The Nation Newspaper

Tag: AREGBESOLA

  • Aregbesola seeks participation in SMEs

    Aregbesola seeks participation in SMEs

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has appealed to the House of Assembly to approve the state’s participation in the N2billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund initiated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The governor made the appeal in an October 23 letter, which was read by the Speaker, Najeem Salaam.

    The letter reads: “You will recall that our government has formally requested to be considered as a beneficiary of N2 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund with the Central Bank of Nigeriaa.

    “The scheme is meant to create employment, wealth and economic development of our dear state, which is in line with our administration’s six-point integral action plan, which is banishing hunger.

    “Consequently, I wish to request for the resolution of the House to approve the participation of the state.”

     The speaker directed the Committee on Finance and Appropriation and Committee on Commerce, Cooperative and Empowerment “to liase with appropriate ministries and agencies to know the in depth of the request before dealing with it”.

  • ‘Aregbesola’s model panacea for insecurity’

    ‘Aregbesola’s model panacea for insecurity’

    Will Nigerians ever know peace again in view of the incessant killings in the Northeast? Pastor Ladi Thompson, Special Adviser to the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Conflict Resolution and Security Matters, proffers answers to the poser. He spoke with DADA ALADELOKUN

    TO quite many that are already counting days to the end of the year, it is time they started counting their blessings-by rolling out the drums. But to some, notably Ladi Thompson, a humanist pastor cum activist, this is no moment for any drum to even “whisper!”

    “Why must we dance –to celebrate the thousands that have been mowed down by the dreaded insurgents … to celebrate the inexplicable abduction of those 219 innocent girls – the future of our beleaguered nation?

    Pastor Thompson’s emotion crumbled pitiably at his Ilupeju, Lagos office, where the encounter with this reporter took place earlier in the week.

    “God, please take control,” Thompson, the Special Adviser to the President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Conflict Resolution and Security Matters, pleaded.

    But we have cause to heave a sigh of relief, pastor. We heard that our soldiers are rising to the task of containing them (the insurgents)” the reporter cut in, apparently to soothe his frayed nerves.

    “We must refuse to be deceived at this point. Our soldiers are getting discouraged. While we were counselling some of them, we found out that Nigerian Air Force men were “shelling” our soldiers. Guns supplied to the Nigerian Army were mysteriously found in the hands of the enemies. And sadly, some of our soldiers shoot into the air instead of shooting at the enemies …where are we heading for?

    “Many of our men don’t live to collect their first pay. It is obvious that there is infiltration in high levels and it is a clear fact that a house divided against itself would not stand. Our government must know that there is no global definition for terrorism. Each country defines and tackles insurgency in its own peculiar way to propagate its own existence,” he said.

    On the way forward, Pastor Thompson said: “There is the need for us to put together experts that will define terrorism from the Nigerian and African perspectives. We must realise that one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist.

    “President Goodluck Jonathan needs to recognise that we are in a state of war. We must know that the military is not the main solution to the war. We are dealing with moles in high places and they must be fished out. There must be an empowered bi-partisan body of critical thinkers to weed them out. All political activities must be put on hold for now.

    “In the interim, President Jonathan should inaugurate an all-inclusive body for governance, while we sort out the issue of Nigeria’s future and the stability of its territorial integrity.

    “We need, for instance, a platform where somebody such as President Jonathan and the patriotic few such as the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola would sit on a roundtable to discuss the nation’s future. I mentioned Aregbesola because of the Omoluabi ethos of his government, which is the key thing needed to turn things around in this country.

    “It is about patriotism, integrity, unconditional love, Godliness, fear of God and fellow-feeling. Since it is working wonderfully in Osun State, it can work for the entire country. We must not throw away the golden goose because of tribal sentiments.

    On what Aregbesola’s style of governance has to do with the war against insurgency, Pastor Thompson said: “What is happening requires the kind of rare fundamental re-orientation that is happening in Osun State. It is beyond cosmetics.

    “We can no longer avoid the issues that should have been handled fundamentally, which were not. Many of us thought the recent national conference would engender the desired solution, but unfortunately, the no-go areas are the issues causing problems in the country. So, we are back to square one.

    “Sadly, the constitution of the conference was badly skewed because 95 per cent of those that were out to carve a future for the country belong to the typewriter generation that is still hooked on tribal, ethnic and religious rivalry oiled by corruption.

    “So, their results are predictable and totally useless when it comes to forging a way for a digital generation.”

    Using findings from various researches as premise for his argument, Pastor Thompson advised that “we must waste no further time in putting in place a regional defence mechanism.”

    Continuing, he said: “In the event that we fail to hearken to the voice of wisdom, by refusing to implement all these things because some of us are still blinded by our political ambitions, it is going to be a matter of weeks before we realise that our leaders have slept for too long.”

    Noting that the failure of Nigerian leadership has “made us a bitter disappointment to the rest of Africa,” he added that “it will be very unfair to the younger generation because in the event of a meltdown, African youths are not going to find any cushion anywhere in Africa because there is a lot of resentment against Nigeria.”

    Pastor Thompson warned that it would be too late for the country if, in the next three months, the Jonathan-led administration fails to declare a state of war against all the secret agents in government as the insurgents continue to advance.

    “When history books are written, it will be noted that there were some who belonged to a typewriter generation; people who were so self-centred, greedy and so myopic to the extent that all they planned to do was to steal the tomorrow of the youth to create comfort throughout their own lifetime.

    “However, their names will go down in history as belonging to the worst generation in Africa’s history,” the cleric said.

  • Don’t equate jihad with violence, says Aregbesola

    Don’t equate jihad with violence, says Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said Jihad does not mean war or violence.

    The governor spoke yesterday while delivering a lecture, titled: “Muslims’ response to insurgency threat in Nigeria” at the sixth annual Femi Lateef Okunnu lecture series, organised by the Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students of Obafemi Awolowo Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

    Aregbesola said Jihad should not be turned into a licence to unleash terror on the people and destabilise the nation.

    He held that contrary to the claims by groups such as Boko Haram, Jihad was neither a call to arms nor an ideological blueprint for destructive insurgency.

    The governor said Jihad in Islam was at its core about establishing a personal relationship with Allah.

    He noted that the meaning of Jihad in Islam was total submission to the will and obedience to the laws of Allah.

    “Submitting to Allah’s will is an act of conscious choice granted to mankind by God; obeying His laws is a demonstration and vindication of that submission.

    “The abused notion of Jihad often used as a justification for satanic atrocities of insurgent groups, such as Boko Haram, is a gross misapplication of the concept.

    “Jihad is far from being an open cheque for senseless violence, neither is it a Qur’anic endorsement of the pursuit of selfish political desires.

    “The concept of Jihad in Islam simply means ‘struggle’ or ‘striving’. It has two broad dimensions – external and internal striving.”

    Aregbesola said Islam opposes any form of violence, either against Muslim or non-Muslim or of any place where the name of God is being called and worshipped, such as churches and synagogue.

    He argued that Boko Haram and other insurgent groups have no justification in Islam to back the violence it unleashed on the people of the nation.

    “If Islam thus forbids violence against innocent, how does Boko Haram justify the senseless killings, maiming, kidnappings of innocent women, children, and girls?”

    The Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Kehinde Yusuff, described the honouree, Femi Okunnu, as an elder statesman, who has contributed to the growth of the nation.

    Prof. Yusuff hailed the administration for observing what he described as religious justice through the freedom given to every faith to practise freely.

    He praised the governor for granting a public holiday for the celebration of Hijira New Year.

    The association’s President, Mallam Abdulyekeen Olaitan, said the lecture series have been serving as a platform knowledge acquisition and meaningful contributions to public enlightenment.

  • Education vital, says Aregbesola

    Education vital, says Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said education is critical to sustainable national development and security.

    Aregbesola made the assertion when he delivered a lecture titled: “Education as a Panacea to National Insecurity and Developmental Challenges,” at the sixth Prince Bola Ajibola annual lecture series at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

    The governor praised the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, for standing against the “highest civilian attempt to stage a coup against democracy” at the governorship election in Osun State.

    Aregbesola said for any society to achieve enduring progress, education must be the unavoidable bedrock of its efforts.

    He added that for Nigeria to develop its human capacity to impact socio-economic development, the path to follow is the education track.

    “In engaging with the issue of education as a remedy for national insecurity and developmental challenges, I wish to contend that a conception of education as a process rather than as a tool will do us a whole world of good.

    “To conceive education as an instrument meant to be deployed in achieving certain practical ends is to conclude that education is all about the physical development of people.

    “Sadly, Nigeria today is assailed by manifold layers of insecurity and its progress is hampered by a myriad of developmental challenges all because of the continual erosion in the quality and standard of its educational system.”

    He said lack of investment in education by successive have crippled the system to an extent that what seems to matter is the acquisition of certificates.

    Aregbesola posited that there is no reason why the children and youths in parts of the North and the Niger Delta of Nigeria should not have the same quality education as their mates in other parts of the country.

    “Even in the Southwest, where we used to have a 50-year education head start, it is no longer a bed of roses.

    The chairman, Prof. Nurudeen Adedipe, described Aregbesola as an uncommon man who has turned education around in the state.

    He said: “There is a link between his philosophy and that of United States President Barack Obama.”

  • Aregbesola replies election petition by Omisore, PDP

    Aregbesola replies election petition by Omisore, PDP

    OSUN State Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has filed his reply to the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore and his party challenging his victory as the winner of the August 9 governorship poll.

    Aregbesola, in support of the reply, front-loaded 603 witnesses, comprising ordinary voters who volunteered to state what they witnessed in all the local governments being challenged by the petitioners.

    In his reply dated September 22, Aregbesola, who was the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the election, raised a preliminary objection to the competence of the petition on six grounds.

    He said: “The petitioner has no locus standi to present this petition not having shown in the petition that he was validly a candidate at the election, subject to this petition;

    “The allegations contained in several paragraphs of the petition are vague, general, generic, not specific, speculative, omnibus, imprecise and nebulous;

    “Several paragraphs of the petition raise a pre-election issue, which the tribunal has no jurisdiction to entertain;

    “The petition has not been properly constituted in that criminal allegations have been made against persons who have not been joined to this petition;

    “The petitioners did not meet all the conditions precedent to the presentation of the petition; and

    “The grounds on which the petition is based are unknown to law.”

    Besides the preliminary issues raised against the competence of the petition, Aregbesola, who is the first respondent, noted that the petitioner did not score up to 25 per cent of the lawful votes cast in each of the 30 local government areas of Osun and did not satisfy the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.

    He averred that in polling units and wards being challenged by the petitioners, entries were properly made in Forms EC8A and there were no malpractices and acts of irregularities as alleged and the result of the election was not tilted against the petitioner and in favour of the first and second respondents as alleged.

    On allegations that Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme (OYES) cadets were used as ad-hoc workers, the first respondent denied such allegation and further averred that OYES was an interventionist programme of the government, creating a volunteer scheme to reduce unemployment among youths, irrespective of political affiliation.

    The first respondent concluded that the petition was academic and or hypothetical and had not disclosed any cause of action to warrant the tribunal to entertain it.

    He, therefore, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition.

  • On Aregbesola’s education policies

    An opinion article titled ‘Aregbesola, education and election promises’ written by Tade Adekunle from Osogbo on September 24, makes an interesting reading but still leaves a sour taste in the mouth. The author does not sound familiar, but it matters little.

    His main concern is on his perceived state of education in Osun which he used the last result of the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination to buttress. According to him, Osun pupils’ performance which was 22nd out of the 36 states that sat for the examination was worrisome and an indication that the state’s educational policies are not working. He then stacked his cards with the issues of merger of schools and standardised school uniform.

    The author tries hard to be civil but the piece is riddled with cynicism and thinly disguised mockery of the state’s education summit chaired by the revered Prof Wole Soyinka, that had recommended comprehensive review of the education policies of the state, early in the life of the administration.

    Adekunle sounded like the voice of one of those who stoutly resisted the education reforms in the state from the standpoint of opposition politicians, religious former school owners, disgruntled teachers or an old student revelling in past glory, even when the alma mater had fallen into disgrace and disrepute. They forged a coalition of the disgruntled with the opposition in the August 9 election and were thoroughly trounced and disgraced. He might just have resumed where they left, considering his conclusion that the policies should be reversed.

    It should be pointed out, however, that the immediate result of an examinationis not and cannot be the right yardstick to measure an education policy. Those who wrote the last examination in question must have been in the school system at least for 11 years (assuming they spent five years in primary school and six at the secondary level) in the school system. The result you have today is a cumulation of all the inputs and efforts within that period.

    We all know that it is not the day you plant a crop that you harvest it. What is being harvested today could not have been planted yesterday. The result of today is the reflection of the neglect and putrefaction that had crept in. That is not Aregbesola’s making and it will be illogical to blame him for this.

    And it could have been worse, since the problem is longstanding. Governor Aregbesola noticed this and cried out when he was inaugurated upon observing that less than five percent of those who took the WAEC and NECO of 2010 passed. This actually informed his convoking the education summit early 2011.

    The state government is doing everything needed to turn education around. This includes hiring over 10,000 teachers, training and retraining them, kitting them and giving them all necessary motivation. It also involves building new state of the art schools, rehabilitation and equipping existing ones and providing 150,000 computer tablets to senior pupils and their teachers (out of which 50,000 has been delivered and distributed). Do not forget that elementary pupils now enjoy free feeding and medication in all public schools, to which the government commits N3.6 billion every year.

    For school furniture alone, the government, as at last year, had committed N2.5 billion. Grants to schools was jacked up to N856 million from the N122 million inherited from previous administration. Before Aregbesola’s coming, no school had instruction materials, but his administration has committed N506 million to providing these. These are verifiable facts.

    Beyond those still sulking because the reforms had cut off their extortion channels in the schools, even the teachers and other stakeholders are full of praises to the governor, claiming that they feel proud to be teachers for the first time.

    The central basis of opposition to the reforms is the inability of some stakeholders to reconcile to the facts that the state government owns all the schools in question. They are still living in denial since the takeover in 1975 or thereabout. The tragedy is that eight out of 10 agitators, when asked, still think that the schools belong to the old missions and the reforms are superfluous government interference.

    The government had explained countless times that the mergers were brought about by the policy of classifying schools into elementary, middle and senior categories. The mergers are therefore necessary to streamline these schools into the various classes for operational and administrative purposes. These policies do not affect private schools.

    What the governor promised, due to much agitation, was that some of the schools would be returned to their original owners. This is after some of the mega schools being built are completed and the pupils moved into them. At no time did he promise that the policy would be reversed. It is high time all the agitated were reconciled to this. Those hoping for a reversal are only engaged in wishful thinking.

    The governor, being a student of history, does not wish to erase the memory of any school. However, mergers and closures are part of the history of education. Even in the affluent world, when the caretakers can no longer maintain a school or it is no longer relevant to the need of that society or community, it will be merged with others or shut down. Plato’s Academy no longer exists, but it is etched permanently in the books, in the philosophy and the memory of those who have acquired western education. Where a school is closed, a monument will be left as its physical legacy.

    What is more important, however, is its intellectual legacy and how it has affected our time and society. Those still sulking over the carcass of a dilapidated and ruined physical structure should let go and embrace positive change.

    On school uniforms, the government has explained that the uniform distinguishes those in public schools from others. Even in the United Kingdom, this is the norm – uniforms are the same and can be picked in any convenient store. What mark them differently are the badges, cardigans and berets branded for each school. In our neighbouring Benin Republic, all school children wear khaki as uniform.

    Aregbesola has carried out a revolution in education in Osun. I am of the firm belief that with the policy direction, funding, equipment, motivation and technology, all driven by the passion and will to change things for better, Osun, within the shortest possible time, will be producing the best school leavers and world beaters in all fields.

     

    • Fasure lives in Osogbo
  • Aregbesola kicks off 225 km rural roads

    Aregbesola kicks off 225 km rural roads

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has kicked off the construction of 225 kilometre rural roads.

    The governor, at the oinauguration of the Osun Rural Mobility Project and launch of the 225 kilometre road project in Ira Open Square off Ilesa-Akure Express Way, said modernising Osun agricultural practices would be his administration’s catalyst for effectively dealing with many of the major social and economic problems confronting the state.

    He said the rural access and mobility project was a tool for rural transformation in addressing the basic needs of transporting goods and services in the grassroots.

    Aregbesola added that with the development of agriculture, hunger, unemployment, poverty, and poor education can be dealt with.

    He said for ease of administration and more effective implementation, the 225-kilometre roads have been organised into four lots covering four different parts of the state.

    According to the governor the first 58.74 kilometre will be in Iwo region and the second 58.40 kilometre will be in Ife region.

    Aregbesola added that the third lot also in Ife region will cover over 53.87 kilometres and the fourth will be in Ilesha region with 53.61 kilometres of road.

    The governor said: “Winning a second term of office is no excuse for indolence or for relaxation. Indeed, it is an opportunity to accelerate the pace of work so that we can cover as much ground as is humanly possible within the time available to us.”

  • Ebola is a security challenge, says Aregbesola

    Ebola is a security challenge, says Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said yesterday that the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was a security challenge to any country.

    He said it was a scourge, which should be tackled.

    The governor, who convened a state security council and stakeholders’ meeting on the prevention of the EVD, at the Government House Banquet Hall, said any country under the threat of the epidemic risked losing its sovereignty.

    He said efforts should be made to prevent the disease from spreading to the state.

    Aregbesola said most of the countries affected by EVD were almost loosing their sovereignty.

    He added: “We should not see the disease as an ordinary health challenge. It is a deadly disease, which should be tackled.”

  • His death a blow, says Aregbesola

    His death a blow, says Aregbesola

    Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has expressed shock on the death of versatile journalist, Mr. Dimgba Igwe.

    He described his death as a blow not only to the media, but also to the country.

    The governor said in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon that Igwe’s death robbed the media of a doyen.

    He said the demise again brought to the fore the level of insecurity in the country.

    Aregbesola noted that it was unimaginable to think that merely engaging in a harmless venture like a regular morning exercise could lead to a tragic death.

    He said: “It is a tragedy of huge proportion not only to have lost this fine journalist and manager of men, but also to have lost him in such a needless tragic circumstance. This once again calls to question the level of insecurity of life and property in this country.

    “Igwe, until his death, with his closest friend, Mike Awoyinfa, brought journalism to another level, which brought one of Nigeria’s highest selling newspapers, the Sun, into the consciousness of Nigerians.

    “His death brought back to mind our last encounter. Last year I met him and his professional twin brother, Awoyinfa. After lunch, we had a profound and robust discussion about a new Nigeria of their dream. It is rather unfortunate that Igwe would be lost soon. We pray for the repose of his soul.

  • Royal families hail Aregbesola

    Royal families hail Aregbesola

    The Ataoja Royal families, comprising the four ruling houses in Osogbo, the state capital, have commended the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola for the developmental projects by his administration.

    The royal families, which include Matanmi, Sogbo, Olahanmi and Olajomo, in a congratulatory message to the governor, described Mr. Aregbesola’s re-election as a manifestation of the acceptability of the current administration in the state.

    In a communiqué issued after the general meeting of the ruling houses at Gbaemu’s compound, signed by Alhaji Nasiru Oyeniyi Oyedijo, the royal families assured the governor of their support for his government.

    The royal families also lauded the Governor Aregbesola-led administration for the various developmental projects across the state, especially the state capital.

    They also hailed the deputy governor, Mrs Grace Titilayo Laoye Tomori and other indigenes of Osogbo in the administration of governor Aregbesola for being good ambassadors of the town.