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Tag: AREGBESOLA

  • Aregbesola: Footprints of a visionary

    Veteran journalistTola Adeniyi highlights the achievements of Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and why his legacies should be defended by his successor, Gboyega Oyetola.

    There is no doubt in the fact that Governor Aregbesola delivered on his electoral promises as enshrined in his Six-Point Integral Action Plan, entitled ‘My pact with the people of Osun’, otherwise known as the “Green Book”. In that Covenant, Aregbesola swore to tackle poverty, tackle hunger, tackle unemployment through wealth creation, restore healthy living, promote functional education and enhance communal peace and progress.

    Prior to his administration, virtually all the roads across the state were in deplorable conditions. Governor Aregbesola constructed over 2000 kilometers of roads which traversed the nooks and crannies of the state. Among them are: 74km boundary highway connecting Osun directly to Lagos through Gbongan via Orile-Owu and Ijebu-Igbo; 17.5km dual-carriage road Osogbo East/West Bypass; 47km highway connecting Osogbo to Kwara State boundary; and 30km Gbongan-Akoda Road and the Adebisi Akande Trumpet Interchange Bridge. Others are 81 Township roads covering 138km; inter-city roads covering 588km and 426 kilometers of roads constructed through the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) among others.

    In boosting agriculture and food security Aregbesola allocated 4,000 hectares of land under the Land Bank scheme while support to large scale farmers shot Osun into the second position in the production of poultry. IITA was brought to Osun for agricultural demonstration purposes on cassava, maize, cowpea and most of the arable crops. Of course, some tree crops were not excluded.

    In the education sector, 22 state-of-the-art Elementary Schools, 15 Middle schools and 11 High Schools [that look like universities] were constructed and completed across the nooks and crannies of the state to revamp the sector and make education attractive to every child.

    The Yearly Examinations Grants per student was increased while periodic training and retraining of over 5,000 teachers running grants were raised from N7.4million to over N427million per year and 30 percent reduction in tuition fees for state tertiary institutions while 98 medical students of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) were sponsored to Ukraine to complete their medical studies.

    Other areas of interventions of the Aregbesola-led government in the education sector included: school reclassification into Elementary, Middle and High School System to aid easy teaching and learning; and introduction of Education Marshalls to maintain discipline. School administration and management was decentralized through the creation of three education districts, with each district headed by a Tutor-General.

    Calisthenics display is another legacy for which this administration will be remembered. Calisthenics incorporates a lot of virtues like team spirit, unity, resilience, cooperation, tenacity, which an average individual needs to survive and succeed in life. The display has since been introduced into all the schools in the state to create a complete ‘Omoluabi’ in the student.

    As at 2016, Osun’s performance level in WAEC rose to 46.7% which is quite a huge jump in the number of students with credit passes in English and Mathematics. Similarly, the state has, since 2013, been featuring prominently between the 1st and 3rd positions in the JAMB ‘matriculatable’ students in Nigeria.

    On Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme (O’MEAL) alone, the state government provides free meals for over 250,000 pupils in primary 1-4 every school day. Through the programme, malnutrition in pupils has been reduced; school enrolment and promotion of healthy living among public school pupils have been improved. Also, about 4000 caterers were empowered as food vendors serving nutritious delicacies to all the pupils in Elementary schools across the state every school day while over 50 school buses (Omoluabi Scholar Buses) were procured by Aregbesola’s administration to enhance easy transportation of students in the state.

    Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES) is an innovative idea conceptualized to find meaningful solution to youth unemployment. Within the first 100days in office, 20,000 O’YES cadets were trained  and engaged for productive ventures. Grouped into units like Public Works Brigade, Green Gang, Osun Sherriff Corps, Traffic Marshalls, Osun Paramedics, Sanitation Czars and Teachers Corps, over-40,000 youth have so far been empowered though the scheme. The last batch of 20,000 for this administration, which is expected to be passed on to the next administration, is already being prepared.

    6000 of these youths were subsequently recruited as permanent teachers. However, 1,600 youths were trained in modern agricultural practices under Osun Rural Enterprise and Agricultural Programme (O’REAP) while 40 of them were sponsored by the state government to Germany to acquire knowledge on advanced farming techniques.

    The beauty of this scheme is the fact that N200million allowances being paid to OYES Cadets monthly is injected into the local economy of the state as all the materials and tools used for the success of the scheme were sourced locally. This scheme was recommended to Federal Government by the World Bank  as a panacea to youth unemployment and restiveness in the country as the scheme made Osun to experience a drastic drop in her unemployment rate from 12.4% to 2%, thereby making Osun the state with lowest unemployment rate.

    Aregbesola’s administration was the first in the country to replace books with computer tablets called ‘Tablet of Knowledge’ aka ‘Opon Imo’ (acknowledged by UNESCO as unique)  to further stimulate the interest of students to learning as well as completely turn learning into play in schools. Altogether, 17 subjects that students offer during West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) were included as learning experiences in form of lesson notes, textbooks, mostly provided by Evans Publishers and Master Teacher’s inputs. Computer Education and Entrepreneurship Education are also included in the device. ‘Opon Imo’ also contains ten years past questions and answers provided by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) as well as West African Examinations Council (WAEC). It also needs to be noted that Aregbesola’s government increased bursary allocations to all Osun indigenes in tertiary institutions.

    In the health sector, 90 new primary health centres were built and equipped; 35 existing primary health centres were upgraded, just as 50 state-of-the-art ambulances were procured as 400 paramedics were employed. In the same vein, 20 ultra-modern dug warehouses were constructed as well as the construction of Comprehensive Health Centres at Ogbaagba, Erin-Ijesa and Erin-Oke. Aregbesola’s administration is reputed to have doled out over 20,000 free-eye medical glasses to visually impaired persons, just as free treatment was given to farmers to rescue them from the debilitating disease of Ochocerciasis while tuberculosis and leprosy patients were treated free of charge in all the state hospitals.

    Effective daily routine immunization was put in place at all health facilities in the state  while over 4 million insecticide treated mosquito nets were distributed to households just as free medical check-up was organized for civil servants. The state also established Tuberculosis Control Laboratory in Ilesa while 9 Primary Healthcare facilities were refurbished and supplied with essential drugs to increase safe delivery by skilled-birth attendants.

    The Aregbesola-led administration deserves commendation for spearheading a process that has consistently led to a year-on-year improvement in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and tax remittances to the state, the latest being the N11.9 billion generated as actual full year IGR for 2017, representing more than 30% increase over the previous year’s N8,884,756,040.35. Osun is said to be Nigeria’s 2nd richest state and it is 2nd on the Human Capital Index and has maintained the 2nd position in four years in a row in the global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI). In Agriculture and Food Security, the state is now 2nd only to Oyo State in broiler production and its forestry sub-sector ranks 5th in the country. The sate is now Nigeria’s 5th largest economy with its GDP growing at 7.3% per annum.

    Osun is one of the few states in Nigeria that have undertaken insurance premium schemes for its workers, a situation that has gone a long way in demonstrating Aregbesola’s love for the welfare of workers.

    Nelson Mandela Freedom Park is also a sight to behold due to the recreation facilities that now dot the entire space. Aregbesola’s intervention in the hospitality sector has also not gone unnoticed. Osun now has more than 400 hotels, out of which more than 15 are in ‘Category A’ (equivalent to a ‘3-star’ hotel). Before his administration came on board, the state could only boast of less than half of this figure. Added to these are more than 80 Tourist Attractions in the state.

    Other interventions like Osun Microcredit Scheme, the Quick Impact Intervention Programme (QIIP), O-REHAB (established to rehabilitate and reintegrate persons with mental disabilities); Osun Ambulance Services (O’AMBULANCE), Elderly Persons Welfare Scheme, (Agba Osun) and O’WIDOW are also part of this administration’s efforts to boost productivity and promote income diversification and ameliorate the effects of income poverty as well as economic and health-related shocks.

    Aregbesola created 31 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), 3 Area Councils and two Administrative Offices for the overall purpose of bringing government closer to the people. And his government is reputed to be the first in the country to have led a new understanding in parliamentary Local Government administration in Nigeria, a situation that has in no small way led to expanding the potentials for accountability, transparency and societal capacity building.

    The new lease of life given to the hitherto moribund Cocoa Products Industry in Ede can be viewed as being in line with his election promise of creating employment opportunities as well as attracting investors to the state.

    The presentation of N1.8bn retirement bond certificates to 266 pensioners in the state was a demonstration of the depth of his love for the state’s civil servants.

    The approval nod given to the state by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) for the construction of a power transmission substation to be located at Dagbolu in Osun State is a worthy step by the administration to strategically reposition the state as the commercial hub of the South-west.

    Osun is today a pacesetter in the security sector as the state is currently next to Lagos in investment on security. The procurement of 25 sophisticated Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), 125 Patrol Vehicles, fully equipped with modern gadgets for 24-hour security patrol, building of the multi-force, security control centre in Osogbo, building of state-of-the-art police stations, procurement of helicopter for security surveillance and emergency response as well as setting-up of a dedicated Crime Response Team, (Swift Action Squad, SAS) are some of the steps taken to not only make life interesting, abundant, comfortable, enjoyable and stimulating but have also earned Osun as Nigeria’s most peaceful state.

    In assessing Aregbesola’s legacies in his 8-year leadership of Osun, notice should be given to Ambassador Ignatius Olisemeka’s empirical statement on what distinguishes a great leader and I quote:

    A leader must have a strong, solid, moral and disciplined background, the inspirational ability to galvanize his people to higher, lofty and common purpose. These are not ordinary attributes available to every man. They are uncommon gifts and talents dispensed and bestowed only to a few. This makes the difference between one man and the other; one woman and the other. It is not often we have a Ghandi or a Mandela; an Ataturk, or a Winston Churchill, a Charles de Gaulle, or a Margaret Thatcher, or even our own often quoted Obama. Nearer home, with all their imperfections, considering that a prophet is without honour in his own country, we must reckon with Azikiwe, the Sardauna, Awolowo, Aminu Kano and J.S. Tarka, the real and genuine ‘founding fathers’ of our nation.

    Without the bitterness of sentiments in partisan politics, this is where Aregbesola belongs as a great visionary and a workaholic.

    This is not to say that Aregbesola did not make mistakes. He had a great vision and planned big and in the process of actualisation the state’s metaphorical appetite for champagne could not be matched with its coca-cola income. The near-collapse of the Federal Government finances in 2016 dealt a devastating blow to nearly all the states of the federation most especially to Osun with its massive investments in education, construction and infrastructure.

    However it is Aregbesola’s leadership style, his commitment to his declared goals, his accessibility and humility, his transparency and accountability and his incorruptibility that have combined to distinguish him among his peers. The state of Osun remains the safest and most peaceful state in the country with the toga of the country’s ‘happiest people’.

     

  • Aregbesola celebrates Alaafin at 80

    The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has felicitated with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, as he celebrates eight decades on earth.

    Alaafin has also spent 48 years on the throne of his forebears in the ancient city of Oyo.

    Aregbesola, in a statement made available by his media adviser, Mr. Sola Fasure, said he rejoiced with the first class ruler, who he said has been blessed by God with longevity of life.

    The governor described the Alaafin as a worthy custodian of Yoruba culture and heritage and a good ambassador of the Yoruba race.

    According to the governor, Oba Adeyemi has always stood for justice and good governance, saying the monarch supported his (Aregbesola’s) administration all through the eight years.

    The statement said in part: “I rejoice with you as it has pleased the almighty God to give you long life and good health to spend on earth and on the revered throne.

    “You have been a worthy custodian of the Yoruba culture and tradition and have positively projected this all over the world. As your fame has soared globally, so also has the Yoruba nation, its culture, tradition and continuities in the Diaspora soared.

    “Kabiyesi, you have supported our administration with godly and wise counsel and have courageously stood with us when it was dangerous to do so. For these and many more, you deserve our full commendation and best wishes on your birthday and coronation anniversary.”

     

  • Baba Sala: ‘We’ve lost another icon – Aregbesola

    The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has commiserated with the Adejumo Abogunloko family of Ijoka Ilesa, on the passing of its patriarch, Apostle Moses Olaiya, aka Baba Sala.

    Aregbesola said the death of Pa Adejumo, ends an era of flowing and successful theatre career.

    The entertainer who was reported to have died of age-related illness, held the Nigerian theatre stage spellbound for more than five decades.

    In a statement by his Media Adviser, Mr. Sola Fasure, Aregbesola said the death of the comedy legend would create a huge hiatus in the thespian trade in Nigeria.

    The Governor said every Nigerian, who grew up in the South-West, would attest to the prowess and productivity of the late Pa Adejumo either on the television series and later the celluloid at the cinema.

    Aregbesola noted that Adejumo was unarguably the greatest comedian around for more than 50 years, which made him the darling and delight of every home.

    He said: “I received the news of the death of Pa Moses Olaiya aka Baba Sala, with a deep and irreplaceable sense of loss. He has been in our prayers since he battled with ailments arising from old age for some time now. His death is significant in here in that he has gone to rest with his Lord permanently.

    “Nevertheless, his exit signified an end to his own brand of comedy, which no one can rival or beat. His death has therefore left a yawning gap in the theatre arena in the country.

    “Pa Moses Olaiya Adejumo was undoubtedly a theatre veteran, a comedian par excellence and a humour merchant of no mean feat.

    “He was a multi-talented artiste whose works straddle music, theatre and comedy. He had a travelling theatre troupe, performing in concerts, got his works recorded on vinyl and LP albums, cassettes, cartridge, celluloid, CD, video CD and DVD. He was also an entrepreneur, with significant investments in entertainment, hotels and recreation.

    “He would forever be remembered for his creativity, dramatic simplicity, far-reaching and rib-cracking humour.

    “His humour is clean, elevating, uplifting, philosophical and borne out of wisdom. You can hardly watch him without laughing and getting highly elated. He was a harbinger of good fortune: he made people forget their sorrows through his talent.

    “His death certainly has left a gap too huge to be covered in the immediate subsequent years without him.

  • Buhari, Aregbesola, Oyetola meet in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met behind closed doors with the outgoing Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

    He arrived the President’s office along with the governor-elect, Gboyega Oyetola.

    Oyetola emerged the winner of the governorship election in Osun State after rerun election that followed the September 22nd election in the state.

    Read Also: Buhari greets Bishop Olaleye at 60

    The meeting with the President started around 12 noon.

    It was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

     

    Details Later…

  • Aregbesola and fight for the soul of Osun

    Anyone who burns down his or her father’s house inherits the ashes.
    An African Proverb
    Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
    Martin Luther King, Jr.
    You have to dream before your dreams can come true.
    —Abdul Kalam

    The soul encapsulates humanity’s essence and raison d’être. The rhetorical rumination of Jesus Christ still rings true: “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?”(Matthew 16:26). The Psalmist solemnly enjoined God to preserve and lift up the soul. The soul is indeed the human component that transcends mundane frivolities and pettiness. It conveys inner and divine vitality. This perspective is well established in several theological and philosophical constructs. Scholars from Aristotle to Augustine have identified the soul as the sine qua non of humanity. For instance, in his On the Soul, Aristotle identified the soul as the essence of any living thing. For him, the soul constitutes a life force. This understanding provides a solid segue into a critical engagement with the future of Osun vis-à-vis the gubernatorial election. In his message to the people of the State on January 1, Governor Rauf Aregbesola described them as “a people whose conscience and souls cannot be bought.”

    One does not have to be a guru in the art and act of clairvoyance to know that the election is a decisive one for the Land of Virtue. Rev. Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. once quipped: Where do we go from here: Chaos or Community? This is an observation that has a telling relevance to the state of affairs in Osun. I see MLK’s musing as analogous to the melody and message of the Agidigbo drum that comes like a parody: only the wise can dance to its rhythm, and it takes the learned to decipher its contents. I will use Aregbesola’s legacy and passion for educational transformation as a sound heuristic device for separating the wheat from the chaff and for making an informed decision about 2018. It is my candid belief that my odyssey in the educational world for the last 30 years gives me the authority to write from this vantage point. My thesis is that a government that seriously valorizes educational development cannot be labeled as “anti people.” Hence, I seriously admonish the electorates to embrace a succession plan that would build on this educational legacy. This is part of the leitmotif of the Agidigbo drum whose melodious beats will reverberate all over Osun.

    One of the best ways to secure the future of any nation is to provide structures and resources that can meaningfully transform its young people. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once remarked that “The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.” I can say without any equivocation that education provides the most credible resource for preparing young people for the future. The 32nd President of the United States, Franklin D. Roosevelt affirmed that: “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” It is not rocket science to proffer that a solid educational background prepares young people for a future replete with more possibilities and positions. My humble counsel to the formidable people of Osun is to look beyond puerile political antics and work for the common good of the state. This is not a time to willfully destroy the foundations upon which the destiny of our children and our collective future would be built. The task of contemplating and re-evaluating the parameters of human wholeness should be a non-negotiable goal for all the stakeholders in the Nigerian project. Beyond the toxic narratives of political shenanigans; an educational initiative provides an empirical data that is non-negotiable, concrete, and enduring.  It provides a tangible litmus test for accessing political will and vision. In the midst of meager resources, the present political administration in Osun has embarked on lofty educational projects that have baffled skeptics, nihilists, and naysayers. The mega schools from Ilesa to Ipetumodu bestride Osun’s sleepy terrain like a colossus. They should not be seen as elephant projects. Rather, they constitute telling testimonies to an administration that is intentional about its legacy and its concomitant implications to the future of the populace. The official commissioning of these massive schools speaks loudly to the audacity of hope in the midst of rampant pessimism, cynicism, and grotesque fabrications. We ignore or dismiss the transformative potential of education at our peril. In a nation filled with apathy and cynicism; it is gratifying to encounter such audacious emphasis in the transformative power of education in Ipinle Omoluabi. This determination underscores the resounding potential to transcend limitations and myopia. Tatalo Alamu of The Nation would describe this positive development as the “resurrection of the living.”

    I follow the discussions and postings on Nigeria on Nairaland and Facebook.  The two sites are indeed the veritable domain of the good, the bad, and the unpredictable. It is interesting to note that while a lot of people are very disappointed about one thing or the other in Osun; majority of the people on both social media applaud the educational initiatives in the state. They provide critical comments and appreciation for this vision in a state battling with paucity of funds. It is my sincere hope that this educational vision would play into the political equation in Osun. A society devalues education at its own peril. Nelson Mandela has rightly affirmed that: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” This wise injunction is on a big billboard at Arugba circle at Okefia in Osogbo. It is very hard to miss!

    Let me quickly add an important caveat: the effort on education is certainly the beginning of a long journey in the overall transformation of Osun. Even on the educational level, the government must be very intentional in providing the best training opportunities for its teachers and staff. The government cannot allow these educational structures to become white elephants. They must undergo periodic renovations, the teaching staff must be properly equipped for their job, the schools must meet international standards in terms of technology and teaching aids, the schools must undergo periodic curricular assessment, and off course, its employees must be able to boast of an interrupted payment of their salaries. In a season of dire recession, there are many daunting challenges. The state government must take these challenges very seriously. As someone who has taught in educational institutions in Nigeria, the United States, and Qatar, I know that these are formidable challenges. However, in spite of various fissiparous forces, one can unequivocally state that Osun has made a bold step in re-positioning and re-affirming the legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo by pulling resources together to construct several magnificent educational institutions all over the state. A journey of one thousand miles begins with one step. After all, an African proverb says that “by crawling, a child learns to stand.” A step in the educational path is the right one. The building of human capital remains a non-negotiable imperative for any society.

    The good Lord shall sustain the resilient spirit and soul of Osun!

     

    • Akinadeis a Professor of Theology at Georgetown University’s Edmund E. Walsh School of Foreign Service in Qatar.

  • Aregbesola canvasses free, fair election

    The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has called on the people of the state to eschew every form of violent conduct or act capable of undermining the integrity of today’s governorship election in the state.

    Aregbesola also sent a strong warning to any individual who may intend to disrupt the peaceful, free and fair conduct of the election, saying security agencies are all over the state to nip any criminal and undemocratic act in the bud.

    The foregoing were contained in an early broadcast the governor made to the people of the state yesterday, asking them to be vigilant and report any suspicious or criminal activity to law enforcement agencies.

    The governor described voting as the political power in the hand of the electorate which can only be exercised by registered voters with their permanent voter cards.

    He noted that people must therefore exercise this civil power responsibly in choosing their leaders so as to help put the right person in leadership position, advising them to weigh their choice of candidate carefully and responsibly before making a decision.

    The statement reads in part: “There are two responsibilities here. The first is for those who are registered to vote. They should all come out to vote.

    “Indeed, voting is political power. However, only registered voters with their permanent voter cards are expected at the polling units.

    “The second is responsible voting. This power must be used for the advancement of the state by helping to put the right person in political office.

    “Not everyone has the intellectual, moral and administrative capability and capacity to provide leadership and governance, though everyone has some gifts and can be useful in some other ways.

    “You must therefore weigh your choice of candidate carefully and responsibly before making it.

    “You must also conduct yourselves peacefully and lawfully before, during and after the election.

    “Display your Omoluabi essence and demonstrate to the world that you are the epitome of civility, character, integrity and decency.

    “Shun every form of violence or acts capable of undermining the integrity of the election and of the state and people of Osun.

    “If you are not a voter or do not have any role to play, stay at home while the exercise lasted. Do not come near the polling stations.

    “However, be vigilant. Report all suspicious and criminal activities to law enforcement agencies. You all have a duty to make the election successful.

    “There have been concerns that a few anti-democratic elements might attempt to deny citizens their democratic right to vote for the candidate of their choice or coerce them to vote for a particular candidate.

    “Indigenes and non-indigenes alike have nothing to fear. The entire power and resources of the Federal Republic of Nigeria will be deployed to protect you and enable you to exercise your civic rights.

    “For the non-indigenes in Osun, your right to reside in any part of Nigeria and enjoy every right and privilege available to citizens of Nigeria in your locality is constitutionally guaranteed.

    “I will protect you and defend your right with every power at my disposal. If you feel the least uncomfortable in any situation, do not hesitate to report to the law enforcement agents around you.

    “The security agencies have been mobilised to all the nooks and crannies of the state. Law abiding citizens have nothing to fear. They should all go about their lawful duties happily, luxuriating in the mood of the season, the celebration of the festival of democracy that comes around at every election cycle.

    “Criminals, anti-democratic elements, poll riggers and those predisposed to violence should steer clear of Osun before, during and after the election.

    “You will have the overwhelming security powers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the resolve of the good people of Osun for a free and fair election to contend with.

    “I urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to double its effort and make this election hitch-free. The body should conduct a free, fair and peaceful election we will all be proud of.”

    He praised President Muhammadu Buhari for his visit to Osun and for all his kind assistance to the state.

    He also commended the President’s commitment to deepening democracy, transparency, credibility and fairness.

     

  • Osun 2018: Ganduje, Alaafin clamour for continuity

    Kano State Governor, Dr. Abdullah Umar Ganduje, and a foremost Yoruba traditional ruler, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, have called on the good people of Osun to support continuity of good governance by electing the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 22, gubernatorial election, Mr Gboyega Oyetola.

    The duo commended what they described as monumental, the achievements recorded by the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in almost eight years, saying his government has done very well in all aspects of the economy.

    They admonished the people of Osun not to allow themselves to be induced by unscrupulous politicians who didn’t have the wherewithal to build on Aregbesola’s good legacies.

    The two prominent Nigerians made the statement on Monday during a courtesy visit to Aregbesola at Government House, Osogbo.

    Ganduje said the Aregbesola administration has placed Osun on the path of development in all sectors of governance as reflected in the infrastructural facilities put in place across the nooks and crannies of the state.

    The Kano Governor, who doubles as the Chairman National Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress for Osun 2018 Governorship Election, noted that it is imperative for the people of Osun to support the continuity agenda, which he described as the only way to socioeconomic advancement, progress and prosperity.

    Ganduje, who said his visit to Osun was to ensure free, fair, credible, acceptable and transparent governorship election, noted that it is high time Osun residents supported Aregbesola by voting for APC.

    According to him, continuity is the bedrock of socioeconomic development in any society, hence the need for all to support the good works, which Aregbesola’s administration had brought to Osun by voting the APC candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

    “As a matter of fact, the only way to pay Aregbesola back for the good works that his administration has done is to vote for continuity so that we can sustain Osun on the path of development.

    “We have seen the infrastructural facilities that his administration has put in place; the good roads, schools among others. These are legacies that must be sustained and prevented from being destroyed

    “If we truly love Aregbesola and we believe in his good works, then no one must hesitate to vote for continuity as this gesture will place Osun on enviable height.

    “As we strife to ensure free, fair, credible and transparent governorship election, it is also important to let our people know that there is need for them to support the continuity agenda of this administration”, Ganduje said.

    Also, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi said Aregbesola has built a state worthy of emulation by any serious government in Nigeria.

    Oba Adeyemi canvassed for continuity of the good works of Aregbesola’s administration as the state couldn’t afford to swing backward again.

    He applauded the governor for the good works his administration has done in the past eight years, appealing to Osun people to vote for APC in the interest of genuine development and transformation.

    Alaafin said APC governments in Nigeria have proved their competence in all strata of the economy as no opposition party had faulted the good works of very many of them, particularly in the southwestern Nigeria.

    He described APC government as the best government so far in the history of the state, saying it is time for the people of Osun to elect continuity.

    He charged traditional rulers to be wary of power-hungry politicians, who have nothing tangible to offer, warning them to place development above their personal interest.

    In his words, ” It is only an enemy of progress that will not appreciate the performance of Aregbesola’s administration in spite of the challenges posed by the nation’s economy which had adversely affected the states of the federation.

    “I am happy that Aregbesola has been practising what he preaches, he has not disappointed us, he has not disappointed his people and he has not disappointed Nigerians.

    Read Also: 2019: APC chieftain, Dahiru defects to Sokoto PDP

    “I am happy to identify with Aregbesola not only because he is a governor, but because he has done very well in all aspects of life; he has improved on the economy of Osun and he has raised the bar of governance, despite the present economic reality.

    “I commend him, I commend his government for what he has been able to achieve so far, particularly on his administrative sagacity and prudence in the face of daunting challenges.

    In his remarks, the Governor of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola expressed profound gratitude to Ganduje and Alaafin, saying he will utilize the remaining days to the expiration of his administration to build more on his giant strides.

    He expressed confidence in the ability of his party, the All Progressives Congress, at winning the gubernatorial election, saying “we have God and the good people of Osun behind us”.

  • Aregbesola advises corpers to resist being used for rigging

    Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Monday advised corps members in the state to resist being used for rigging by politicians, in the Sept. 22 gubernatorial election.

    Aregbesola gave the advice at the closing /terminal parade of the orientation course for the 2018 Batch B Stream II corps members, at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp in Ede, Osun.

    The governor, who was represented on the occasion by Mrs Folakemi Adegboyega, Commissioner for Employment and Youth Engagement, said it was necessary to continue to admonish the corps members, especially those who would be engaged as ad-hoc staff for the election.

    Aregbesola advised them to be neutral and should not betray the trust reposed in them.

    “You all have been rightly informed during the swearing-in ceremony of your role in the forthcoming election in the state.

    “Ensure to abide by the advice which came to you through seasoned officers of the scheme and its collaborating agencies, when you are called upon for participation in the election process in the course of your service year.

    “Shun violence and corruption, ensure that the votes of every citizens at the polling units counts and do not allow yourselves to be used by anyone to perpetuate rigging during the process.

    “Remember your family, the scheme, and the nation at large are looking up to you; and so, do not let the trust reposed in you by these people be at naught,” he said.

    Mr Emmanuel Attah, State Coordinator of the NYSC in Osun, in his own address, assured the people of the state and Nigerians that the scheme would continue to play its neutral role in the Nigeria electoral process.

    Attah said the scheme had given credibility to past elections in the country and it intended to maintain it.

    He, however, warned that the NYSC would not take it lightly with any individual or group of persons who attempt to intimidate or harm any corps member (s) in the name of political thuggery.

    Attah advised politicians to stay away and not induce the corps members, adding that they were well-trained and sensitised not to listen or take anything from them under any guise.

  • Osun 2018: Who will succeed Aregbesola?

    All is set for this weekend’s governorship election in Osun State. As the participating political parties and candidates put finishing touches to their strategies, Adesoji Adeniyi, reports on the factors that will come at play and the chances of the candidates

    ALTHOUGH no fewer than twelve political parties are fielding candidates for the September 22 Osun governorship election it seems only five of them, the ruling All Progressives Congress, the Peoples Democratic Party, the Social Democratic Party, the Action Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress, are prominently positioned to make appreciable impact. Other participating political parties, which are also visible, include the Alliance for Democracy, the Accord Party, the Labour Party, among others.

    Less than a week to the election, the tempo of campaign activities has reached a feverish peak. Most active political parties and their standard bearers are moving from one community to another to rally support of the prospective voters for their aspirations. Also, many groups, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, the civil society organisations and media houses are sensitising the people of the state about the poll.

    Security agencies are also firming up their operations and educating their men and officers to be deployed for the exercise on how to carry out their duties on the day of election.

    The candidates of the political parties for the election and their supporters also have continued to engage the people through door to door campaign and political rallies to sell their manifestos and programmes. But more than often, their campaigns focus largely on accusations and allegations against one another while many of them hardly discuss their programmes and how they will tackle challenges facing the state when they become the governor.

    Also, defections from one political platform to another have continued unabated. We gathered that most of chieftains move from one party to the other mainly because of their inability to realise their ambition on a particular platform.

    However, issues about some of the candidates and their parties that are frequently discussed in groups in all parts of the state ahead of the election include certificate scandal, zoning of the governorship seat to Osun West Senatorial District, welfare of the public workers and pensioners, debt profile of the state and Lagos agenda. These issues have been highly politicised.

    As the election date draws closer, both the candidates and their supporters are engrossed with issues they believe will determine where the pendulum may eventually swing to and what each of the candidates have going for him. Our investigation during the week shows that many factors and happenings will combine to determine the candidate that will succeed Governor Rauf Aregbesola, whose second term in office is gradually coming to an end.

    APC’s Oyetola

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, had been the Chief of Staff to the incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola for almost eight years until about three weeks ago when he resigned the appointment to be able to face his campaigns across the state. His candidature is programmed to continue the tempo of socio-economic development of the state started by the Rauf Aregbesola administration and to also break new grounds. For over 30 years, he served as a technocrat in the competitive private sector, and has added eight years in the public office to that experience. Analysts say the combination of these two critical areas of experience positions him well for the exalted position as the Executive Governor of Osun State.

    That probably informed his regular statement that he would hit the ground running without anyone telling him what to do or where to start the job from.

    He is also said to be calm and to exhibit control over serious challenges. It is also believed that he is going to leverage on his exposure that travels beyond the shores of the state and Nigeria would afford him. But being a major part of the Rauf Aregbesola government, his opponents are saying that the issue of salary and pension arrears would always stare him in the face and may affect his chances. However, recent serious effort by the incumbent administration to pay the backlog of salaries and pensions with the release of the last Paris Club Fund may douse the tension occasioned by this development. Though the APC made the workers see reasons for a fashioned modulated salaries, which he said was caused by the serious economic challenge facing the nation and which was not peculiar to Osun alone, it is feared that some public servants may still habour ill feelings because for the harsh effect of the economic reality on their wellbeing. It therefore seems that the major concern of the APC candidate is the issue of debt profile of the state, which the opposition has capitalised upon and has described as “reckless.” But the APC insists there is justification for the several loans secured by the Aregbesola government because of rapid and even infrastructural development in massive road construction and other sectors, including education, health, among others.

    Also, the APC said the loans had helped the state to beat high cost of construction if the state were to wait till it would have enough savings to do the projects.

    Another major issue in the state politics today is zoning. Some people from Osun West Senatorial District are clamouring for zoning to the West. But some informed opinion leaders are saying that what is needed is the “Best” not the “West.” They said in democracy, the people should be allowed to decide where the next governor will come from.

    Another important factor is the so-called Lagos agenda. But the APC candidate to which this allegation is primarily directed at maintains that it could not be denied that he was born in Iragbiji, the headquarters of Boripe Local Government and raised and schooled in Osogbo, the state capital from elementary to secondary school before proceeding to the University of Lagos to read Insurance. He said it is even an added advantage for the state to have its successful indigenes in various sectors of the economy since their exposure, expertise, accomplishment will ultimately impact on the state, if such an indigene has opportunity to govern. This is even more so, if the said indigene has always been in regular contact with the grassroots and has for many years made investments in the state. He described the insinuation of a Lagos agenda as political “being promoted by very few with selfish and personal interest.”

    Given his personal achievement, popularity, appeal to all and the strength of his political party in the state, APC’s Oyetola is evidently the leading candidate in the governorship race. More than any other, he seems prepared to step into the big shoes of the outgoing Governor Aregbesola.

    Verdict: Very Strong

     

    ADP’s Adeoti

    Action Democratic Party (ADP) governorship candidate, Moshood Olalekan Adeoti, is a thorough bred and a grassroots politician. He had held several grassroots political positions in the past, including the Chairman of Iwo Local Government, Chairman of the defunct Action Congress that later transformed to Action Congress of Nigeria, on which platform, Rauf Aregbesola, came into power in November 27, 2010, following the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State which sacked the Peoples Democratic Party-led Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration.

    He was the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) of Aregbesola’s government for almost eight years before he resigned and defected to the ADP because he said the APC primary was “manipulated in favour” of another aspirant. He is a major advocate of Osun West agenda, saying the zone had been short-changed for far too long. But his political opponents described him as pursuing a selfish interest rather than supporting the principle adopted by the party; which is that the contest should be open to all the zones.

    It is however feared that to garner enough votes from his base, Osun West, may remain a Herculean task for him since he has other major contenders from his home base. His second major challenge may be how to convince the other two zones to support his aspiration. If we add these to the level of acceptability and the limited spread of his party, compared to that of the other major candidates, his chances may only be described as dicey. As an individual however, he is experienced and popular enough not to be dismissed with a wave of the hand. His party is not as strong however.

    Verdict: One to watch.

     

    SDP’s Omisore

    The Social Democratic Party (SDP)’s governorship candidate, Sen. Christopher Iyiola Omisore is an engineer and PhD holder. He was deputy to former governor of Osun State, Abdul-Kareem Adebisi Akande, between 1999 and 2003 on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy. He was impeached towards the tail end of the Akande administration but staged his comeback to the political space when he was elected the senator representing Osun East Senatorial District, otherwise known as Ife/Ijesa zone, from 2003 to 2011.

    In the Senate, he was Chairman, Appropriation Committee. In 2011, he attempted to return to the Senate the third time but lost to Babajide Omoworare of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria. Omisore in 2014 had a strong governorship contest but lost to the incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who then was seeking a second term in office. He defected from the PDP to the SDP to pursue his ambition when the former denied him the ticket. His entry into the SDP was dramatic and controversial but he maneuvered to secure the party’s governorship ticket.

    Omisore is from Osun East, where the incumbent governor, Aregbesola, comes from. This factor, according to his political opponents, may work against his victory because his choice of candidate for the people would make the zone spend about 12 to 16 years unbroken in power. This is not palatable to those agitating for zoning of the governorship to Osun West believed not to have had equal representation on the exalted position. Also, it is believed that the PDP family, from where he had defected may split his votes. But he is very strong in Ife zone of the Osun East.

    Verdict: Limited chances

     

    ADP’s Akinbade

    ADP’s governorship candidate, Fatai Akinade Akinbade, an engineer, is from Osun West Senatorial District. He was former Secretary to the State Government under Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s administration for over seven years.  He was also the Chairman of the PDP that led the Oyinlola government into power in 2003. During the military rule, he was Commissioner for Works under three military administrators; from Anthony Udofia, Anthony Obi and Theophilus Bamigboye. He defected from the PDP to Labour Party to actualise his governorship ambition in 2014 and returned to the party about three months ago only to defect again to his present party, ADC, where he got the flag bearer.

    He is an experienced grassroots politician but it is feared that his votes may be split because he is from Osun West, where Adeoti, another major governorship aspirant, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, the PDP governorship candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the running mate to the APC candidate, Gboyega Alabi, and other political heavy weights also come from.

    Verdict: Limited chances

     

    PDP’s Adeleke

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke is very new in Osun State’s politics except for his late elder brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, on whose structure he is using. After late Adeleke’s death, he came on the political scene, using his family goodwill and sympathy for the tragic nature of his brother’s death to win Osun West Senatorial bye election. Iwo axis of the West was said to have conceded the senatorial seat to Ede, believing that when it is time for 2018 governorship seat, Ede will do same for Iwo. But the story changed and Iwo may not support Ede for the forthcoming poll as no fewer than three candidates are from that zone for the seat.

    Also, a certificate scandal involving him has continued to hunt Adeleke though the court had given him the go ahead for the election when it ruled in his favor over the matter. His critics however alleged that he had not done much to prove to the public that he had the credentials to rule Osun. The bickering among the PDP members over the result of the party primary, where Adeleke emerged with very narrow margin, is a factor. It is believed that Ogunbiyi was robbed; though the issue had been laid to rest only about a week ago some analysts said this may affect PDP’s chances.

    Another recent blow to Adeleke’s chance was the defection of his kinsman, the former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Adejare Bello, to the APC. Bello came to the APC with hundreds of his supporters that should be working for the victory of Adeleke.

    Verdict: Fairly strong

     

    Who the cap fits…

    Taking all the issues and developments into consideration, it seems the struggle for power in Osun today is between the APC and the opposition parties. Analysts say that the opposition members need to come together to defeat the APC.

    Some observers contend that whichever party that will eventually win may not have a landslide victory but may only have a very narrow margin. Every candidate is counting on his homestead and exercises the hope of getting support from other parts of the state, particularly places like Osogbo and others with a huge voting strength. The game therefore remains dicey.

  • Aregbesola appoints new Chief of Staff, LGSC chief

    •Osun Assembly congratulates new appointees

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has appointed Mr Abdulrasak Salinsile as his new Chief of Staff.

    A statement yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, by the governor’s media aide, Mr Sola Fasure, said the appointment was approved during the State Executive Council (Exco) meeting, adding that that the new Chief of Staff was sworn in immediately.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Salinsile replaced Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, who is the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for September 22 governorship election in the state.

    Fasure said the Exco also approved the appointment of Mr Tunde Adedeji as the Chairman of Local Government Service Commission (LGSC).

    Adedeji is to replace Mr Peter Babalola, who resigned his appointment on August 23.

    Babalola, who was one of the 17 aspirants that contested the APC primary, defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on August 24.

    Also, the Osun State House of Assembly has congratulated Alhaji Rasaq Salinsile on his appointment as the Chief of Staff to Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Elder Tunde Adedeji as the Chairman of Local Government Service Commission.

    Salinsile was the state Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as a member of the House of Assembly between 2007 and 2011 where he chaired the House Committee on Health.

    A statement in Osogbo, the state capital, by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Strategies, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, said the duo merit the appointments.

    The Assembly, which described the appointees as committed politicians with wealth of experiences, expressed the confidence that they will add value to governance.

    It urged them to give their best in their latest capacities to ensure a smooth landing for the outgoing Aregbesola’s administration.