TNN.ng: Aregbesola

Don't Interfere In New Ooni's Selection, Bode George Warns Tinubu

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<b>LAGOS, NIGERIA - A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, has warned the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, against manipulating the emergence of the next Ooni of Ife.</b></div>
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Following the passage of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, ruling houses in Ife, Osun State, will meet as part of the process of picking a new monarch.</div>
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However, George, who is the <i>Atona Oodua </i>of Yoruba land, told <b><a href="http://www.punchng.com/politics/tinubu-mustnt-influence-new-oonis-selection-george/">The PUNCH</a></b> correspondent during an interview, on Monday, that Tinubu should not use his relationship with the Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, to manipulate the process.</div>
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George said Tinubu should have learnt from the recent National Assembly crisis that undue interference in the affairs of established institutions could spell doom.</div>
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He said, “He will be making attempts to manipulate the process. They will do politics with it but it will blow up. They should allow the kingmakers to do their work. If he manipulates the process, he will create a huge problem in Yoruba land.</div>
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"Let him allow the kingmakers do their job. He should not set Yoruba land on fire. Aregbesola should, instead, focus on paying salaries."</div>
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Ife is considered to be a stronghold of the PDP in Osun State.</div>
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When asked to react to the late Ooni's closeness to former President Goodluck Jonathan, George said it had nothing to do with the process of the emergence of a king which is a sacred process.</div>
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George said the politics of Ife was not like that of Lagos and Tinubu should not set a bad precedence in Yoruba land.</div>
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"He (Tinubu) tried it at the National Assembly but came back with a slap. He should, therefore, not go out of his way to bring in an APC-inclined man as the next Ooni. We want an Ooni that will be fair and not connected with all these politicians.</div>
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"We need an experienced person. We want the person that the kingmakers will approve of. As the Atona Oodua, I know how these things are done."</div>
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George urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the South-East produced the next Secretary to the Federal Government.</div>
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The PDP leader said doing otherwise would make the people of the geopolitical zone feel left out.</div>
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However, Tinubu's spokesperson, Mr. Sunday Dare could not be reached for comment.</div>
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Don't Interfere In New Ooni's Selection, Bode George Warns Tinubu

LAGOS, NIGERIA - A former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Bode George, has warned the National Leader o...

Buhari's Delay In Appointing Ministers Heightens Tension In South-West APC

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<b>IBADAN, NIGERIA - Tension is reportedly mounting in the four states under the control of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-West over the refusal of the governors to put cabinets in place more than two months after their inauguration.</b></div>
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The three states of Lagos, Oyo and Ogun have been operating administrative activities with skeletal appointive personnel and the civil service, 69 days after the governors' assumption of office, while Osun State has been without a cabinet for about nine months, after the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.</div>
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He was sworn in for his second term on November 26, 2014.</div>
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Lagos State has appointed only the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), same with Ogun State. Osun State has SSG and Chief of Staff while Oyo State has not made any appointment.</div>
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In Ogun, Osun and Oyo states, all the aides of the governors have been relieved of their appointments. Apart from Lagos, none of the governors has official media aides.</div>
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The scenario in the said states is a replay of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari who has committed himself to piecemeal appointment of his cabinet.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/cabinet-appointments-tension-south-west-apc">Tribune</a></b>, however, gathered that the South-West situation is a direct fallout of Buhari's delayed  decision on appointments, with the governors said to be waiting on him for the federal appointments that would accrue to their states and possibly filling them before making their local appointments.</div>
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The issue of ministerial nominees is said to be at the heart of this wait-and-see game, with Saturday Tribune being told by sources close to the governors that they (governors) and party leaders who would make the appointments want to see those who would go to the centre before sharing what is available at home to others.</div>
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The confusion reportedly created by Buhari's refusal to follow the usual practice of governors nominating appointees from states for federal positions is said to have further forced the party leaders, elders and governors to be circumspect on the appointment issue.</div>
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It is reportedly being reasoned that the ruling party in the zone might witness serious unrest if certain camps and their nominees already penciled in for federal appointments eventually fail to land the projected appointments with nothing for them to fall back on at home if the major appointments are done before their projected appointments materialize at the centre.</div>
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Buhari's perceived unpredictability, coupled with what an insider described as "undisguised decision to be his own man" is said to be serving as a restraint on the governors and party leaders in making major decisions on who should have what in their domains.</div>
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Despite the state leadership being mum on the official reason(s) for not constituting cabinets, <i>Saturday Tribune</i>'s checks revealed a deep seated frustration and disquiet among party faithful who worked for the party's victory in those states and are expecting to be rewarded with appointments.</div>
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Though the list of commissioner-nominees in one of the said states is said to have been ready for a while, it could not be reportedly sent to the state House of Assembly due to political considerations occasioned by the delay from the president's end.</div>
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In the said state with a super-SSG and a political leadership with a near final say, the fate of a certain projected nominee for ministerial appointment is said to be one of the major considerations, tying down the hands of the decision makers to send the compiled list to the state Assembly.</div>
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Although originally a citizen of a neighbouring state, the said projected ministerial nominee once held a political appointment in the state where he is reportedly being packaged for an appointment at the centre.</div>
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Those packaging him for a certain ministry in Abuja are said to be seeking a nexus between him and the projected commissioner that would hold similar position in the state.</div>
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His failure at the centre could occasion a change of strategy at his adopted home state.</div>
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One of those expected to be appointed a commissioner in one of the said states told <i>Saturday Tribune </i>in near exasperation that "they (the decision makers) should do what they like. I don't even really care about the whole thing again. Those who worked for the party in rain and sunshine are expecting their local leaders to get appointments for some benefits to also come to them. Everywhere is just quiet. Nobody is saying anything to anyone. They are waiting on Abuja and Abuja is not ready. Our supporters are becoming weary and unhappy. Our leaders like listening to sycophants. If they want to know what is going on now with the party, let them try and conduct local government election".</div>
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In another state where the governor also won re-election, party members are reportedly miffed with the zero accessibility of the governor since he was sworn in for a second term.</div>
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Apart from incessant travel, the governor is said to be ruling the state practically all by himself using the civil service and this has reportedly not gone down well with members of the party eyeing political appointments.</div>
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The implementation of the 2015 budget is also said to be witnessing low performance in the absence of key government functionaries in the affected states.</div>
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The preparation for next year’s appropriation which should have commenced has reportedly not taken off in any of the said states, given the absence of economic teams.</div>
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It was learnt that the frustration and anger of party faithful over the issue is mainly anchored on the deafening silence from the end of the decision-makers.</div>
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Lagos State House of Assembly leadership recently expressed its readiness to work on the commissioners’ list once sent in by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.</div>
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Governor’s spokesperson, Habib Haruna said recently work was on-going, on the list.</div>
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Another frustrated party man said "in one way or the other, everyone spent money on the election. Spending may differ in sizes, but some people should not make it look as if they spent all the money in winning the elections".</div>
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Buhari's Delay In Appointing Ministers Heightens Tension In South-West APC

IBADAN, NIGERIA - Tension is reportedly mounting in the four states under the control of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in ...

[OPINION]: The Travails Of Ogbeni Aregbesola - By Dele Momodu

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<b>Fellow Nigerians, let me start with an adage I first heard from the generalissimo himself, Aare Ona Kakanfo Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola: “The bigger the head, the bigger the headache”. On July 7, 2015 it would be 17 years since the great businessman and martyr of our democracy departed this turbulent world but I’ve never forgotten the wisdom buried in those words which rushed to my mind as I sat to craft this piece.</b></div>
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Writing of 7/7, I remember the victims of that horrific tragedy which occurred on that day, 10 years ago, in 2005 when four bombs went off in Central London leading to murder and mayhem. Two out of the 52 people that lost their lives were Nigerian, 55 year old Ojara Ikeagwu and 26 year old Anthony Fatayi-Williams. I pray for the sweet repose of those innocent souls and my dearest mentor, MKO. Incidentally these three outstanding symbols of the hope of our nation have never been properly honoured here in Nigera. We should take a leaf from how the British honoured our son and daughter back in 2005 and even until today and how they gave military treatment and nationwide minute silence to 30 of their citizens massacred on a Tunisian beach. When we learn to imbibe such values and give honour where it is due, our country will surely become a better place.</div>
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Back to my main topic of today, you may be wondering why Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s headache is my business. My dear father, Jacob Momodu, migrated from his village of Ihievbe, Owan East Local Government of Edo State, long before I was born. How he settled in the ancient town of Ile-Ife will forever remain a mystery as he died (in 1973) at the beginning of my teenage years, before I could ask questions about his adventurous spirit. My dad met a beautiful woman called Gladys, from Gbongan Olufi in the State of Osun, and swept her off her feet. I’m the only product of their whirlwind romance.</div>
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By now I’m sure you can begin to feel my strong link to the State of Osun. I was born in Ile-Ife and had all my education up to post-graduate studies in that great cradle of civilisation and learning. My other siblings, from my parents’ prior marriages still live in Ile-Ife till this day, except our eldest brother. You can thus visualise my emotional attachment to the land of my birth.</div>
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I received what seemed an angry call a few weeks ago from my older sister who resides in Modakeke. I asked what the matter was because it is very unusual for her to sound irritated. “Help me beg your friend Aregbesola to pay our salaries because he has not paid us for several months,” she thundered. I pleaded with her to cool temper while I tried to explain the little I understood about the debacle. My sister was obviously not in the mood for any rigmarole or semantics but I tried my best to pacify her.</div>
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Weeks after that encounter, it seems the situation has become even worse in Osun with politicians making capital gains of it. There is the inherent potential for blackmail and I’ve taken time to examine some of their claims. Startlingly, I discovered that the Governor is a victim of his own obsession with rapid development. I will elaborate by illustrating my thesis with the story of Bill Clinton when he was Governor of Arkansas. In his autobiography, President Clinton offered an insight into the danger of any government thinking it can solve all of society’s problems in one fell swoop or in the lifetime of its regime. He was desperate to do so much but ended up offending his people who could not endure the pain and sacrifice needed to achieve the monumental results he craved for them.</div>
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The case of Aregbesola is not too different. Love him or hate him, even Aregbesola’s bitterest enemies would attest to the fact that the man is a compulsive workaholic. I first noticed this about him as Commissioner for Works under Governor Bola Tinubu in Lagos State. Alhaji Rauf,as we fondly called him, was the Mr Fix It of that ground-breaking administration. Indeed, this was the reason Governor Tinubu and Aregbesola became almost inseparable.</div>
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In Osun, Aregbesola has embarked on massive infrastructural development. This would not have been too difficult in a country or State where the cost of running government is not so stupendous. But wait for this shocking revelation, the Osun Civil Service has a population of about 35,000, representing about 1% of the State’s population but the monthly wage bill gulps a handsome N3.6billion and a gargantuan N43.2billion annually. This alone devours about 70% of the total budget which is the sad trend across our nation. Please, tell me why our country won’t continue to wear the look of a war-ravaged territory and wallow in misery with this level of government profligacy which does not even begin to help the unemployment mess that our governments try to ameliorate by hiring as much of the citizenry as possible.</div>
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At the end of the day, a government like that of Aregbesola which hopes to pursue personal human development through social welfare would ultimately get stranded in a cul-de-sac. The laudatory Osun School Feeding scheme ensures that over 250,000 students get fed daily during school terms and costs about N3.5billion per annum. Please, juxtapose this against the Civil Service of only 35,000 people gobbling up about N3.6billion monthly. Similarly, the Osun Youth Development Scheme engages about 40,000 youths at N3billion annually. Apart from the number of individuals directly benefitting from these two schemes, thousands of extended families enjoy succour through indirect or ancillary employment and supplementary income freed up by the fact that parents don’t have to undertake these responsibilities.</div>
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Tragically, it seems that the problems facing Governor Aregbesola in Osun, like other states, lies with over-spending on a few while under-spending on the majority. The physical infrastructural projects in Osun are quite ambitious. Hundreds of kilometres of roads have been completed or stalled, including rural, township, intercity and Highway networks. These convinced the people that Ogbeni Rauf, (as he is affectionately called) with his simple style of governance matched exponentially by his appetite for wide ranging and significant development was the Governor to continue to take them to loftier heights and they therefore re-elected him.</div>
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However, in the midst of this commendable work, trouble started to creep in from 2012 with the arbitrary demand for wage increment by civil servants. This was further compounded in 2013 with the steady decline in statutory allocation. The situation deteriorated in 2014 with the crash of international oil prices.</div>
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Much has been made of the purchase of a helicopter by the Government but in a country where transportation is hazardous at best, and a State which demands prompt attention and reaction to various exigencies, faster means of transportation becomes a necessity rather than a luxury. Besides, the Governor has to find the right balance between interacting with his people and the seeming high cost of a helicopter. I would imagine that the people would prefer a Governor able to be closer to their problems by visiting at will. Moreover, when you consider that the cost of the helicopter will be spread over decades and not just years, clearly this is not as frivolous an investment as many would want to suggest.</div>
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What is the way forward? There are no easy answers or solutions but we must start somewhere. I believe so much in social welfare if properly managed and would never canvass for its abolition no matter the challenges today. It elevates majority of our people and it would spell unmitigated disaster if abruptly guillotined.</div>
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In the short run, great dividends will come if labour unions sit at a table with Aregbesola and his team to agree on cost-cutting measures. It may be necessary for workers to sacrifice part of their increased salaries or may have to suspend receipt of some arrears until the situation improves. Any short term solution is bound to bring anger and frustration but we must always be realistic and practical about these problems. The other option is mass retrenchment which I will never support because of its potential to increase social anguish and ignite violent unrests.</div>
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While it is easy to canvass for a sustained drive for internal generated revenue through indirect taxation and levies, we should be careful not to kill businesses or run the few employers of labour out of town.</div>
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The medium and long term solution rests in government attracting domestic and foreign investment through the creation of an enabling environment that allows businesses to thrive. Fortunately, Osun State has always been an agrarian State with significant cash crops like cocoa. It has plenty of arable land and is close enough to Lagos State and the oil producing regions of the South South to tap from businesses which need support there. While I do not advocate that Government should wholly establish these businesses, the State can source for the investment and take a modest equity participation that will also enable it to directly benefit from its astuteness.</div>
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Osun is not the only culprit in this non-payment of salary scandal and it should not be singled out for victimisation. Politics should never be played at the expense and certainly not to the detriment of the people.</div>
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My thoughts and prayers are with our dear Governor as he courageously battles to redeem his State.</div>
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<b>OONI ADESOJI ADEREMI – 35 YEARS ON</b></div>
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Time flies. It is 35 years since <i><b>The Tiger Departed</b></i>. It is poignant that I chose to write about Ogbeni Rauf on the day (3 July) that Oba Adesoji Aderemi, KCMG, KBE joined his ancestors! He not only is from Osun State, but in a sense he was Governor Aregbesola’s illustirous predecessor, being the first Black Governor in Africa, as Governor of the Western Region. A myth and a legend! I pray that in the fullness of time, Ogbeni Rauf will attain some of that status.</div>
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<b>TRIBUTE TO KEEM BELO-OSAGIE AT 60</b></div>
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Our paths crossed fortuitously over two decades ago. Before then, I had heard so much about the perfect gentleman known by different appellations such as “Keem, the whiz kid” or, “Vice Chairman”, as my friend Kola Abiola called him since he felt only his dad, Chief MKO Abiola had the exclusive right to the title of “Chairman”.</div>
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Mr Hakeem Belo-Osagie had achieved so much in his tender age. I was particularly awed by his academic accomplishments which had seen him navigate through some of the greatest schools in the world, including King’s College Lagos, Oxford, Cambridge and Harvard.</div>
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I took keen interest in Keem studying him like a book as I’m fond of achievers and derive much inspiration from them. I was privileged to meet Keem properly through his cousin, Ademola Adekogbe, of blessed memory, a most sociable and generous man who sold him to us at a premium. Kogiro as we called him was the Mr Interconnectivity. It was just impossible not to love Keem from the way his cousin rhapsodised endlessly about him.</div>
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Keem made big waves after buying majority shares in United Bank for Africa. As with most entrepreneurs, Keem decided to streamline the operations of UBA by weeding out some of the tired hands. Of course, we are not used to accepting such goodbye kisses in our climes and all hell broke loose. Keem was pummelled into pulp by the South West media led by The Nigerian Tribune. He was accused of all sorts and we were greatly disturbed.</div>
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Ademola advised Keem to seek my support. And I advised that “Mohammed should go to the mountain if the mountain won’t come to Mohammed. “ I was humbled when Keem agreed to visit the Editors of Tribune in Ibadan. I was fortunate to have a wonderful mentor in The Publisher, Prince Wole Awolowo, now with his God, and the Chairman, Chief Mrs Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, the grandmother-in-law to my best friend, Adedamola Aderemi, and these powerful contacts came in handy. I booked a private suite at Kakanfo Inn for our meeting and Keem was able to convincingly articulate his mission to the editors, including Biodun Oduwole and Folu Olamiti, who had edited my first weekly column in Sunday Tribune since 1987. We left Ibadan triumphantly.</div>
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A few years later, Keem invited me to handle the PR for him when he brought Moneygram to Nigeria. We attended most of the meetings together with his associate, Phillip Ihenacho at the Moneygram offices on Bond Street and Belgravia. Keem agreed to most of my suggestions except having his photograph taken. I later persuaded him using the example of Richard Branson who advertises his own products to maximum effect. I invited the godfather of photography, Colin Ramsay, to set up some esoteric gadgets for the photo-shoot, and Keem was very pleased. I will never forget Keem’s amazing support in those trying days in London.</div>
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What I find incredible about Keem is that he’s never forgotten those interventions at critical moments. I ran into him twice in recent months at the British Airways lounge in London, first with his daughter and second with his old Harvard Professor. On both occasions, he regaled them with stories of our adventures and I was deeply touched.</div>
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I’m happy to have this opportunity to felicitate with Keem on the occasion of his 60th birthday. What can one wish a man who has attained most of his set goals in life? I can only pray for his continued good health, more services to mankind and God’s expansive protection over him and his family.</div>
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A toast and a standing ovation!</div>
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<i><b>Dele Momodu writes Pendulum for ThisDay newspapers</b></i></div>
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[OPINION]: The Travails Of Ogbeni Aregbesola - By Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, let me start with an adage I first heard from the generalissimo himself, Aare Ona Kakanfo Moshood Kashimawo Olawale A...

State Of Osun To Create 36 Additional Council Areas

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbKD7DbK3RetcQJ1vWL4pwq6IhX7kgbdNCcqubnzA-HJHTOcGrOpFe8BcUDzURAxZ1JTVGTro6FGpJ6_L1ij8_SXzUVEQU2NcuYAVr5K6OiflpoTVpnQMwYs1s5sJ5eBiyl8HL3jEiMcr/s1600/Aregbesola2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbKD7DbK3RetcQJ1vWL4pwq6IhX7kgbdNCcqubnzA-HJHTOcGrOpFe8BcUDzURAxZ1JTVGTro6FGpJ6_L1ij8_SXzUVEQU2NcuYAVr5K6OiflpoTVpnQMwYs1s5sJ5eBiyl8HL3jEiMcr/s1600/Aregbesola2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b>Osun State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed the bill to create 36 additional local council development authorities to jack the total number of councils in the state to 66.</b></div>
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The Speaker said this in a statement made available to our correspondent by his media aide, Mr. Goke Butika, on Wednesday.</div>
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Salaam said the the lawmakers passed the bill to create the additional councils because of administrative convenience.</div>
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The statement read: “Osun State House of Assembly has finally passed the law creating additional 31 local council development authorities, three Area councils and two administrative units.</div>
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“At a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, the parliament explained that the creation of local governments, Area Councils and Administrative units became imperative in order to bring government closer to the grassroots.</div>
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“The primary purpose of the creation of the councils and administrative units was for the administrative conveniences, not to hyper-bloat the already existing over-bloated civil and political regimes which have become albatross to the limited resources of the state.”</div>
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The Speaker then urged Governor Rauf Aregbesola to prioritise the assent of the law in order to set up committees that would work out the asset and liabilities for the take off of the new councils and units.</div>
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The chairman, House Committee on Local Government, Mr. Wasiu Adebayo, said, “Osogbo being the state capital is bigger and demands to be further split, while Ejigbo has not been split since 1956 despite its size. Odo Otin considered to be the biggest council since 1972 also got two more councils.”</div>
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He stated that Osogbo, Ejigbo and Odo Otin Local Government Areas were given two more councils each, while some other local governments were split with one council each.</div>
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<b>The Punch</b></div>
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State Of Osun To Create 36 Additional Council Areas

Osun State House of Assembly on Wednesday passed the bill to create 36 additional local council development authorities to jack the tot...

JUST IN: Aregbesola Wins, Omisore Loses At Supreme Court

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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOnKLwDWqpuuQ4jbxyYdyU2a0ifMO7PB3pqfmo6JHmuBiPah8SYL5K7cPT9ZCPF1Cfi5HJ5j3t2z9c3Bomgh504AYyI1rUVao-bgOVf3n8KVnZ3Hph9XuEvv0_LoWact1RUxF7Yg3R3kB/s1600/Aregbesola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style=""><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOnKLwDWqpuuQ4jbxyYdyU2a0ifMO7PB3pqfmo6JHmuBiPah8SYL5K7cPT9ZCPF1Cfi5HJ5j3t2z9c3Bomgh504AYyI1rUVao-bgOVf3n8KVnZ3Hph9XuEvv0_LoWact1RUxF7Yg3R3kB/s280/Aregbesola.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
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<b>The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate in the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State, Iyiola Omisore, against the election of the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, the incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola.</b></div>
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The seven-man panel of the apex court, led by Justice John Fabiyi, affirmed the concurrent judgments of the Court of Appeal in Akure‎ and the Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal, which had both affirmed Aregbesola the winner of the election.</div>
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Justice C.C Nweze, who read the lead judgment, resolved six out of the seven issues formulated by the appellant against him.</div>
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Only one was resolved in his favour and against the respondents.</div>
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The seven-man panel unanimously held that the appeal lacked merit and was bound to be dismissed.</div>
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Omisore, who was personally present in court during the hearing, urged the apex court through his counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN), ‎to set aside the concurrent judgments of the two lower courts.</div>
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Omisore and his party had filed the appeals against the decisions of the Justice Gana Mshelia-led panel of the Court of Appeal ‎in Akure which on April 2, 2015, affirmed the earlier judgment of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.</div>
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The Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime-led‎ tribunal had on February 6, 2015 dismissed Omisore’s petition for lacking in merit and affirmed Aregbesola’s victory.</div>
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<b>The Punch</b></div>
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JUST IN: Aregbesola Wins, Omisore Loses At Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate in the August 9, 2014 governorship e...

Unpaid Salaries: Osun Govt Worker Attempts Suicide

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<b>A senior civil servant in the Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, Mr. Ojo Owolabi, has attempted to end his life by drinking a large quantity of insecticide.</b></div>
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It was learnt that Owolabi took the action because of his inability to feed his family due to the failure of the state government to pay salaries.</div>
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Civil servants in the state have not been paid their salaries in the last six months.</div>
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<i><b>The PUNCH</b> </i>correspondent gathered that the incident which happened at Owolabi's residence last Saturday caused pandemonium in the neighborhood.</div>
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The correspondent gathered on Thursday that Owolabi, who is a sanitary officer at the council was receiving treatment at a hospital.</div>
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A source close to Owolabi said he became frustrated as a result of his inability to meet his family's needs.</div>
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The source said: "Baba Ibeji (Owolabi) drank herbicide. He was frustrated because he has been unable to feed himself and other members of his family.</div>
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"You are aware that the state government has not paid workers for some months now. I think he just lost hope and decided to take his life by drinking <i>Gramoxone</i>.</div>
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"Members of his family rushed him to a hospital in Ile Ife, where he was admitted. We are praying that he survives it."</div>
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Owolabi's wife and children were said to have relocated from their apartment and could not be reached for comment.</div>
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The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Mr. David Owoeye, tacitly confirmed the incident to <i>Punch</i> correspondent on the telephone.</div>
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Owoeye said: "Has the news spread to you? We don't want to make it public so that it will not embarrass the family."</div>
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A factional Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr. Gambi Yusuf, said the unpaid salaries had caused the workers untold hardship.</div>
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Yusuf said: "Anybody who is not paid for six months is a walking corpse. What do you expect him to eat? Even if the workers can fast, won't they break their fast?</div>
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"How do you expect them to feed their children?</div>
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"The government of the day should be more serious about workers' welfare.</div>
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"We are appealing to the government to pay workers because workers deserve their wages."</div>
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The Director of the state Bureau of Communication, Semiu Okanlawon, said: "I am not aware of the incident and I don't see the nexus between a man drinking poison and when the government will pay workers' salaries."</div>
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The state police spokesperson, Folasade Odoro, could not be reached on the telephone. She had also yet to reply to a text message sent to her phone.</div>
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Unpaid Salaries: Osun Govt Worker Attempts Suicide

A senior civil servant in the Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, Mr. Ojo Owolabi, has attempted to end his life by drinking a ...

Kunle Kalejaiye SAN Banned From Practicing For Misconduct Over Oyinlola-Aregbesola Election Petition

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<b>The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee has expelled a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Kunle Kalejaye, from further practising as a lawyer.</b></div>
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The LPDC disbarred ‎Kalejaye after finding him guilty of professional misconduct by a five-man panel of the LPDC, led by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa.</div>
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‎The LPDC found Kalejaye guilty of misconduct while representing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, at the Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, where Oyinlola's victory in the 2007 poll was being challenged, by the then candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.</div>
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Kalejaye was said to have engaged in "confidential, private and confidential telephone conversation" with the Chairman of the Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, Justice Thomas Naron,‎ without the knowledge of the other party.</div>
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‎He allegedly engaged in the "unprofessional act" between March and June 2008 and Justice Naron, with whom he committed the misconduct, had since on February 20, 2013 been compulsorily retired by the National Judicial Council.</div>
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The Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Ekiti Division, Justice Paul Galinje, who read the directive (judgment of the LPDC), held that the prosecution, the Nigerian Bar Association, proved its three-count complaint against Kalejaye.</div>
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The NBA was represented by Jibrin Okutepa (SAN).</div>
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He held that Kalejaiye violated the provisions of sections 1, 15, 30, 31, 34 and 55 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (2007).</div>
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The panel directed the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court to delete his name from the roll (list) of legal practitioners in the country.</div>
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The committee also directed that its decision should be served on the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Chief Judges of all the states of the federation, the Chief Judge of Federal High Court, Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, the Inspector General of Police and all states’ Commissioners of Police.</div>
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It also directed that the decision be published in the media.</div>
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Kalejaiye's lawyer, Niyi Owolade, a former Attorney General of Osun State, had objected to the LPDC's decision.</div>
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He said his client was about filing his appeal at the Supreme Court.</div>
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Under the Legal Practitioners Act, Kalejaiye has up to 28 days to appeal the decision, failing which it will become effective.</div>
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Kunle Kalejaiye SAN Banned From Practicing For Misconduct Over Oyinlola-Aregbesola Election Petition

The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee has expelled a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Kunle Kalejaye, from further practising...