Former Nigeria Vice President and chieftain of APC, Atiku Abubakar has cautioned against the use of military for the purpose of election which he said is anathema to the spirit of electioneering politics. In a statement from his media office in Abuja today, Atiku emphasized: “the use of the military for the purpose of election is an anathema to the very spirit of electioneering politics.” He made it clear that the rules of engagement of the military violates the principles of fundamental human rights which gives the people the power of franchise. The former Vice President who was reacting to reported random arrests, by security operatives, of the leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) shortly before the commencement of the governorship election in Osun State today, advised the security personnel to observe neutrality and professionalism in the monitoring of the election. There was wide spread reports, between yesterday and today, of soldiers and officials of the Department of State Security (DSS) arresting APC leaders and members across the state. Atiku called on the relevant authorities behind the deployment of troops for the governorship election in Osun State to give instructions to the soldiers and state security agents on the imperative of limited and minimal engagement associated with the nature of their assignment. According to him, the mood of terror being reported to have been created in the state is capable of distorting the expected free and fair outcome of the election. [myad]
The national publicity secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that Nigerian security operatives have now stopped working for Nigeria as a nation, but have constituted themselves into what he called President Goodluck Jonathan soldiers, policemen and DSS officials.
In a press statement shortly after he was released from detention in Osogbo, capital of Osun state, where governorship election is currently ongoing, Lai Mohammed regretted that he was arrested along with other APC Chieftains for no reason other than they were in opposition.
“The way and manner we were harassed, arrested and dehumanized on Friday night show that Nigerian citizens can no longer be sure that the security agents they encounter on the roads or anywhere else are well-trained and highly-disciplined men and women in the military, police, DSS and others that we used to know. What we have now are Jonathan’s soldiers, policemen and DSS officials who have since stopped working for the nation but are now the enforcement arm of the PDP.”
The APC said that he was arrested in Gestapo Style by hooded security agents in Osogbo on Friday night, adding that the incidence has shown the level of illegality, lawlessness, anarchy and intolerance to which Nigeria has descended under the watch of President Jonathan.
He said that he was arrested along with Mr. Sunday Dare, the Media Aide to APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Mr. Afolabi Salisu, Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State.
”We were being driven to the Government House when we were stopped at a military check point by men in military and DSS uniforms, all hooded and armed to the teeth with AK-47 assault rifles, pistols and other weapons. Since there was no curfew in Osun state and people were moving around freely, we felt it was a routine check.
”Suddenly, the men, some of them apparently drunk, ordered us out of the car, took our phones, pointed their assault rifles at our heads and said ‘you are under arrest’. They herded us into their bus like animals and drove away. There is no doubt that they knew who we are because I introduced myself!
”From our encounter with our tormentors, there is also no doubt that these were not just soldiers and DSS officials, there were also ex-militants and thugs, all clad in military and DSS uniforms but apparently lacking in any training! We also witnessed how men in military and DSS uniform fired their guns at the gate leading to the residence of Senator Isiaka Adeleke to force it open!
”We asked them why we were being arrested, but they ignored our question as they drove for close to one hour before veering into a compound that turned out to be the offices of the DSS. There, we met people who had been previously arrested and stripped of their clothing, many of them bloodied from the beatings to which they must have been subjected.
”We were herded to one side as our tormentors marched around triumphantly, in what could well have been a scene from the Ukraine! We were waiting for our turn to be stripped of our apparels and taken along with those who were arrested earlier to the DSS cells when a man who is apparently a senior DSS official intervened and ordered our release. The men who arrested us, apparently unhappy at the order to set us free, rejected the order, until the man asserted his authority and even accompanied us to where we were arrested from.
”Back there, we discovered that our driver has been badly beaten and even robbed of his personal belongings by the same security agents being paid by the taxpayers to protect the citizens, whose ranks have now been swelled, willingly, by thugs and ex-militants, armed and dressed in official uniforms by the PDP and sanctioned by the Jonathan-led Federal Government!
”This arrest is not about Lai Mohammed, Sunday Dare or Afolabi Salisu, whoever we may be, but about the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of Nigerians, ordinary Nigerians, to move around freely, associate with any party of their choice and express their opinions without being molested or arrested.
”The way and manner we were harassed, arrested and dehumanized on Friday night show that Nigerian citizens can no longer be sure that the security agents they encounter on the roads or anywhere else are well-trained and highly-disciplined men and women in the military, police, DSS and others that we used to know. What we have now are Jonathan’s soldiers, policemen and DSS officials who have since stopped working for the nation but are now the enforcement arm of the PDP.
”As we write this, APC leaders and members are still being harassed and arrested across Osun State. We have just received reports that our members were arrested in Ifelodun Local Government Ward 10,.Atakumosa East Local Government and Ife East Local Government, Okerewe Wards 2 and 3. Over all we have ninety-seven leaders of our party in detention and the arrest has not stopped. This cannot be right.
”Our party, the APC, has no doubt whatsoever that the depravity being exhibited under President Jonathan’s watch, in the name of politics, has his imprimatur. We have no doubt that elections, which should be a celebration of democracy, have now been turned to war because of the desperation of President Jonathan to win re-election at all costs. We have no doubt that the anarchic Minister of State for Defence and Minister of Police Affairs, who are leading the ”troops” in Osun as they did in Ekiti, are taking their cue from President Jonathan.
”If those Ministers can move around freely in Osun and elsewhere, why can’t other Nigerians, irrespective of the party they belong to? If a PDP hireling like Chris Uba can be put in the command of 50 soldiers of the Nigerian Army, why should anyone still be under any illusion that the Nigerian Army is still serving the nation? Where else in the world is a thug commanding disciplined forces?
”We, Lai Mohammed, Sunday Dare and Afolabi Salisu, are just fortunate to be alive. The guns pointed at our heads by drunken armed men could have gone off! Since our arrest took place in the dark, we could have been driven to an unknown destination and shot dead! This is a dangerous time for Nigeria and her democracy. Irrespective of the outcome of the Osun election, democracy has been dealt a near-mortal blow. 73,000 ‘security agents’, including the military, police, DSS, Civil Defence, ex-militants, thugs and murderers, deployed to police election in just one state? There is no better indication that we are in a militarized democracy.
”Again, we call on President Jonathan to stop deceiving the world. In one breath, this President says he is committed to credible elections and that his political ambition is not worth the life of any Nigerian. In another, he sanctions state-sponsored harassment, intimidation and even killing of ordinary Nigerians by security forces that are now the enforcement arm of the ruling party, all in the name of politics.
”He desecrates national institutions by willfully using them against the opposition. This is not the democracy that many of our compatriots fought and died for. This is not the Nigeria that was envisaged by our past heroes. It is time for all concerned to step in and stop President Jonathan before he brings the country crashing down on our heads,” APC chief spokesman concluded. [myad]
President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Abduwahed Omar has warned against turning Osun state, currently witnessing the election of the next governor, into a war zone. He feels worried over the deployment of armed security men and women to the State as part of preparations ahead of the election.
In a statement, Comrade Omar said believed that deployment of armed soldiers to election venue cannot be helpful to the growth of any democratic culture, saying that it portends an infringement on the rights of the electorate who may refuse to participate in the election as a result of the intimidating presence of armed security agents.
“More worrisome is the reported shootings across the state capital by officers of the State Security Service (SSS) shortly after arriving the state for election-related duties. We wonder why the SSS had to waste bullets shooting sporadically to scare residents who were not engaged in any form of violence at the time of the shootings.”
The NLC boss stressed that inasmuch as elections are very important to any democracy, “we caution that the state should not be turned into a war.” [myad]
Governor Aregbesola had arrived with his wife, Sherifat, at about 10.40am at his Unit 1, Ward 8 Polling Unit at Ifofin to cast his vote. He described the turnout of the electorate as impressive.
The governor, who was accredited at about 10.43am, said he was happy with the conduct of the exercise in his ward.
He said though he could not use the situation in his ward to assess the over all performance of INEC, he was happy with what he saw in his ward.
The governor said the enthusiasm of voters had re-affirmed the democratic consciousness of the people.
He said, “These people (voters) are more democratic than most of us. They are passionate and conscious of their democratic obligation.
“I wish the leadership of this country will be more passionate in building a just and democratic society.”
The governor, however, condemned the reported arrest of some people who he claimed were his party leaders.
The PDP candidate, Omisore, who presented himself for accreditation at his Moore Ward at 11.27 am, described the exercise as largely successful.
The PDP flagbearer, who said that the turnout of voters at Ile-Ife was impressive, reiterated his commitment to ensuring a peaceful conduct of the election.
Meanwhile, Labour Party candidate, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade, says he is still in the governorship race. Akinbade spoke after being accredited at his Ward 3,Unit 1 Polling Centre at his Ogbagba home town
Akinbade was accredited at about 9.28am and he expressed confidence in the ability of INEC and other security agencies to ensure a successful poll.
The governorship election started smoothly with large turned out of voters at various polling centres. Reports reaching us showed that voters started to pour into the polling centres for accreditation as early as 6 a.m. ahead of the official time of 8 a.m. Reports said that despite a light rainfall in the early hours of today, the turnout was impressive. Alhaji Bamidele Suleiman, a party ward collation agent, said more than 100 voters had arrived in Unit 19 Ward 5 in Osogbo Local Government Area as early as 6.30 a.m. Voters at PU 002 in Oloki/Akoda, Ede South LGA Photo By Dapo Akinrefon. In Ward 001, Ataoja E, many voters said they were in the ward early to do accreditation in time to cast votes as quick as possible. Mrs Titilayo Amoo, one of the voters at Unit 16, Osogbo Local Government, said she led some other women to the unit early enough to participate in the election. Mr Jolayemi Gabriel, 76, said he was impressed that elder citizens such as himself were at the polling unit early enough. However, Sulieman alleged that the opposition party APC was providing canopies for voters, saying that it was not in line with INEC guidelines. Reacting to the allegation, Alhaji Bashiru Ajebade, the leader of Ward five Oke-Arungbo community in Osogbo Local Government Area, said the canopies were provided by members of the community. He said they were to be used in the event of rainfall and to provide shade for the elderly voters. Mr Kayode Odewale from the same ward, however, expressed satisfaction with the turnout of INEC and security officials. He commended voters for coming out on time to vote. Among the voters, who came out early for accreditation, were elderly women and men. At Ward four, polling units 19 and 20 on Old Governor’s Office, Osogbo, accreditation did not start on time in spite of a massive turn-out of voters. The Presiding Officer, who wished to be identified as Oluwasheyin, apologized to voters for the “slight delay’’, adding that they faced some little challenges in setting up some structures, coupled with the rain shower. She appealed to voters to be orderly and remain within the vicinity of the centre, to enable them to vote immediately after accreditation at 12.30 p.m. At Ward 20 of the centre, election materials arrived at about 7.20 a.m. where a Presiding Officer, Festus Okoli, said they were well secured. Some of the voters whose names were in the voters’ register, said they were not listed alphabetically as they expected. The correspondents monitoring the exercise in Ilesa West and East local government, report that many voters had queued as early as 6.30 a.m. waiting to be accredited. At Unit 10, ward five, at African Church Grammar School, Ilesha West, anxious voters were already in the queue waiting to be accredited. Mrs Adebimpe Oluwole, a 65-year old woman,said that she arrived at the polling unit at about 6:30 am waiting for accreditation. At Ilesa East, units 1 and 2, at Oke Obanla, large numbers of voters were seen checking their names on the register. There was heavy presence of security operatives in each of the polling units. At the Unit seven, ward 1, at Igbogi Junction, Orinkiran, the exercise which started at 8 a.m., also witnessed a huge turnout of electorate for registration, with many of them checking their names on the register. Miss Abifoluwa Olorode, INEC ad hoc worker, said that she arrived at the unit around 7: 05 a.m. Olorode said the turnout of the electorate was impressive. Unit one, Ward eight, Ifofin, Ilesha East which is the polling unit of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the election, witnessed a huge turnout of voters. Mrs. Sarafat Aregbesola, the mother of Gov. Rauf Aregesola, was the first voter to be accredited. Aregbesola said she was impressed with the turnout of the voters for the accreditation. She expressed the belief that her son, Aregbesola, would be re-elected. However, voters’ accreditation started at 8 a.m. in most of the polling units at Ilesha West and East local government areas. At Ward 1 in Ilode near Ife, accreditation started at 8 a.m. with appreciable turnout of voters. Mrs Funke Akanni, a voter and Alhaji Hassan Arogundade, 85, said they came out as early as 8 a.m. and everything was peaceful. The PDP National Secretary, Mr Wale Oladipo, commended INEC for adequate preparation and arrangement, saying there was enough security. [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has declared a national emergency on the control and containment of the Ebola virus in Nigeria, even as he approved the immediate release of the sum of N1.9 Billion for the implementation of a Special Intervention Plan.
The President directed the Federal Ministry of Health to work in collaboration with the State Ministries of Health, the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to ensure that all possible steps are taken to effectively contain the threat of the Ebola virus in line with international protocols and best practices.
President Jonathan, who met relevant stakeholders in the health sector earlier today, wanted on-going steps to contain the virus to be strengthened. They include the establishment of additional isolation centres, case management, contact tracing, deployment of additional personnel, screening at borders, and the procurement of required items and facilities.
The President commends the vigilance of aviation and health authorities in Lagos who identified and isolated the index case in Nigeria, the late Patrick Sawyer, an American-Liberian who flew into the country.
He also applauds the good work of health authorities at both State and Federal levels who have traced persons who had contact with him, isolated other identified cases and embarked on massive public enlightenment.
President Jonathan calls for even greater vigilance and co-operation at all levels to stop the Ebola virus from spreading further.
As the effective implementation of the Federal Government’s Special Intervention Plan will require other stakeholders to take certain precautionary steps that are supportive of the government’s initiative, the President calls on members of the public to follow all directives by health authorities and report any suspected Ebola case to the nearest health facility for immediate medical attention.
He also enjoins the public to desist from spreading false information about Ebola which can lead to mass hysteria, panic and misdirection, including unverified suggestions about the prevention, treatment, cure and spread of the virus.
President Jonathan urges that the movement of corpses from one community to the other, and from overseas into the country should be stopped forthwith. Every death should be reported to the relevant authorities, and special precautions should be taken in handling corpses.
Religious and political groups, spiritual healing centres, families, associations and other bodies should, in the meantime, discourage gatherings and activities that may unwittingly promote close contact with infected persons or place others at risk.
Public enlightenment agencies, including privately-owned media organs should support government’s efforts and disseminate correct information in all Nigerian languages, about preventive personal hygiene measures, the nature of the Ebola virus, modes of transmission and consequential steps to be taken in the event of infection.
President Jonathan appeals to State governments and private day care, nursery, primary and secondary schools owners to consider the option of extending the current school holiday until such a time when a national reassessment of the level of the Ebola threat is conducted.
The President further directs the National Emergency Management Agency and similar agencies at the state level to strengthen their public enlightenment campaigns and to use their networks to distribute hand sanitisers and other protective items nationwide. He has also directed the aviation and health authorities to embark on immediate intensification of the screening of travelers at all the nation’s borders.
President Jonathan reassures everyone that the Government of Nigeria will continue to take every step, deploy all resources, and mobilize every support and assistance to check the spread of Ebola in the country.
Medical workers and other health professionals are expected to regard this declaration of a National Emergency as a patriotic call to duty and service. [myad]
“I want to make it categorically clear that I stand by every letter of the document I signed – that the strike was suspended. Since upon my integrity and honour, I cannot continue to drive the doctrine that the strike continues.”
President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Kayode Obembe made these statements in his letter of resignation today.
Dr. Obembe made it clear that he is not comfortable with the crisis within the organization regarding whether or not their current strike would end in face of the Ebola outbreak and insurgency attacks.
He said: “What I have written, I have written.”
After an extended delegates’ meeting yesterday, the country’s foremost medical doctors’ union decided to continue their strike, despite a voice vote to call it off. Voice votes are not recognized by NMA’s constitution. A legitimate vote called for a continuation of the strike. [myad]
Two United State of American war planes, F/A-18 Jets were believed to have dropped 500 pound bombs on Islamic militants’ artillery positions and convoy which were being used to shell Kurdish forces that are defending the city of Irbil. The attacks were announced a few hours ago in a statement released by Pentagon Press Secretary, John Kirby. President Obama had said in a speech late yesterday night that U.S. military planes had earlier dropped a total of 72 bundles of food and water. The planes also “delivered 5,300 gallons of fresh drinking water and 8,000 pre-packaged meals” at the request of the Iraqi government to the Iraqi minorities surrounded by ISIS militants The U.S Defense Secretary, Chuck Hagel told reporters that U.S military has sufficient resources as well as intelligence to launch both manned and unmanned Drone attacks on targets in and around Iraq. In answering reporters’ questions on ISIS militants hiding among civilians, the Secretary said U.S military knows where the militants are and would seek them out where ever they are hiding. It remains unclear how many militants were killed as a result of the U.S air strike. The ISIS militants are going after the Yardis minorities who are not Muslims, and had issued ultimatum to the minority groups to convert to Islam. Last week, a member of the Yardis minority group said that there was no one to help them. But President Obama in his response yesterday night, said that America would help. The President also said: “As commander in chief, I will not allow the United States to be dragged into fighting another war in Iraq.” American soldiers are stationed in Irbil where the U.S has a Consulate office. ISIS forces have captured much territory in Syria and Iraq and have talked about their plans to establish a new Islamic state in the captured territories where they have already established a new Caliphate ruler. Obama had said that Islamic State (IS) fighters would be targeted to prevent the slaughter of religious minorities, or if they threaten U.S interests.
IS has seized Qaraqosh, Iraq’s biggest Christian town, forcing locals to flee. The Sunni Muslim group, formerly known as ISIS, has been gaining ground in northern Iraq and Syria for several months.
In a rapid advance in June, the group took control of the northern city of Mosul and advanced south towards Baghdad. It now controls large swathes of Iraq and Syria and says it has created an Islamic caliphate in its territory. [myad]
Nigerian Army has admitted that members of the deadly Boko Haram actually captured and occupied Damboa, Manga, Wanga, Delwa and Mustafari villages all in Borno state, but that special forces from the military, newly created, have retrieved the villages.
Director of Defence Information Major General Chris Olukolade said in a statement that Boko Haram had already mounted their flag, a symbol of conquered territory, before the Special Forces dislodged them.
According to him, the 600 men Special Forces were deployed in Gwoza specifically to recover the villages occupied by Boko Haram, adding that scores of members of the sect were killed in the process.
General Olukolade said that the troops have severally engaged Boko Haram in fierce encounters and have been arresting terrorists who had held Gwoza and its surrounding villages hostage.
“Special Forces in the ongoing counter-terrorism campaign have cleared Delwa, Mustafari, Manga, Wanga and Damboa of terrorists who have been rampaging in the communities.
“The special operation, which began early in the week, is meant to restore law and order to the area and apprehend all terrorists who have been operating in the locality.
“The operation, which has so far lasted 40 hours has dove-tailed into the mop up phase during which the remnants of insurgents are being cleared from the communities.
“The mop up phase will also ascertain the casualties as additional efforts are also been made to ensure the protection of innocent civilians during the operation.
“Meanwhile, troops are also involved in manoeuvres to apprehend terrorists who have been attacking Gwoza and surrounding localities since Tuesday, causing the death of many civilians.”
A military source added: “The battle in Gwoza is fierce because the Special Forces have been pursuing the Boko Haram members to the hills in the area. Their efforts are complemented by massive aerial bombardments.
“Certainly, it will be a battle to the finish this time around with the insurgents in the affected areas.
“They have almost taken over a quarter of Borno State; we will never cede any part of Nigeria to the insurgents.”
It was gathered last night that the Emir of Gwoza was relocated to Maiduguri to avoid a repeat of the killing of his father, the late Emir Idrissa Timta in May. [myad]
Tomorrow, Saturday, August 9, electorate in Osun state, South West Nigeria, will go to polling booths to elect a new governor that will run the affairs of the state in the next four years. Indeed, the governorship election has been on all lips for various reasons which include the ridiculous and the altruistic. The election, like the bulbous aquatic creature, octopus, could be hinged on eight legs. What do the Osun election and the octopus have in common? The octopus has eight legs just as Osun governorship election is taking place in the eighth month of the year. Considered as the world’s most intelligent invertebrate, the octopus has a wide range of techniques through which it thwarts attackers. In like manner, the Independent National Electoral Commission has devised some strategies to thwart plans by unscrupulous politicians to rig the election as INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, on Wednesday vowed that the Osun election cannot be rigged. The virtue of the octopus was brought to the fore at the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa when Paul, the Octopus, made stunning accurate predictions that brought him global attention as an animal oracle. Unlike Paul the Octopus, proffering an accurate prediction for the all-important election would be a Herculean task but a little journey down history lane and a look at emerging political issues could open a window into where the pendulum might likely swing on August 9. The eight legs of the octopus include: The real battle Although Osun is the epicentre of the election battle, the battleground is Nigeria and the ultimate prize is the Presidency. The election is about Jonathan and Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, the likely presidential candidate of the APC. The election is about the North seeking to reinvent itself in a reordered Nigerian polity, where it is fast losing hold on power. Jonathan, however, seems to be having an edge with the gale of impeachments hitting APC-controlled states, the North-East insurgency diminishing the possibility of conducting elections in the region and the recent victory of the PDP in Ekiti.
South-West perception The Jonathan presidency is largely perceived by the Yoruba as anti-South-West with the lopsidedness in federal appointments against the people of the region. Only, the post of the Chief of Staff, a non-constitutional and non-executive role, is the highest a Yoruba ever got in the Jonathan presidency. Leaders like PDP Board of Trustee member, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, have dismissed the insinuation that the president had treated the Yoruba with disdain, insisting that the President has appointed some Yoruba persons into important offices. Speaking during his defection on Tuesday, Oyinlola lamented that Jonathan did not appoint a Yoruba into any of the top posts in the country. He also said, “Omisore is greedy. I don’t know who killed Bola Ige o. The person nominated by Omisore to replace me as national secretary of the PDP was with him in prison (when he was standing trial for Ige’s murder); the person he nominated as minister of police affairs, (Jelili Adesiyan), was with him in prison too. The person who is being nominated to run for Osun-Central senatorial district post (Kunle Alao) was also with him in jail. The state chairman of the party, (Gani Olaoluwa) was also with him in jail? It is only his deputy governorship candidate (Adejare Bello) that did not go to jail with them. Are we saying that if you don’t go to jail you can’t lead? The inability of the Jonathan administration to solve the problems of insurgency and insecurity has become an albatross for the PDP.
Osun political history Historically, the emergence of Isiaka Adeleke in January 2, 1992 as the first executive governor of Osun State on the platform of the Social Democratic Party, a party peopled by self-styled progressives, and the ascension of Bisi Akande to power as governor in May 29, 1999 on the ticket of the Alliance for Democracy set the political foot of Osun on ‘progressive lane.’ But when Olagunsoye Oyinlola, a former Military Administrator of Lagos State, whose father was an ardent Action Group supporter, emerged governor in May 29, 2003 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, the political landscape of Osun was set to be dominated by the ‘conservatives,’ an appellation, by which the PDP is largely called. However, there is an insignificant line of difference between the ideologies of the PDP and the All Progressives Congress as defection by politicians from both political parties is as easy as stepping through a door. Actions by politicians of the two leading parties depict lookalike Siamese twins.
When a Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan sacked the Oyinlola administration in November 2010 and proclaimed Rauf Aregbesola as governor, the statewide thunderous jubilation and excitement that greeted the sacking showed that the electorate was done with the PDP. The mass appeal of the APC as a political brand in Osun came to the fore during the 2011 general elections when the party, operating under the name of Action Congress of Nigeria, swept all elective posts even as its presidential candidate, Nuhu Ribadu, thumped the eventual winner, President Goodluck Jonathan, in the state. Osun was the only state in the South-West where the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission boss won in the federation. In the 2011 Osun-Central senatorial election, the candidate of the ACN, Sola Adeyeye, defeated Oyinlola by 80, 526 votes, scoring 129, 527 votes against the former governor’s 49, 001 votes. The candidate of the PDP in Osun-East senatorial election, Iyiola Omisore scored 51, 315 votes while ACN candidate, Jide Omoworare, scored 119, 852 votes, leaving a marginal difference of 68,537. Like Oyinlola, Isiaka Adeleke conceded defeat in the Osun-West senatorial race as he congratulated ACN candidate in the election, Mudashiru Hussain, who defeated him by 44,881 votes with Adeleke scoring 77,090 votes and Hussain scoring 121,971 votes. Displaying a rare sense of sportsmanship, however, Oyinlola, Isiaka and Omisore accepted the result of the election and congratulated the winners. Emerging variables Certainly, a lot of water has passed under the bridge since 2011. The PDP, whose members were booed on the streets after the ouster of the Oyinlola administration, has come on powerfully onto the political scene. The APC no longer maintains a vice-like grip on Osun politics as a result of some of its policies and the resurgence of the opposition under the leadership of Omisore, who has spent resources and time to build and maintain the party’s structure. Omisore said that the APC had opened a campaign of calumny against him by continuously labelling him as the killer of the slain Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, despite being discharged and acquitted by a law court because the party knows that it stood no chance against his popularity and acceptability.
The demolition of several buildings in the capital city, Osogbo, did not go down well with the people of Osogbo, whose support for Aregbesola was colossal. Also, the religious chaos caused by the wearing of the ‘hijab,’ a face covering by Muslim students in Christian secondary schools and the attendant resistance by Christian faithful left the public image of the government with a black eye. Similarly, the merging of public schools and the evolution of a single uniform for all public schoolchildren drew the ire of a large number of Osun people, who saw the policies as bad and ineffective. Some groups protested the school merger, saying it would erode the heritage built by proprietors and old students of such schools. The infrastructural achievements of the Aregbesola administration in the three geopolitical zones of the state cannot be overlooked, however. The peopling of the state executive cabinet with members, who are relatively not known to the masses, is another reason why people are not happy with the administration just as a good number of such members do not connect with the electorate as local politicians would. This coupled with the global economic meltdown and the attendant shrinking of federal allocation has made the masses to call on Aregbesola to stop ‘tarring roads’ and embark on ‘tarring stomachs.’ Massive deployment of military men for the election has not gone down well with the people of the state, who detest the siege mentality foisted by the soldiers. The deployment may be counter-productive for the ruling party, whom many see as being behind the action. Aregbesola is being seen as a victim of PDP-led Federal Government highhandedness and he has been gaining voters’ sympathy on this account. OYES The establishment of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme and the employment of 40, 000 youths as volunteers is seen as a deft stroke by Aregbesola to not only engage youths but also to increase his support base. The PDP criticized the scheme, which it described as servitude, promising to make Osun youths gainfully employed if elected into office.
Obasanjo, Oyinlola, Adeleke, Akinbade factors Although former President Olusegun Obasanjo is still in the PDP, his political loyalists are in the APC. The National Chairman, South-West APC, Segun Oni, who is a former Governor of Ekiti State, is an Obasanjo loyalist. The same thing goes for Oyinlola, who accused Jonathan of not trusting him despite his loyal service to the PDP. Investigation shows that the PDP wields considerable influence in Odo-Otin, prior to Oyinlola’s defection. His defection is likely to affect the fortunes the PDP in Odo-Otin, in particular. Known for his control of Ede and Egbedore councils in particular, the defection of Adeleke was a big minus for the PDP, whose leaders he accused of beating him up and threatening to kill him. Also, the defection of a former Secretary to Osun State Government under Oyinlola, Fatai Akinbade, to Labour Party has been a big talking point of the election because Akinbade is seen essentially as a grass-roots politician with numerous supporters.
The PDP is wont to say it is not missing any of its past leaders who had defected. Specifically, Omisore said, “Aregbesola lost this election over a year ago. The PDP is winning the election. If they (defectors) were with us before and we lost, maybe it is time we changed our tactics so that we could win. You can’t continue to give the same drug to a patient that is not getting well.” The state Chairman of Osun PDP, Gani Olaoluwa, and the party’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Diran Odeyemi, said the party will not miss any member who defected just as he described Oyinlola as a “political traitor, who is never consistent.” APC, Tinubu factors The APC has been lampooned by the PDP as a party that thrives on the imposition of candidates and also of being under the iron-grip of its national leader, Bola Tinubu. If the Osun election was held four months ago, it would have been a close call between the two leading parties. But the APC, in the last few weeks, has been able to settle areas of disaffection among the populace which include payment of salary arrears, payment of pensions and compensation to people whose buildings were demolished in the urban renewal scheme of the government. A national leader of the PDP, Bode Goerge, called Tinubu the Emperor of Bourdillon, “whose daughter must be Iyaloja, whose wife must be a senator, whose in-law must be in the House of Reps; who must control everything. But the people are wiser now.”
Voter statistics Both Aregbesola and Omisore hail from Osun-East senatorial district with the former hailing from Ilesa while Omisore hails from Ife. Ijesa communities have six councils which include Oriade, Obokun, Ilesa-West, Ilesa-East, Atakumosa-East and Atakumosa-West with a voter population of 241, 807 while Ife communities with Ife-Central, Ife-East, Ife-North and Ife-South having a voter population of 266, 891. However, the massive support of Aregbesola in Osogbo local government councils with 182, 250 voter population cannot be overlooked.
When addressing a stakeholders’ forum, which included Aregbesola in Osogbo, on Tuesday, Jega expressed satisfaction that 70.13 per cent of the voter population had collected the Permanent Voter Cards translating into 986, 117 voters. He assured that INEC will conduct credible election in Osun. Pray, who among the 20 candidates in the election would Octopus Paul have picked if he were still alive? May be Paul would have been able to tell if the election would be greeted by violence and bloodshed. [myad]
Most Nigerians today, bowed to phone calls or text messages that asked them to bath warm water mixed with table salt as a way of preventing the deadly Ebola virus infection.
The message which emanated from the ruler of the Igala Kingdom, the Attah of Igala in Kogi state, prescribed salt solution as a magical vaccine against the virus. This led to Nigerians scrambling for salt-water bath for protection from the deadly Ebola virus.
Local radio and TV stations in Kogi state had quoted the monarch, Attah Idakwo Michael Ameh Oboni, late yesterday night, as making the prescriptions from his palace in Idah, the traditional capital of Igalaland. Oboni offered the purported prescription after the Nigerian government declared that the pandemic had become a national emergency.
The prescription, originally intended for people of the Igala Kingdom, quickly went viral on social media and text messaging platforms. Relatives also exchanged telephone calls advising one another to bath with salt-water solution.
The salt solution bath remedy was reinforced after claims that a Catholic priest, Ejike Mbaka, also asked his followers to perform some religious rituals which included drinking salt water.
Salt and water are the major ingredients of the Holy Water used for a wide range of physical and spiritual purpose by Catholics.
Nigerians who phones their loved ones also asked them to chew bitter kola before they leave their houses for offices or business places.
The Igala king’s “magical prescription” was received with great enthusiasm by residents panicked by the spread of the virus around the West African sub-region.
According to local report, the monarch prescribed that a pinch of salt be added to about 15 litres of water and used for a soapless bath.
One bath with the salt solution is all that is required, residents who admitted performing the ‘immunization’ ritual said.
“We have nothing to lose with a salt water bath,” Attanasius Ameh, a resident of Idah in Kogi state said, justifying the ritual.
He argued that faced with a no-vaccine-no-cure situation, a simple salt solution bath as a potential vaccine was a chance shot at survival many were willing to take.
“I have done it,” Juliet Gimba, a resident of Lokoja said, adding: “I put a pinch of salt in a bucket full of water and had my bath without soap. I bathed all my children with it too. There is no cure for Ebola. This is the best I can do to protect my family.”
There is no medical proof that salt water solution could prevent the transmission of Ebola.
The king did not also explain how he came about the prescription.
An epidemiologist with the Kwara State ministry of health, Dr Michael Oguntoye, cautioned against the use of such concoctions for either the prevention or the treatment of the Ebola Virus Disease.
Oguntoye advised Nigerians to beware of GSM text messages asking them to bath and drink salt solution as a preventive medicine against the dreaded virus.
The expert on Public Health said that he had received such messages and calls from people asking for the authenticity of the claim.
He said the claim had not been medically proven that bathing with salt and drinking salt solution could cure or protect one from the Ebola virus.
“Ebola disease is contracted through close contact with blood, saliva, sweat, semen or secretions from organs of infected individuals and animals. People are only advised to disinfect their surroundings with one cup of Jik in nine cups of water solution in all their surrounding daily.”
According to the epidemiologist, there is no evidence to show that drinking salt can kill the virus.
Oguntoye also warned people against using Jik solution to bath, adding that the solution is only to disinfect the surroundings against the virus.
The expert reiterated that the virus is deadly with high mortality rate and no known cure.
And Nigerian government has also issued a statement warning that bathing with salted baths is not a cure for the deadly Ebola Virus. [myad]
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