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Femi Okunnu lecture – 1

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Former Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu and Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Kehinde Yusuf, during the 6th Annual Alhaji Lateef ‘Femi Okunnu Lecture Series organized by Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), at Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Thursday 23-10-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) with Former Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu, during the 6th Annual Alhaji Lateef 'Femi Okunnu Lecture Series organized by Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), at Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Thursday 23-10-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) with Former
Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu,
during the 6th Annual Alhaji Lateef ‘Femi Okunnu Lecture Series
organized by Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), at
Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on
Thursday 23-10-2014

From left, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Former Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu and Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Omolayo Ajayi, during the 6th Annual Alhaji Lateef 'Femi Okunnu Lecture Series organized by Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), at Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Thursday 23-10-2014

From left, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Former
Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu and
Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University
(OAU), Professor Omolayo Ajayi, during the 6th Annual Alhaji Lateef
‘Femi Okunnu Lecture Series organized by Nigeria Association of Muslim
Law Students (NAMLAS), at Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo
University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Thursday 23-10-2014

From left, Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Omolayo Ajayi; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Former Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu and Chairman of the Occasion, Professor Kehinde Yusuf, during the 6th Annual Alhaji Lateef 'Femi Okunnu Lecture Series organized by Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students (NAMLAS), at Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, on Thursday 23-10-2014

From left, Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Obafemi Awolowo
University (OAU), Professor Omolayo Ajayi; Governor State of Osun,
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Former Federal Commissioner for Works and
Housing, Alhaji Lateef Okunnu and Chairman of the Occasion, Professor
Kehinde Yusuf, during the 6th Annual Alhaji Lateef ‘Femi Okunnu
Lecture Series organized by Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students
(NAMLAS), at Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU),
Ile-Ife, on Thursday 23-10-2014

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TURBANINIG CEREMONY OF NEW IMAM OF OSOGBOLAND 1

TURBANINIG CEREMONY OF NEW IMAM OF OSOGBOLAND 1Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola has declared Monday, October 27th, as a public holiday to commemorate the Islamic New Year (Hijrah 1436).

The announcement was made on Tuesday, October 21, by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties, Adelowo Adewumi on behalf of the governor.

A statement to that effect reads:

 “The public holiday is to allow Muslim faithful to fully observe the celebration of the Islamic new year.

“The public holiday is in line with the policy thrust of the present administration which provides equal platforms for all religions to promote communal peace and progress.’’

The state government recently made a similar declaration to enable practitioners of traditional beliefs to celebrate Isese Day  on Wednesday, August 20, 2014.

PULSE NIGERIA

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ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE VISITS AREGBESOLA -1

ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE VISITS AREGBESOLA -1Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said each state in the country will enjoy enhanced security if the adjourning states  cooperate to tackle security problems.
Aregbesola said this during a courtesy visit to him by the new Assistant Inspector General of Police in Zone 11, Mr. Ambrose Aisabor.
Zone 11  comprises Osun, Oyo and Ondo States.
Aregbesola noted that the primary responsibility of any government was to guarantee security and welfare of the people, saying security is not only specific but absolute.
The governor said that his administration placed priority on the security of the state, saying that was the reason he was able to perform well in his first four years.
He said, “It is important for us to meet and review the security of the zone generally. There can’t be an effective management of security of a state without the cooperation of the adjourning states.
“Ensuring peaceful coexistence is essential for socialisation, ‎there can only be socialisation if we can guarantee peace. Development, growth and leisure all depend on security.”
The AIG, who commended the governor for the support of his administration to the police said that the police would work together with the state government to ensure that the peace offering enjoyed was not broken.
He said, “We will work with you to make sure there is tranquillity in Osun, we will ensure that the current peace in Osun is maintained, osun state to me is the most security friendly in the country, police will continue to sustain the peace.
“Osun is the only state in Nigeria that provided the police with 20 armoured personnel carrier  vehicles in one fell swoop.
“We also want to assure people that information given to police will be adequately managed and secured, people should at all time see the police as their friend and at all time maintain cordial relationship with the police.”
PUNCH

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240x_mg_img20141022wa000

240x_mg_img20141022wa000BlackNBold Fashion House has partnered with the State of Osun in taking another huge step towards Youth Empowerment and Development in Nigeria by creating the first ever skill acquisition and trade fair platform for youths in high schools, higher institutions, youth corpers and the unemployed in Osun state, Nigeria.
Omoluabi Youth Art Culture and Fashion Expo which is in partnership with the Osun State Government shall provide a unique platform for these youths to acquire skills in creative fields such as fashion designing, makeup training, hair dressing, photography, craft making, sculpturing, making of ankara shoes and bags, painting to mention a few.
The event will take place for three days at the Centre For Black Arts, Osogbo. The first two days have been set aside for the skill acquisition while the third day is for exhibition/showcase. Trainees will afterwards be registered with the Omoluabi Life Academy and other private institutions in the State for intensive training in selected fields .
According to the founder of the initiative Mr. Abiola Orimolade (CEO of BlackNBold Fashion House) who is also the founder of the biggest student fashion week in Africa; Nigerian Student Fashion & Design Week said, “We realised that if proper attention is placed on youths at the grassroot, then the problem of unemployment, poverty and crime will be easily combated”.
Mr Dipo iluyemi, a member of the planning committee also believes that Gov. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is doing all his possible best to empower youths in the state and he should be commended for his efforts. “We are calling on corporate sponsors, and individuals to support this laudable and unique initiative”, says Mr. Oluwatomi Ologuntoye, the Sponsorship head.
MODERN GHANA

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Ajegule-mechanic-village-3

Ajegule-mechanic-village-3Governor of the Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday disclosed that the state-of-the-art mechanical facilities being put in place in the state for assemblage and repair of automobiles is the first of its kind in the whole of the country.
The Mechatronic Village, as it is called, situated in Esa-Oke and nearing its completion, has three computerised mechanical workshops for assembling and repair of various types of automobiles.
Checks revealed that the kind of machine procured by the government is not only best but also the latest anyone can get in the world today.
Aregbesola said the era of shipping abroad for repair complex automobiles from Nigeria is about to become a past event with the establishment of the world’s most modern auto-mechanic workshops in the state.
He made this known at a reception of the team of German trainers in the Osogbo, the state capital, with the beneficiaries, Nigerian Automobile Technician Association, (NATA), in attendance.
The governor revealed that about 50 artisans from the state had early this year sent to Germany for modern automobile trainings in some of the best automobile companies in the world.
The second face of the auto-revolution, according to the governor, is the training of the artisans and automobile technicians in the state.
In a scheme called train-the-trainer, the 50 artisans sent to Germany received training, returned to the state and are now in conjunction with their German trainers, set to train the local artisan on the modern art of automobile repair and assemblage.
“This Mechatronic programme is conceived to upgrade the artisans to fit into the modern automobile practice standard as it obtains in the developed world.
“Our Government introduced the scheme to serve many purposes. This will help the artisan to be up-to-date in their chosen profession and would be able to handle repair of any car.
“Besides, the people of the state and other states of the federation will benefit immensely from this programme as repair and services of even the latest automobile will now be handled in Osun with ease and professionalism.
“The days of shipping a faulty car abroad for repair are nearing an end now with the establishment of our mechatronics.
“So, I can tell you that a revolution in automobile is germinating in Osun with the kind of machine we procured, which if not only best but also the latest anyone can get in the world today.
“The machine is the first and only one in the country today. So what our automobile technicians are about to undergo is the best that can happen to the anywhere in the world.” Aregbesola said.
The leader of the German trainers, Stefan Webbs, in his remarks, said the second phase of the auto revolution has begun in Osun with the team set to install the machines and commence the training of the artisans.
He noted that he was very happy when Osun approached his country for the transfer of the latest technology in automobile to Osun.
“You are in the real world of automobile technology as it is currently practised in the developed world.
“I enjoined the beneficiaries to maximise the opportunities abound in the scheme,” Webb said.
The National Secretary General, David Ajetunmobi, while commending the governor for focusing his attention also on NATA, promised that his members would pay serious attention to the programme.
Ajetunmobi noted that complex and newly manufactured automobiles would no longer create problems for his members again.
“I commend the governor on this programme. I also wish to assure you sir, that we will maximise the opportunities the scheme can offer.
“Osun Is our joint project and we must join hand in building it. I also commend the government on the massive road construction across the state,” Ajetunmobi said.

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APC Meeting Ilorin – 1

Photos from  the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum in Kwara State Government House, Ilorin on Wednesday 22-10-2014 with Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo and Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers States amongst others.

From left, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo and Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers States, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors' Forum in Kwara State Government House, Ilorin on Wednesday 22-10-2014

From left, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Governor Abiola Ajimobi
of Oyo and Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers States, during the All
Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum in Kwara State Government
House, Ilorin on Wednesday 22-10-2014

From right, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Governor Ibrahim Shetima of Borno State; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo and Governor Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers States, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors' Forum in Kwara State Government House, Ilorin on Wednesday 22-10-2014

From right, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Governor Ibrahim Shetima
of Borno State; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo and Governor Rotimi
Ameachi of Rivers States, during the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Governors’ Forum in Kwara State Government House, Ilorin on Wednesday
22-10-2014

From right, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Governor Ibrahim Shetima of Borno and Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo States, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors' Forum in Kwara State Government House, Ilorin on Wednesday 22-10-2014

From right, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Governor Ibrahim Shetima
of Borno and Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo States, during the All
Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum in Kwara State Government
House, Ilorin on Wednesday 22-10-2014

From right, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Governor Ibrahim Shetima of Borno and Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo States, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors' Forum in Kwara State Government House, Ilorin on Wednesday 22-10-2014

From right, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Governor Ibrahim Shetima
of Borno and Senator Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo States, during the All
Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum in Kwara State Government
House, Ilorin on Wednesday 22-10-2014

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ASSISTANT INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE VISITS AREGBESOLA -1

Pictures of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting State Emblem to the Assistant Inspector General of Police(AIG) Zone 11, Ambrose Aisabor, during a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo on 21/10/2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting State Emblem to the Assistant Inspector General of Police(AIG) Zone 11, Ambrose Aisabor, during a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo on 21/10/2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting State Emblem to
the Assistant Inspector General of Police(AIG) Zone 11, Ambrose Aisabor,
during a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo on
21/10/2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola decorating the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 11, Ambrose Aisabor, during a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo on 21/10/2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola decorating the Assistant
Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 11, Ambrose Aisabor, during a
courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo on 21/10/2014.

From right-* Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Inspector General of Police Zone 11, Ambrose Aisabor; Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), State of Osun, Omololu Bishi, Osun Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Folashade Odoro and Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to the Governor state of Osun, Ajasa Hakeem, during a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo on 21/10/2014.

From right-* Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Inspector
General of Police Zone 11, Ambrose Aisabor; Deputy Commissioner of Police
in charge of Criminal Investigation Department (CID), State of Osun,
Omololu Bishi, Osun Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Folashade
Odoro and Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to the Governor state of Osun, Ajasa
Hakeem, during a courtesy visit to the Governor at Government House,
Osogbo on 21/10/2014.

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Omisore-and-Aregbesola-360×225

Omisore-and-Aregbesola-360x225In this write-up, TUNDE ODESOLAexamines the contention at the Osun State Election Petitions Tribunal, which is considering the outcome of the August 9 governorship election in the state
The name of King Solomon is synonymous with riches. Unimaginable wealth. He is famous too for having the most numerous wives and concubines. But the most profound reason why many remember him today is the wisdom in his judgment on the two ‘mothers’ who laid claim to a newborn. The king’s application of wisdom in the dispensation of justice made the knotty controversy look so simple. In an age lacking the advantage of DNA technology, only the application of wisdom such as Solomon’s could unravel the mystery presented by the inconsolable ‘mothers.’ Solomon’s judgment made the resolution of the conflict look awesome just as the masterstroke of genius generally makes otherwise complicated endeavours look simply extraordinary.
The three-member Osun State Election Petitions Tribunal headed by Justice Suleiman Ambrusa has commenced hearing into the 800-page petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the August 9, 2014 governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore. The PDP is the 2nd petitioner in the case.
The most dominant talking point during the countdown to the governorship election was the alleged militarisation of the election process. Apart from allegations and counter allegations by various political parties over attempts to rig, monetise and sponsor electoral violence – all components of Nigerian elections – the deployment of several thousands of security personnel for the election was a subject of condemnation and litigation by the ruling All Progressives Congress.
A few days to the election, the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, in an interview in Osogbo, justified the deployment of armed security personnel in the Army, police, Department of State Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, among others, for the election. A confident Obanikoro said the deployment would check the violence and rigging purportedly being planned by the ruling APC. Debunking the insinuation that the massive deployment of armed security personnel for the election was a reflection of President Goodluck Jonathan’s plan to wrest the South-West from the grip of the APC at all cost, ahead the 2015 presidential election, Koro, as the minister is popularly called, said only the guilty were afraid. He contended that there was no need for the APC to be afraid if it did not have skeleton in the cupboard.
He said, “We won’t allow them to rig. We know their game. Why are they afraid? We want to create a conducive environment for registered voters to come out, vote and return to their homes safely. This was how they complained in Ekiti but the Ekiti election turned out to be free and fair. Not a single shot of bullet was fired in Ekiti. We are going to achieve that in Osun too. We will not allow them bring in thugs from other APC states.”
Barely four days to the election, armed DSS operatives, in a convoy of 30 vehicles, traversed Osun communities which included Osogbo, Iwo, Ilesa, Ode-Omu, Iwo, Ikirun, Ejigbo, Esa-Oke, Atakumosa, Iragbiji, Eripa, Ada, Iree, Ila, Ede, Okuku, among others.   The operatives, some of whom wore masks, fired gunshots into the air, creating panic among residents.
The 1st respondent and incumbent governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola, and his party faulted the deployment and action of the security operatives to Osun, alleging that the action was a ploy by the PDP-led Federal Government to capture Osun by all means. A few days to the election, the spokesperson of the Osun APC, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, said the Osun governorship election remained the most militarised in the history of the country. His counterpart in the PDP, Mr. Bola Ajao, however, supported the deployment of armed security operatives, saying it was a step in making the election violence-free and credible.
Basically, the desirability or otherwise of the security deployment tore Osun’s political class along party lines with the leadership of the PDP at the national and state levels supporting the action while the APC national and state leaderships vehemently condemned the action.
The state Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, said his party went to the tribunal to challenge the violence and rigging that characterised the election. In the petition before the tribunal, Omisore and the PDP prayed the tribunal to dismiss the victory of Aregbesola on the ground that his election did not meet certain conditions required by the Electoral Act. Averring that the grounds of the petition are known to the law, Omisore and the PDP told the court that the election was marred by violence in 17 local government councils of Ayedaade, Atakumosa-East, Boripe, Ede-North, Ede-South, Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ilesa-East, Ilesa-West, Irepodun, Irewole, Iwo, Obokun, Olaoluwa, Olorunda, Oriade and Osogbo. Paragraph 22 of the petition contended that the scores of Aregbesola in the aforementioned councils were unlawful. The petitioners stressed that the scores collated in forms EC8C and EC8D were illegal.
But the APC, which is the 2nd respondent, averred that the 1st petitioner “is not qualified to be elected as governor having not been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.” Also, the 2nd respondent contended that Omisore was not duly nominated to contest the election on the platform of the PDP. It further stated that Omisore did not score up to 25 per cent of the lawful votes cast in each of the 30 local government councils of Osun State and thus did not satisfy the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Omisore alleged that the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Osun State, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, manipulated voter registration in favour of Aregbesola and the APC – a claim which the APC denied. In a response to the claim of Omisore and the PDP, Aregbesola averred that at no time was an order of court granted that Akeju should not carry out and or participate in the voter registration exercise, saying the 2nd petitioner “voluntarily discontinued an action it brought seeking to restrain the 3rd respondent from allowing the said Ambassador Rufus Olawatoyin Akeju to participate in the voters registration exercise in Osun State.”
Aregbesola maintained that the petitioner and his party made “copious allegations against security agencies in many paragraphs of the petitions without joining the security agencies as parties to the petition, adding that “all the paragraphs wherein the petitioners made allegations against the security agencies were liable and ought to be struck out.”
On the allegation that the 3rd respondent, INEC, recruited some officials of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme as ad hoc members for the election with a view to manipulating the outcome of the poll in favour of Aregbesola and the APC, the ruling party said OYES members were not agents of any organisation loyal to the governor or his party. “The Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme is an interventionist programme of the State Government of Osun, creating a volunteer scheme to reduce unemployment among youths in the state irrespective of political affiliation,” it said.
Paragraph 24 of the petition alleged that Aregbesola, on the day of the election, sponsored an advertisement on the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Osogbo, canvassing for votes. But the APC, which denied the allegation, stated that there was no time, as claimed by the petitioner, when the National Broadcasting Corporation imposed a fine on the radio arm of the corporation for alleged misconduct. The party prayed the court to strike out the paragraph on the grounds that the necessary party was not joined in the petition even as it debunked the allegation that the secretariat of the Osun PDP was vandalised.
Commenting, the PDP deputy governorship candidate, Chief Adejare Bello, said the real winner of the election would soon emerge. Bello, who stated that the petition was an expression of the right of the opposition party, stressed that there was nothing wrong in the party seeking redress at the tribunal. He said, “There should not be any misconception about (our party) approaching the election tribunal to shed light on some anomalies. The Electoral Act, as amended in 2010, has spelt in clear terms that the election petition tribunal has 180 days to dispense petitions before it. The Appeal and the apex courts also have a span of three months each to dispense such cases if it gets to those levels. Until all these avenues are explored, the people cannot say who won the election.”
Osun State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Chief Sunday Akere, said the PDP petition was absurd and laughable because none of PDP agents at ward, local and state levels reported any act of violence before, during or after the election.
Akere said, “They were the ones, who called in security forces to come and ensure security during the election. All their polling agents in the 3, 970 polling units of the state signed the results of the election. None of them made a complaint of electoral violence. At all the 332 wards in the state, all their agents signed. At the collation centres of the 30 local government councils, all their agents signed. Their petition is dead on arrival.”
Osun State Chair, APC, Biyi Adelowo, said the election process secured by the heavy presence of the security forces checked rigging and violence even as he commended INEC’s enlistment of the services of the Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Bamitale Omole, and a host of lecturers, who participated in the collation of results that were transmitted live.
The state publicity secretary of the PDP, Ajao, refused to sign the election result at the state collation centre, Osogbo. He said the result of the election was not acceptable to the party, alleging malpractices by the APC.
But the Commissioner for Finance, Budget Planning and Implementation, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, said: “This petition will expose how not to abuse the judicial process. This is an election where they brought over 100, 000 genuine and fake security officials into Osun. This is an election in which they brought Resident Electoral Commissioners for each of the 30 councils of the state. The only place where there was misdemeanour was Ife, where Omisore won. There was no polling unit where there was no armed security personnel. If there were armed security men given specific instruction to be hostile to us, where would we get the room to parley with INEC or the EOs? The party that cannot rig in the election was APC.”
Special Adviser to Aregbesola on Environment, Bola Ilori, said: “The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Osun Commissioner for Tourism, Sikiru Adetona, Commissioner for Sports, Stephen Kola-Balogun, and Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Wale Afolabi, were arrested along with several party leaders during the election. Chief Isiaka Adeleke could not vote because he was being trailed.
An independent monitor, who participated in the election, Bola Alawode, said resort to the tribunal by the PDP confirmed the futility in the deployment of tens of thousands of military and paramilitary personnel by the PDP-led Federal Government to secure votes and voters. He said, “The petition, no doubt, questions the integrity of INEC and the popular wish of the masses. But the tribunal must strengthen the electoral process by ensuring that the rule of law prevails in the determination of the case.”
Another monitor, Sola Ahmed, said the tribunal should look into the allegations raised by the petition dispassionately, not minding the result of the poll.
He said, “The tribunal must not be swayed by emotions. It must deliver justice in the matter.”
Meanwhile, the Ambrusa-led panel was dissolved on Monday while another three-member panel has been instituted.
Will Solomon come to justice in the Osun election petition tribunal?
PUNCH

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Turbanning of Naibul-Imam & Mufasir – 1

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Baba Adinni of Osogboland, Senator Bayo Salami, Newly Naibul-Imam of Osogboland and Mufasir of Osogboland during their Turbanning Ceremony at Central Eid, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 21-10-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); Baba Adinni of Osogboland, Senator Bayo Salami (left); Newly Naibul-Imam of Osogboland, Alhaji Haroon Samanigongo (2nd right) and Mufasir of Osogboland, Alhaji Maruf Ishola (right),  during their Turbanning Ceremony at Central Eid, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 21-10-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); Baba Adinni
of Osogboland, Senator Bayo Salami (left); Newly Naibul-Imam of
Osogboland, Alhaji Haroon Samanigongo (2nd right) and Mufasir of
Osogboland, Alhaji Maruf Ishola (right), during their Turbanning
Ceremony at Central Eid, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 21-10-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Chief Khamis Badmus (left); Chief Imam of Osogboland, Sheikh Musa Animasaun (centre); Newly Naibul-Imam of Osogboland, Alhaji Haroon Samanigongo (2nd right) and Mufasir of Osogboland, Alhaji Maruf Ishola (right),  during their Turbanning Ceremony at Central Eid, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 21-10-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); Asiwaju
Musulumi of Yorubaland, Chief Khamis Badmus (left); Chief Imam of
Osogboland, Sheikh Musa Animasaun (centre); Newly Naibul-Imam of
Osogboland, Alhaji Haroon Samanigongo (2nd right) and Mufasir of
Osogboland, Alhaji Maruf Ishola (right), during their Turbanning
Ceremony at Central Eid, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 21-10-2014

From left, Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Chief Khamis Badmus; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Chief Imam of Osogboland, Sheikh Musa Animasaun; Newly Naibul-Imam of Osogboland, Alhaji Haroon Samanigongo; New Mufasir of Osogboland, Alhaji Maruf Ishola; Chairman, Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Committee (O'School), Otunba Lai Oyeduntan and others, during their Turbanning Ceremony at Central Eid, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 21-10-2014

From left, Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Chief Khamis Badmus;
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Chief Imam of
Osogboland, Sheikh Musa Animasaun; Newly Naibul-Imam of Osogboland,
Alhaji Haroon Samanigongo; New Mufasir of Osogboland, Alhaji Maruf
Ishola; Chairman, Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Committee
(O’School), Otunba Lai Oyeduntan and others, during their Turbanning
Ceremony at Central Eid, Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 21-10-2014

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Rauf-Aregbesola

Rauf-AregbesolaTHE All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has denied that its candidate in the August 9 governorship election, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, asked the Election Tribunal for a rerun of the election.
The party was reacting to a report published on Monday, which stated that Aregbesola filed a prayer for a rerun of the election, if the tribunal upheld Omisore’s baseless application.
The APC said there was only one prayer made by the governor which stated that: “Whereof in all the forgoing premises, among others, the second respondent denies in their entirety all the prayers of the petitioners as set out in paragraph 59 (i-v) on pages 174 and 175 of the petition and will urge the tribunal to dismiss the petition with substantial costs for being unmeritorious, frivolous, vexatious, ill-conceived and an abuse of court process.”
It also declared that it would be “standing logic on its head for a respondent to ask for an alternative prayer in any reply.
“The responsibility for an alternative prayer rests squarely on the shoulders of the petitioner, which is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“So for the publication to report that Aregbesola, (who is the defendant), made an “alternative prayer for rerun of the election”, is the propagation of falsehood.”
The APC called on the public to disregard the story.
THE NATION

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