Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun has closed defence against the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore challenging his August 9 re-election before Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime-led Election Petition Tribunal.
Announcing the closure of the defence on Wednesday, Aregbesola counsel, Kunle Adegoke said his client is satisfied with the defence put up before the panel.
The counsel, as at the time of closing the defence spent only eight out of the statutory 10 days allow him to defend the allegations of the petitioners.
He called 19 witnesses in defence of the allegations of the petitioners and their witnesses before the tribunal.
The second respondent, All Progressive Congress (APC) has been billed to open its defence tomorrow,  Friday, December 19.
The APC Counsel, Mr Ajibola Basiru said the witnesses called by the first respondents were to further convince the court that the election was indeed free and fair, saying, the petitioners have not proved any case.
He said, “We are not under any obligation to even call a particular number of witnesses, because the petitioners have not called witnesses to cover areas pleaded in the petition and secondly their witnesses have been thoroughly discredited under cross-examination.
“The petitioners have also not established the case of non-compliance. From experience, this is one of useless election petitions I have ever seen in the history of this country”, he said.
The petitioners’ counsel, Nathaniel Oke (SAN), said it is for the tribunal to determine the veraxity of the allegations of the petitioners and the defence of the respondents.
Earlier, Aregbesola’s counsel had called two witnesses, Aminulahi Rafiu, a voter from Ward 4, Unit 9 of Ede North local government and Atanda Isaac, an APC party agent at Ward 1, Unit 1 of Irepodun local government, who told the tribunal that the election was free and fair.
They both told the tribunal that the INEC officials brought all the required election materials for the units and political party agents signed the result forms.
The witnesses also told the panel that neither voters or party agents complained on the conduct of the election on the said day.
OSUN DEFENDER

Members of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal on Monday expressed worry over the way the petition of the Accord Party governorship candidate, Mr. Niyi Owolade, was being handled by his legal team.
Owolade’s counsel, Bisi Adedayo, at the resumed hearing of his petition against the August 9 re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, requested that the tribunal should stand down for some times to enable INEC officials produce the election materials listed in the subpoena issued on the commission.
But the tribunal Chairman, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, said the application for Subpoena was made on Friday by the petitioner counsel, and she signed it about 4pm on the said day.
Noting that the commission was just served on Monday morning when the tribunal  started sitting, she queried the possibility of the production of the election material by INEC for the day’s proceeding.
INEC Counsel, Ayotunde Ogunleye, said he was not aware of any subpoena on the commission to produce the election materials, saying he could not comment on the matter.
Subsequently, members of the tribunal, Justices V.I Ofesi and A.I Kutigi, wondered why the petitioner counsel had to wait till the “zero hour” to apply for a subpoena.
 
DAILY INDEPENDENT

Osun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, watched  in admiration how a drone built  by a corps member posted to Osun State took off and carried out surveillance of the parade ground at the Permanent Orientation Camp of the National Youth Service Corps on Monday.
The corps member, Olaolu Ayoola, a graduate of Computer Science/Engineering of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, stole the show with his invention  during the closing ceremony of the orientation course for the 2014 batch ‘C’ of corps members deployed in the state.
The drone, which soldiers and other security agents present at the event, described as a good invention, flew for about 10 minutes before it landed.
The device is fixed with surveillance camera, and can stay in the air for 20 minutes and is capable of flying up for 500 meters.
The device with remote control has 2.4G radio transmitter and carried  out live recording of the event which was monitored on a black berry phone.
Ayoola told our correspondent in an interview that his love  for aeronautics drove him into engaging in the device.
Apart for military use, Ayoola said that the drone could also be used by politicians to hoist their flags and could also be used to monitor activities on large farms.
He said, “This type of drone, if fully developed, could be used by farmers. You can deploy it to fly round a farm of about 20 hectares and you will monitor what is going on on the farm right from where the remote control is.
“It can be used to monitor traffic situation and in case of flooding,  the drone can monitor the area.
“I spent over N20,000.00 to build this but I can do something with a bigger capacity and which will stay for more hours in the air if fund is available.”
The deputy governor who said she was impressed with the drone said the corps member should assembly youths anywhere he was posted to serve and teach them how to do this kind of invention.
The State Coordinator, Mr. Abada Okpiroro, also commended the corps member for the drone.
BLOGSPOT
 
 

Federal Republic of Nigeria
Second Rural Access and Mobility Project (Ramp-2)
Osun State Rural Access and Mobility Project
Request for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for Consulting Services for the Detailed Engineering Design, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Procurement Support and Construction Supervision of Rehabilitation of Rural Roads in Osun State
Credit No.: 5154-NG
Issue Date: 12 December 2014
The Federal Republic of Nigeria, through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has received financing from the International Development Association (IDA) and the French Development Agency and on-lent the financing to four participating states (Adamawa, Enugu, Niger, and Osun) towards the cost of rehabilitation of prioritized rural roads in these states under the Second Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP-2). It is intended that part of the proceeds of the financing will be applied to eligible payments under the contract for Consulting Services.
The consulting services (“the Services”) include detailed engineering design, environmental and social impact assessment, procurement support, and construction supervision for the rehabilitation of low volume mostly unpaved rural roads in Osun state as follows: (i) conducting a detailed inventory and condition survey, and a full topographical survey and a geotechnical/materials survey of each given road (totaling approximately 300 km to be packaged in 5 or 6 Lots across the State) complete with the existing structures; together with comprehensive traffic counts, economic analysis, and environmental and social impact assessments, including development of an Environmental and Social Management Plan and a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) or Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plan (ARAP) as necessary in accordance with World Bank Safeguards Policies for Category B projects, leading to and including the design of the appropriate rehabilitation and limited construction Works and the preparation of the bidding documents for each Lot; (ii) providing full procurement support to the Employer through the bidding process to the award of the Works contract for each Lot; and (iii) supervising construction of the Works of each Lot in the capacity of the Engineer, including the Defects Liability Period (DLP). Subject to agreement by the Employer, the Services may include supervision, with minimal staffing, of routine and periodic maintenance of these roads for 3 years initially (first year falling within the 12-month Defects Liability Period.)
The total duration of the Services is about 40 months: the Detailed Engineering Design, Environmental and Social Assessment and Preparation of Civil Works Bidding Documents is to be completed in 6 months, after which the Procurement Support Services would last approximately 4 months., and the Works are to be constructed in 18 months, with a Defect Liability Period (requiring scaled down supervision) of 12 months. Should the supervision of the 3-year maintenance activities be agreed following the completion of the road rehabilitation, the total duration of the Consulting Services would be 64 months.
The State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) on behalf of Osun State Government now invites eligible consulting firms (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services. The short listing criteria are:
(1)     General qualification: Capacity of the Consultant to carry out the Services, to be demonstrated by sufficient years in business with core business in similar activities to those under the Services, annual turnover of the Consultant, and overall number and qualifications of Consultant’ key staff. A brief presentation of the Consultant’s profile shall be provided.
(2)     Engineering Design: Experience and capacity for Engineering Design of low volume rural roads similar in scope and size to those subject to the Services, with both laterite and bituminous surface treatment sections. The Consultants shall demonstrate experience and capacity for conducting full condition surveys, topographical surveys, road and bridge and drainage inventories, geotechnical and material surveys, drainage condition and capacity assessments, and bridge and other structures condition and capacity assessments and designs. The Consultants shall also demonstrate experience and capacity for conducting economic analysis using the Highway Design and Management tool (HDM-4) or the Road Economic Decision (RED) model or any other recognized economic evaluation methodology.
(3)     Construction Supervision: Experience and capacity for Construction Supervision in the role of Engineer for rehabilitation and construction of low volume rural roads similar in scope and size to those subject to the Services, with both laterite and bituminous surface treatment sections.
(4)     Environmental and Social Assessment: Experience and capacity for conducting Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) in line with World Bank Safeguards Policies and in proposing mitigation measures in the form of Environmental and Social Management Plans and in drawing up Resettlement Action Plans (RAP) or Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plans (ARAP).
(5)     Bidding Documents and Procurement Support: Experience and capacity for production of full English language bidding documents based on the World Bank Standard Bidding Document for the Procurement of Works, including Technical Specifications, Engineering Drawings, and Bills of Quantities; and for provision of full procurement support through the civil works bidding process and contract award.
The consultants are encouraged to present the information demonstrating the fulfilment of the criteria above in the form of project profiles including: the project name, the location of the project, the name and address of the client/beneficiary, the name(s) of associated firm(s) if any, the duration of the assignment, the start and end date of the assignment, the total value of the contract, the total number of staff-months of the assignment, the value of the services provided by the Consultant under the contract, the number of professional staff-months provided by the associated firm(s), the names of the Consultant’s senior staff involved and functions performed, a brief narrative description of the project, and a description of the actual services provided by the Consultant’s staff under the assignment. The description of the services provided shall specify the type of roads and the works subject to the services, the length of roads, and the location of the roads.
Consultants may associate with other firms in the form of a joint venture or a sub-consultancy to enhance their qualifications.
A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) method set out in the Consultant Guidelines. The detailed engineering design services and the preparation of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (Including preparation of the bidding documents) will be paid on a lump sum basis, while the subsequent support including construction supervision and other services will be paid on a resource time-based basis.
Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours, i.e., 0800am to 4.00 pm.
Expressions of Interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by courier) on or before 12 noon, 22^nd January 2015.
State Project Coordinator
State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU)
Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP II)
Old Government Press Building, Testing Ground Area,
PM.B. 4414, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
Tel: + 294 803-387-3763, +234 803- 356-5979
 

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has revealed how the deployment of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in monitoring and reporting of events as they unfolded during the August 9 governorship election in the state prevented falsification of results.
The governor, in a statement by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon,was quoted as stating this while delivering a keynote address titled “Broadband: Oxygen for Digital Economy” at the Africa Digital Forum and Award 2014 organised by the ICT Watch Network at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Ikeja, Lagos Sunday evening.
Aregbesola pointed out that ICT was put to use by the various situation rooms set up by the government to monitor, get results and happening across all the units, wards and Local governments in the state helped in no small measure.
He bemoaned the situation of the country at this jet age lacking the capacity to deploy Internet and other advanced technologies to locate the whereabouts of the Chibok school girls several months after their abduction by Boko Haram insurgents.
The governor noted that Nigeria has a new opportunity for economic resurgence in the digital economy age, saying that the nation has the requisite infrastructure both material and human.
He said, “We have a huge human population (167 million) with equally immense needs. This is a potentially immense market with which we can trade our way from poverty to riches. Added to this is the demography of that population.
‎
“Our population is predominantly composed of youths who are energetic, enthusiastic, and innovative”. The governor stressed
Aregbesola noted that the Osun experience in the use of modern technology and the use of Internet could be a model for national ICT development on a non-partisan basis.
The governor pointed out that the use of ICT will enhance greater deployment and consumption of broadband.
According to Aregbesola, “In Osun, without being immodest, we can say that ICT has been a major plank of governance. We pioneered e-learning with the invention of Opon Imo. We have also been able to provide card based e-credit for farmers. Of course, we have also deployed e-based payroll and staff ID card on MasterCard platform directly connected to the holder’s account.
“We have also devised e-ID Card for all pupils in public schools and the card will now serve as payment instrument for our home-grown school feeding and health programme (O’MEALS).
“We set up the OYESTECH, an institution for training youths in the use, assembly and repair of electronic gadgets from plasma television, computers to mobile phones”. The governor told the gathering.
Aregbesola held that Nigeria has a great potential for enhancing development in this information age through the digital economy.
He noted that there are still huge potentials in road traffic monitoring and control, CCTV camera, weather monitoring and forecast, national population database among others.
He said, “What this means is that there is power and potential in numbers. A great number of people mean a potentially great variety of needs to be met.

“The good thing is that in meeting these needs, a self-reinforcing cycle is created in which people have access to employment, are productively engaged, earn income, create wealth, and spread prosperity with accompanying prospect of material uplift and satisfaction”. Aregbesola pointed out.
The governor added that any human mass is a potential source of wealth generation from which positive developments can spring, stressing that what is required therefore is creativity in turning the potential into public good.

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, receiving an Award of ICT Infrastructural Governor of the year from  former Personal Secretary of Late Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Odia Ofeimun, during the Africa Digital Forum & Awards 2014 at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, lkeja Lagos on Sunday 14-12-2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th right); President
Nigeria lnternet Group, Engr. Adebayo Banjo (3rd right); Event
Coordinator, Mr Tayo Adewusi (5th left); Past President, Nigeria
lnternet Group (NIG) and Association of Telecom Companies of Nigeria
(ATCON), Engr. Emmanuel Ekuwem (4th left) and others, during the
Africa Digital Forum and Presentation of Awards 2014 on ICT
Infrastructural to Governor Aregbesola, at Sheraton Hotel & Towers,
lkeja, Lagos on Sunday 14-12-2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, recieving an Award of
ICT Infrastructural Governor of the year from former Personal
Secretary of Late Obafemi Awalowo, Chief Odia Ofeimun, during the
Africa Digital Forum & Awards
2014 at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, lkeja Lagos on Sunday 14-12-2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, recieving an Award of
ICT Infrastructural Governor of the year from former Personal
Secretary of Late Obafemi Awalowo, Chief Odia Ofeimun, during the
Africa Digital Forum & Awards
2014 at Sheraton Hotel & Towers, lkeja Lagos on Sunday 14-12-2014.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola (middle); Event Coordinator, Mr Tayo Adewusi (left); Former
Personal Secretary to late Obafemi Awalowo, Odia Ofeimun (right),
during Africa Digital Forum and Presentation of ICT Infrastructural
Governor of the year Awards 2014 on Governor Aregbesola at Sheraton
Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.
on Sunday 14-12-2014.

A correspondent of the PUNCH newspapers in Osun, Mr. Femi Makinde, is in for interrogation by the election petition tribunal in the state over a report published by his newspaper which the tribunal considers to be false.

The correspondent had reported in his paper on Friday that there was over-voting in Unit 6 Ward 4 of Oriade Local Government Area of the state during the last governorship election in which the Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was declared the winner.

The report said to have been published on page 10 of the Friday December 11 edition of the paper was said to have angered the chairman of the tribunal Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime.

The attention of the chairman of the tribunal was called to the alleged false report by Counsel to Aregbesola, Chief Akin Olujinmi to the publication, “Omisore establishes over-voting in Oriade Local Government” on page 10 of the Punch Newspapers which, according to Olujinmi did not represent what happened at the tribunal the previous day.

Olujinmi, “I want to bring to the notice of this Honourable Tribunal, a false publication in the Punch where it was alleged that Omisore established over-voting in Oriade Local Government. My Lord will recall that at the inception of this tribunal, your Lordship admonished the members of the press on the need for true reportage of proceedings in this court. We were therefore shocked to read this blatant falsehood in today’s Punch Newspapers as it does not represent what happened yesterday in court.”
It was after Olujinmi’s complaint that the chairman demanded for the correspondent of the PUNCH who was however nowhere to be found in court.

The Chairman of the tribunal thereafter demanded for his presence at the court to explain why disciplinary actions should not be taken against him for his alleged false report on the proceedings of the tribunal.

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, the National President, Nigerian Association of Auctioneers (NAA), Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya and others, during the Governor’s investiture as the Association’s Patron at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Sunday 14-12-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left) presenting a
Plague to National President, Nigerian Association of Auctioneers
(NAA), Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya (right); Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi
Laoye-Tomori (left); Head of Service, Mr Olayinka Owoeye (3rd left)
and Former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties,
Barrister Ajibola Basiru, during the Governor’s investiture as NAA
Patron at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Sunday 14-12-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left) presenting a
Plague to National President, Nigerian Association of Auctioneers
(NAA), Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya (right); Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi
Laoye-Tomori (left); Head of Service, Mr Olayinka Owoeye (3rd left)
and Former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties,
Barrister Ajibola Basiru, during the Governor’s investiture as NAA
Patron at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Sunday 14-12-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th left); his Deputy,
Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (3rd left); National President, Nigerian
Association of Auctioneers (NAA), Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya (2nd right);
Osun State Chairman, NAA, Moshood Oladejo (2nd left); Chairman NAA
Board of Trustees, Alhaji Ahmadu Abubakar (right) and others, during
the Governor’s investiture as the Association’s Patron at Government
House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Sunday 14-12-2014

Over N10 million fake and expired drugs was destroyed by the Osun State Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria.
It was also gathered that the ministry and the PCN also sealed illegal medicine stores from where the drugs were seized.
It was learnt that some of the drugs have been seized since about four years.
The drugs were burnt at a dump site in Osogbo in presence of State Director, National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control, Mr. Kayode Fagboyo.
The Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Osun State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Adepeju Ojo, after the destruction of the drugs, said that inspectors from the ministry carried out the raid on the illegal outlets.
She said,  “We have seized the regulated expired drugs and also sealed non-registered  patents stores and the owners of the illegal outlets were apprehended.
“The seized drugs  are estimated over N10 million. We are calling those seeking expired or fake drugs to desist. Our people also should patronise registered outlets and make sure that the drugs they buy are not fake or expired.”
DAILY TIMES