The Nation Newspaper

Category: Osun

  • Olu Falae rallies support for SDP candidate

    Olu Falae rallies support for SDP candidate

    Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Mr. Olusegun Akinwusi will bring calm, integrity and transparency to Osun State, if voted for in the August 9 poll, the party’s National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, has said.

    Falae, in a message to party members, called on the electorate to vote for Akinwusi as the best option among the governorship candidates.

    He said: “Our candidate is a distinguished retired public officer. He is a complete gentleman and I am certain that he is the perfect person Osun State needs at this time. So, I strongly called on Osun people to massively vote for him.

    “He is not just bringing integrity into governance; he has served the state as Head of Service and came out with clean hands. He was an honest public officer who knows what to do. Osun people will do themselves a great honour to support and vote for him as a technocrat.”

    Falae, who is an Afenifere chieftain and a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), regretted that the election, like other recent elections, was being subjected to money politics.

    Monetisation of politics, he noted, was not pronounced during the 1999 general elections when he stood as a presidential candidate of the All Peoples Party (APP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

    “It is regrettable that due to high level of poverty in the land, parties that control funds at state and federal levels buy election all over Nigeria,” Falae stated.

    He praised the SDP members for their steadfastness and by proofing that politics is not only about money or mere pecuniary gains, but about good governance and people’s welfare.

    Falae bemoaned the high level of corruption in the  polity, regretting that dishonest individuals without regard for the masses are now at the helm of affairs.

    Campaign teams of SDP continued their mobilisation yesterday at Olaoluwa, Ayedire, Ila and Boluwaduro local government Areas.

    The teams were in Ifedayo, Ife-South and Oriade local governments last Tuesday.

  • Omisore’s loyalist leads others to APC

    Omisore’s loyalist leads others to APC

    OSUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has welcomed thousands of supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore, into the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a colourful campaign in Ifetedo.

    They were led by a loyalist of the PDP candidate and a former Chairman of Ife South Local Government Area, Diran Ayanbekun.

    Ayanbekun, who is also a former Chairman of the state House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, said he and his supporters decided to join the APC because of Aregbesola’s achievements.

    He revealed that after a thorough study of events and his love for development, he decided to join the APC since his former party had nothing serious to offer the people.

    Aregbesola, while receiving the former PDP members, pledged that his second tenure would mark the end of lack of basic infrastructure.

    He assured the people that his administration would build more roads and other social amenities in Ife-South Local Government.

    He said: “We thank you for your supports and we thank God that we have not disappointed you. We have been to the palace and we have noted all what the Kabiyesi said.

    “Our second term can only be better. Because by the time we would have finished our second term in office, Osun will not lack any social amenity and it will be a place of pride.”

    There are 42 major towns and villages and hundreds of hamlets in Ife South. Created out of the old Oranyiyan Local Government Area, the council is delineated into 11 wards.

    Earlier, the Olubosin of Ifetedoland, Oba Ilori Olowosoke, who spoke through the National President, Ifetedo Progressive Union, Prince Bisi Adeshingbin, praised the governor for bringing  infrastructure development to the area.

    Adeshingbin requested that the governor should appoint more sons and daughters of Ifetedoland into the state cabinet during his second term.

    He charged the governor not to relent on his oars, adding that his second tenure must be better than the first.

    “We are happy with what you are doing in our area and the state at large. We pray that you will not relent in the good work you have started when you come into office again.

    “We will continue to pray for you because the good works you are doing are visible. But like Oliver Twist, we will like you to do more for Ifetedo people to be part of your cabinet,” he said.

  • ‘Beware of PDP rice, kerosene’

    ‘Beware of PDP rice, kerosene’

    OSUN State All Progressives Congress (APC) has cautioned voters over alleged plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to lure them with rice and kerosene gifts.

    The party alleged that the “PDP is moving from house-to-house, room-to-room, giving rice and promising that on the voting day (August 9), whoever votes for their party will receive N5,000.”

    APC’s Spokesperson Kunle Oyatomi, who revealed this in a statement, added: “But because they were afraid that the people might ditch them, the party said that it will only give the N5,000 after the individual had voted.”

     

    “To be sure that the voter votes for PDP, one agent will be planted at each polling unit. As the voter goes to cast his vote, the agent will raise up his/her hand, spread out the five fingers to indicate how much the voter will receive if he/she votes for PDP.”

    He said the sum of N2 billion had allegedly been given to a PDP serving minister to dispense to “actualise the illegal and undemocratic plot.”

    “Hundreds of citizens in Osun have bombarded the APC office to report this incident and the party has advised that the PDP’s move is the action of a fraudster, who wants to ruin their future and that of their children,” he  added.

     

    “What PDP is distributing is blood money. After collecting it, you have been paid off to continue in poverty and misery. Nobody, who wants to serve the people, will bribe them with money first. That person must convince the people first of what he plans to do and what benefit the people will get from the plan,” the statement added.

    The APC urged the people not to sell their birthright by receiving the bribes, adding: “PDP is only coming to steal Osun’s wealth, not to build it.”

  • Students condemn killing at Ilesa

    Students condemn killing at Ilesa

    THE Joint Campus Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Osun State chapter,  has condemned the killing of one Tolu Adeosun last Friday.

    Adeosun was reportedly murdered at the campaign rally of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in Irojo, Ilesa.

    The students said that the incident was an indication that violent had been introduced into political activities ahead of the governorship election.

    A statement by the students’ Chairman Awowole Samuel and Public Relations Officer, Adekitan Lukman, lamented that  the killing was a serious threat to the election.

    The students called on security agents to reveal the identities of those behind the killing and ensure that they are brought to justice.

    They also advised the contestants and their followers to allow a level-playing ground for democracy and peace to flourish.

    The committee urged Osun State residents and the students’ community to ignore rumour on an alleged plan by Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration to expel and suspend some students’ union leaders who had participated in demonstrations against the government.

    They said the rumour was politically sponsored to distract the public and instigate students against the administration.

    “We state in strong terms that the present administration has neither suspended any students nor expelled any since its inception. We see this rumour as a political sponsored one to distract the public and instigate students against the state government,” the students said.

  • Ogun police arrest three robbery suspects, recover cash

    Ogun police arrest three robbery suspects, recover cash

    THE Anti-robbery Unit of the Ajuwon Division, Ogun State Police Command has arrested three robbery suspects after robbing a man in the area.

    Operatives from the unit were on patrol when they received a call that the suspects – Victor Akindele(24), Muritalah Ahmed (27) of Alagbole Ojodu Area and Afolabi Olatunji (32) of Alagbole Ojodu Area – had robbed someone at Olumoro Street,  Olambe.

    The suspects reportedly carted away some amount of money and valuables from the victim.

    The Nation gathered that the team chased the suspects, who came on a motorcycle and arrested the three suspects.

    The sum of N50,495:00 snatched from the victim, some guns and mobile phones were recovered.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who confirmed the arrest, said: “The suspects fired some shots at the victim, which left some injuries on him before they escaped from the scene. But he had been taken to the hospital by the Divisional Police Officer in Ajuwon Division for medical attention and he is responding to treatment.”

    Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, praised those who made the distress call for exercising their civic responsibility to ensure adequate security of lives and property.

  • 2015: Accord’s chieftain urges members to unite

    2015: Accord’s chieftain urges members to unite

    AN Accord party chieftain in Oyo State, Chief Solomon Ayansina, has urged party members to unite for victory in 2015 general elections.

    He spoke yesterday at an event organised by a House of Assembly aspirant, Mr. Jide Oke, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    “Let us work towards winning elections in 2015.If we want to succeed, there must be determination,” Ayansina said.

    The politician assured that Accord was ready to succeed in the election since the people are yearning for it.

    Describing Oke as vibrant and God-fearing, he said: “What he is doing today is unique by gathering all the members of Accord together to feed them.

    “There are some ungrateful and deceitful politicians whom we assisted in 2011, but they are nowhere to be found today. We must not do such mistake again.”

    Oke, who also spoke on why he is aspiring to represent the people of Ibadan South East Constituency II, said: “I know that the responsibility of lawmakers is to ensure that bills and laws that will ensure good governance are passed. But currently, that is not happening.

    “We have the rule of law, but no good governance. That is why I am contesting in order to aid legislative functions in the assembly.

    “I am contesting on the platform of Accord party because it is a party of visionary leadership. Our leader, Senator Rashid Ladoja, is a man of mission, integrity and trust.”

    Oke, who is a quantity surveyor, thanked Ayansina for supporting him to organise a feast for Accord party members.

    He appealed to the party faithful and the electorate to support him.

     

  • APC, PDP trade words over ‘hate campaign, rigging’

    APC, PDP trade words over ‘hate campaign, rigging’

    THE All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) traded words yesterday over alleged religious hate campaign and revelation of a strategy to rig the August 9 poll.

    Osun State APC Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy Kunle Oyatomi claimed that the PDP had intensified religious hate campaign, “but its efforts are failing dramatically.”

    The party also alleged that a PDP state chairman allegedly boasted to close friends that the party’s “victory in Osun was a foregone conclusion.”

    It  claimed that the PDP chieftain said “the Presidency, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police and Army” had finalised a plan to this effect.

    But the state PDP Publicity Secretary, Prince Bola Ajao, while dismissing APC’s allegations, said the party was confident that it would win the election based on its candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore’s popularity.

    The APC insisted that the PDP’s hate religious campaign would “become its albatross” since “Osun is predominantly Moslem and traditional religionists.”

    The party added that a renegade Christian community has been accusing Aregbesola of being “an idol worshiper and therefore an anti-Christ and for this reason, Christians should vote for Omisore.”

    It called the plan “the strategy of a drowning man who, unable to get popular support, is resorting to unwholesome tactics of inciting religious animosity.”

    The party added that majority of Christians found the move objectionable and they have rebelled against the hate campaigns by some renegade pastors.

    The APC also described as a “strange moment of mad arrogance” the boast credited to the PDP’s state party chairman that “any running up and down by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to avoid defeat is an exercise in futility.”

    It added that the PDP chairman disclosed that “Osun masses would be jolted and embarrassed a few days to the election when the army and police would unleash militia dressed in full combat uniform and armed to the teeth would suddenly appear all over the state.”

    It said the PDP chairman disclosed that “as the militia intimidates citizens on land,” security personnel and party chieftains would be “on patrol from the air and on ground of all polling units to ensure that nothing goes wrong. That was how we won Ekiti; we will repeat it in Osun.”

    The APC claimed that the PDP chairman said the party would “capture Ijesha axis from Rauf, in the same style they made Fayemi in Ekiti to lose in his ward and that PDP is making serious efforts to penetrate Muslim leadership with large sum of cash.”

    “The amount PDP has earmarked for distribution to Muslim leaders is N1 billion.

    Efforts are being made to also compromise the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria in Osun State,” the APC alleged.

    The statement also added that about N6.2 billion has been released to Omisore.

    While alleging that INEC might have been “sucked” into the plan, the APC warned the PDP and others to be “ready for the consequences of their evil plot.”

    The PDP Publicity Secretary said the APC was only frustrated.

    Ajao said: “It is unfortunate that the APC is crying foul. They have forgotten that Omisore is always being welcomed by huge crowd and open arms wherever he goes to campaign. By the grace of God, come August 9, the PDP will coast home with victory. We have gauged the people’s temperature and we are sure of victory.”

    On the allegation that the PDP was promoting religious hatred against the APC governorship candidate, he said the PDP was conscious of diverse religious interest in the state.

    He described the allegation as a cheap blackmail by the APC to win the people’s sympathy.

  • Lawmaker condemns absence of candidates at debate

    Lawmaker condemns absence of candidates at debate

    A LAWMAKER representing Ijesa South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Ajibola Famurewa, has condemned the absence of the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) at the debate for the August 9 election.

    Famurewa, who spoke with reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, said for the duo not to have attended “the debate speaks volumes of their readiness professionally, psychologically and emotionally to lead the state.”

    He said any serious candidate, who has something to offer, will jump at the opportunity the debate offers to for him or her to address fundamental issues relating to the state.

    He said: “This is an internationally organised debate by a reputable and independent body, International Republican Institute (IRI) for the people of Osun to know the manifestos of all candidates in-depth. Despite the long extensive invitation sent to all the three leading political parties by the IRI, an affiliate of USAID, it was only Governor Aregbesola who was available for the debate.

    “This shows the respect, concern and passion he has for all and sundry which is evident in his style of governance in the last 43 months. It’s worth noting that the PDP and the LP that avoided the debate participated in the preliminary stage of the debate held before now for party stalwarts of the three political parties.”

    Famurewa, therefore, appealed to the people of Osun State to consider the antecedent and records of all candidates in assessing them before deciding where to cast their votes.

    The lawmaker expressed appreciation to the people’s for their overwhelming support for the campaign train of Aregbesola.

    He said: “This has given us the strong conviction that the August 9 election will be an overwhelming and landslide victory for the APC.”

     

  • UK-based professionals urge transparency

    UK-based professionals urge transparency

    A GROUP of Nigerian professionals in the United Kingdom (UK), the Progressives Solidarity Forum (PSF), has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to “allow democratic tenets to reign supreme in the August 9 election.”

    The Global Coordinator of the group, Dr. Ibrahim Emokpaire and its Director, Media UK Chapter, Onowu Amaechi Nwaenie, condemned the handling of the country’s affairs by the Federal Government.

    The group said this has reduced the country to a laughing stock both at home and in the international community.

    The PSF warned against “arbitrary and reckless use of the federal might and any undemocratic antics that could undermine the people of Osun State from freely exercising their rights to peaceful election.”

    It advised the people not to “allow anyone regardless of might, to rob them of the enviable developments and visionary leadership they currently enjoy under the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

    “There is no doubt that the achievement of the present administration in the state of Osun has not only received international recognition, but also remains unparalleled in the history of the state.

    “A free and fair conduct of the August 9 election will be a very good test of our democracy. The covering flesh of modern democracy is a vibrant opposition that can assiduously work differently to deliver a good dividend and improve the life of the people,” it said.

    The group condemned a situation whereby the PDP and its leaders “are hell-bent in crippling opposition by all means.”

    It added:  “The events of the past months have confirmed beyond any doubt that the president in his dire efforts to cling to power is politicising all the major problems confronting our country and her people.”

    It condemned the deployment of more than 36,000 security personnel during Ekiti State governorship election, adding that “the election confirmed the fear that is very typical of an unpopular government and a wanton waste of public resources while our people in the Northeast die on a regular basis without adequate government protection.”

    It advised that elections should be based “on character, credibility and performance through practical evidences and assessment by the electorate.”

  • Group prays for Aregbesola’s re-election

    Group prays for Aregbesola’s re-election

    Members of the Mandate Group in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos State have prayed for Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s re-election.

    An Islamic scholar, Dr. Saheed Olurotimi Timehin, who led the prayer session, pleaded that God accept the desire of Osun indigenes for Aregbesola’s re-election.

    He said although the governor is not an angel, the fact that the people have attested to his performance within a short period signifies that he should continue his good work.

    The cleric prayed that God should ensure Aregbesola’s re-election because of those who have benefitted from his administration’s programmes.

    The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Lateef Raji, also prayed for the governor’s re-election.

    He urged the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure a credible poll.

    He also enjoined the electorate to guard their votes.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains, such as Mr. Kayode Tinubu, Elder Olorunoje Kayode, Mr. Sadiq Wahab, Elder Joshua Olaleye, Mrs. Monilola Ogunsakin and others, participated in the prayer.