Nigerian youths have been advised to shun attempt by politicians to use them as weapons of destruction of the current democratic system.
Speakers at a seminar organised by the Osun State chapter of Nigerian Youth Parliament, entitled, ‘Osun Youth Summit For Peaceful Elections’, gave the admonition in Osogbo.
The convener of the summit, Mr. Semiu Adabanija, noted that the youths constitute a larger percentage of Nigerian population, adding that they are always at the receiving end of any outbreak of violence in the society. Adabanija explained that the seminar became necessary to further sensitise youths against being used as miscreants and thugs by politicians during elections.
In their separate addresses, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Marafa, represented by Adeola Isiaka and the state Commandant of the Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Mr Tajudeen Balogun, represented by Head of Training (NSCDC), Mr. Adebayo Oyetade, advised the youths to be wary of desperate politicians who may want to use them as political thugs, especially during the coming polls.
The security agents while reassuring that efforts are already in being made to ensure a free, fair and credible poll, also promised to perform their constitutional roles with utmost civility.
They said a violence free and stable environment before, during and after the polls is their ultimate goal. While calling on all stakeholders in the elections to play the game according to its rules, they also tasked parents to caution their wards against any form of violence.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

In the final analysis, our judgment is that, from the totality of the evidence led before us in this petition, and from the findings we have made in the foregoing, the Petitioners have clearly failed to discharge the burden placed on them by law, to establish that the result declared by the 3rd Respondent with respect to the polling units being questioned in all the 17 Local Government Areas of Osun State, with respect to the Governorship election held on August9, 2014, were invalid or void by reason of corrupt practices and or substantial non compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended); or that it was the 1st Petitioner who scored the majority of lawful votes cast at the said elections, to be entitled to be returned as winner thereof.
In other words, the Petitioners have failed to lead relevant, credible and or cogent evidence to sustain all the grounds upon which they questioned the declaration and return of the 1st Respondent as the duly elected Governor of Osun State with respect to the Governorship Election conducted in the State.
Quite clearly, the 1st Respondent won the majority of lawful votes cast in scoring 394,684 votes as against the 1st Petitioner’s 292,747 votes, and having satisfied all Constitutional requirements, we hereby affirm the declaration and return of 1st Respondent by the 3rd Respondent as the duly elected Governor of Osun State. Consequently, we hereby refuse all the reliefs sought in the petition and the petition therefore fails and it will be and is hereby dismissed. In the interest of peaceful co-existence and reconciliation amongst all contending parties, we shall make no order as to costs.
This is our judgment.
HON. JUSTICE ELIZABETH NGUVEREN KPOJIME
(Chairman)
The above was the climax of the long awaited judgment of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal as delivered by Tribunal Chairman.
Exerpts from the ruling:
It is the assertion of the Petitioners that the 1st and 2nd Respondents did not poll majority of the lawful votes cast at the said election. It is trite law that the burden rests on them to prove their assertion. See sections 32 and 133 of the Evidence Act,2010, and the case of CPC v.INEC (2011) 18 NWLR (Pt.1279) 493 at 544-545 SC. The Petitoners are calling on the Tribunal to cancel all the unlawful votes credited to the 1st and 2nd Respondents by the 3rd Respondent.
PW1 testified in paragraph 39 of his deposition that:
“39- if the results credited to the 1st and 2nd Respondents in polling units of the wards and Local Governments challenged by the Petitioners in this petition are cancelled, the Petitioners will have majority of the lawful votes cast at the election and will also have not less than 25 percent votes in 2/3rd of Osun State.”
Case of the petitioners
Since it is not the case of the Petitioners that the 1st and 2nd Respondents did not score lawful votes in any of the areas being challenged, they have by implication conceded that these Respondents scored some lawful votes in these areas. The burden is therefore on the Petitioners to determine which are unlawful votes amongst the votes credited to the 1st and 2nd Respondents. It is only when they have done this that the tribunal will be in a position to deduct those unlawful votes from the total votes credited to the 1st and 2nd Respondents and determine the winner. This was the decision in the the case of Nadabo v.Dubai (2011) 7NWLR (Pt.1245) 155 at 177, where the court held thus:
“I think when a Petitioner is alleging that the Respondent is not elected by majority of lawful votes, he ought to plead and prove the votes cast at the various polling stations, the votes illegally credited to the winner, the votes which ought to have been credited to him and also the votes which should be deducted from that of the supposed winner in order to see if it will affect the results of the election. When this is not done, it will be difficult for the Court to effectively address the issue.”
Aregbesola and Omisore
Aregbesola and Omisore
At paragraph 5.1 of Exihibit 243, which is the report of the physical inspection and physical analysis of electoral documents used at the election issued by PW 15, there is a table of summary of the alleged irregularities. From this summary, the Petitioners are contending that 265,180 votes out of the 394,684 votes credited to the 1st and 2nd Respondents are unlawful votes.
Interestingly they have also found 147, 072 unlawful votes credited to them. That if these unlawful votes are deducted fom the total votes credited to the 1st and 2nd Respondents, these Respondents will have 129,504 valid votes. If their unlawful votes are deducted from 292,747 as credited to them at the end of the election, they would have 145,675 valid votes, thus putting them in the lead with 16,171 votes.
It however became clear during the cross- examination of PW15 by the Respondents that he in his report dealt with areas where there were no complaints from the Petitioners. In other words, Exhibit 243 covers a wider scope than that envisaged by the petition. On pages 2-4 of Table 1 is the list of all the polling units in Ayedaade Local Government. Under cross-examination by counsel to the 1st Respondent, his attention was drawn to pages 20-26 of the petition as regards Ayedaade Local Government. Only 3 wards namely Otun Balogun ward 02, Olufi ward 03 and Otun Olufi ward 04 are covered by the petition. Meanwhile table 1 pages 2-4 relates to all the wards within the Local Government. Similarly, his attention was drawn to pages 26-29 of the petition regarding Atakunmosa East Local Government Area. He concedes that:-
“On pages 26-29 of the petition, only 6 wards are being challenged while table 1 lists all the wards. Pages 29-34 of the petition relates to Boripe Local Government. In my report I listed all the polling units in all the wards, but 5 wards are being challenged in the petition. In Ede North contained on pages 34-38 of the petition, my report covers all the units in this Local Government. “
Table 2 in Exhibit 243 lists polling units with registered voters above 300 which do not have voting points. According to PW 15, he relied on Exhibit 186, the Manual in reaching his conclusion that if there are more than 300 voters in a polling unit and no voting points are created, the votes will be invalidated. He referred to page 5 of the Manual which contains an introductory statement by Professor Abubakar Momoh. This statement is to the effect that-
“This Manual draws on the various modifications introduced by the commission particularly on accreditation and voting procedure at polling units with more than three hundred registered voters.”
We however do not see this as a legal requirement that a voting point must be created where the number of registered voters exceeds 300. There is no law stipulating that where registered voters exceed 300 and no voting points are created, the votes cast in such a polling unit should be cancelled. Even the said manual itself does not state so. Based on this erroneous assumption, PW15 in table 2 says 252,030 votes accredited to the 1st and 2nd Respondents are affected, while 139,789 of the votes credited to the Petitioners are affected. Under cross-examination by counsel to 2nd Respondent, PW15 denies any errors in his table 2. His attention was then drawn to page 32 of table 2; unit 006 in Osogbo local government area (ward 4 Ataoja D-Union Bapt. School) where there are 766 registered voters.
As stated earlier, these certified copies were made from the original of forms EC 8A which the Respondents’ witnesses said were duly stamped. This report is a confirmation of this assertion by the Respondents. While table 3 indicates that duplicate copies of forms EC 8A were not stamped, it also indicates that there were discrepancies in the duplicate copies, that there were alterations in some duplicate copies, while some duplicate copies were not signed.
In the case of Irewole, Ikire’ C’ ward 3 unit 009 it is stated that there are different entries on CTC of form EC8A and the duplicate copy. Polling unit 009 is Ijadubi Open space. The complaint in this unit as per the complaint in the petition is that the result of the election was not recorded as required by law and form EC8A for the unit was also not stamped.
Original and duplicate
While PW15 has noted some discrepancies in the CTC of form EC8A and their duplicate counterparts, he conceded under cross-examination by Prof. Osinbajo SAN for 2nd Respondent that-
I have seen table 3 of my report. I did not point out any discrepancy in the result stated on the original and duplicate of form EC8A.”
Table 5 in Exhibit 243 seeks to show areas where the total votes cast are more than the voters on the queue. For instance, in ward 3 unit 016 of Oriade Local Government the table shows that whereas there were 44 voters on the queue, the total votes cast was 54. The Petitioners are implying that extra votes were” imported.” While APC had 306 of such “imported “votes, PDP had 163. The evidence of all the witnesses for the Petitioners and the Respondents is that all accredited voters were a:lowed to vote. It is also their evidence that the accredited voters were told to go and come back at 12noon when voting would commence.
It is however not their evidence that accredited voters who were not on the queue at the time of counting were not allowed to vote. All that is required of an accredited voter is to ensure that he casts his vote before voting closes. What is clear from the totality of the testimony of PW 15 is that the alleged unlawful votes include votes from wards and units not in contention in the petition. With the inclusion of votes from areas not in dispute, his over-all summary cannot be relied upon as representing the true situation.
Upon a calm consideration of the totality of Exhibit 243, we entirely agree with the Respondents that it has been so discredited that no reasonable Tribunal can rely on it to hold that the votes credited to the 1st and 2nd Respondents are unlawful.
Page 131-136 of the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice Elizabeth Nguveren Kpojime; Hon. Justice Vincent Igometi Ofesi and Hon. Justice Abubakar Idris Kutigi on Friday the 6th Day of February, 2015.
OSUN DEFENDER

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola discussing with the Adimula of Ifewara, Oba Hezekiah Adeniyi Owolola, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential/ National and State House of Assemblies Electioneering Campaigns to Ifewara, Atakunmosa-West Local Government, State of Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola discussing with the
Adimula of Ifewara, Oba Hezekiah Adeniyi Owolola, during the All
Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential/ National and State House of
Assemblies Electioneering Campaigns to Ifewara, Atakunmosa-West Local
Government, State of Osun

Crowd of crowd, during the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Presidential/ National and State House of Assemblies Electioneering
Campaigns to Ifewara, Atakunmosa-West Local Government, State of Osun.
Insert:Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola discussing with
the Adimula of Ifewara, Oba Hezekiah Adeniyi Owolola

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola holding microphone with
other party Chieftains addressing the enthusiastic supporters of the
All Progressives Congress (APC), during the party’s
Presidential/National and State House of Assemblies Electioneering
Campaigns at Osu, Atakunmosa-West Local Government, State of Osun

Some farmers in Osun State have decried the inadequate number of silos in the state, calling on government at all levels to do more to ensure food security.
One of the farmers, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Alhaji Yinusa Ayandele, condemned the lukewarm attitude of the government towards provision of adequate farm storage facilities.
Ayandele recalled that the farmers in the state had made several appeals to the government to make adequate farm storage facilities available but to no avail.
He said the only way efforts of the government in reviving agriculture in the state could yield good result was to ensure storage facilities like silos and barns to reduce post harvest wastage.
Another farmer, Mr Ibikunle Oluwalogbon, appealed to the government in the state to provide storage facilities to guarantee food security.
Oluwalogbon said the state has not given farm storage facilities the priority it deserves despite its giant stride in agriculture.
In the same vein, Mrs Anjola Ibidun, who is the Managing Director of Iwalewa farms, Ikire, also stressed the urgent need for adequate provision of silos and other farm storage facilities.
“The problem of inadequate farm storage facilities is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, it is indeed a fallout of lackadaisical approach of African governments to the agricultural sector.
“It speaks volume on the lack of diversification on the continent, where many African countries, including Nigeria, remain consistently mono-economies.
“The government of Osun must take the issue of storage facilities seriously in order to improve the revenue of farmers in the state,’’ Ibidun said.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

*Seeks worker’s understanding *

It has come to our knowledge that today, some workers under the aegis of the TUC came together in protest against salaries that have not been paid.

While we recognise the right of the workers to seek for the payment of that which is legitimately theirs, we wish to repeat for the umpteen time that the unfortunate owing of salaries running to about three months cannot be divorced from the crushing revenue crisis that has hit Nigeria as a whole.

What is required at this stage is for all and sundry to properly understand the genesis of this whole saga which will be helpful rather than being viewed as a deliberate act on the part of the government.

A government that ensured prompt payment of salaries on or before 26th of every month since inception; a government that introduced 13th month salary and a government that had commenced augmentation of salaries with it’s hard earned savings to prevent it’s workers from tasting the bitter pill of revenue crisis cannot suddenly wake up to deny workers their legitimate earnings.

We are aware that President Goodluck Jonathan made some statements during his visit to OSUN at the weekend where he was reported to have asked OSUN people to demand for their salaries saying his government pays states at when due and that some states have borrowed money beyond their capacities.

The question Mr. President must be asked is: how do loans obtained by states for obvious development purposes and to bring better life to the people translate to revenue deductions across Nigeria to the extent that the whole country is facing this kind of heat? It is on record that the Director General of the Debt Management Office under the supervision of President Jonathan came to OSUN last year and declared publicly that OSUN debts are within the capacity of the state. He also recommends the Sukuk loan which OSUN took to other states seeking fast development for their people. What has changed between last year when the President’s Debt Management Office gave OSUN this clean bill and now.

Secondly, President Jonathan’s Minister of Finance Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala has been warning Nigerians to brace up for hard economic times. Without necessarily harping on the fact that this is as a result of their shoddy handling of the nations resources at a time that we witnessed crude price hovering about $100 at least in five years, can Mr. President justifiably claim that Osun’s unpaid salaries are not part of the hard economic times that his minister warned us against.

Please, recall that Governor Aregbesola had seen this coming a long time and as far back as July 2013, he had told Nigerians to call the Federal Government to account if the country would not be plunged into economic crisis.

Please recall that Aregbesola repeated this warning in February 2014 during a retreat by members of the OSUN State House of Assembly on the 2014 budget that the FG had declared economic war on Nigerians.

However, as a responsible and responsive government,we can only appeal to our workers in the state and those connected with them for understanding. what this time calls for is sober reflection  on the part of all parties as all hands must be on deck to ensure that we all navigate this stormy waters and get rid of those who are bent of holding the people down.

Photos of the  Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting a gift to the newly posted Managing Director of the State Aeronautic Engineering Technical System Limited (AETSL), Air Vice Marshal Ajibola Jekennu while the State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori watches during the familiarization Visit to the Governor at Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting the State
Crest to the Newly Posted Managing Director of the State Aeronautic
Engineering Technical System Limited (AETSL), Air Vice Marshal Ajibola
Jekennu during the Familiarization Visit to the Governor at Government
House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); his
Deputy, Mrs. Titi-Laoye Tomori (2nd left); the Outgoing Managing
Director of the State Aeronautic Engineering Technical System Limited
(AETSL), Air Vice Marshal Andy Tsakri (left) and the Newly Posted
Managing Director of the State Aeronautic Engineering Technical System
Limited (AETSL), Air Vice Marshal Ajibola Jekennu (right) during the
Familiarization Visit to the Governor at Government House, Oke-Fia,
Osogbo

From right- Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting
a gift to the Newly Posted Managing Director of the State Aeronautic
Engineering Technical System Limited (AETSL), Air Vice Marshal Ajibola
Jekennu while the State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori
watches during the Familiarization Visit to the Governor at Government
House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); his
Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye Tomori ( 3rd left); the Outgoing Managing
Director of the State Aeronautic Engineering Technical System Limited
(AETSL), Air Vice Marshal Andy Tsakri (middle); the Newly Posted
Managing Director of the State Aeronautic Engineering Technical System
Limited (AETSL), Air Vice Marshal Ajibola Jekennu (right);Project
Manager of (AETSL), Engineer Aminu Sulaiman (left); Project Director
of (AETSL), Barrister Idris Mohammed ( 2nd left) and Project
Coordinator of (AETSL), Commander Abdu-llahi (3rd left) during the
Familiarization Visit to the Governor at Goverent House, Osogbo

Pictures of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola addressing supporters, during the grassroot Campaign for Presidential, National and State House of Assemblies, at Ilaa-Ijesa, Atakumosa-West Local Government on Monday 09/03/2015.

From right- Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Asileyun
of Sileyun-Ijesa, Oba Peter Ade- Atayero; Asolo of Isolo-Ijesa, Oba
John Ade-Adeyemi and Olupoye of Ipoye-Ijesa, Oba Joshua Adefioye,
during the grassroot Campaign for Presidential, National and State
House of Assemblies, at Ilaa-Ijesa, Atakumosa-West Local Government on
Monday 09/03/2015.

From right- Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Asileyun
of Sileyun-Ijesa, Oba Peter Ade- Atayero; Asolo of Isolo-Ijesa, Oba
John Ade-Adeyemi and Olupoye of Ipoye-Ijesa, Oba Joshua Adefioye,
during the grassroot Campaign for Presidential, National and State
House of Assemblies, at Ilaa-Ijesa, Atakumosa-West Local Government on
Monday 09/03/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola addressing supporters,
during the grassroot Campaign for Presidential, National and State
House of Assemblies, at Ilaa-Ijesa, Atakumosa-West Local Government on
Monday 09/03/2015.

Farmers and Fulani/Bororo herdsmen in Osun State have been charged to give peaceful coexistence and good neighbourliness a chance so that the state can move forward.
Chairman of the committee on peaceful coexistence among cattle herdsmen and farmers in the state, Mudashiru Toogun, made the call during a peace meeting between farmers and cattle herdsmen at Esa-Oke and Olupona in Obokun and Ayedire Local Government areas respectively.
He advised that farmers and cattle herdsmen are supposed to see themselves as partners in progress, stressing that they need each other to be able to succeed in their various endeavours.
Toogun argued that it is only in a peaceful environment that government can unveil the good plans that it has in place for the people of the state.
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of Ayedire Local Government, Mr Olulere Amobi, sued for peace among the farmers and cattle herdsmen, while urging them to see themselves as neighbours.
Speaking, the Seriki Fulani in the State of Osun, Alhaji Oluwatoyin Sulaiman, expressed delight on the steps being taken by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to ensure that there is peace in the state.
He assured the government of the state of continued peace among farmers and cattle herdsmen in the state as adequate steps would be taken to ensure that cattle are not used to graze cultivated farmlands indiscriminately anymore.
Other members of the committee on harmonious relationship who spoke at the meeting were Chief Adewoyin Adetoyese, Dr Nimota Raji, the Director of Livestock, Mr Johnson Ajayi, and the Director of Agric Services, Mr Kola Ajisekola, who all called for peace among farmers and cattle herdsmen.
At the end of the two sessions, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on peaceful coexistence was signed between farmers and Fulani/Bororo herdsmen at Earthly Produce Limited in Olupona.
The MoU stressed the fact that both goats, sheep, cattle and other livestock animals must no longer graze cultivated farmlands.
Others present at the meeting were agric officers, farmers, as well as Fulani/Bororo herdsmen.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

A call has gone out to the National Circumcision Association of Nigeria to put a stop to female genital mutilation/circumcision (FGM/C) in the country.
The act was described as barbaric, inhuman and violation of women and girl-child.
Osun State Commissioner for Women and Children Affaiirs, Mrs. Mofolake Adetoun Adegboyega, made the call at the inauguration of state technical working committee on elimination of female genital mutilation/circumcision.
At the programme organised by UNFPA/UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministries of Women and Children Affairs and Health, the commissioner expressed profound gratitude to the technical partners for the inclusion of the State of Osun in the project to be executed in Nigeria.
On the girl child who is the main focus of FGM/C, she reiterated that the state government has enacted a law against the practice, and that the government will continue to carry out and support programmes to fight and eradicate harmful practices in the state.
According to Mrs. Adegboyega, female genital mutilation, aside from being a serious human rights violation of women and girls, also has grave health consequences.
As such it is necessary that the practice be totally eliminated in the state, she added.
She described FGM/C as procedures involving partial or total removal of the female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural, religion or other non-therapeutic reasons.
Statistically, she stated that there is an existing policy for the elimination of FGM in 2002, that it has not appreciably achieved its aims and objectives, and that by UNICEF survey in 2010, the state has the highest prevalent rate of 82.8 percent in the South West.
DAILY INDEPENDENT