VOL. 9. NO.063 NNNNN5050505050TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

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

- See StoryOn Page 2

Front Page Comment

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Who KilledChief Bola Ige,former Attorney-

General andMinister of

Justice? IGE

Aregbesola Flags Off CampaignWith Mega Rally In Ile-Ife Today

Aregbesola Bags 2013 Best Nigerian Award

Osun 2014 Governorship Election:

•The Governor Merits 2nd Term - Bamisayemi

- See StoryOn Page 2

•(R-L) Chairman, Nasrul – Lahi- Fathi Society (NASFAT), Osogbo branch, Alhaji Biliaminu Isola, the governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Vice-Chairman, Nasrul– Lahi- Fathi Society (NASFAT), Osogbo branch, Mr. Yinka Anjorin, Deputy Speaker, House of Assembly, State of Osun, Hon. Akintunde Adegboye, State Commissioner for HomeAffairs, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Sikiru Ayedun and other dignitaries during a special prayer for the governor in commemoration of his 57th birthday anniversary at Nasrul– Lahi- Fathi Society (NASFAT), Osogbo Branch, State of Osun, on Sunday

Use The Occasion Of My Birthday To Pray For The Nation, Aregbesola Tells Clerics

Aregbesola: A rash ofendorsement

To call this period aseason of endorsementin the state of Osun isto simply state theobvious as differentgroups are coming outin unprecedentedmanner to openlyendorse the state'shelmsman, GovernorAregbesola for anotherterm .

From East to the Westand North to theSouth of the state; infact, across all thenooks and crannies ofOsun voices are

audible passionatelycalling for the return ofOgbeni for second term.No one - progressiveminded people whocherish development asso far recorded under

Aregbesola -seems to be leftbehind in this noblecall. Both indigenesand non-indigenesalike are troopingout daily in supportof Aregbesolasecond termproject. This isquite interesting.

Continue on pg4

2OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 27, 2014 News

Aregbesola Bags 2013 Best Nigerian Award

IT was addition another feather to the cap of the governorof the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as he wason Saturday awarded the “Nigerian of the Year 2013”

Award by Media Ace Limited, publishers of National InfinityMagazine.

The programme was thethird Babatunde Jose lecture onMedia and the Society held atthe Centre for Black Cultureand InternationalUnderstanding, which broughttogether all of the best in themedia profession.

Delivering a lecture titled:“Governance deficit andAccountability in the Age ofTwitter,” the Guest Speakerand the Editor of PremiumTimes, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi,described journalism as a veryimportant tool to transformany society.

He said, journalism that isdwelling much onaccountability is a driving forceof good democracy.

Olorunyomi said: “Withoutaccountability, democracymeans nothing and journalismis in a position to check ourpoliticians, which is a veryimportant task.

“It’s a pity that most mediahouses these days are beingseriously hit by economiccrisis, which has adverselyaffected their objectivity.

“It is important to investmore on investigativejournalism and reportingbecause it can help restorevalues, accountability andpromote our democracy.

“Investigative journalismcan cure the crisis that hasbedevilled our profession. Tobe free from the currentlethargic condition we are injournalism, we have to carry

on with serious investigativejournalism,” Olorunyomi said.

Chairman of the occasionand the President of NigeriaGuild of Editors, Mr FemiAdesina, expressed dismay atthe proliferation of onlinejournalism, which according tohim, has the capacity to derailthe journalism profession.

He expressed appreciationto the governor of the state forthe unprecedenteddevelopment which has beenwitnessed in the last three anda half years of hisadministration.

“The State of Osun haswitnessed tremendousdevelopment under the presentadministration and we are veryproud of you”.

Presenting the award, Editorin Chief, National InfinityMagazine, Mr Jide Ige,stressed that the process ofselecting the Nigerian of theYear is done on a monthly basisthroughout the year whereNigerians who remarkablyachieved, are placed on a scaleand some of them wereknocked off, saying Aregbesolaemerged after a carefulselection process.

“At the end of the twelvemonths of 2013, Aregbesolaemerged the winner. This awardis our own little way of givingback to the society, as thisaward comes with a cash prizeof N100,000 and we want thegovernor to donate the moneyto any NGO of his choice,” Ige

said.Receiving the award, the

governor of the State of Osun,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, whonoted that journalism is notonly about reportage, but aboutasking questions with a viewto mould the society into theright direction.

He said leadership is a corepillar upon which the growthof a society can be, adding thatthere is no part of the state thathas not experienced newprojects, which is the mainreason he sought to be electedinto office.

“For me, leadership isdefined by what one does forthe people, by the fact ofwhose existence one is in aposition of leadership. It is allabout making a big differencein the lives of the people weclaim to govern.

“Indeed, it is my belief thatleadership offers a goldenopportunity to serve thepeople and bring improvementto bear on their lives andexistence of the people. I alsodo hold the view thatleadership is a core pillar uponwhich a viable and successfulhuman society can be built.

“In effect, when I soughtthe leadership of the State ofOsun as governor, I was fullyaware of the implications andwell-prepared to face theresponsibilities.

“It is a result of this, and tothe glory of God, that myleadership of the state has beenable to make a difference in thelives of the people of Osunbecause as a leader, I constantlyseek for ways of bringing aboutprogress and advancement formy people in every area oftheir lives.”

The governor said heaccepted the award with thepromise to continue to improvethe state, while donating thecash reward attached to theaward to the “SHERI CAREFoundation.

Osun 2014 Governorship Election: Aregbesola Flags Off Campaign With MegaRally In Ile-Ife Today •The Governor Merits 2nd Term - Bamisayemi

ALL roads lead to Ile-Ife today as an arrangement hasbeen concluded by Ife Federal Constituency chapterof All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of

Osun to host the state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,who will kick-start the campaign for his re-election in theAugust 9 governorship election with a mega-rally at theGovernment Technical College, Ilode, Ile-Ife.

The Chairman of AregbesolaState Campaign Commimtteein Ife zone, HonourableFolorunsho Bamisayemi-Oladoyin, who disclosed thisat a press conference in Ile-Ifeon Sunday, said the zone wasfully ready for the mega-rally.

In the chairman’s words:“We are here to kick-start oneof the most powerfulcampaigns ever seen in the state

of Osun for the renewal of themandate of our party’sgovernorship candidate who isat the tail end of his term offour years in office, OgbeniRauf Aregbesola.

“The All ProgressivesCongress (APC) takes thiscampaign very seriously notbecause we are afraid of thecontent delivery of our pledgesto the people of the State of

Osun, but because this couldwell be a game changer of thebattle between the light anddarkness in Yorubaland, andthe ultimate defeat of thevagabonds who despoiled ourfatherland between 2003 and2010.

“Yes, it is with fanfare thatwe will showcase ourgovernor’s achievements andtell the evil, ‘Ojelu’ politicians– the PDP, that since OgbeniRauf Aregbesola becamegovernor, Osun has been sopeaceful that even the Britishand American diplomats inAbuja came to congratulate thegovernor for the peace he hasbrought to the state. It is inthis peaceful atmosphere that

the state has been able torecord one of the mostspectacular economic and socialdevelopment known to anyother state in the federation inthe last twok decades exceptLagos.

“The face of Osun haschanged in the process, ourcities are cleaner and they areblossoming by the day inbeauty. Seasonal flooddisasters which had ravagedour cities and the state capitalfor all of the seven and a halfyears that the PDP ruled thisstate between 2003 and 2010has since been completelystopped the very same yearAregbesola came to power asgovernor”.

The campaign committeechairman explained that thenumerous developmentswhich the APC governmentunder the leadership of OgbeniAregbesola has brought aboutin education, agriculture,employment andempowerment of youths,women and artisans, socialsecurity for the elderly, urbanrenewal programme and thetransformation of the economythat is beginning to seeindustries growth in a statewhich once was called a civilservice state, shall all bearticulated at the mega-rally.

Bamisayemi-Oladoyinwho noted that the flagshipproject which has incorporateda massive knock-out effect onseveral sectors of the economyand every home is education,said through progressivedevelopment of educationsector, Aregbesola hasattracted unprecedentedinternational attention, addingthat “the Opon Imo was aspectacle. But the feeding ofchildren in our primaryschools has become aninternational attraction forworld government, and a studyfor the World Bank.”

According to the chairman,the PDP left a disgracefullegacy of run-downeducational infrastructure anda woeful performance recordof our students in national andregional examinations, addingthat; “today, not only has allof these changed, education inOsun is now on a firm footingand the prospects for thefuture which it is building isevident everywhere.

“Indeed, only onecomponent of the new Osuneducation plan, the O’Meals,has become so inspiring for theinternational community, theWorld Bank sent a delegationto Osogbo to study how a statewith such lean funding can feed500,000 primary schoolchildren once daily with a rich,health-promoting meal.

“To give you a sense ofhow impressed with the WorldBank was about what they sawof the O’Meals project, its

team leader, Professor DonBundy, revealed that what theWorld Bank team learnt in Osunabout feeding school childrenwas more than what it knewabout the programmeelsewhere in the world.

“But these greatachievements of RaufAregbesola has so angered evilPDP gand leaders that theyhave vowed to dismantle them,first by rigging themselves topower and then proceeding to‘reconstruct’ the projects. Thebattle to stop these ‘Ojelus’from bringing Osun down totheir criminal level ofcorruption, impunity and badgovernance, has just started.

“So, while this campaign isabout showcasing ourachievements, it is also aboutstopping evil from resurrectingin our Ipinle Omoluabi.Besides, we have a huge taskof awakening theconsciousness of our peoplethat they are not deceived bythe PDP or intimidated by itsviolence and misuse of federalpower”, he said.

He enjoined the people ofthe zone to join the other zonesin the state to be prepared todefend their votes because thelocusts are positioningthemselves to steal theirglorious heritage of goodgovernance which theyproudly inherited from the daysof Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Bamisayemi -Oladoy indeclared that: “These traitorsof the Yoruba nation andinheritance shall be defeated onAugust 9th, and with one loudvoice, we shall sing the ‘NuncDimittis’ over the death of thePDP and its cohort of thievesand terrorists in Yorubaland andespecially in the State of Osun.

“Arise compatriots and letus march into the political battlefield to secure a second termmandate for our leader, RaufAregbesola, who has done sowell in the first term ; we canonly expect something betterand a vibrant new state of Osunthat will lead the leaders indevelopmental achievements,after he must have completedhis second term by the Graceof God”.

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

Use The Occasion Of My Birthday To PrayFor The Nation, Aregbesola Tells ClericsTHE governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf

Aregbesola, on Sunday called on religious leaders inthe state to offer prayers for the peace of Nigeria and

Osun in particular.

The governor made the ap-peal as both Christians andMuslims gathered at the Gov-ernment House in Osogbo tocelebrate the 57th birthday ofthe governor.

Aregbesola charged the cler-ics to use the occasion of hisbirthday to offer supplicationto God on behalf Osun for apeaceful conduct of the August9 election.

The governor stressed thatthe peace which the state is wit-nessing must not be tamperedwith as election draws nearer.

According to him: “ I amgrateful that you have come topray for me on my birthday.This is the best gift one can geton his birthday, I want you touse this occasion to pray for ourcountry so that it will not beovercome by insurgents.

“You must also pray for ourstate as the August election ap-proaches, the peace that ourpeople have been enjoying mustnot be toyed with before andduring and the election.

“You as religious leaders andpeople devoted to prayersshould use today that Godshould continue to make thestate peaceful, because develop-

ment can only take place in anatmosphere of peace. Peopleshould be allowed to freelychoose their leaders in the forth-coming election,” the governorstressed.

Aregbesola pointed out thatin ensuring good governance andconduct of free and fair elections,the choice of the people mustbe respected without compro-mise or reluctance.

Earlier in his remarks, theAkinrun of Ikirun, ObaAbdulrauf Olayiwola Adedejiwho spoke on behalf of the tra-ditional rulers recounted the un-precedented developmentalachievements of the presentadministration.

He averred that the admin-istration has changed the faceof the state both physically andenvironmentally in just threeand a half years.

The monarch lamented thatthe traditional rulers and found-ing fathers of the state almostregretted agitation for the cre-ation of the state for close totwenty years, the state re-mained undeveloped.

According to Akinrun, “we,monarchs, were at the fore frontof clamour for the creation of

Osun. But for many years afterthe creation when the state re-mained a toddler, we began toask whether the clamour wasnot a mistake. This was our feel-ing until the advent of RaufAregbesola when he began toturn things around,” the mon-arch told the gathering.

After prayers were offered,the clergy, the Chief Imam ofOsogbo and Reverend of theBaptist Church, SheikMustapha Ajisafe and Rev.Adeloye Elijah advised the gov-ernor not to be distracted in thegood work he has started.

Rev. Adeloye said as the chiefsecurity officer of the state, thegovernor must always assurepeople of the safety of theirlives and property at everypublic gathering he went.

The cleric attributed the mas-sive transformation of the stateto security and safety being en-joyed by the people.

In his words: “Security isvery important as we approachthe election period. Somepeople want to vote, somepeople plan to destroy the vot-ing process, therefore, itbehoves on you to guaranteepeople’s safety.

“Even though we know thatGod is the chief protector ofevery creature, our leaders toomust compliment God’s workby making sure that the peoplethey govern are very safe undertheir administration”.

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right), receiving ‘Nigerian of The Year 2013 Award’ bythe Media Ace Limited, publishers of National Infinity Magazine from the Guest Speaker, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi(left). With them are the wife of the governor, Sherifat (right); Editor-in-Chief, National Infinity Magazine, Mr JideIge (2nd left) and the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr Femi Adesina, during the presentation of the award tothe governor at Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Abere, State of Osun, last Saturday.

Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

By BOLANLE BABALOLA

3 News OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 27, 2014

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); Senator Bayo Salami (3rd right; EducationLiaison Officer, Osogbo Local Government, Alhaji Sulaiman Afariogun (right); a governor’s aide, Mr Kola Young(2nd right); State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Kolapo Alimi (4th right) andother dignitaries, during the governor’s inspection visit to the newly-completed Laro Timehin Middle School, Osogbo,last Friday.

By KEHINDE AYANTUNJI

FG Pledges 5% Supplement For Osun School Feeding Programme•School Feeding Can Transform Nigerian Economy – Aregbesola

THE Federal Government of Nigeria onThursday commended the Government of theState of Osun for sustaining the School

Feeding and Health programme (O’MEAL) in thelast three years.

It also recommendedthe scheme for other statesin Nigeria as one of thebest ways to achievesound and qualityeducation.

The Universal BasicEducation Commission,(UBEC) ExecutiveSecretary, Dr DikoSuliamon, hailed theprogramme during a three-day Technical Meeting onO’Meal held at the Centrefor Black Culture and

I n t e r n a t i o n a lUnderstanding, Osogbo,the state capital.

The meeting wasfacilitated by thegovernment of the State ofOsun and PartnershipChild Development, anAgency from the UnitedKingdom.

UBEC ExecutiveSecretary represented byhis deputy, Dr YakubuGambo, on the occasion,announced five per cent

supplement for the schoolfeeding programme fromthe commission to assistthe state government.

Gambo said despite thatthe fund will cut across thecountry, Osun and Kanowill be given priority as aresult of their commitmentfor sustaining theprogramme.

Also, the FederalMinister of Health,represented by Dr ChrisIsokonu, said it has beenscientifically-proven thatappropriate nutrition is keyto child education andcommended the stategovernment for its hugeinvestment on the scheme.

Governor of the State of

Osun, Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, said apartfrom educational benefit ofthe programme, it has alsoimproved the economy ofthe state, through sourcingof the food items and foodvendors within the state.

He said the focus of hisadministration presently isto digitalise the schemewith the introduction ofsmart cards and servingpoints in schools, with aview to ensuring that thefund is judiciously usedfor the benefit of theschool children.

The governor disclosedthat by August, thebiometric data of thechildren will be captured to

produce the smart cards,which would be used tocalculate the volume andquality of foods served tothe pupils, which wouldalso serve as evidence topay the vendors at thebank.

Aregbesola commendedPartnership ChildDevelopment (PCD) forits intervention, which is tofacilitate the nationalacceptance of theprogramme and ensuretransparency andefficiency in theprogramme.

The governor, who wasexcited over the UBECsupport for theprogramme, urged thecommission on the speedyimplementation of thesupplement announced.

He said: “It is not that

we cannot continuewithout the UBECsupport, but their supportis the recognition of theimportance of theprogramme for thesurvival of Nigerianeducation. Educationwithout nutrition isincomplete, especially atthe elementary level.”

According to thegovernor, if the scheme isadopted across the nation,it will create jobs, improvethe nation’s economy andreduce crime rate.

“With the recentestimations that over 10million children are inelementary schools inNigeria and through theprogramme, Nigerians willbe producing 10 millioneggs on daily basis. If wehave the capacity, manyNigerians will abandonwhite collar jobs andbecome millionairesthrough the scheme,”Aregbesola said.

Osun Speaker Raises Alarm Over Fake Voters’Cards Deployment

SPEAKER, State House of Assembly of Osun,Honourable Najeem Salaam, has raised alarmover alleged mass deployment of fake voters’

cards in the state.In a statement signed by

his Press Secretary, Mr.Goke Butika, the Speakersaid the availability of thefake voters’ cards hasjustified the fear ofconcerned stakeholders inOsun.

Speaker Salaam said itwas heartbroken to knowthat no sooner theleadership of theIndependent NationalElectoral Commission(INEC) rejected the use ofvoters’ cards reader for theAugust election, than someunscrupulous politicalplayers began to flood thecirculation with fakevoters’ cards.

He said this issuggesting that the mostsignificant instrument ofelection had beencompromised before theelection.

The Speaker then calledon INEC to choose theoption of voters’ cardreader machine, if thesecurity device of thepermanent voters’ card isgenuine and truly data-captured.

He also promised tomake some of the fakecards brought to his officeby some leg-walkers

saddled with theresponsibility of gatheringintelligence on the effortsof political players in thestate to the media if theINEC footdrag the matter.

He said: “I make bold tosay that we have gottensome fake INEC voter’scards from our fieldworkers. We are actuallyinformed that the state isflooded with fake cardsnow.

“How those cards werefabricated was unknownto us now, but it is certainthat the target is theforthcoming governorship

election, and that makes theINEC to be left with theoption of the card readersfor the election.

“Besides, if theleadership of the INEC isinterested in the proof, weshall make all fake cardsretrieved by our fieldworkers available tothem,” he added.

Salaam then asked thepeople of the state to bevigilant and spare nocriminal, who intends toshortchange the systemfor selfish interest byexposing them, and causethe security operatives tobring them to book.

Osun Assembly FaultsLecturers’ Strike

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

THE State of Osun House of Assembly hascharged workers’ unions to stay away frompoliticking while driving home their demands

from government.It said that using

partisan motive toarticulate demands wasr e t r o g r e s s i v e ,mischievous andantithetical to theprinciples of unionism.

The Speaker,Honourable NajeemSalaam, in a statementsigned by his PressSecretary, Mr. GokeButika, stressed that theadamant position of theteaching staff of the state-owned tertiary institutionson industrial dispute,despite the all-inclusiveintervention of the stateparliament, has suggestedthat there was more to theon-going strike.

He said: “While theagitation of the teachingand non-teaching staff isunderstandable, theinsistence on using strike,and mobilizing students toblackmail the government,despite the fact that themajor demand ofretirement age push hasbeen forwarded to thelegislature for legislation,could not be a betteroption, but concertedeffort in line with thereality check.”

Salaam then appealed tothe lecturers to suspendtheir current strike action

and return to thenegotiation table withopen mind, with a view toworking with obtainablestatistics.

He noted that if theleadership of the unionelect partisan compromiseto score points, the resultin the long run would beunfortunate.

Besides, the leadershipof the parliament hastasked the leadership of thestudent unions in the stateto learn how to verifyfacts behind the figures,instead of jumping to thestreets to cause violence.

The government ofOsun, according to him, isbearing the brunt ofreduction in school feesby 50 per cent, whilefederal and some stateinstitutions of learning arehiking fees, only for theleadership of the samestudent unions to beattacking the samegovernment that is takingpains for defending theirinterests.

He said: “Protest is ademocratic toolguaranteed by all knownconventions, but for somestudents to take liberty forlicense by instigatingviolence on the streets,making attempt to picketstate institutions for nottarring all roads withintheir campuses, suggestedthat a compromise hadbeen reached somewhere,and that is not good forstudents who enjoy thelowest school fees in thispart of the country.”

Salaam then submittedthat the state parliamentwas there for any interestgroup to push its demands,promising that any genuinegrievance would not beleft unattended to, as longas it tallies with the realityon ground.

Osun Assembly Congratulates Aregbesola At 57

AS the governor of the State of Osun,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, marks his 57thbirthday, the State House of Assembly said

that he has justified his existential mission onearth through his service to humanity and hiscovenant with his God.

The parliament statedthis in a congratulatorymessage to the governoron his birthday, signed bythe Deputy Speaker,Akintunde Adegboye, on

behalf of SpeakerNajeem Salaam.

According to themessage, Aregbesola hasfurther reinforced theessence of leadership in

actual human societythrough his people-oriented programmes,which have defined Osunas a state of possibilities.

The state legislaturethen expressedconfidence in theleadership of thecelebrant as the ChiefExecutive of the state,saying his initiatives havemoved the state that was

once a backwater to areference point ofdevelopment andprogress.

It reiterated that thebirthday of the governoris worth celebrating,because he throwshimself into the job givento him by the electorate,and has asserted himselfas a leader to be trusted.

4 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Aregbesola: A rash of endorsement

Also, Osun indigenes in the

Diaspora are not left behind in

adding their voices from afar to

that of the millions at home to

the call for 'Aregbe for second

term'. Everyday the bell rings.

The message echoes even

beyond the shores of our land.

The message is clear; 'here is a

man who has done well, who has

kept to his promises; so since he

has the constitutional right to go

for another term then we must

support him again'.

The above message is on thelips of majority of the people inthe state. It's the song comingout from the mouths of allcategories of people; the oldones, the youth, the children,workers, students, artisans,transporters, free borns, emi-grants etcetera. One fact that is

deducible from this rash ofendorsement is that the peopleare satisfied with Aregbesola'sjob in the state so far. TheGovernor, unlike other unreliablepoliticians, has not reneged on hiselectioneering campaign promisesas he has kept to his words to theletter even in spite of the mon-etary challenges facing him.

Thus for the people of the state,the coming election is a pay backperiod; an opportunity for themto appreciate Ogbeni Aregbesolafor having brought dividends ofdemocracy to the doorstep of thepeople. Like an axiom whichsays 'one good tune deservesanother' so for OgbeniAregbesola and its can-doadministration it's one good termdeserves another as obtained inpolitical parlance.

To those who are aware of thelevel of development that hastaken place in Aregbesola's state

of Osun it's no surprise that theGovernor is being endorsed left,right and centre. Of course itshouldn't be less for him given hisstellar performance within a periodof four years. That Aregbesola hasperformed even beyond theexpectations of many he has beenable to warm himself into thehearts of millions of people in thestate. No doubt when our peoplesee good things they appreciate it.

So on this score all these endorse-ments are not just coming. Theyare not being sponsored. Neitherare they sycophantic. They areborn out of the reality on ground interms of the unprecedented featsOgbeni Aregbesola has been ableto achieve during his tenure so far.In fact, we join others in sayingkudos to him.

By implication all these endorse-ments for Ogbeni are pointing toone fact; that no Jupiter can stop

him from winning the comingelection. The people are alreadyspeaking and as we know, thevoice of the people is the voice ofGod. Baring any electoral'magomago' (malpractices)thehandwriting is already on the wallapropos direction to which thependulum of victory will swing inthe much awaited election. AndGod forbids, never again canreactionary politicians succeed intheir anti-democratic plans tocome to power through the backdoors.

Surely, the victory is for OgbeniAregbesola in the coming election.His victory is important to us asstake-holders in the developmentof our state just as it's important toall lovers of development. Weneed him to continue for anotherfour years all this good work. Wecannot afford to miss his valuablecontribution to humanity now.

The Rains Are Here Again, Let’s Be Omoluabis

THE rainy season ishere again and this issurely an answer to

the prayers of many of ourfarmers who have beenwaiting for the opportunitythat the early rain wouldprovide to start theirplanting.

Of particular interest isthe environmental effect ofthe rain, as we are all livingwitnesses to the July,2010 debacle in Osogboand the havoc that raincould cause when man inhis foolishness decides tointerfere with thewonderful work of nature.

During that sad episodeof 2010, the state governorthen; Prince OlagunsoyeOyinlola could not proffera solution but all he coulddo was to watch indisgust, as lives andproperties gave way.

Alas, in came OgbeniRauf Aregbesola and thepeople of Osun saw for thevery first time the use ofdredgers on pontoon

dredged the rivers andstreams throughout thestate.

Not only was this done,the governor also declareda 90-day environmentalemergency throughout thestate and re-inforced boththe weekly clean-upexercise that comes upevery Thursday and alsothe second Saturday of the

month as the statesanitation exercise.

Not long, the effectswere seen round the state,when the 2011 rainyseason commenced, therewas a drastic reduction inflood occurrence in thestate and where it didoccur, it was on a verysmall scale.

2012 recorded no

flooding at all. Even whenstates like Oyo and manyothers had floodingdisasters knocking at theirdoors, we in Osun weresleeping with our two eyesclosed.

We all remember thenational flood disaster of2012, Osun came cleanwith no recordedincidence and this credit

must go to both thegovernment of OgbeniAregbesola and to thegood people, who decidedto make it happen by co-operating with him incarrying out all theenvironmental counsel.

Well, another rainyseason is about to start andI am using this medium tocall on all the good people

of this state to alwaysabide by the state’senvironmental laws.

Refuse should not bedumped in open drainagesand streams, as there areO’Clean Plus WasteDisposal bins across thestate.

This is indeed a novelachievement, being thevery first in the state.

Citizens should comeout when due to carry outto participate in thesanitation exerciseswhenever it is time.

I also call on both theState Commissioner forEnvironment; ProfessorBukola Oyawole and theSpecial Adviser to theGovernor on Environment;Mr. Bola Ilori to continuein their good works and notto rest on the pastachievements.

There is still work to doand more is still expectedof the duo.

Osun A Dara O!

• O P E Y E M IFATOKUN, Orile-Owu.

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InfrastructureOSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Counting The Costs; Celebrating The Benefits (IV)The harvest of dividends of democracy continues in the State of Osun. The

state and its residents are better for it. Rapidly, the state is being transformedinto a model that it was destined to be at creation. The recent masscommissioning of roads attracts adequate documentation; hence NIYIOLASINDE's time-tested epistles. This part of the series is dedicated to thefifty-seventh birthday anniversary of the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf AdesojiAregbesola. OSUN DEFENDER Magazine crew wishes the celebrant greatergrace; long life; sound health; Solomonic wisdom; and abundant prosperity.

Ona Baba Ona In The State Of Osun

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed), acknowledging cheers from his admirers during the inspection of the roads at Oluode, Osogbo, few days.INSET: One of the completed 21 roads by the governor, at Oroki Estate, Osogbo, during the commissioning.

6 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 27, 2014MAGAZINE

Counting The Costs; Celebrating The Benefits (IV)

Contiuned from page 5

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•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), commissioning the completed 21 roads in Osogbo. With him; his deputy, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori(2nd left); Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (left) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) RATCON Construction Company, Mr Elias Zaad (2ndright), during the occasion when the governor commissioned the completed roads in Osogbo few days ago.

· Continued from Tuesday, May 6, 2014.•New Gbongan Road

THE New Gbongan Road is vital and important inmany respects. First, it is one of the major entry /exit routes for the state capital from many external

places. Secondly, it links the city and several other areasof the state with the State Government Secretariat,Abere. Thirdly, it is one of the numerous federalhighways which criss-cross the State of Osun. Theshameful side to it is the fact that like many other FederalGovernment roads in the country, it was not well paved;neither was it well maintained in periods preceding theadvent of the incumbent administration in the State ofOsun.

We have made it a point of duty in earlier parts of thisseries to clarify how the immediate past administrationstarted its purported first phase of the Gbongan / ErinIle / Kwara State Boundary Road; stretching from Akodato Old Garage area of Osogbo, the state capital; andhow the road project was slowed down throughout itsseven-and-a-half years in office. Even then, the roadproject was haphazardly done.

Upon its assumption of office, the administration ofOgbeni Aregbesola has turned the road around byredefining it and bringing it up to the standard of a trueinlet / outlet into a state capital of modern times. As atthe time of filing this report, the portion of the roadfrom the Government Secretariat at Abere to Old Garageof the city is receiving attention in terms of broadening,provision of walkways, drainage, erection of bus stopsheds and general beautification. Also, matters relatingto street-lighting and provision of parks cumornamentation are receiving priority attention.

Before now, motor parks were sited indiscriminatelyalong the roads. Also, motorists parked their vehiclesalong roadsides, further narrowing the road thereby.Residential and other kinds of buildings were built withabsolute disregard to the provisions of spaces from theroads. In most cases, too many spaces existed for u-turns. Activities of traders along the road were sorampant that there subsisted much of unnecessarycompetition and struggle for spaces among all roadusers. As could be visibly discerned, this road underconsideration has lined up along it great retinue ofcorporate offices which attract crowds of people andvehicles. This situation caused much hiccups, headachesand upset. To worsen matters, there was no alternativeroute to this very one into and out of the state capital.

By the time the incumbent administration is throughwith its reconstruction activities, all the matters ofconcern raised above would have been flung overboard.The incumbent administration is obviously leavingimpressive imprints in the sands of time; such thatwould be difficult, if not impossible to beat.

•New Iwo / Ibadan Road

THIS road received its last construction treatmentduring the military regime of General IbrahimBadamasi Babangida (rtd.); prior to the carving

out of the State of Osun out of the old Oyo State. Theroad, apart from linking the Iwo axis of the state withoutside states, also provides an alternative route for thestate and its populace to places like Ibadan, Lagos,Ilorin, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Aawe, Odo Oba and the rest.It is therefore significant to place on note its invaluablepotential contribution to growing the economy of ourdear state.

At this time when work is going on, on the Ido OsunAirport, the invaluable contribution which this roadwields for our state cannot be exaggerated. Theprominence of Iwo in the State of Osun is rising radically.The road is also of great importance to travelers throughour soils to other states. Already, Iwo is playing host totwo or more universities, not to talk of other institutions.There also exist links through roads within Iwo axis tosuch other areas of the state as Gbongan (Ayedaade),Ikire (Irewole), Ejigbo, Ede and other parts which impliesthat the road project would enhance smooth massivemovement of people and goods (mainly farm produces)upon its completion.

It is on this note that we proudly conclude that thecontract for the construction of the road has beenawarded by the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola.The project is expected to be delivered in months tocome. We commend, in strong terms the administrationof Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for its giant strides taken inthe State of Osun. We forecast that by the time theadministration is through with its development projects,especially in the area of road infrastructure provision,Osun would have transformed indescribably from thestatus of a glorified rural populace into a cosmopolitanstatus. By the time the administration of Senator IsiakaAbiola Ajimobi of Oyo State also does its own bit alongthis axis, the regional integration roadmap of the South-West geopolitical zone would be nearing fullconsummation. We thank God for this development.The West is fast moving toward the reclamation of itsold place of prominence and greatness among the comityof states in the federation of Nigeria.

•Ilesa Road

THIS road is yet another among the numerous onesthat link the state capital with major divisions ofthe state. Apart from this, it links the entire state

with the South-East and South-South geopolitical zonesof the country. Ilesa and the entire Ijesaland constitutevibrant food basket for the state and other parts of thecountry.

The stretch of Osogbo-Ilesa Road is one of the roadprojects that have received mere lip-service fromprevious administrations since the time of the old OyoState. Its construction at a time like this is most heartilywelcome. We have dwelt much on the importance of

this stretch of road in earlier parts of this report.•East Bypass

STILL on combating the problem of trafficcongestion in Osogbo, the capital of the State ofOsun, we now shift focus to another road project

initiated by the administration of Ogbeni RaufAregbesola. That road is the East Bypass; the twin-sister to the West Bypass, popularly known as RingRoad in Osogbo today. Any doubting Thomas on theintent and anticipated effectiveness of this road underconstruction would just need to take his cues from theusefulness of the existing Ring Road to human andvehicular movement. Also, the work of beautification ithas wrought on the city is admirable. Yet al is not yetthrough with the West Bypass. By the time the plannedupgrade of the road is in full swing, it shall be crystalclear to the most obstinate pessimist that its kind oftoad project is crucial to fast-tracked development inpractically all sectors.

Much has been written on the East Bypass in ourprevious editions. The road project is planned to linkthe Iwo / Ede axis of the city from the Ido Osun end tothe Ikirun/ Ila Odo / Erin Ile / Kwara State BoundaryRoad, currently under construction. The long road isplanned to link the New Gbongan / Ibadan Express Roadthrough the Ataoja High School / State House ofAssembly belt and connect the city centre somewhereat the Ita Olookan / Ilesa Road latitude. From there, theroad moves further to connect the earlier-mentionedcity outskirts at the Testing Ground / Unity School areaand burst out at the Power Line end.

The ongoing project, named after the late monarchof the Source, the first and the last Governor of theWestern Region, highly reputed royal father and greatcustodian of the Yoruba culture and traditions, the lateOoni of Ife, His Royal Highness, Oba Adesoji TadeniawoAderemi. Upon completion, the road would complementthe West Bypass, the popular Ring Road in countingdown on the problem of traffic congestion within theOsogbo metropolis.

From the Osogbo / Iwo / Ibadan Road end of thecity, the Oba Adesoji Aderemi Way shall provide analternative route for motorists making it from that end,traveling either towards Ikirun or Gbongan; and whohave no business doing in the centre of the city. In this,the road dispenses well its role as a bypass. Similarly,travelers through Osogbo from the Gbongan end,making it either towards Ikirun or Iwo could link theroad midway at the House of Assembly crossing;provided they have no need to transverse the city-centre.This situation is also applicable to motorists plying theroad from Ikirun end who may intend to avoid the hustle-bustle of the city by taking the route either to the GbonganRoad exit or the whole length of it to Iwo Road end;depending on their actual destination. Finally on this

7 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 27, 2014 PHOTOTALK

•The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, addressing his admirers and well-wishers during a special prayer in commemoration of his 57th birthday anniversary atNasrul-Lahi-Fathi Society (NASFAT), Osogbo branch, State of Osun, on Sunday.

•Chairman, Nasrul-Lahi-Fathi Society (NASFAT), Osogbo branch, Alhaji Biliaminu Isola, presenting a copy of the Holy Quran to Governor Aregbesola, while the Vice-Chairman, Nasrul-Lahi- Fathi Society [NASFAT] Osogbo Branch, Mr. Yinka Anjorin (left) and Acting Secretary of Nasrul–Lahi-Fathi Society (NASFAT), Osogbo branch, AlhajiMukaila Ajileye (right) watch with admiration during the special prayer for the governor in commemoration of his 57th birthday anniversary at Nasrul-Lahi-Fathi Society(NASFAT), Osogbo branch, State of Osun, on Sunday.

Prayes For Governor Rauf Aregbesola During His 57th Birthday Anniversary LastSunday In Osogbo.

8 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 27, 2014 PHOTOTALKPresentation Of An Award Of Nigerian Of The Year 2013 To The Governor, State OfOsun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, By National Infinity Magazine At Centre For BlackCulture And International Understanding, State Of Osun, Last Saturday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•(L-R) President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Mr Femi Adesina; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat and a House of Representatives’ memberrepresenting Irewole. Isokan, Ayedaade Federal Constituency, Alhaja Ayo Omidiran, at the event.

•(L-R) Chief of Staff to State of Osun Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola; Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti and State Head of Service, Mr SundayOwoeye, during the programme.

•(L-R) Editor-in-Chief, National Infinity Magazine, Mr Jide Ige; Guest Speaker, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi and State of Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim Chairman,Elder Lowo Adebiyi, at the event.

9 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 27, 2014PHOTOTALK

•A cross section of traditional rulers at the event.

Presentation Of An Award Of Nigerian Of The Year 2013 To The Governor, State OfOsun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, By National Infinity Magazine At Centre For BlackCulture And International Understanding, State Of Osun, Last Saturday. Photo: GBENGA ADENIYI.

•A cross section of guests during the programme.

•Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his wife, Sherifat (right), receiving a cheque of N100,000 from Ige (2nd left); with them are Dapo Olorunyomi (left); and Femi Adesina (middle)during the programme.

10 OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 27, 2014PHOTOTALK

•(R-L) The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; President, Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at Osogbo, Alhaji Abdul-Ganiy Akere and Chief Imam of Ahmadiyya MuslimJama’at Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdul-Ganiy Oladipupo, during the presentation of a book, titled: ‘World Peace And Pathway To Peace’ to Governor Aregbesola, at theCentral Mosque in Osogbo, State of Osun, last Friday.

State Of Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Received A Book On World CrisesAnd Pathway To Peace At The Ahmadiyya Central Mosque In Osogbo, State OfOsun, Last Friday.

•

•Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from his admirers after the presentation of the book at the Central Mosque in Osogbo, State of Osun, last Friday.

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

note, road users coming from Gbongan end whointend to link Ikirun axis without getting into the citywould also find the road very useful. We can also fashionout there numerous uses for the road for travelers fromthe Ilesa end and even those who intend to connectvarious ends of the city in a jiffy.

It is hoped that when the Oba Adesoji Aderemi Wayis completed, the long road shall impact wonderfullyon the traffic flow of the state capital of Osun suchthat all unnecessary hold ups, congestion, hiccups andbottlenecks shall be removed. Another important roleto be played by the road is that of providing directaccess to and fro the Airport that is currently underconstruction. In this light, we can safely say that thisroad under review, alongside numerous other roadprojects ongoing or already completed in the State ofOsun is preparing grounds for pragmatic and genuinetransformation of Osogbo and the entire state byextension into a cosmopolitan setting.

For the purpose of greater ease and convenience,OSUN DEFENDER Magazine strongly recommendsthat a feeder road should be paved directly from theOba Adesoji Aderemi Way to access the AyegbajuInternational Market from the rear. We do not doubtthe ingenuity of the architects and planners of our roadsin ensuring that several feeder roads are paved fromdifferent spots of the Aderemi Way to access variousparts of the city.

•Old Garage / Ikirun-Ila Odo-Erin Ile-KwaraState Boundary Road

MUCH has also been written on this ongoing roadproject. If we d not forget, this road projectwas supposed to form the Phase II of the entire

Gbongan-Kwara State Boundary Road project spuriouslyembarked upon by the immediate past administration.If the reconstruction of that road project had beengenuinely pursued by that administration; with allsincerity of purpose; then the entire stretch would havebeen completed a long while ago. We had, at varioustimes during the time of that administration in officepointed out that if it had been its top priority andcommitment to pave the dualized road, then, the twophases should have been awarded simultaneously to twoseparate contractors. The two contractors should havetaken the projects from their two extreme ends atGbongan / Akoda as the case may be; and Erin Ile / IlaOdo. The road projects could have wonderfullyprogressed, with the Old Garage area of Osogbo astheir meeting point.

Today, apart from the fact that the administration ofOgbeni Rauf Aegbesola has brought the Akoda / OldGarage stretch of the road to 100 per cent stage ofcompletion; work is earnestly in progress on the OldGarage / Kwara State Boundary stretch, which is hopedto be completed well before the administration is donewith its first tenure in office. Already, all preparatorywork on the road has been satisfactorily completed.This includes clearing the space for the second lane,blasting of rocks, removal of other obstructions andconstruction of culverts and bridges.

Currently, tongues are being wagged by a cross

section of detractors and pessimists, insinuating it asstark impossibility that the road could be completedwithin the stated length of time. The take of OSUNDEFENDER Magazine on that is that since it took theOyinlola administration its entire years in office, spanningseven and a half years, to construct the Old Garage /Akoda Road as its only notable project; the stage whichwork has reached on this road within the space of ayear is quite encouraging. The problem with cynics ofthe incumbent administration is that they are dazzled,petrified and confounded with the astonishingachievements recorded so far. Instead of beingrepentant, many of these cynics have preferred the pathof denigrating the administration; just as they fear thatthese numerous achievements recorded so far shall workwonders at the next polls. So they stand stuck withfear of their obvious end – political demise. OSUNDEFENDER Magazine’s wise counsel to these spentpoliticians and their cronies is that they should burytheir shames and put the patches of their failed politicalcareers together as is being done in jigsaw puzzles allover again. One best thing to do in such situations is tobegin to take recourse to pitching tents with the campof the progressives. Too much has been stolen; so muchthat the genuine owners, the people have noticed. Thepeople have resolved that the only way out of their plightand enslavement is the purposeful governance of theprogressives. The intimidating posture of the incumbentadministration, thrown forward by the gait if itsnumerous achievements has convinced the people. So,they remain strongly convicted that the tide of progressmust continue.

Before we shift focus from this road in this edition,we have further remarks to make. With the rains justsubsiding for the current year, the hope is high that thelong dry season that is just setting in would give enhancedperformances to the contractors handling the roadproject. The length of time between November 2013and March / April 2014 would provide dry hand hardterrain with weather that is uninterrupted by incessantrainfalls which are enough facilitators to speedy progressof work coverage. God willing, we shall be here at theoutset of the rainy season next year to assess theprogress so far on the road project and other similarones.

•Testing Ground /Aderin / Orita Sabo / OnisekereRoad

THIS road branches from the Power Line Junctionand extends through the Orita Sabo Junction toterminate at the Orita Onisekere at the famous

Ayetoro Area of the state capital. Before the advent ofthe Rauf Aregbesola administration, it constituted aneyesore, as it had become almost impassable. Thereare some other feeder roads linking this road with othercommunities in the area. Examples of these include theones connecting Kelebe and the Christ ResurrectionPower Assembly, a.k.a. CREPA.

As part of the thrust of the incumbent administration,these roads have been fixed. The to the importance ofthis road must be underscored. It connects the Ikirun /Kwara State outlet of the state capital with the heart ofthe city – the Palace Square along Ilesa Road. What

this implies is that any traveler into the city from Ikirunend is by it provided an alternative route into the interiorwithout undergoing any interruption. The same isapplicable to those coming from that interior with theIkirun Road outskirts as their destination. Also, motoristsapproaching the Kola Balogun / Testing Ground Area inthe precincts of Osun Presidential Hotel and thosewanting to avert the unnecessary delays on the Ayetoro/ Omo West Area could take the route to burst out atPower Line Junction. In addition, those at Ayetoro /Onisekere Junction and adjoining areas who intend togo to Ilesa or avert delays to get to Oja Oba could alsofind the in road an escape route.

It is this important nature of the road which hasobviously accorded it priority attention by theadministration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

By the road and the West Bypass, with the new EastBypass under construction, much solution would beproffered persistent problem of traffic congestion inOsogbo metropolis; in addition to the ongoingrehabilitation efforts on the Osogbo / Kwara StateBoundary Road.

•Gbongan / Akoda Road

IT had been made known over and over again that theroad construction efforts of the immediate pastadministration along Osogbo / Gbongan Road,

especially, as far as road dualization is concernedterminated at Akoda. This means that the remainingstretch to Gbongan remained single-lane. Theadministration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in fulfillmentof the promises of the SYMBOL that all roads leadinginto the state would be made befitting has begun thedualization project on the remaining stretch of the road.In addition to this, the Ife / Ibadan Expressway exit ofthat road is also being made broad, elaborate and risk-free. This is as the necessary flyovers are currentlyunder construction. The implication of thesedevelopments include smooth and easy drive,convenient, flawless and hitch-free journeys, improvingdurability of motor vehicles, thereby elongating theirlife span and reducing to the barest minimum thefrequency and incidence of carnages on our roads.

ON the note of the fore going, the entire communitiesthat inhabit the metropolis of Osogbo, the capital of theState of Osun went agog with wild jubilation few weeksago, as history was made when the incumbentadministration under the able and dynamic leadershipof Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola came out pungentlyto unveil the mask on the new road projects constructedto criss-cross the entire city. From across the entirestate and even from neighbouring communities locatedwithin the confines of the states adjoining the state,people trooped in, in their large numbers to witness yetanother in the series of massive road commissioningput together by the Rauf Aregbesola administration. Atthe instance of that occasion alone, twenty-one (21)township roads were commissioned within the statecapital.

As early as the break of day on Monday, April 28,2014, news filtered through the air that the governor ofthe State of Osun was billed to conduct a tour of all the

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Continued from page 11

•A newly-commissioned road at Oroki Housing Estate, Osogbo.

new roads, an exercise which was to climax into theofficial commissioning of the roads. In swift responseto the news, frenzy jubilations charged the atmosphereas residents and others from far and near trooped intothe city to witness the harvest of goodies in the list ofdividends of democracy, dispensed through the goodgovernance amply provided by the Government Unusualof Ogbeni Aregbesola.

All classes of people jolted to outwit one another insharing the joy of the day, as many shops remainedclosed, markets deserted and schools were bereft ofthe usual hustle-bustle that characterized them habitually.Motorists were about the gladdest set of people as theirparks were speedily transformed into a bee-hive ofactivities preparatory to mass mobilization to accordthe governor a rallying welcome to the road sites andthe venue of the ultimate official commissioning laterthat day.

It is placed on note that in consonance with the cost-saving policies of the administration, which prompteda collective commissioning of like roads in similarlocations in the first place, the festivities were bereft offrivolities which would have made the commissioningceremony outstrip the project execution in cost.However, it was a ceremony that is worth coveting, asit inspired any lover of progress with joy. Some of theroads had long been completed up to a year prior to thedate of official commissioning and the glad side is thatthey had since been put to use by the intended end-users. All the same, the official commissioning ceremonyjustified its purpose as it silenced wagging tonguesaccusing the administration of lack of any meaningfuland / or demonstrable success in all its exertions.Detractors, comprising mainly accusers from the campof the leading opposition party in the state – the PeoplesDemocratic Party (PDP) – had tongue lashed the rulingparty and leaders of government in particular of jump-starting too many projects simultaneously with noappreciable success in all. This was even against thevisible backdrop of the dramatic transformation beingwitnessed within the state capital in particular; and allover the state as a whole.

At last the long-expected day came. It all went welland it ended well. Residents everywhere trooped outexcitedly in their large numbers as they applauded thegovernor who drove round the city, acknowledgingcheers from his admirers. Residents of places in thevicinity of the famous Old Governor ’s Office,FOWMAN School and Heritage Hotel could not hidetheir joy and ecstasy as they stopped the governor’sconvoy in copious, practical demonstration of theirappreciation for his good gestures. On and on, thegovernor moved, linking the stretch of the new roadsthrough Ebenezer Hotel and Station roads; en routeFagbewesa Road. The procession was slow yet thegovernor’s convoy meandered through. The governormounted an open-roof SUV van, dressed in immaculatewhite, beaming with radiant smiles and waving inacknowledgement of the ever-teeming cheering crowd.

The crowd of admirers grew in strength as theprocession made it through the city; moving throughBoorepo (Ayetoro end) to Orita Elelede to Gbaemu;

Gbod0ofon / Isale Aro / Gbaemu Road; Church Street /Owoeye / Bisi Bankole / Oke Onitea / Olu Alabi stretch;linking Ilobu Road axis thereafter. Various versions ofslogans of approval rented the air. Shouts of “Aregbe”,“APC”, “Ona Baba Ona” and all the rest rented the air.It was indeed a memorable occasion; a sight to behold.

A man of the people that he is, the governor did notmake the journey through the city alone. He wasaccompanied on the noble, worthwhile and impressiveassignment by notable members of his entourage.Among these was the Wife of the Governor, AlhajaSherifat Abidemi Aregbesola, the State Deputy Governor,Otunba (Mrs.) Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, Secretaryto the State Government, Alhaji Moshood OlalekanAdeoti, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, AlhajiGboyega Oyetola and the State of Osun Head of Service,Mr. Sunday Owoeye. Among the numbers was animpressive turnout of the members of the State ExecutiveCouncil.

At5 the Oroki Estate venue of the officialcommissioning, the crowd gathered momentum as theplace was filled beyond capacity. In attendance weretop government functionaries, members of the State ofOsun House of Assembly led by the Speaker, HonourableNajeem Salaam, Chairman of the House of AssemblyCommittee on Works, Honourable Abiodun Awolola anda cross section of National Assembly membersrepresenting the state in the Senate and the FederalHouse of Representatives.

Grassroots administration threw its support andadmiration of the events of the occasion as it recordeda huge turnout of royal fathers and traditional rulersacross the state. Among these custodians of cultureand traditions who graced the occasion are His RoyalMajesty, the Ataoja of Osogbo, who doubled as theRoyal Host, Oba Jimoh Abidemi Olaonipekun LarooyeII; the Akinrun of Ikinrun, Oba Abdul Rauf OlawaleAdedeji; the Olokuku of Okuku, Oba Samuel AbioyeOyebode Oyeleye Oluronke II; the Olunisa of Inisa, ObaJoseph Oladunjoye Oyedele Fasikun II; the Oloyan ofOyan, Oba Kelani Adekeye Oyedare; the Elerin of Erin-Osun, Yusuff Omoloye Oyagbodun; the Oloogi of Oogi,Oba James Adeleke; the Olona of Ada, Oba AbimbolaAbioye; the Olu of Sekona, Oba Abimbola Waheed; andthe Olufi of Gbongan, Oba (Dr.) Adetoyese Odugbemiand a host of others.

The occasion also played host to various politicalgroups which include the Adaba Projects; De YoungMandate; Osun Positive Force; Progressive Torch-Bearers; De Raufs; De Integrity, Itesiwaju DynamicGroup; Women in Action; Oranmiyan Democrats;Asiwaju Grassroots Movement; just to mention a few.

Professional groups of note that heeded the clarioncall made by the occasion include the Motor DealersAssociation of Nigeria; Nigerian Automobile TechniciansAssociation (NATA); Road Transport EmployersAssociation of Nigeria (RTEAN); and the marketWomen Association.

The political class was not excluded. The event ofthe day had in attendance the State Interim Chairmanof the All Progressive Congress, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi;other leaders of the party including the Interim Secretary,Prince Adegboyega Famodun,; State Interim DeputyChairman, Alhaji Muraina Iyiola; State Interim Women

Leader, Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde; State AssistantP.R.O., Apostle Samson Oyebode; Osun CentralSenatorial leader, Alhaji G.O. Lawal; former Chief ofStaff, Elder peter Babalola (Peter Action); Alhaji WaleLasisi, Chairman State Civil Service Commission, amongothers.

Speaker after speaker at the occasion were full ofpraises for the good gesture and landmark achievementsof the governor. The speeches featured a fairrepresentation of all interest groups which includedpoliticians, trade associations, royal fathers, market menand women, community leaders, artistes and stageperformers who registered their support and approvalfor Governor Aregbesola. The toll of goodwill messagesdid not exclude the National Chairman, Radio andTelevision Artistes and Workers’ Union (RATAWU),Comrade Yemisi Bamigbose who eulogized the governorand rated him as first among contemporaries across allgeopolitical zones in the federation. According to him,the governor’s commitment to the growth, developmentand progress of the state is unprecedented anywhere.He counseled that the governor’s enigmatic giant stridesare such that the people of the state dared not sacrificeor miss on whatever altar.

As soon as the stage was set for the governor topresent his speech, he descended on the oppositionwhich had been busy launching campaigns of calumnyand propaganda against his administration all the while.The governor, while lambasting the People’s DemocraticParty (PDP) pointed out that the commissioningprogramme was put together to shame these critics whowere out on baseless denigrating of the administrationand all its positive transformations which are visible allover the state. According to him, the projects and theprogramme of the day were to sho2wcase to the wholeworld the results of “ingenuity and purposefulleadership”. He in particular cited Senator Iyiola Omisore,the PDP governorship candidate in the state, who hedescribed as least competent to contest any election oraspire for leadership at any level; saying in clear andlucid terms that Omisore “lacks all the politicalcredentials to contest for public offices”. He said:

“I assure the people of the state of your protection oflives and properties. You must not fear the charlatansin choosing the governor of your choice. Theircandidate, Omisore, who was unable to vote for himselfin 2003 and in 2007, his electoral doctored figure wasnullified by the court.

“He was in prison when he emerged as a senator. Hewas unable to vote for himself, not to talk ofcampaigning. INEC and the power that be in Abujadoctored figures for him to become a senator.

“Also in 2007, when he contested with JideOmoworare, the court nullified his election on accountof irregularities, but when we clearly understood thattheir intention was to kill our supporters, we boycottedthe election. He then contested against himself. The2011 election was not also different as they killed fivepeople at Isale-Agbara area of Ile-Ife before the electionand despite that, he lost his ward.

“Our victory is not by human power, but by God’sgrace. God has given us victory since 2007 and handed

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Continued on page 14

Continued from page 12over power to us on November 26, 2010. God removedan army General, who fought war in Somalia, not totalk of a prisoner, who does not deserve to be a councillor.

“You must not fear them. God is by our side and forthose who sent them on vendetta mission from Abuja,Kaduna or anywhere, they have invested on a failedproject and by God’s grace, they would fail”.

Aregbesola stated that he was not perturbed by thehuge amount of money committed to the road projects,because they would have unquantifiable benefits on thelives of the people. He added that at the inception of theadministration, he had a vision of progress for the state;of which road infrastructural development was a vitalcomponent.

Governor Aregbesola further stressed that becauseof the paramount importance of road transportation tothe movement of people and goods in Nigeria, includingOsun, government accorded it priority attention in itdevelopment scheme. The helmsman of the state pointedout that his administration was not deterred ordiscouraged by the little details of short-terminconveniences but focused on the big picture and thelong-term value of the sacrifices it is making today. Infurtherance of his speech, he said:

“When we started these roads, our traducers scoffedand mocked the project, claiming that we would neverhave the funds or the presence of mind to see themthrough. But to the glory of God and their eternal shame,we have delivered on our promise.

“We are not resting on our oars; our greater vision isto tar every road in the state since we cannot conceiveof a beautiful environment without good roads.

“We will therefore continue to convert our visionaryroad map for Osun into concrete and enduring legacyof asphaltic surfaces for the engendering of socio-economic development, progress and prosperity for ourpeople”.

He stressed that as the state capital, Osogbo Townshipand development project stands out as the product of avisionary roadmap, intentionally aimed at making Osogbothe truly modern state capital it deserves to be. In hisfurther exposition, the governor stressed that the roadswere designed to ease transportation within the city; aswell as in and out of it, adding that the total number ofroads being commissioned in Osogbo on that occasionwas twenty-one (21) of a total stretch of 26.31kilometres.

The governor went as far as listing one-by-one theroads being commissioned. A substantial part of theitemized road projects have already made our list in thisseries of OSUN DEFENDER Magazine edition. Thegovernor’s list includes the following:

Station Road to Ebenezer Hotel Road; Boorepo toElelede Junction Road; Elelede to Gbaemu Road;Gbodofon to Gbaemu Junction Road; and Ilobu Roadto GRA Road.

Others include: Oja Oba Road to Plantain Area; Balogun/ Biiro to Oke Baale Road; Alafia Street to Church Street;Awolowo Way; Coca-Cola to Capital Hotel Road; OkeOnitea Road to Anaye Market Junction; Okefia to ItaOlokan Road; the Road from Opposite Capital Hotel toOroki Road; Oroki Estate to Ilobu Road; Odetoyinbo toHeritage Hotel Road with Spur; and Kola Balogun RoadJunction to Fiwasaye Olorunosebi Junction.

There are also the Osunbukola to Ede Road; JohnMackay Road to Oke Baale; the road from Tanisi to KejiAdigun Street; Adams Street to Mercy Land and RoadSpur; Steel Rolling Camp to Kabelo Filling Station; andRehabilitated Ifeloju Omo-West Road.

Giving the nitty-gritty of the roads, the governor said:

“A closer look at these roads would reveal a deliberatepattern of an Inner Ring network of roads within Osogbowhich connect and complement the existing Outer RingRoad around the city.

The Inner Ring Road takes off from a point directlyopposite First Bank along Osogbo-Gbongan Road, fromwhere it winds through Gbodofon to Jaleyemi and GbemuJunction Road, and up to Isale Aro. This stretch covers1.79 kilometres. It then cuts across the Oja-Oba Roadto connect Gbemu Junction to Oluode Market throughElelede Junction and Abaku Road, and on to Boorepo,covering a distance of 1.47 kilometres.

“From there, it links up with the ongoing dual carriageOsogbo-Ikirun-Ilaodo Highway. From across theHighway, another stretch of the road runs from ChurchStreet to Bisi Bankole/Anaye Market Street, throughAlaafia Street to Oke Onitea Road and up to AnayeMarket Junction, to connect with the existing WestBypass Road. Here it covers 2.08 kilometres and loopsinto a semi-circle inside Osogbo.

Another 1.35-kilometre section of the Inner Ringcontinues from GRA Road to Adesina Crescent and upto Osogbo-Ilobu Road around Lameco Junction. Fromhere it branches off into the dual carriageway Oroki

Lane. Up this lane, an L-arm of the road turns right toconnect with West Bypass at Jerry Paul Filling Station.

“The other arm goes up through Oroki Estate ontoTinumola/ Wonderful Road to intersect with the IwoRoad to Okefia, at a point directly opposite CapitalHotel. Another span of the road goes in from besideCapital Hotel to Alekunwodo right through Coca-Cola.

This 2.33-kilometre section bursts out onto Osogbo-Gbongan Road, but this time beside First Bank, fromacross the point where it took off, to complete the InnerRing Road formation in the Osogbo Road Master Plan.”

He further revealed that:

“These roads are constructed to last between 15 and20 years. They feature drainages that are fortified withiron and concrete thickness of between 60mm and 70mm.The accompanying drainage channels will furtherenhance the life span of the roads by draining floodwater away from the roads and thereby preventing theirbeing washed away by erosion.

“To improve the engineering integrity of the roads,they have been constructed with various layers consistingof laterite, stone base and asphaltic overlay of 50mm.Their asphaltic thickness is of the same quality becausethey will be plied by all grades of vehicles.

“All these roads put together have cost us tens ofbillions of naira. But we are not perturbed by the hugeamount of money we have committed into the roadprojects, we have our minds on the unquantifiablebenefits they will have on the lives of our people andthe overall socio-economic development of Osun.

In what we do, we do not allow ourselves to bedetained by the little details of short-terminconveniences; that is for small minds to get in a stewover. Instead, we focus our minds stoutly on the bigpicture and the long-term value of the sacrifices we aremaking today”.

The full text of the governor’s speech at the occasionis here relayed:

•Newly-commissioned road at LAMECO Area, Osogbo.

OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 27, 2014 14MAGAZINE

Counting The Costs; Celebrating The Benefits (IV)

•Another recently commisssioned road in Ilesa.

A Visionary Road MapSpeech Delivered By The Governor Of The State Of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, At The Official Commission-

ing Of The Osogbo Metropolitan Road Projects, Held At Oroki Estate, On Monday April 28, 2014.

Protocols

I want to start today’s commissioningceremony on a note of congratulation tothe people and State Government of Osun.

This stems neither from a sense of vanity nor anattempt to celebrate frivolity. Rather, it arisesfrom a feeling of concrete achievement attransforming our vision into reality.

As an administration, we have operated onthe notion that governance is inescapably aboutvision – a clear conception of where you wantto go from where you are. But the vision wouldamount to nothing without actually moving fromwhere you are in the direction of your conceiveddestination. This means that vision must betranslated into concrete achievements on theground.

In effect, at the inception of ouradministration, we had a vision of progress forOsun, of which road infrastructure developmentis a vital component. Because of the paramountimportance of road transportation for themovement of people and goods in Nigeria,including Osun, we also accorded it a priorityattention in our development scheme.

Consequently, we came up with a map forthe comprehensive development of our roadnetwork. These encompass rural and local roads,intra-city and inter-city roads, as well as inter-state roads. This road plan cuts across the lengthand breadth of Osun.

But we conceived our road infrastructuredevelopment plan in the full consciousness thatpeople do not commute on road maps; theytravel on actually marked-out asphaltedsurfaces. Consequently, we embarked on givingconcrete effect to what we have conceived inour mind and mapped out on paper.

All over the state we commenced in earnestthe construction of new roads, thereconstruction of some others, and the repairand rehabilitation of old and dilapidated ones.In the Six Geo-political Zones of Osun, weselected six roads extending for over 74.1kilometres.

Likewise, in the state’s FederalConstituencies, we chose for construction andrehabilitation intra-city roads which cover 79kilometres. In the road map being executed, thereare also 20 inter-city roads that extend over a

distance of 294.27 kilometres.

Included in the road plan underimplementation are 10 kilometres of roadconstruction in each of the state’s local councilareas including the Area Office. These are inaddition to the eight road rehabilitation projectsthat we inherited from the immediate-pastadministration, with a total coverage of 144.29kilometres.

There are of course the big ones, the massiveroad projects that connect various parts of Osunto other states with which we share borders.These include the 36.85-kilometre dualcarriageway road we are constructing fromOsogbo to Ila-Odo on the state’s border withKwara State, and the Gbongan-Orileowu-IjebuIgbo Road, which is also a dual carriageway.

Then, there is the Omoluabi Motorway, beingreconstructed into a dual carriageway, fromAkoda to Gbongan Junction, where it will havea Trumpet Interchange named after our elderstatesman and former governor, Chief BisiAkande.

The township roads component of the planincludes different towns and cities in the statein their coverage. They have been completed inEde, in Ilesa, and now in Osogbo. As the statecapital, the Osogbo township road developmentproject stands out as a product of a visionaryroad map. They are intentionally aimed atmaking Osogbo the truly modern state capital itdeserves to be

In view of this, the roads are designed to easetransportation within the city, as well as in andout of it. Together the roads stretch for 26.31kilometres. They are a total of 21 roads that weare commissioning today. They include: StationRoad to Ebenezer Hotel Road; Boorepo toElelede Junction Road; Elelede to Gbemu Road;Gbodofon to Gbemu Junction Road; and IlobuRoad to GRA Road.

Others include: Oja Oba Road to PlantainArea; Balogun Biiro to Oke Baale Road; AlafiaStreet to Church Street, Awolowo Way; Coca-Cola to Capital Hotel Road; Oke Onitea Roadto Anaye Market Junction; Okefia to Ita OlokanRoad; the Road from Opposite Capital Hotel toOroki Road; Oroki Estate to Ilobu Road;Odetoyinbo to Heritage Hotel Road with Spur;and Kola Balogun Road Junction to FiwasayeOlohunosebi Junction.

There are also the Osunbukola to Ede Road;

John Mackay Road to Oke Baale; the road fromTanisi to Keji Adigun Street; Adams Street toMercy Land and Road Spur; Steel Rolling Campto Kabelo Filling Station; and RehabilitatedIfeloju Omo-West Road.

A closer look at these roads would reveal adeliberate pattern of an Inner Ring network ofroads within Osogbo which connect andcomplement the existing Outer Ring Road aroundthe city.

The Inner Ring Road takes off from a pointdirectly opposite First Bank along Osogbo-Gbongan Road, from where it winds throughGbodofon to Jaleyemi and Gbemu JunctionRoad, and up to Isale Aro. This stretch covers1.79 kilometres. It then cuts across the Oja-ObaRoad to connect Gbemu Junction to OluodeMarket through Elelede Junction and AbakuRoad, and on to Boorepo, covering a distance of1.47 kilometres.

From there, it links up with the ongoing dualcarriage Osogbo-Ikirun-Ilaodo Highway. Fromacross the Highway, another stretch of the roadruns from Church Street to Bisi Bankole/AnayeMarket Street, through Alaafia Street to OkeOnitea Road and up to Anaye Market Junction,to connect with the existing West Bypass Road.Here it covers 2.08 kilometres and loops into asemi-circle inside Osogbo.

Another 1.35-kilometre section of the InnerRing continues from GRA Road to AdesinaCrescent and up to Osogbo-Ilobu Road aroundLameco Junction. From here it branches off intothe dual carriageway Oroki Lane. Up this lane,an L-arm of the road turns right to connectwith West Bypass at Jerry Paul Filling Station.

The other arm goes up through Oroki Estateonto Tinumola/ Wonderful Road to intersect withthe Iwo Road to Okefia, at a point directlyopposite Capital Hotel. Another span of theroad goes in from beside Capital Hotel toAlekunwodo right through Coca-Cola.

This 2.33-kilometre section bursts out ontoOsogbo-Gbongan Road, but this time besideFirst Bank, from across the point where it tookoff, to complete the Inner Ring Road formationin the Osogbo Road Master Plan.

These roads are constructed to last between15 and 20 years. They feature drainages that arefortified with iron and concrete thickness ofbetween 60mm and 70mm. The accompanyingdrainage channels will further enhance the life

span of the roads by draining flood water awayfrom the roads and thereby preventing their beingwashed away by erosion.

To improve the engineering integrity of theroads, they have been constructed with variouslayers consisting of laterite, stone base andasphaltic overlay of 50mm. Their asphalticthickness is of the same quality because theywill be plied by all grades of vehicles.

All these roads put together have cost us tensof billions of naira. But we are not perturbed bythe huge amount of money we have committedinto the road projects, we have our minds on theunquantifiable benefits they will have on thelives of our people and the overall socio-economic development of Osun.

In what we do, we do not allow ourselves tobe detained by the little details of short-terminconveniences; that is for small minds to get ina stew over. Instead, we focus our minds stoutlyon the big picture and the long-term value of thesacrifices we are making today.

When we started these roads, our traducersscoffed and mocked the project, claiming thatwe would never have the funds or the presenceof mind to see them through. But to the glory ofGod and their eternal shame, we have deliveredon our promise. We are not resting on our oars;our greater vision is to tar every road in the statesince we cannot conceive of a beautifulenvironment without good roads.

We will therefore continue to convert ourvisionary road map for Osun into concrete andenduring legacy of asphaltic surfaces for theengendering of socio-economic development,progress and prosperity for our people.

I thank you for being attentive.

Osun a dara!

To be continued.

15OSUN DEFENDER Tuesday, May 27, 2014 NEWS

Akere Empowers 450 Women, YouthsBy SHINA ABUBAKAR

OVER four hundred and fifty persons fromBoluwaduro Local Government Council Area ofthe State of Osun have benefitted from the skill

acquisition programme organised and sponsored by theSate Commissioner for Information and Strategy, MrSunday Akere.

The beneficiaries, whowere from the fivecommunities in the councilarea and Ila-Orangun,received two weeksintensive training in bead-making, cake and snacksbaking, soaps, detergentand air-freshener making, aswell as fabric branding.

Speaking at thegraduation ceremony andpresentation of certificatesto the graduatingparticipants, the Bamofin ofIgbajo, Chief AdegboyegaAwomolo (SAN), urged theparticipants to be diligentand apply the knowledgethey acquired to improvetheir socio-economic status.

He charged thebeneficiaries to utilise theirnew skills to contribute theirquota to the development oftheir communities and theirimmediate family members.

The legal luminarydisclosed that a loanscheme was also on groundfor the participants toaccess as a take-off capitalfor their businesses, whilestressing the need for themto repay such loans for thebenefit of others.

Also speaking, the StateCommissioner for Womenand Children Affairs, MrsMofolake Adegboyega,

counselled the participantson how to use their skills tocreate business capital andexpand their capital base.

She described the gestureextended to them byHonourable Akere as a life-time opportunity for each ofthem to be self-reliant andto be able to support theirfamilies.

She also commendedwomen in the communitiesfor participating in the skillacquisition programme,saying they were the oneswho needed the schememost, as it would empowerthem towards taking care ofthe immediate needs of theirfamilies.

In his remark, thefacilitator of the skillacquisition programme andState Commissioner forInformation and Strategydisclosed that the objectiveof the programme was tosupport the vision ofGovernor Rauf Aregbesolaof empowering women andyouths in the state since hisassumption of office in thestate, acknowledging thatthe state governmentcannot do it alone.

According to thecommissioner, the best wayto give youths and womena sense of belonging is to

empower them throughmeaningful vocationalskills, instead of giving themcash gift, which is terminal,while urging beneficiaries tomake judicious use of theskills they acquired during

the training.

He stated that a loanscheme, which iscommunity-driven would bemade available for

participants to access, sothey could have a take-offcapital to start theirbusinesses.

Prominent members of thecommunity present at the

programme, throughArchitect Adegbite,reiterated their readiness toensure effective take-off ofthe credit scheme to improvethe socio-status of themembers of the community.

Osun Speaker HonouredSPEAKER of the State House of Assembly of Osun,

Honourable Najeem Salaam, has been conferred withan award of Commander of Great Ife (GCI) by the

Obafemi Awolowo University Alumni Association.

By KAZEEM MOHAMMED

He was honoured alongsidethe Governor of Abia State,Theordor Orji; the businessmagnate, Chief Jimoh Ibrahim;Mallam Yusuff Ali (SAN)among others.

The awards were presentedto the Speaker and otherawardees at the 21st BiennialConvention of the OAUAlumni Association.

Salaam was honoured as arole model to youngergeneration for his outstandingachievements and contributionto the development of Nigeria.

Presenting the award, thePresident Emeritus of theAssociation, Mr Wole Olaoye,stated that the values that theawardees have brought into theuniversity and the society atlarge qualified them for thehonour.

Salaam, who wasrepresented by his deputy,Honourable Akintunde, toreceive the award, said that thehonour was a great challenge for

him to do more interm ofadding values to thedevelopment of the society.

Saying that he has alwaysbeen an advocate of goodrepresentation, the Speakernoted that this quality has beendisplayed on the floor of theHouse as a lawmaker.

“This award is a challengefor me and it is a call to service

for us to have a better society.

“This is in line with the

efforts that we have beenmaking in the State House ofAssembly under myleadership, in collaborationwith the executive, to better thelives of the people,” he said.

Salaam commended othermembers of the stateparliament for their support inmaking sure that the bodymaintains its standard tojustify the honour.

He also appreciated theOAU Alumnus Association fortheir trust in him, promising tocontinue to be a goodrepresentative of theinstitution.•SALAAM

Osun Felicitates With Mr SpeakerT

HE State Government of Osun has felicitated

with the Speaker of the State House ofAssembly, Honourable Najeem Salaam on the award

of Great Commander of Obafemi Awolowo University(OAU), Ile-Ife.

A congratulatorymessage signed by the StateCommissioner forInformation and Strategy,Mr Sunday Akere,disclosed that the awardconferred on the Speaker bythe OAU alumni worldwideis a honour well-deserved.

It described the Speakeras a patriotic lawmaker, whois committed to thedevelopment of the stateand the country as a whole,saying the award was timely.

The statement urged MrSpeaker to see therecognition as a challenge

to rededicate himself toserving humanity, with aview to making the state andthe country as a whole abetter place for all to liveand thrive.

It also commended theOAU Alumni for deeming itfit to recognise the Speakerof the state parliament asworthy of the award,describing it as a pride forthe government of the state.

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014

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

By FUNSHO BAMIDURO“Welfarism is anattempt in governanceto bring health, wealthand happiness to all”

THERE is thispervasive viewof politics in this

part of the world that claims thatpolitics is all about interest ofindividuals, or groups and thebest ways to achieve this self-interest, however it is true thatgood governance is one thatstrives to please all,notwithstanding religious orsocial affiliation, while alsomaintaining social order andupholding societal values.

The above task looks sosimple on paper and especially,when being debated upon in theworlds of public opinion andsocial evaluation, but as astudent of politics, I know it justhappens to be a dauntingherculean task to bring aboutconsensus and provide generalwelfare for all. I believe it isobvious to the most-biased ofpolitical minds that the State ofOsun, under the welfaristicauspices of Ogbeni RaufAregbesola, has carried out thebest welfare orientedgovernment since the greatAWO in the 60s with manypositive changes and strategyoriented visionary programmesthat, if duly-followed, will notonly take Osun to greater height,but put the humble Ogbeni onthe same historical pedestal withthe likes of AWO and other greatprogressive minds. It is vital tonote that the key to a soundpolitics of welfarism is soundstrategic planning which BabaAwolowo utilised with greatgrace and one which the SouthWest will continue to enjoy.

However, it is onlycourageous and bold individualslike our amiable Ogbeni that canchoose to transcend the petty“play safe” politics of Nigeriaand instead decide to be astatesman, who will do all in hispower, according to the rule of

law, to ensure and secure thefuture even, at the risk of losingso-called political points gradedby biased opposition. But I amsure the good people of Osunknow better. CHANGE is theaccepted creed of progressivesand a change forward is whatOsun must embrace.

In the history of politicaldevelopment of nations, it isimportant to note that any nationor state that will be economicallyand socially buoyant has to gothrough a period ofrevolutionary uneasy changes.One I can liken to a processinvolved in “Road

construction” where signs suchas “SLOW DOWN, CLOSED,and DIVERSION” are boldlyinscribed to warn road users ofthe changes going on. For roadusers, this period often takesgreat measure of patience, dueto traffic, longer diversion routesor closed pathways, but whenthe road is done, everyone ishappy. Aregbesola’sadministration has parted wayswith the status quo in manyways, as he has taken seeminglyimpossible albeit bold steps toredeem the image of our dearstate and all he is asking for ispatience and another chance, as

every step taken culminatesinto a promise kept. Thereare many so-called truthsbeing peddled by somebiased minds, but the realtruth is that; althoughOgbeni is not there yet, buthe is on the right track and

closest to the best welfareoriented governor we have hadin decades. It is real to point outthat asking for patience from thegood people of Osun is a bigdemand since pastadministrations have shown thatgovernment is simply not to betrusted. Ogbeni RaufAregbesola is not disconnectedfrom this truth and pain of thepeople and that is why he hasbeen doing many things at once,trying to convince the goodpeople of Osun that he willdeliver on all his promises. Todiscerning and unbiased minds,he seems to realise that to whommuch trust is given, muchservices are also expected,hence his down-to-earth, open-door policy, and charismaticpublic display approach backedup by strategic, welfare orientedgovernance.

Ogbeni asked for our mandatebefore, secured it, was deniedand eventually fought to claimit, and he has shown that theState of Osun can go places ifstrategic plans are followed; Hehas been widely-acclaimed andawarded on his numerousprogrammes. In fact, he hasdone well, and we can onlystrive forward to achieve themuch-needed changes, whichcan only be achieved when wegive him another chance at thepolls to finish this unravellingwonderful political welfaristicstrategic masterpiece.

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

-Editor

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.

Aregbesola: The Poli-tics Of Welfarism

•AREGBESOLA