Sunday Akere on Transit of a Needless Political Journey

When Hon Akere Sunday was inventing the cyclone that relegated him to Osun APC reserved bench, I wrote few lines on Facebook so he could do the needful before things fell apart (though not too late).

I wanted Hon Sunday Akere to realign with the mainstream. As his lover, I knew he had nothing to gain romancing political hustlers. I was afraid he may lose the social capital our leaders invested in him and the premium the youths also placed on his person.

As a good leader, Hon Akere called when he saw my post. He knew what I was talking about but chosen to ignore the valid point in my message. He threatened to sue me if I'm adamant on retaining that particular write-up. I politely opted for the litigation challenge and our conversation ends there.

Today, where is Hon Akere standing? What value have those desperate minds he has been romancing added to his political profile? Does it change the leadership system in Osun APC? Is he still thinking his new allies possessed what it takes to dislodge the 'mainstream' from Osun politics?

When I read his message on Facebook last night, I was confused and wanted to be sure his Facebook account hadn't been hacked. As a party member, I knew Hon Akere to be a fighter who always stand on his feet till his ambition is realized. It was so strange to see him denying his involvement in the scheming of Demola Adeleke ambition to become APC senator.

I didn't know how to accurately decode his expression and still don't know till now. Was that message a retreat or a surrender note? Was it a step to come back? Was it another political strategy? Or did somebody cloned his Facebook??

It's quite unfortunate that Hon Akere drove himself to this needless political wilderness. He is a man of good aura. A man of Governor Aregbesola's heart. Mr. Governor loves him, everybody loves him. He is one of the leaders I would vouch for when loyalty and determination are questioned.

I still don't believe the love of money influenced his decision to join the rebel group, I believe he was played into it. He is surrounded by pessimists and confused minds. Though there may be an element of truth in the rumour of him nursing political ambition, could that be his reason to align with enemies of a man God used for his elevation?

Rather than denying his involvement in the recently 'failed political coup' he should just come back to his boss with his hands down in a sober mode like the prodigal son in the scripture. I know Aregbesola will find a way to reunite him with the family.

He should pick his phone and congratulate Mr. Governor for dismantling their plans, accepts defeat, concedes to the reality that Aregbesola is the grandmaster of Osun politics and return back to his root before the bigger political tsunami of the mainstream finally consume him.

This is my 10 kobo advice.

Wale ALABI of the Progressives e-Group

Rauf Aregbesola, His Cabinet, and Lessons in Governance

Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s refusal to constitute a cabinet for a long time in his state of Osun may have been quite controversial but the lessons for democracy and governance should not be missed now that the cabinet has been constituted.

Consistently, the motive of the governor had been that the state’s finances could not cope with payment of salaries of commissioners and other political appointees. The governor was even dragged to court by the opposition elements and civil society organisations. And even not too long ago, a court summoned the state chief executive officer for explanation on why he had been adamant about the composition of the state executive council, a constitutional provision in Sections 192 & 193 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

In the absence of an executive council, the governor appointed some individuals called coordinating directors, without recourse to the state assembly. The coordinating directors played some roles similar to those of commissioners, and worked with permanent secretaries.

And consequent upon this unusual political action, an Osun State High Court in Osogbo had in October last year ordered Aregbesola to defend himself on why he failed to constitute his cabinet since his inauguration on November 27, 2014, following a case filed by one Kanmi Ajibola.

Besides, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had described Aregbesola’s refusal to appoint commissioners more than two years into his administration as “barbaric, illegal, unacceptable and democratically faulty.”

The opposition party even faulted the Federal Government, which it accused of granting Osun bailout funds without state executive council resolution on the matter as a necessary condition for the release of such funds.

Aregbesola had, of course, responded that his government had instituted the most transparent financial system in the allocation of resources that accrued to the state, insisting that he could not pay salaries of commissioners and other political office holders and that was why he chose not to constitute the cabinet.

He said Osun pioneered the constitution of a committee saddled with the responsibility of assisting the state government in the allocation of state revenue to ensure prompt payment of salaries as well as adequate running of government.

That committee, in truth, is headed by a veteran Labour leader, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu.Other members include the chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun; Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council, Chairman of Osun’s Nigerian Union of Teachers and government representatives, who are not political appointees.

Certainly, the world and indeed the people of Nigeria, now in need of purposeful leadership, should note that the development in Osun State should not be trivialised.

There is no doubt that allowing a state to be run without a state executive council for 33 months was unusual. But were Aregbesola’s decision to fit into the mould of an error, then he would have erred in the direction of prudence. Interestingly, he did not even act in error.

There is a marked difference between the federal and state governments. It is curious that political leaders have not taken note, and even Aregbesola might not have taken note but for financial adversity that has led to its discovery – that while it is compulsory for the president to constitute a cabinet and appoint ministers from each of the 36 states of the federation, it is, in fact, not mandatory for the states, according to the constitution as amended.

Also, Section 14 (3) and 147 of the 1999 Constitution provides that the President shall “appoint at least one minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state,” a principle which may also be applied in part to the states, but the law did not specify a time frame for such appointment.

While the president and the governors exercise the executive powers vested in them in Section 5 of Constitution through delegation to the ministers and other appointees, a governor has not breached any law by not appointing commissioners as members of the state executive Council. This is the evidence: Section 192 (1) provides:

There shall be such offices of Commissioners of the Government of a State as may be established by the Governor of the State. Section 193 91) provides too: The Governor of a state, may in his discretion, assign to the Deputy Governor or any Commissioner of the Government of the State responsibility for any business of the Government of that State, including the administration of any department of Government.

There is ample evidence in the circumstances that while the state required a whopping N1.7 billion for just monthly salaries, not to talk of other duties to the people, it often received much less than that from the federation account. This means that paying even the civil servants became an uphill task, let alone political office holders who are often parasites and could constitute political risks if they were owed.

What is more, the executive council cannot be more important than the people’s council. Office holders cannot be more important than the people whose votes and sweat sent them into such offices and for whom the offices are held in trust. The people in civil-service states like Osun especially need to be taken care of with regular payment of civil servants’ salaries. Traders and other service providers in such states depend on regular payment of salaries of their regular customers. That is how the state economy works. And that, appropriately, was Aregbesola’s priority.

So, at this critical time when most citizens are worried about prudence in the context of dwindling revenues at all levels, it is quite important for political leaders at all levels to learn from Osun and consider cutting the cost of governance as a fundamental objective in a state’s policy thrust. This is one relevant take-away from the Aregbesola example. Indeed, the courage to refuse to dispense political patronage, something of a political suicide by a politician should be commended. Nigerians cannot in one breath seek prudence in governance and turn around to oppose or blame those who practise it.

Now, it has been established that state governors can actually begin the practice of allocating resources according to available means and contributions to the purse. It has also been established here that giving political appointments to political jobbers and campaigners in the state is not synonymous with jobs creation for the people. It is also clear from what can be termed the Aregbesola School of Governance that governors are not under compulsion to constitute the state executive councils. Or, better still, governors can establish a manageable cabinet that will still be representative as long as service delivery to the people is the ultimate goal.

While the gesture of the former state officers who worked quietly as volunteers to keep Osun government running in the absence of the cabinet is commendable, it is important to state too that Nigeria’s democracy will be further enriched in this regard, in the true spirit of service, if the nation wakes up to hear that the commissioners and advisers just appointed are working sacrificially (as volunteers) in the interest of the state.

The objective of political appointments, in the main, is to enable the head of the executive branch of government appoint some citizens to assist him in the onerous task of governance. And so it is otiose and wasteful for governors to appoint commissioners and advisers that the states’ revenue profile cannot sustain. This is a great lesson from Osun. Clothes must of necessity be cut according to available cloth, lest a regime of debt, to lenders, to the state’s workers and political office holders and, indeed, to the people that constitute the sovereignty, is installed.

Aregbesola may not have intended it but with his creativity occasioned by economic adversity, he has opened all eyes further to a fact: Service to the people must take precedence over political correctness. That, certainly, is not a bad thing.

Culled from Guardian Newspaper’s Editorial, June 14, 2017.

ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU CONGRATULATES GOVERNOR AMBODE AT 54

Congratulations and happy birthday to you Governor Ambode. We join in celebrating this special day for you have truly been a gift to the people of Lagos State.

When you first ran for governor, those of us who supported you were greeted with all manner of abuse. These detractors did not know you and thus could not see the unique qualities you possessed. Those who knew you were sure you could do well and would do good for the state.

As governor, you have proven your supporters right and your detractors wrong. You have shown the traits of a true leader who cares about the welfare of all the people.

You have surprised many by your exceptional performance. Proving to be not only a pragmatic and excellent manager of resources, you have shown yourself to be a visionary and tireless leader who inspires those around him and instils in them a sense of civic duty and a thirst for excellence.

In your two years in office, you have provided new infrastructure, promoted new centres of commerce, created jobs and delivered dividends of progressive governance to Lagosians.

The people of this state see the work that you are doing and they are proud to have such a selfless and committed man as their governor. You have made the light of Lagos shine even brighter.

Governor Ambode, I say thank you for being an exemplary and humble public servant who cares for each and every Lagosian no matter who they are. I am proud to call you my governor.

As you mark 54 today, my prayer is that God continue to guide your steps and prosper all that you do for the benefit of our people.

Happy birthday my governor. May you enjoy many more and may each birthday be better than the one that preceded it.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Jagaban Borgu

Pay Your School Fees or Stay Off Campuses; UNIOSUN VC tells Defaulting Students

• ...statutory registration period won't be extended beyond 13th of June, 2017 - VC

Posted By Wale Alabi 

Pe-News

The management of Osun State University has reaffirmed its decision to shut down students who refuse to pay their tuition fees and complete their academic registration before or on 13th of June, 2017.

The school position was made known during a stakeholders' meeting which was held on Thursday, 8th of June, 2017 inside the school auditorium and had in attendance; the representatives of students and Parents Association, Director of Intercampus and Public Affairs, Dr Anthony Kola-Olusanya, Public Relations and Protocol Officer,  Mr. Jibola Oyekunle, ASUU Chairman, Dr Seye Abiona, NAAT Chairman, Mr Ismail Adeleke,  Treasure SSANU,  Mr.  Samuel Obisesan, Acting Dean,  Student Affairs, Dr Mrs Adigun, Acting Bursar, Mr. Samson Adegbite Acting Registrar, Mr Gafar Adebayo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Janet Olaitan Shittu and Vice Chancellor, Professor Olabode Popoola.

Unveiling the management resolution which has already been known to the students, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Olabode Popoola explained the school cannot survive unless students promptly pay their school fees. He reminded the gathering that before every tuition fee was slashed by 50% by the government of Aregbesola in 2012, the school charges were in the region of #200,000 and around #250,000.

"What the school is currently charging is even ridiculous, in the sense that you will find some private secondary schools charging almost same amount per term," says the VC.

According to his mathematical analysis, the total accrual from school fees per annum if fully paid is not enough to offset the school annual wage bill.

"The school fees if completely paid is not enough to pay our wage bill not to talk of catering for other services.Running a productive academic system in university is not limited to payment of workers salaries alone, there are other essential services that needed to be provided as well. But, as ridiculous as our current charges are, the school management doesn't have an intention to upwardly review them." Prof Popoola confirmed.

Popoola expressed with disappointment how a sizable number of students decides to hold the school to ransom by expending their school fees on frivolous things.

However, he made a clear statement that management won't only disallow defaulters from writing exams, but deny them a right to classrooms and lectures.

"Students who fail to pay within the stipulated time should stay away from our classrooms because we won't let them in." He continued.

Professor Popoola reminds the gathering of the existing rule of the university which states that "student who fails to pay his/her school fees over a period of two (2) semesters seized to be a student."

He assures the gathering that management decision under his leadership will continue to follow best practice as put in place by the rules and regulations guiding the university.

The VC pleads with parents to always recognize the fact that payment of children school fees is a paramount task which posterity would appreciate.

In his own remark, the Vice Chairman of Parents Association, Mr. Niran Ojo applauds the new VC for gregariously working to sustain smooth and uninterrupted academic activities in the university. He said the VC hasn't done anything that may trigger unfriendly reaction from the parents.

Also, Mr. Ojo lauds the governor of Osun on his determination to transform the state to a modern society.

He emphasized all parents in their association are responsible but wouldn't rule out the possibility of having some irresponsible characters among the students. He cited a case of a student who regularly received his school fees at home but failed to remit them. He said the secret came open during the convocation ceremony when the said student couldn't graduate with his colleagues. It was at that spot his parents knew he had not been paying his school fees from 100 Level. All that was left was to weep with the parents for that gobsmacked scenario. 

Mr. Ojo relied on that experience as a reference to advise the management to always satiate parents with their children status in the school.

On the issue of payment of school fees, he said parents were badly hit by the economic downturn.

Nevertheless, he promised that parents would meet to discuss and take necessary steps that will assist in regular and prompt payment of school fees.

On their side, representatives of students who were in attendance begged the management for the extension of the registration period. They said it's not totally correct that all defaulting students invested their school fees on the crashed MMM as being circulated around.

"We are not here to protest, fight, create chaos or argue, we are here to ask for mercy on behalf of other students. We are here to beg the management to have mercy on us, all we want is an extension of the registration period" says Iginla Owolabi one of the student leaders.

Adding his voice, The Chairman of the Academic Staff University Union {ASUU}, Dr. Seye Abiona expressed his concern about student's nonchalance towards payment of school fees which is a statutory responsibility of every student. He advised the school to learn from the calamity that befell LAUTECH for handling its workers' salaries with levity.

Dr. Abiona also expressed worries over the failure of students to take advantage of the school massive investment in construction to get themselves a part time job that could help their financial condition.

He explained the school has created some platforms to assist serious and determined students who are financially unstable to independently sponsor their academics.

"It's quite unfortunate no student tapped from the job opportunities created by the management initiative" Dr. Abiona submitted.

Various contributions were added by the representatives of University of Osun Alumni Association and other attendees, all enjoin students to pay their fees while they plead with the management to consider an extension of the registration period.

In his closing remark, Prof Labode Popoola thanks, all attendees, prays for parents, and students to be abundantly blessed abound for them to be liquid enough to pay their fees before the closing date.

He insists on the management resolution of shutting down defaulters on 13th of June, 2017.