As Governor Rauf Aregbesola and members of his political party, All Progressives Congress (APC), began the defence of his victory at the August 9th Governorship Election in Osun State before the three-man Election Petition Tribunal Panel, four of the witnesses who appeared before the tribunal had told the court that the election was hitch-free and devoid of manipulation.
The witnesses including a retired police officer, Folorunsho Olojede, a retired civil servant, Akinropo Adeniji, Mrs. Racheal Babatunde, and Rauf Ajide Olaegbon, told the election petition tribunal that there were proper accreditations and voting where they voted, adding that there was no attempt to disenfranchise anybody in the polling units.
The witnesses, who claimed that they were neither politicians nor members of APC said they were ordinary voters but volunteered to give evidence before the tribunal to make record straight.
It would be recalled that the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, is challenging the re-election of Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress (APC) on the ground that there were no proper accreditation and voting, that additional voting points were not created and that some voters were disenfranchised.
Omisore is challenging election results in 17 local government councils of the state, claiming that votes declared in favour of Governor Rauf Aregebsola were not legitimate.
To prove that he won the election convincingly, Aregbesola had listed several documents and over 500 witnesses who would confirm to the tribunal that the election was the true reflection of the wishes of the people as expressed on August 9, 2014.
Listed among the witnesses are APC’s polling agents and voters who witnessed voting processes in the various units being challenged.
Mrs. Babatunde was the first witness to appear before the tribunal and she told the tribunal that she was neither a member of APC nor any other political party, saying when she got to her polling unit in Ward 8 of Olorunda Local Government; she was properly accredited and eventually voted.
Explaining that she was not an agent of any political party, but ordinary voter who witnessed what happened at the polling unit on the election day, the witness further said that the processes followed on the said day was peaceful, as nobody was harrased nor chased away.
She added that she stayed behind until after the election and the APC won at the unit, adding that she saw agents of all political parties counter-signing the result form for the unit.
Another witness, Folorunsho told the tribunal that there was no any case of inducement of voters on the Election Day in his Ward 3, Unit 6 of Olorunda local government, saying nobody was disenfranchised on the said day.
He testified that after the election, votes were counted, announced, counter-signed by party agents and pasted on the wall, saying, “when I heard that the election is being challenged, I was baffled and wondered how such peaceful election could be taken to tribunal.
“When I heard that the result of the election is being challenged, I volunteered myself to testify in this case to confirm that the election was very peaceful.
“I am a retired police officer and I don’t belong to any political party. I was just a voter on that day. I decided to come and testify because of the development Aregbesola has brought to Osun and what he is still doing”.
In his evidence, Akinropo told the court that accreditation was properly done and voting was conducted in a peaceful manner, saying nobody voted more than once on the said day.
He said the result announced for his unit was the true reflection of the people wish, saying, no party was allocated votes.
As against the claim that additional voting points were not created, all the witnesses told the tribunal that additional voting points were created for their various units.
Also, Olaegbon testified that he was accredited and voted, just as every other voter was allowed to vote on the said day.
He said he witnessed the accreditation, voting and announcement of the result on the said day.
Subsequently, Aregbesola counsel sought adjournment till Tuesday and it was granted.
Explaining the rationale behind request for adjournment, the APC Counsel, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) said the request was strategic, saying the petitioners have not make any case before the tribunal.
Saying that the witnesses called so far were unshakeable under cross-examination, Akeredolu said “we want to take our time to make sure that the witnesses we are calling are as good as the ones we have called. The witnesses have done extremely well”.
Omisore’s counsel, Chris Uche (SAN) also said they were happy with the progress made so far.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from his party members,during declaration of the party’s flag bearers to the National/State Assemblies, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 09-12-2014

From Right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Secretary,
Osun National/State Assembly Primaries Committee, Mustapha Maoshood;
Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori ((right) and a member, Sada
Machika (left), during primaries/declaration of the party’s
flagbearers to the National/State Assemblies at Nelson Mandela Freedom
Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 09-12-2014

From Right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Secretary,
Osun National/State Assembly Primaries Committee, Mustapha Maoshood;
Chairman of the Committee, Muhammad Maigari and a member, Sada
Machika, during primaries/declaration of the party’s flagbearers to the
National/State Assemblies, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State
of Osun on Tuesday 09-12-2014

From Right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his
Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Secretary, All Progressives Congress
(APC), Osun Chapter, Rasaq Salensile and a Senatorial Aspirant, Isiaka
Adeleke, during primaries/declaration of the party’s flagbearers to the
National/State Assemblies, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State
of Osun on Tuesday 09-12-2014

From left, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Secretary,
All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun Chapter, Rasaq Salensile and
Osun APC Chairman, prince Gboyega Famodun, during
primaries/declaration of the party’s flagbearers to the National/State
Assemblies, at Nelson Mandela freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on
Tuesday 09-12-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) acknowledging
cheers from his party members,during declaration of the party’s
flagbearers to the National/State Assemblies, at Nelson Mandela Freedom
Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 09-12-2014

Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday evening, concluded its primary elections into the Senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly, with the emergence of candidates for the party ahead the 2015 general election.
In a press statement signed by the APC’s director of publicity, research and strategy in Osun State, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, former governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, clinched the party’s ticket for Osun West senatorial district.
The incumbent senator, representing Osun Central senatorial district, Professor Sola Adeyeye, secured the party’s ticket for a return to the upper chamber, while his counterpart in Osun East, Senator Babajide Omoworare, also won the primaries.
According to the release, “in the House of Representatives category, Honourable Lasun Yusuf, emerged in Orolu/Ifelodun Federal Constituency,  while in Ifelodun/Boripe, Honourable Yinka Ajayi won. In Ila/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro Federal Constituency,  Honourable Fakeye Femi won, just as Mr Akintayo Amusu emrged the winner in Boripe Federal Constituency”.
“For Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan,  Ayo omidiran emerged the winner, while  Ajibola Famurewa  won in Atakumosa East and West/Ilesa East and West.
In Obokun/Oriade, Nathaniel Agunbiade emerged as the candidate of the APC.
TRIBUNE

Association of Patient and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) have been enjoined to see tax payment as individual civic responsibility to government.
Chairman, Osun State Board of Revenue Mobilisation and Advisory Committee, Alhaji Aderemi Adegoke, gave the advice during a meeting with NAPPMED representatives in the Osun Internal Revenue Service Conference Room.
Adegoke pointed to Governor Rauf  Aregbesola’s unprecedented achievements in his first four years in office as laudable reference points which are enough to propel tax payers in the state to contribute their own quota through their tax payment as at when due.
He also made reference to presumptive tax table being provided and approved by the Federal Government that spells out all categories of artisans to pay tax with NAPPMED members inclusive in the list.
He, therefore, urged them to see tax payment as a clarion call which we have to obey.
Also speaking at the meeting, Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health, A.A. Ojo, reiterated the need for renewal of the association members practising licence as unavoidable for whoever wants to be operating legally in the state.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

Stakeholders in Osun State have been admonished to shun any act that could breach the peace and tranquility before and during the coming general elections.
They were also advised to play the game according to the dictate of Electoral Act.
These were the resolutions at a sensitisation programme on voter education, security awareness and environmental sustainability organised by the Osun State Directorate of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Osogbo.
All the speakers at the sensitisation programme were of the views that if politicians play the game according to the rules, the general elections will be hitch free and credible in all ramifications.
The security personnel who also spoke at the event exonerated their agencies of any wrong doings during electioneering exercises, maintaining that the political class are the ones that normally attempt to heat the polity to outsmart one another before and during election.
This usually leads to violence and crisis, they noted.
In his keynote address, Osun State Director of NOA, Dr. Lawrence Olugbenga Martins, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the feat recorded in the August 9 governorship election in the state, urging the commission to keep up the standard it has set for itself and at the same time work towards improving on it to meet the international standard.
He also observed that security operatives must be appreciated for maintaining peace throughout the electoral process in the state.
“It is a thing of joy that all aggrieved persons did not take law into their hands but chose to seek redress through the proper judicial process.”
Martins stressed further that the sensitisation programme was aimed at engendering peaceful coexistence among leaders of political parties and their followers to promote tranquility.
 
DAILY INDEPENDENT

Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has opened case to defend his victory against the petition filed by Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party told the Election Petitions Tribunal on Monday.
Omisore had alleged that that the August 9governorship  poll was not free, fair and credible.
The petitioner and four witnesses who testified in his favour told Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime-led tribunal that the election was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere devoid of manipulation.
The first witness called by the governor, Mrs. Rachael Babatunde, a trader, said that there was proper accreditation at the unit where she cast her vote on election day at Olorunda Local Government Area.
The witness, who was led in evidence by counsel to the first respondent, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN) said voting also went on peacefully without any harassment.
A retired police officer, Mr. Folorunso Olojede, also told the court that the election was free and fair.  He stated that security personnel were present at the unit where he voted and that they ensured that the election went smoothly without any hitch.
The petitioner’s lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche ( SAN), however, told the witness that he was a member of Osun State Customary Court and he answered in the affirmative.
The witness stated that nobody was disenfranchised during the poll, while telling the panel that he was not a member of any political party.
The third witness called by the first respondent, Mr.  Adeniji Akinropo, said he was a retired civil servant but the occupation which appeared on the voter register show that he was not retired.
He, however, blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission for this, saying he had complained to the electoral body on the  same issue.
DAILY TIMES

A Yoruba adage “Nkan ti a nwa lo si Sokoto, o wa ni apo sokoto”, when translated in English literarily means “Why travel far when what you seek for is close by”.
Every year myriads of Nigerians travel to the city of Israel and Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage and for prayers. However, right here in the South Western part of Nigeria, Erinmo mountains in Erinmo Ijesa from time to time is visited by several people from different parts of the country for prayers of help to surmount their numerous challenges.  Little wonder, this serene town is blessed with a renowned man of God like Prophet S.K. Abiara of the Christ Apostolic Church.
Historically, Erinmo is a town whose origin can be traced to the cradle of the Yoruba race, Ile-Ife.  It is believed that Erinmo was founded by the third and fifth Ooni of Ife.
Geographically, Erinmo is located at the border between Osun and Ekiti State making it a transit town through which people can reach several parts of Nigeria.
Erinmo Ijesa is an autonomous community in Oriade Local Government area in the State of Osun.
The town can aptly be described as a Jerusalem of some sort due to the several thousands of people from within and outside Nigeria that visit the popular ‘Oke Erinmo’ (Erimo Mountain) for various prayer requests.  Many who had visited the prayer mountain can attest to answered prayers. For those who had visited, they can proudly say that God works wonders at Oke Erinmo and testimonies abound to validate this fact.
No doubt, Erinmo Day Celebration is not new to the people of the community (at least the older generation), but this year’s event is a very special one given the fact that it marks a revival of the annual event after being rested for 18 years.
indeed indigenes both home and abroad received the news of the revival of the age-long celebration with much Exhilaration and anticipation.
The people of Erinmo, while still basking in the euphoria of the enthronement of HRM Oba (Dr.) Michael Odunayo Ajayi Arowotawaya II, a well educated, young, dynamic and intelligent man as the new Elerinmo of Erinmo Ijesa, were equally greeted with the news that the Ilufemiloye (as the Kabiyesi is fondly called) has inaugurated a committee to resuscitate the hitherto rested Erinmo Day Celebration, with the aim of bringing more glamour into it and making it a common base for the rapid development of the ancient town.
The young indigenes of Erinmo especially those born some 20 years ago who had never witnessed such celebration are looking forward to it with so much expectation, as well, the older generation are quite nostalgic about it.
Kabiyesi Oba Elerinmo no doubt is leaving no stone unturned to make the event a memorable one. He has however made available his vast contacts in both the business and corporate world and within the traditional council for the planning committee to leverage on and mobilise for this year’s celebration.
Activities for Erinmo Day
This year’s celebration is billed to be a five-day (5) event, starting from 24th December to 28th December 2014, with various activities such as Ayo Olopon game, Novelty football matches, street carnival, children’s Christmas party with the Elerinmo, interactive session between the Elerinmo and the indigenes and Jumat prayers.
The high point of the event will be on Saturday 27th December where a N300 million ultra-modern palace and other developmental projects’ fund will be launched.  Erinmo will play host to various dignitaries from far and near, several royal fathers are expected to grace the occasion and as well many captains of industries and business leaders.  Several political leaders across various political divide have equally indicated their readiness to attend this year’s celebration.
The governor of the State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola is the Special Guest of Honour while the highly respected Yoruba Elder, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun is expected to chair the occasion.  Many other prominent Nigerians too numerous to mention are billed to attend.
The celebration will be brought to a close on Sunday 28th December with an interdenominational thanksgiving service to be led by no other than the world renowned Evangelist (an indigene of Erinmo) Prophet S. K. Abiara.
Prospects of Erinmo
In a statement released by Abiodun Olusesan Ogundele, chairman, Erinmo Day 2014 Planning Committee, he stated some of the benefits and prospects of Erinmo Ijesa.
The popular Oke Erinmo is still under-utilized. There are about five (5) other mountains suitable as tourist attraction and destination; we have a massive arable land that is well suitable for large scale Agricultural activities.
Erinmo people are warm, loving, hospitable, receptive and very peaceful.  Government and other private investors are hereby requested to look in the direction of Erinmo as we guarantee a huge and quick return on investment.  I must equally mention the abundance of human resources in Erinmo.  We are proud to state that Erinmo has very educated, highly skilled and competent sons and daughters both home and all round the globe.
The Clarion Call
The time has come for all Erinmo indigene to come and join hands together as we march on in this journey to our new era and as we reposition Erinmo Ijesa to take its rightful place in the scheme of things in Osun State and in Nigeria as a whole. Erinmo a gbe wa! Igba otun de!
DAILY TIMES

The Federal Council of Ede Descendants Union (FCEDU) in Ede, Osun State, has urged the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, to find a lasting solution to the land disputes between the people of Ede and Osogbo.
Speaking at the 21st Ede Mapo Arogun Day celebration at the weekend, the president of the union, Barrister Dele Adeyemi, said it had become necessary for Ede and Osogbo to stop incessant boundary clashes in the interest of peace and development.
He also urged the governor to look into the report of a commission set up by former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola on boundary demarcation which identified the boundaries between Ede and its neighbours including Ofatedo and Ido-Osun.
Adeyemi advised youths to desist from causing unrest in the town and allow peace to reign in Ede and the state as a whole. He also charged them to be productively engaged and strive to succeed in life rather than getting involved in street fights.
Adeyemi charged the state government to revamp the  ailing cocoa industry in Ede as an economic and employment strategy.
The first civilian governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, Vice Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Basiru Okesina,  immediate past Commissioner for Environment in the  state, Professor Olubukola Oyawoye were among dignitaries at the event.
DAILY TRUST

Governor of Osun State, Mr.  Rauf Aregbesola, will Monday open his defence against the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging his re-election before the state Election Petition Tribunal.
A member of Aregbesola’s legal team, Mr. Kunle Adegoke, said the team has more than enough convincing evidence to defend the petition and show that his client won the election fairly, smoothly and squarely.
Iyiola Omisore of the PDP is challenging the August 9 re-election of Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) before the Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime-led tribunal, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is joined as the third respondent.
In proving his case before the tribunal, the petitioners called only 43 out of the over 500 witnesses they listed to testify in their favour before the tribunal.
Two of the witnesses called by petitioners, Samuel Oduntan and Pius Bakare, who claimed to be expert witnesses admitted faults in the purported analyses they carried out on the election materials for the petitioners to prove their case.
All other witnesses of the petitioners also told the court that they voted on the election day for the party of their choices, just as the PDP’s acting secretary, Bola Ajao, said under cross-examination that he did not witness any rigging.
To prove that he won the election convincingly, Aregbesola has listed several documents and over 500 witnesses who will confirm to the tribunal that the election was the true reflection of the wishes of the people as expressed on August 9, 2014.
Listed among the witnesses are APC’s polling agents and voters who witnessed voting processes in the various units being challenged.
However, each of the three respondents has 10 days to defend the allegations of irregularities made by the petitioners.
THIS DAY
 

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at a Project Inspection Tour to the Owala Water Dam, Okinni, State of Osun on Tuesday 02/12/2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at a Project Inspection Tour
to the Owala Water Dam, Okinni, State of Osun on Tuesday 02/12/2014.

Governor State of Osun,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Deputy General
Manager, Osun State Water Corporation, Engnr. Ogunsina Lawrence (right)
and Former Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor State of Osun, Mr. Gbenga
Adebusuyi (left) at a Project Inspection Tour to the Owala Water Dam,
Okinni, State of Osun on Tuesday 02/12/2014.

*From left-* Project Manager, Mr. Ladi Whilkey; Governor State of Osun,
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Former Special Adviser to the Governor on Water
Resources, Mrs. Tawakalitu Williams; Former Deputy Chief of Staff to the
Governor State of Osun, Mr. Gbenga Adebusuyi and Chairman, Osun Tourism
Board, Engnr. Abimbola Daniran at a Project Inspection Tour to the Owala
Water Dam, Okinni, State of Osun on Tuesday 02/12/2014.

*From left-* Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Former Special
Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Mrs. Tawakalitu Williams and
Deputy General Manager, Osun State Water Corporation, Engnr. Ogunsina
Lawrence at the Inspection Tour to the Owala Water Dam Okinni, State of
Osun on Tuesday 02/12/2014.