The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AREGBESOLA

  • Aregbesola urges LAUTECH’s striking lecturers to resume work

    Aregbesola urges LAUTECH’s striking lecturers to resume work

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has urged striking lecturers of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) at Ogbomoso to return to work.

    The governor said the protracted strike was wasting students’ precious time.

    He appealed to the lecturers to consider what the students had lost and return to work.

    Aregbesola spoke in Osogbo, the state capital, at a reception for medical students of Osun State University on their return from Ukraine, where the government sponsored them for further studies in Medicine.

    The governor, who regretted that the strike was jeopardising students’ future, said the two owner-states were not insensitive to the situation at LAUTECH.

    He said: “The reality is that the two states were incapacitated, financially. It is unfortunate that while civil servants in the upper cadre have agreed to collect a fraction of their salaries, the lecturers at LAUTECH have refused to make sacrifice, pretending not to understand the financial situation of the two states.

    “I am using this medium to appeal to the striking lecturers at LAUTECH to please return to work in the interest of the students, whose future is being jeopardised. I urge them to reason with the two owner-states for a solution to be quickly found in solving the problem.

    “It will be wrong for anybody to have the notion that the two owner-state governors are being insensitive towards the situation of the school. It is not a matter of being insensitive; the truth is that the two owner-states are financially incapacitated, if they want to meet the demands of the striking lecturers. There is no way you can give what you don’t have.

    “If the higher cadre of the civil service in Osun State can agree to collect a fraction of their salaries because of the harsh economic condition government has found itself, I see no reason why the LAUTECH lectures can’t reason with government.”

     

     

     

  • NUT commiserates with Aregbesola

    NUT commiserates with Aregbesola

    The Osun State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) as well as primary and secondary school teachers have commiserated with Governor Rauf Aregbesola on the death of his mother.

    In a condolence message at the weekend by the State Chairman and Secretary of the union, Wakeel Alade Amudah and Abdullahi N. Mohammed, NUT described the late governor’s mother as a devoted Muslim, who lived a life worthy of emulation.

    The statement said: “We hereby commiserate with our governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on the death of his mother, Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola. With deepest sympathy, the union is pained that the death occurred at a time the governor needed her motherly counselling towards development of Osun State.

    “We take solace in the fact that Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola died at a ripe age. We pray to God to grant Mama Al-Jannah Firda’us. We also pray God to give the Aregbesola family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

  • My mother’s death, a heavy blow to the family – Aregbesola

    Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,  at the weekend described the death of his mother, Alhaja Saratu, as a heavy blow to the Aregbesola family. The governor, who spoke when the Kwara State governor, Alhaji  Abdulfatai Ahmed, paid him a condolence visit at the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital, expressed the deep sadness and sorrow over the loss.

    According to him, it was a huge sorrow for him to lose his mother at this time. However, he said he had received consolation from the love of well meaning individuals, whom he said have comforted him with words of encouragement.

    The governor said he might be putting up bright faces for the purpose of the camera and the general public but noted that in actual fact, he has been feeling really sad inside. Aregbesola said he was grateful for the honour of having a mother whose death has brought the kind of goodwill he has enjoyed over the past few days.

    Aregbesola said the show of love from people which include the president of the country have been like a soothing balm to him. The governor said: “I am consoled by the fact that good men and women of Nigeria and beyond have identified with me in this time of my grief.

  • Ooni, Oyinlola, Omisore to Aregbesola: take heart

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Senator Iyiola Onisore, have commiserated with Governor Rauf Aregbesola over the death of his mother, Alhaja Saratu.

    Oba Ogunwusi, who is away to London, sent his condolences in a statement by his media aide, Moses Olafare. He described the deceased as an epitome of motherhood, worthy of emulation by women desiring to raise successful children.

    The monarch urged the people of the state and Yoruba race, to join the governor and his family in celebrating their matriarch, who “laboured hard to raise her children with discpline, virtues and godliness”.

    The statement reads:  “Mama Olobi, you are such a wonderful mother who will forever be celebrated and emulated by mothers who desire to raise children who will be blessings to the society, like your son, Rauf Aregbesola, who has always conducted himself in an enviable manner; he is indeed an Omoluwabi per excellence.”

    Oyinlola noted the exceptional bond between Aregbesola and his mother, saying his successor should be consoled by the fact that his mother lived well and was loved by all.

    “As mortals, we never want our elderly ones to go. But the Holy Books say all souls must taste death, so we have to submit to the supreme will of the Almighty from whom we came, and unto whom we shall all go,” he said.

    Omisore said the deceased lived a life worthy of emulation. “I hereby commisserate with Governor Rauf Aregbesola on the death of his mother, Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola.” He said the deceased will be missed because her likes “are rare beings in our lives”.

  • Osun APC: Aregbesola is the best

    Osun APC: Aregbesola is the best

    All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has described Governor Rauf Aregbesola as ‘the most consistently people-oriented leader the state has ever known.

    The party’s Directorate of Publicity, Research and Strategy, in a statement by its director, Kunle Oyatomi, said: “Every project he had designed,  and decision he had taken (even when critics pilloried him for them), were conceived to improve the quality of life of the people and develop the economy of the state.”

    “It takes only a person consumed by hate or one totally misinformed by fake news to viciously criticise the governor’s policies and projects as the case has been since he got into office in 2010.

    “One of the most topical of these tragic attempts to undermine Aregbesola and the APC government he leads, is the issue of salary.

    “This tragedy, which is  national, has been made to look as if Osun was the only one in default.

    ‘But the truth of the matter is that of all the states that were affected, Osun has the best plan in the circumstance to manage the crisis.

    “Even in that process, his vicious critics gave the impression,  and continue to mislead the public that Aregbesola is only paying half salaries to all workers and has refused to pay pensioners.

    ‘However, what this calculating and populist governor did was to make a rational deal with labour leaders in the state as to how resources available to the government could be best used to pay salaries and pension

    ‘The deal is as follows:(1) Workers on levels 1-7 will receive full salaries; (2) Workers from 8 -10 will receive 75 per cent of their salaries; (3) others to get 50 per cent of their salaries.  This template applies to pensioners as well.

    ‘And since this deal was made in 2015, this template has been followed till today. As with workers, so it is with pensioners.”

    The party went on: “Fraudulent politicians  have been all over town spreading the misleading impression that Aregbesola is paying all workers in the state half salaries, owing pensioners and had diverted the second tranche of the Paris Club funds meant for salaries and pension.

    “This falsehood is responsible for misleading some pensioners, who allow themselves to become pawns in the hands of evil opposition politicians,  to disturb the peace of Osun recently.

    “In spite of all the mischief and false information,  the fact remains that no governor yet in the State of Osun can be adjudged to have done better than Ogbeni Aregbesola in developing the state.

    “If the satanists in politics would not acknowledge it, and shortsighted people would deny it, history will, however, acclaim it because the facts are there to prove it.

    “But more importantly,  it is after Aregbesola would have left the stage that the people for whom he has worked so hard will come to fully realise how much this vilified populist leader had done for Osun and that regrettably is when it will truly matter.

    “History will indeed vindicate Ogbeni Aregbesola.”

  • Aregbesola, Emir of Borgu restate need for Nigeria’s unity

    Aregbesola, Emir of Borgu restate need for Nigeria’s unity

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the Emir of Borgu, Muhammed Sani Dantoro, have said the nation’s unity should remain uppermost in the minds of Nigerians because of the socio-religious crisis across the country.

    The duo reiterated the need for Nigeria’s unity to guarantee continued peaceful co-existence among the citizenry.

    A statement yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy’s Director Semiu Okanlawon said the duo spoke when Emir Dantoro visited Aregbesola at the Government House in Osogbo.

    The governor noted that pursuing Nigeria’s unity and wishing the country well amounts to helping the country to assist Africa to make an impact in the world.

    He said it would be difficult for the country to grow, if ethnic violence and sectarian struggles were allowed to continue.

    Such attitudes, Aregbesola said, would always block the nation’s progress.

    He said: “As democrats, as patriots, as nationalists and as those who believe in the unity of Nigeria, we must do the needful to make Nigeria great.

    “If we are talking about Africa and the Black race, why Nigeria must be strong, great and progressive, resourceful and remain a leading nation in Africa, it is because of its geographical composition and the resources embedded in the nation.

    “Nigeria is the only nation on earth that can rebuild worldwide the black image, that notion of a people that deserves respect, recognition and a good place among the diversified human race. Nigeria is the only nation with the capacity to so do.

    “Wishing Nigeria well, we should use the power of greatness of Nigeria to foster unity, peace and harmonious relationship in various sectors.

    “It is sine qua non (essential) to Nigeria meeting its historic responsibility to the Black race in Africa. The continent can only make impact in the world, if Nigeria has used its correct position as its leading nation.

    “Nigeria cannot so do if we are mired in the squabbles, unnecessary bickering and distorted aspirations occasioned by hatred, ethnic conflict and sectarian struggle.”

    Aregbesola described the Emir of Borgu as a great man from a royal family of patriots, nationalists and genuine democrats.

    The governor said the family believed Nigeria deserved the best leadership.

    He added: “My administration has had a fantastic relationship with this kingdom as this could be manifested in things we had done together to revive the peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

  • Aregbesola: it’s false to say Osun is not paying workers’ salaries

    Aregbesola: it’s false to say Osun is not paying workers’ salaries

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday decried what he called falsehood insinuations that the state is not paying workers’ salaries.

    Also, the governor called for a federalised policing, which he said would ensure effective and efficient policing in Nigeria.

    Aregbesola noted that despite the economic challenges confronting the nation, particularly Osun State, his administration had not failed to pay the workforce regularly.

    A statement by the Director of the Bureau of Communication and Strategy Semiu Okanlawon said the governor spoke while delivering a key note address at a programme organised by the state command of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC).

    The governor said he was aware of the insinuation by those he called adversaries to incite the public against his administration.

    He said Osun State workers had been paid up to June.

    Aregbesola said his administration had been prioritising the welfare of the workforce, an initiative he said had made a difference in his administration’s commitment to good governance.

    He said: “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 receive painfully 50 per cent of their gross salaries, based on an 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. The workers in this category are just 20 percent of the state workforce…”

     

  • We lost another icon, says Aregbesola

    We lost another icon, says Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said he received with sadness the news of the death of one of Nigeria’s gifted scholars, culture icons, nationalists and top-on-the-shelf dramatists, Pa Adebayo Faleti.

    In a statement by the Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor said the death of the playwright, theatre director and teacher was a huge loss not only to the creative world alone but also to the world of Yoruba language and culture heritage which he promoted till his death.

    The governor described the late Faleti as a complete man of the theatre – an actor, director, choreographer and designer – who created performance spaces influenced by traditional architectural forms.

    Aregbesola said the late writer and dramatist contributed immensely to the promotion and advocacy of Yoruba language and well as its culture.

    The governor noted that the appearance of and dressing of Faleti spoke volumes of his origin as he always advocated for the promotion of Yoruba language and culture.

    He said the exit of Faleti would create a yawning gap in the theatre and cultural world.

    Aregbesola said: “The death of Pa Adebayo Faleti is a huge loss in so many ways. His death is a big blow to the theatre and entertainment circle, to the cultural world as well as to the Yoruba language community.

    “His appearance and personality attested to the promotion of Omoluabi (thoroughbred) ethos the Yoruba are known for and which the State of Osun stands for and promotes in all facets of human endeavours.

    “Faleti exemplified the advocacy for and exhibition of Yoruba language and culture in his writings and on stage, particularly with one of his celebrated novels, titled: Won Ro Pe Were Ni.

    “A thespian of a first class mould and a cultural ambassador, Faleti will not be forgotten for his immense patriotism and sincere commitment to a better Nigeria and promotion and contributions to Yoruba Language and Culture.

    “On behalf of the government and people of Osun, I convey our heartfelt condolences to the immediate and extended families of the late stage icon, Oyo State government, literary and drama communities.

    “May his soul rest in peace.”

  • Aregbesola and road less travelled

    Aregbesola and road less travelled

    One of the variant axioms by George Santayana in his work, ‘Life of Reason’ says “those who forget the past are condemned to the future”. The saying perfectly finds its meaning in the governance of Osun State under the stewardship of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. Those who are familiar with Aregbesola’s campaign manifestoes prior to this governorship electioneering in 2007, 2010 and 2014 to date cannot but attest to the studious adherent to his pact with his people.

    Aregbesola had campaigned with an enthralling manifestoes contained in his unique and popular green book titled ‘My Pact with the People of Osun’. The book contained his Six Integral Action Plan: Banish poverty, banish hunger, create work and wealth, restore healthy living, promote functional education, and maintain communal peace and progress.

    For the record, Governor Rauf Aregbesola is the eighth governor of Osun State, counting from both the military era and the civilian governments. All the past governors, including the military administrators, have record of achievements, though fading out in the memory of the people of the state. But one could not compare the achievements of the civilian governors to that of military. There is a wide gap.

    Chief Bisi Akande, the first governor of Osun State in the fourth republic has an ending, unfading, laudable and unforgettable record of service. Among the legacies of Baba Akande is the Osun State Government Secretariat, Abere which was built for less that N2billion (including the Bola Ige House). The secretariat was built at a cost of N1.1bn while the Governor’s office (Bola Ige House) cost N870 million, according to records.

    The construction of standard and durable roads in both the urban and rural areas of the state is an incontrovertible project of the Asiwaju of Ila-Orangun. The construction of buildings and offices for the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Osogbo by Chief Akande’s administration is a story that tells itself. Those projects are living in good shape years after the exit of baba Akande, attesting to his principle of prudence, standard and patriotism. It is on record that Baba Akande won the award of ‘Most Economic and Transparent Governor’ during his tenure because of his passionate and purpose driving governance.

    Osun State University is a legacy of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola who took over from Chief Akande in 2003. The people of the state craved for infrastructural development during the seven-and-half years reign of Oyinlola. Some people argued that Osun was retard, inert and underdeveloped because there was dearth of infrastructural development after the undeserved exit of Chief Akande. Notwithstanding, there are tangible projects to be traced to Oyinlola’s administration.

    The emergence of Aregbesola from the progressives flank as the governor of Osun was to redirect the state on the path of development, started by Governor Akande whose austere leadership style opened up the state for positive governance. He has substantially proven to be the architect of the modern Osun State with his developmental project across the nook and cranny of the state. No part of the state could deny the existence of government presence in the area with one or two project. Principally, the construction of roads and drainages cut across everywhere in Osun State.

    Whether the opposition in the state or the media concerns which has chosen to blackout and dim the vision and mission of the governor like it or not, they cannot change the fact on ground or erase it from the mind of Osun people that Aregbesola is the governor who opened up rural communities through partnership with international agencies; reduced leakages in government through the application of technologies, constructed over 15km township roads each across the 30 LGAs, completely built hundreds of state-of-the-art schools and renovated many others across the 30 LGAs, feeding over 250,000 school pupils on a daily basis, sponsored stranded Uniosun medical students to Ukraine for completion of studies.

    Their opposition to the governor’s governance style or hatred for his believe system will not delete the ongoing construction of East Bye-pass road with attendant overhead bridges; the ongoing construction of Akoda/Gbongan dualized road with interchange bridge connecting Oyo State, the over 1,500 lives of accident victims who were saved through the establishment of O’Ambulance programme, the reduction in infant mortality rate through the provision of free healthcare services in state-owned hospitals, the overseas training of Osun indigenes in modern agriculture techniques, Information Communication Technologies and mechatronics, the constructed of Odi-Olowo/Olaiya road linking Jaleyemi area with beautification, the constructed of Olaiya/Oke-Fia road with parameter fencing, the relocated and the built new Army Remembrance Arena/Arcade, the over 123km of waterways dredged to avoid flooding in Osun.

    The notoriously oiled PDP’s propaganda machine cannot evaporate Aregbesola’s provision of well over 300 patrol vans to the security agency; 24 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC), hundreds of thousands of security gadgets and an helicopters to ensure safety in Osun thereby reducing crime rate, his supports to farmers in form of free seedlings, interest-free loans, trainings (local and international) and partnership, the over 2,000km of roads constructed across the state, the right environment for investors in form of tax holidays, free-trade-zone, quick issuance of C of O (within 90-days) indication to influx of investors in the state, the free train service to Osun indigenes during festive periods, the recruited of over 48,000 O’YES cadets, the over 9,000 teachers recruited and 17,057 teaching and non-teaching personnel promoted across primary and secondary schools, the revived 17 years moribund Cocoa Processing Industry in Ede with extended capacity, the first to implement new minimum wage by increasing workers’ salaries, the prompt payment of compensation to owner of houses demolished in the course of development, the over N5billion micro-credit loan to artisan, market women/men and others.

    Neither can they remove the Opon-Imo, known as the tablet of knowledge distributed to students in the government-owned high (secondary) schools in the state, the built ultra-modern market with state-of-the-art facilities – Ayegbaju market; the peaceful conduct of election since assumption of office in 2010, the established computer accessories factory known as Adulawo Technology City in conjunction with a private company, the grant of autonomy to state-owned tertiary institutions in the state without interference, the payment of 13th month salaries to workers’ between 2010-2014, the construction of the first amusement park known as Mandela Freedom Park in Osun, the ongoing reconstruction of Rasco bridge with 90% completion to solve perennial flooding problems, the establishment of Omoluabi Savings and Garment Industry, the poultry rearing of 300,000 Broilers through outgrowers scheme, to mention just a few.

    The failure of prompt payment of workers’ wages which Aregbesola gets the highest and strangest criticism is not Osun-specific in the comity of states in Nigeria. Neither is Osun among the 10 most indebted states in the country. Majority of Niger Delta states with 13% Derivation as additional federal allocation are known to default in payments of workers’ salaries running into 20 months and above as a result of glut of crude which led to crashes of price in the global market since 2014.

    Aregbesola’s travail/agony in governance has been his penchant and resolve to plying the radical road less travelled; believing same to be true to his envisioned ideology through which egalitarian society of his dream will be actualized. His traducers have been giving rhetorical vent to their spleen and prejudice against him. They exaggerated his failures without considering the meagreness or dryness of the state’s treasury. When they are confronted and shown the records, their imagination become chilled and speak of wastages instead; most times unwarrantably. When their wrong judgment is truncated, they take the next cowardly step, called it a quit to return the next day.

     

  • State creation hampered South West development – Governors

    State creation hampered South West development – Governors

    Southwest governors on Monday lamented the splitting of the old Western Nigeria into six states by the Federal Government, saying the action not only robbed the people of their oneness, but also hampered the region’s socio – economic development.

    The governors – Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Senator Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Ayo Fayose Ekiti) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), spoke during the Southwest Governors’ Quarterly meeting held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    Amosun, the host Governor in his welcome speech, said instead of building bridges, state creation led to boundary disputes and security challenges among them.

    The governor recalled that many landmark achievements were recorded in Yoruba land during the time of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as Premier of the Western Region.

    He advised that the time has come for them to unite, promote and re – enact the achievements of the South-West in the Nigerian Federation.

    Amosun said: “As a region, it is important that we promote the pre-eminence and achievements of the South-West in the Nigerian Federation. This in reference and in particular to the greatness we have achieved as a people when we were together as a regional government in Nigeria.

    “We will recall those laudable feats made us the envy of other regions. Time and space will, definitely, not permit me to begin to list the giant leaps that the South-West took as a region between 1957 and 1967 particularly under the leadership of the late sage, Chief Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo.

    “Permit me to list a few. We have physical infrastructure such as the Cocoa House at Ibadan, which was aptly named after the source of its funding; the Agodi Secretariat at Ibadan; and the different roads that connect our towns and cities some of which are still standing the test of time. We also have the educational infrastructure of which we are still benefitting from today.

    ” Indeed, many of us seated in this room are beneficiaries of the Free Education Programme of that time. It is the same Free Education Programme that culminated in the establishment of a University that was once the most beautiful campus in Sub-Sahara Africa, the then University of Ife, and now appropriately named the Obafemi Awolowo University, at Ile-Ife.

    “We cannot also forget the economic infrastructure; we have the O’odua Group as the umbrella Investment House for the commercial enterprise of the region such as the Sketch Publication; the Wemabod Estates; the Lafia Hotels; the Premier Hotel at Ibadan; the Area J4 Forest Reserve and others.

    “However, the creation of states from the old Western Region in 1976 which should have been an impetus for further socio-economic development had been allowed to create artificial boundaries between our people.

    “And to further worsen the situation, some of our people are also making themselves available as instruments of division because of their selfish political gains. The consequence is that our people begin to see themselves as a people of one state or the other rather than as a sub-unit of the entity of the Yoruba people.

    “This is not without its attendant challenges of intra and inter-state boundary disputes which have worsened security in some states and, hampered socio-economic development. Instead of building bridges, some of our people are digging trenches for protection against their own brothers and sisters.

    “My dear brothers, the onerous task on our hands is to lead our people to further prosperous living. That is why the chosen agenda for this meeting ‘Economic Self-Determination for South-West Nigeria’ with special focus on ‘South-Western Nigeria Export Initiative’ is very apt.

    “Instead of the bowl-in–hand practice that each of the states seeks from the Federal Allocation, the time has come for us to map out strategies to harness the natural resources of the entire region for further socio-economic development of the South-West Region as a whole and for more prosperity for our people.

    For Aregbesola, the old Western Nigeria recorded greater feats when it operated as single state.

    “If we look critically at the achievements we had as singular state of Western Region. We must be mindful of the fact that as singular state then, we achieved more than now when we are divided into six states.

    “We must identify our strength, unify those strength and explore them for the benefit of our people. We use the development to galvanise our potentials,” Aregbesola said.