₦airaland Forum

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday raised an eyebrow over what he regarded as total falsehood an insinuation that Osun is not paying workers their monthly salaries.

This was even as the Governor advocated for a federalise policing which he said it remains the only panacea to effective and efficient policing in Nigeria.

Aregbesola said in spite the economic challenges confronting the nation and Osun state in particular, his administration has not failed in paying the state workforce.

Governor Aregbesola made the statement in Osogbo, the state capital while delivering a key note address a programme organised by the osun state command of the Police Community Relations Committee.

Aregbesola said he was aware of the insinuation peddling by those he regarded as gainsayers to incite the public against his administration, saying workers in the state have been paid up to June 2017.

Governor said his administration has done so much in prioritising the welfare of the workforce, an initiative which according to him has made a difference to caourse of good governance.

According to him, there is need to educate Nigerians about the salary situation in Osun, because some people have been saying that since my administration is conscious about poverty while not paying workers' salary.

"Let me make a resounding correction that despite the paucity of funds, it is only a section of workers on grade level 12 and above who receives painfully 50 percent of their gross salaries based on agreement between the government and the labour union.

"So outside that category of workers on grade level 12 and above, no other receives half of his or her salaries and the workers in this category are just 20 percent of the state workforce.

"Outside that, officers on levels 8-10 receives 75 percent of their salaries while officers on levels 7 and below receive their full pay.

"Contrary to what the gainsayers claimed about us, all workers in the state have received their salaries up to June this year according to the payment scheme and agreement. The only outstanding salary in Osun is the month we are in and by the grace of God before the month end, every worker will earn their salary in line with the agreement will have with workers.

"I am saying this to correct the impression of those spreading falsehood and capitalising on this that we have been up to our responsibilities as regards the payment of workers salaries in accordance with the available resources.

"It is therefore absolutely false to say that we are not paying workers their dues. within the limit of the resources available to us, levels 1-7 have been receiving full pay and they have been paid till June. Levels 8-10 have been receiving 75 percent of their gross salaries and they have been paid till June while 12 and above have been receiving 50 percent of their gross salaries and they have been paid till June.

"Those who say workers in the state of Osun are not paid, please, correct yourselves with that impression, with that notion and with that perception because it is total false", Aregbesola warned.

The state helmsman noted that his administration has also been conscious about the welfare of pensioners, saying the state has paid pensioners their dues just as active workers have been paid.

He added, "As we pay active workers, so do we pay pensioners. The only outstanding pay to pensioners is the gratuity and this is due to workers who told not to participate in the Contributory Pension Scheme and therefore left from service in 2011/2012.

"The amount required to service that gratuity is about N5billion and we keep on telling them that once we have the capacity to so do, we will surely pay them.

"One thing that is certain about money is that once you don't have it you can not use it. It doesn't mean we hate them is because of limited resources to pay them and meet physical expenditure.

"The pensioners in the state do receive their pensions and what is outstanding is only the N5billion that we can not afford for now"

While advocating for the devolution of police structure, Governor Aregbesola canvassed for a total federalisation of Nigeria Police which he said it is the only solution to myriads of civil challenges in the country.

He said unless the powers reside in the Police is being decentralised into zonal units, the Force would continue to languish in challenges and poor professionalism.

Aregbesola said if Nigeria is totally serious about restoring sanity to the society, thus police must be restructured in such a way that will be more accessible and felt by the people in the society, saying this is only way to prepare against all forms of societal vices like terrorism, kidnapping among others.

According to him, we have to federalise policing instead of the current centralised policing we have.

"If we are truly serious about combating crimes and criminality most especially the acts of terrorism and kidnapping, then we have to federate the present structure of Nigeria police.

"It is obsolete for the Inspector General of Police receiving direct brief from state Commissioner of Police. Nigeria is too big for this.

"So if we can not afford total decentralisation of Police, then let us adopt zonal Command structure that will localise policing within the zone.

"I am advocating for federation of police structure. We must have state and local police structure so as to effectively combat crimes and criminality in the country.

"As we all know, most of our security challenges are basically due to inability of our ecentralised structure of policing in which police do fail to effectively understand the terrain to which perpetrators of many of these crimes operate", Aregbesola stressed.

In his lecture, the former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, attributed some of the socio-economic, religious, political and security challenges in the country to lack of personal sacrificial spirit between and among Nigerian people.

Arase whose lecture was underpinned on the theme of the symposium, "Combating Twin Evil of Terrorism and Kidnapping through People's Policing in Nigeria", condemned in its totality what he described as barbaric the incessant cases of kidnapping, terrorism and insurgency in the country.

He said it is a time for all to develop consciousness towards securing the society by reporting any strange within and outside the individuals' communities, states and nation at large.

Arase who called for efficient policing, said the security agencies must wake p from slumber by being rededicated to duty, saying this is the only way to stem the tide of insecurity challenges facing the country.

He charged men and officers of Nigeria Police Force on the need to champion professionalism, efficiency, effectiveness and proficiency while discharging their constitutional responsibilities to the people.

The former IGP said to prevent crime, criminality and all related menace, thus all hands must be on deck to champion the cause of adequate and effective policing while consciousness must be built to rescue the society from any form of threats.

According to him, what the nation needs at the moment is to strengthen the security sector and promote ideology that can strengthen security consciousness from all quarters.

"While police are expected to always respect the rights of the people in discharging their duties, likewise the society must also do the needful in supporting the efforts of the security agencies.

"Policing is an enormous task that should not be left in the hands of the security agencies alone, but rather a duty for all.

"We must all involve in sanitising our society by ensuring that every aspect is thoroughly considered in providing a secured, saved and crime free society capable of aiding all rond growth and development.

"It behooves on all especially the security agencies to always preach peace, unity and togetherness in making an edge way for the growth and development of the country.

Corroborating similar gestures, the President, Women Arise Centre for Change, Nigerians Unite Against Terror, Dr. Joe Okei Odumakin, called for massive anti-terrorism, anti-kidnapping and anti-insurgency advocacy among Nigerians in every nook and cranny of the country.

Dr Odumakin said the pace of terrorism, kidnapping and anti-societal vices in the country have become serious national challenges that required an urgent intervention of all.

She called for synergy and symbiotic relationship between and among Nigerians at a time the country is being challenged with myriads of insecurity problems.

Odumakin said it is high time for Nigerians to pursue peace, unity and togetherness as panacea for development, saying no iota of change cold be recorded in a disarray country.

According to her, it is time to do the neeedful in preaching unity and denounce any divisive tendency that could tear us apart.

"No development could be achieved in an environment predominated by insecurity and unrest, hence the need for all to fight on the need to ensure absolute peace and stability.

"We have to remain bond irrespective of our differences as a people and nation as it behooves on us all to promote peaceful coexistence among ourselves for meaningful development.

"We must do away with anything that could promote rancour, unrest and disorderliness", she added.

Also, Comrade Oyebade Olowo suggested a community policing as one of the ways to enhance effective security in the country.

Olowogboyega who is a barrister at law said it is time for Nigerian government to go back to drawing board and as well look inward on the need to support the agitation for state and local policing as the only way to effectively combat all forms of societal anomalies.

He commended Governor Aregbesola's social protection programmes which according to him had helped in keeping the society against all forms of social insecurity.

Barrister Olowogboyega said Governor Aregbesola has been proactive towards the security of lives and property of the citizenry since he assumed office saying the claims had manifested in the high quality of standard of living of the people of the state.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRPYCp8W4aw&t=13s
The RLG Adulawo Technology City has trained about 5,000 indigenes of Osun in Information and Communication Technology ICT.

The company located in Ilesa, was established through a partnership between the Osun State Government and the technological firm based in Ghana in 2014.

According to the programme's production supervisor, Mr Abdulrasaq Oshidipe, stated that the RLG Adulawo is a support facility to aid government's plan on OYESTECH, an Information and Communication Technology branch of the widely accepted Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, OYES.

As of today, the company which has a mobile phone assemblage plant has trained 5,000 beneficiaries of the OYES scheme with an additional training of 100 young individuals for advanced tutoring at the company's headquarters in Ghana, Oshidipe said

Investigations revealed that the company which also engages in the assembling of other technology devices has a strong partnership with mobile telecommunications giants in Nigeria like GLO and AIRTEL in finding a ready market for its products.

"Aside the 5,000 individuals trained and the 100 sent for advanced training overseas, the company has also recruited an additional 150 manpower based and trained earlier in the state to create more jobs as well as to stimulate its operations.

As a leading manufacturer of smartphones, tablets and other devices in Nigeria, the company recently won a contract worth $31.5M to manufacture TV Set-Up Boxes for the entire federation.

The TV Boxes are to complement federal government's efforts at ensuring Nigeria's speedy compliance with the worldwide Digital Switch Over policy in its Broadcast Industry.

Initiated by the State Government of Osun under the leadership of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the RLG Adulawo, Nigeria is set to break into international limelight with the production of quality technological materials and complement the present administration's bid to fast track the development of Osun.

Reacting, one of the beneficiaries, Anthonia Ogundare lauded the state government for the opportunity given her and many others to be part of the programme adding that the programme has made youths in the state productive.

“I am a beneficiary of this programme; I applied for OYESTECH scheme and was chosen among those to be trained in Ghana for a month internship and at our return we were employed at Adulawo Technology. This is one programme that have helped the youths in securing a job to help the family and future”

Pensioners under the aegis of Forum of 2011/12 Retired Public Servants of Osun staged a protest at the entrance to the Government Secretariat to drive home non-payment of their entitlements.
The factional chairman of the group, Mr Omoniyi Ilesanmi, who addressed newsmen on the sidelines of the protest, said they are out to ensure the government does not divert the released Paris Refund for other use.

It would be recalled that the Osun state government through a statement yesterday confirmed payment of second tranche of Paris Refund to the state and promised judicious distribution of the fund.

Meanwhile the chairman representing the Triangular Group of Pensioners in the state, Prince Rotimi Adelugba has raised alarm over the splinter motive of Omoniyi led group.

In a statement, Mr Adelugba accused the Ilesanmi-led group of being sponsor by the opposition in the state to paint the present administration in a bad light; a situation he said is capable of breaching public peace.

Read full statement: “Right before the state government announced precisely how much it received from the federal government as second tranche of the Paris Refund; we were intimated on the series of meeting held by Ilesanmi’s group and other operatives of the politician.” Prince Adelugba stated.

“As much as we support the right of our colleague to express their constitutional guaranteed right of freedom of speech and expression, we take an exception to their collaboration with politicians in the state thereby giving their protest a political undertone.

“We are calling on the security agencies in the state to be on the lookout for well-armed miscreant who have been embedded with Ilesanmi’s group with the aim of destabilizing the peace we enjoy in the state of Osun.

On the payment of pensions and gratuity, Prince Adelugba pleaded with his colleague to come to the negotiating table like over 30,000 members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners have done rather than going on the street with the sole aim of embarrassing the government and not engagement.

“If resolution of the issue at hand is their intention, they will be on the negotiating table and not the street, but we are certain their intention is otherwise. The government have been open to us. I recall, Osun was the first state to publish how it spent the first tranche of the Paris refund. We have confidence the Governor Aregbesola’s administration to properly disburse the second tranche of the refund like he did the first one.” The statement reads.

The Government of Osun wishes to announce that it has received the second tranche of the Paris Club refunds.
The refunds, totaling N6.314bn, was paid into the state coffers on Monday July 17, 2017.
In line with our government’s promise to utilize the resources of this state in the best interest of our people, we hereby restate our commitment to this promise as we begin shortly transparent deployment on our commitments to the concerned stakeholders.

Signed:
Semiu Okanlawon
Director, Bureau of Communication & Strategy
Office of the Governor, Osogbo

…As second phase kicks-off, to empower 30,000 farmers

The State of Osun Broiler Outgrowers Production Scheme, OBOPS, has produced at least 5 million birds in the last three years, the scheme managers have said.

Revealing this over the weekend, Mr. Kolawole Ogini who is the facilitator of the second phase of the scheme stated that OBOPS has placed Osun among states with relatively high production in poultry business in Nigeria.

He disclosed that Amo Byng Poultry Farm have been saddled with the responsibility of stocking day-old-chicks and appropriate feeds to raise the birds to maturity through a bank loan, after which the anchor farm buys back from the participants.

Mr Ogini stated that the second phase of the scheme is a Public-Private Partnership scheme designed to facilitate poultry farming within the State of Osun.

While reviewing the selection process, Ogini said the scheme is open to poultry farmers in the state with 2,000 capacity pens and bio-security facilities in place which includes perimeter netting and well closed entrance.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqtLS6ut1aI

Ogini who lauded the state government for its successes recorded in several agricultural intervention programmes, said the first phase of the scheme recorded a huge success as about 768 farmers were engaged, cash profit paid to farmers stood at N785millions as well as making over 120 broilers farmers who keyed into the initiative millionaires.

Aside this, the OBOPS programme has also helped the state government’s course on the elementary school feeding programme, O’Meals of the present administration leading to the gainful employment of about 1,000 farmers and over 3,000 food vendors under the elementary school feeding programme.

“The OBOPS II pilot scheme which initially engaged 15 poultry farmers has now grown into 100 farmers across the 30 local governments and 32 local council development areas with 2,000 day old chicks given to each farmer.”

Ogini further revealed that efforts are on to increase the 3.7 tonnes of feed given to farmers presently as well as the development of more suitable approach to reach the hinterland by engaging more people from the grassroots and turn OBOPS II into a legacy programme which subsequent governments will emulate.

According to him, the programme is a continuum to ensure that development drive of government is met and achieved.

“The first phase was successfully facilitated with capital outlay of about N500 Million from the State Government. Up to 1,500 poultry farmers participated and up to 5 million chicken birds were successfully produced within 3 years.

“Constraint faced by paucity of funds lead to the state’s desire to facilitate same program with Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Loan facility. Up to 30,000 farmers participation evenly spread across the State is anticipated.

Recall that the first phase which made over 120 millionaires was sponsored by the Osun state government and anchored by TUNS farm.

Mr. Ogini further revealed that for interested participants, “2,000 birds capacity pen is required for each farmer. They will be provided with all necessary facilities like drinkers, feeders, and hygienic source of water etc.

“In broiler’s production today Osun is rated second to Oyo state in the country with plans to engage over 30,000 poultry farmers and have the scheme spread to every home in no distant future.

“The selection is open to all poultry farmers in the state and only requires farmers to provide a 2,000 capacity pens with basic facilities to avoid high mortality rates. The government liaises with loaning banks to fund supplies such as day-old-chicks, vaccines, feeds, technical assistance and above all buy backs the final output.” Mr. Ogini stated.

A socio-political group, the Osogbo Progressives Circle (OPC) has warned politicians not to drag the Osun State Government and Osogbo community into the criminal allegations leveled against a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Fatai Diekola.

The group in a press statement signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Sulaimon Adebayo and Secretary, Bidemi Olaniyi said Diekola is having case with the police authority, not the state government, nor Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

According to the group, the warning became imperative following a move to incite Osogbo indigenes against the Aregbesola’s administration by supporters of Diekola who is an indigene of Osogbo.

The group maintained that it would not allow ‘self-centered politicians’ to draw back the hand of development in the state capital by the attempt to incite the community against the state government on Diekola’s case.

It explained that the APC chieftain was facing a criminal case of gun running, breach of public peace and conspiracy leveled against him by the police.

Explaining that the APC chieftain’s case came up on the heel of confession of two political thugs ‘Dada Lawrence and one other who allegedly told the police that Diekola was the person that gave guns to them, the group said Osogbo community does not support criminality.

The group stated that Diekola contributed to the underdevelopment of Osogbo when he led thugs to disrupt the construction of Government House at Okedio, Osogbo in 2003 after Chief Bisi Akande lost the governorship election to Olagunsoye Oyinlola of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We do not want to join issues with politicians on Fatai Diekola’s case before the Osogbo magistrate court, we equally don’t want the politicians to misinform members of the public and incite the indigenes of Osogbo against the state government and Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

“Fatai Diekola is son of Osogbo and we know his antecedence. The truth of the matter is that Diekola is have issues with the police authority. The police had invited him about three weeks ago because of his alleged complicity in gun running as accused by the police.

“Diekola did not show up till Monday when he mobilize people to the police station in a campaign rally form. That made the police to charge him for disturbance of public peace. We wondered why Diekola would mobilize hundreds of people to police station to honour invitation. That is the true story.

“Diekola is not fighting for Osogbo and nobody should see his case as such. We recalled that Diekola had led some thugs to disrupt the construction of Government House at Okedio being constructed by Chief Adebisi Akande in 2003.

“We do not want anybody to disturb the peace we are enjoying in Osogbo. Osogbo indigenes should speak out now so that Diekola would not disrupt the development of our collective heritage as he did in 2003. He should answer the allegations against him, his followers should leave Osogbo community out of the matter.

Last Saturday, an election was conducted to fill the vacant Osun West Senatorial seat in the National Assembly, following the demise of Senator Isiaka Adeleke, one of the leaders of our party in the state. At the end of the exercise, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ademola Adeleke, was declared the winner. I congratulate him and wish him a successful term in office.

Osun West has a track record of robust representation in the Senate and participation in its affairs. I was elected senator on the platform of our party, the ACN/APC (Action Congress of Nigeria/All Progressives Congress) to represent this same district between 2011 and 2015. I stepped down for the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke who equally represented the district very well before his passing. It is my sincere hope that the winner will maintain this tradition of representing our constituency and our people very well.

The outcome of the election no doubt was surprising to me, our political party and my teeming supporters but we take it in good faith. The people have made a choice and as a democrat, I respect their choice. The last time I contested for the same office, the people of the district gave me an overwhelming mandate. I will be eternally grateful to them.

Nevertheless, I am deeply reflecting on the result and will embark on wide consultations with the people to understand why the outcome went that way, for us to be better prepared for subsequent elections.

I contested on the platform of a political party with an established pedigree of representing the people and putting their interest first. Public office therefore has never been about me personally but what we can do for the people. The result of the election notwithstanding, I am committed to the ideals of progressive political leadership that make human development its central theme. I will continue to seek the economic, educational, cultural and infrastructural development of the entire district and our state in general with every fibre of my being. In or out of office, this is who we are.

Our people should take this as a temporary setback. We have fought many battles, we have taken down giants, and we have snatched lamb from the jaws of the lion in the past. We shall return stronger and more powerfully. Election outcomes do not define who we are. We have always been as constant as the Northern Star.
I will like to thank all the people of Osun West for making the election peaceful, devoid of rancour and violence in any form. I thank in particular all my supporters – those who came out to vote and contributed in numerous ways to my participation in the election.

I owe a debt of gratitude to the government and the entire people of the State of Osun, especially our indefatigable governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Najim Salaam, and other political office holders – elected and appointed – in the state and at Abuja.

My immense appreciation goes to our political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the national, state and district level for counting me worthy of flying the party’s flag; and for the unwavering support they gave me before, during and after the election.

I thank also all our friends (at home and abroad), well-wishers, traditional rulers, market women, non-governmental organisations, students’ groups, traders, transporters, artisans, traders, journalists, security agencies and every person that believes in the progressive cause and stood by us in the election.

Signed!
Senator Mudashir Husain

The management of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) has attributed the suspension of two of its staffers to breach of professional conduct.

The Director General, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), Mr Wale Idowu on Tuesday said the two employees of the Corporation were suspended for acting against the civil service rules.

It was gathered that the state-owned media organisation suspended Mr. Kunle Makanjuola and Mr. Adepoju Gbadebo of Marketing department indefinitely on professional recklessness and official misconduct.

It was revealed that the duo was sanctioned for allegedly constituting a nuisance in the organisation and sponsoring malicious messages, misguided utterances, abusive statements and comments against the state government and other personalities, a development seems to have been regarded as professional recklessness and act of professional indiscipline.

Idowu also cleared the air on the insinuations making the round that the affected employees were deliberately suspected in connection with the defeat incurred by the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in the just concluded Osun West Senatorial By-election.

He said the suspension did not have any connection with state government as being speculated on the social media.

There have been speculations that the victims were suspended on political grounds, a development which was believed to have been orchestrated by the state government.

But the Corporation boss in a swift reaction debunked the insinuations and exonerated the state government on the matter, nothing that the suspension has nothing to do with government but rather a purely administrative matter.

The OSBC Director General who described the suspension as "first-line-action", said the suspension was meted out to the erring staff members having been caught for engaging in severe unprofessional acts.

He described the action taken by the management of the media organisation as the best in such circumstance, saying "it is normal for any civil servant caught in such activities to face the music.

Akanji explained that the suspended employees have been severally reported for professional misconduct, hence the need to sanction them.

He disclosed that a panel of enquiry has been set up to further look into the matter for appropriate recommendation and action.

The Corporation boss who warned against politising the matter said the organisation has maintained its integrity in the public spheres beyond any ridiculous tendency.

He therefore promised that justice would be ensured on the suspended staff members, saying "no one is ready to inflict pains on others for any reason".

Students of Osun State University, on Wednesday embarked on a protest, blocking the popular Ola-iya juncton, and causing gridlock on the axis

This protest is as a result of the death of their colleague in the University.

Recall that remains of a student of the Institution was recently found at the back of an Alfa’s house.

As at the time of filing this report, security operatives in the state had taken control of the situation and normalcy returned to the affected areas.

cc @lalastica

About 11 political parties are set to engage in a fierce battle for the lucrative position of the Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke of blessed memory. The Osun West senatorial seat became vacant after the sudden death of the occupier, Late Senator Isiaka Adeleke in April.

This was contained in a letter dated 16th of June, 2017 with the reference no INEC/LEG/DR/91/1/34 from the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Names of registered political parties expected to participate in the by-election are Action Congress of Democrats (ACD), All Progressives Congress (APC), Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), Labour Party (LP), Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), National Conscience Party (NCP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and United Democratic Party (UDP).

Already eight of the political parties have organized themselves into a coalition under the name of the Alliance of Collaborating Political Parties (ACPP). The parties in the coalition are Action Congress of Democrats (ACD), All Progressives Congress (APC), Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), Labour Party (LP), Mega Progressive Peoples Parties (MPPP), National Conscience Party (NCP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and United Democratic Party (UDP).

Prince Adesoji Masilo Adeleke, the former and pioneer Osun state Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and the current Chairman of the United Democratic Party (UDP) noted that preparations are now in top gear for the Osun West Senatorial by-election in the state as the electoral contest is a straight combat between his party UDP, APC candidate, the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke’s brother, Ademola Adeleke and other eight candidates.

The Alliance of Collaborating Political Parties (ACPP) has denied alleged adoption of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s candidate for the forthcoming Osun West Senatorial by-election, Mr. Ademola Adeleke by political parties in Osun state. A claim made by Pastor Popoola Olatunji, the state chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) during a radio programme on Rave 91.7 FM last week that all political parties under the aegis of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) in Osun state had adopted Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate Mr. Ademola Adeleke as a sole candidate of the opposition parties for the forthcoming Osun West Senatorial election.

This is contained in a press statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo yesterday by the Chairman and Financial Secretary of the association Comr. Waheed Lawal and Adesoji Massilo Adeleke.

Comrade Waheed Lawal described the adoption statement made by Pastor Poopola as a joke of a thousand nights. According to him “APGA fielded no candidate in the forthcoming senatorial by-election and the CNPP he said is administering has no parties as members. Then why the noise?

Prince Massilo Adesoji Adeleke in his statement said “Pastor Popoola who was once his secretary in CNPP has no right to speak for all the registered political parties in the state. APGA is not among the contesting political parties for the Osun West Senatorial by-election. His political party has a case in court, why is he interfering in issues that doesn’t concern him. It has been made known from a reliable source that only eleven political parties will be participating in the forthcoming senatorial by-election. The parties include ACD, APC, GPN, LP, MPPP, NCP, NNPP, PDP, PRP, SDP and UDP. Please where is APGA? My sincere advice to him is to leave APGA and join his vague civil rights association for it is no more news that he is becoming irrelevant and extraneous.

The Alliance of Collaborating Political Parties (ACPP) however cautioned PDP to deal with Pastor Popoola as an individual and not on behalf of all the registered political parties.

Voters in Osun West Senatorial District have been urged not to associate themselves with deceitful politicians who suddenly joined politics for personal reasons.

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress in the state including the state party chairman, Prince Gboyega Famoodun, the state APC Secretary, Alhaji Rasaq Salinsile, APC Osun West Senatorial Leader, Alhaji Yinusa Amobi, Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Elder Peter Babalola among others stated this in Iwo/Ayedire/Ola-Oluwa federal constituency during the APC Campaign for the July 8 By-Election in the district.

According to the leaders, voting the APC candidate, Senator Mudashiru Husain in the polls provides a platform for dividends of democracy to spread to the grassroots.

The State APC Chairman, Prince Famodun noted that the PDP Candidate, Ademola Adeleke is a selfish politician who suddenly joined politics to serve his pocket.

He told the electorates to vote a responsive, charismatic, experienced, progressive and result driven candidate that will in turn benefit the populace.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the July 8 by-election, Senator Husain appreciated the people for their support over the years urging them to replicate this in the forthcoming election.

Husain promised to serve the electorate better than he did in 2011-2015 sojourn in the Senate adding that the development of the people is his major priority.

A section of women at Igbona Market in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun state, on Thursday, staged a peaceful demonstration to protest against the ultimatum given by the Osun state government over the use of weighting scale known as ‘Osuwon Omoluabi’.

The less than 100 women under the aegis of Igbona Market Women Petty Traders Association, closed their shops and stormed the Government Secretariat, Abere armed with their measuring bowls.

Recall that in a bit to standardize trade activities in the state, the state government of Osun had introduced weighting scale and encouraged all market in the state to align with this policy.

The policy which was introduced about a year ago with the support of various market leaders across the state when operational, will end the imbalance in the measurement of goods in the markets.

Though the government through representative of market associations had agreed to allow timeline frame of one year for the policy to take effect on their members, but the market women had pleaded with government to extend the enforcement.

The government had subsidized the scaling for the market women, a development that cause the government to carried the larger burden.

Addressing the protesters, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce, Hon. Simeon Olufemi Popoola, noted that the government will look into the pleadings of the traders.

Nigeria is the only country amongst its neighbours without standardized measuring scales for its trading activities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfk8B0iWG20&t=78s
The failure of some commercial banks, privately-owned higher institution of learning and other business concern to pay taxes due to the state government have cause tax authorities to shut-down those organizations.

Speaking on Monday after a series of enforcement, Chairman of the Osun Internal Revenue Service, OIRS, Mr Bicci Alli revealed that the organizations in question has rebuffed entreaties from the service to clear their outstanding for too long a time.

“We wrote several letters to them as required by the law, but they failed to respond. Months after letter of notice was sent to them, we sent also sent final demand notices but they were all ignored.

“In fact. before OIRS obtained the court orders to seal the various organisations, a letter of intention to distrain was also issued to them, but were ignore, so we were left with no choice than to seal those organisations who had evaded tax for long.”

The organisations closed include Wema Bank, Unity Bank, Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU) situated at Ikeji Arakeji among others. Mr Bicci revealed that various organisations owe the state N30bn in taxes.

Speaking on the essence of tax payment, Mr Bicci revealed that revenue generated helps the state government deliver public goods and services to the residents. Subsequently, he stated that the distraining exercise will be continuous and would be extended to other banks and some other recalcitrant tax corporate and non-corporate payers found guilty of owing the state government until all what is due to the state is recovered.

He noted that Governor Aregbesola has zero tolerance for tax evasion as he intends to complete all outstanding projects, adding that OIRS is set to begin criminal prosecution of all tax defaulters in the State so as to ensure that culprits are made to face the full wrath of the law.

Acting chairman of the Osun Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Bicci Alli, has appealed to unemployed graduates in Osun to seize the opportunity provided by the social empowerment programme of the federal government known as N-Power which commenced recruitment process of graduates across the country last week.

Mr. Bicci revealed that hundreds of graduates will be employed as Community Tax Liason Officers (CTLOs) across the state.

The NPower programme which is expected to reduce unemployment will engage a fresh 300,000 graduates in teaching, agriculture, healthcare and tax collection.

A statement by the Secretary, JTB, M L Abubakar, said the programme is available for people within the age of 18-35 years and will cover a period of two years.

The desire to diversify the nation’s economy warranted the introduction of Community Tax Liason Officers (CTLOs) for the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), a new field of the programme meant to optimize government revenue at all level.

He however urge qualify graduates to visit the N-Power portal at http://portal.npower.gov.ng for prompt registration before it closes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfk8B0iWG20&t=77s
Today, we bring to you, short documentary on the various investment in public goods and services by the State Government of Osun and the role of IGR in sustaining these investments.

In this short documentary, we present to you, everyday workers and their contribution to our states, and how internally generated revenue is helping to sustain their activities across the state.

Please kindly share widely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpzo13n7eLk
Commissioned on October 17, 1982, the Ede Cocoa Product Industry was setup to process and refine Cocoa from harvest to products of high standard and exports.

However, in 2001, the industry became moribund until 2016. For years, the industry that has hitherto been a model and part of the industrialization sector of Osun became obsolete and moribund with equipment worth millions of naira ineffective.

But in 2016, the Aregbesola administration in partnership with Skyrun Cocoa Processing Company agreed to rejig the industry for optimum performance.

As of today, the partnership has yielded positive results. One is the daily assemblage of 20,000 tonnes of Cocoa for processing to various products.

The company presently process 20,000 tonnes of Cocoa into Cocoa Liquor. In a chat with news men recently, the company says it will soon begin the production of Cocoa Powder and Cocoa Cake.

Also, the Commissioner For Commerce, Co-Op & Empowerment, Mr. Jayeoba Alagbada revealed to news men over the weekend that through the partnership with the company running the industry, the state of Osun owns 30% equity which gives it a 30% revenue derivable from all resources and funds generated here.

"Through this partnership, many people in Osun would learn the trade of cocoa processing. The possibilities are just endless. At least, now, our people know that more value accrues to them if they process cocoa rather than exporting in its raw form," the commissioner stated.

It was revealed that the industry has plans to expand it capacity in the next few months.

The Ede Cocoa Industry At A Glance

1. The Ede Cocoa Processing industry was revitalized in 2016.

2. Before 2016, the processing industry was moribund for 15 years.

3. At current capacity, the company processes about 20,000 tonnes of cocoa daily.

4. Production capacity was actually increased by 200%.

5. The processing industry is currently being run by Skyrun Cocoa Production Company which presently produces cocoa liquor for local and international brands.

6. The factory has created hundred of jobs for locals.

The various social protection policies being implemented in Osun by the Rauf Aregbesola-led administration came up for a four-day study on Thursday as the United Nations International and Children Emergency Fund UNICEF brought sixteen other Nigerian states for a tour.

This was even as the Chief of Field Officer and Coordination of the United Nation's International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Dr. Annefrida Kisesa, commended Governor Aregbesola for being committed to human and capital developments of his people in spite of economic challenges
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UNICEF and the sixteen other states have organised a social protection tour of Osun which will last for about four days to enable them understudy the social protection initiatives being implemented in Osun.

The programme will also enable them to study the impact of the wellbeing of the children and women and draw lessons to formulate policies on social interventions programmes of the organisation and the participating states.

Visiting officials were drawn from Abuja, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Enugu, Lagos, Katsina, Ondo, Sokoto, Rivers, Zamfara, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Anambra, Benue, Delta in addition to UNICEF staff from various field offices in Nigeria.

Speaking at the programme organised to welcome the participants in Osogbo, Governor Aregbesola commended UNICEF for the great work it is doing in Nigeria, which informed the tour to Osun as a model to be studied and recommended for other states.

He held that the tour of Osun is very humbling, stating that when the state sets out to implement social protection programmes, her primary consideration was to take care of the people.

The Governor added that his administration never thought that many of the state’s novel programmes would be considered models worthy of emulation.

According to him, "When my administration was inaugurated, we said that the biggest challenge at the time was the army of unemployed and disoriented youth that constituted a menace to society and to themselves.

"We then set up the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) in less than 100 days to engage 20,000 youths in public works. The cadets were drawn from all the local governments in the state, without consideration for their political, ideological, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

"We also insisted that their uniforms are sewn by tailors in the states, through their guilds and their equipment like cutlasses, hoes, rakes, booths etc. were purchased directly from markets in all the local governments in the state. We have had two cycles of OYES and we still have the cadets at work.
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"The N10,000 monthly allowance we pay them percolates into the local economy in house rent, feeding, transportation and household items, thereby boosting the state’s GDP. The direct benefit of OYES was that crime and unemployment rates dropped drastically in the state". He emphasised.‎
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Aregbesola told UNICEF and participants that for his government to have integration in the various empowerment programmes, it set up an inter-ministerial agency, the Osun Rural Enterprises and Agriculture Programme (OREAP), which comprises the ministries of agriculture, lands, commerce, rural development, finance, health, works, among others.

He noted that the policy has attracted more people, especially women and youths to farming, stating that one flagship programme of empowerment in the state is the home-grown school feeding programme, tagged O’MEALS.

Aregbesola said, "This is an integrated policy of feeding Elementary 1-4 pupils healthy and nutritious meals every school day.
We engaged the services of 3,007 community caterers to prepare the food for the pupils as hygienically as possible.

"To be able to achieve this, the caterers were first medically screened and certified fit and proper, retrained on the rudiments of cooking and particularly made to understand the importance of, one, hygiene in disease prevention and secondly, good nutrition to healthy living.”‎
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Director General, Office of Economic Development and Partnerships and Coordinator in Osun, Dr. Charles Akinola, said the purpose of the visit was to provide a platform for interaction on the protection, care and empowerment of children, women and marginalised groups through social protection initiatives of Governor Aregbesola.

"It is our great pleasure to have shown the participating states and the top officials of the UNICEF some of the successes which the present administration had accomplished since inception.

"What we have today is the result of the interaction which the state have had with the UNICEF on the social protection programmes of this administration.

Earlier, the Chief of Field Officer and Coordination of the United Nation's International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), Dr. Annefrida Kisesa, commended Governor Aregbesola for being committed to human and capital development of his people in spite economic challenges

Kisesa said UNICEF was proud to identify with the state's achievement and impact in raising the standard of living of the people of the state through its commitment to social intervention policies and programmes.

The UNICEF Chief of Field Officer and Coordination, said the international organisation was privileged to partner with the state in its bid to learn on how to harness its potentials to further impact in the general wellbeing of the people in the world.

According to her, "It is amazing that the team of UNICEF officers as well as representatives from the 16 states of Nigeria are here to learn on how to learn and adopt Osun social investment scheme that had impacted greatly in the lives of the citizenry.

"To us as UNICEF, it is our collective beliefs that the only way the larger number of people could be reached with our policies and programmes that centre on the need to eliminate poverty and hunger was to partner with Osun state government that has already succeeded in its social protection initiatives and policies.

"In our quest to achieve this objective, the organisation deemed it fit to collaborate with Osun government through which about sixteen states in Nigeria were carried along to have a plenary session in the state on the need to study the success of the state on many of its social investment scheme". She added.

Speaking, representative of Federal Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Dr. Samson Ebimaro, lauded the efforts made by the Aregbesola's administration in turning Osun to a model in all sectors of the economy.

He said the Ministry was surprised that a small state like Osun has turned to be a pacesetter through which many of her policies and programmes are being adopted and domesticated by her peers and Federal Government.

Dr. Ebimaro disclosed that the National Social Protection Policies, an economic ideology drawn from Osun by the Federal Government had been unanimously endorsed by all the federal ministries and their ministers.

According to him, social protection policies remained a mix of policies, programmes and projects designed for individuals and households throughout lifecycle aimed at ensuring that poverty, hunger among other social challenges are eliminated in the society.

"It is for this singular reason that Osun state government deserves commendation as it has successfully championed this cause at ensuring that government and governance are centred on the people.

"Though this is surprising because no one could have thought that a state like Osun within the few years of creation coupled with her resources, could turn to be a model to which others adopt to succeed in governance.

"On our part, the National Social Protection Policies designed to rescue Nigerians out of poverty and vulnerability, would further help to restore abundance in the general wellbeing of the citizens as lives would be positively impacted through this scheme".

On Tuesday, June 6, 2017, some misguided elements violated the peace in Iwo, one of our major cities in the State of Osun; attacking banks located near the Bowen University.
These armed robbers ended the lives of four promising men of the Nigerian Police Force who attempted to stand up to them. They left sorrow and tears in their trail.
This is unfortunate. However, we remain unbowed by the audacity of these criminals.
We commiserate with the Commissioner of Police, the entire Osun Command of the Nigerian Police Force and the families of the fallen heroes, who fought gallantly but sacrificed their lives in the course of performing their duties.
We equally commiserate with those who were caught and wounded in the cross fires.
We assure the generality of our people that these criminals will not escape justice. Recent history of our state confirms that no criminal violates our peace and goes away with it.
We are confident that security men are on the trail of these misguided elements and and in due course, will be brought to justice.
We use this opportunity to assure the people of Osun of their safety. We invested in security of lives and property as part of our overall objectives of maintaining a peaceful state to be a source of attraction for investments.
This is why our state has been rated many times as one of the states with the lowest cases of crime throughout Nigeria.
We are determined to do everything to sustain this rating. Our citizens are therefore urged to be vigilant; report any suspicious movement and activities to the law enforcement agencies.

Signed:
Semiu Okanlawon
Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy,
Office of the Governor,
State of Osun.

Imo, Bayelsa, Taraba and a few others are the most indebted states to workers in the Nigerian federation, a report has shown.

Going by the statistics provided by @BudgITng, an independent body monitoring the country's economy, it shows the North Central State has the highest record of owing workers salaries from the primary school teachers cadre to senior civil servants as well as pensioners.

States with some level of oil with 13% derivation from FAAC every month are caught in this mess.

The figures released as of May 15, 2017 puts Osun in a low pedestal compared to states viewed as viable and economically buoyant to cater for their immediate needs.

Despite its reported huge debt profile, the financial re-engineering ability and administrative ingenuity of Governor Rauf Aregbesola gave birth to the modulated salary structure agreement which some states hitherto paying full salaries are longing to adopt as they await the resuscitation of the economy.

For the past two years since the new salary regime began which was an agreement between the government and Labour unions in the state, the government has remained consistent to workforce well being.

And with all the noise generated over Osun, the report only stresses the need for government to brace up and work to make things better.

If Osun can be so self-matured and pragmatic to swing into action by 2015, then why can't they go to Bayelsa, Imo where the story is different?

With Osun moving forward in the execution of basic infrastructures and other amenities, So also is the welfare of the workers that many believe would have reduced the challenges faced by the Governor if the salary issue was one which had no locus standi to move beyond its early stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ppgoit-ujaU&t=258s
The Coroner Inquest instituted by the Government of Osun State to unravel circumstances surrounding sudden death of late Senator Isiaka Adeleke has cleared air on speculation that he died as a result of poison.
In this video, the coroner ruled out poison as the cause of Adeleke’s death, saying there were no traces of poison in the system of the deceased according to the autopsy and toxicologist’s reports which were tendered before him.
Testimonies were taken from witnesses, among which are CMD of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Prof. Akeem Lasisi; LAUTECH Chief Pathologist, Dr. Taiwo Solaja; Nurse who injected the late Senator, Mr. Alfred Aderibigbe; SP Moses Eleta, Head, Homicide Unit, Osun Police Command
In the testimony of Mr Aderibigbe, the nurse who administered drug on the late senator revealed that Aderibigbe administered overdose of diazepam 40mg, hydrocortisone 200mg, analgin 1000mg, gentamicine 1500mg, and pentasozine to the deceased intravenously coupled with excessive alcohol which caused his death.
The deceased had patronised the said Aderibigbe for about 20 years and had taken treatment from him without doctor’s prescription.
In his verdict, Coroner Olusegun Ayilara said evidence before the inquest shows that the speculation of the poisoning is baseless. He revealed that the curse of late Adeleke’s death is aspiration associated with multiple drugs overdose and could not able to trace the link of poisoning by anybody. The autopsy and toxicologist’s reports have confirmed that there were no traces of poison and heavy metal in his (deceased’s) blood; therefore, it is my prime opinion that he was not poisoned.

It is on record that Osun is one of the states with the lowest crime rate in Nigeria- says Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of ICT, Foluso Adebanjo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F7TkC67-fo

Thousand of residents of Osogbo, the Osun state capital showed admiration for their governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over the weekend as he led them in a fitness and health walk as part of activities lined up by his committee of friends to mark his 60th birthday celebrations.

The exercise tagged “Walk to live” had been a major highlight of the
administration particularly during his first term.

The walk which is aimed at promoting healthy living among the people and as well creating a high sense of unity and productivity among the people of Osun was organised by friends and associate for the governor.

Turnout for the solidarity walk was impressive as the state capital stood at a standstill as people trooped out to be a part of event.

The State of Osun Deputy Governor, Otunba Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chief of Staff, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Akintunde Adegboye; Osun APC Party Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun among many other dignitaries participated in the event.

Many shops and business remained shut as owners opted to partake in the walk.

Recall Governor Aregbesola while fielding questions during a live programme “Ogbeni till daybreak” asserted that he was the only African leader to have walked 91.5 km with his people while also explaining that the feat has only been beaten by the former Chinese leader, Chairman Mao Tse Tong and the late Cuban revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keHN9jLtx00&t=1s
Imagine a modern space equipped with all modern tools to professionally and adequately diagnose your vehicles problems as well as produce professional vehicle technicians equipped with the best and most modern of tools right here in Nigeria? Well, this feat has been achieved in Osun where Nigeria’s only world class mechatronics institutes is located.

The Bola Ige Mechatronics Institute, BIMI, is one of Africa’s best mechatronics school, with none of its kind in Nigeria or sub-Saharan Africa for that matter.

According to the manager, Mr. Folosho Awogbami, BIMI is an intelligent auto-training institute established in honour of the late Chief Ajibola Idowu Adegoke Ige at Esa Oke, State of Osun.

The institute provides expert training for developing private sector competence in auto diagnostics and repair, facilitate a modern hi-tech environment to train the trainers, provide theoretical and practical setting for retaining local auto mechanics and serves as a test bed for raising auto remediation entrepreneurs.

Bola Ige Mechatronics Institute programmes covers every aspect of automobile technology which include the Powertrain engine (emission and ignition), and transmission, Body (immobilizer and intrusion controls; Steering electrics; supplementary restraint system; instrument cluster; HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning), and climate control), Chassis (suspension electrics, ABS and break electrics) and Communication (CAN [Control Area Network], LIN (Local Interconnect Network), MOST (Media-Oriented System Transport), FlexRay and other vehicle inter-connecting networks).

Recall over 30 Osun indigenes were sent to Germany for a 2-month intensive training in May of 2014 by the Rauf Aregbesola led administration in the state. Subsequently, the government of Osun in partnership with a foreign agency and support from the National Automotive Council established the multimillion naira mechatronics institute.

Awogbami further noted that the institute was built with the best of equipment and software imported from Germany with continuous partnership to ensure time to time update.

“Our training facilities are interactive with our dynamic multimedia learning aid and real live components. All our Instructors are German-trained and well able to deliver the knowledge to the understanding of any categories of trainee irrespective of the literacy level.” Awogbami stated.

The institute has three computerised mechanical workshops for assembling and repair of various types of automobiles.


http://www.theparadigmng.com/2017/05/15/osun-delivers-nigerias-world-class-mechatronics-institute-bimi/

Contrary to popular opinion, the state of Osun owns 14% equity in Omoluabi Garment Factory, located along Gbongan Osogbo road, Ede.

This was revealed by Mr. Jayeoba Alagbada, a former commissioner for Commerce, Co-Op & Empowerment and also a present commissioner-nominee in the state who held his screening at the state house of Assembly on Tuesday.

Recall a certain highly placed person in government was rumoured to own the garment making company using Sam & Sara Factory Limited as a front. But revealing the true status of government stake in company, Alagbada revealed that government’s only contribution to the company was land, which secured for it, a 14% stake in the company.

“Our only contribution to the company is land, nothing more,” Mr. Alagbada stated.

Explaining the role of the company in driving the O’Uniform policy, the commissioner-nominee stated the state government acted as an offtaker for 750,000 school uniforms which was distributed for free to students across the state. The arrangement ensured the building of the biggest garment factory in West Africa in the state of Osun.

Alagbada further stated that the company has since moved beyond school uniform making in Osun.

“Omoluabi Garment Factory, is a thriving Private Public Business Partnership between the government of the state of Osun and Sam & Sara Garments Limited. The company now produces uniforms for the Nigerian Military, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), among several others.” Alagbada stated.

It was also revealed that as at February 2017, at least, the sum of N120mn has been made as profits by the textile sellers through the sale of subsidized school uniforms alone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB3Hue8sNVg

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun is to take questions from varied audience for seven hours from late night Friday May 5, 2017 into the early hours of Saturday May 6 2017 as he holds a repackaged public engagement forum, Ogbeni Till Day Break on Friday.

The programme which commences by 11pm on Friday holds at the WOCDIF Event Centre, Ring Road Osogbo.

The event will afford the people of the state and others outside the state opportunities to interact with the Governor 'live' on the activities of the administration.

Those who are in attendance will ask the Governor face-to -face questions while others at home across the state can phone in or send their questions through the various social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook Whatsapp and others.

It will be recalled that the programme was one of the prominent interactive sessions with which the governor gave stewardship of his administration before the end of his first term in office.

Friday's edition of the program will be the first since the commencement of the Governor's second term.

The government of Osun on Thursday appealed to Resident Doctors in the state to be calm and exercise patience over the concerns raised during their protest early this morning promising to meet their demand soonest, as the finance of the state improves.

The source at the government house maintained that the paucity of funds in the state, which responsible for some inadequacies is a fallout of general economic quagmire in Nigeria.

According to the source, Governor Rauf Aregbesola is working assiduously to satisfy different categories of workers in the state, as being reiterated in his statement during the workers day on May 1.

"You will agree with me that this challenge is a general problem in Nigeria, in which the governor is seriously working to expand the economic coast of the state and improve its finance.

"Nobody can fault the passion and love of the governor towards the workers, you could feel his emotion in a statement released on May Day, obviously, he is ready to go any length to make them happy, and compensate them for what they have contributed in terms of sacrifice for the survival of the administration in the face of economic recession," the source said.

On the state of Hospitals in Osun, the source said contrary to claims by the workers, the government has actually invested massively in rehabilitating hospitals in the state. The funding of the health sector has also increased year on year as can be seen in the budgets.

Osun has second highest number of primary healthcare centres in the country and the state continues to work to improve the health sector, the source said.

The state government of Osun has said that the scourge of shortage in water supply would soon be a thing of the past in the state.

Speaking over the weekend, the General Manager, Osun Water Corporation, Engr. Gbenga Owojuyigbe, stated that the state government’s investment in water supply in partnership with developmental agencies is now yielding results.

Owojuyigbe stated that contrary to recent report of water shortage in the state, Osun continues to provide portable water to its citizenry to functional water works across the state.

He revealed that Ede water works, which happens to be the biggest in the state supplies 12 local governments.

“Osogbo Ede water works, the biggest water scheme in Osun, with a capacity of 180,000 m3 (cubic-meter) supplies water to 12 local govt areas of the state.

“The areas Osogbo Ede Water Dam supplies clean and portable water to includes Osogbo, Ede, Ife, Ipetumodu, Origbo Meje, Gbogan axis, Ifon Ilobu, Alarasan, Iwoye and other neighbouring towns.”

Engr. Owojuyigbe further stated that upgrades of facilities have been carried out at the Osogbo Ede water plant for increase efficiency. The upgrades he said consist of supply and installation of two 2,500m 3 /hr low lift pumps, supply and installation of one 1500KVA generating set (high lift) and other ancillary works.

The Osun Water Corporation boss revealed that pipes and fittings at Oyan Water Supply Scheme have been completely replaced and a new power generating set installed at Okinni dam.

Recall, early this year, the state government inaugurated the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Committee, in a bid to ensure efficient and effective allocation of water to different categories of users in the state.

Also, a Water Sanitation and Hygiene Committees (WASHCOM) was set up by the Office of Rural Water and Environmental Sanitation Agency (RUWESA) in all rural communities of the state to ensure good sanitation and hygiene.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClsIL6ljs1o

The State Government of Osun as donated Opon Imo 'Tablets of Knowledge' to rescued Chibok School girls towards their rehabilitation.

Recall the state government had in 2013 launched a revolutionary tablets of knowledge for senior secondary school students in Osun.

The programme has in the past 4 years placed a computer electronic device in the hands all student, some of which are from poor background and in rural environment where access to such devices would not have been possible.

Performance of students writing the WASSCE examinations has since improved year on year, culminating in a 46% pass rate in five subjects including Mathematics and English in 2016.

Please see below, images of the the Rescued Chibok School girls using their devices.

More details later...

A delegation NPOWER team has lauded Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for massive infrastructural projects embarked upon in the state.

This was revealed on Monday, when the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation/Youth Employment in the Office of the Vice President, Mr. Afolabi Imoukhuede visited several areas in the state as part of a three-day tour to evaluate the NPOWER volunteers and engage stakeholders in the state.

Afolabi commended the government, describing the infrastructural turnaround of the state as simply amazing, “It’s my first time in Osun in a long while, but I must confess, the infrastructure development across the state is revolutionary and simply amazing.”
“The fact that Osun is one of the list earners from FAAC, yet has been able to put all these up (referring to the Ataoja Government High School, Osogbo and the nearby November 27 Bridge and interchange), is really commendable.”

Afolabi’s team visited Olorunda Middle School where 25 NPOWER volunteers are presently serving, health centers and some farms settlements on the first day of the tour to interact with the volunteers and stakeholders.

N-Power is the Job Creation intervention of the President Muhammudu Buhari’s Social Investments Programme targeted at both Graduates and Non-Graduates between the ages of 18-35years.

During the last year application process, the State of Osun recorded 24,080 Graduate applications out of which 10,041 were deployed to the State in December 2016 as part of the 200,000 Graduates employed and deployed by the Federal Government under the N-Power Job Creation intervention.

Find photos from the tour below:

The peace and serenity of Sabo, a section of this ancient city of Ile Ife was shattered when violence erupted among some hoodlums, leading regrettably to loss of lives and destruction of property. May the souls of the departed find eternal repose and may the peace of the Almighty God reign supreme in Osun and in our nation.

The State Government of Osun, the then Acting President and law enforcement agencies immediately stepped into the matter. Normalcy and peace were immediately restored to the affected area. The police have arrested some suspects. Some were immediately released when sufficient ground for their continued retention could not be established. The police and other law enforcement agencies have assured all of even-handedness and that the rule of law will be strictly adhered to and prevail. We owe them support and the need for patience until the final outcome, since investigation into the matter continues.

In light of ongoing investigation, therefore, we do not want to pre-empt the outcome by making statements prejudicial to the efforts of the law enforcement agencies. However, we have no doubt that this is not an inter-ethnic, inter religious or inter regional conflict by any stretch of the imagination. It was just an ugly development, a breach of public peace, masterminded by hoodlums and criminals resulting to loss of lives and property.


While not denying the political and economic roots of conflicts in our land, every infraction of the law is primarily a law and order matter. Even while we seek political solutions to a problem, the first line of approach is law enforcement. This is why even our armed forces, armed and ready to be deployed in war, are technically instruments for enforcing laws, protecting our territorial integrity and promoting our foreign policies.
We should all therefore disabuse our minds of ethnic bias by denying the narrative of inter-ethnic conflict between the Yoruba and Hausa community in Ile Ife, because it was not. It is the duty of government to guarantee the welfare and security of all people in its area of jurisdiction. This we shall do to the best of our ability and with all the resources at our disposal, without fear or favour.

Some people, for reasons best known to them, might decide to fan the embers of discord, division, even separation and incite one group against another, with a false narrative of Yoruba-Hausa conflict and call to arms. They are wrong and have to be unhinged in their bid to promote needless strive and protracted inter-ethnic crisis.

On September 23, 2016 we held the 123rd anniversary of the 1893 Kiriji War Armistice, at which the warring parties in the 16 long years of destructive Yoruba civil war, decided to sheathe their swords and embrace peace for the peace, unity, progress and prosperity of the Yoruba nation. On that fateful day, the warring parties, principally the Ijesa and Ekiti confederate army and the Ibadan army, signed a peace treaty. It was in the words of the partisans, that ‘the Kiriji war ended all wars in Yorubaland’.

For 16 long years, the Yoruba nation was consuming itself and thankfully the armistice came, giving us the opportunity for peace, healing and progress. One critical lesson learnt from the war was that it was destructive and retrogressive and we should avoid any situation that will put our nation and people in harm’s way.
Civilized people should avoid destructive actions and promotion of conflicts. War is bad and must be avoided by all means. We must always first explore and exhaust all options for peace and seriously consider the cost of conflict before promoting it. The consequences of war in Libya, Syria, Yemen and South Sudan are sufficiently frightening enough to check any thought of war by any one.

Secondly, Yoruba people are OMOLUABI; very loving, fair-minded, justice seeking, hospitable and accommodating to a fault. This is why other people flock to us. Likewise, the Hausa community in Ile-Ife and other parts of the state.

It might interest us to know that many of these non-Yoruba people are fourth and fifth generation settlers whose forebears have been with us for more than a century and have little or no connection to their nativity. Many of them bear Yoruba names and have intermarried with our people. While there are occasional quarrels within the Yoruba and between Yoruba and other nationalities, violence and destruction of this magnitude were rare and puzzling and should call for deep reflections and soul searching among us all.

Whereas Yoruba and Hausa people had been on different political camps for decades without recourse to bloody conflicts, how come we are witnessing this isolated mayhem in Sabo when the mainstream Yoruba and Hausa people share the same political platform?

We are therefore determined to get to the root of the matter, mete out appropriate sanctions on the instigators and perpetrators of the mayhem and prevent such occurrences in the future

The report that small arms and light weapons were deployed freely during the crisis was disturbing and frightening. It has implication for security of lives and property and the potential for more conflicts beyond the immediate theatre of war, if not nipped in the bud. I want you to look into this. The sources and the current location of these arms and their custodians should be investigated and determined. They should all be recovered.

There are also reports that cultists who have no regard for human lives were recruited into the mayhem for a fee. This is most disheartening.

We want justice for all, like Martin Luther King Jr, once said, ‘Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream’, to the victims and the perpetrators alike.

•Excerpted from the speech delivered by Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the inauguration of a six-man commission of inquiry into the civil disturbances in Ile-Ife