The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AREGBESOLA

  • Aregbesola warns against illegal possession of arms

    OSUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday warned   residents with illegal weapons to surrender them.

    Receiving the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by his government to look into the crises between Ipetumodu and Ashipa communities in Ife-North Local Government at the Government House in Osogbo, he ordered that they should voluntarily surrender such arms to relevant authorities.

    According to him, those concerned should hand them over before May 29 after which he said they would enjoy one week of grace.

    Describing the one week grace as a week of peace and disarmament, the governor said his government had set up a Standing Commission of Inquiry to regularly review all cases of abuse of power or status that might threaten peace and harmonious relationship in the state.

    Aregbesola called on politicians and people with “Private Army” and guards to immediately disband such structures, saying the state would be strict on the maintenance of rule of law, peace and order and the guarantee of the rights of the citizen.

    The communities of Ipetumodu and Ashipa had engaged in an orgy of violence and were on the path of mutual destruction before the intervention of law enforcement agencies, the government and other leaders.

    He held that people should exhibit maturity in making claims to land so that the communities would not witness violence that would diminish human existence.

    The governor advised that differences on land should not lead to violence, pleading for a matured way of resolving such issues.

  • Aregbesola reads riot act on possession of illegal arms

    Aregbesola reads riot act on possession of illegal arms

    The Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday read a riot act to people in possession of illegal weapons.

    Receiving the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by his government to look into the crises between Ipetumodu and Ashipa communities in Ife-North Local government of Osun at the Government House in Osogbo., he ordered that they should voluntarily surrender such arms to relevant authorities.
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    According to him, those concerned, who are habitually breaching the peace and trampling on the rule of law should prepare themselves ahead of the May 29 to hand over arms in their passion after which he said they would enjoy one week of grace to do so.

    Describing the one week grace as a week of peace and disarmament, the governor disclosed that his government had set up a Standing Commission of Inquiry in the state to regularly review all cases of abuse of power or status that may threaten peace and harmonious relationship in the state.

    Aregbesola also called on politicians and people with those he called “Private Army” and guards to immediately disband such structures as the state is entering an era where it will be strict on the maintenance of rule of law, peace and order and the guarantee of the rights of the citizen.

    The communities of Ipetumodu and Ashipa had engaged in an orgy of violence and were on the path of mutual destruction before the intervention of law enforcement agencies, the state government and other leaders.‎

    He held that people should exhibit maturity in making claims to land so that communities will not witness violence that will diminish human existence.

    The governor advised that differences on land should not lead to violence due to the fact that there will always be claims and counter claims on land hence the need for a matured way of resolving such issues.

    According to him: “People with illegal weapons should voluntarily submit it to relevant authorities in not more than one week from now before government begins to fish them out.

    “People should live to the dictate of the law, our government will after the one week ultimatum embark on house-to-house search for illegal weapons so that the state can have peace.

    “Whoever is caught after the one week deadline will face the full wrath of the law because we are not in a stone age. The state will care for the weak. We are admonishing the strong to be mindful of those that are not strong.

    “We are entering an era in the state and the country at large, where government of All Progressives Congress (APC) will be strict on the issue of rule of law, maintenance of peace and order and the guarantee of rights of citizens.”

    He charged people of the state to at all times, resort to Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) rather than result to violence and arson when issues like land dispute arise.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the judicial commission of inquiry into Ipetumodu-Ashipa communal crisis, Justice Jide Falola, urged the governor to set up implementation committee to review the recommendations.

    The committee recommended on the payment of compensation to victims noted that the two communities should be surcharged to pay certain for officially sponsoring and supporting the crises morally and materially.

    He also recommended that Ife-North local government should also be surcharged for allowing the establishment of market in Ipetumodu on a government acquired land without approval from the state government.

    He said: “We have virtually resolved the dispute between the two communities especially the market day issue and boundary. We have also recommended that some persons be investigated and possible prosecution.

    “There is a proliferation of arms and ammunition in the axis of the two communities. Those in possession are reportedly being protected by elites in the society. We have recommended that police should take steps to clean up the area of these dangerous weapons.”

  • Aregbesola: let’s guard democracy

    Aregbesola: let’s guard democracy

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has called on Nigerians to guard democracy jealously.

    The governor made the appeal during a broadcast in Osun, titled: “Watering the tree of democracy with love and determination,” yesterday.

    He praised the people for their conduct before, during and after the elections, saying Osun was among the few peaceful states.

    “The pattern, shape and the result are indications of your diligent planting and nurture of the tree of democracy in the last 16 years; and the buds of its early fruits.

    “Election is now assuming its true definition as political empowerment for the people. With your voter card, you now determine those who rule over you.

    “This is the most critical first test of democracy since 1999, a free and fair election in which the people choose their leaders, and you have passed it in flying colours.

    “I congratulate you for this historic achievement. What we need to do now is to guard it jealously and build on this solid foundation the superstructure of productivity, development, security and life more abundant for all.”

  • Aregbesola: let’s pray for new beginning

    Aregbesola: let’s pray for new beginning

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday said the Easter season offers Nigerians, especially Christians, a good opportunity to pray for the take-off of a new beginning that would usher in prosperity in all facets of national life.

    He urged Osun people to embrace love, peace and make the necessary sacrifice towards the country’s development.

    Aregbesola, in an Easter message by his Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, urged Nigerians to use the occasion to pray for President-elect Muhammadu Buhari, to bring positive change to the nation.

    He noted that what the country needed at this time were intercessory prayers to God to continuously stabilise it.

    Aregbesola enjoined Christians and people of other faiths to supplicate to assist the in-coming administration on the critical areas of the country’s needs such as insecurity, hunger, unemployment, decayed infrastructure and corruption, which had all held the nation down.

    He added: “Nigerians are tired of mere promises. They want concrete actions. They want to see in practical terms that government is committed to fighting insecurity and restoring the country to its past glory. This is what the APC government is committed to and so, Nigerians should pray successes in these areas.

    “The season, therefore, offers us all the opportunity to pray for a proper take-off of that new beginning for our country to regain her lost glory.

    “Events of the past few years, particularly the spate of insecurity in the land, leave much to be desired. I want to call on Christians and every Nigerian to pray for leaders of the nation, because Easter celebration should be used to renew love for one another.”

  • Court dismisses Omisore’s appeal

    Court dismisses Omisore’s appeal

    The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure on Thursday dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in the August 9 governorship election in Osun State.

    Given the ruling on the appeal, the court also upheld the cross appeal by Governor Rauf Aregebsola of the All Progressives Congress that Omisore’s petition ought to have been dismissed as an abandoned petition in the first instance by the State Election Petition Tribunal before hearing by the Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime led tribunal panel.

    The Appeal Court presided by Hon. Justice A G Mshelia in an unanimous decision delivered Thursday dismissed Omisore’s appeal for incompetence, stressing that the ground for the appeal does not arise from the judgment of the tribunal.

    In determining the appeal, the court adopted the seven issues formulated by the appellants, Omisore and the PDP.

    But before considering the main appeal, the court upheld the preliminary objections by Aregbesola and APC’s Counsel challenging ground 13 of the Notice of Appeal, the complaint of the appellant (Omisore and PDP) on ground 13 of appeal is that the tribunal failed to act on admission made by Aregbesola’s counsel in a chart contained in their written address before the lower tribunal.

    The Court of Appeal in holding that the ground of appeal is incompetent held that the ground does not arise from the judgment of the tribunal.

    The Court of Appeal held that the decision of the tribunal was that Aregbesola’s counsel did not make any admission, therefore having failed to appeal this specific decision of the tribunal, the Court of Appeal held that ground 13 is incompetent and consequently struck it out together with issue 5 formulated from the ground.

  • Aregbesola and Osun workers

    SIR: The observations by Tunji Omofoye in the Sunday edition of The Guardian on the 22nd of March overlooks, perhaps because of the constraint of space, certain critical issues relating to the fiscal climate in the state of Osun. Like every other head of a federating unit in Nigeria, Governor Rauf Aregbesola is operating with one arm tied behind his back. This is because of the debilitating effect of our anti-federalist fiscal operating system that cannot be over stated. This is why the issue of restoring fiscal federalism is so crucial not just in this election but for the sake of restoring balance in our economy.

    Everyone is of course aware of the collapse of the country‘s main source of revenue. This alone highlights the fiscal imbalance. However pre dating the downturn, Aregbesola had been pro- active and admirably so.

    In spite of the constraints, he was the first to offer the national minimum wage of N18, 001. This is worth stressing for the very concept and applicability of a national minimum wage in a federal system is contentious.

    Nevertheless, even though he inherited a bloated civil service with over 40000 personnel Aregbesola has resolutely refused to‘ right- size. ‘

    On the contrary, salaries were consistently paid before the end of the month. He valiantly and without prodding paid 13th month salary consecutively since 2010, reflecting the instinct of a committed progressive.

    It has to be stated here that a salary bill of N3.6 billion a month is not an easy proposition at the best of times, not to talk of now when allocation from the Federation Account dropped from N4.6 billion to a little over N1 billion, a shortfall of more than 75 per cent. Up and against it from day one, Aregbesola has pushed up Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) up from N300 million a month to N1billion. This has required ingenuity in a tight fiscal climate in which massive investment in the physical and social infrastructure has also had to be made in order to re-balance the economy as well as to enhance the future outlook of the state.

    As a committed social democrat what Aregbesola resolutely refuses to contemplate let alone carry out is lay- off workers. For this reason, it is on record that all categories of workers have expressed solidarity with the governor. They do not have a doctorate in political economy but they are astute enough as to know the cause and effect.

    As we speak, a committee made up of government officials and labour leaders in the state are working their socks off to come up with means of shoring up revenue in the state, in a way that will not hurt the poor. The talk of discord between the government and labour unions is therefore laughable. There is no such discord. Every party understands the situation and is willing to work hard and come up with solution.

    This is why, from day one, the emphasis has been on cost rationalisation by slimming down on the machinery of government through the elimination of duplication, waste, inefficiencies and corruption.

    As is to be expected, truth is the first casualty. What is being owed is three months’ salaries and not five months. And sorting it out is what disturbs Aregbesola‘s sleep. Across the board, a new edifying alternative perspective has been implemented in the state of Osun, which has repositioned the state and made life more tolerable for all.

    This is why future historians will divide the analysis of the state into two segments; pre and post Aregbesola and  the difference is clear. A temporary hiccup clearly beyond the control of a state government, which is the result of dysfunctional system, cannot be used as a battering ram against Aregbesola. The people are simply not ready to be fooled and bought over with fairy tales and propaganda.

     

    • Kanmi Ademiluyi,

    Lagos

  • Appeal Court reserves judgment on suit against Aregbesola

    Appeal Court reserves judgment on suit against Aregbesola

    The Akure Division of the Federal Court of Appeal Monday reserved judgment on the appeal filed by the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the August 9, 2014 Governorship election in Osun state, Senator Iyiola Omisore against the ruling of the state Elections Petition Tribunal which nullified his petition.

    The five- member panel of Judges of the court announced through Justice Gana Mcshella at the end of Monday’s hearing which lasted for over six hours

    He said that the date of final judgment on Omisore’s appeal would be passed across to all the parties in the matter through their counsels.

    Omisore who appealed against the ruling of the Election Petitions Tribunal delivered on February 6, is asking the appeal Court to set aside the ruling of the tribunal.

    He argued that the tribunal headed by Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime failed to examine the issues raised in his petition properly.

    The 2014 PDP governorship candidate also hinged his appeal on the ground that the tribunal in its assessment failed to evaluate the evidences submitted by him through experts.

    Omisore had approached the Elections Petition Tribunal following his defeat in the August 14 Governorship election, challenging the results of the election in 17 Local Government Areas of the state where he argued that there were electoral malpractices and rigging.

    At the hearing Monday, Lead Counsel to Senator Omisore, Alex Isiyoung (SAN) argued that the tribunal erred in its ruling as it failed to examine all the allegations and issues raised by the petitioner passionately.

    He argued that the tribunal failed to address the allegations of corrupt practices and non compliance to electoral acts in the election that produced Governor Rauf Aregbesola and therefore urged the Appeal Court to discountenance the judgment of the tribunal.

    He maintained that Aregbesola failed to get the total number of lawful votes in the August 14 Governorship election which eventually produced him, and thereby prayed the court to upturn the ruling of the tribunal.

    Isiyoung stressed the need for the Appeal Court to declare Omisore as the winner of the August 14 Governorship election in Osun state.

    According to him, his client had the highest number of lawful votes in the election.

    However, counsel to Governor Aregbesola, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Chiefs Akin Olujimi (SAN) and Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) respectively objected the grounds of the appeal, arguing that the tribunal was clear and unbiased in its ruling.

    Specifically, the Lead Counsel to Aregbesola, Chief Olujimi said the ruling of the Elections Petition Tribunal which upheld the victory of Governor Aregbesola was unchallengeable as according to him it was decided after thorough investigations.

    According to him the appellant made no case at the tribunal as only seven out of 230 witnesses he called made allegations of rigging during the Governorship election.

    He however argued that out of the seven people there was no polling agent among them, stressing that only polling agents could testify to allegation of rigging in any election.

    He said “even the principal witnesses presented as expert witnesses failed to present expert testimonies. They only looked at electoral materials and made comments, which any literate person could as well do.”

    Olujimi who cited the case of Ngige versus INEC in his submission, maintained that the appeal of the appellant lack in merit and prayed the court to dismiss the case.

    In his submission, counsel to the APC, Chief Akeredolu who prayed the court to strike out the appeal, stressed that there was no reason to fault the ruling of the tribunal in the interest of justice.

    Also, counsel to INEC urged the court to strike out the appeal, arguing that “the entire evidence elicited by INEC under cross examination is deem to be the evidence of INEC.”

    The five members Appeal Panel Judges therefore reserved judgment in the case, assuring that the judgment date would be communicated to all parties involved in the matter.

  • Aregbesola greets Adeboye at 73

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has described Pastor Enoch Adeboye as a detribalised Nigerian.

    In a congratulatory message on the 73rd birthday of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, the governor said Pastor Adeboye had lived a truly inspiring life dedicated to service in the vineyard of the Lord worthy of emulation.

    “We want to use this occasion of Pa Adeboye’s 73rd birthday to remind Nigerians that he symbolises peace and truth and that he has lived a truly inspiring life of dedicated service in the vineyard of the Lord.

    “On behalf of my family, government and the people, we wish Baba a happy birthday. We pray that God will grant him long life and the grace to continue to do that which will benefit Nigeria and the world.”

  • Osun: Aregbesola floors Omisore at tribunal

    Osun: Aregbesola floors Omisore at tribunal

    Otunba Iyiola Omisore,the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the August 9, 2014 governorship election  in Osun State yesterday lost the plot to unseat the winner of that election, Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    The  State Election Petition Tribunal  struck out Omisore’s petition by  which he sought to have himself declared winner.

    The tribunal said the evidence presented before it by the petitioner was, at best, a hearsay.

    The tribunal chairman, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, in her eight-hour judgment affirmed Aregbesola’s victory  and declared that the petitioner and his party, the PDP, failed to prove their case convincingly that the election was characterized by fraud, irregularities, harassment and intimidation of voters on the day of election.

    The petitioners, she pointed out, even showed no  proof of how voters were chased away from voting centres as they had alleged, and  their allegation of multiple voting  was unsubstantiated.

    She said they could not cite a single case of multiple voting  during the cross examination of their witnesses.

    On the petitioners’ allegation  of the use  of under aged persons  by the APC to perpetrate electoral fraud, Justice Ikpejime said  no one  was mentioned as an under aged person before the tribunal.

    The tribunal  referred to  the results of the election in  17 local government areas of the state – Ayedaade, Atakumosa East, Atakumosa West, Boripe, Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo, Ifelodun, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Irepodun, Irewole, Iwo, Obokun, Olaoluwa, Olorunda, Oriade and Osogbo – which the petitioners wanted to be voided.

    It said although the petitioners brought 43 witnesses to push their case the tribunal,  after  a thorough scrutiny  petitioners’ prayers  found their evidence lacking  merit.

     Similarly  dismissed as untrue was the claim by the petitioners that duplicate copies of Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C and EC8D used during the election  were not signed and stamped.

    Justice Ikpejime  then struck out the petition and upheld the declaration of Aregbesola by the INEC as winner of the poll with 394,688 votes against Omisore’s 292,747 votes.

    The court room was filled to the brim by  chieftains of  the PDP and APC while security in and around the premises was tight.

    The  proceeding  commenced at 9. 00 am and ended at about 5.00 pm.

    As news of the judgment spread,  residents of Osogbo, the state capital, trooped out in their thousands  in jubilation.

    Not even the downpour  that followed could stop them.

    Major streets, including  Oke-fia, Olaiya Junction, Gbongan Road, Oja-Oba, Ayetoro and other parts of the town, were jampacked by  people jubilating over the court’s  verdict.

    They were soon joined by Governor Aregbesola  and other chieftains of the party in a victory parade round the town.

  • Governor: it’s triumph of people’s will

    Governor: it’s triumph of people’s will

    The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described as the triumph of the will and wishes of the people, the verdict of the Osun Election Petition Tribunal which awarded him victory.

    Aregbesola, in a swift reaction to the judgment, said in a sane society, his opponent in the August 9, 2014 governorship election, would not even approach the election tribunal because there was no redress to be sought in the first place.

    “It is pertinent to state here that ab initio, those who went to the tribunal knew that the petition lacked any substance whatsoever. It is a share waste of the time of the judiciary. And they knew”, he said.

    Aregbesola, in the statement made available by his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, congratulated the people of Osun on the victory, saying it is a confirmation of their dogged desire for good governance as demonstrated by the four years of the first term of his administration.

    “We must salute the courage of our people that in the face of overwhelming intimidation, harassment of unimaginable proportion, they stood by their government and ensured re-election. This is a further affirmation of the fact that any government that makes the people the centre of its policies will always find the people solidly behind it,” he said.

      Governor Aregbesola further re-assured the people that his government would not relent in its zeal to make Osun the hub of the most profitable commercial centre, not only in the South-West, but in Nigeria as a whole.

    “Our target is to make this small corner of the earth a centre of reference in all that is great and elegant. The history of our place tells us that civilization was not alien to us and that indeed, our people were epitome of innovation, technology, industry and enterprise.

    “We must revamp this and make our people proud again among other nations of the world,” he concluded