Oyetola, who spoke at the executive session of the All Nigerian Editors’ Conference, on Friday, described his recommendations as the model Osun had deployed in the last three years of his administration that had accounted for its enviable profile as one of the most peaceful states in the country.

He harped on innovative governance style at the federal, state and local levels, saying security is crucial to governance because security makes governance, business, development, trade, commerce, and every ingredient associated with governance possible and predictable.

Oyetola, who was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff,  Prince Abdullah Adeyanju Binuyo, bemoaned the issue of insecurity in the nation, saying that it had assumed a dizzying height and justifiably invited the attention of all critical stakeholders.

While highlighting Osun’s multimodal approach to combating insecurity over the last three years, Oyetola said: “Our first approach was to acknowledge and not pretend about the magnitude of the crises at hand. Again, knowing that all security is local, just as all politics is local, we convoked a Security Summit that brought together all the security agencies, traditional rulers, and the various critical stakeholders whose roles directly or indirectly impact on the security situation.

“At this conference, we ensured that all stakeholders expressed their ideas in an open, unpretentious, and non-threatening manner. The ideas harvested from this meeting and, indeed, the emotional buy-in and resolve generated from this meeting, formed the inclusive and integrative approach that has constantly underlined our Administration’s security architecture.

“In the same vein, our administration introduced a civic engagement framework focused on bridging the gap between the leadership of the state and our teeming citizens. This framework is essentially a town hall model, where key functionaries of government sit with representatives of the people at strategic locations within the nine federal constituencies of the State to dialogue and receive feedback on the activities of government.

“Let me hasten to add that this model intently follows the already-established inclusive governance framework of our Administration. Hinged on the conviction that dialogue and informed policy decisions are crucial for sustainable economic development and security, on my assumption of office, I traversed the length and breadth of the State in a Thank You Tour, working with our royal fathers to aggregate the needs of our people. This was also followed up with a thorough Needs Assessment exercise supported by the Department for International Development. All these initiatives have guided our service delivery and judicious allocation of resources so far in a way that justice, fairness and equity are served and enthroned.

“As the closest to the people at the grassroots, traditional rulers are critical components of government. They also have the responsibility for ensuring security, governance and economic development in their abodes. Again this is hinged on our belief that all politics and security are local. The criminals come from families, homes, villages and towns. To effectively secure our State, therefore, our government prioritizes engagement with our traditional rulers as critical stakeholders in promoting active communal peace-building, intelligence gathering, good neighbourliness and responsible following.

“I must also mention that one of the critical outcomes of the security summit was the need to put together a Crop Farmers and Herders Committee. The committee works round the clock at ensuring firm surveillance on the activities of herders and ensures that conflicts are swiftly nipped in the bud before they become full-blown crises. Again, it is important to note that Osun is bordered by at least five states and as such is bound to be impacted by the butterfly or boomerang effect of what is happening nationally.

“Although security is on the exclusive list, we have worked and continue to work hard at developing a cordial relationship with the leadership of security agencies. This we have done through constant interface with the leadership of the Police Force, Department of Secret Service, the Military and the Civil Defence. The benefit of this is that we have enjoyed immense understanding, support and buy-in of the leadership of these agencies. This is one partnership we do not take for granted. One way we have appropriated this important partnership is by ensuring constant interface with the leadership of these agencies and providing relevant support to them where necessary. We have equally leveraged on this partnership to constitute a Joint Taskforce that patrols our communities.

“As part of deepening the quest for the security of our people, we have adopted a more integrative and inclusive approach that takes into consideration the structural peculiarities of our communities. In response to this, what we have done as a government is to integrate our local hunters into our security architecture. The clear advantage of this is that we have developed enhanced local capacity for intelligence gathering to support the operations of our formal security agencies. We continue to insist that, rather than compete for relevance with conventional security agencies and other local security outfits, their activities should be complementary.

“With respect to mining activities in our state, when our government assumed office, the various mining sites were in very bad shape and had loose regulation. This was further worsened by the influx of illegal miners from outside our state. Knowing how strategic this is for our diversification agenda, we had to regulate the sector to ensure that due process prevails in the sector. We are mindful of the need to secure the mining assets in order to encourage investors of the safety of their investments. The recent inauguration of the Joint Task Force (JTF) and the Amotekun Corps has drastically reduced criminal activities on the mine fields in the State. The peaceful and secured mines field in the State will not only boost investors’ confidence but will also encourage both local and foreign investors to partner with the State Government in the development of its mineral assets.

“The effects of insecurity in our States on the Southwest necessitated the need for more improved security of lives and property of our people and rescue the economy of the region from imminent collapse. Governors of the Southwest, therefore, collaborated in establishing a regional security network, popularly known as Amotekun, to supplement the work of state security agencies in policing the region’s forests and roadways. It is the region’s solution to tackling the problems of kidnapping, banditry, armed robbery and other crimes besetting it. This security arrangement, otherwise known as community policing, has become necessary because our conventional security agencies are overstretched and sorely underfunded.

“Even though our State has the lowest youth unemployment rate in the country at 11.65 per cent, we have continued to work at ways of engaging our youths. This is because we understand that unemployment is a major catalyst for insecurity. Our response to this in the codification of our State’s first Youth Policy Document, comprising of themes of engagement across 4Es – Youth Empowerment, Youth Education, Youth Entrepreneurship and Youth Engagement segments. So far, about 18,000 Osun youths have been empowered through various schemes, including loan disbursement to enable them to start new businesses and boost existing ones.

“We are also heavily integrating them in politics and governance as part of efforts to achieve the sustainable development. This has ensured that our youths are adequately carried along in the delivery of our administration’s development agenda.

“Equally inclusive of the broad agenda to combat insecurity is a deliberate effort to support the vulnerable members of our society. With our signature food bank project called Ounje Ileri (IleriOluwa foods), the government reaches out to 30,000 households monthly with at least 5kg of food items. The idea behind this is to ensure that no Osun citizen is left out of the reach of government support.

“Additionally, we continue to invest aggressively in infrastructural development in a manner that supports the prosperity of our people, revitalize the Osun economy and puts it on a firm footing, using agriculture, tourism and mining, in the first instance, as drivers for rapid socio-economic development. One of the notable programmes of our administration is our revitalization programme of the health sector involving the rehabilitation and construction of 332 Primary Healthcare Centres”, Oyetola said.

Also part of the executive session were Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and Governor Nasir El’Rufai of Kaduna State who was represented by his Special Adviser on Inter-governmental Relations, Hajiya Hannatu Dalhat.

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The State Executive Council announced the new directives after its meeting held on Monday to discuss emerging national issues, including the management of the pandemic.

The council expressed worry over what it described as appalling and abysmally low level of compliance of residents of the state with the existing COVID-19 protocols.

It therefore issued new directives that groups, associations and residents of the state must comply with, to limit spread of the disease in the state.

Part of the new directives is that all social clubs, hotels, departmental stores, supermarkets, event centres and allied centres are to henceforth operate at half of their capacities.

The council appealed to the citizenry to cut down on social gatherings for weddings, naming ceremonies, funeral ceremonies and others to reduce the spate of exposure and contact with possible carriers visiting the state during the yuletide period.

It also mandated religious organisations in the state to reintroduce the abandoned protocol regimes already put in place at the wake of the pandemic before the economy was unlocked for business activities.

Additionally, the council directed its members to engage leadership of various religious groups to sensitise and enlighten their congregations on the need to comply with the COVID-19 protocols.

Towns and cities are to put on hold the annual days through physical attendance and change such to virtual version.

Council directed local governments and local council development authorities to form enforcement/suasion committees to save the situation and further spread of the pandemic.

Also the executive council directed the citizenry to embrace the use of face masks in public places, washing of hands with soap and water, hand sanitisers and social distancing as compulsory steps to avoid infections.

The council pleaded with the citizenry to continue to take their health seriously as their personal responsibility and enjoin all to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols.

The council encouraged proper management and disposal of used face masks and other materials used daily in the prevention of the virus of the pandemic from spreading.

The council did not leave out the need to sustain the ‘no mask, no entry’ at MDAs and public places across the state, including educational institutions.

The council also directed that annual youth carnivals should be discouraged across the state with cancellation of countdown to the new year rallies and ceremonies

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He described him as “a cerebral man”.

The minister arrived the state to attend a two-day retreat organised by the ministry to fashion out strategies on the best approach to tackle the scourge of internal insecurity and other challenges ravaging the country.

Aregbesola gave the commendation on Thursday during a courtesy call on the governor in his office in Abere, Osogbo.

He said he and the entire leadership of the Ministry of Interior had come to savour the existing “peace and hospitality of the people of Osun under the able leadership of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.”

The former governor said he was highly impressed to see the transformation that had taken place in Osun in continuation of the good works started during his administration as governor in the state.

His words:  “I was highly impressed to see the upgrade that has been carried out in this place. When you see a cerebral man, you will know. The upgrade is commendable. I am talking in the best state of mind because I am sure I am with my own. I entered here in a carnival-like manner.

“I am very excited that we have seen a practical democracy to see a governor and his predecessor sitting together. In a monarchy, the king can only have the effigy of his predecessor.

“In other systems of government, the incumbents don’t come together with their predecessors. This is celebration of democracy. It is a civilised democracy which we must all struggle to sustain as a culture.

“We are here in the state to savour the peace, hospitality of the people of Osun under the able leadership of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola. We are going to be here for the next three days to reflect on our core mandate of providing internal security for the country, to defend, promote and preserve citizens’ integrity. The ministry plans to  develop policies, fashion out programmes and implement projects for peace and safety of citizens,” Aregbesola added.

In his remarks, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola commended Aregbesola’s wonderful achievements while he was governor, describing him as a goal getter who would do same at the national level in delivering quality service to Nigerians.

He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Ministry of Interior for siting Zonal Federal Fire Service Headquarters in Osun, even as he commended the ministry for some of the good initiatives, including the efforts at enhancing Electronic International  Passport with 64 pages and  ten years validity period and Security, Economy and Transparency (SET), aimed at driving the country’s security agenda.

“It’s a delight to welcome the Honourable Minister back home. This is perhaps his first official visit. We thank you for choosing Osun for this ministerial strategic retreat. We will be looking forward to welcoming you again and again in the state,” he added.

He thanked the leadership of the ministry for their cooperation and support for the minister, urging them to enjoy the good ambience and hospitality of Osun by visiting many its tourist sites.

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This is as it described as very ridiculous and even comical, the reaction of Atiku to the Supreme Court ruling affirming the election of Mr Gboyega Oyetola as governor of Osun State.

In the statement, the former Vice President had stated: “I urge the nation’s judiciary to take a pulse of the nation and reflect it. In their hands, God has placed a great responsibility. The duty to ensure that justice is done, irrespective of the pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be.”

But reacting to Atiku, the Presidency accusing Atiku of trying to browbeat the judiciary stated:  “Many things fly in the face of logic, reason, and legality in this portion of the statement. Alhaji Abubakar urged the judiciary to reflect the pulse of the nation in their judgments. Learned people know that the judiciary comes to conclusions drawing from matters of law placed before it, and not sentiments, or so-called ‘pulse of the nation.’

“A pertinent question is: how does the judiciary gauge the pulse of the nation? Is it even positioned to do such? Is the judiciary established for that purpose, or to dispense justice, even if the Heavens fall?

“Again, there is insinuation of inducement in the statement, when the PDP candidate said the judiciary should ensure justice is done, ‘irrespective of the pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be.’

“We see this as an attempt to browbeat the judiciary, thus causing it to entertain sentiment in the ongoing petition on the presidential election before the tribunal. If anybody has the tendency or proclivity to put pressure on the judiciary, Nigerians know where the finger points, and it is definitely not at President Muhammadu Buhari. This was a man who had thrice taken his electoral challenges to the judiciary, up to the Supreme Court. And not once was he accused of trying to influence the process, or put pressure on the courts.”

The Presidency added that when the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost Zamfara and Rivers States, arising from judicial proclamations, then, there was no “pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be.”

But the reverse, the Presidency said, was the case when the victory of the party in Osun was upheld.

“There is insinuation of pressure from those who have never learnt to play straight,” the Presidency said.

“President Buhari has always been committed to fair play, which was clearly evident in the last general elections. He remains committed to even-handedness and justice always,” the Presidency said.

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Oyetola is of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

He defeated Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who challenged his victory at the governorship election.

Reacting to the verdict of the Supreme Court, Buhari said Oyetola would now be free to fully deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Osun State.

Buhari made the declaration on Friday while congratulating Oyetola.

His words:  “The decision of the apex court lays to rest the tussle over the governorship of Osun State and removes all encumbrances on the path of the governor from fully delivering dividends of democracy to the good people of the State.”

The president commended the government and people of Osun in allowing the rule of law to run its entire course, urging them as well as security agencies to sustain the peace.

He called on the victorious governor and the ruling All Progressives Congress party to be magnanimous in victory and make concrete moves towards inclusive governance as may be necessary.

President Buhari also expressed the Federal Government’s continued willingness to partner with the state government for the betterment of the people going forward.

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The verdict was given on Friday when the court ruled on the suit filed by Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to challenge the ruling of the Appeal Court which was in favour of Oyetola.

That was after the election petition tribunal had earlier ruled in favour of Adeleke.

Adeleke, in the appeal, prayed the Supreme Court to set aside the ruling of the Appeal Court and uphold the decision of the tribunal which had declared him the governor of the state.

Prior to the delivery of the judgement which announced Oyetola as the true winner of the election, there was anxiety in Osun State.

Interested parties and other major stakeholders waited with bated breath to know where the pendulum would swing.

Ahead of the judgement, security had been beefed up in the state to forestall any breakdown of law and order as a result of the verdict.

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Interested parties and other major stakeholders are apparently waiting with bated breath to know where the pendulum will swing.

The ruling is expected to be made following the case by Adeleke challenging the victory of Oyetola.

As the court gives judgement later today, security had been beefed up in the state to forestall any breakdown of law and order as a result of the verdict.

It would be recalled that Adeleke is challenging the judgement of the Court of Appeal which was in favour of Oyetola as opposed to that of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal which was in favour of the PDP candidate.

Adeleke, in the appeal, prayed the Supreme Court to set aside the ruling of the Appeal Court and uphold the decision of the tribunal which had declared him the governor of the state.

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Oyetola is of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Adeleke is challenging the verdict of the Appeal court which affirmed that Oyetola was duly elected.

The date for the judgement was given after the seven-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, took the final arguments in respect of the main appeal by Adeleke.

Other members of the panel are Justices Olabode Rhodes-Vivour; Kumai Aka’ahs; Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; Amiru Sanusi; Paul Galunmje and Uwani Abbah-Aji.

Adeleke, who filed four appeals, is challenging the May 9, 2019 judgments of the Court of Appeal, Abuja which affirmed the election of Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Osun State.

It would be recalled that the verdict of the Court of Appeal upholding the election of Oyetola came after the March 22, 2019 judgment of the Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal which declared Adeleke the winner of the election.

According to the majority decision by Justices Peter Obiorah and Adegboye Gbolagunte, Adeleke was the winner.

But Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, who chaired the tribunal, however, in a minority judgment struck out the petition on the grounds that the petitioners did not prove their case.

The verdict of the tribunal was challenged by Oyetola, his party, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

They appealed the majority judgment of the tribunal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

The Court of Appeal’s majority judgement set aside the majority judgment of the election tribunal.

That was as it upheld the result as declared by INEC and insisted that Oyetola was the winner of the election.

Justices Jummai Sankey, Abubakar Yahaya, Isaiah Akeju and Bitrus Sanga gave the majority decision, while Justice George Mbaba gave the minority judgment, in which he dismissed the appeals and upheld the cross-appeal.

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Adeleke and his party are before the court to seek the reversal of the verdict of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which upheld the election of Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

Oyetola is the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate.

The date was sent to the parties in the suit by the Registrar of the Supreme Court.

It would be recalled that the verdict of the Court of Appeal upholding the election of Oyetola came after the March 22, 2019 judgment of the Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal which declared Adeleke the winner of the election.

According to the majority decision by Justices Peter Obiorah and Adegboye Gbolagunte, Adeleke was the winner.

But Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, who chaired the tribunal, however, in a minority judgment struck out the petition on the grounds that the petitioners did not prove their case.

The verdict of the tribunal was challenged by Oyetola, his party, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

They appealed the majority judgment of the tribunal at the Court of Appeal, Abuja.

The Court of Appeal’s majority judgement set aside the majority judgment of the election tribunal.

That was as it upheld the result as declared by INEC and insisted that Oyetola was the winner of the election.

Justices Jummai Sankey, Abubakar Yahaya, Isaiah Akeju and Bitrus Sanga gave the majority decision, while Justice George Mbaba gave the minority judgment, in which he dismissed the appeals and upheld the cross-appeal.

The appeal to be heard by the Supreme Court on Monday is the one filed by Adeleke against the majority decisions of the Court of Appeal.

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Justice Emmanuel Agim held that the eligibility suit was “status barred’’ as the plaintiffs filed the action seven days after the conduct of the election.

Agim also held that the court lacked the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The judge further said the interpretations of the issues in the eligibility suit was selectively done by the trial.

Agim held that the defendant’s claim to have obtained a School Certificate from Moslem Secondary School, Ede, could not be controverted as evidence had clearly shown that he (Adeleke) did.

He explained that some of the errors noticed in the certificate did not matter, adding that such errors were from the school.

Agim further said that the West African School Certificate ledger provided by the examination body supported Adeleke’s defence of having attempted WAEC examination.

“The trial court was perverse to still deliver its judgment against the defendant when it clearly should not have.

“In the circumstance, the April 2 judgment by Justice Othman Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Bwari, which voided Adeleke’s candidacy for governorship election in Osun State is hereby set aside,’’ he said.

In a related development, the court also upheld a similar appeal filed by the PDP challenging the trial court’s judgment against its candidate in the election.

Wahab Raheem and Adam Habeeb, had filed the suit asking the trial court to activate Section 177 of the 1999 Constitution and disqualify the PDP candidate from contesting the election.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the lower court, Adeleke approached the appellate court for the setting aside of that judgment.

Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju (SAN), counsel for Adeleke had argued that the judgment of the trial court was “disoriented and misleading.’’

Ogunwumiju urged the court to uphold his client’s appeal and set aside the judgment.

On his part, Mr Emmanue Enoidem, counsel for the PDP argued that the suit was caught by the Fourth Alteration Act, having been filed outside the 14 days allowed by law.

Enoidem, therefore, submitted that the trial court erred in law in arriving at its decision.

He said the PDP had relied on Sections 285 (9) 285 (11) and 285 (12) to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to try Adeleke.

In a counter argument, Mr Joel Akomolafe, urged the court to uphold the judgment of the lower court and dismiss the appeal.

Akomolafe contended that the appellants did not appeal the lower court’s pronouncement on the issue of jurisdiction but just raised it at the appellate court.

Adeleke was returned winner by the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal after Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of All Progressive Congress (APC) was declared winner of the election by INEC.

Dissatisfied with the decision of the tribunal, Oyetola approached the court of appeal where he was eventually returned as the governor of the state.

However, Adeleke has not given up the challenge as he had already approached the Supreme Court to test the decision of the court of appeal.

Source:  NAN

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