Residents in Osun on Thursday condemned in a strong term the attitude of heavily armed security men, from the Department of State Security (DSS) in Osogbo, engaging in war-liked scenario, with sporadic shooting in the air, meant to create fear in the mind of electorates.

Dr Husseini Abdullahi, Medical Director in a Hospital who spoke in an Interview with Bioreports said, ‘’Over 50 Hilux armed vehicle parading the city, had really create fear in the mind of some electorates.

Abdullahi said, ‘’The DSS in Osun ought to know that the state was peaceful and with the current behavior, electorates maybe scared and discouraged.’’

‘’The irregular shooting by the DSS was barbaric, uncivilised and should be condemn by all. Urged the Boss of the Security service to be electorate friendly.’’

“I want the Heads of DSS to talk to their apparatus not to victimized electorates. What we saw yesterday was a picture of what may happen during and after the August 9 gubernatorial election”. He added.

Abdulahi, urged electorates to come out en masses on the day of election without any iota of fear.

Mrs Foluke Ajayi, a trader at the Old Garage area, lamented that over the acquisitive attitude of the DSS, which frighten a lot of people in the state capital city.

Ajayi, said the peace of the state is of utmost priority and such act can lead to public disturbance.

Corroborating the view, Mr Olawoyin Adewumi and Prince Ojo Olalekan condemned the shooting, saying that they were just using the system to intimidate electorates from exercising their civic responsibility in the coming election.

They said, no amount of intimidation can deprive them from coming out come August 9 to cast their vote for the candidate of their choice.

It would be recalled that, DSS had on Wednesday stormed the state capital with a sporadic shooting which made majority of the people in the state capital started running helter skelter for the fear of being hit by bullet.

The development which made motorists and commercial motorcyclists hurriedly packed their vehicles, just as pedestrians also abandoned the roads as the armed official profoundly took over the roads.

Classically defined as the government of the people, by the people and for the people, contemporary conventional wisdom describes democracy as the best form of government. One of the reasons for this view is that representative democracies are predicated on the will and consent of the people and must thus be responsible and accountable to them. Since democratic governments derive their legitimacy from the will of the people and remain in power only at the pleasure of the electoral majority, it is assumed, at least in theory, that they will be more compelled than dictatorships to promote development and the public good. However, this assumption cannot be taken for granted. Its validity depends firstly on free, fair and credible polls and, secondly, on performance being a key determining factor in electoral outcomes.
What we have experienced in Nigeria since 1999 is the strange phenomenon whereby the PDP has continued to ‘win’ elections at the centre and in a majority of the states even as the fortunes of the country continue to decline in virtually all sectors and the vast majority of Nigerians increasingly impoverished under its watch. What then can be the motivation for a government to perform and keep its electoral compact with the people when it is rewarded with emphatic victories at the polls irrespective of the quality of its performance or the extent of its ineptness and moral degeneration? As the country has grown richer, at least according to the re-based GDP, unemployment, insecurity and hunger have worsened with the majority of Nigerians descending deeper into poverty. The increased impoverishment of Nigerians has fuelled the monetisation of elections with the highest bidder likely to triumph at the polls through the deployment of stolen public wealth. It cannot get more absurd than that. This is a classic case of what the late Claude Ake would describe as ‘how democracy underdevelops Nigeria’.
Matters are not helped when a desperate Jonathan presidency cynically and ruthlessly exploits all opportunities to keep Nigerians divided along ethnic, religious and regional fault lines all in a bid to perpetuate itself in power at all costs beyond 2015. Can you see, for instance, how a Chibok community, hitherto united in their single-minded quest for the return of their abducted girls by Boko Haram brigands, have been divided through monetary gratifications by a delegation’s visit to Abuja’s cash-laden presidential Villa? All that the Jonathan presidency touches, it taints and divides!
The enthusiasm and impunity with which the Jonathan presidency deploys asymmetric federal powers and resources to crush all opposition and impose its might on Nigerians no matter how lawlessly, shows that the whole idea of the national conference , purportedly convened to restructure Nigeria, fundamentally reduce the powers of the centre and create a more balanced federation, was an entire ruse. Let no one think that resolutions passed by a collection of unelected Nigerians with absolutely no legal powers can convince this president to give up the immense powers conferred on him by the existing constitution. That purpose can only be achieved by the irresistible force of people’s power expressed through a genuine mass movement. But that is a matter for another day.
Is all therefore lost as far as elections are concerned in Nigeria? Must we raise our hands in helpless surrender and watch federal might and the emergent culture of ‘stomach infrastructure’ enable the PDP actualise its wish of imposing its suzerainty over Nigeria for the next six decades? I do not think so. There are some glimmers of hope that people’s power can still triumph in elections over arrogant and irresponsible use of federal might. In the Ondo and Anambra governorship polls, for instance, the PDP could not use its federal might for its own benefit. It had to work through auxiliary parties, Labour Party (LP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) respectively to contain a resurgent and threatening APC. The behemoth may be grossly overrated after all.
In Edo State, massive deployment of federal force and resources as well as crude ethnic manipulations could not displace the ebullient, high performing and grassroots-oriented Adams Oshiomhole. The jury is still out on what went wrong in Ekiti. Some attribute the unexpected outcome of the June 21 governorship election to sophisticated, scientific rigging. The APC has taken its case to the Election Petition Tribunal contending that a process tainted by excessive militarisation, intimidation and harassment of targeted party leaders could not have produced a flawless outcome. My take is that the gains of excellent governance and visionary reforms were eroded by inept, divisive and detached politics, which enabled an intellectual and moral Lilliputian like Ayodele Fayose to defeat a far more competent and credible Kayode Fayemi in Ekiti.
An excited and misguidedly optimistic PDP now has Osun as its target in next Saturday’s governorship election. The Minister of State for Defence, Musliu Obanikoro and his collaborator in mischief, Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, are once again hyperactive. Thousands of heavily armed security operatives have already been deployed to Osun, driving roughly round major towns and shooting in the air like thugs and ruffians. And this at a time when we need all the men and resources we can muster to contain the raging insurgency in the North-East – a war in which the country is continuously being given a bloody nose. This is clearly the most irresponsible Federal Government in the history of Nigeria.
Yet, in Ogbeni Raufu Aregebesola, the diminutive Governor of Osun State with a razor sharp intellect and magnetic political charisma, the PDP has met its match. You cannot fault Aregbesola on the terrain of performance. Osun is 34th of the 36 states in terms of statutory allocation from the Federation Account. Apart from this paltry federal allocation, previous administrations were incapacitated by an Internally Generated Revenue of approximately N300 million monthly. Thinking outside the box and devising ingenious strategies, Osun’s IGR has grown to N1.6 billion monthly under Aregbesola’s watch. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Osun state today has the lowest poverty index in Nigeria.
Through the revolutionary Osun Youth Employment Scheme (OYES), Aregbesola created 40,000 jobs, which injects N200 million into the local economy monthly. This is in addition to recruiting thousands of workers into the civil service and teaching service cadres. His massive road construction projects are visible across the state with beneficial impact on economic productivity. His administration has consistently supported the huge population of farmers to boost food production and enhance food security. His reforms in the education sector have created jobs for hundreds of tailors who produce school uniforms as well as caterers who provide one nutritious meal per day for all children in public schools. Of course, the innovative and revolutionary computer learning tablet, ‘Opon Imo’ has become a household name and even received international acclaim. There is no doubt in my mind that the flawed and insulting ‘stomach infrastructure’ hypothesis will be discredited, cremated and buried in Osun next Saturday.
Aregbesola is at home both in the company of professors as well as of farmers and marketmen and women. He is the quintessential man of the people. As a grassroots mobilizer, he is incomparable. This is why the PDP candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore’s antics of riding on okadas and eating roasted corn with a masked gun man behind him is so utterly ridiculous and laughable. You cannot give what you don’t have. Incidentally, Omisore, who recently claims to have acquired a Ph.D in some nebulous discipline, ran away from engaging Aregbesola and other candidates in a televised debate.
Aregbesola’s grassroots mobilization skills are understandable. As a student, he was the President of the Black Nationalist Movement. Under the influence of the late Marxist theoretician and economist, Comrade Ola Oni, he became inclined towards revolutionary Marxism. We can thus understand the progressive, welfarist orientation of his politics. As commissioner for works for eight years in Lagos State, Aregbesola was a key pillar of the formidable grassroots structure of the ACN. This is why the APC in Osun is a true mass movement.  Although a fervent and devout Muslim, Aregbesola symbolises the liberal and tolerant religious outlook of the Yoruba of the South-West. The attempt to negatively tag him as a religious fanatic has failed abysmally. All religious faiths have been allowed to thrive under his administration and leading Christian clerics have openly identified with his administration. Next Saturday, we will see a confrontation between federal might and people’s power in Osun State. I am confident that the latter will triumph decisively as a signpost to the possibilities of 2015.
THE NATION

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state has said that eradication of youths unemployment remains one of the major missions of his administration.

Governor Aregbesola stated this at the official launch of the OYESTECH empowerment scheme.

Aregbesola explained that his administration embarked on the scheme as a means of reducing chronic youth unemployment in the state.

He stressed that the 700 OYESTECH  youths have been trained with necessary skills needed for sustainable employment in the information and communication technology by the RLG company.

According to him, the skills acquired during the training would provide wide range of opportunities for gainful employment for the youths involved.

He further maintained that his administration will stop at nothing at ensuring a reasonable reduction in youth unemployment and promoting a better life for all and sundry.

Earlier in a remark, the managing director osun state investment company limited  OSSICOL, Mr Bola Oyebanji noted that about 700 OYESTECH members will be given direct employment by Multichoice.

Also speaking, the country director RLG, Mr Tosin Ilesanmi said the the idea behind the scheme is to make the youths employers of labour rather than employees.

The Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists has invited Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Senator Iyiola Omisore; and four other candidates to a public debate ahead of the election.
The Chairman of the NUJ in the state, Mr. Abiodun Olalere; and its Secretary, Mr. Bamigbola Gbolagunte, said this in a statement made available to journalists in Osogbo on Thursday.
Apart from the candidates of the All Progressives Congress and the PDP, the four other contestants invited for the debate are the Labour Party candidate, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade; Alliance for Democracy governorship candidate, Senator Sunday Fajinmi, Social Democratic Party candidate, Mr.Sunday Akinwusi; and the Accord Party candidate, Mr. Niyi Owolade.
The debate, according to the organisers, would hold on August 4 and would be broadcast live on the radio and television stations in the state.
However, Omisore said that he would not attend the debate because he would not be in Osun State on that day.
PUNCH

Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration yesterday said it  has paid to the state’s pensioners the sum of N24.3billion as pension and gratuity, while the local government staff, including teaching staff of primary schools and non-teaching staff of the local governments had received N13.6billion”.
The Government also said it inherited N4 billion pension arears from PDP administration while his administration paid N1.2 billion.
The government pointed out that the total debt of the state  was  N39billion  contrary to the claim by the People Democratic Party that it was N400billion.
Addressing journalists on the financial status of the state, the State Commissioner for Finance Budget and Economy Planing, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro posited that the total debt of the state was not beyond redemption, stressing that the state was buoyant to carry out its day to day duties to all citizens of the state.
According to him, “the philosophy of the present administration is based on the welfare and good living standard of the people and unlike in the past where the treasury of the state were looted and did not follow due process for seven years under Peoples Democratic Party.”
Bolorunduro disclosed that despite challenges posed by the dwindling revenue to the state from the federal government, the state government has paid a total sum of N23.5billion to pensioners as pension and gratuity to retired workers in the state.
He also noted that the 142 per cent pension liabilities the current administration inherited from the last administration was another critical issue that needed clarification for the benefit of the citizens of the state.
He said that the rail-roading of workers into the new contributory pension scheme by the PDP administration in the state despite their unwillingness had great impact in the state, noting that the previous administration that approved the forceful resignation did not consider the cash flow implication when granting the approval.
“For the avoidance of doubts, over 5,000 employees of the state joined the existing over 9,000 retirees in the state, while the local government retirees schedule also increased by about 3,500.
“The retirees, for the avoidance of doubts continue to enjoy their monthly emolument, albeit slightly reduced by 15 percent. The impact of this is a huge surge in the state’s salary and pension obligations from N250million in November 2011 to N600million monthly now”, he clarified.
The Commissioner said that the recent payment of salary, pension and gratuity to people in the state was not a panic measure and not because of the coming election, but mainly on prudent management of the lean resources of the state.
”The opposition mainly the PDP has nothing to say than to lie about the finance of the state. The party is known for causing confusion, so the motive of its crying. The Debt Management Office is a federal government agency and it has come out openly to clear Osun State of having debt beyond its capacity. The total debt of the state is N39 billion including the bond which has delayed for two years now”, he pointed out.
Bolorunduro contended that the state was in capable hands, adding that the approach approved by the state government for retirees to get their gratuity in ‘first in first out’ was to ensure that the most elderly citizens were taken care of, due to the belief that the elderly would have retired first.
THISDAY

THE Deputy Governor of Osun State, Mrs. Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, has called on the state’s electorate to vote massively for All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Rauf Aregbesola, in the August 9 gubernatorial election as a reward for the “uncommon” governance his administration has rendered to the state.

Speaking in Lagos yesterday at a book launch in honour of Aregbesola titled: “Oranmiyan Phenomenon and the Trinity of Progressivism”, Laoye-Tomori urged the people of Osun to make sure the transformation of the state continues by ensuring the incumbent governor gets re-elected through their votes.

She noted that the APC-led administration would continue to embark on projects that would bring succour to the people at the grassroots.

“Our people should vote to continue the benefit of good and uncommon governance and also document good achievements for progressives minds to write about,” she said.

Also, Deputy Governor, Kwara State, Mr. Peter Sara Kisira, noted that the fact that someone from Rivers State could write a book on Aregbesola in Osun State was an indication that he (Aregbesola) has not only performed, but also has established a unity point in Nigeria through his administration.

He said all the progressive-minded people in the state should ensure that the incumbent governor gets re-elected in order to complete the “good” projects he had started in the state.

The Deputy Managing Director of ThisDay Newspapers who reviewed the book, Mr. Kayode Kolawole, said the book is not a political tract but a compilation of the author’s observation of a performing leader.

Few days to the governorship election in Osun State scheduled for August 9, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that the performance of the incumbent governor was good enough to defeat the opposition in a free and fair election.
A former Deputy Governor of the state and chieftain of the party, Rev. Peter Obadan, who made this known on Thursday in Benin, stated that the party was not unaware of the plans by the Peoples Democratic Party to win at all cost in forthcoming election.
Obadan, who noted that activities of the opposition in the state had increased tension ahead of the election, expressed fear that the outcome of the Osun polls might spell doom in the state and the 2015 general elections, if the wishes of the people were subverted.
He called on the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Attahiru Jega, to ensure transparency by providing a level playing ground for the political parties and their candidates at the poll.
Obadan said, “We are quite in the know of what the PDP who control then power at the centre is capable of doing to win at all cost.
“They have forgotten that the President of Nigeria is not the President of the PDP but the entire country.
“On the strength of that, they are taking every election as a do-or-die affair.
“The PDP is frightened by this fact that on a free and fair election, that the incumbent governor cannot be defeated.
“The PDP at the centre boast of the manipulation which they are capable of manifesting in every election because they control the centre.
“They foresee that in 2015, that power will slip off their hand.”
DAILY TIMES

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