₦airaland Forum

An address to the people of the State of Osun over an alleged security report as reported in the media, on Saturday April 14, 2012

My good people of the State of Osun: As you may be aware, some reports in the adversarial section of the media concerning our state and my person should give enough room for concern. There is purported security report alleging that I am working towards islamising the State of Osun and plotting to secede from Nigeria. The first is patently false while the second is laughable.

Nigeria is a secular state in which the people are adherents of diverse religious faiths, while some are not religious at all. In our state here, we have large populations of members of all religious groups, including traditional, who have lived in harmony in the past 150 years, at least. Yoruba cosmogony which accommodates polytheism has made it easy for all religious groups to cohabit, interrelate, intermarry and accommodate each other without the tension and conflict prevalent in other parts of the country on account of religion. There is no family without members of different religious persuasions in Osun.

I have never hidden the fact that I am a Moslem. This is within my constitutional right as a Nigerian. This notwithstanding, within my own family, there are Christians who practice their choice religion freely, without let or hindrance. It is therefore impracticable for any religious group to lord it over anyone, or for a particular government to islamise the state as alleged.

As governor, I am not in any position to promote one religion over another. My cabinet, as is apparent to all, is dominated by Christians. Every member is chosen strictly on the considerations of professional competence, integrity, party membership and loyalty. At no time was their religion considered as the basis for appointment.

Rather, I have promoted personal liberty and every aspect of freedom, including freedom of religion, since we came to power. Ours is the only state where traditionalists, Christians and Moslems are given absolute latitude in all official engagements.

The issue of hijab in schools came up in the last quarter of last year and it was amicably resolved to the knowledge of all security agencies. A meeting was held at the government house attended by religious leaders and security agencies in the state where the matter was laid to rest. There has been no complain or expression of dissatisfaction on the resolution by any group since then.

It is a reflection of our openness, fairness, accommodation and impartiality that prominent Christian religious leaders, including Pastors Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Mathew Ashimolowo of Kingsway International Christian Church in London, Prophet Samuel Abiara of Christ Apostolic Church, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Dominion), Archbishop Nicholas Okoh, Prophet Gabriel Fakeye of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Ayo ni o, among others, have visited me at the Government House and commended our administration for promoting religious harmony in the state.

Of course, I have visited the Redemption Camp and several parishes of RCCG and other churches before and since we came to government. Those familiar with church history in Nigeria will know of the Christian revival that broke out in the middle of the last century in Oke-Ooye in Ilesa under Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola which have produced many of today’s great men of God within 30-mile radius of the town. As an Ijesa, I am proud of this religious heritage.

As you are all aware, school uniform in our public schools is part of our well-thought-out policy on education reform. We are constructing state-of-the-art buildings for our schools. We are also introducing free meals in elementary schools. Computer tablets will be given free to our senior secondary schools pupils. It is therefore an infernal mischief straight from the pit of hell for this lofty scheme to be portrayed as an Islamising agenda.

The school uniform, in particular, is a scheme by which Osun-made batik will be sewn as school uniform and, through this, promote the economy of the state. This was not surreptitious. It was nationally advertised for all gifted designers to participate in the bidding process. It is noteworthy that the selection of uniform was made out of the designs shortlisted by officials of the Ministry of Education during the Executive Council meeting of Wednesday April 4, 2012. That council, as I said earlier, is dominated by Christians.

Since coming to power, we have enjoyed a good working relationship with all security agencies in the state. We have promoted peace and harmony among our people. This is in line with a key objective of our administration which is to promote communal peace and harmony. You will all recall that the eight years preceding our coming into office was characterised by brigandage, social upheaval, insecurity of life and property, indiscriminate arrests and detention on false charges, and a virtual state of siege.
During this period, a teenage girl was tied to a tree and physically violated by leaders of a political party, while a celebrated industrialist, an indigene of the state, was beaten to death in a filling station by agents of that party. I do not need to mention members of our party that were hounded, wounded, physically eliminated or driven into exile. My own mother was a victim.

We have however promoted peace by the non-retaliatory and non-vindictive policy we have adopted since coming into office. Our people have embraced peace, and in an exceptional display of large-heartedness, have forgiven the hurt of the past. This has ushered in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity in the state. All fears are gone; the exiles are returning home; and the economy of the state is growing in leaps and bounds.

If there is any threat to peace, we should look in the direction of a party whose national vice chairman vowed recently to make our state ungovernable. This is not going to happen. Our people have vowed not to allow themselves to be provoked. Their collective resolve is to enjoy all aspects of freedom, including freedom from fear, and live in peace and harmony with one another.

We are Omoluabi, the very epitome of the virtuous, and we have indicated our desire to be projected as such to the world, within our constitutionally guaranteed right in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are proud of our ancestry, noble heritage and our history. We are therefore unapologetic if we cut an image for ourselves that projects who we are within the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We are in a federation. It is our bounden duty to reflect this in governance and everyday life.

It is appalling that there is semantic misunderstanding of the difference between ‘Osun State’ and the ‘State of Osun’ which we have adopted. This grammatical hair-splitting will be considered laughable in an elementary English language class.

Our crest is a reflection of our history and proud heritage. Indeed, all the states of Nigeria had their separate crests until 1975 when the military embarked on a more unitarist state policy. Even now, other states and regions have their emblems, crests, flags and slogans.

I want to assure you therefore that there is no cause for alarm. What you are seeing is the handwork of an overzealous and misguided leadership of a security agency that has mixed up allegiance to the constitution, the Nigerian people and their welfare with the partisan interest of a transient occupier of state office. This intelligence, we must assure you, has been in our possession and we have duly notified President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, who we believe has sensed the urgency in the matter and is working to correct this embarrassing disposition of a tiny leadership of a federal agency capable of causing chaos and destabilisation. The shenanigan will pass.

I want you to go about your normal duty without fear or intimidation. You are a strong people, virtuous, indomitable and indefatigable. You overcame the persecution of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, military dictatorship, the travails of Basorun Moshood Abiola and the recent civilian despotism in the state.
Please note and report any strange movements to the police and inform us. It is our duty to ensure your protection and security and we will not fail or disappoint you.

Thank you for listening.
Osun a dara o.

http://saharareporters.com/press-release/i-have-no-plan-islamise-osun-state-or-secede-nigeria-governor-aregbesola

[quote author=Awhy.com]I don't think you really read my first post, the only news here is that Aregbe is placed under security for planning to cut the state out of the country and training some groups to help him in the process, which I never said it's true or false in my post, all I'm saying is that the group really exist and there operations are questionable, Demdem use your brain or read my post first before commenting next time.[/quote]In what way?

[quote author=ola_pluto]Where are you in Iwo? And how has the group's activities affected you negatively? If you are truly in Iwo, I have some questions for you. This report is as silly as PDP can get. The group has ZERO influence even in Iwo town. I cannot believe people are even thinking there is any sense in this story. Most people just make up their minds when anything Islam is mentioned.[/quote]

[quote author=Awhy.com]But why are you taking Aregbe's matter too personal like this, are you in anyway related to him, if not then you must be a muslim or ACN supporter or better still a PDP hater, just wondering why someone will be this passionate about Aregbe.[/quote]He is simply asking u to always remember to make use of ur brain effectively whenever u see any news report. No offence. Not all news reports are true

What ffucking youth? Retardeen no be youth? What about bankole, mark, sambo and co? How far have they led us? At least these ones are still younger than pdp youth leader.
I don't care about age, what I want is a capable hand even if he is metusalah.

Oyiford: Omor,we need revolution in benue state fast ooo! But the cries of the masses will be heard some day by God and justice must prevail

Which of the govt? The retardeen's or ur state's? What are the issues? Kindly elaborate.

For now, I see no one capable of delivering except this great general. The retardeen presently there is simply an assshole.

MEND Vows Sustained Attacks on Nigerian Oil Industry[b][/b]

The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), says it will now embark on sustained strikes on all pipelines and facilities remotely related to the Nigerian oil industry, and on MTN South Africa infrastructure in the Niger Delta region in response to the conduct of President Jacob Zuma in the continued incarceration of Henry Okah in that country.

In a statement signed by Jomo Gbomo, MEND, which yesterday said it had attacked and destroyed one manifold and one wellhead on a trunk line operated by Agip Oil Company in Bayelsa State, said that on this new policy, there will be no pause in its assault.

[b]The Movement also took the opportunity to dismiss the performance of the government. “President Goodluck Jonathan has mismanaged the goodwill demonstrated by M.E.N.D. by misrepresenting himself and his band of charlatans as the reason for the relative calm experienced in the Niger Delta,” the statement said. “We have never had any respect for Jonathan and today, most Nigerians understand why.”

Recalling the unconditional offer of amnesty by the late president Umaru Yar’ Adua, MEND said it was intended to create a conducive atmosphere for dialogue aimed at addressing the demands of the people of the Niger Delta.

“A Jonathan presidency and amnesty for militants were not a part of our demands and therefore will never be a solution to armed agitation for justice in the Niger Delta,” it said, noting that up till now, “not one of the demands put forward to the Yar Adua government has been met; neither has the Nigerian government initiated dialogue aimed at addressing any” of MEND’s demands.
[/b]
With reference to its intended attacks on MTN-related infrastructure, MEND said it will shortly issue a set of guidelines to MTN employees, customers, and owners of properties accommodating MTN related communication equipment in order to minimise civilian casualties and forestall unnecessary destruction of privately owned properties.

Dismissing a “misinformed” editorial published by the Nation newspaper on February 12 concerning the Henry Okay trial in South Africa, MEND argued that the newspaper affirmed its confidence in the South African government and justice system, and wondered how the newspaper, in view of a previous story it had published, could turn around and declare the continued detention of a Nigerian citizen for almost 19 months without trial or proof to be a just action.

“The Nigerian media industry is at its lowest point with unscrupulous journalists, editors and publishers on the payroll of Goodluck Jonathan,” it asserted. “The Nation newspaper appears to lean towards this direction.”

According to MEND, what is happening in South Africa is a travesty of justice which must be condemned by all. “What country on earth besides Nigeria will so easily surrender its right to try someone it accuses of masterminding a bombing on its national day? Why does the South African government seek the extradition of Shrien Dewani from England for a murder committed in South Africa?

MEND further stated that the South African government is simply being used by the Nigerian government to hold Okah in prison for as long as it possibly can, and had also knowingly provided fabricated evidence to ensure Okah was denied bail in 2010.

In the Niger Delta, MEND said the Jonathan administration has used the dubious "amnesty programme" as a guise to line the pockets of Goodluck Jonathan, his wife Patience, Jonathan’s cronies and members of the amnesty committee whose sudden wealth remains unchallenged by the Nigerian media. “Fighters in the delta do not possess relevant high school qualifications,” the statement said. “Those being sent abroad are relatives and friends of Jonathan, amnesty committee members etc.”

Of its promised assault, it said MEND will once and for all “expose Goodluck Jonathan and his band of so called ex-militants and shameless Ijaw elders for the frauds they are.”

http://saharareporters.com/news-page/mend-vows-sustained-attacks-nigerian-oil-industry

Boko party, pdp claims that aregberascal has replaced the national anthem however in reality, it isn't so. Instead an additional anthem is being introduced. The same goes to the coat of arms. I wonder how osun state will be able to secede? The originators, proponents of this security report are really daft. No wonder they seems not to Av any headway in curtailing the boko haram menace.

Excellent decision from Russia.

The mere fact that 1billion naira was originally conceived from aso rock to feed the president before the so called amendment speaks volume and shows the kind of animals living at aso rock. Even if it was removed, am not convinced it still won't be spent. No be Naija we all dey? Probably the retardeen needs the excess crude account to fund his feeding. The govs knows this and they no WAN gree.

otokx: They are only doing what the constitution says so Ngozi should say another thing.

Exactly, that explains one of the reason why this whole country needs to be restructured.

^^^^

why do u say that? is it because of those school children?

^^^^^

Chill out. time will tell

we talk am oooo. This eediot would have kept quiet or more diplomatic.
The retardeen is to be devoured within 3months - BH

http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/news/39260-boko-haram-threatens-jonathan-says-well-devour-you-in-3-months-as-gunmen-attack-market-in-maiduguri-kill-1