4.Amb. Ibrahim Mai Sule5.Dr. Abdu Bulama6.Mr. Bar Abubakar Samo7.Amb. Adamu Aliyu8.Dr. Sale Dauda9.Dr. Daniel Madu10.Sen. Saidu Kumo11.Amb. Hassan Adamu12.Kashim Ndjida13.Chief B. Leonard14.Barrister Chris Abongaby15.Alhaji Isa Mafindi

NORTH WEST GEO-POLITICAL ZONE

1.IGP Ibrahim Coomassie (rtd)2.Amb. Yaro Yusuf Mamman3.Prof. Auwalu Yadudu4.Alhaji Magaji Danbatta5.AVM Mutari Mohammed6.Sen. Bello Maitama Yusuf7.Ms. Fati Eunice Ibrahim8.Sen. Mohammed Kabiru Jibrin9.Sen. Saidu Musa Dansadau10.Col. Bala Mande11.Gen. Tanko Ayuba12.Hajiya Maria Waziri13.Bilkisu Magoro14.Hajiya Laraba Dattijo15.Sen. Ladan Shuni

NORTH CENTRAL GEO-POLITICALZONE

1.Elder Bulus Dareng2.Lt. Gen. J. T. Useni3.Sen. Ibrahim Mantu4.Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma5.Mr. Anthony Sani6.Prof. Onje Gewyedo7.Prof. Iyorchia Ayu8.Prof. John Uko9.Dr. Philip O. Salawu10.Bayo Ojo11.Prof. (Mrs.) Mariatu Tunuche12.Dr. Shem Nuhu Zagbayi13.Engr. Mustapha Bello14.Sen. Gbemi Saraki15.Mr. John Dara

PROFESSIONAL BODIES

1.Okey Wali, SANNigeria Bar Association (NBA)2.Engr. (Senator) Adefemi Kila, FNSEThe Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE)3.Dr. Segun Aina, OFRChartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIB)4.Dr. Osahon EnabuleleNigerian Medical Association (NMA)5.Dr. Nelson U. O. Uwaga, mni, FNIMNigerian Institute of Management (NIM)6.Arc. Waheed Niyi Brimmo, fnia, pniaNigerian Institute of Architects (NIA)7.Senator (Chief) Felix Kolawole Bajomo,FCAInstitute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria(ICAN)8.Mr. Johnson Oludeinde Oluata, FCNAAssociation of National Accountants ofNigeria (ANAN)9.Dr. Rotimi Oladele, FNIPRNigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR)10.Mrs. Bunmi Oke, frpaAssociation of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria(AAPN)11.Mr. Emeka D.ElehThe Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyorsand Valuers (NIESV)12.Engr. Olu Andah Wai-OgosuNigerian Environmental Society13.Prof. Olu AjakaiyeNigeria Economic Society14.Prof. Yakubu A. OchefuHistorical Society of Nigeria15.Alhaji Musa IsiweleRoad Transport Employers Assocation(RTEAN)

NATIONAL ACADEMIES

THE NIGERIAN ACADEMY OFSCIENCE

1.Prof. Oyewale Tomori, FAS, NNOM

ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING

1.Engr. V. I. Maduka, OFR

THE NIGERIAN ACADEMY OFEDUCATION

1.Prof. U. M. O. Ivowi

NIGERIAN ACADEMY OF LETTERS

1.Prof. Munzali Jibril

ACADEMY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

1.Yet to be nominated

JUDICIARY

1.Hon. Justice G. A. Oguntade2.Hon. Justice F. F. Tabai3.Hon. Justice Abdulahi Mustapha4.Hon. Justice Adamu Bello5.Hon. Justice Veronica Ngozi Ume6.Hon. Justice Baba Alkali Ba’aba

FORMER POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDERS

FORMER GOVERNORS

1.Chief Achike Udenwa2.Chief Olusegun Osoba3.Obong Victor Attah4.Alh. Saidu Barda5.Amb. Fidelis Tapgun6.Nomination not completed

SENATORS FORUM

1.Senator Khairat Abdulrazaq Gwadabe2.Senator Abdullahi Bala Adamu3.Senator Muhammed Ibrahim4.Senator Nnamdi Eriobuna5.Senator John K. Brambaifa6.Senator Iyabo Anisunlowo

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FORUM

1.Hon. Ghali Umar Na’Abba, CFR2.Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, CON3.Hon. (Chief) Obi Anoliofo4.Hon. Umar Kareto Lawan5.Hon. Musa Elayo Abdullahi6.Hon. Sheik M. Sekoni

ASSOCIATION OF FORMER SPEAKERS

1.Rt. Hon. (Chief) Anayo Nnebe2.Rt. Hon. Abudssalam Taofig Olawale3.Rt. Hon. Ignatius Kevin Edet4.Rt. Hon. Habu Isa Ajiya5.Rt. Hon. Mohammed Yaro6.Rt. Hon. Terseer Tsumba

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

1.General Alani Akinrinade (rtd)2.Prof. Olawale Albert3.Prof. Anya O. Anya4.Dr. (Mrs.) Virginia A. Anohu5.Annkio Briggs6.Col. Tony Nyiam7.His Excellency, Engr. A. A. Kure8.Group Capt. Jeo Orji9.Ibrahim D. Waziri10.Mrs. Binta Ibrahim Musa11.Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar12.His Excellency, Adamu Aliero13.Hajiya Hauwa Bukar14.Senator Mimibariya Amange15.Dame Virgi Etiaba16.Chief Asara A. Asara17.Mrs. Eunice Igwe18.Damian Dodo, SAN19.Mrs. Ngozi Olejeme20.Atedo Peterside

STATE GOVERNMENTS AND FCT

ABIA STATE

1.Senator Adolphus Wabara2.Prof. J. C. Ogbonnaya3.Mrs. Victoria Akanwa

ADAMAWA STATE

1.Alhaji Mohammed Gambo Jimeta2.Mrs. Binta Massi Garba3.Mr. Moses Ngbale

AKWA IBOM STATE

1.Senator Anietie Okon2.Prof. Nsongurua J. Udombana3.Her Excellency (Mrs.) Atim Etim Okpoyo

ANAMBRA STATE

1.Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife2.Prof. A. B. C. Nwosu3.Prof. Dora Akunyili

BAUCHI STATE

1.Dr. Garba Ibrahim2.Prof. Isa B. Mohammed3.Prof. Gambo Laraba Abdullahi

BAYELSA STATE

1.Chief D.S.P. Alamieyeseigha2.Chief Francis Doukpolagha3.Dr. (Mrs.) Ngieriwagha

BENUE STATE

1.Senator Jack Tilley Gyado2.Dr. Magdalene Mba Dura3.Maj-Gen. Geoffrey Ejiga

BORNO STATE

1.Kashim Ibrahim Imam2.Hajiya Fati (Dongonyaro) Ali Monguno3.Hon. Dr. Haruna Yerima

CROSS RIVER STATE

1.Gen. Anthony Ukpo (Rtd.)2.Dr. Pius Tawo3.Senator Florence Ita-Giwa

DELTA STATE

1.Prof. Godini G. Darah2.Chief Benjamin S. C. Elue3.Female nominee expected

EBONYI STATE

1.Dr. (Mrs.) Adaeze Nwuzor2.Senator (Dr.) Offia Nwali3.Prof. Chigozie Ogbu

EDO STATE

1.Mr. Charles Edosomwan, SAN2.Prof. Sylvanus Oboh3.Female nominee expected

EKITI STATE

1.Prof. Akin Oyebode2.Prof. (Mrs.) Bisi Aina3.Bishop Felix Ajakaye

ENUGU STATE

1.H.E. Ken Nnamani2.Prof. Mrs. Rose Onah3.Monsignor Obiora Ike

GOMBE STATE

1.Alhaji Usman Faruk, NPM, CON2.Barr. Zubairu Mohammed Umar3.Mrs. Hannatu Ibrahim, MFR

IMO STATE

1.Engr. Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu2.Chief Bob Njemance3.Chief (Mrs.) Chidinma Uwajumogu

JIGAWA STATE

1.Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu2.Umaru Mohammed Hadejia3.Prof. Rukayyatu Ahmed Rufa’l

KADUNA STATE

1.Prof. Yusuf Turaki2.Senator Ahmed Mohammed Aruwa3.Hajia Nafisatu Babajo

KANO STATE

1.Alhaji Sule Yahya Hamma2.Dr. Junaid Muhammed3.Hajiya Aishatu Isma’il

KATSINA STATE

1.Justice Mamman Nasir (Rtd) GCON2.Dr. Abubakar Saddique Mohammed3.Hajiya Talatu Nasir

KEBBI STATE

1.Dr. Bello Haliru Muhammad2.Amb. Isah Muhammed Argungu3.Dr. Fati Lami Adamu

KOGI STATE

1.Prof. Sam Egwu2.Hajia Ladi Ibrahim3.Chief Olusola Akanmode

KWARA STATE

1.Alhaji Yusuf Kawu Daibu2.Senator Ahmed Mohammed3.Mrs. Wosilat Marcarthy

LAGOS STATE

1.Mr. Supo Sasore, SAN2.Prof. Tunde Samuel3.Olufunmilayo Osinowo-Bashorun

NASARAWA STATE

1.Dr. Mohammed Hassan Lawal2.Alhaji Muhammed Othman3.Mrs. Lydia J. Viko

NIGER STATE

1.Hajiya Dije Bala (F)2.Abubakar Adamu Chika3.Barr. Halidu Ibrahim (Ph.D)

OGUN STATE

1.Mr. Fola Adeola2.Barrister Bisi Adegbuyi3.Prof. (Mrs.) Titi Filani

ONDO STATE

1.Dr. (Mrs.) Yemi Mahmud-Fasominu2.Prof. N. Oluwafemi Mimiko3.Barr. Remi Olatubora

OSUN STATE

1.Chief Gbadegesin Adedeji2.Chief Femi Akande3.Mrs. Bola Ogunrimade (mni)

OYO STATE

1.Chief Adeniyi Akintola2.Prof. Ganiyu Raji3.Female nominee expected

PLATEAU STATE

1.Prof. Dakum Shown2.Prof. Ganyir Lombin3.Mrs. Esther Gonda

RIVERS STATE

1.Prof. Amakievi Gabriel2.Justice Peter Akere (Rtd)3.Female nominee expected

SOKOTO STATE

1.Engr. Bello Suleiman2.Alh. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi3.Prof. Aishatu I. Madawaki

TARABA STATE

1.Justice Adamu Aliyu2.Ambassador Suleiman Zubairu3.Hon. Dr. Mrs. Salome Jankada

YOBE STATE

1.Khalifa Hassan Yusuf2.Dr. Garba Abari3.Female nominee expected

ZAMFARA STATE

1.HRH, Justice Lawal Hassan Gummi, Emirof Gummi2.Brigadier Gen. Muhammad Mansur Dan Ali(Rtd)3.Hon. Justice Balkisu Bello Aliyu

FCT

1.Barr. Musa Salihu

FORMER LGA CHAIRMEN

1.Hon. Felex Akhabue2.Barr. Nasiru Ibrahim Junji3.Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Ahmed4.Barrister Igberi Nweme5.Hon. Emmanuel Tsamdu6.Chief Shola Ebiseeni

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THEGOVERNMENT OF THE FEDERATION

OFFICIALS OF THE NATIONALCONFERENCE

CHAIRMAN, DEPUTY CHAIR ANDSECRETARY

OFFICIALS & POSITION1.Justice Idriss Legbo KutigiChairman2.Prof. Bolaji AkinyemiDeputy Chairman3.Dr. (Mrs.) Valerie AzingeSecretary4.Dr. Akilu IndabawaAsst. Secretary, Conference Proceedings5.Prof. Mahmood YakubuAsst. Secretary, Finance & Administration6.Mr. James AkpandemAsst. Secretary, Media and Communications.

Culled from BUSINESS DAY

Names Of Delegates To National ConfabContinued from page 12

14 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 2014IN RETROSPECT

A Memorable Quote From A PDPAspirant In The State Of Osun

“Recently, Chief Bola Ige cameon radio here (Osogbo the state

capital), to insult me and myfamily. THAT IS THE LAST

TIME HE WOULDINSULT ME. He was

beaten yesterday. The people ofIle-Ife beat him up and he wascrying like a baby, as they re-

moved his cap and glasses. If ithad been at a

political gathering, he will bedead by now..... In fact, what thepeople wanted to do was morethan removing his glasses and

cap....” -IYIOLA OMISORE.

•Culled from Vanguard Newspaper.

15 OSUN DEFENDER Thursday, March 13, 2014

THURSDAY,MARCH 13,2014

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

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank GTB, Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondenceto the Managing Editor, KOLA OLABISI, Telephone: 08033927286 (kolaolabisi@yahoo.com); Editor, KAYODE AGBAJE, Telephone: 0803-388-0205, E-mail: osundefender@yahoo.com,kayodeagbaje@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.Website: www.osundefender.org.

THUGS RAMPAGEREGISTRATION EXERCISE

IN OSUN

All Progressives

Congress, (APC) State of

Osun condemns the

apparent unpreparedness and

unseriousness of Independent National

Electoral Commission (INEC) on the

ongoing Continuous Voters Registration

that commenced in the State today.

According to reports from the agents

of the parties across the state, even

though eligible voters turned out en

masse to participate in the exercise, their

morale has been dampened having

waited several hours without the

opportunity to participate in the exercise.

In many wards across virtually all

the Local Governments in the state,

the Direct Data capture (DDC)

machines brought by INEC were

malfunctioning with no technical

capabilities to address the challenges.

Among the areas affected by this

unsavory developments are:

1. Ward 8 Ilesa East LocalGovernment2. Ward 8 Ola Oluwa LocalGovernment3. Ilare Ward, Ife Central LocalGovernment4. All the wards in Irepodun LocalGovernment5. Wards 1,2,3,7 & 11, IsokanLocal Government6. Ward 1, Atakunmosa West LocalGovernment7. Ward 3, Isale Oba, Iwo. 8.

Ward 4,5,6,8, 11 & 15 Osogbo LocalGovernment9. Ward 7, Obokun LocalGovernment10. Ward 10, Atakunmosa East LocalGovernment11. Ward 2, Ife East LocalGovernment

12. Ward 4 & 10 Ayedire Local Government13. Ward 10, Isokan Local Government14. Ward 5,Atakunmosa West

Reports from our agents also showe that

the number of machines deployed in

many wards are grossly inadequate

to cope with the population on

intending registrants. Examples are:

1. Ward 4,5,8 and 15, Osogbo LocalGovernment2. Ward 10, Egbedore Local Government.3. Ward 1&8 Olorunda Local Government

Acts of Thuggery andBrigandage by PDP

We also bring to the

attention of the public and Prof.Jega,

INEC Chairman, the acts ofthuggery and brigandage being

perpetrated by some leaders andagents of the Peoples DemocraticParty attacking registrationcenters and maiming agents andsupporters of our party. In Ife EastLocal Government, some PDPthugs moved round the entireregistration centre and wereattacking everybody on sight.They were in Okerewe Ward 1and 2 where our party agents andmany of our supporters werewounded. A number of them havebeen rushed to the hospital formedical attention. Theyparticularly went to No 1Mosalasi Lane, Itakogun Ile- Ifewhere they attacked the motherof the Executive Secretary of IfeEast Local Government and someother people. The thugs are:i. Attilleryii. Ayo Wascaiii. Fatai Ologedeiv. Alhaji Akinsolugbav. Bisi Eleledevi. Alhaja Silifavii. Kako. In ObokunLocal Government at ward 4,Ilase, PDP thugs disrupted the

In Atakunmosa West LocalGovernment, PDP thugsattacked APC members. As atpress time, 2 of them sustainedserious injuries and are nowhospitalized in Westly GuildHospital, Ilesa. It is surprisingthat the Police who are supposedto maintain orderliness at theregistration centres looked otherway when our members werebeing attacked.It is clear that thePDP is desperate at riggingelections as elections are riggedbefore, during and after. People’svotes and choice must count.We urge our members andgeneral public to resist PDPdesperation for a peacefulregistration exercise and alsoappeal to Police Authorities to beresponsible to their task.

•AREGBESOLA

Babatunde Olatunji, Councilorof ward 4 because our supportersresist an attempt by the PDP toregister underage registrants.