As Armed Mask Officials Shoot Sporadically In Siren-blaring Vehicles In Osogbo, Iwo

Panic initially gripped residents of the State of Osun on Wednesday, when operatives of the Department of Security Service (DSS) in about 50 Toyota pickup vehicles suddenly started firing into the air, as their convoy rode through Osogbo, on their arrival in the state capital.

The officials, no fewer than 5,000, some of whom wore masks, were fully armed and were conveyed round Osogbo in the siren-blaring vehicles.

They were also sighted in Iwo and surrounding communities of Osogbo. OSUN DEFENDER observed that some of the operatives, who sat on the roof-tops of the vehicles, fired gunshots into the air, thereby causing fear among residents and road users.

Dressed in black T-shirts, black trousers with caps and fully armed, the officials drove from their office along Gbongan-Osogbo Road through Olaiya Junction to Oke-Fia.

A source however disclosed to the medium that the operatives were deployed from Abuja, the seat of the Federal Government.
Motorists and commercial motorcycle riders hurriedly parked their vehicles, while the armed officials took over the roads and just as pedestrians also abandoned the roads for the arms-wielding security men.

The Director of the DSS in the State of Osun, Mr. Andrew Iorkyar, when contacted by the medium on the telephone, said that the officials were deployed to the state for the purpose of the August 9, 2014 governorship election.
He said: “They are our men. They are patrolling round to familiarise themselves with the terrain. They are in the state to protect law-abiding people. They are not deployed to terrorise anybody.

“You know that there are allegations and counter-allegations of stock-piling or arms by some politicians. We don’t want any breakdown of law and order. So, our men are in the state to ensure peace.” Asked why the officials were shooting into the air, Iorkyar said he was not aware of that and he promised to find out.

He urged the people of the state not to hesitate to make useful information available to the service.

The Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Security Matters, Mr. Amos Adekunle, when contacted on telephone by our reporter condemned the incident, describing it as intimidation. Some residents, who spoke to our reporter, condemned the shooting, saying it was not necessary, because there was no crisis to warrant it.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) described the shooting as a ploy to scare voters away from coming out to vote.
The party Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, who spoke with one OSUN DEFENDER on telephone, said the incident was totally uncalled for, adding that it initially left people running helter-skelter.
Oyatomi, who also issued a statement on the development, asked the people not to be intimidated by the security men presence in the state.

He said: “The incident was unwarranted because there was no riot. They came from Abere end; they passed though Olosan to Olaiya and Oke-Fia thence to Ilobu. They would move a few metres and opened fire. People began to run helter-skelter.

“If this is how the Peoples Democratic Party thinks it would capture Osun, they are joking because the people’s wish can never be subverted. “No citizens should be scared or should run away when they see and or hear gunshots from security people because they have committed no crime. People should go about their businesses and ignore them.

“A country in which the security operatives are the ones doing what we are experiencing to citizens in Osun, calls for the gravest concern,” Oyatomi stressed

OSUN DEFENDER

Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday condemned the show of force displayed by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) in some areas in the state on Wednesday.

The masked-operatives had driven round the metropolis and shot sporadically into the air, an act that scared many residents.

Speaking in Oshogbo at the commissioning of the emergency call centre built for efficient security network in the state, the governor lamented that the display was meant to intimidate the people as no situation called for such.

Aregbesola stated that his administration will launch an official complaint to the authorities concerned, saying that they have no constitutional right to threaten or intimidate law abiding citizens of the state.

“We owe it a duty to let the whole world know what is happening here. This is against the right of the Nigerian people. We’ve all forgotten that we pay the salaries of the security agencies,” he said.

“We don’t pay for them to wear mask in our towns. They should only wear masks when they engage terrorists and if they have to operate in a region where seeing them might compromise their own safety and security.

“What would they say is the reason for what they are doing now other than threat, shock and awe? So, what this means is that they want to conquer and cow our people, which is a direct assault on democracy.

“I won’t take gun against them but I will not be quiet. We should all talk and condemn it because this is not about Aregbesola alone,” the governor stressed.

On the call centre, he explained that the facility will immediately alert security operatives at the dial of a distress call line (080067866786) that can take 24 calls at a time and 100 (hundred) calls when upgraded.

The governor pointed out that just as it has been done in all other aspects of public life in Osun, protecting the lives and property of the people is a task that has kept the administration busy and for which his administration will continue to shoulder.

He said it is a task for which his government was fully committed to observing, adding that government would leave no stone unturned in terms of welfare and security of the people.

“This Emergency Call Centre will go a long way in enhancing the effectiveness of the various security measures we have been putting in place for the safety of lives and property in Osun,” Aregbesola added.

“Towards this end, therefore, we have gradually been building a mutually reinforcing security system that will guarantee the pursuit of a ‘life more abundant’ in the State of Osun. We have, among other measures, set up a patrol unit, the Swift Action Squad (SAS).

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused the federal government of terrorising and intimidating the people of Osun state, with a view to cowing them ahead of the state’s August gubernatorial election. In a press statement issued in Lagos on Friday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party wondered why the government would send agents of the Department of State Services (DSS) to the state “to harass innocent citizens in an unprovoked and primitive show of power that could only be described as sheer gangsterism.”
”As widely reported, DSS agents, armed to the teeth and riding in over 50 trucks, drove around Osogbo and other parts of Osun state on Wednesday, blaring siren and shooting sporadically in the air, thus disrupting the normally-peaceful life in the state,” APC said. ”Residents who were visibly traumatised by the shameful display of state power ran helter-skelter and wondered why their government had sent masked men, or ninjas, to terrorize them. They now understand that the masked thugs who have been following the PDP candidate around on his campaign trail were actually government sanctioned. This is a power show taken too far, even with the well-known impunity tendencies of the Jonathan Administration.”
APC alleged that information at its disposal showed that 5,000 more DSS men were being dispatched to the state before the election, “on the basis of an orchestrated petition alleging that certain APC leaders are planning to foment trouble during the election.” ”The real purpose of this fake petition and the consequent deployment of thousands of secret police to Osun is to harass, intimidate and arrest the leaders of the APC in the state, in a repeat of what transpired in Ekiti,” the party stated. ”Flooding Osun with irresponsible DSS officials to terrorize the residents is another low for a government that is notorious for abuse of power and federal institutions.
It is no longer news that the military, the police and other security agencies are working for the Jonathan Administration, rather than for all of Nigeria. What is new is that the security agencies have now been unleashed on the citizenry. ”What rankles even more is the constant assurances by President Jonathan that the election will be free and fair. How can we have a credible election in an atmosphere of state-led gangsterism? How can we have a credible election when the FG that is supposed to protect the people and ensure violence-free polls is the same one that purveys violence? Where else in the world do secret police announce themselves by firing to scare away harmless citizens? When did masks become part of the uniform of the State Security Service agents?”
It reminded the DSS officers that the guns they were using to terrorise the people of Osun were given to them by taxpayers, and that they were indeed trained at the expense of taxpayers, hence it was totally irresponsible and unacceptable for them to turn their guns on the taxpayers. APC called on “local and international election observers to take note of the pre-election intimidation tactics of the PDP/Jonathan administration, which were designed to scare people away from the polling booths and provide the necessary atmosphere for electoral malfeasance.”
The party said that” it would not accept the same hear-no-evil, see-no-evil disposition of President Jonathan, who on one hand would be assuring the international community of credible polls under his watch, while at the same time looking the other way as his cabinet ministers, other appointees and the security agencies under his control break the law with impunity and become agents of terror.”
”Mr. President, you are responsible for the actions of the men and women you appoint into your cabinet. You are the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. You bear the ultimate responsibility for the acts of omission or commission of this category of public officials, as well as the security agencies. You must call them to order if indeed they are not acting under your orders.”

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola tells Business Day’s Research team that the focus of his government is the enrichment of the Common Man. He says his ambition to make the state a much better place is his driving force in seeking re- election. Find Excerpts below, you can also download a full version HERE – Ogbeni Business Day Pullout (1)
Which of your projects are you most anxious to complete?
All our projects are important to us because they are a response to the yearnings of the people. Therefore, the question of wanting to complete a particular one does not arise. Every project has a time frame. This time frame was arrived at considering the available resources and what is considered deliverable. We are on course and working diligently to deliver on schedule. We have the best investment- friendly climate in Nigeria, security is guaranteed and the air is clear and clean. There is no pollution of any nature. When you talk of agriculture, Osun now has the largest poultry industry providing eggs and chickens for the 300, 000 pupils being fed daily in our public schools. We have a huge army of young men and women who are eager to contribute their quota to society’s growth. You may have observed that there are huge constructions – roads, bridges and houses – going on in every nook and cranny of the state.
We have a large garment production outfit here which was a product of our drive at education reform. We are the first state to bring about a unified outfit for our students. It is not as some media agencies present it, “one uniform for all students” , though there is nothing bad about all students in public schools having the same uniform. Our neighbour, Benin Republic has same uniform for all students, from Primary One to HSC. So when some commentators are ignorant of such issues, we are amazed. Our own is not even one uniform for all. Our unified uniforms covers three levels of education, namely: elementary, middle and high schools. That policy influenced the development of the Omoluabi Garment Factory, which today employs 3, 000 of our youths.
The OYES programme and the need to engage the cadets led us to a partnership with a Ghanian company, RLG Communications Limited, an electronics communications company that is training 20, 000 youths on all forms of electronic devices, and also assembling electronic gadgets like computers,  mobile phones and television sets.
An airport with the longest runway in Africa with the capacity for servicing and maintenance of aircraft is under construction. When completed, the airport will be the first airport targeted at providing aircraft maintenance facilities as its primary goal. The helicopter hangar, airplane hangar, the airstrip, the apron, the width of the airport is huge. We want to be the centre of airport maintenance in West and Central Africa. This is an investment opportunity which few people consider. And of course, we know the market is big.
We are developing an investment manual on Tourism, Electricity, Industry, Commerce and so on. We are aggressively reviewing our laws to serve as a confidence building means to attract investors. Our strategy also involves the highest regard for security, law and order.
What is your vision of what you want to leave behind in Osun when your second term ends in the next Four years?
My first aim is to leave a functioning democratic system owned by the people of the state; a system where government derives from the people, is controlled by them and therefore accountable to them. I want to leave a model state, where unemployment is near zero level and more importantly, where we create enough wealth such that the government has enough of its own money to meet its daily obligation and does not need what comes from Abuja to survive.  I also believe that our investment in education would have fully matured and the pupils in our schools would have become world beaters. I can also see our urban renewal and environment programme turning our cities into modern, clean, beautiful and safe havens.
To crown it all, I want to make human beings the centre of our government and genuine agents of development. That is all. My concern is to uplift man such as he sees himself as he only agent of change. I want to elevate the place of human beings in society such that man can see himself as the core of society and driver of development. I want to see his empowerment, upliftment and progress.
Download Full Interview Here – Ogbeni Business Day Pullout (1)

 

A powerful industrial revolution is sweeping  across Osun State and already the wise are tapping into the opportunity offered by the state government. The young and old entrepreneurs, men and women from all walks of life, the rich and the not-so-rich are also making inquiries and sealing legitimate transactions.
The opportunity, which began less than three years ago, runs from rural and urban development to road construction and rehabilitation, aesthetics, as well as tourism, agriculture, small and medium scale development, and those who have long nose for business are already sniffing and reaping the benefits.
Since Osun was created 23 years ago, the state and its people had never witnessed the rapid transformation they currently enjoy. Apart from a brewery and publishing houses, agro-allied industries, all privately-owned, as well an unorganised tourism sector and a comatose cocoa industry, one could not boast of any big industries existing in the state before now. Federal industries have long become decayed infrastructure.
Hitherto, the state could only boast of a huge population of 3.4 million (2006 census), with commensurate available resources left untapped, 30 local government areas and a landmass of 14, 875 square kilometres yearning for development. Unless you have visited the state, this sounds like a fairy tale.
The sleepy, dog-weary rural dwellers are now fully engaged in one form of economic activity or the other. Many of the activities are wholly or partly sponsored by the state government and are consequently arresting rural-urban migration.
Those in urban centres are content with the state government-organised life, which has jerked them up from their socio-economic doldrums, while indigenes in the Diaspora are struggling to have a ‘base’ at home.
Honour must, however, be accorded to whom it is due. The incumbent governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, is working and the results are manifesting.
He began with rural development. A structure without a solid foundation cannot stand and Aregbesola re-jigged the rural base, home to 70 per cent of the population. Access and feeder roads have been constructed to link various farm settlements with urban centres to facilitate evacuation of agriculture produce.
The state Agricultural Corporation has also cleared vast hectares of land for farmers, who have been granted credits and farm inputs, including fertilizer. Poultry farmers are not left out, with many of them benefitting from the Quick Impact Intervention Programme of the state government.
The World Bank-supported Fadama project is flourishing, and Osun pays its counterpart funding promptly and is among the leading funders of the programme in Nigeria. The Oloba Cattle Ranch at Iwo has also been refurbished for anybody interested in cattle business.
Perhaps, the best gift handed over to farmers by Aregbesola is a good practice put in place to evacuate produce to Lagos by rail, and making Osogbo the hub of food distribution to the neighbouring states. Osun is an agrarian community, but unfortunately, much of the produce is lost in the farm with middle men making a kill of the rest.
Consequently, in partnership with the Nigerian Railway Corporation, produce is transported to Lagos at no cost to the farmers, with the aim of slicing a chunk from the Lagos State food exchange value put at N3.5 billion.
In addition, with the established warehouses, manufactured and fresh produce will be moved periodically out of the state to ensure all-round food, stabilise prices and keep the farmers busy all-year round.
A regular commuter will also attest to the fact that Gbongan, a farming town between Ile Ife and Ibadan, serves as a food basket, where motorists stop over to purchase foodstuffs. The roadside market has been re-organised to offer patrons and consumers the best for their money.
It is no accident that a recreation park has been added to the market for relaxation, the type that exists in developed countries to rejuvenate long-journey motorists and commuters, and make travelling seamless and pleasurable.
The sprouting of new industries, road network, beautification of its major cities, the revamping of tourism industry and development of the skills of the indigenes are fast changing the perception of the people in Osun, once a civil-servant state.
An Information Communication Technology company has taken off in Ilesha, in partnership with a foreign firm; a garment industry is rolling out designer wears in Osogbo, and the cocoa processing industry is being reactivated in Ede, while the state government has set aside N4 billion to boost small scale businesses.
In spite of the dwindling federal allocation (Osun holds 34th position) and the slim internally-generated revenue, the governor manages resources prudently to provide well-constructed road network, carved out of industrial layouts, as well as initiated the construction of an airport, all aimed at strategically situating the state for economic activities.
The culture-rich state is bouncing back to glory. The landscaping of Asejire interchange, the renovation of its museums and a comprehensivere-structuring of the Osun festival and the environment have once again turned the state into a tourist haven, with more visitors thronging in.
Already, the state has been tipped as having one of the seventh largest economies in Nigeria, and a leading emerging market investment bank in Africa. This is because consumer companies are likely to find the greatest opportunities in states with highest per capita incomeand high population densities of which Osun is one.
Rattled and baffled politicians in the opposition, who never thought the state could be lifted from grass to grace in so short a time, even with meagre resources, recently attacked the governor, claiming that he had plunged the state into an everlasting debt of almost N400 billion. Sadly for them, the Debt Management Office (DMO), a Federal Government agency, which coordinates loans obtained and financial risks undertaken by the federal or a state government, says Osun is one of the best states with public debt management, adding that the debt profile of the state is a very sustainable one, healthy for its economic growth.
The Debt Management Office describes the debt burden claim as a mere propaganda and hoax, adding that the state should be used as an example for other states to emulate.
Segun Lawal, a big-time fish farmer in Okuku in Odo Otin Local Government Area, is transfixed at the transformation within two years of his business. A jobless graduate five years ago, Segun poured accolades on the governor, saying he would be the first to vote for his re-election on August 9.
“If he can do this for me within four years, I bet I will go places by the time he completes his second term in office, ‘’ Segun, who has 20 workers in his fish farms, remarked.
“A public debate should be arranged between the governor and other contenders for them to tell us what they have been doing, or what they intend to do with our lives and money,’’ he added.
Another beneficiary, Sunday Fadaunsi, who is in the hospitality industry, described Aregbesola as the right man at the right place, at the right time, asking the electorate not to be misled by empty promises.
“We have witnessed what the man can do, what other proof do we need?’’ he asked, adding that the man had virtually touched every home with his welfare projects right from the grass roots.
“I have just opened an Osogbo branch of the hotel I started in Ilesha 10 years ago, and I nearly folded up because there was no patronage, not that the standard of the hotel is low. Now with the new branch, I believe it is worthwhile to identify with Aregbesola, a lucky man,’’ he said.
Mrs Ebunoluwa Alabi, who is now a big-time dealer in fish feeds in Osogbo, observed that she had been trying her hands on various projects in the past seven years until 2011, and now, there is no going back.
‘’This is because Aregbesola has created so many opportunities for business, and which ever you choose, as long as you remain focused, you must succeed, because the man has opened up a floodgate of business activities, and it is like the sky accommodating all birds.
“Now that he has laid a solid foundation, common sense dictates that he should be allowed to continue and finish in his second term,’’ Mrs Alabi said.
Mr. Funsho Oseni, a big-time poultry farmer in Iwo, who had been in business for six years and had planned to relocate to Ibadan due to the dull business climate, said it was like a miracle when things started turning around for the better within a year.
‘’Will I be a fool to allow the ugly old times to reincarnate, certainly no,’’ the father of six said emphatically. ‘‘I will go for the man, who is replacing poverty with prosperity, not political termites and visionless noise-makers.’’ he added.
Adeoye, a public affairs analyst, writes from Osogbo.
TRIBUNE

Fresh doors of opportunities are being opened to youths of Osun in the area of Information Technology just as the state intensifies her efforts towards eradicating poverty.

This was the submission of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Thursday at the official launch of the OYES_TECH empowerment scheme at the state capital.

The Governor said that eradication of youths unemployment remains one of the major missions of his administration.
He explained that his administration embarked on the scheme as a way of reducing chronic youth unemployment and poverty 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.
In his words, “the O’YES-TECH is an important component of these exit programmes.
It was conceived by our administration, but it was designed and packaged in partnership with a private ICT firm, the RLG of Ghana.
“The O’YES-TECH is six-month highly intensive course in information and communication technology. Under the programme, we plan to train 20,000 young people from the O’YES Scheme in batches of 5,000 each at 10 training centres spread across the state to facilitate easy accessibility” the governor pointed out.‎
‎
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.

He said technology and the new opportunities it offers are beneficial to reducing social problems.

The Governor said, “As a matter of fact, out of the first batch of 5,000 youths that have already been trained, 100 of them were sent to the RLG headquarters for further practical training in Ghana. Many of these – precisely 52 of them – have been offered direct employed by the company’s phone and laptop factory in Ilesa.

“Another 100 of the trainees are being engaged today by the company in sales activities, while 40 more are being empowered with kiosks and tools for after sales services. Some others have been similarly employed by other ICT firms such as CHAMS Plc and BEACON Power Services.”

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.
Oyebanji averred that the scheme is directed at the youth to imbibe the culture of production by giving service for their earnings.
“The government of Aregbesola factors the youths into governance and so the introduction of the scheme to create employment for teeming employable youths and boast economic mode of production and wealth creation,” Oyebanji said.
Also speaking, the Country Director of RLG, Mr. Tosin Ilesanmi, said the the idea behind the scheme is to make the youths in the state employers of labour rather than employee.‎
This, Ilesanmi noted, is in consonance with the six-point integral action plan of this government  so as to banish hunger and poverty among the people of the state.

People from every walk of life share their experiences and thoughts on the Governor of the State of Osun in Amazing and memorable Quotes. Share with your friends and give your thoughts and feedback on any of our platforms. Facebook (Government of the State of Osun) or Twitter @stateofosun

Photos of the Governor,  State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola inspecting the Farmers Input, during the Official Launch of the Framers Input and Credit Support Programme, at the Central Distribution Centre, Ede.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left) inspecting the
Farmers Input, during the Official Launching of the Framers Input and
Credit Support Programme, at the Central Distribution Centre, Ede.
With him are, Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Lawal (left);
Coordinator, Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP),
Dr Charles Akinola (behind governor); Executive Director, UniCapital
Plc, Mr Ayo Fatokun (right) and others

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left) inspecting the
Farmers Input, during the Official Launching of the Framers Input and
Credit Support Programme, at the Central Distribution Centre, Ede. With him
are, Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Lawal (3rd left); Executive Director,
UniCapital Plc, Mr Ayo Fatokun (left) and others

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right) giving a Debit
Card to a Farmer, Mr Sikiru Omoniyi (2nd left), during the
OfficialLaunching of the Framers Input and Credit Support Programme,
at the Central
Distribution Centre, Ede. With them are, Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen
Lawal (left); Coordinator, Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme
(OREAP), Dr Charles Akinola (2nd right); Zonal Manager, Wema Bank Plc, Osun
Zone, Mrs Bisi Williams (right); Head, Card Business and Services, Wema Bank Plc Lagos, Mr Demola Bolodeoku (3rd left)

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (centre) displaying the
Point of Sales (POS) Terminal to be used by Osun Farmers for Farming Input
Purchase, during the Official Launching of the Framers Input and Credit
Support Programme, at the Central Distribution Centre, Ede. With him are,
Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Lawal (left); Coordinator, Osun Rural
Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (OREAP), Dr Charles Akinola (2nd
right); Zonal Manager, Wema Bank Plc, Osun Zone, Mrs Bisi Williams (right)
and Head, Card Business and Services, Wema Bank Plc Lagos, Mr Demola
Bolodeoku (2nd left)

At last, the D-Day for the Governorship election in Osun State is very much around the corner.  Come Saturday, August 9, 2014, the electorate will be going to the polls to exercise their franchise. The occasion will provide for the people another golden opportunity to either renew the mandate given to Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola four years ago or decide otherwise should they find him wanting.
That is the beauty of Democracy – a Government of the people, by the people, for the people.  If Uncle Bola Ige were here with us today, he would have led the campaign for the emancipation of Democracy and all the democratic norms as he deploy his best diction, in the belief that only the best is good for the State of Osun.  Uncle Bola would have taken all the pains in explaining even to the man in the remotest village that Democracy is a system of government, particularly in the advanced world, which has given the people that singular power to decide their fate by themselves. It is virtually thirteen years ago that the Cicero of Esa-Oke and first civilian Governor of the old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige, was brutally shot dead in his Bodija, Ibadan bedroom by yet to be identified gunmen. 
Uncle Bola, as he was fondly called by his teeming admirers all over the country was, as at the time of his assassination, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.  That Uncle Bola was a politician of no mean stature is not debatable.  He also knew the inside out of the law.  No wonder, therefore, the finesse that he injected into the national polity whilst he was around.  Uncle Bola would always work for the best as far as Democracy was concerned. Just a little over a decade after the passage of Cicero, however, the million-dollar question here in Nigeria, has continued to be whether or not the local Democracy is  yet at par with what is obtainable in other civilized parts of the globe. 
Is Democracy in Nigeria free and fair?  Is Nigeria’s Democracy a system govern by the rule of law, and not by individuals?  Are all citizens equal under the law in Nigeria and no one is discriminated against on the basis of their race, religion, ethnic group, or gender.  Is Nigeria a nation where no one may be arrested, imprisoned, or exiled arbitrarily.  And if you are detained, do you have the right to know the charges against you, and to be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to the law?  What of the freedom of movement?  Can you move freely unmolested?  In a true Democracy, anyone charged with a crime has the right to a fair, speedy, and public trial by an impartial court.  Is it the same in our clime here? Uncle Bola would always tell anybody who is ready to listen that the norm in civilized societies is that true Democracy cannot be said to reign where a government is put in place by the force of gun, or under any duress whatsoever. 
For democracy to be truly worth its salt, he would explain, it must be sustainable and anchored on transparency, representation, pluralism and accountability.  It is all these that have called to question the new trend militarization of the national polity, with particular focus on the conduct of elections under heavily armed soldiers and stern-looking policemen with security sniffer dogs as witnessed recently in the Ekiti Gubernatorial election.  Uncle Bola would not have wasted a moment in describing as an aberration the militarization of electoral process under whatever guise. Now that the much-awaited Osun Governorship poll is around the corner, Nigerians have another opportunity to witness the level of democratic development in the nation. What actually are in the offing for the electorate in Osun State?  How prepared are the stakeholders and particularly the electoral umpires as underscored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)?  Is INEC truly independent? Will INEC assure the citizenry of a free and fair election?  And will the vote actually count?  These are some of the pertinent questions that Uncle Bola would have readily directed at those concerned without mincing words.
Only a few days ago, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje declared at a forum in Abuja that the state will not be less militarized during the scheduled governorship election as it was the case during similar election held on June 21 in Ekiti State.  Agbaje had anchored his pronouncement on what he tagged the heightening security situation allegedly being caused by inflammatory utterances of politicians in the state.  The REC pointedly accused some politicians in Osun State of seeing election as a do-or-die affair. Agbaje, while participating at the “Nigeria civil society situation room dialogue, organized by the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) with support from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), explained at that forum that as at the last count, no fewer than 19 political parties are fielding candidates for the August 9, Osun Governorship election.  He said that one of the political parties, the PDM withdrew from the race leaving only 19 candidates. 
According to him, more than 742, 000 Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs have so far been distributed out of a total of over 1.2 million PVCs.  He added that the INEC headquarters would still supply about 149,000 PVCs later in the month stressing that that the Temporary Voters Card (TVC) shall not be used.  The REC debunked allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the INEC was disenfranchising its members in the collection of PVCs ahead of the election. His words:  “The issue of whether INEC is asking people which party they belong to does not hold water as the allegation is laughable, they should come forward with proof, because we know that our staff have been trained to be apolitical and if any person tries that, such a person is playing with his job.”  Agbaje explained that the commission has produced a very credible register of voters for the conduct of the polls arguing that the process led to the Automated Finger Print Identification System (AFIS) which is a method employed to rid the register of multiple registrations. 
He further stated that results from the AFIS revealed a total of 37,273 multiple records while valid registration after the AFIS phase 1 was 1,318,120 a reduction of 2.75 percent.  The REC insisted that the total number of registered voters in the state is 1,407,222.  On the issue of photochromic ballot papers, he said what the commission has done to forestall such allegation is to discard all the old inks and get new inks from the headquarters. However, allegations are rife all over the place of dirty tricks by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its flagbearer, Iyiola Omisore to win the Osun election by all means.  One of the allegations is the purported unwritten instruction to INEC to play according to the interest of PDP if they want to get their wages. 
According to the rumour mills, INEC has all the names and ID of members of PDP and their supporters plus voters card of those that sold theirs for one bag of rice and five thousand naira.  INEC reportedly has the directive from PDP-led FG to delete every other voters data from INEC system in order to disqualify them or stop them from voting.  Just as the case of Ekiti election, many voters will not be accredited because they will never find their names on INEC data a development which sources said will give only PDP members and their supporters with other ID they bought from hungry voters access to vote.  INEC will allow little percent of neutral valid voters to vote knowing that their vote cannot surpass that of PDP candidate.  This plan which was allegedly used in Ekiti was revealed out of ignorance by PDP members in Osun State.  If Uncle Bola were here, he would have tasked INEC to see its role as sacrosanct, and therefore endeavour not to engage in double standard through connivance with any of the parties. 
Members of the security forces, at the same time, would have been enjoined to strive to be seen to be agents of law and not agents of particular political parties as they are being mobilized for electoral duties, even though the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is unambiguous on expectations from the Military.  The Constitution has defined roles for the military under any circumstance and it is doubtful if election supervision or monitoring comes under the purview of the armed forces.
Meanwhile, the gladiators have been engrossed in election campaigns to sell themselves to the electorates across the state with Ogbeni Aregbesola’s massive campaign network believed to be the most visible, not only in the major cities, but all the nooks and crannies of the state. Even though, on the paper, INEC said that 19 candidates are contesting the election, observers see the contest as mainly one between Ogbeni Aregbesola of the ruling APC and Iyiola Omisore of the opposition PDP.  Alhaji Fatai Akinbade of the Labour Party (LP) and Olusegun Akinwusi of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) are merely coming up as spoilers as shown by their outings.  One thing that is not in doubt is that wherever Ogbeni goes, his campaigns have always been greeted with tumultuous, clamorous and cheering crowd of supporters who have not pretended to endorse the man whom they always refer to as the peoples Governor as their right choice. 
Aregbesola, in effect, has also used the fora to showcase his array of achievements within the almost four years that he has taken up the mantle of office.  They cut across virtually all sectors, is it in the area of Agriculture, Education, Infrastructural Development, Health, Urban Renewal, etc., Ogbeni has got good stories to tell while the people have readily scored him above-average performance. Iyiola Omisore, on the other hand, has been going about to sell himself to the people in what his campaign organization tagged door-to-door strategy.  However, it is generally believed that the noticeable disunity in the PDP house coupled with the grassroots support which Aregbesola has, with time, mobilized across the state are some of the undoings of the PDP flagbearer.  
Another noticeable negative factor within Omisore’s train is the campaign of force as against that of appeal to the sentiment of the electorate. One thing is obvious, wherever Omisore has gone to campaign, his loyalists have always left in their trail deadly encounters and vandalization of the campaign billboards and posters of Ogbeni Aregbesola.  Alas!  Only last week Friday, a gang of miscreants believed to be IBK boys of Omisore Governorship campaign team struck in Ilesa. The gang was reportedly sighted brandishing cutlasses and shooting astronomically, in the process of which citizen Tolu Adeosun, a member of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ward 9 Ilesa East was shot dead in front of his house around Osun Ankanra in Irojo immediately he was identified by one of the miscreants as APC member.  They threatened to kill more APC members. The late Tola Adeosun was said to have held naming ceremony for his new born baby just a day earlier.  A similar tale of terror in Ile-Ife sometimes ago when PDP members reportedly engaged the APC in a deadly brawl leading to destruction of properties worth several millions of naira is still fresh in the minds of Osun political watchers.  Hoodlums left in their trail the destruction of several campaign billboards of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the incumbent Governor whose Campaign Train has visited many towns across the state with no one dead.
But the last straw on Omisore and his PDP in Osun is the reported rejection of an offer to the renowned Masked-musician, Bisade Ologunde, aka Lagbaja, by the Iyiola Omisore Campaign Organisation to perform at the grand reception of President Goodluck Jonathan’s scheduled visit in Osogbo, Osun State.  Media reports had it that the award-winning Afrobeat artiste, had been approached to thrill supporters of Senator Iyiola Omisore, ahead of the August 9 governorship election.  In his response to the offer, Lagbaja was quoted as saying that “even though the court of the land discharged and acquitted you (Omisore) in the murder case against the former Minister of Justice in Nigeria, the late Cicero of Esa-Oke and foremost nationalist, Chief Bola Ige, I have deep-rooted innermost conviction that you are culpable in the death of my mentor and benefactor.”  “If you offer me all the allocation of Osun State during your four-year-tenure,peradventure you win (which I seriously doubt), I will not perform for Iyiola Omisore governorship election,” Lagbaja was further quoted as saying.  The camp of Omisore is yet to confirm or deny making the offer.  
Needless repeating the obvious that Lagbaja has acted in the true spirit of Omoluabi. Definitely, if Uncle Bola were here, Lagbaja knows for sure where the Cicero would have queued. Meanwhile, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has called on politicians in the State of Osun to ensure that peace reigns before, during and after the August 9 governorship election in the state.  He made the appeal during the just-concluded Eid-el-fitri celebration during which he specifically cautioned his supporters against violence during the election.  He also enjoined natives of the state to pray for peace during the polls saying he would not tolerate violence and acts that could affect the peaceful co-existence of the state. 
Aregbesola also urged religious leaders in the state to pray fervently for the success of the election.  While advising the people not to be intimidated by the antics of some politicians whom he said were after their selfish interests, Ogbeni Aregbesola said he is believing in God and the overwhelming support of the people of the state to be victorious at the poll.  The APC flagbearer submitted that he has done much to make life more abundant for the people of Osun State.  He remarked that it is in good life that the people can enjoy their existence, stressing that if the essence of life is for human beings to live well then peace, which is the only guarantee of happiness, must be the watchword for all and sundry.
If Uncle Bola were here, these, definitely would also have been his exhortations to the people. Uncle Bola would have further urged the electorate to be wary of the wolves now on the prowl distributing money, rice and kerosene as inducements for the Permanent Voter Card (PVC).  They are only out for ulterior motives, Uncle Bola would have said as he queries the money bags rhetorically where were they before now! 
Kunle Famoriyo was Liaison/Political Assistant to Late Chief Bola Ige (SAN).He is now the Publicity Secretary of  Afenifere Renewal Group(ARG).
ARGNEWS