As political aspirants across the country rush to pick nomination forms to beat the deadline of their parties, a senatorial aspirant in Osun State, Dr Peter Adebayo Babalola, has hinged his desire to represent his constituency on his determination to support Governor Aregbesola’s phenomenal development of the state.
Addressing newsmen shortly after he picked his nomination form for Osun West Senatorial District at the All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat, Osogbo at the weekend, the chairman, Local Government Service Commission said he wants to complement the efforts of Governor Aregbesola’s administration in its developmental projects.
“As a senator, I will like to contribute in any way possible to the phenomenal growth of the State of Osun. We should bear it in mind that the governor cannot do it alone, but with the support of National Assembly members, the State of Osun will get there on time”, he stated.
Dr Babalola said he has an undying urge to give back to the society and to serve his people, adding that he has lived, dined and wined with the people at the grassroots since he retired from service.
He expressed his desire to influence federal presence in Osun through vibrant legislation in the Senate.
LEADERSHIP

Photos of the Disabled and Beggars, reacting to Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s address, during a party organised by their Association to celebrate Aregbesola’s re-election in Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 07-11-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left) acknowledging cheers from the Disables and Beggars, during a party organised by them in celebrating Aregbesola’s re-election in Osogbo, State of Osun. With him are, his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (left); Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Arewa Matters, Imam Bashir Mohammed (3rd left) and others on Friday 07-11-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Arewa Matters, Imam Bashir Mohammed (right) and Leader, Osun Beggars and Disable’s Association, Mallam Idris Kano (left), during a party organised by the Association in celebrating Aregbesola’s re-election in Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 07-11-2014

From left, Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Arewa Matters, Imam Bashir Mohammed and a British Broadcasting Corporation reporter, Mallam Kabiru Yayo, during a party organised by Osun Disables and Beggars Association to celebrate Aregbesola’s re-election in Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 07-11-2014

Cross Section of Disables and Beggars, reacting to Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s address, during a party organised by their Association to celebrate Aregbesola’s re-election in Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 07-11-2014

Cross Section of Disables and Beggars, reacting to Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s address, during a party organised by their Association to celebrate Aregbesola’s re-election in Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 07-11-2014

Cross Section of Disables and Beggars, reacting to Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s address, during a party organised by their Association to celebrate Aregbesola’s re-election in Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 07-11-2014

Further confirmation has emerged that the governorship election of August 9, 2014 conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is a landmark in our fledgling electoral process, and the most credible since 2011.
This confirmation came from Professor Attahiru Jega, Chairman of the INEC himself, in an interview he granted a national newspaper recently.
The professor was quoted by the newspaper as saying that, “Look at what we did in Osun State….In Osun, we had the best election conducted so far, the best election we have conducted so far as a commission since 2011.”
Besides, unfolding events in Osun appear to corroborate the INEC Chairman’s assertion as no contrary findings have been made in the course of inspection exercise of ballot papers and electoral materials so far concluded in about 8 of the 17 local governments where the defeated PDP candidate is contesting the validity and credibility of the vote.
According to reports from INEC’s office in Osogbo, inspection done by both parties (APC and PDP) of electoral materials used during the August 9, 2014 governorship election has so far confirmed what Professor Jega said because they were all flawless.
The local governments in which the inspection exercise has been concluded include Osogbo, Olorunda, Irewole,Obokun,Atakumosa West, Ilesha East, Ilesha West and parts of Ejigbo. The exercise continues this week.
Professor Jega also stated that apart from being the best election INEC has conducted since 2011, the Osun State governorship election, which Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola won irrefutably, also recorded the highest number of votes in governorship elections conducted within the period 2011-2014.
Whereas other elections recorded below 30 percent, and that of Ekiti State slightly higher, the Osun governorship election was in excess of 67 percent voter turn out, notwithstanding the massive security that people thought would have scared voters.
The INEC Chairman therefore argued that contrary to popular fears, security beef up for the election neither prevented nor disenfranchised voters.
What happened in Osun State on August 9, 2014 therefore was a true reflection of the people’s wish.

The standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the August 9, 2014 governorship election, Senator Iyiola Omisore, will today open his case before the election petition tribunal, adjudicating over complaints, that arose from the exercise.
Omisore, had challenged the victory of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Governor Rauf Aregbesola, disputing the result of the poll in 17 local government councils, praying the court to declare him the winner of election with valid votes.
At the last proceedings of the tribunal, the chairperson of the 3-member panel, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime had adjourned the opening of Omisore’s case till today on the request of his lead counsel, Mr Nathaniel Oke (SAN) shortly after the completion of the pre-trial session.
Oke had informed the tribunal that: “My Lords, we are ready to open our case, since the pre-hearing has been closed by your Lordship”.
Subsequently, the tribunal chairman, Justice Elizabethe Ikpejime respondend, “we are ready now to begin hearing you can call your witnesses now”
But, Omisore’s counsel made a u-turn and applied for the adjournment till today, saying, “we don’t want to open our case now and after calling two or three witnesses we will be asking for adjournment. We want adjournment till Monday”.
However, the application was opposed by counsel to Aregbesola, Mr Kunle Adegoke who contended that the application was purely in conflict with the allegation of the PDP that the respondents in the matter were trying to delay the hearing of the matter.
He said: “We have been harrased so much in the media by the petitioners that we are trying to delay the proceeding, but it is them now that are dragging us back”.
Meanwhile, three issues that have been formulated by the tribunal out of the issues raised by the parties are whether the tribunal has jurisdiction to entertain the matter and whether the election was vitiated by reason of corrupt practices, irregularity and substantial non-compliance with the provision of the electoral act and manual for the conduct of the election.
Other issue is whether the first respondent was validly returned as a candidate who polled the majority of lawful votes at the election.
TRIBUNAL

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said that payment of tax by citizens is an essential ingredient of governance.

The governor made this observation at the launching of electronic tax clearance certificate at the Leisure Spring Hotel in Osogbo.

Aregbesola disclosed that no government can be functional if citizens fail to fulfil their civic responsibility as exemplified by payment of tax.

The newly introduced electronic card tax clearance certificate is aimed at eliminating fake tax clearance certificates; a tax payer’s means of identification; aids reconciliation of tax returns and will also serve as an identity card to the holder.

‎The card will also give assurance to taxpayers that all payments made are remitted to the government coffers and eliminate delay in obtaining tax clearance certificates.

Aregbesola noted that the act of non-payment of tax is a civil wrong which will not be allowed in an organised society, saying taxes are what government uses to perform it’s statutory duties.

‎According to him,”All over the world, government‎ is run by the tax of the people. In essence, it means taxes is essential part of any government administration. And that is why tax evasion is considered as a criminal offence.

“Every responsible citizen is expected to pay tax and this is what government uses to execute its projects and programmes.

“Our own tax regime is going to be people-friendly and reasonable. The least tax rate for our artisans, small scale business owners, market men and women is put at N125 per month which aggregates to N1500 per annum.

“There should be no artisan in the state that can not afford such amount monthly‎. You should call upon your members to take it as their civic duty to pay their tax as and when due so as to support the development and growth of the state.

“It is even religious to love one’s town and state and by paying your tax duly, ‎you are openly demonstrating your love for this state.” the governor said.

‎In his lecture, the Director, Medium Tax department, Federal Inland Revenue services titled “Presumptive tax regime: tool of standardisation of revenue from informal sector. Mr. Peter Olayemi allayed the fear of the people on the issue of tax, saying government is reasonable on the tax regime.

He noted that tax will only be based on profit of business and not the size, adding that for an average individual operating in the informal sector, tax laws are perceived to be complex which should not be so with tax only on profit with proper record.

‎Olayemi observed that Nigeria’s economy is dominated by the oil sector which is characterised by volatility, noting that it is vital therefore to grow the non-oil sector especially the Medium Scale enterprises which constitute the nations engine of economic growth.

According to him, ” in the quest to do business, we must abide by the law, tax is supported by the law. We should at all times keep our record of profits so that there will be no stress when officers of the Internal Revenue service are on call at their shops will safe business owners from being placed on basic judgement assesment”. He told the audience.

Earlier in his address, the acting Chairman, Osun Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Dayo Oyebanji pointed out that the innovation was borne out of Aregbesola’s effort towards making the state financially buoyant without need to rely on the monthly federal allocation.

Oyebanji noted that the objective of the tax clearance certificate is to serve as a replacement to the paper based manually processed tax clearance certificate in line with the current demand of the society.

He said, “the administration of Ogbeni is determined to make life easy for the good people of Osun. IRS under his administration is also committed to collecting tax in the most friendly way without imposing any form of hardship on the indigenes.

“Aregbesola in his magnanimity has approved a meagre sum of N4,500 as three years tax payable by artisans in order to afford them the opportunity to have tax clearance certificate for the pursuance of their day to day transaction.” the Chairman stressed.

“The people must be integrated into the party while the party must be in incorporated into
the people”.

Today’s event is a great story in many respects. One, it is a confirmation of our aspiration to be recorded in world records as part of civilised nations on one hand, but on the other, it is an opportunity to reflect on the unenthusiastic state of our polity being strangulated by certain retrogressive forces whose antecedents in statesmanship are questionable and political consciousness brazenly criminal. However, it must be realised that today’s occasion is not a jamboree to treat ourselves to fulsome praises and self-indulgent congratulatory back-patting adverts but a window to do a clinical diagnosis of our political malaise and a prognosis into our uncertain future as a nation.
We would all recall that a governorship election held in the State of Osun on the 9th day of August, 2014 in which the honouree of today’s event, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, emerged the winner. It is not the victory of this great son of Oodua that made the election spectacular but rather the war-like circumstances in which the election was held during which the psyche of the nation and the progressive forces in the State of Osun were subjected to physical and mental siege.
Prior to the election and few weeks therefrom, the governorship election in Ekiti State was held in which our party, All Progressives Congress lost in questionable circumstances. It was a great setback but it was also a revelation of what might befall us in Osun if greater care was not taken despite the popularity of our candidate. A Yoruba adage says: iku to pa ojugba eni, owe lo pa fun ni – which means, the demise of a neighbour is a clear signal of one’s mortality. We took a cue from that as we knew that the setting in Ekiti was a reinvention of the Hobbessian state of nature in which life was being made nasty, brutish and might at any time be cut short.
The Siege
The catholic acceptability of the personality of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola dates back to his eventful declaration to contest the governorship seat in the then Osun State on the 16th day of April, 2005 where multitudes trooped out to welcome him around Station Road in Osogbo, the capital of the State. This has been a regular feature at every occasion from the time when this monumental icon stepped into public view up in the State of Osun up to the election time in 2007 and thereafter till this moment.
Incidentally, this state of events has been a terror to the Peoples Democratic Party government and its rogue clan of violent stooges in Osun who have vowed to recapture the State by all means possible. The plan was to deploy the entire machinery of state terror whereof seventy thousand armed soldiers, policemen, officers of the State Security Service and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps were to provide shield for a horde of Niger/Delta snipers who had been imported into the State two weeks to the election and local PDP thugs in the bid to unleash massive brutality on leaders and members of All Progressives Congress and the general electorate.
Thus, in the façade of providing security for the electoral process, the Federal Government at the instance of Peoples Democratic Party mobilised thousands of security officers into the State few weeks to the election. Most of them were fully masked, all armed to the teeth and displayed poetic love for violence as they shot sporadically into the air to scare the people of the State. The machinery of federalism as preserved by the Constitution had been wiped off as the only thing the Federal Government had not done was mere paper declaration of state of emergency in Osun. The armed men roamed the streets of the various towns in lorry loads in scary appearances while the candidate of PDP, Iyiola Omisore, did not spare a moment to let the world know that he was out to capture the State for keeps.
However, whenever these agents and merchants of death shot into the air whether in broad daylight or in the dark recesses of the night, the determined people of Osun hailed the bullet rains with the slogan of “APC – Change” or “Aregbesola for second term” which tended to infuriate the armed terrorists more. Iyiola Omisore’s campaign venues were utterly deserted save for a few who wanted to collect his money and later vote their conscience. On the other hand were the tumultuous crowds that attended Aregbesola’s rallies in different towns, villages and communities. This continued to send jitters down the spine of the PDP goons who rather tried to mask their unpopularity by what they termed house-to-house campaign and tried to perfect their rigging machinery by purchasing voters’ cards of innocent registered voters in order to decimate the huge number of supporters and sympathisers of Ogbeni. All these failed to achieve the desired goal.
All these intimidating credentials of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola left the PDP elements with no other option than to bolster their resolve to further militarise the electoral process more. Despite the fact that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has no power under the Constitution to deploy the military for electoral process and notwithstanding the pendency of the suits filed by APC at the Federal High Court, Osogbo, challenging the unconstitutional deployment of soldiers for electoral purpose, the PDP government at the centre, not enamoured with the glorious dictates of the rule of law, proceeded in a determined manner to use the same formulae it deployed to win Ekiti few weeks back.
NEWS NIGERIA

Osun State has thrown its weight behind the decision to postpone the 19th National Sports Festival, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The festival tagged Paradise Games, which was earlier scheduled to hold from November 23 to December 7 in Calabar, Cross River State, will now take place in the same venue from April 9 to 19, 2015, according to the competition’s Joint Technical Committee.
And Osun State Ministry of Youths, Sports and Special Needs Director Layi Adesiyan told NAN during the week that the postponement of the event would allow the state’s athletes to prepare better.
Adesiyan said, “We have enough time to prepare since the event has now been moved to April, 2015.
“Our athletes train every day with their instructors. It will be an added advantage for them to start all over again so that they can better represent the state at the games.
“Out of 15 events, Osun will feature in 13; the arrangement and equipment needed for the athletes are in order.
“The issue of funding is a global problem, which will not stop us from participating in the games and I am sure that our athletes will make us proud.”
Meanwhile, the National Vice-President of Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria, South-South Zone, Justice Udousoro   has criticised the postponement.
Udousoro told NAN in Uyo, “It portends a great danger for sports organisation in Nigeria, if we cannot have a workable timetable for organising a festival of this magnitude.
“Preparation for this festival in Calabar started long ago; most states have invested a lot in hiring training facilities for camping of athletes for a specific time frame.
“Some athletes are students; they can’t stay in camp indefinitely.”
PUNCH

The active engagement of women in peace building processes at all levels contributes in no small way to sustainable peaceful co-existence among people and having peaceful elections.
More so, ensuring peace and non violence during elections is key to having free and fair elections. It allows the right people to get into power, helps in providing political equality and building quality democracy.
It also encourages women to participate and contest in elections as electoral violence has been identified by experts as one of the major impediments to women’s participation in politics and voting during elections.
During the last Osun State gubernatorial election, women’s capacity as powerful agents of peace and security during elections was brought to bear in the state through the Women’s Governance Accountability Platform (WGAP) Project, an elections accountability initiative of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN).
Through the project, women under the leadership of the Iyalode of Oshogbo (The highest female title) Chief Bernice Kolade conducted advocacy visits to key leaders, political, religious and traditional in the states for peaceful elections.
Women were trained to participate as observers and also was created a women’s situation room. They sensitized people on peaceful and violence free elections, had engagements with political parties, youths, the media and groups among others.
The Women’s Governance Accountability Platform (WGAP) Project was designed to monitor, report and document gender based violence in elections with Osun state as the pilot state during its august 9 gubernatorial elections.
It is geared towards promotion of peaceful and non-violent elections while increasing the active participation of women in democratic and electoral processes.
It also supported women’s expertise in mobilizing, and leading peace initiatives and actions to prevent or mitigate potential conflicts and threats during and after the Osun state elections. It was piloted in Osun state by the Women’s Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) with the support of UN Women.
Last Thursday the report and outcome document of the project in Osun state was launched by UN Women in collaboration with the Women’s Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) at Oshogbo, Osun State.
UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Grace Ongile during the lunch said it is remarkable that over 60 percent of voters during the August election in the state were women.
She said if women had stood for positions during the elections there was a high chance they would win with such huge number of women voters.
Ongile who was represented by the Officer in charge of the project, Desmond Osemhenjie, said the project was piloted in Osun state to see how women could be used as instruments of free and fair elections, adding that with what was recorded during the gubernatorial elections, there will be free and fair elections in the 2015 General Elections in the state and more women coming out to contests.
She said UN Women has made arrangements to support women who come out for elections, is supporting constitutional review for affirmative action, and independent candidates, and policies that will favour women to participate in the 2015 General Elections.
She said the report was launched to enable all stakeholders who participated in the project to see the outcome.
According to the Report, the project provided opportunity for women in the state to lead peaceful processes in the August elections , strengthen dialogue mechanisms and enhance capacity of gender equality advocates and civil society to promote women’s political participation.
“The 2014 Osun state Governorship Election was generally adjudged to be free, fair and credible by majority of the observers. There were less incidences of gender based electoral violence. The project no doubt contributed to the peaceful outcomes of the election, women were properly mobilized and reports showed that they constituted over 60 percent of voters,” the report said.
Earlier, Executive Director of WARDC , Mrs Abiola Akiode had decried the few number of women holding elective positions in the state saying that their numbers have to be increased, particularly in the house of assembly where there is no woman.
She said the launch of the report provides an opportunity to identify and engage women who will be participating in the February 2015 General elections, to reflect that it will be free and fair and that women will vie in the elections.
The representative of the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Osun state chapter at the event, Mrs Tijani Simbiat said women’s participation in politics is building structures for future generations.
She said society should not look at woman who contest elections as being of easy virtue saying women will help eradicate corruption in the country when they occupy positions. She urged women not to hesitate to come out to contest positions and also support one another.
The Iyalode of Oshogo, Bernice Kolade called for fund raising ceremonies to be organised for female aspirants saying what women need to vie for elective positions is money.
She thanked UN Women and WARDC for all its efforts for Osun women in respect of governance.
A board member of WARDC, Mrs Funmilayo Thomas urged the stakeholders to go to the grassroots to engage women especially with the primary elections approaching saying it is the right time to encourage women to participate.
Various stakeholders cutting across representatives of political parties in the state, the media, civil society organizations, market women association, women focused non-governmental organizations and religious organizations among others, made the following suggestions on how to increase the number of women in politics and that more of them vie for positions in the 2015 elections:
Women should indicate interest in participating in politics, be confident and do away with the fear of risks.
Men should be enlightened to allow their wives to contest and women themselves should be enlightened that politics is not dirty as they think. They should;
– Organise a summit for female aspirants and enlighten them on politics;
– Change the orientation of some people that women politicians are prostitutes;
– Involve religious and traditional rulers in sensitizing the people.
Stakeholders should also pay advocacy visits to government, political parties and sensitize women on radio and other mass media.
DAILY TRUST

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Friday said that Boko Haram principles and beliefs were not in line with Islamic tenets.
Aregbesola said this while inaugurating the Central Mosque of the state House of Assembly in Osogbo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor also performed the Juma’at prayers at the new mosque.
Aregbesola said that a true Muslim would not kill innocent people.
He said Islam is a religion that required fear of God, respect for human lives, good character as well as working in line with God’s directives.
“What we are doing today is the way to fight for the cause of Allah, not the way the Boko Haram sect members are doing it.
“lslam is a religion of peace, love for mankind and respect for human lives,” he said.
The governor commended members of the Assembly for constructing the mosque, saying that the gesture would be a legacy for future generations.
He said the simplicity and functionality of the mosque were two attributes that a Muslim must copy in the development of worship centers.
The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, commended the governor for his wisdom in running the affairs of the state.
Najeem said the Assembly would continue to support the governor in his efforts to move the state forward.
The Chief Imam of the mosque, Ustaz Abdul-Fatahi Adebisi, commended the governor for his commitment to the transformation the state
BELLA NAIJA

Contrary to the allegations that Governor Rauf Aregbesola and All Progressive Congress (APC) were dragging the hearing of the petition before the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore have sought the adjournment of the hearing to Monday, 10th November, 2014 as they were not ready for the process.
It would be recalled that Omisore and the PDP, who are challenging the re-election of Aregbesola and APC have accused the respondents of using delay tactics for the hearing of the petition.
At the sitting of the tribunal on Thursday, 6th November, 2014 when the panel was set to start hearing and the respondents have also indicated to move on, the petitioners’ counsel, Mr Nathaniel Oke (SAN) applied that the matter should be adjourned.
As if he was truly ready, Oke said: “My Lords, we are ready to open our case, since the pre-hearing has been closed by your Lordship”.
Subsequently, the tribunal chairman, Justice Elizabethe Ikpejime responded, “we are ready now to begin hearing you can call your witnesses now”.
The petitioners’ counsel quickly made a u-turn and applied for the adjournment till Monday, 10th November, 2014, saying, “we don’t want to open our case now and after calling two or three witnesses we will be asking for adjournment. We want adjournment till Monday”.
This application was opposed by counsel to Aregbesola, Mr Kunle Adegoke who argued that the application was purely in conflict with the allegation of the PDP that the respondents in the matter are trying to delay the hearing of the matter.
He said: “We have been harrased so much in the media by the petitioners that we are trying to delay the proceeding, but you can see now that they are the one dragging us back.
“The tribunal is ready, we are also ready, but it is the petitioners that are not ready. In fact we are here with our own witnesses and the documents we want to tender”.
Counsel to the APC, Mr Aderemi Abimbola also associated with the objection of Aregbesola counsel, requesting for a N500,000 cost against the petitioners.
Subsequently, the tribunal granted the application for adjournment till Monday, November 10.
Earlier, the panel had read the scheduling order to be followed during hearing, directing that 20 minutes would be alloted for cross-examination of each witness, while Certified True Copies (CTC) document would be tendered by consent.
Objections on uncertified document, according to the tribunal, would be taken in the course of hearing, but rulings on them would be delivered in the final judgment.
Meanwhile, three issues that have been formulated by the tribunal out of the issues raised by the parties are whether the tribunal has jurisdiction to entertain the matter and whether the election was vitiated by reason of corrupt practices, irregularity and substantial non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act and manual for the conduct of the election.
Other issue is whether the first respondent was validly returned as a candidate who polled the majority of lawful votes at the election.
In line with Paragraph 41(10) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act, the tribunal said the petitioners have 14 days to present their case, while the repondents have 10 days each to defend.
The tribunal then directed that its attention should be drawn to the preliminary objections of the respondents and profer arguments in the final addresses, saying, decision would be taken firstly on the competence and jurisdictional matter at the final judgement before determining the merit of the case.
GAZELLE NEWS