The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Governor Rauf Aregbesola

  • Aregbesola building purposeful future for Osun youths – Okanlawon 

    Aregbesola building purposeful future for Osun youths – Okanlawon 

    The Government of Osun under Governor Rauf Aregbesola has laid a solid foundation for youths in the state to face the challenges of the new world.

    This was the summary of the speech by the spokesman to the Governor Mr Semiu Okanlawon while delivering a keynote address at the 1st Conference organised by the Iwoland Youth Conference, at See Bee Hotel and Event Centre, Iwo at the weekend.

    He said Aregbesola, having realised the critical place of youths in any society, could not but address the glaring problems unemployment and others which face millions of them through carefully formulated policies.

    Okanlawon said the policies and programmes of the state are targeted mostly at the younger generation, saying the feats had earned the state many commendations.

    He said most of the government’s interventions were designed to reawaken the dormant energy in the youths by building the necessary capacity to harness their potential.

    He said with the pioneering efforts of the Aregbesola in Osun on youths advancements, the Aregbesola government has inadvertently motivated youths in Osun and elsewhere to critically examine the youths advancement contents of political parties and candidates seeking elective positions before they support them.

    Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy Office of the Osun state Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon (2nd right); his wife, Alhaja Ronke Okanlawon (right), Member House of Representatives representing Iwo Federal Constituency, Hon. AbdulGafar Akintayo Amere (2nd left), Chairman Iwoland Christian Association, Evangelist C. O. Ayoda (3rd right), Mallam Baquo Alabede (3rd left) and Former Member Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Ayofe Adisa
    R-L: Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy Office of the Osun state Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon (2nd right); his wife, Alhaja Ronke Okanlawon (right), Member House of Representatives representing Iwo Federal Constituency, Hon. AbdulGafar Akintayo Amere (2nd left), Chairman Iwoland Christian Association, Evangelist C. O. Ayoda (3rd right), Mallam Baquo Alabede (3rd left) and Former Member Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Ayofe Adisa.

    He said youths, for their own good, must realise they have attained a state where they can jointly decide to vote against candidates and parties with no clear-cut policies for the advancement of the youths.

    He said it is gratifying to note that the Federal Government today is implementing youths programmes that were inspired by initiatives in the state.

    Okanlawon said, “Today, the Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari is implementing some specific programs targeted at youths and ensuring that as bad as the global economy gets, strategic initiatives are put in place to cushion what could have been a totally hopeless situation.

    “The former government tried with programmes such as SURE-P and YuWIN schemes. We are not happy that youths have complained that those schemes, rather than alleviate the problems of the youths and bring them hope, brought them more pains and disillusionment.

    “I am certain that this was why it took the Federal Government a much longer time to ensure proper birth and implementation of the on-going N-Power Scheme which is a pure youth advancement program in Nigeria of today.”

     

    Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy Office of the Osun state Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon; Chairman Iwoland Christian Association, Evangelist C. O. Ayoda, Mallam Baquo Alabede, Member House of Representatives representing Iwo Federal Constituency, Hon. AbdulGafar Akintayo Amere and former Member Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Ayofe Adisa
    R-L: Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy Office of the Osun state Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon; Chairman Iwoland Christian Association, Evangelist C. O. Ayoda, Mallam Baquo Alabede, Member House of Representatives representing Iwo Federal Constituency, Hon. AbdulGafar Akintayo Amere and former Member Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Ayofe Adisa, during the 1st 2017 Iwoland Youth Conference, at See Bee Hotel, Iwo, State of Osun

     

    Aregbesola’s aide said his boss realised early enough that acute unemployment was a major cause of the scourge of kidnapping, insurgency and armed robbery rampant in various parts of Nigeria.

    “Who are the major foot soldiers of the Boko Haram scourge in the northern part of Nigeria? Youths!

    “Who are the brains behind the series of kidnapping in the South-East? The youths! Who are the bombers and vandals of the nation’s oil-rich South-South where the bulk of our national resources come from? The youths! Who are the people behind growing cases of armed robbery in the South-West part of Nigeria? The youths.

    Now, back home in our state and particularly in my hometown, Iwo, who are the faces we associate with the growing cases of cult groups that clash incessantly and create fears in our once peaceful, harmonious city? The youths of course!” He noted

    He said through programmes such as the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES), Osun Rural Agricultural Enterprises Programme (OREAP) OYESTECH and others, the state has been able to provide opportunities.

    He added, “I am glad to say here today that what was condemned as unbefitting jobs by some people who, however, never proffered any alternative, ended up providing the Osun youths with the opportunities to exhibit their courage, doggedness and creativity. The over 40,000 beneficiaries of that scheme that we have had never remained the same again as from that point, found some other positive, more rewarding engagements, that have provided them with the much-needed chance to find their paths.”

    Okanlawon said, however, that youths must recognise the opportunities that are open to them especially in this information technology driven world adding that their parents never had the opportunities that are open to them in this ICT-driven world of today.

  • Buhari lauds Aregbesola’s commitment to social intervention

    Buhari lauds Aregbesola’s commitment to social intervention

    • As N-Power monitoring team visits Osun

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday commended the Osun state Governor Rauf Aregbesola for promoting policies and programmes designed to eradicate unemployment, poverty and hunger in the state.

    He said Osun has been a model of the social intervention programme in the country as some of its policies were adopted by the federal government.

    Buhari, who made the statement in Osogbo, the Osun capital during an interactive session with some of the beneficiaries of the N-Power programme, said the state had proven its weights in building capacity for youths to thrive.

    This was just as Osun disclosed that out of 200, 000 unemployed youth that had been successfully engaged in the first batch of the N-Power nationwide, Osun came third after Lagos and Oyo states in terms of the population of the beneficiary.

    The State’s Vocal Person on N-Power, Hon Idiat Babalola explained that 10,004 unemployed youths had successfully engaged in the state out of 400,000 beneficiaries of the N-Power programme nationwide.

    The visit was part of the 3-day monitoring and evaluation tour to the state by the National N-Power team of the office of the Vice President.

    The President who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Job Creation and Youth Empowerment, Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede, said the flag-off of the monitoring and evaluation tour to Osun was in recognition of the state as the pioneer of the idea behind the establishment of the N-Power programme.

    President Buhari further explained that the flag-off of the tour in Osun was also in recognition of the successes recorded by the state through her Osun Youth Employment Scheme popularly called (OYES).

    Addressing the volunteers at the Executive Council lounge of the Governor’s office, in Osogbo, Buhari acknowledged the leadership style of Governor Aregbesola for the machinery already set in motion to enhance the smooth running and success of the N-Power programme.

    In attendance were the representatives of the partnering agencies of the scheme like National Orientation Agency (NOA), Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), State Ministries of Education and Health, Nation Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as well as State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB).

    According to the President, out 24,000 applicants that applied for the empowerment programme in Osun, over 10,000 unemployed youths ((both on graduate and non-graduate components) had been successfully engaged across the state on different specified areas like teaching, agro-economic and health.

    He disclosed that the scheme was designed as part of effort to fulfill all his electioneering promises made to Nigerians.

    “We came up with this programme having understood the socio-economic challenges of our people and to the glory of God, our administration had impacted greatly in the lives of Nigerians through this initiative.

    “We are fully aware that unemployment has reared its ugly head in the national life of millions of Nigerians, that is why we designed this programme so as to tackle the menace and as well tailor our youths on the path to be economically and financially self-sustained and self-reliant.

    “Though this programme among others were adopted from the already sustained policies of Osun government and today, it has not only been nationalised but also maintained as thousands of Nigerians can boast of being beneficiaries of N-Power Programme initiated by our administration.

    “As part of our administration’s change mantra, it has been confirmed and repeatedly reported that this empowerment programme is not only impactful but apolitical by all standard and measures.

    “Hence, there is no doubt that this step has become a genuine reflection of the change that our administration promised Nigerians as this empowerment scheme is designed to give a chance to live by providing the basic means of earning a living by the teeming Nigerians.

    “So, as our government is keen on the need to eradicate unemployment from the system, we are assuring that the current administration would not relent to ensure that every Nigerian is empowered to feed his or her self through our numerous social intervention programmes.

    “We believe strongly that this is a life line programme that has the capacity to enhance our economic value-chain just as the funds put into it would not only stimulate the economy but also have a multiplier effect on the nation’s economic fortunes”, he added.

    Speaking on the success recorded so far, Buhari described the scheme as a helping-hand initiative designed to liberate the nation from abject poverty and hunger.

    He said the intervention had made unprecedented success since its inauguration in eliminating poverty, unemployment and idleness most especially among the unemployed youths.

    Buhari said the programme has also helped in promoting the spirit of self-dependence and self-reliance among Nigerian youth through which the beneficiaries would be exposed to technical skills, innovative skills and employable qualities needed in the labour market.

    According to him, “This administration would not relent in pursuing ideal society being aspired by all as we are ready to continue in our efforts to provide enabling environment to enhance general well being of the citizenry.

    While assuring the volunteers of utmost competency and efficient management of the scheme, the President reiterated that all the technical challenges confronting some of the beneficiaries would soon be resolved.

    In her welcome address, the Osun State Vocal Person of the N-Power, Hon. Idiat Babalola commended President Buhari for rescuing the nation from the scourge of unemployment.

    Babalola, who described the initiative as a prototype of the youth empowerment programme already initiated by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in Osun, said the adoption of the scheme by the federal government would go a long way to stimulate the nation’s economy and as well eradicate the challenges of unemployment in the country.

    She said the N-Power was part of the President’s innovative ideology to set the country off poverty and encourage self-sustainability among Nigerian youths.

    Babalola added that the scheme was initiated by the federal government as part of its social investment programmes to curtail youth restiveness having understood that “an idle hand is a devil’s workshop”.

    She disclosed that out of 200, 000 unemployed youth that had been successfully engaged in the first batch of the N-Power nationwide, Osun came third after Lagos and Oyo states in terms of the population of the beneficiary.

    Babalola explained that 10,004 unemployed youths had successfully engaged in the state out of 400,000 beneficiaries of the N-Power programme nationwide.

    “I am happy that President Muhammadu Buhari has not in anyway reneged on any of his promises made to Nigerians as the N-Power Programme was initiated in fulfilment of his promise on social intervention services to the people.

    “I am also elated that my state (Osun) is the pioneer state of this initiative as we all know that Osun state government led by Governor Aregbesola had recorded huge success in establishing the nationally and internationally recognised Osun Youth Employment Scheme (Oyes) which had not only impactful but sustained.

    “So as the state vocal person, I will continue to do the needful to ensure that the programme is well coordinated and properly monitored in line with the vision of the federal government”, she added.

    Babalola who encouraged the volunteers to see the scheme as an opportunity for them to contribute their own quota to national development, charged the beneficiaries to use the various opportunities of the scheme to acquire relevant entrepreneurship skills.

    “You must all see this as a clarion call to service the nation and humanity. You must use this opportunity wisely by ensuring that it does not only relief you from financial burden but also add value to your future lives”, Babalola added.

    She, therefore, promised to always open her office for whoever has challenges among the beneficiaries.

    Speaking on their experiences about the empowerment programmes since its inauguration, some of the volunteers commended President Buhari for the initiative which they described as “impactful and rewarding”.

    They also lauded the Presidency for adopting a policy devoid of impartiality and political motivation in all the recruitment process and exercise of the programme.

  • Osinbajo is promoter of selfless leadership – Aregbesola

    Osinbajo is promoter of selfless leadership – Aregbesola

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state has congratulated the acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on his 60th birthday.

    The felicitation is in a massage by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the governor’s Media Aide in Osogbo on Wednesday.

    The governor described Osinbajo as a prominent promoter of selfless leadership, whose contributions would continue to be a source of reference in the country’s development.

    Aregbesola said Osinbajo’s trajectory in service saw him taking up worthy causes for no personal gains as long as they served humanity.

    He added that “in public and personal lives, Prof. Osinbajo has demonstrated that the most worthy service is that carried out for the good of fellow human beings even for no personal gains and comfort.”

    Recalling the acting president’s role in Lagos State law reforms as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Aregbesola said “the face of judiciary in the state
    changed after eight years of Osinbajo’s intensive reforms as chief law officer.

    “It is gratifying to note today that his pioneering efforts in that sector influenced similar reforms in other parts of the country.

    “This is one crucial aspect of our national life as a people where the acting president has tremendous impact”.

    According to the governor, Osinbajo has demonstrated that he is a man of the people, always identifying with the grassroots across the country.

    “On this occasion of your birthday, I join you and your immediate and political families in celebrating the abundant grace of God on your life.

    “Your life has been an eventful one, dotted by numerous achievements and accomplishments.

    “Nigeria has benefitted immensely from your fountain of knowledge, wealth of experience and leadership acumen.

    “The remarkable impacts you made in all spheres of human endeavour will continue to remain a reference point in the nation’s development history.

    “You are indeed a cerebral academic per excellence, a judicial revolutionary leader,  a stabilising force, a bridge-builder, an embodiment of and astute observer of the rule of law.”

    “On behalf of the government and the people of Osun, I congratulate you on the attainment of this age”, the governor added.

    Born on March 8, 1957 at Creek Hospital, Lagos, Osinbajo is a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

    His early years in primary school were spent at Corona School, Lagos, between
    1969-1975 and attended Igbobi College, Yaba, Lagos, where he won the State Merit Award (1971); the School Prize for English Oratory (1972) and the Adeoba Prize for English Oratory (1972-1975).

    He also won the Elias Prize for Best Performance in History (WASC, 1973), the School Prize for Literature (HSC, 1975); and African Statesman Intercollegiate Best Speaker’s Prize (1974).

    Thereafter, he went for undergraduate degree at University of Lagos between 1975-1978 when he obtained a Second Class Upper Degree in Law, and also won the Graham-Douglas Prize for Commercial Law.

    In 1979, he completed the mandatory one-year professional training at the Nigerian Law School and got admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of Nigeria’s Supreme Court.

    In 1980, he attended the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he obtained a Master of Laws degree.

    Osinbajo is a scholar, a teacher, a lawyer and an administrator and is one of the nation’s leading experts in Law of Evidence, National and Regional Corporate Commercial Laws and Public Law.

    He became Vice President of Nigeria on May 29, 2015.

    He is married to Oludolapo Osinbajo (nee Soyode), granddaughter of the late sage and statesman, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

  • Sultan commends Aregbesola’s role in promoting unity

    Sultan commends Aregbesola’s role in promoting unity

    The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar has commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun for what he called his commitment to the development of humanity regardless of socio-economic, political and religious differences.

    He said the state under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola has demonstrated a high sense of fairness to religious organisations in the state.

    In a statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor on Saturday, Alhaji Abubakar, who doubles as the President General, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, was quoted as stating this while paying a courtesy call on the Governor, at the Government House, Osogbo.

    The Sultan,  who led other Islamic scholars and Muslims across the country to Osun, described Governor Aregbesola as a symbol of religious unification.

    In the Bureau’s statement signed by the Director, Semiu Okanlawon, the Sultan was quoted as saying Governor Aregbesola has extremely demonstrated to the world the sterling quality expected from whoever holds the office of the Governor.

    Alhaji Abubakar, who lauded the leadership of the state for making the ground running in spite of the challenges confronting the country, said the spate of the developments across the state was a clear manifestation of good governance.

    The President-General, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs hinted that the purpose of the visit was to further entrench the relative peace, unity and love among Nigerians which according to him remains the only channel to national growth and development.

    He applauded the Governor for playing an active role in propagating peaceful cohabitation between and among the existing religions in the state.

    The Sultan said, “I must acknowledge your commitment to promoting unity among the various religious organisations in the state as this is in line with our cardinal objective of ensuring a peaceful nation.

    “We have not in any closed our eyes to your administration’s determination in making things happen even in the face of the present realities of the nation’s economy.

    “We are glad that you are using your position to effect change in promoting and propagating unity in the state and beyond,” he said.

    According to him, the visit to Osun is to further demonstrate the commitment of the Muslim community to national growth and development.

    He added, “This visit makes the 6th time of being in Osun and we are here in large number as one family under the umbrella of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs which is the apex body for Muslims in Nigeria to further register our determination to unity, peace and tranquillity of Nigeria and Nigerians.

    “The primary objective of the Council is to ensure peace, unity and stability not only among Muslims but also within other religious organisations.

    “So, as we are working assiduously to solidify the unity and peaceful coexistence between and among the various religious organisations in the country, we are equally determined to portray to the world that the religion of Islam connotes peace and unity.

    Alhaji Abubakar stressed the need for Muslims across the country to continue to demonstrate leadership by example as being exemplified by the Prophets.

    He said the Council would continue to display exemplary leadership quality in promoting the virtues of unity, peace and love among the citizenry in the country.

    In his remarks, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola commended the leadership quality of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs for being the bulwark for unity and peace in Nigeria.

    Governor Aregbesola said the impacts of the Council had been tremendously felt in engendering peace, unity, love and togetherness of humanity along religious lines.

    Describing the Sultan of Sokoto as an epitome of the best in human character, Governor Aregbesola said the role played by the number of Muslims in the country towards the promotion of unity in the diversity nature of the country would be forever applauded.

    According to him, “I am very glad to receive the apex Islamic group in Nigeria just as I am delighted in the fact that the Council had played a significant role in promoting peace and unity not only in Nigeria but in the whole world”.

  • Aregbesola’s intervention in education second to none – WAEC

    Aregbesola’s intervention in education second to none – WAEC

    • Admits Opon Imo is breakthrough to SSCE, WAEC

    The West African Examinations Council, WAEC on Friday commended the government of Osun for boosting education system through the introduction of an innovative technological device.

    The examination body rated Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s interventions in education as “second to none” in Nigeria especially in the provision of massive infrastructure.

    A statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor signed by Director, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, quoted the Head of the Nigeria National Office of the council, Mr Olutise Isaac Adenipekun, as stating these when he led the delegation of the national management of WAEC to the Governor in Osogbo.

    He applauded him for ameliorating education with innovative technologies.

    Adenipekun said, “The ongoing revolution in the infrastructural re-engineering of the school complexes in the state of Osun has also caught the attention of all stakeholders in the education sector in Nigeria and beyond.

    “The immense contribution of the state government in the development of infrastructural facilities in schools, in particular, the “Mega Schools Project” is remarkable. It is in fact, second to none in Nigeria,” he stressed.

    WAEC said Osun has helped to mitigate common difficulties usually encountered by the students while writing Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations, SSSCE.

    Adenipekun said Osun has contributed significantly towards enhancing Information and Communication Technology, ICT required in education sector which according to him remains the prerequisite to development of quality education in the country.waec

    Adenipekun, who recommended the Tablet of Knowledge to other states of the federation said the initiative had contributed towards educational development.

    He described the innovation as a tool of educational revolution, breakthrough aimed at enhancing and encouraging the process of teaching and learning through the use of innovative technology.

    According to him, there is no doubt that the state government had recorded huge transformation in the eradication of the rots in the education sector through the introduction of the device.

    “We are here in recognition of the state’s contributions to technological innovation and development to the education sector in the state of Osun since the inception of the present government.

    “We are particularly proud of the landmark achievement and the major breakthrough of the current administration in Osun most significantly in education sector by the introduction of the ground breaking ‘Tablet of Knowledge’ also known as “Opon Imo” to students of the state at secondary level.

    “As we commend the efforts of Mr. Governor on the landmark achievement and major breakthrough of his administration in education most importantly on the widely applauded ‘Tablet of Knowledge’ which had improved and encouraged teaching and learning, we equally recommend other states to key into this initiative so as to improve the education sector,” he added.

    He said the policies of the state had been structured not only to revamp education but to make the state the pacesetter in good governance.

    Adenipekun expressed gratitude to the state for its cooperation and support to the West African Examinations Council in Nigeria, which according to him had assisted the organisation on the smooth running of the Council’s office in the state.

    “We must express our deep appreciation to the government and good people of the state of Osun for their continuous cooperation and support to the West African Examinations Council in Nigeria, that has enhanced the smooth running of the Council’s office in the state.

    “We also appreciate the cordial relationship that has existed between the state of Osun and our flagship organisation as we express our gratitude to the government and good people of the state for the enormous contributions they have made to the progress of WAEC and the development of sound education by positively inspiring in diverse ways the teeming youths of the country.

    “The enormous support of the State Government has enabled us to provide quality service to the people in diverse ways,” Adenipekun stated.

    He said the Council is willing to partner with other state governments to ensure that it eradicates examinations malpractices which he described as a menace to the education sector.

    “We are committed to improving our service delivery to stakeholders and we will continually ensure smooth conduct of our examination (WAEC) in the state of Osun.

    “As part of our determined effort to impact positively on the quality of youth development and education in general, the Council is ready to collaborate with states Ministries of Education to create further avenues for experience sharing with teachers in the secondary schools in areas of standardised testing and candidates/students assessments,” he added.

    Adenipekun, however, noted that the Council was ready to partner with the government in the area of e-testing and e-assessment as part of efforts to further recognise the state’s giant steps in introducing ICT to teaching and learning at the pre-tertiary levels.

    “We must re-emphasise our commitment to the development of education in Nigeria and we appreciate your support to the Council in fulfilling its mandate as an examining body”, he added.

    Governor Aregbesola who described “the Tablet of Knowledge” as a panacea to education revolution, said the state had recorded national and international awards on the initiative.

    He said the state would continue to do the needful in supporting education sector which he described as “bedrock of development”.

    Commending WAEC for maintaining education standards in the country, Governor Aregbesola said the examination body had contributed tremendously in raising the standards of education in the West African sub-region.

    He reassured the people of the state of his administration’s resolve to turn around the fortune of the sector even in the face of the current economic hardship.

    Aregbesola said the state was ready to collaborate with WAEC and other relevant examination bodies to improve on the standard and quality of education sector in the state.

    “We are quite happy with the steady and certain growth that our intervention in education had recorded just as your visit would also encourage us on how to double our efforts and collaborate with your organisation to boost education sector in the state.

    “We are ready to partner with your organisation in raising the quality of our teachers towards the preparation for pre-tertiary examinations”, he added

  • UNICEF charges Osun on child malnutrition

    UNICEF charges Osun on child malnutrition

    The United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged Osun State government to address child malnutrition among children under the age of five.

    It enjoined the state government to extend its school feeding programme to cover children below three years.

    UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Mrs Ada Ezeogu, decried the current malnutrition level in the state. She revealed that 195, 245 children under five years are stunted in Osun as a result of malnutrition.

    While praising Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola for the school feeding programme in the state, she advised that the figure generated from National Nutrition and Health Survey 2015 could be reduced if the early child care centres are included in the programme.

    Ezeogu, who was a facilitator at a two-day media parley on child malnutrition with the theme Good Nutrition, Invest More in Ibadan, Oyo State, disclosed that over 50 per cent of infant death in the country occur as a result of malnutrition, urging the government to take proactive steps in addressing the current situation.

  • Osun at 25th: Govt denies proposing N140 million for celebration

    The Osun State government has debunked the rumur that it has earmarked N140 million to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its creation coming up on Saturday.

    At a press conference in Osogbo, the state capital, yesterday evening the former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties who is a member of the committee for the anniversary, Hon Ajibola Basiru, described the allegation as “a blatant lie.”An Osun state based group, Civil Societies Coalition for Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) recently alleged that the state government has set aside N140 million for the state 25th anniversary.

    Basiru, who advised the people to disregard the statement credited to CSCEOS, said the allegation does not come from a credible source.

    He also urged the public to see the rumour as “mere politics.”

    Earlier, the Chairman, Organizing Committee, Dr. Charles Akinola, had stated that this year celebration would focus on the youths.

    According to him, the display of calisthenics by students would be the main activity of the programme with commissioning of some completed projects by the state government.

    He said the president, Muhammadu Buhari, who was expected to witness the calisthenics display and commission the projects would be unavoidably absent due to some important assignment.

    However, he assured that the president would visit the state on September 1st where he would be led to commission the projects.

    He maintained that the display of calisthenics goes beyond entertainment.

    He said the display was to inculcate the spirit of group work and make the students happy being the main focus of the celebration.

    He challenged the opposition to come up with substantial alternative to Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s policies instead of engaging in criticism.

  • Court strikes out suit against Aregbesola, deputy

    Court strikes out suit against Aregbesola, deputy

    A suit filed by an Osun State High Court judge, Justice Olamide Folaranmi Oloyede, seeking for setting aside the dismissal of her petition against the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola by the state House of Assembly, has been struck out.‎

    A state High Court in Iwo presided over by Justice Moshood Adeigbe, dismissed Justice Oloyede’s application for lack of jurisdiction.

    Oloyede had approached the court to challenge the recommendation of Osun State House of Assembly asking the state Judicial Service Commission to recommend to the National Judicial Council that Oloyede should be sanctioned on the account of Judicial misconduct.

    Justice Oloyede, who petitioned the House of Assembly, called for the impeachment of Governor Aregbesola and his deputy, Mr. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, over alleged corruption.

    The judge, in the petition, called on the members of the Assembly to examine and investigate the governor and his deputy over the allegations.

    On receipt of the petition, the Assembly set up an Ad hoc/Fact-finding committee with Speaker Najeem Salaam giving the committee one week to submit its report.

    The Assembly later considered the report of the panel, and dismissed Oloyede’s petition and recommended sanctions against her.

    But the judge, who was not satisfied with the decision of the Assembly, filed a motion on notice before the court.

    Addressing the court recently on the motion, her counsel, Lekan Ogunlesi, stated that Oloyede was ready to challenge the illegality of the action of the House of Assembly.

    Ogunlesi had listed the respondents in the motion to include the Speaker, the investigating committee Chairman, Adegboye Akintunde, six legislators and Clerk of the House.

    Also joined in the suit is the Osun Judicial Service Commission.

    Oloyede had also filed a motion ex-parte asking the court to grant her permission to institute a legal action against the state lawmakers over their recommendation that she should be sanctioned by the National Judicial Commission (NJC).

    In her application, she asked that the recommendations of the ad-hoc committee be quashed and that their actions be declared illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

    The presiding Judge before dismissing the suit had  reviewed the submission of counsel to Oloyede on the issue of fair hearing, observed that a party who was given the opportunity to be heard but chose not seize the opportunity cannot complain of not being given fair hearing.

    He stated that the contention of the respondent that she was denied fair hearing by the committee was not shown anywhere on the face the Exhibit FA1, which is the proceedings of the Ad-hoc committee, cannot by any stretch of imagination see how the right of fair hearing can be breached in the proceedings where a legal practitioner represented the applicant at the sitting of the Ad-hoc committee.‎

    The defence counsel, Wale Afolabi, the former Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in the state praised the court for the judgement saying justice Oloyede should not have petitioned the Governor and his deputy since she is an employee of the state government.‎

    Afolabi had challenged Oloyede’s suit on the grounds that it is incompetent having violated the provision of order 40 rule 5(5) of the state High court rules, saying an act of parliament cannot be subjected to judicial review.

    He held that the application does not contain grounds as envisaged by the rules of court and that what is being asked to be quashed was a mere recommendation and not binding decision which can be reviewed by way of certiorari and that the action was filed in total disregard to both substantive and procedural laws relating judicial review.

     

  • Sultan, others in Ife for inauguration

    Sultan, others in Ife for inauguration

    Dignitaries have started arriving Ile-Ife for the inauguration of Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as the 51st Ooni and the presentation of staff by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    Traditional rulers from the North and South, including the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, are in town.

    Congratulatory banners and billboards have flooded the ancient town; many of them are mounted at strategic locations.

    Security agents, including the police, the Department of State Security (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), have been drafted in the town.

    First Bank Managing Director, Bisi Onasanya yesterday inaugurated the multi-billion naira Ife Resorts at the Ife Toll Gate, Ajebandele on Ibadan Road.

    Onasanya said the project would transform the town’s economy.

    Oba Ogunwusi said the project was part of the new Ile-Ife he was determined to create during his reign.

    He said: “This is part of the new Ife. May we witness the new Ife of our dream.  This project is part of my call for Ile-Ife. May God make all our dreams totally possible.”

    The Ooni promised that the area would wear a new look  in the next three months.

    He said the project would be 10 times bigger than his Inagbe Grand Resort and Leisure, adding that it would be a beauty to behold.

    At the event were  Obasewa of Ife Chief John Agboola Odeyemi; Balogun of Ife Chief Bisi Omidiora; Adagba of Iyanfoworogi Oba Adebolu Fatunmise; President of Ife Development Board Prof. Muibi Opeloye and others.

    The Ooni promised the residents, a peaceful and progressive Ife during his reign.

  • Osun has strengthened security around judge, says APC

    Osun has strengthened security around judge, says APC

    •Party: blackmailing governor over Oloyede’s safety ‘ll be futile

    Attempt by any group or persons to use the safety of Justice Folahanmi Oloyede as a strategy to throw Osun State into chaos would be futile, the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) said yesterday.

    It explained that from the first day that the state government became aware of judge’s petition for the governor’s impeachment, special security arrangements were provided to prevent anything untoward happening to her.

    The party, which spoke in a statement by its spokesman, Kunle Oyatomi, said media campaigns alleging danger or insecurity to the life of Justice Oloyede were aimed at blackmailing the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration.

    The party said: “Unknown to the sponsors of this wicked campaigns of calumny, right from day one that Justice Oloyede submitted her petition, the government had taken a proactive measure by alerting the head of the courts in Osun, Chief Justice Adepele Ojo and security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), to provide adequate and enhanced security around the person and residence of Justice Oloyede.

    “Justice Oloyede herself cannot deny the fact of this enhanced security around her person and residence up till now.”

    The statement added that Aregbesola took the precautionary measure, “bearing in mind what opponents of his administration were capable of orchestrating with the life of Justice Oloyede”.

    It added: “This is because of the antecedents of the sponsors of this inexplicable and unnecessary tension in our state that they might want to use the opportunity of her petition against the governor to unduly stoke crisis in the state.

    “It is, therefore, worrisome that several weeks after this had happened, the scallywags are still pursuing their totally untenable subversion of the popular will by campaigning on the pages of newspapers, a threat that never existed, except in their weird imagination and criminal intentions.”

    The APC called on the public to be wary of the activities of those plotting to throw the state into chaos, asking the security agencies to be alert.

    “This is to alert members of the public and all security agencies of the criminal intentions of the sponsors of these orchestrated campaigns to prevent our peaceful state from being plunged into needless anarchy.

    “Osun has been peaceful and remains so and any impression of tension or anarchy being created is just a manifestation of the evil plots of those who are in desperate pursuit of an agenda to plunge the state into crisis,” the statement said.