‎The Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan not to play politics with the ailing state of Nigeria’s economy.
The governor urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government to as a matter of urgency nip in the bud the issue of oil theft that has robbed the country of trillions of Naira.
Mr. Aregbesola gave the charge in Atakumosa West Local government in continuation of the All Progressives Congress campaign to drum up support for all the candidates of the party in the forth-coming general elections.
Mr. Aregbesola had earlier taken his campaigns to Orolu and Atakumosa East council areas of the state, telling residents that the only hope left for the masses is to see to the end of the Peoples Democratic Party rule at the Federal government level.
He held that if the said stolen crude oil is being prevented and blocked by the PDP and the federal government, such proceeds amounting to trillions of Naira can be put to use in the development of rural roads all over Nigeria.
The governor while addressing the people of Ilaa-jesa, Isaobi, Isotun Osu and Ifewara among other rural settlements in the Local government said the Yoruba have never benefited anything good under the administration of the PDP.
According to the governor, “if the barrels of crude oil being alleged to have been stolen daily are blocked and prevented by the PDP controlled Federal government which amount to 1.7 trillion Naira, proceeds from such act could have provided about 2000 kilometers of rural roads across the country”.
He admonished the people of the area to query the Federal government on why the Osogbo-Ilesa and Osu-Ife roads which began seven years ago were abandoned.
He said, “Nigerians (Osunites?) have never had it this bad in terms of hunger, insecurity, corruption, unemployment among others, the worst of it being the economic recession which made a dollar to exchange for 230 naira from 120 inherited by the Jonathan led administration.”
The governor also appealed to Christians to use the Lenten period to pray for the desired change the country truly deserves by voting for all the candidates of the APC in the National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
Mr. Aregbesola at the palace of the Asotun of Isotun Oba Prof. Akinola Adeniyi Owosekun 11, alleged that, “if the wastages the Federal government is noted for are curtailed, [size=16pt]no rural community will not benefit from the proceeds from crude oil being stolen daily.[/size]
“God in his mercy granted President Goodluck Jonathan the last four years as an economic independence period when crude oil was sold at 100 dollars per barrel, but what did the country witness, abandoned projects including the Alagbado-ota bridge started by Chief Ernest Sonekan ‘s government,” the governor said.
On the comments of the president during his visit to the state that the country is buoyant and that his government is fulfilling its financial obligations to the state, the governor questioned why federal government workers are being owed salaries and allowances.
Mr. Aregbesola said his visit to the villages is to enable him assess and have first-hand information about the condition of the people. ‎
Mr. Aregbesola told the people that one of the things the PDP wanted to ensure by forcing a postponement of the election was to drain the people out and use the period to empower their weak candidates.
“We only need our people to persevere. Our people are Omoluabi who cannot be bought with ill-gotten wealth. We have remained with the people and that is our commitment,” he said.


http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/178486-tackle-oil-theft-aregbesola-tells-jonathan.html

Uncle Aregbe needs money to pay salaries.

Unfortunately,he has spent most of his states' allocation funding APC campaign. Now,he needs money to pay six months arrears of outstanding salary.

Meanwhile, its a bit funny when your hear politicians say that 500,000 barrels of crude is stolen everyday. That is a huge lie which has stood for a very long time,unchallenged. The figures lost to theft is nowhere near what is being peddled.

When an oil pipeline is ruptured or vandalized, oil companies shut in production and declare force majeure.
This shut in causes an unrealised loss of earning to the company and country. So,for everyday the pipeline remains shut,the country has lost the equivalent monetary value it would have gained if crude oil was flowing through the pipeline.

The causes of the shut in are mostly vandalisation ,sabotage and illegal bunkering.

Our politicians need to note the difference between Oil theft and unrealised potential earnings.

Jona is too daft to tackle such besides, he admitted stealing is not corruption and stealing is now taking different forms in every sector in Nigeria. It's actually not the fault of the thieves but that of Jonathan who is giving them the ego to do so.


That's why we need to March 4 CHANGE.

Vote GMB and change the clueless one.

On that note, I'd like to humbly join Mr. Aregbesola in pleading with Jonathan to curb the oil theft in the Niger Delta, for it has completely rendered Osun state (a state of over 4 million people) insolvent and unable to pay its workers for 5 months, even with all the 'progressive' heroics happening on the pages of Osun Defender. "Nigeria's 7th largest economy" and all...

This is a federation Ogbeni Rauf. The fishermen in the creeks have had enough and its unfortunate but you have to develop your state economy as any self respecting state should.

When you dey rename Osun as State of Osun you no know say you go need allocation from FG.

Is it now that GED is going out of Aso rock that he wants him to tackle oil theft.

This has joined the long list of the many cries of oyel money by AregbeRascal.This man should rally his people buy hoe and cutlass for them and return to cocoa farming oyel money don dry up Amaechi no get him time again
Aregbesola Accusses Jonathan of Squandering U.S.$35 Billion Oil Money
http://allafrica.com/stories/201502010218.html

Nigeria lost 1.2 trillion naira to oil theft in 2014-  Aregbesola 
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/nigeria-lost-n1-2trn-to-crude-oil-theft-in-2014-alleges-aregbesola/198795/

Jonathan responsible for oil theft-Aregbesola
https://www.facebook.com/GovernorRaufAregbesola/posts/791547530882282

Nigeria loses 2.2 trillion naira to oil theft -Aregbesola
https://www.facebook.com/GovernorRaufAregbesola/posts/798085810228454

$14bn lost to oil theft annually -Aregbesola
http://leadership.ng/news/400862/14bn-lost-oil-theft-yearly-aregbesola

Till Today, Jonatan can not account for $14.6bn dollars-Aregbesola
http://www.nigerianeye.com/2015/01/till-today-jonathan-cant-account-for.html

40% reduction in Osun’s federal allocation unjustifiable – Aregbesola
http://www.punchng.com/news/40-reduction-in-osuns-federal-allocation-unjustifiable-aregbesola/

AregbeRascal go and farm no more oyel money

Wetin b dix. Man own. Nd oil self?

Ogberan shud shot his mouth, let him first settle his workers & pensioners first. & refund all d cooperative and pension fund deduction frm d workers salary. Pple r nt smiling in osun.

Theif,theif dey run for jona blood that is y we need change

sai buhari

Does this man know what it means to be a state Governor

Can this fool tackle paying his people's salary and wages first?

What a clown

I thought that Osun state has about the highest GDP in Nigeria, why is this state always crying of crude oil challenges? it proves that the so called GDP is on paper, not realistic.

You are a Governor. Go to GEJ with seriously good and viable Solutions and I can assure you that your solutions will be implemented before you get back to your state..

I thought they said they don't need the niger delta oil.

The wind of CHANGE is blowing wide And free and we are ready GMB/PYO till 2023

Baba Osun, abegi pay salaries first, then come back n chant

Na wa o. After using your funds for campaign, you have the guts to blame the federal government. I want Nigeria to be able to secure her oil installation but i know the federal government would not want to militarilize that region. But Rauf blaming oil bunkering as the reason for not building road in that community is a very big fat lie.

This Alfa should go and sort out Osun state before talking rubbish