President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has won Osun with 347,634 votes against PDP which scored 337,377 votes.
Total valid votes: 714, 682
Rejected votes: 17,200
Total vote cast: 731,882
Tag: Osun State
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Fear in Osun communities over political attacks
•Five houses, car burnt, politicians injured •APC, PDP trade blame
Residents of Igangan in Atakumosa East Local Government Area of Osun State now live in fear.
This followed the violent attacks on the community last Sunday evening.
During the attacks, allegedly carried out by political thugs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), five houses and a car were burnt.
Since the attacks on Sunday in Atakumosa East and another on residents of Kajola in Atakumosa West Local Government Area, on the eve of the presidential and National Assembly elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the PDP in the state have been trading blames against each other.
At Igangan, five houses, a car and other valuables valued at millions of naira were destroyed.
At Kajola, the incident, which reportedly happened between 8 p.m to 9 p.m, allegedly affected some APC members who were said to have been injured during the attack.
Narrating her ordeal, a victim and member of the APC, identified as Iyaloja of Atakumosa West Local Government Area, Mrs. Iyalode Adegboku, alleged that they were attacked by “PDP thugs” while holding a meeting on Friday at Kajola on the eve of the postponed February 16 presidential and National Assembly polls.
According to her, those at the meeting were thoroughly beaten.
Mrs Adegboku said she got a machete cut on the leg while the finger of her son, Olalekan Jimoh, was cut with an axe while she was defending her.
Describing the incident as barbaric, callous and wicked, the businesswoman urged security agents to investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.
APC Chairman in Atakumosa West Local Government Area, Francis Famurewa, who said the incident had been reported to the police, wondered why politics degenerated into maiming and killings.
Early last week, APC candidate for Osun East Senatorial District, had accused his opponent in the PDP, Chief Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, of procuring arms ahead of the last weekend’s postponed polls.
Famurewa, who addressed reporters, accused Fadahunsi of buying and importing 100 guns (60 AK-47 and 40 pump actions).
He also alleged that Fadahunsi used political thugs, led by some known criminals, to unleash terror on Ifewara, Iwara, Olowu, Atorin, Temidayo, Tobalase, Lapaide, Faforiji communities in Atakumosa East Local Government Area.
But Fadahunsi accused the APC for the attacks.
Threatening to sue Famurewa over the allegation, he said: “I give him (Famurewa) seven days to prove where he saw me importing guns into Osun East Senatorial District to attack residents. And if he fails to do so, I will not hesitate to institute litigation against him.”
Addressing reporters in Ilesa, Fadahunsi, who denied the allegation, said: “I don’t need to purchase guns to arm my people. I am rather interested in developing my people.”
The politician insisted that those Famurewa named were people who worked for the APC in the previous elections.
He said: “I can say boldly that the thugs were those who have worked for the APC in the previous elections. They were popularly called ‘State Boys’. When they were working for the APC, they were not called thugs, but when they renounced their past deeds and stopped working for the APC, they are now called thugs.”
Police Commissioner Mrs. Abiodun Ige, who visited the affected communities for on-the-spot assessment, said investigations had begun to unveil those behind the incidents.
She assured that whoever is found culpable for the attacks, not minding his or status, would not go unpunished.
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Postponement: Osun residents stay indoors for hours
Aftermath of postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission, residents of Osogbo and another parts of Osun State kept in doors for early hours of the days.
Market women, shop owners and commercial vehicle operators, including motorcyclists and mini buses, were not on the road until around 10.00 am.
Many claimed not to be aware of the postponement of the elections on time.
In major streets of Osogbo, including Olaiya junction, Gbaemu, Oja-Oba, Olu-Ode, Ayetoro, Old Garage and Oke-Ifa, people were in groups discussing the postponement.
As it was in Osogbo, the state capital same way was what happened in Ilesa, Ife, Iwo, Ila and other major cities.
The postponement was received mixed feelings.
While some agreed that the INEC did well by postponing the electoral exercise other said because it will allow adequate logistic preparation other maintained what it will cost the nation is far more unreasonable.
Read Also: Nine die in Osun auto crashes
Reacting to the development, the Executive Director, Ola-Oni Centre for Social and Research, Comrade Wale Adebisi, condemned the postponement.
The human rights activist said postponement if at all necessary should have been announced earlier because of its economic costs and implication of those participating in the execercise.
Also, the Director General of a socio-political society, the Oranmiyan Group, Olajide Sadiq, said postponement is in order, adding that it would give some states lagging behind in preparation an opportunity to participate
He said: “The only way for the INEC to conduct credible election to make all stakeholders participate and exercise their civic duties. Though it is unfortunate that huge find had been expended so far but what is far more important is a credible and successful conduct of election.” END
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Oyetola signs 2019 Appropriation Bill
The Osun State governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, on Thursday signed the 2019 Appropriation Bill.
The governor signed the total budget of N154,406,541,400 at a short ceremony held at Executive Council chamber of the Governor’s Office.
The ceremony was witnessed by Speaker of the House of Assembly Hon. Najeem Salam, and some cabinet members, including the Supervisor for Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning Dr. Olalekan Yinusa and Supervisor for Finance Mr. Bola Oyebamiji.
Read Also: Oyetola restates commitment to transparent governance
The recurrent expenditure is N61, 320, 327, 350 while the capital expenditure is N93, 086, 214,050.
It would be recalled that Governor Oyetola presented the budget estimate before the lawmakers on December 27, 2018.
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Osun religious leaders pledge support of members for polls
Religious leaders in Osun State have pledged the support of the members of their faiths for the February 16 and March 2 general elections in the state.
They made the pledge at a press conference organized by Justice Development and Peace Makers’ Centre on the peaceful conduct of the 2019 general elections in Osun State.
The press conference was jointly addressed by the leadership of both Christian and Islamic religions at the multi-purpose hall of the Chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheik Musa Ajisafe Animashaun.
Also, in attendance were the Resident Electoral Commission for Osun State, Mr. Segun Agbaje and the Osun State Director of the State Security Service, Mr. Brown Ekowaba.
In his welcome address, the Director of the JDPMC in Osun State, Rev. Father, Peter Akinkunmi, said the event was necessary to provide a platform for religious leaders to meet and give an assurance of their role for peaceful conduct of the forthcoming electoral exercise.
Akinkunmi said the impressive population of members of the two religious faiths in the state, no doubt, would make their leaders have a wider reach and give a direction of where the exercise will follow.
He charged the religious leaders to begin to talk to their members on need to conduct themselves peacefully during the exercise in the interest of the nation’s development.
He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their efforts so far and plead for support for the electoral body to be able meet the people’s expectations.
Chief Imam of Osogbo, Sheik Animashaun, assured the INEC of his members support but advised that the electoral body should be above board in its duties.
Also, asking the media to avoid sensational reports, the Islamic cleric enjoined all stakeholders to carry their duties with the fear of God.
In his contribution, the Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Osogbo, Most Rev. John Akin Oyejola, said elections are directly linked to the common destiny of the people and therefore, advised that voters should vote conscientiously to choose for development agenda and leaders that would ensure resources are deployed effectively for public good.
The REC for Osun commended Muslims and Christians for living together in peace in the South West and particularly in Osun State.
He expressed the readiness of the INEC for the exercise, disclosing that more than 15,000 personnels of the electoral body have been deployed to various parts of the state for the exercise.
He also disclosed that training had been concluded for staff of the INEC and security personnel to participate in the exercise.
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2019: INEC employs 16,500 ad-hoc staff in Osun
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State said it had trained and employed 16,695 ad-hoc staff, in the state, for the forthcoming general elections.
Mr Olusegun Agbaje, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state made this disclosure during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Thursday.
Agbaje said the ad-hoc staffs were sourced from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Federal tertiary institutions and Federal Government establishments in the state.
“Ten thousand, five hundred and ninety four corps members; 3,360 students of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, 1,295 students of Federal Polytechnic, Ede and 1,446 federal civil servants will be engaged for February and March elections.
Read Also: PDP alleges INEC plans to rig
” The ad-hoc staff employed would serve as Presiding Officers (POs) and Assistant Presiding Officers (APOs) during the elections,” he said.
Abgaje said that the training of the ad-hoc staff had been concluded, adding that the commission followed electoral laws and guild lines in selecting credible and dependable officers for the elections.
He said that apart from the ad-hoc staff, 332 Supervisory Presiding Officers, 363 Collation Officers and 38 Returning Officers had also been trained for the election.
He, however, called on the electorate who registered for the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) but yet to collect them, to ensure they do so before the deadline for collection.
NAN
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NUC grants provisional licences to four private universities
Four new private universities were on Tuesday in Abuja granted provisional approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence academic programmes.
The Federal Executive Council approved the establishment of the four private universities in January.
Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, presented the provisional licences to the universities in Abuja.
The universities are: Greenfield University, Kaduna State; Dominion University Ibadan; Trinity University Laloko, Ogun State and Westland University, Iwo, Osun State.
He said issue of access to university education in the country continued to pose serious challenges, noting that it requires continuous effort to address.
The minister, who was represented by Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, said the emergence of private universities had provided an environment for heavy competition that stimulates improvement in quality service delivery.
Adamu said the approval was a clear manifestation of the continued mutual partnership between the government and private sector to ensure the provision of quality education in the country.
The minister explained that private universities in the country had contributed immensely to the opening up of access to education over the past 20 years.
He said: “For the avoidance of doubt, the provisional licence for the four universities to operate is intended to create room for mentoring and qualitative growth within the first three years of their operations.
“During the probation period, the four universities will be attached to older generation universities for academic and administrative mentoring.
“It should also be noted that substantive licence will only be issued to the universities if they are adjudged of being worthy of it after the three years of probation.”
NUC’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, said the four universities had been under its scrutiny since 2006.
Read Also: Nigerian varsities not ranked in 14 years – NUC
Rasheed said that there was need to increase the number of universities, taking into consideration the country’s increasing population.
He added that with the country’s population, only about two million students can access university education.
The NUC Boss said: “Only less than 6 per cent students’ enrolment is in private universities.
“We hope the NUC work closely with you to ensure we introduce courses that are more attractive to prospective students and more appropriate to our current move to reposition the education system in Nigeria.
“All over the world, private initiatives are welcome. Proper education cannot be handled by government alone.
“The NUC is not ready to sacrifice quality on the altar of access; we must ensure adherence to quality; we do not want to encourage you to run the university with impunity.”
Rasheed added that the commission was currently processing about 270 applications.
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Dominion University, Bishop Taiwo Adelakun, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, appreciated the commission for the approval and pledged to keep to the mandate establishing the universities.
With the approval, Nigeria has 173 universities, out of which 79 of them are private.
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Breaking: Osun gov closes case at tribunal after 11 witnesses
*APC to open defence, Feb 6
Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola has closed his defence before the state’s governorship election tribunal, sitting in Abuja.
Oyetola, who is the second respondent in the petition filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, closed his case on Tuesday, after calling 11 witnesses.
PDP and Adeleke are challenging the outcome of the election won by Oyetola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Read Also; Osun tribunal: ‘INEC is allowed to rectify errors in result sheets’
Oyetola had, on February 1 this year, after calling his 11th witness – Adegboyega Rasaki Adeosunn, who acted as APC’s State Collation Officer during the election, promised to call four more on Monday.
At the resumption of proceedings on Monday, Oyetola”s lawyer, John Baiyeshea (SAN) told the tribunal that his client did not see any reason to call more witnesses and has decided to close his case.
Tribunal’s Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo adjourned to Wednesday for the third respondent, APC to open its defence.
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Osun tribunal: ‘INEC is allowed to rectify errors in result sheets’
The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal has been told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is allowed to rectify discrepancies in entries in election result sheets.
Three witnesses called by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, at the resumed sitting of the tribunal on Thursday in Abuja, said they were were trained on the operation of INEC’s Manual and Electoral Guidelines before they were engaged at agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the election.
The witnesses – Bello Mukaila, Olatitoye Sodeeq, Iyiola Ismail – (who served as APC polling agent in Osogbo and Ikire) said they learnt, at the training, that INEC reserve the right to correct errors in result sheets.
They also identified some of the result sheets where such discrepancies were corrected. Some of the result sheets were from polling units won by both APC and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The tribunal is hearing the petition by the PDP and its candidate in the last governorship election in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Adeleke witnessed the tribunal’s proceedings on Thursday. He sat from beginning of proceedings (10am) to around 12 noon.
Read Also: Help us douse tension, INEC begs religious leaders
The legal team of the PDP and Adeleke got an additional hand on Thursday with the attendance of proceedings by former Attorney General of thew Federation (AGF), Kanu Agabi (SAN).
Agabi only announced his appearance, but allowed Onyechi Ikpeazu to conduct the case of the petitioners.
Wole Olanipekun (who led Oyetola’s legal team) also allowed Abiodun Owonikoko (SSAN) to conduct his client’s proceedings. He only intervened when necessary.
Olanipekun contributed to argument, in favour of the 3rd respondent (APC) when Ikpeazu objected to the move by APC’s lawyer, Lasun Sanusi (SAN) to tender a copy of INEC’s Manual and Electoral Guideline through Mukaila.
In a ruling, the tribunal, led by Justice Ibrahim Sirajo upheld the argument by Olanipekun and Sanusi and admitted the document in evidence.
At the commencement of proceedings, Justice Sirajo advised Ikpeazu to be organised. The judge’s advice was informed by the discrepancies noted in the list of lawyers he submitted to court and the one with him.
Ikpeazu announced the names of some lawyers in his team and left some out, an omission the judge noted from the list submitted to the tribunal.
The tribunal Chairman later called out the names of about five lawyers, who were omitted by Ikpeazu, following which the petitioners’ lawyer apologized.
Justice Sirajo then said: “Get more organised please, get more organised. That is all I have to say for today, get more organised.”
The tribunal rose at about 12.30pm, after Olanipekun announced that the 2nd defendants was done for the day.
Proceedings resumes on Friday at 10am.
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Osun residents charged to see governance as joint responsibility
The residents of Osun State have been advised to see business of governance as a joint responsibility for which they must be active participants.
Addressing a press briefing in Osogbo, the Supervisor in charge of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, therefore, called for the support of the people to make the Gboyega Oyetola administration succeed.
The immediate past Commissioner for Finance, who is also the Supervisor for Commerce, Cooperatives and Industries, submitted that for government to succeed, the people must contribute their quota by paying their taxes and other levies promptly for the government to be able to provide social amenities and build infrastructure.
He stressed the need for residents to join hands with the government to move the state forward.
According to him: “All over the world, no government can succeed without the input and contribution of the governed either through payment of taxes and levies or through the maintenance of public works.
“The administration of Mr. Oyetola is ready to look inwards and raise funds which will in turn be used to better the lives of the masses in the state. The time has passed that state government will be looking up to the federal government for funds through the federal allocation which is already is dwindling.
“The Oyetola administration is determined to make life better for the people of the state and it is eager to build on the achievements of the past eight years. I want to sincerely appeal to residents of Osun and indigenes, both home and abroad, to see the task of moving the state forward as onerous which all and sundry must join hands with government to achieve.
Read Also: Osun tribunal: Oyetola to open defence January 30
“The present administration in Osun is eager to put smiles on the faces of the people through masses oriented programmes and policies but this can be only achieved if the people play their roles. it is time that we began to see business of governance as a joint responsibility. If you don’t have any means of paying your tax or other levies you can assist government in the maintenance of public works.
“Mr. Gboyega Oyetola is another kind hearted individual with a sincere heart to continue from where the immediate past administration stopped. The policy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is to put smiles on the faces of the people and so we have no choice than to continue to drive the growth and development of our dear state.
“Osun is already on a pedestal of greatness and we shall get there but with the support of the people. Our state is ranked among the best in the country. With the support of our people, the task ahead will easy for us to achieve.”