The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AREGBESOLA

  • Our meeting with Aregbesola, by Ife Traditional Council

    Our meeting with Aregbesola, by Ife Traditional Council

    The Ife Traditional Council yesterday clarified their last week’s meeting with Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola on the vacant stool of Ooni of Ife.

    They expressed misgiving over reports on some national newspapers.

    Speaking at a meeting held at the Ooni of Ife’s palace in Ile-Ife yesterday, Chief Ijaodola, the Lowa of Ife, said:  “Indeed, it is true that we held a meeting with the Osun State Governor, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, in his office in Oke-Fia, Osogbo, last Friday”. According to him, the meeting was held on the governor’s invitation.

    The meeting, Chief Ijaodola said, was earlier scheduled to hold before last Friday, but some traditional engagements involving the Chiefs made it impossible.

    According to Chief Ijaodola, 13 of the 16 Traditional Chiefs attended the meeting. Two of the 16 chiefs were said to be indisposed. One of the Chiefs, the Akogun, is dead.

    The House of Oduduwa, as the Ife Palace is known, has 16 chiefs comprising eight on the left and eight on the right, that is, eight Inner and eight Outer Chiefs, forming the Traditional Council.

    Chief Ijaodola said, apart from the governor, who was the convener of the meeting, the Osun State government was also represented by four other top officials, namely, Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the Chief of Staff (COS), Mr. Mufutau Oluwadare, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as, a representative of the Justice Ministry.

    [ad id=”403656″]According to Chief Ijaodola, the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, was presided over by the governor.

    Opening the meeting, Chief Ijaodola said, the gorvernor told the gathering that the state government had, in recent time, been inundated with security reports that tension was building up in the ancient city of Ile-Ife following the demise of the immediate past Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and urged the Ife Traditional Council to prevent any breakdown of law and order in the town.

    Oba Sijuwade joined his ancestors after a brief illness, at a highbrow hospital in London, on Tuesday, July 28. The announcement of his death by the media caused a lot of controversy with the Ife Traditional Council maintaining that the first class monarch was still alive and that if anything had happened to him, it was the responsibility of the Traditional Council to make the news public and not that of any other person through whatever medium. However, his transition was later made public when the Ife Traditional Council alongside members of the Sijuwade family including Tokunbo, his first son, finally broke the news to the Osun State governor at the Governor’s Office in Oshogbo on August 12. The remains of the departed monarch have since been buried  at the Ife Palace.

    Chief Ijaodola said, the governor touched on the succession to the vacant stool at the meeting. According to him, the governor told them point blank that “the choice of a new Ooni, is the sole responsibility and prerogative of the Ife kingmakers” and that he, the governor, has no candidate for the vacant stool and so he will not impose any candidate on the kingmakers. According to Chief Ijaodola, the governor later requested the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs who had come to the meeting with a file on the Ooni’s succession issue, to brief the gathering on what the law says on the succession.

    After the Permanent Secretary’s briefing, Chief Ijaodola said three members of the Traditional Council including himself spoke and at the end of the meeting, the council chiefs assured the governor that they were capable of maintaining peace in the ancient town. He also said that they told the governor that, though they had noticed an influx of some shady characters into the town in recent time, they were not folding their arms. According to Chief Ijaodola, the Traditional Chiefs, therefore, implored the governor to beef up security in the ancient city as a way of forestalling the occurrence of any untoward development. Chief Ijaodola said since that Friday’s meeting, the government has swung into action as an increase in security presence had been noticed in the town.

    On the successor to the Ooni, Chief Ijaodola said the Ife Traditional Council would today (Monday) address a news conference in the ancient town on the issue.

    Apart from Chief Ijaodola, yesterday’s news conference at the palace was attended by seven others. They are Chief Adekola Adeyeye, the Jaaran of Ife, Oba Sakaniyawu Adewusi, the Obaloran, Ilode Quarters, Ife, Oba Zacheus, the Wasin of Ilare Quarters, Ile-Ife, Oba Jimoh Arifayo Awe, Arode of Ile-Ife, Oba Arasanmi, Erebese of Ile-Ife, Oba Adebowale Olafare, the Lowate of Ile-Ife and Idowu Salami, the Traditional Secretary to the Ooni of Ile-Ife.

  • Aregbesola inaugurates Bola Ige Institute

    Aregbesola inaugurates Bola Ige Institute

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday inaugurated the Bola Ige Mechatronic Institute in Esa-Oke, Osun State.

    Speaking at the event at the Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, the governor described Bola Ige as a leader, a national icon and a citizen of the world.

    Aregbesola, who noted that the project was a befitting legacy in honour of the slain Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, said the “suspected killers of Bola Ige are the same set of people who have tried effortlessly to destabilise our state.”

    He noted that the institute was a dream come true, with the equipment costing N875 million.

    The governor said: “Although Ige was brutally murdered by those who thought they could silence him, his spirit has been restless and has been tormenting his killers, who have become politically- irrelevant.”

    He said the institute was the first of its kind in Africa, adding that the state’s vision for the institute began with the need to empower youths and equip artisans with the requisite skills to be relevant in an increasingly digital world.

    According to him, “the spirit of Chief Bola Ige will not sleep until the killers are brought to book. These are the same individuals, who have fruitlessly attempted to plunge the state into chaos and bring about a change of government through conspiracy and subterfuge in the recent past.

    “While the killers drink from the cup of shame, we shall continue to honour the memory of Ige as he is ensconced in the pantheons of departed Yoruba leaders.”

    Aregbesola said the institute would train on-the-street mechanics from garages and candidates from automobile companies.

    He said it would admit holders of the Ordinary National Diploma and technical college graduates for skill acquisition and industrial trainings.

    The governor added that the institute planned to offer through the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Universities Commission (NUC), approval for the upgrade of the polytechnic syllabus, a degree course in Auto Mechatronics, using the facilities in future.

  • School feeding: Aregbesola vindicated, says APC

    School feeding: Aregbesola vindicated, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress in Osun State has told critics of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s investment in education, especially his feeding programme for pupils, to keep quiet, as the Federal Government has vindicated him on the project.

    The party said: “If the project is not strategic to human capital and socio-economic development, the Federal Government would not have adopted it for implementation on a national scale.

    “That the critics, some portfolio civil society groups and (unfortunately) some labour unions, were calling on Aregbesola to scrap the project, (‘so that funds will be released to pay workers’ is a measure of their superficial mindset,” APC said.

    Its Director of Publicity, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, who addressed reporters yesterday in Osogbo, drew attention to the magnitude of the impact of the project.

    He said it not only attracted more children to schools, but also gave jobs to thousands  in the agricultural and catering sectors.

    The APC spokesman referred reporters to the statement by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of the Federal Government’s commitment to the school feeding programme, which he (Osinbajo) said would, among others, create 1.4 million jobs, increase food production by 530,000 metric tonnes annually and attract investment of N980 billion.

    The APC said to contemplate scrapping the project in Osun, as the critics suggested, was shallow and consistent with the low stuff of which the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the state were made.

    “What Aregbesola’s critics failed to appreciate,” the party said, “was that some of the best brains in the Southwest made the education policy the governor is implementing. At the head of the think tank was Prof. Wole Soyinka.

    “It is no surprise that the APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari has given national expression to what Aregbesola did in Osun.”

    Oyatomi said besides the other effects the project had for job creation and agricultural expansion, Osun recorded the highest enrolment figure of over 250,000 pupils because of the feeding project.

    He added that the programme  earned the governor commendation by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the British parliament, which invited him to share some of the ideas behind the project.

  • Unpaid Salary: Osun Speaker defends Aregbesola’s integrity

    Unpaid Salary: Osun Speaker defends Aregbesola’s integrity

    The Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salam, has defended the integrity of the State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, saying the governor remains a man of strong character, honesty and integrity.

    The Speaker absolved the governor from blame on the financial status of the state, stressing that it was the openness of the governor that exposed the financial predicaments of other states in the country.

    He assured that the 34 billion naira bailout loan obtained by the state from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, would go a long way to address the challenges facing the state and called on the workers to cooperate with the government to move the state forward.

    The Speaker made the remarks in Abuja Tuesday at the opening ceremony of a workshop organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy for members of states Houses of Assembly from the South-West Zone of the country.

    The Speaker who spoke through his Deputy, Hon. Akintunde Adegboye said transparency and honesty go together and this has remained the watchwords of the present political leadership of Osun state.

    He dismissed insinuations that the problem over unpaid salary in the state had to do with corruption, insisting that there was no iota of truth in the allegation.

    The law-maker said the capacity building workshop for legislators was timely as it would update their skill and fine tuned their knowledge on transparency, probity and accountability in governance.

    The Provost of the Anti-Corruption Academy, Professor Sola Akinrinade said the fight against corruption in the country cannot be undertaken by President Muhammadu Buhari alone and called on all law-makers, civil servants, members of the private sector and ordinary Nigerians to join in the crusade against corruption.

    “The agenda for the next three days is sensitization and capacity building to ensure that legislators are aware of the requirements of the law in relation to probity, accountability, integrity and transparency and the need for them to thses values in the performances of their official duties,” he said.

    Professor Akinrinade added that ” the other part of it is the forewarning of what lies ahead for those who choose to pursue the path of perfidy, that there is the long arm of the law waiting to bring to justice all those who are caught perverting the process and helping themselves to unfair proportion of the national cake, especially the portions that do not belong to them.”

  • Osun’s support to police immeasurable, says Aregbesola

    Osun’s support to police immeasurable, says Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said no state has equipped the police as Osun  in the last five years.

    Aregbesola, who hosted the new Police Commissioner, Mr. Kola Sodipo and his outgoing counterpart, Mr. Abubakar Marafa, said Osun was committed to ensuring that the police and other security agencies were supported to protect life and property as well as maintaining the peace.

    He noted that the police command was an extension of the civil society and the most visible agency, which protected the people from security threat.

    The governor urged the new police boss to maintain professionalism and enjoined his officers and men to uphold the ethics, rules and regulations of policing.

    Said he: “In the last five years of my administration, no state has invested in support of the police as this state has done.

    “We have demonstrated this support in the area of procurement of gadgets for effective policing as well as remunerating officers and men of the command.

    “As the agency of government that is most visible in the society, we must see police as an extension of ourselves so that we can live peacefully without threat to our life and property.

    “The only way the police can reciprocate the gesture of the government is to uphold the ethics of professionalism and the management of men and officers.”

    Aregbesola hailed the outgoing police commissioner for his quick response and capacity to prevent crisis.

    He said throughout his tenure, no case of robbery was recorded, adding that other police bosses, who served in the state, left indelible marks.

    Sodipo said he would secure the state.

    He sought the cooperation of the government and the people, noting that the police could not succeed without the cooperation of the people.

    The police chief promised to leave the state better and peaceful than he met it.

    Marafa thanked the governor, the executive council, the judiciary, Osun monarchs and reporters for their cooperation when he was the police chief.

    He said although there were financial hitches in the state, they should be put behind to enable Osun move to glory.

  • Cuba is committed to mankind’s development, says Aregbesola

    Cuba is committed to mankind’s development, says Aregbesola

    •Envoy mourns Ooni

    Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday acknowledged the Republic of Cuba as a nation that has demonstrated high capacity for international human compassion based on humanitarian commitment to the development of mankind.

    He spoke when the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Trejo Soza, visited him  in Osogbo on the death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

    Aregbesola hailed the Cuban government for its response to the fight against the Ebola virus in West Africa.

    He said the government was elated when religious associations in Cuba wrote to commiserate with the state on the demise of the monarch, adding that they included the Council of Elder Priests of Ifa in Cuba, the Council of Elder Priests Oba-Oriaye of Cuba and Council of Elder Iyalochas Priestesses in Cuba.

    Others, according to him, were the Council of Elder Babalochas Priests of Cuba, Council of Elder Arará Priests of Cuba and Council of Priests Chiefs of Cabildos in Cuba.

    The governor said he shared in the ideologies of Cuba, adding that the country was the focus of his activism.

    Speaking on his relationship and love for Cuba, Aregbesola recounted that his eldest child and son was sent to a Cuban university after his secondary education in Nigeria.

    He said: “This is an opportunity to let the world know how my son went to Cuba to study. He went to Cuba on scholarship from The Nigerian-Cuba Friendship, Business and Cultural Association in 1999. He was there for six years.

    “Interestingly, the boy graduated from the University of Matanzas in 2005 and again, it was interesting that the person who accompanied me to his graduation was Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. It is nice to recount these so that Nigerians will know how long and how far we have been with the Cuban people.”

    Amb. Soza said he was in Osun to pay tribute to the late Ooni of Ife, whom he described as the father of the world.

    He prayed for the repose of his soul, saying: “We join in the pains of the Yoruba worldwide, Osun State, the children and the family of the late father of the world for the loss of such a dear father.

    “Besides paying tribute to the late Ooni, I have come to pay homage to my ancestors. There is an enormous contribution by Africa, Nigeria, most especially the Yoruba, which has helped Cuba to develop.

    “We will continue to keep tradition, religion and the relationship we have with Africa. Studies have shown that Cubans have a DNA that is 100 per cent African and 60 per cent Yoruba. We have everything in common with the Yoruba.”

    Soza said he was not surprised that Osun State had a man who was highly respected in Cuba as its governor.

    The Cuban ambassador came with the Deputy Head of Cuban Commission to Nigeria, Mrs. Miriam Morales Palmero and the wife of the ambassador, Mrs. Nelba Peirg Morales.

     

  • APC ’ll win Ondo, says Aregbesola’s aide

    APC ’ll win Ondo, says Aregbesola’s aide

    A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Bola Ilori, has spoken on how the party could win next year governorship election.

    Ilori, who is a former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on Environmental Sanitation, said for the APC to defeat PDP candidate, the party must allow free and fair primary to hold among the aspirants.

    Ilori said at a ceremony where he was honoured as for the leader of APC in Ondo West/East Federal Constituency by stakeholders.

    It was attended by a member of the APC Board of Trustee, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, Mrs Folake Omojuwa, Captain, Ademola Ariyo, APC Chairman Ondo East and Mr. Ola Inukan.

    The APC leader said they have started the mobilising new members for the party and the reconciliation of factions.

    His words, “I am very sure Mimiko will not produce his own successor. Anyway, there is no third time and we are set for the election.

    “For us winning the Presidential election in the state is a sign that we have good structures in the state. By this, we are serving the governor quit notice that our party is ready to take over.

    “We are getting more people on our side on everyday, we are winning the traditional institution, winning the social institution and we are active and ready.

    “The momentum of change is heavy in Ondo and for that we are quite sure that we are set to win.

    “It is over for PDP in Ondo, if you look at Ondo town where the governor hails from, you will know that PDP is no more popular.

  • Aregbesola: Osun moving close to founders’ dream

    Aregbesola: Osun moving close to founders’ dream

    OSUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said that the state under his watch in the last four years is steadily moving close to the dreams of its founding fathers.

    He spoke yesterday in a congratulatory message by his media aide, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, as the state marked the 24th anniversary of its creation.

    Aregbesola pledged his commitment to rapid growth of “all parts of the state”.

    The governor said his government would not relent in building an independent, virile, virtuous and productive Yoruba state.

    Aregbesola, who also promised to bring government closer to the people, said: “We are irrevocably committed to a development paradigm that will lift our state to compete with any proud human habitation anywhere in the world.

    “We appreciate the fact that the masses, who are the focus of our development strategies, identify the reasons behind our many efforts.

    “For example, our ambitious urban renewal project is aimed at transforming to the 21 century modern cities with life changing infrastructure in place.

    “Projects such as the Oranmiyan New Town, a Central Business District, organised transportation system aided by road networks for the purpose, a functional emergency response scheme in health, security and transportation sectors, modern recreation parks and gardens are all geared towards creating modern environments that our people can call their own.”

  • Aregbesola: attacks on Osun govt, fallout of Jonathan’s defeat

    Aregbesola: attacks on Osun govt, fallout of Jonathan’s defeat

    OSUN State  Governor Rauf Aregbesola has attributed the negative focus on the state over unpaid salary to the role he and the state played in defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government in the general election.

    Aregbesola spoke in Ipetumodu at a reception in honour of the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Femi Adesina.

    The governor said even though it was not only Osun that was caught in the salary crisis, some disgruntled opposition elements orchestrated unnecessary media campaigns against the state due to the role its government played in contributing to their electoral failure in the states and national levels.

    Aregbesola said: “Every objective-minded Nigerian should pause to ask the pertinent question: Is Osun the only state which owed workers’ salary?

    “The apparent answer is no. More than 22  states found themselves in this crisis.

    “The reason Osun is aways in the news is not far to seek. I make bold to say that some individuals in the state are deliberately sponsoring hate campaigns against the state because of my government’s role in the ‘Project Change’ that led to the downfall of their party during the general election.

    “It is not news again that our state contributed to the defeat of their leader (Goodluck Jonathan).

    “What they did is to latch on to the general financial crisis to wage a was of attrition on Osun government in the media.

    “All the bad portrayals of Osun have their root in our opposition to Jonathan.”

    According to the governor, Osun was lucky to reap so early one of the outcomes that change brought to the country with the appointment of Adesina as the spokesperson of Buhari.

    Aregbesola described Adesina as a prolific writer, a thoroughbred professional, and a consummate journalist.

    He affirmed that Adesina got the plum job based on merit because of his hard work, competence and dedication.

    He continued: “Femi Adesina became the spokesperson of President Buhari on merit and through dint of handwork and dedication to his chosen career.

    “The All Progressives  Congress (APC) is an honest government: that is why appointments so far made by President Buhari are based on merit.

    “Adesina has an illustrious career spanning 28 years and he is still counting. With all these years, he has demonstrated that he is cut out to be one of the best in his professional field.

    “He is a thoroughbred professional, a journalists’ journalist and editors’ editor.”

    Adesina thanked Buhari for counting him worthy of speaking for the Presidency.

    He saluted the courage of the governor for standing firm in his commitment to moving the state forward even in the face of daunting criticisms and attacks by opposition parties.

    He thanked the people of his hometown for the honour and recognition accorded him and his family.

    “I thank all who are gathered here today for the recognition and honour given to me and my family.

    “I am very grateful to the governor for honouring me with his physical presence here.

    “I promise you all that I will be a good ambassador of the town and the state,” Adesina said.

    In attendance at the reception were the wife and family of Adesina, including Professor Tayo Adesina of the Department of History, University of Ibadan.

    Traditional rulers and politicians at the event include the host monarch, Oba James Adegoke (Apetu of Ipetumodu); Oba Adedokun Abolarin (Orangu of Oke-Ila) and Oba Abdul-Maruf Magbagbeola (Olufon Of Ifon); Oba Elijah Oyelade (Salu of EdunAbon).

    Also present were Senator Babajide Omoworare (Osun East; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola; Special Adviser on Youth, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade and the Director of Bureau of Communications and Strategy (Office of the Governor), Mr. Semiu Okanlawon.

  • Aregbesola: South West glad to support Buhari’s victory

    Aregbesola: South West glad to support Buhari’s victory

    •Kinsmen honour presidential aide, Adesina

    The South West geo-political zone has no regret supporting the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has declared.

    The region’s support, he said, was based on Buhari’s charismatic leadership and impeccable integrity.

    Aregbesola spoke at a civic reception by the people of Ipetumodu in Ife North local government area of Osun State in honour of Mr. Femi Adesina, Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, as well as a serving Federal Commissioner in the National Pension Commission (NPC), Barrister Olaoba Efuntayo.

    The governor said Buhari enjoys the support of well- meaning Nigerians and the international community because of his antecedence as a man of honour, integrity and sound judgment.

    According to him: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) is a party of men and women of honour and integrity.

    “For the first time in our history, the national treasury is an open book to all the governors in Buhari’s time.

    “All of us as governors and leaders of our various states are made to know how much, where it comes and how they come into our common purse by the Buhari administration. This has never happened before now.”

    Aregbesola expressed delight that Osun State was the first beneficiary of the victory of Buhari in the South West through Adesina’s appointment.

    Aregbesola, who congratulated Adesina, the people of Ipetumodu and Osun State, said he was not surprised that Adesina was appointed by Buhari.

    He said Adesina’s passion for honesty stood him out as former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

    He tasked the Ipetumodu community to ask the federal government to dualise the road linking the town via Sekona- Edunabon, promising to throw weight of the state behind the demand.

    The Apetumodu, Oba Adegoke, commended Buhari for appointing one of his subjects to the esteemed position.

    He said: “This is a good thing we have initiated to openly celebrate any indigene of Ipetumodu who is elevated to position of honour and responsibilities in Abuja or anywhere else in the world.

    The monarch charged Adesina to be upright in the assignment given to him.

    He also charged Adesina to assist the youths of the town whenever there were vacancies for job appointments.

    Adesina promised to assist his kinsmen whenever he has the opportunity to do so.

    He, however, stated that he could only facilitate opportunities and not appoint directly.

    Troops clear terrorists’ camps in Borno, says Army

    The 7 Brigade of the Nigerian Army yesterday cleared Gudumbali town in Guzamala local government area of Borno.

    A statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Sani Usman said the effort was part of the ongoing offensive against the Boko Haram terrorists.

    He claimed that many Boko Haram fighters were killed during the operation while their weapons and equipment were also destroyed.

    Usman recalled that the Nigerian Air Force inflicted severe damage on the terrorists’ camps within the general area last Monday.

    He said that troops of 5 Brigade Explosive Ordinance Devices (EOD) units ran into landmines while advancing towards Dikwa.

    He said the landmines were buried by the terrorists between old Marte and Kerenoa junction in Marte Local Government Area of Borno.

    According to Usman, two soldiers lost their lives, while two others sustained critical injuries from the landmine explosion.

    “The bodies of the two gallant soldiers have been evacuated while the two wounded soldiers are already receiving treatment at the military hospital,’’ he said.

    Usman said the army also lost a Mowag Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) in the same location.

    “Despite these sad events, the troops are not deterred as they continue their advance and pursuit of the terrorists to their enclaves in Sambisa forest.

    “The troops in the various formations and units in Operation LAFIYA DOLE are in very high spirits and more determined to destroy the terrorists’ camps and enclaves,’’ he said.