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Judging by antecedents, elections in Nigeria are often fraught with intrigues and suspicions among stakeholders, which sometimes result in the disruption of peace if the issues involved are not properly defined and addressed.
Political pundits, therefore, note that adequate security should be provided in the lead-up to elections so as to ensure the security of life and property as well as the credibility of the elections. They underscore the need for all stakeholders to appreciate the need for peace and harmony in all political arrangements, while making peace the watchword in any elections.
This expectation comes to mind as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released the timetable for the governorship election in Osun State as all the stakeholders, particularly members of political parties, ought to be reminded of their obligation to promote peace. According to INEC’s timetable, the governorship election will hold on August 9, while the citizens of the state will join the rest of Nigerians for the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 14, 2015.
Observers note that in the lead-up to elections, political activists often engage in different manoeuvres to shore up the popularity of their parties and their ideologies so as to garner the goodwill of the electorate. They, however, observe that the major political parties in the state have been trading blames over reported cases of alleged misconduct before and during the voter registration, which was conducted in the state between March 12 and March 17.
Observers also cite cases of violence in some parts of the state, pointing at the killing of an octogenarian and a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Ile-Ife, Pa Taiwo Ogundele, during the voter registration. Although the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Maishanu, debunked speculations that Ogundele’s killing was politically motivated, observers insist that the killing at the time of registration elicits a lot of concern. The PDP governorship candidate in the state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, who visited the deceased’s house to condole with his family, blamed the incident on a rival party and called on security agents to fish out the masterminds.
Nevertheless, analysts believe that political issues such as the alleged political assassination, if left unresolved, could breed violence which may mar the political process. Therefore, the INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, was at a stakeholders’ forum in Osogbo on February 13 to sensitise political parties’ leaders, members and supporters to the need to promote peace before, during and after the election. Jega particularly urged politicians to abide by the electoral law and refer all complaints to the appropriate quarters for adjudication, instead of taking the law into their own hands.
However, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Ambassador Rufus Akeju, allayed the fears of concerned citizens over the coming election. He assured them that the commission would be firm, fair and forthright, while ensuring the credibility of the election.
Speaking on the security situation, Assistant Inspector General, Zone 11, Mr David Omojola, stressed that the security agents were aware of the trends in the political activities in the state. Omojola, who assured residents of the state that the governorship election would be peaceful and hitch-free, expressed the preparedness of the police for all elections. He reiterated that the police would take pragmatic measures to ensure peaceful, fair and credible elections in the country.
Going from the general to the specifics, the state police command warned politicians in the state against any plan to foment trouble, adding that their activities should always be guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act. Maishanu vowed that no stone would be left unturned in efforts to ensure security of the people’s lives and property before, during and after the governorship election.
These assurances notwithstanding, politicians underscore the need for all the security agencies to have solid, pragmatic plans and preparations for the election, even as political campaigns begin on May 11 across the state. They, nonetheless, welcome the recent resolve of the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC) – the two major political parties in the state – to eschew violence during and after the elections as a good development.
Spokespersons for PDP and APC, Mr Diran Odeyemi and Mr Kunle Oyatomi, respectively, said that the parties had agreed to sensitise their members and supporters to the importance of exhibiting good conduct during elections. Odeyemi, the Director of Media and Strategy of PDP, said that apart from this, all stakeholders in the political process ought to make peace their watchword during the election. He emphasised that peace was by all means an indispensable element in the evolution of quality leadership and sustainable democratic governance. Besides, Oyatomi, APC’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, gave the assurance that the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, would always promote the rule of law. He also urged political parties to make peace their watchword, while ensuring that their supporters exhibited a zero tolerance for trouble.
All the same, analysts insist that the people’s primary concern was how to have a free, fair and credible election in the state. They insist the success of the election will be a litmus test for the general election coming up across the country in 2015.
TRIBUNE

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Aregbesola, Mimiko, Fayemi Appeal For Peace This Easter

 Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola,  Ondo state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko,  Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, Ondo state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi,
Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, on Friday urged Nigerians to imbibe the lessons of Easter, saying that peace and forgiveness were critical virtues in human existence.
Aregbesola, who described Easter as a period of sober reflection, enjoined Nigerians to live in peace and harmony at all times.
According to him, religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence among humans were necessary elements in the sustenance of development.
He said, “It gives me great joy to felicitate with Christians on this Easter celebration. As we rejoice in the glory of God, we must not lose sight of the teachings of the period.
“Jesus Christ came and laid his life for us. This is a demonstration of absolute love. We, as children of God, must learn to live in love and peace. We must learn to live an exemplary life. The redemption Jesus Christ made must not be lost on us.”
In his Easter message, Ondo state Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, urged Nigerians to pray for God’s intervention in the country’s battle against terror by religious extremists.
Mimiko described the terror attacks being witnessed in some parts of the country as “threatening the peace and corporate existence of the nation”. He added that peace was integral to national development.
He said, “The lesson is that we too can live a life of sacrifice for our country especially at this time when Nigeria appears to be at the crossroads in terms of the socio-economic and ethno-religious challenges besetting her.
“Beyond the eating and drinking in the course of the celebration, we should go to God in prayer to solicit His intervention against terror in the name of religion that is threatening the peace and corporate existence of the nation.”
“This counsel becomes imperative in the light of the fact that we do not have any other country to call our own.”

In a related development, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, also urged the people of the state to use the occasion to pray for God’s intervention in the affairs of the country.
He said that prayers were needed to bring lasting solution to the escalating cases of insurgency threatening the peace of the country.
The governor commended Christians in the state for living in harmony with other religious believers, which he attributed to the “peace being enjoyed in the state”.
In addition, Fayemi urged Christians in the state to use the period to pray for peace, development and prosperity of Ekiti as the state approached the governorship election to be held in June 2014.
Punch

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Screen Shot 2014-04-19 at 9.07.11 AM

Screen Shot 2014-04-19 at 9.07.11 AMThis exercise is an attempt to develop a greater understanding of Nigeria at state level. As we had expected, our analysis confirms that Lagos State is Nigeria’s biggest economy, producing c. 12% of the country’s national income. Post-rebasing of GDP in 2013, we expect Lagos State economy to become Africa’s 13th biggest economy at c. $45bn – equivalent to Ghana.
Households in Nigeria’s southern states are better educated and have smaller household sizes. States that cluster around key commercial states also benefit from externalities. In the SW where Lagos State has the highest per-capita income, Oyo and Osun States also score highly.
Consumer companies are likely to find the greatest opportunities in states with greater purchasing power, as indicted by relatively high per capita income, including Lagos, the FCT Abuja, as well as Oyo, Osun in the SW and Kaduna and Nassarawa (both next to the FCT Abuja), and the Niger Delta states. We see opportunities for banks to expand services and employees into states that have a combination of high income and population densities, as that will provide the footfall required to open a bank branch. States that fit this profile are Anambra, Imo and Abia in the SE region; Akwa Ibom and Rivers in the Niger Delta region; and Osun in the SW. 
Below is the Socioeconomic profile of Nigeria’s states

Figure 38: Socioeconomic profile of Nigeria’s states States  GDP, $bn (2012E)  % of Nigeria’s GDP  Population , mn (2012E)  % of Nigeria’s population  GDP per capita, $ (2012E)  Net secondary school attendance rate, ratio (2007) 
Lagos 31.2 11.4 10.7 6.5 2,916 85
Kano 16.8 6.2 11.0 6.7 1,525 28
Oyo 14.2 5.2 6.5 4.0 2,165 71
Kaduna 13.3 4.9 7.2 4.4 1,860 49
Rivers 11.3 4.2 6.1 3.7 1,859 75
Katsina 10.6 3.9 6.8 4.1 1,554 17
Osun  9.4  3.5  4.0  2.4  2,356  77 
Imo 9.1 3.3 4.6 2.8 1,983 74
Anambra 8.9 3.3 4.9 3.0 1,814 72
Akwa Ibom 8.2 3.0 4.6 2.8 1,783 70
Borno 8.0 2.9 4.9 3.0 1,631 8
Bauchi 7.8 2.9 5.5 3.3 1,432 5
Niger 7.6 2.8 4.6 2.8 1,631 56
FCT Abuja 6.8 2.5 1.6 1.0 4,094 67
Edo 6.7 2.4 3.8 2.3 1,756 70
Abia 6.3 2.3 3.4 2.1 1,855 79
Plateau 6.2 2.3 3.8 2.3 1,640 46
Benue 6.1 2.2 5.0 3.0 1,226 56
Delta 6.0 2.2 4.8 2.9 1,249 75
Ondo 5.9 2.2 4.1 2.5 1,457 76
Zamfara 5.7 2.1 3.8 2.3 1,492 18
Sokoto 5.7 2.1 4.3 2.6 1,313 15
Enugu 5.0 1.8 3.8 2.3 1,299 70
Kogi 4.8 1.8 3.9 2.4 1,235 74
Adamawa 4.6 1.7 3.7 2.3 1,233 11
Nasarawa 4.4 1.6 2.2 1.3 1,997 57
Jigawa 4.4 1.6 5.1 3.1 853 23
Kebbi 4.2 1.5 3.8 2.3 1,104 21
Cross River 4.2 1.5 3.4 2.1 1,242 71
Ekiti 4.2 1.5 2.8 1.7 1,495 85
Ogun 4.2 1.5 4.4 2.7 952 75
Kwara 4.0 1.5 2.8 1.7 1,454 70
Taraba 3.9 1.4 2.7 1.6 1,444 6
Bayelsa 3.6 1.3 2.0 1.2 1,816 74
Ebonyi 3.6 1.3 2.6 1.6 1,400 56
Yobe 3.3 1.2 2.7 1.7 1,207 7
Gombe 2.9 1.1 2.8 1.7 1,041 16
Source: National Bureau of Statistics, National Population Commission, Renaissance Capital estimates

pdfRead/Download full report here Renaissance capital 36 shades of Nigeira

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15th20Live-10

15th20Live-10Reports filtered through a few days ago in all the major newspapers across the country that former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu broke with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to endorse Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of State of Osun for a second term in office. Kalu is a respected political actor who served two terms as Abia governor between 1999 and 2007.
His visit to State of Osun coincided with two major political events in the state.
First, it was the day his political party, the PDP, conducted primary election for its governorship aspirants in the state: namely, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Olasunkanmi Akinlabi a former Minister of Youth Development and Honourable Wole Oke former chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Defence. Earlier, Senator Adeleke, the first governor of Osun had withdrawn from the race with a proviso: “I don’t want the blood of my political supporters to be shared because of my governorship ambition.”
The Senator alleged that he and his supporters were thoroughly beaten by the thugs of Senator Omisore and those of the Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan. “There is a likelihood of a breakdown of law and order if I participate in the primary election. Therefore, I am announcing that I will boycott tomorrow’s primary. Why should I allow somebody possessed by the devil to waste the lives of our people because I want to be a governor?
“A minister has continued to threaten that he would waste so many lives in the primary. I am boycotting the primary; I will participate when our party decides to conduct a free, fair and violence-free primary. But I will work for the success of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.” Senator Isiaka Adeleke has a reason to be circumspect for not letting down his guides.
The PDP candidate in Osun, Omisore has yet to explain satisfactorily to the people of Osun state and Nigerians at large, his alleged involvement in the murder of Chief Bola Ige, then Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation under former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. If he did, it’s likely that Nigerians are not satisfied with his explanations, even though he has been exonerated by the courts.
Kalu may have been disenchanted by the PDP’s inordinate strive for bloodcurdling politics. He sees in Ogbeni a model of civil political buffer and a transformational figure whose commitment to good governance goes beyond merely gloating over a reconstructed kilometre of road by the previous administration. More so, he saw no reason to be wild about an Omisore’s candidacy.
The PDP leader, therefore endorsed Governor Aregbesola’s continuation in office, saying: “You don’t change a winning team”. He made the endorsement on Saturday, April 5, at the 15th edition of the Walk-to-Live in Ipetumodu, Osun State. Walk-to-Live is a monthly physical exercise that involves trekking of at least, eight kilometres by interested citizens of the state after which a round of various other physical exercises follow to ensure that the citizens remain physically fit and mentally alert.
The programme – in no small dimension – appears the best in closing the gap between the people and the government. Each edition of the programme sees excited citizens who cannot join the usually long and winding procession either staying in front of their houses; climbing topmost parts of their buildings to catch glimpses of the governor, movie actors and actresses and sportsmen who have become regular features of the event.
Young mothers who cannot stay at home strap their babies to their backs. Physically-challenged persons waddle their ways through the crowd to ensure they complete the ‘race’. Students, market men and women, old and the young want to be part of what they see as an engaging event that help them regain their self-confidence. It is common scene to see excited, ordinary citizens wanting to get handshakes with the governor and other top members of his administration.
Under the six-point development agenda of the state administration, which he calls “My Pact with Osun”, promotion of healthy living is one. “There can be no healthy living without constant physical exercises.” Ogbeni is always quick to remind his people each time people troop out to partake in what is appearing the biggest platform for mobilizing the people to action in the state.
Apart from other benefits now accruing from the event such as raising the political consciousness of the people, Governor Aregbesola has never failed to remind enthusiasts at the events on monthly basis that “Walk-to-live exercise was introduced because we realised that we have all forgotten the need to physically exercise ourselves. We are highly sedentary and socially wild; we must compliment this with engaging in physical exercise. Osun is promoting Walk-to-Live to ensure that we have a healthy people in a healthy state.”
This was what attracted the sport-loving former governor of Abia State to Osun that led to his endorsement of the governor of the state. He would later enthuse: “I am a statesman and PDP man. I made a promise a month ago to honour this Walk to Live event. Omisore is a personal friend of mine. Aregbesola is my friend as well. Governor Aregbesola has worked for the people of Osun. You don’t need to change a winning team. I also wish to express my support for our President, He is trying. Let’s pray for President Jonathan and let’s pray for Aregbesola.”
He would also add: “I want to thank the Governor for making today’s Walk Exercise in a way I have never done before. Governor Aregbesola has done well. I am not here on party basis. II am a bona fide member of my Party (PDP) …When someone has worked, we should learn to recognise performance in Nigeria. Governor Aregbesola has worked. There are few governors that can walk as we have walked today, without pure water being thrown at them. If what I have seen today is a test of popularity, then Aregbesola is indeed popular.”
Dr Kalu has engraved his name in gold as one individual who turned his back on inconsistent characters with moral deficits within the same political party to pitch his tent with a progressive candidate who can deliver the goods to the people – just the same way General Colin Powell broke with Republican Party to endorse Barack Obama’s presidency.
But when twinned with the partisan blindness in Nigeria political orientation, his endorsement of Aregbesola does reflect a significant shift. Kalu studiously spoke the minds of Osun citizens after several years of inelegant style of governance and outright despondency.
It’s obvious that the people have been delivered from the grip of an administration and a political party that has little or no socio-political and economic direction for them. Being permanently welded to acidic politics of bloodletting cannot change the people of Osun’s resolve to remain on the part of change. That is what Orji Kalu’s endorsement of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for continuity in office is about.
• Ikhide wrote in from Lagos, Nigeria.
THE NATION

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Osun To Hold Summit On Economy

Banking on the developmental strides in Osun State in the last four years, some Osun-based professionals will be coming together under the auspices of a non-governmental organisation, the People’s Welfare League, PWL, to hold an economic summit next week.

The summit, where stakeholders from different parts of the state and nationwide will share ideas on how to safeguard the achievements, is tagged ‘Orisun Aje 2014. It has as its theme: ‘Crux of Osun’s Developmental Masterplan: Analysing a Radical Economic Paradigm Shift’.
The summit will hold in Osogbo, the state capital, between April 29 and 30. PWL coordinator, Comrade Biodun Agboola, in a release, said the summit is expected to capture and expose to the whole world the new potentials and opportunities opening up in Osun State in the past 40 months of the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration.
Agboola said: “Osun has been transformed from a backwater, agrarian state into one of Nigeria’s largest and most vibrant economies through a masterful plan that combines prudence, strategic focus and mass talent mobilisation.
NATIONAL MIRROR

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40% cut in Osun’s federal allocation unjustifiable – Aregbesola

40% cut in Osun’s federal allocation unjustifiable – Aregbesola
Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has described as unjustifiable, a 40 per cent reduction in the federal allocation being received by the state since July 2013.

Aregbesola spoke in Lagos on Thursday during the launching of a book, ‘Yoruba Elites and Ethnic Politics in Nigeria: Obafemi Awolowo and Corporate Agency,’ written by an associate professor at the University of California-Davies, Wale Adebanwi.
The governor said the reduction had no basis as the nation’s oil revenue did not fall, adding that “If there is anything my state does not have now, it’s money. We are managing with 40 per cent reduction in our allocation from the Federal Government.
“It is not as if I even enjoy saying I depend on the federal allocation, but the truth is that there is no magic that I would have made to suddenly taken our state out of dependence on the federal allocation.
“It is important for us to know that there is no justification for that 40 per cent reduction in our allocation. The price of crude oil has remained almost the same at $108 per barrel, and the benchmark, according to them, is $75 per barrel.”
According to the governor, the state is now being forced to source for funds outside the federal allocation in order to meet its responsibilities of paying the entitlements of civil servants and retired workers.
He said that “So we are not close to the benchmark of $75 and yet since July of last year, there is a 40 per cent reduction in our allocation. What that translates to I will tell you.
“It means I have to get N5.4bn to augment salaries and pension from July to December; N5.4bn extra, outside allocation, to ensure that since civil servants who are still active and those who have retired are paid their entitlements. What I receive from federation account is not sufficient to pay salaries.”
The governor, who represented a former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the APC at the event, Bola Tinubu, who was the chief presenter of the book, bought copies of the new book at N5m on behalf of the Osun State and another copies for N500,000 for himself and announced N2m for the launching of the book on behalf of Tinubu.
NEWMAIL

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Osun O’meal Director Tasks School Heads On Monitoring

o-meals

Mrs Olubunmi Ayoola, Director, Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme, has stressed the need for active involvement of primary school head teachers  in the programme, tagged “O’meal’’.

Ayoola, who is also the state operations officer for the programme, made the call during a meeting with head teachers of public elementary schools in Ikirun and Ila zones.

She said the meeting was aimed at strengthening the programme and improving the services of the O’Meal food vendors.

The director advised all head teachers to be committed and be more involved in the daily monitoring of O’Meals activities in their schools.

She said the O’meal programme had impacted positively on Government’s action plan which includes banishment of poverty, hunger and unemployment, as well as promotion of healthy living and functional education.

Ayoola stressed the need for head teachers to cooperate and ensure effective monitoring of the programme to provide the data needed to evaluate it.

“Without proper monitoring, all the money spent on the programme will go down the drain,’’ she said.

She lauded the support provided by all head teachers present at the meeting and enjoined them to be alive to the monitoring responsibility for the government to realise its vision for the programme.

Some of the head teachers said they had been enlightened and encouraged to work selflessly for the benefit of the pupils.
“I used to think it was the government’s business to monitor the O’meal programme.

“ I now know that it is my responsibility as the head of the school to monitor the activities going on in my school,’’ said Mrs  Khadijat Alade, one the head teachers.

Another head teacher, Mr Kunle Babalola, said the meeting was an eye opener for the school heads.

“I really appreciate this meeting; it has enlightened us, and for safety reasons, head teachers should be concerned and monitor what their pupils eat.

“I appreciate the government for the efforts it is making to make learning enjoyable for both the teachers and the pupils,’’ he said.

(NAN)

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Obey – 1

Nigerian Juju Musician, Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi presented a CD Album titled:- *Aregbesola: Agent of Change* to the Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to Support his Re-Election Campaign in Ilesa, State of Osun on Thursday
Obey - 1 Obey - 2

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‘Osun will vote for continuity’

‘Osun will vote for continuity’

 In this interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, Osun State Commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Integration Hon. Ajibola Bashiru speaks on the achievement of Aregbesola Administration and the governors’ re-election bid.

Why is Governor Rauf Aregbesola seeking a second term?
The justification lies in several aspects. Government has changed the fortune of the state and there is the need for consolidation. Secondly, the people of the State of Osun deserve the best, in terms of leadership and good governance. Thirdly, looking at the facts of history, the government has performed and, with all sense of modesty, he has used his position to serve the people. He has been able to deliver on his promises, which require consolidation by having a second term. He has provided leadership for the people and, of course, the people want the continuity of the leadership. The sustainability of good governance for the welfare of the people is very important at this point.
The opposition do not believe in the picture you have painted. They believe the governor has come to divide the state along religious line…
As far as I am concerned, what the opposition believes is outright derailment from the real issues.I would empirically demonstrate what the government of Osun State wants to do. It has come up with programmes and policies that have justified the pragmatic action of the government. I will like to comment on the intervention in the area of education. Before this government took over, the performance of the students in the educational ranking was 34 per cent. As at today, because of the intervention in the area of education, it has fast tracked the position.
The school enrolment compiled by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics indicates that Osun has the highest enrolment in this country. That is not unconnected with the intervention by the government. And what is that intervention? We have embarked on massive infrastructure development. New schools are either being completed or undergoing construction. They are schools that match training standard all over the world.
In terms of infrastructure, we are doing very well. It is only somebody who is a pathological liar that will say we have not made massive investment in that direction. We have the school feeding programme by which we feed the school children with nutritious meals. Aside the direct benefit of the nutritional quality, it has direct impact on their mental development. It also has some economic advantages. For instance, we have the food vendors with about 2000 of them recruited in the schools. That provides empowerment for the women. These women do not only serve as food vendors, they are equipped with modern facilities for them to be able to serve as community caterers.
So, aside from whatever they make from providing school services, they earn additional income, acting as community caterers. So, the school feeding programme offers the benefit of empowerment and economic development. Another aspect of that school feeding programme has to do with agriculture. It will impress you to know that the quality of products the schools children are taking have nutritional value. What we have done is to create a scheme by which we give day old chicken to poultry and even the supply of cows which are supplied for use. We created the enabling markets for agriculture which have help to advance the cause of making the state dependable and having food security. Let us also look at the school uniform programme, we have provided over 700,000 uniforms to students in our schools.
What are other areas of interventions?
Government has also started the Omoluabi Garment Factory. It is located in Osogbo. The factory employs over 2000 tailors that produce school uniforms, uniform for corporate entity and other departments. Through this, we have created an economy that is employing people to the scheme. That is another aspect of our intervention and it is affecting our people positively. Of course, the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) has provided youth employment. During its commissioning, government did not lie to anybody. It was clear in the advertorial that scheme will provide 10,000 jobs. It is to offer important services to the communities. We have been able to get 20,000 into the scheme. Out of the 20,000, at least, 15,000 of them have been engaged in one way or the other. Some of them were absorbed into the civil service, which we did with equity.
So, when I heard somebody says that the OYES scheme is not functioning, they are not fair in their comments. One of the things that the OYES scheme has done is to rekindle the spirit of entrepreneurship in our people. I want to say the first batch was taken to Germany for training and are now back. The second batch is going to leave by September for training in modern agriculture. So, what the scheme has done is to provide leadership training for the people. Fortunately, the world saw the wisdom in what we have done, even though the mischievous people said that we deceive the World Bank.
How could somebody even allege that a government of the state deceives the World Bank?The World Bank tagged the project as one of the best engagement and empowerment schemes that has ever been developed in this part of the world. So, in the area of education, what we have also done is to ensure that we have necessary facilities to train the students like the Opon Imo, which is celebrated worldwide. So, when I hear somebody say over eight billion was spent on Opon Imo, that is not true. Only N1.2 billion was spent and if we are to buy text books this will be costlier. That is we will need about N10 billion to provide text books for 150,000 students. So, aside the fact that Opon Imo is convenient, it is innovative. It also has cost savings effect of ensuring that materials are made available to everybody.
And when you talk about the so called segregation in our religious life, it is only in the imagination of mischief makers. This is a state that, for the first time, has provided a level playing ground for all religious organisations. We have traditionalist, there are Muslims and Christians in the state. I want to say we have predominantly Christian cabinet, even though the cabinet is not constituted on the religious ground, but those who have the competence to perform. Out of a cabinet of 30 people, not less than 24 are Christians. In the House of Assembly of 26, which will make law on every government policy, 15 out of them are Christians. Nonetheless, we still work in harmony. We still work for the best of the people. So, those people that are talking about religion are mischievous people.
What is your reaction to the emergency of Senator Iyiola Omisore as the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate?
One of the problems is the projection of questionable characters for our growing democracy. I believe that any political party that has the interest of the people at heart should not allow such a man to emerge as its flag bearer. The question you should ask is: what his pedigrees in terms of governance? This was a deputy governor who was impeached because of his misconduct. This is a man who was at the Senate for a period of eight years and did not deliver on anything. The road leading to his house was not even tarred. He could not use whatever influence he has at the federal level to tar the road. Even the road to his father’s house was not tarred. It means that the man is not even qualified to be a councilor and yet, he is gallivanting around that he will bring value to governance. As far as I am concerned, it is one of those dark spots in our democratic development for him to emerge in any political party, not to talk of the so-called ruling party in Nigeria.
The presidency is bent on hijacking the Southwest ,beginning with Ekiti and Osun states, and the Minister of State for Defence and Minister of Police Affairs have been coming to the Southwest regularly. What are your fears?
As you can see, these people that say they want to come and hijack the Southwest are either false students of history or they don’t mean well for Nigeria. If you go to the historical development of Nigeria, the First Republic collapsed because of the same agenda of hijacking power. How could they win? The only way that these characters can be able to get to power is to ride on the blood of the people of the Southwest and I know that will not be possible. In a free and fair contest, they cannot win. The facts are there. Senator Musiliu Obanikoro contested against Governor Babatunde Fashola in 2007. At that time, Fashola was still a dark horse in the political contest. But, he beat him with close to a million votes.
What is the level of confidence you have in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)?
I will tell you that, from the records of INEC, one cannot say with confidence that it will conduct free, fair election. But, we need to be vigilant. We will ensure that we deploy the resources to compel them to conduct free and fair election.
How can you curtail thuggery, arson and violence during the electioneering?
I think we need to sensitise our people and we also possibly to caution those people that perpetuate this violence. If you want to serve the people, why must you maim them? Why must you distabilise them psychologically? But as I said, the PDP primaries in the state of Osun showed that some people are interested in causing trouble and thread on the blood of the people to get to power.
 
THE NATION

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“Aregbesola’s Government Is Incomparable – Says Ekerin Of Iwoland

The ancient town of Iwo stood still for several hours on Friday as members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Iwo gathered with one voice to endorse the governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for second term.
The playing ground of DC Elementary School, Araromi, venue for the programme, was filled to capacity, as members and followers of the party in their several thousands gathered to express their appreciation to the governor.
Speaking at the event, the Ekerin of Iwoland, Otunba Bayo Aremu, said that Aregbesola’s achievement in the last three and a half years is unprecedented and enough to earn him second term.
Iwoland Endorses Aregbesola for 2nd term
He said: “Aregbesola’s government is incomparable. No administration in the history of Osun has performed as much as he has done, as he has transformed not only Iwoland, but the whole of Osun.
“For Aregesola to pick the Secretary to the State Government, the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs among others from our land shows that he is a man that loves our dear town so much and he should be supported to rule beyond 2014.
“I have been out of Iwo for many years, but I have decided to come back home having heard of the wonderful transformation that the state is witnessing under Ogbeni Aregbesola”, Aremu said.
Also speaking, the Secretary to the State government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, urged the people of Iwo and entire state to continue to support the government and the party, saying that, it is only the APC that can move the state and the country forward. Adeoti said: “Look at our roads, look at the new schools he is building, a lot of our jobless youths are now employed as a result of the OYES scheme put in place by our governor and he is feeding our elementary school pupils everyday.” He subsequently moved a motion for the adoption of Aregbesola for second term and was seconded by Alhaji Liadi Ganiyu with a loud applause from the teeming supporters of the party.
Osun APC primary election
In his response, Aregbesola expressed his appreciation, as Iwo was the second town after Modakeke to openly adopt him for a second term in office.
While promising his continued delivery of good governance to the people of Iwo and the entire state, the governor announced that the road from Papa boundary to Iwo will be constructed anytime from now.
Osun APC primary election
Aregbesola said: “We promised and we are fulfilling our promises because we are not like the people who ruled the state for seven and a half years before us without anything to show for it.
“At a time in this state, they were the occupants of the three tiers of government: the Federal, State and Local governments and they couldn’t do anything positive for the state. They should be ashamed. “We should all begin to tell ourselves that it is only the APC that can deliver good governance in the country; we should not leave the campaign to politicians alone”, he noted.
The state helmsman urged the people to ensure that they keep their voters’ card intact, so as to be able to exercise their right as voters.
OSUN DEFENDER

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