The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AREGBESOLA

  • Aregbesola hails use of scales in markets

    •Gets NUJ award

    osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has expressed happiness that traders have adopted the “Osunwon Omoluabi” launched by the government as the official measuring scales in markets.

    He said he was delighted that after two years of the launch, traders and others had embraced the scales.

    Aregbesola spoke after being given the “Golden Merit Award in Infrastructural Development”, by the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, in Osogbo, as part of activities marking the Press Week.

    He stressed the need for residents to display the “Omoluabi ethos” in their day-to- day activities.

    The governor said the revival of good character was one of the greatest achievements of his administration.

    He said of the achievements of the present administration, the most fulfilling was the rebranding of Osun as “The State of the Virtuous” and the success in making residents behave in such manner.

    Aregbesola, who urged residents to show good character wherever they found themselves, said that was the only way human beings could make headway in life.

    The grand patron of the NUJ, who expressed happiness at the infrastructural development his administration had put in place, said no matter how good or long lasting a road or building might be, it would wear off sooner or later, but the good character in an individual would forever remain.

    He appealed to reporters to imbibe the spirit of developmental journalism, to help the country grow.

    The governor said: “They should see themselves as major stakeholders, who will determine whether the country will be peaceful and experience growth.

    “It is good to know that you have given me an award because of the achievements of our administration. Roads are good, school buildings are fantastic, but I want to tell you that my greatest joy today is that this administration has revived the Omoluabi virtues among our people.

    “I am happy that we have rebranded our state and our people are acting accordingly with good characters, which we have been preaching all along.

    “The only thing that can follow a human being wherever he or she goes is the Omoluabi virtue he or she possesses. This can open doors of opportunities for such a person anywhere in the world.

    “We are proud of our infrastructural developments as a government, but the truth is that no matter how beautiful and long lasting those structures may look, the truth we must all accept is that they will eventually wear out, but character will remain.

    “I want to dedicate this award you have given me to our market women, who after two years of appealing to them, have decided to start making use of the “Osuwon Omoluabi” for their businesses. This is part of what I am talking about. I am proud of that even more than the roads we have built.”

    NUJ National President Alhaji Waheed Odusile, represented by the Vice-President, B Zone, Comrade Cosmas Oni, while congratulating the governor on the award, said his achievements were unprecedented, hence the award.

    He said journalists would ensure that democracy thrived.

    NUJ Osun State Chairman Mr. Abiodun Olalere said the union would support good governance, which was why they were proud to be associated with Governor Aregbesola, who had raised the bar of governance.

    Other personalities given awards included the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Akanbi, Telu 1, who got the “Evergreen Award for Humanitarian Services”, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, who was decorated with the “Distinguished Professional Award” and Alhaji Najeem Yasin, the national president of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), who was given an “Award of Excellence in Administration”.

    Journalists and media houses were also given professional awards.

  • Aregbesola, others advocate tree planting

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has advocated overhauling of forest management to save Nigeria and Africa from imminent climate change.

    He said the existence of the black race lied in protecting and maintaining the natural rain forests.

    Aregbesola, who spoke at the African Forest Forum, a West and Central African workshop hosted by the Osun State University in Osogbo, advocated tree planting to save the continent from the negative effect of climate change.

    The participating countries include The Gambia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Niger, Benin Republic, Chad, Senegal, Kenya, Tanzania, Guinea Bissau, Cameroon, Liberia, Togo, Congo, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Burundi, Rwanda and host, Nigeria.

    Members of the forum with headquarters in Nairobi (Kenya), were on a five-day West and Central African workshop to Osun on the need to advance forestry in Africa.

    Addressing the participants at a dinner, the governor said Africa did not deserve to suffer the bad effect of climate change, had it been the continent’s forest was preserved.

    He attributed the carefree attitude of past leaders to the development, saying it was the cause of the challenges posed by the climate change in Nigeria and Africa.

    Aregbesola expressed displeasure about the way natural rain forests were being managed in Africa, saying: “It is high time we rose to the challenge and developed a modality that will strengthen forest management.”

    He decried the 90 per cent loss of forest resource in Africa, noting that it was a setback that had culminated in the climate change challenges confronting the continent.

    The governor urged leaders to wake up from their slumber by revamping the resources buried in the ‘great lake region’ of Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Tanzania.

    The Executive Secretary of the forum, Godwin Kanero, said it had recorded successes in its public enlightenment programmesý organised across the participating countries.

    He said the forum was established about 10 years ago to finding a solution to the environmental challenges occasioned by deforestation.

     

  • Aregbesola pays condolence visit to Olofa

    Following the armed robbery attack that claimed many lives of in Offa, Kwara State, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described the recent armed robbery attacks in Offa, Kwara State, as the worst in the history of the ancient town. He called on security agencies at various levels to beam their searchlights into the incident and launch thorough investigation to unravel the incident.

    He made the call on Friday during a condolence visit to the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Oloyede, at his palace, in Offa, Kwara State. Aregbesola described the attack as barbaric in a modern society, saying no effort must be spared to unravel the perpetrators and bring them to justice. According to him, “what happened last week was very unfortunate, barbaric, saddening and uncalled for. It was like what happened about 132 years ago in this town.

    “I deemed it fit to be here in my capacity not only as a governor but as a brother, friend and in-law to the people of Offa and Kwara State in general. It is on record that our people in Osun have had robust relationship and affection with the people of Offa, prompting us to be here in large number. I came here with members of my cabinet to sympathise with the good people of Offa and Kwara State, particularly the family of those that lost their lives to the unfortunate incident.

    “The incident has once again challenged us on the need to tighten internal security and I am very sure that the perpetrators would not go unpunished. As Muslims, we believe that the incident was God’s will and those that lost their lives have been destined to experience such as we pray God to grant the souls of the departed the best place in paradise and give their family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

    In his remarks, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Oloyede Okikiola, attributed the incident to God’s will. The Olofa noted that the families of the victims and the entire people of the town have taken consolation in God, noting that the ancient town is vastly religious. “What happened to us last week is considered as God’s will, that is why my subjects have been going on their normal businesses. Investigation is ongoing and we are assured that the bandits will be brought to justice in no distant time,” the Olofa stressed.

     

  • Buhari, Ikpeazu, Akeredolu, Aregbesola, Orji, others join Emenike to bury mum

    President Muhammadu Buhari was joined by other eminent politicians from across the country to witness the burial ceremony of the mother of Chief Ikechi Emenike, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State.

    Speaking at the burial ceremony at Umukabia, Umuahia North council area of Abia State, President Buhari said the was need for the country to be united through a handshake across the Niger.

    Buhari noted that Nigeria at this time needs more bridge builders across ethnic, religious and political divides for the country to attain the much desired national cohesion, peace and harmony among the diverse peoples.

    The President, who was represented by the minister of education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, said that there was need for those in political leadership and high in the society to build bridges of understanding and goodwill by using their positions well.

    He explained that he was in Abia because Chief Emenike, who is one of the children of the deceased, “is a bridge builder among us” who has used his endowment and position to help people and make them realise their goals in life.

    President Buhari described Emenike’s mother, Nneoma Helen Egobekee Emenike Uwagbama who passed away at the age of 85 as woman who did not spare the rod as her children were well brought up and helping to mould the society.

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu noted that Mama Emenike lived a good life as exemplified by the quality of her children, adding that the family should immortalise the good virtues of their matriarch.

    Ikpeazu called on them not to deviate from the good training they got from their late mother and consoled them by saying that they should not cry those who do not know Christ as death is an avenue every living being must pass through.

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Ondo state said that he was in Abia to testify to the humane character of Chief Emenike, who described as is a man of honour and dignity, while Governor Rotimi Akeredolu urged Emenike to be happy for being alive to bury his mother.

    In his sermon, the Prelate Emeritus, Methodist Church of Nigeria, His Eminence Dr Sunday Mbang, warned politicians against indulging in politics of blackmail.

    Mbang said politicians erroneously believed they could control time only to find out that when it was already late that and urged those who are still living in that delusion to retrace their steps before it is too late.

    The Methodist cleric said: “Today God has asked me to tell you that whatever you plan you have no control over time, as only God knows what tomorrow holds for each and everyone in this world”.

    Chief Emenike, a publisher, development economist and politician, in his funeral speech extolled the life of his late mother, noting that mothers are truly the ones created in the image of God, adding that they go extra mile to ensure the success of their children.

    He descried mothers as the most kindhearted creatures whom God used to make the most sacrifice to see to the upbringing of their children and the welfare of the family.

    Emenike said, “If not for my mother I would have ended up as a roadside mechanic and my senior brother, a roadside panel bearer, our mother insisted and sacrificed to ensure that all her eight children got the best education”.

    The attendance at the funeral defied political colouration, geographical and religious locations as governors, senators, ministers, senior clerics, and captains of industry were among the huge crowd of mourners and sympathisers that attended the funeral ceremony.

    These include Governors Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and the host governor, Ikpeazu.

    Other high profile personalities that came to condole with the Emenike family were Senators Theodore Orji (Abia Central) Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, former governor of Abia and now minister of science and technology, Chief Timipre Silva, former governor of Bayelsa State and former military president General Ibrahim Babangida, who was represented by Senator Dagash Dangana.

     

  • Aregbesola preaches love, peace

    Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has urged Christians to embrace the lesson of Easter by continuing to live in peace with their neighbours.

    In a message by his media aide, Sola Fasure yesterday in Osogbo, the governor said that the ideal of Easter was love manifested in sacrifice.

    “It was love that motivated Jesus Christ to lay down his life. It was love also that made him adopt non-resistance method, even as he endured a farcical trial that led to his condemnation, crucifixion death, and resurrection.

    “Christians therefore should emulate Jesus by demonstrating love to one another and to their neighbours, just as Jesus admonished his disciples to love their neighbours as themselves. The absence of love is the foundation of all evils in our society.”

    He also urged Christians to use the period of Easter celebration to pray for the nation and the state, noting that the challenges before the nation require divine intervention.

     

  • Osinbajo, wife, Tinubu, Aregbesola, Fayose, Akande, Daniel, others bid Alake’s father-in-law farewell

    High profile dignitaries including the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; his wife, Dolapo; National Leader All Progressives Congress (APC),  Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Osun State Governor,  Rauf Aregbesola;  his Ekiti counterpart, Ayo Fayose; former governor of Osun State and former interim national chairman of APC Bisi Akande;  yesterday witnessed the funeral  ceremony of the father-in –law to a former Commissioner of Information and Startegy in Lagos State, Mr Dele Alake, Pa Emmanuel Elegbede.

    A former governor of Ogun State, Otuba Gbenga Daniel and ex-Minister of State for Defence, Mr Musiliu Obanikoro attended the funeral service held at Araromi Baptist Church on Moloney Street, Lagos Island yesterday.

    The list also include the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Tunji Bello; Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, his wife Fatima; Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief, Vintage Press Limited, publishers of The Nation, Victor Ifijeh; the Daily Editor of the newspaper, Gbenga Omotoso;  Managing Director/ Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard Newspaper, Gbenga Adefaye; Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria, Mr Bayo Onanuga; ex- Commissioner for Finance,Lagos State, Wale Edun; popular lawyer and human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN); a former senator representing Lagos West, Tokunbo Afikuyomi; Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Ferry Services, Paul Kalejaiye and Hon Daniel Kalejaiye, among others.

    In his sermon, Rev Shola Idowu  urged the children to follow the footsteps of their father.

    He described Elegbede as a man that lived for the service of God, nothing that his life his worthy of emulation.

    “Baba has died and has gone to rest in the bosom of the Lord. We all will die someday. We must live for God.”

    Pa Elegbede was buried at Vaults and Gardens in Ikoyi. He was 89. Guests were later entertained at  Harbour Point on Victoria Island.

    Until his retirement, he was on the board of directors of both Vono Plc  and Nipol Plc. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, children,  grandchildren and great grandchildren.

    Osinbajo described Elegbede as a good man whose life is worthy of emulation.

    He urged his children to emulate the good life their father lived, saying he has gone to rest in the Lord.

    “The last time I saw him he was still strong and I never knew he would be leaving us so soon.”

    Bamigbetan said Elegbede showed love to all those around him

    “He encouraged his children to show kindness to everyone and many of them are doing so up till today. He was committed Christian that lived a good Christian life. He was compassionate.”

    Alake said his father in law was a detailed and organised man, adding that he lived a good and outstanding life.”

    “He wrote with his hand writing his biography and the order of his obituary.  He organised his passage and we are doing today what he wrote down. He wrote down the names and phone numbers of those he want us to contact when he takes his last breath. He wrote down names of individuals, institutions, organisation and clubs.

    “He had the details of all his children and grandchildren. He has details of me more than I do of myself.”

    He added that his father- in- law left with them the legacy to be meticulous, accountable,  transparent, serious and jovial.

    Elegbede’s first daughter, Abosede Adebiyi said her father was a loving and caring husband and father.  “He was disciplined, God fearing and he brought us up in the way of the Lord. He taught us how to be well organized and that in whatever we want to achieve in life, we have to dream about it, write it down in a paper and follow what we have written down.”

    She added that he was a jovial father, he was disciplined and he made sure all his children were well educated.  “He took good care of us all and the extended family. He is a powerful man and always encouraged us to know God is on our side. He was a man of many parts.

    “He taught us honestly and made sure all his children are organised.  He has records of all his children. I pity my mother more because she will miss him much more. They have been together for 66 years. His legacies of honesty and organisation will live on for life in us”.

  • ‘I’ll build on Aregbesola’s achievement’

    Osun State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, Chief Bola Olaniyi has said he will consolidate on the legacy of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, when elected in the coming election.

    Olaniyi said it was better for the Osun people to vote the APC, to ensure that the on-going projects started by the Aregbesola are brought to logical concluded.

    He added that the state needs another dynamic leader capable of delivering on the mandate, noting that Aregbesola has taken governance to greater height in Osun.

    The governorship aspirant explained that his desire to serve Osun people was a long time ambition, noting that he would be committed to infrastructure development.

    He said: “My ambition right from time is to serve the people of Osun in governorship position. The state has passed through leaders who were self serving, but I believe that people like me could improve on what Aregbesola is doing.

    “Osun mostly consists of farmers who need someone who will provide the enabling environment for them to grow the economy, particularly at a time resources from the federal government are dwindling.

    “If the people tap into rich resources available in every part of Osun, those who can go to commercial farming should be encouraged to do so, while those who cannot operate beyond subsistence agriculture are allowed. It means there will be surplus to feed on and sell off.”

    Olaniyi maintained that the youth who should stay back home and contribute their quota to the development of the state were now seeking better greener pasture outside the shores of Nigeria.

    “Majority of the youths that constitute the working class have travelled out. Some of them took risks that do not worth the trouble.

    “They should have stayed back to farm; today the price of foodstuff has gone beyond their reach, but we still thank God that Ogbeni Aregbesola is trying his best.

    He stressed that the dwindling Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) should be a cause of worry, adding stakeholders should think of what they can contribute to the economy better.

    “Before the discovery of crude oil in the nation, we were already living and surviving on agriculture. We are planning to mechanize farming. The mechanize farming will involve all local government within the state.

    “Governor Aregbesols has tried to industrialise the state through infrastructural development, but the impact has been minimal due to insufficient funds.

    “He is a prudent manager of resources and with little at his disposal; he has done a lot to give Osun people a sense of direction as far as managing the economy is concerned,” he said.

  • Osun APC denies Aregbesola, party leaders’ dispute

    The All Progressives Congress in Osun State yesterday denied allegation that leaders and elders of the party disagreed with Governor Rauf Aregbesola on where the candidate for this year’s governorship election should come from.

    In a statement yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, the party’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy Kunle Oyatomi said the reports in some newspapers on the alleged impasse were false.

    According to the party, there was no disagreement at a meeting between the governor and leaders, adding that “no one discussed the issues reported by a section of the media”.

    The statement said: “What the meeting set out to discuss was a review of last local government election and measures required to strengthen the party structure throughout the state.

    “It is unfortunate that the newspaper (not The Nation) has been misled by unscrupulous individuals who fabricated the story for whatever advantage they thought they could get from it.

    “In the process, the newspaper itself has misled the public.

    “We hope in the future, this kind of error will not occur and the newspaper should always try to seek information from the appropriate quarters.”

  • ‘Aregbesola training teachers to raise education standard’

    The Executive Chairman of Osun State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Prince Felix Awofisayo, has said the Rauf Aregbesola administration concentrated on training teachers to raise the standard of basic education.

    Awofisayo, who spoke at a five-day capacity building for quality assurance officers in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, noted that highly skilled manpower was needed to deliver quality basic education in urban and rural areas.

    The SUBEB chief said the state government had reformed elementary and middle schools, being the foundation of educational growth and development across the world.

    He said: “The transformation agenda of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been justified through several giant strides in the sector since inception of this administration. Aregbesola has built 22 new model schools, 20 model middle schools and several model high schools with 3,000 students’ capacity.

    “All these schools are fully equipped with modern students’ and pupils’ furniture, ICT equipment, science laboratories, water and electricity. Besides these, several dilapidated schools have been renovated with new classrooms constructed and furniture provided as well as 3,000 new teachers recruited to fill existing vacancies.”

    Awofisayo hoped the current training of quality assurance officers will complement government’s efforts to ensure quality learning from the huge government investment in schools’ facilities.

    The Permanent Secretary in SUBEB, Mr. Fatai Kolawole, noted that the training was meant to equip the teachers to do their job well.

    He added that elementary education remained a necessary foundation for pupils.

    Also, a former Zonal Coordinator of Quality Assurance at Athens Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. J. O. Olakulehin, hailed Aregbesola for his achievements in the Education sector, particularly in basic education.

     

  • Fulani groups hails Aregbesola over herdsmen/farmers cordial relations

    Fulani groups hails Aregbesola over herdsmen/farmers cordial relations

    A Fulani ethnic association, under the umbrella of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN), has urged the Federal Government and 35 other states to understudy the Osun State peaceful co-existence blueprint in resolving herders/farmers crises.

    The group faulted the anti-grazing laws by some states, saying it was short-sighted in a multi-cultural society like Nigeria.

    The association spoke through its National Chairman, Alhaji Sale Bayari, who led other members of the association to Osun State to understudy the successes of the Rauf Aregbesola administration in tackling the crisis among farmers and Fulani herdsmen in the state.

    Bayari lauded the Osun State government for addressing and combating possible crisis that may occur among farmers and herdsmen in the state.

    He urged the Federal Government to tackle insecurity in the land by stopping killings, maiming and bloodletting arising from conflicts between herdsmen and farmers.

    The GAFDAN national chairman noted that for volatile states embroiled in herders/farmers conflict to come out of the crises, there is need for them to adopt conflict management method, as being instituted by the Osun State government.

    Bayari said: “The leadership of our association has come all the way from Abuja to the State of Osun to find out what is the magic wand his Excellency is using or has used in ensuring the kind of unprecedented peace and harmony that today exists between the Fulani/Bororo herders and the crop farmers in Osun?

    “But going by what we heard from our members and farmers as well as other members of the public, it is clear to us that the state has been able to maintain peace and harmony due to Mr Governor’s exceptional, great, visionary and dynamic leadership, which is driven by the fear of Allah, patriotism, piousness, fairness, equity and justice.

    “So, resorting to the creation, enactment and passing into law of divisive, religious, ethnic and primordial sentiments-driven laws will not solve our national or state problems as Nigerians. That is why when Osun State is silent and peaceful, other neighbouring states are burning or about to burn because brawn has taken over from brains in some of these states.

    “It is only in Osun that you have a committee that specialises in brotherly dispute resolutions between fellow citizens with equal rights, while in other states you have segregating, ethnic and religious polarising laws that engender a feeling of non-belonging and hate.”