The Nation Newspaper

Category: Osun

Have goods to ferry to Lagos? Ogbeni Aregbesola’ll move it free of charge

Osun State Commissioner for Commerce, Co-operatives and Empowerment, Ismaila Jayeoba-Alagbada, spoke to Seun Akioye on the plans of the government to stimulate commerce by moving goods from Osun to Lagos free of charge

You are the commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Co-operative and Empowerment, that is a lot of sector put together, how do you manage to oversee all

If you look at the four departments, they are into one because what they want to achieve is to empower our people, industry will employ people, they will earn income and they will be empowered, when you produce, those people that will sell those goods into the market are empowered. When you look at the co-operatives sector, by the time they gather and pull their resources together, they will be able to get more rather than as individuals. They will form a small scale industry so indirectly they have been empowered and the cardinal aim of this Ministry is to create jobs.

So how much of that has been created?

When you look at commerce, it is germane in any economy. You know this state used to be the second commercial centre after Lagos in the 1960s. That is why you see the likes of Leventis, PZ here. They were here because Oshogbo is a terminus of Nigeria Railway Corporation so moving their products from Lagos was very easy. People from neighbouring states just come to Osogbo to purchase their goods from all these multinationals. But in the 1980s all these disappeared, our railway system was not working; the infrastructural level at the state was zero, nothing to attract investors. Commercial activities were at zero level, they used to call this state the civil servants state.

Now how do you want to attract people to come and trade here? How do you bring people here?

Commerce is all about people. Look at Dubai, what do they have there? Because of the infrastructures in Dubai, it attracts people to that country and it is the same thing Ogbeni is doing in the state of Osun. By the time Ogbeni assumed office, he began moving passengers from Lagos to Osogbo during these festive periods. People have lost confidence in the railway. Soon Ogbeni is going is to start moving goods from Osogbo to Lagos and from Lagos to Osogbo, so that the people can sell at wholesale price and earn their money so they can be encouraged to go back and farm.

Are you saying the ultimate goal of the governor in providing free rail transport is actually commercial?

Yes

How is that possible?

Thank you. If we see people today with their farm produce, we are ready to transport it to Lagos and we will do it free of charge. We have been doing the publicity but the people didn’t have enough to move by rail. Ogbeni is ready; people should be encouraged to go back to the farm because this is more or less an agrarian state. But we have not seen any willing farmer.

Maybe if the farmers are empowered enough to produce larger quantity of farm produce

They have been empowered. From my ministry alone, we have spent almost N800 million to empower co-operative farmers in the state. This is the first time that the money will actually go to the farmers at co-operative level and we have seen the result. This is why when other states are complaining about food shortage, in Osun there is no food shortage. This would be the first time farmers will be encouraged to go back to the farm. Now I must confess to you, for those farmers producing cocoyam, we have set up an off-taker that will buy directly from the farmer and pay them in cash so the farmers can go back to the farms. We have empowered 332 youths to do this, and we have given them money.

So where will the off-takers sell the cocoyam, locally or export to other states?

What we are interested in is the turnover, our intention is to feed our children with cocoyam so these off-takers will just buy from the farmers and sell to the food vendors. So the farmers will have the opportunity of having their cash in bulk and be encouraged to go back to farm. The same is for those who are producing maize. The question of where to sell cannot arise all these ones is to stimulate commerce.

There is the concept of life academy, what is it all about?

It is a place where people who want to take up skills can go. You know we have massive youth unemployment in the country and we don’t have qualified people to do these artisans work. Ogbeni is setting up an academy where all these skills will be available, it is a place where a retired permanent secretary can come and take up a skill because when you graduate and set up business, you will not be alone, you will take some people out of the employment market.

In fact by the time this academy comes up, it is going to be like the industrial revolution, that is in place and anytime from now it will be commissioned.

Let us go back to the train ride, how many people have you been able to ferry since the start of the project?

From December 2011, we have ferried 50,000 passengers

What is the idea behind it?

Thank you very much. During these festivals, there used to be traffic congestion and people spend days on the road, Ogbeni said this must be reduced drastically. When you look at our integral action plan, you will see majority of our people have lost contact with their home. Anytime they want to come home, they will discover that it is not feasible because of the cost. The governor said he must move his people and I must confess since December 2011, the accident on Lagos –Ibadan has come down, we discover that many people who have visited their homes in the last ten years are coming now and they are happy with the development that is going on in the state.

Some people did not believe that concept can happen and continue. Many people have lost confidence in the railway but that confidence has been restored. When Ogbeni said people should move their goods to Lagos, people were skeptical but when they saw the rail could move people, they changed their minds. So the confidence is back, the concept is there now, the trains are back, in a day three trains will move. If we are able to rebuild our railway, it will reduce the strain on our roads and make it more durable. That is what they do in developed economies.

Let me also say that those who come home during the festive periods have increased the commercial activities in the state. When they come they must spend money in the state, instead of buying their rams in Lagos, they buy in Osun. The pure water and drink sellers also benefit because of the large number of people coming in. All that we are doing is to stimulate commerce, look at the cargo airport that we are building, it is going to be the best in the country because it will have a 3.5 kilometer runway, and this will decongest Lagos, and imagine what would happen when people start to land their cargo here in Osun. The commercial activities in the state are on the increase, we have rebuilt the railway station to be the best in the country, it is the best in the country now.

Moving people from Lagos here must have cost al lot of money, so how much does it cost the state each year transporting the people?

When you look at the cost it hasn’t been much, even with the publicity. If you look at the initial cost you will not get to where you are going. But I must tell you reasonably it is not much. It is worth it.

How many times does the train move?

We don’t have fixed times it depends on the number of passengers waiting. It can be two times or more.

Now looking at all these laudable projects, where do you see Osun state when all these are done?

By the special Grace of God, by the time they are actualize, Osun state will be the next state after Lagos. I know you will be shocked but look at it this way, we are bounded by six states, Abuja, Oyo , Kogi, Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo. So we are in the centre of activities, Ogbeni’s plan is to make this place a hub of all activities, by that time Osogbo is a place everyone will come to.

August 6, 2014
Ounje Aregbe :Fighting poverty through O’meal

There were grim statistics for Nigeria from the recently released “State of School Feeding Worldwide Report”, compiled by the World Food Programme (WFP) which was recently launched at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The report had indicated that only one out of five school children get a healthy school meal in developing countries. The report also presented a gloomy picture for Nigeria’s school feeding programme highlighting that less than 500,000 school children get a decent meal in school. In that report, Nigeria and Cameroon shared the ignoble position of coming last.

In 2004, Nigeria began a pilot project of Home Grown School Feeding and Health Programme (HGSFHP) which was part of the Universal Basic Education Programme. It was designed to feed elementary pupils in public schools. But out of the 13 states that participated in the programme, only one state remained committed to the continued implementation and improvement of the project: The State of Osun.

Osun state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been developing a simple theory with his re-organized school feeding programme in the state. For him, providing nutritious and healthy meals in schools has a direct link to mental development and the eradication of poverty.

Therefore when in April 2012, he decided to review the school feeding programme with a bigger and better menu, he targeted not just the children but also the farmers in the state. The Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O’MEALS), which was the result of the new thinking in Osun has since surpassed most of its main objectives.

One of the cardinal points of O’Meals is to increase enrolment and retention of school children in state primary schools. Within four weeks of the commencement of the programme however, school enrolment has jumped about 25 percent in government primary schools. By June 30, 2012, enrolment increased from 155,318,000 to 194,253 from primaries 1-3.

Basking in the euphoria of this success, the state government promptly widened the scope and included primary 4 in the scheme. The state now feeds a total of 252,793,000 students daily at the annual cost of N3billion naira. From the report of the WFP, Osun state accounts for more than half of the total number of children getting healthy and nutritious school meals in Nigeria.

The operation officer of O’meal, Mrs. Bunmi Ayoola, said the programme has achieved and surpassed its objectives of increasing school enrolment in the state. She said the government also ensures that the food is prepared in a healthy and neat environment.

“Balance diet helps in developing the brain’s capacity as well as cognitive response index of each child and it plays a major role in ensuring that children assimilate learning instructions fast and well,’’ she said.

But increased enrolment was not the only intention of the Osun state government; reduction of poverty and boosting small and medium scale enterprise were also key points in the school feeding programme. According to the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, the rebirth of the school feeding programme has had positive impact on farmers. “As part of six points integral action plan of the state government to banish hunger, create employment and education for all; the School feeding programme has increased the enrollment of the pupils by 25 per cent within the two weeks of re-introduction, allowed farmers to engage in massive food production and encouraged learning in primary schools. Let me tell you that 80 per cent of food production by the farmers in the State will be used for feeding of our kids in the programme”.

The deputy governor revealed that over 900 cocoyam farmers have been empowered by the government.

“In order to ensure that the programme is sustained, we have encouraged our farmers to go into massive production of fish and chicken with which to feed the pupils. We have also directed our farmers to go into massive production of plantain, banana and very soon we are thinking on the possibility of going into massive production of rice and establish rice mills across the state to encourage our farmers,” she said.

More than 3,000 women in the state have also been empowered to serve as the food vendors. The vendors are well kitted with modern cooking utensils and bowls at the cost of N152 million to the state government. One of the vendors, Mrs. Esther Ogundipe said the programme has empowered her family. “Aregbesola has added value to my life; I am no more a housewife,’’ she said.

Today, according to the Osun state government, 15,000 whole chickens are sourced weekly from local poultry farmers; 254,000 eggs sourced weekly; 35 heads of cattle purchased weekly from local cattle farmers and 400 tonnes of catfish purchased weekly from local fish farmers.

Even though some have criticized the enormous cost of the programme, but the WFP said even in developed country, the amount spend by government on school meals is a worthy investment for the future. “This will help raise healthy adults for the future, it is a worthy investment by any government,” the world body said.

At mid-day on any school day, the bell rang; food vendors immaculately dressed began to make preparations for the feeding of their wards. All across the state, the same process is repeated at every primary school. Meals like Yam Porridge, bread soaked in a steaming red stew with chicken to garnish, beans porridge and vegetables, all complemented with fruits were handed over to 250,000 children. In Osun schools, time for break means time for “ounje Aregbe.”

August 6, 2014
Aregbesola ‘ll win by 73%, says opinion poll

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola will win the August 9 governorship election by 73 per cent, if there is a free and fair election, TSN-RSM, a survey group, has predicted.

The research firm, which is a member of Gallup International, also reported that Aregbesola’s main challenger and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Iyiola Omisore, is behind by 54 points.

However, the survey, which was conducted in Osun State between June and last month, also said that public confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dropped by 10 points.

The survey stated: “The APC continues to dominate the political landscape in Osun State, judging by its performance on key indicators evaluated. It scored highest and increased in rating on first mention, sympathy and voting intention.”

It added: “The governor, Rauf Aregbesola, is the candidate of choice by Osun voters with 73 per cent lead over other candidates. This is a clear indication that the choice of Osun voters in the next governorship race is Governor Rauf Aregbesola.”

Omisore polled 19 per cent, representing a two percent decline from the earlier survey.

“The governor remains the main voting choice. Voting choice for Senator Omisore declined by two per cent and seemed not to pose a threat to the incumbent’s chances of re-election as he remains firmly ahead of the race.”

“Not only is the APC the most preferred party in Osun State, it has largely retained this goodwill from way back in the past. It was the party that most people claimed to have voted for in the last election and it is still the party with the highest chances of winning the election again. More importantly, the gap by which it outperforms the opposition, continues to widen and more convincing in the survey.”

In the report, the APC is rated very high as its top-of-mind and awareness increased from 75 per cent to 78 per cent over the two polls, followed by the PDP with 18 per cent, a drop of three per cent from 21 per cent in the first study.

The Labour Party (LP) came third, with a negligible one per cent. Furthermore, the “electorate choice” for the APC is now 70 per cent, boosted by one per cent increment. Nineteen percent indicated that they would vote for the PDP, which represented another three per cent drop. The electorate’s choice for the LP remained one percent.

The report stressed: “While Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is more known than his party, Senator Iyiola Omisore is less known than his party. The top-of-mind awareness of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola increased to 85 per cent (from 79 per cent), affinity increased from 72 per cent to 74 per cent and chances of being re-elected increased from 71 per cent to 73 per cent.”

“Conversely, it is a tale of decline for the man in the second place, Senator Omisore. For the top-of-mind awareness, the PDP candidate dropped to 13 per cent from 19 per cent, affinity fell to 19 per cent from 21per cent and chances of being elected declined to 19 per cent from 21 per cent.”

The analysis showed that while the affinity of the Osun electorate towards the APC increased by four per cent, the PDP failed to maintain its connection to the people. The positive perception of the APC by Osun voters stood at 83 per cent while on 17 per cent viewed the APC as unfavourable.

According to the polls, 98 per cent of respondents said they would participate in the August 9 election. This suggests that the people are prepared for any eventuality in election.

The survey also showed the strength of the candidates and their parties in the local government areas across the state.

“The repeat of the APC high chance to win in all the local government areas (LGAs) seem to play out again in the next election. The APC is poised to repeat this feat, except in Ife Central and Ife East. The PDP seemed well-positioned to win these two LGAs. The LP’s weakness is imminent across all the LGAs.

“The incumbent’s chances of being reelected remain same across the LGAs, except in Ife Central and Ife East. The incumbent’s chances of re-election remain high and leads his closest rival by a good margin of 54 per cent – an increment of four per cent over the last survey.”

But the voters’ confidence in the INEC dropped to from 57 per cent to 67 per cent.

Statistically, the research firm stated that that “the margin of error for the survey is “plus or minus five per cent, with 95 per cent level of confidence.”

August 1, 2014
APC leads opposition against soldiers’ deployment

•PDP defends military measure

•Adeleke cautions security agents

The All Progressives Congress (APC) led opposition yesterday to the deployment of soldiers by the Federal Government for the August 9 election.

Osun State APC’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, in a statement in Osogbo, argued that the military is not saddled with internal security duties, adding that it is against the constitution.

The party said the Nigeria Police is best suited for such duties constitutionally, insisting that a military siege for an election is a subversion of democracy and must not be encouraged.

“The APC therefore insists that the Federal Government must drop the idea because it is inimical to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria.

“From Wednesday, immediately after the Ramadan fast, Osun State woke up to sporadic gunshots fired by security men practically announcing their presence that had been anticipated from wide-spread reports in the media, which indicated that the PDP intended to jolt the citizens with fierce-looking armed and uniformed men to pacify citizens in order to rig the August 9 governorship election.”

The party said Osun citizens were unimpressed by the show of force by these armed gunmen who had earlier been sighted amassing at the DSS office along Gbongan-Ibadan road.

The party said: “On Thursday however, the DSS security operatives got a shocker around 5p.m in the evening along Okefia, when in company of some masked men, the security operatives rent the air with a burst of sporadic gunfire to simply intimidate people.

“Rather than scatter in fright, the people, with brooms in their hands, flooded into the street in utter defiance singing songs of praise of Aregbesola and the APC, and telling the security operatives who wanted to frighten them that no amount of threats and violence will change them from supporting the governor. The security people least expected what they saw.”

It added: “The stage is being set for a showdown in the heart of Yorubaland and what is at stake here is whether or not democracy will stand a chance to survive 2015 in Nigeria.”

But the State PDP Publicity Secretary, Prince Bola Ajao, who addressed reporters yesterday in Osogbo, defended the high security presence ahead of the August 9 poll, saying it was meant to protect lives and property.

He explained that deployment would help in the maintenance of law and order before and during the exercise.

The first Executive Governor, Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, has also emphasised the need for security agents deployed for the election to conduct themselves “most professionally in the discharge of their duties and in accordance with their oath of office.”

He said events in the last 24hours, when some of the security agents arrived in the state, “were not dignifying and edifying.”

“There is just no point in creating unnecessary fear and intimidation against the law-abiding citizens of Osun State that cut across different political parties.

“The alleged sporadic shooting into the air, as witnessed on Wednesday, July 30th 2014 in some areas in Osogbo by some security apparatus is unwelcome.”

He appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to display absolute neutrality towards the election.

A civil society group, the Democracy Vanguard, has decried the heavy presence of the state security men.

A statement by its state coordinator, Comrade Olowu Emmanuel, said the “intimidating” number of the operatives “is a threat to the peace-loving people of the state”.

The group noted that Osun has been one of the most peaceful states in the country and despite the governorship election that is only eight days away; the people have remained peaceful and are living in harmony.

August 1, 2014
Lawyers condemn DSS personnel’s action

Lawyers have warned against heating up the polity ahead of the governorship election.

Over 4,000 Department of State Security Service (DSS) personnel were reportedly deployed for the poll.

They have continued to engage in a show of force since arriving in the state.

The operatives, said to have been hooded, shot sporadically into the air, with apprehensive residents running for fear of being hit by stray bullets.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dr. Joseph Nwobike, said Osun is not known to be so prone to violence to warrant the deployment of such number of armed men.

The Federal Government’s deployment of the DSS personnel, he said, is meant to create tension in Osun.

“There are no security challenges in Osun State as to warrant the deployment of massive security operatives into the state few days before the scheduled election,” he said.

Another SAN, Chief Emeka Ngige, said the security personnel should rather have been deployed to the Sambisa Forest, known as the notorious den of insurgents in the Northeast.

Ngige said: “The militarisation of our democracy will do nobody, including the Presidency, any good. People should be allowed to express their political wishes without fear of intimidation.

“The deployment of high number of military personnel in an election is suggestive that we’re in a civilian

A law teacher at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Mr. Wahab Shittu, said the massive deployment of armed security personnel could send a wrong signal that Nigeria is incapable of conducting a peaceful election.

“While there is a necessity to guarantee peaceful, fair and credible election, we should be careful not to militarise the polity. That could constitute a danger to the democratic process,” Shittu said.

Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN), however, said it is possible there is good reason for the deployment.

“I’m not there and wouldn’t know what goes on in the place. When it comes to the issue of security, except you’re on ground, one wouldn’t know what informed that (deployment). I don’t want to make comments based on ignorance,” Ali said.

August 1, 2014
Jonathan, others for PDP’s mega rally in Osogbo

President Goodluck Jonathan is scheduled to lead the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains to Osogbo, Osun State capital tomorrow for a mega rally in support of the party’s candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Expected to be on the entourage of Jonathan include his deputy, Namadi Sambo, the PDP National Chairman Alhaji Adamu Muazu and Board Of Trustees Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih.

The State PDP Publicity Secretary, Prince Bola Ajao, who addressed reporters yesterday in Osogbo, said other party stalwarts expected at the event include the BOT members like Chief Ebenezer Babatope, Alhaji Shuaib Oyedokun and others.

Ajao said the visit was designed to rally support for the Omosore’s candidature.

Ajao, who disclosed that the rally will hold at Osogbo Township Stadium, warned the All Progressive Congress (APC) members not to attempt to sweep the roads after the visit of Jonathan, saying it would be resisted by the PDP.

He said: “They must not try it this time around and if they try to sweep the floor in an attempt to rubbish and humiliate the President, we will resist it.

“We know that is their usual habit and we resisted it in Ikirun recently when they tried to sweep the roads after our campaign in the area.”

August 1, 2014
Panic as security agents, armoured carriers storm Osun

•APC condemns ‘terror campaign’

There was panic yesterday in Osogbo as Department of State Security (DSS) officers and armoured personnel carriers stormed the Osun State capital in a show of force.

The hooded operatives, clad in black vests and trousers, shot sporadically into the air while being driven around the state capital in white Toyata Hilux vans.

Many residents, who were scared by the presence of the security agents, ran in confusion to avoid accidental discharge of bullets.

The usual clean air was violated by the smell of smoke from the men’s guns as they drove through the town, passing Gbongan Road, Olaiya Junction, Alekuwodo and Oke-fia, where the Government House is located.

It was gathered that no fewer than 4,000 DSS operatives have been deployed in the state ahead of the August 9 election.

The men, who came from Abuja and other parts of the country, arrived in Osogbo on Tuesday night through Akure, Ondo State.

Some armoured personnel carriers also drove round the town.

But the APC has raised the alarm that the campaign by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to terrorise the citizens with security operatives had started.

The party enjoined the citizens not to be afraid of high security presence, especially where gunshots from security convoys were heard.

The party’s spokesperson, Kunle Oyatomi, said “no citizen should be scared or run away when they see and hear gunshots from security men because they have committed no crime.”

The party enjoined the people to go about their lawful businesses.

It said: “A country in which the security operatives are the ones doing what we are experiencing in Osun calls for the gravest concern.

“Instead of Boko Haram, our own security officers who should be protecting us have now chosen to frighten us. So, if the terrorists come, who will protect the citizenry?

“Osun will not bow to terror from either Boko Haram or security forces. We are only sad that evidence of the Banana Republic is slowly, but evidently crippling in. But if this is how the PDP intends to win in Osun election, God help Nigeria.”

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Bola Ilori, noted that the PDP was behind the deployment of DSS operatives.

He said: “The deployment of security operatives to the state is normal if they are here to protect us. But any arrest of any member of the APC will be against the interest of democracy.”

He added that the development was an abuse of office by the ruling PDP-led Federal Government, urging the people to remain calm in spite of victimisation.

July 31, 2014
Don’t be intimidated, CDHR tells would-be voters

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has urged eligible voters in the August 9 election to reject all forms of intimidation and political brigandage.

CDHR advised voters to cast their votes on issue-based participation by assessing the candidates and voting for them according to their programmes and performances.

Its Vice President, Comrade Taiwo Otitolaye, warned that Nigeria’s politics is drifting sharply.

The CDHR said: “There is severe danger on this democratic experiment. It is fast becoming exercises in the jungle and we have no option as a people to rise to these challenges.

“CDHR is worried that President Goodluck Jonathan is fast drifting from the sensitivity and responsibility demanded by the office he occupies by his handling of state affairs; ranging from security, economic and political urgency bedeviling our country. He is unperturbed even with the increasing loss of lives and property.

“The President junkets about with extravaganza and triviality which to our sense of judgment calls for deep reflections in the handling of state affairs and apparatuses. We see the president’s August 2nd, 3rd and 4th proposed visit to Osun ahead of the August 9th elections as another jamboree.

“This trip is a further waste of our collective resources; little wonder Mr. President is demanding an approval of another $1 billion to further his free spending of security fund, knowing well that he will bluntly refuse to give details of the spending of such money.”

The President’s visit, it said, would “cost approximately N2.5 billion giving the paraphernalia of offices, security personnel and free gifts for electoral lobbying, which will accompany his visit to once again distort democracy as he did in the Ekiti elections.”

It stated that the masses will suffer N7 billion worth of economic losses for the three days visit, since activities in major parts of the state would be paralysed by the visit.

“We are constantly amazed that our sitting President is fast turning to a fascist; thereby endangering the political space the masses of this country fought for during protracted military dictatorship. The country is boiling as a result of this incompetence in our leadership canon. We wonder whether our leaders have a time to sit and compare themselves with other accountable leaders around the world.”

July 31, 2014
‘Aregbesola deserves re-election’

A group, Eko United Association, has said Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola deserves re-election.

It said the electorate should vote for him to enable him continue his good programmes.

The association’s chairman, Alhaji Taofeek Ariyo Osuolale, who spoke at a special prayer organised for Aregbesola, said they decided to pray because the governor deserved re-election.

He said the prayer was organised to coincide with the end of the Ramadan fast, adding that having fasted, they believed God would answer their prayers.

The Missioner of As-Abul Nuhu Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Alhaji Kamaldeen Salmon Alawiye, hailed the group for praying for Aregbesola.

A member, Sadiq Odusoga, thanked his colleagues for defying the rain to pray for Aregbesola’s re-election.

July 31, 2014
‘Omisore, PDP circulating fake survey result’

The Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of Osun State Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, has debunked an alleged falsehood being spread by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Iyiola Omisore, on a purported poll survey.

Okanlawon, in a statement yesterday, said the PDP and Omisore claimed that a survey conducted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) put him ahead of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

He alleged that a short message being circulated on telephones and the social media claimed that the USAID had conducted a pre-election survey which favours Omisore.

He said: “The latest claim coming from the PDP represents another fraudulent claim aimed at gaining undeserved advantage.

“The short message reads thus: USAID opinion poll conducted across the state between 12-21, July put your honour ahead PDP, 58/ APC 42. Such poll may have 2 or 3 error margin.”

Okanlawon described the alleged poll result as “the manifestation of the falsehood for which the PDP and its candidate are well noted.”

July 31, 2014