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Tag: Osun State

  • 1,254,467 PVCs collected in Osun, says REC

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun State, Olusegun Agbaje has disclosed that 1,254,467 Permanent Voters’ Cards have been collected by the eligible voters in the state.

    He said the PVCs collected so far represented 75.50 per cent of the total figure of 1,681,930.

    Making the disclosure while holding separate meetings

    with religious leaders and political parties’ leaders at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office along Gbongan road in Osogbo, Osun State capital, the REC said the balance of 427,463 PVCs (25.42%) are yet to be collected.

    He called on residents of the state to go to where they have registered for collection of their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), saying they have up till Monday January 21 to do so.

    However, the INEC boss, who warned that the PVCs will not be given in proxy, enjoined the prospective voters to keep their voter’s cards safely “because it going to be the tools for you to elect the candidates of your choice and no other identification document will be be accepted in place of the PVCs.”

    He continued: “Accordingly, those that are yet to collect their PVCs are advised to cash in on this opportunity to do so because only those that are with their valid PVCs are going to be allowed to cast their vote during the general elections.”

    Educating electorate on how to guard against vote voiding, the REC advised the electorate to apply finger print only in one box which according to him corresponds with the party symbol of their choice.

    Read Also: Group urges youths to collect their PVCs

    He also warned voters against violence before, during and after the polls.

    The INEC boss, who denied given PVCs to All Progressives Congress (APC) as alleged by some political parties, said some politicians’ attitude of wining by all means was a major challenge the commission is facing.

    According to him, wining at all costs attitude by the politicians had led them to deploy all sorts of illicit means such as vote buying, use of thugs to disrupt election process, raising of alarm and dissemination of fake news to whip up unnecessary sentiments.

    He said: “If we must get rid of all these wicked forces that have continuously threatened the credibility of our elections in Nigeria, the political class must change its ‘do or die’ attitude to good conduct in politics.”

  • Osun deputy governor rescues accident victims

    No fewer than 20 accident victims were rescued on Wednesday by the Osun State Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi along Osogbo/Gbongan expressway.

    The injured victims were rushed to the nearest hospital at about 6:00 pm by vehicles in the Deputy Governor’s entourage.

    The accident occurred when an eighteen-seater commercial bus with number plate (EDE 593 XA) Osun State, swayed off the road and collided with an oncoming Kia Saloon car (KRD 832 EH) Lagos State.

    There were 18 people in the commercial bus. The car had two occupants.

    The victims with minor injuries were swiftly taken to a hospital in Gbongan while those seriously injured were rushed to the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
    ‎
    The medical bills were paid on the account of the Deputy Governor who led the state ambulance that conveyed the victims to hospitals.

    Deputy Governor Alabi urged motorists and other road users to always obey traffic rules while driving, plying and walking on the roads.

    Read Also: Fayemi reinstates three Perm Secs demoted by Fayose

    Alabi who described the incident as ‘unfortunate and avoidable’, said the accident would have been prevented if traffic rules were strictly obeyed.

    He warned motorists against recklessness and called for precaution ‎on the roads.

    ‎The Deputy Governor expressed a deep feeling for the victims as he made sure that all the victims were given adequate medical treatment before he left.

    Some of the victims commended the state government for maintaining and sustaining effective and efficient operation of ambulance service in the state.

    They expressed gratitude‎ to the deputy governor for showing so much care.

  • Osun: Court rejects suit seeking to sack Oyetola (Updated)

    *Tribunal strikes out petition against Oyetola’s election

    A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed a suit that sought to void the July 20, 2018 governorship primary of the All Progressives Party (APC) in Osun State.

    The state’s incumbent Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola won the primary and proceeded to win the governorship election held on September 22 and 27 last year.

    In a judgment on Friday, Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo held that the plaintiff, Kunle Rasheed Adegoke, could not prove his claim that the primary was held in violation of relevant laws

    Adegoke, who came a distant 8th in the primary, filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/ CS/804/2018, in which he argued among others, that the primary was not held in compliance with the relevant provisions of the country’s Constitution, the Electoral Act, the constitution of the APC and its guidelines for the conduct of primaries.

    Adegoke prayed the court to, among others, nullify the primary on the grounds that it was allegedly conducted in violation of the relevant laws.

    Respondents in the case were the APC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oyetola and the Deputy Governor, Benedict Olugboyega Alabi.

    In his judgment, Justice Ekwo, after analysing parties’ arguments and the documentary evidence tendered, held that the plaintiff failed to establish its case.

    The judge said the APC did not violate any law by electing to adopt the direct primary. He said such option was provided for in the party’s constitution.

    On Adegoke’s contention that sufficient notice was not afforded the aspirants, the judge noted that there was evidence that, although he was present where the choice of the party’s primary was announced to members on July 16, 2018, he raised no objection.

    The judge said the plaintiff’s contention, that sufficient notice was not given the INEC about the shift in the date of the primary from July 19 to 20, 2018, was misplaced.

    Justice Ekwo noted that the presence of INEC’s officials at the primary speaks volume about its power to waive the requirement for a seven-day notice.

    He said if there was any person who should complain of non-compliance with the regulations for the conduct of primaries, it is INEC and not the plaintiff.

    The judge said: “It is my opinion, upon considering the evidence in this case, that the 1st defendant acted within the power and authority vested in it in the conduct of the governorship primaries in Osun State in the circumstance of the evidence in this case.

    “Far be it that primary election of a political party would be annulled simply for the fun of doing so or in sympathy with an aspirant whose aim is just to have the primaries annulled.

    “The evidence to warrant the exercise of the power of nullification by the court must be compelling and perhaps overwhelming.

    “That being the case, I am unable to see any of the provisions of the Constitution and Guidelines of the 1st defendant, which the plaintiff says, has been contravened, which has the potency of nullifying the primary election of 20th July 2018.

    “Indeed, none of the provisions of the Regulations for the Conduct of Political Party Primaries of the 2nd defendant carries the sanctions propounded by the plaintiff.

    “The law is that the court would not and should not read into the law or any statutory instrument that which is expressly not stated therein.

    “In the same vein, I have seen no evidence that the 1st defendant breached any provisions of the 1999 Constitution so as to make its conduct of the primary election or selection of its governorship candidate unconstitutional or ultra vires.

    “I have seen no evidence that the 1st defendant breached the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), as such has not been established in this case, with respect to the adoption of direct primaries for the selection of governorship candidate.

    “On the whole, I find no illegal or unconstitutional act on the part of the 1st defendant in the conduct of the governorship primaries in Osun State that would warrant this court to intervene in what can be considered as its (APC’s) internal affairs, either before or on 20th July, 2018 when the said primaries was held.

    “This case lacks merit and must be dismissed, and I make an order dismissing it,” Justice Ekwo said.
    Earlier, the judge dismissed the two motion of preliminary objection filed by APC, Oyetola and Alabi.

    As against the arguments by the APC, Oyetola and Alabi, the judge said the plaintiff had the locus standi to file the suit, that the suit was properly commenced through the originating summons procedure and that the court has jurisdiction to enquire into the way a political party exercises its power and whether it complied with its constitution and regulations in its conduct.

    On the argument that the plaintiff failed to exhaust internal part mechanism before heading to court, the court held that no party regulation could oust the jurisdiction of the court to determine dispute relating to whether or not it complied with its constitution and regulations.

    Read Also: APC rally: NURTW accuses police of bias

    The judge noted that though the party’s constitution contained measures for internal dispute resolution, he said such provisions cannot oust the jurisdiction of the court.

    On the argument by Oyetola and Alabi that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the suit because he had been expelled from the party, the judge noted that there was no evidence submitted before the court to support the claim that the plaintiff had been expelled.

    Also, the Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal, sitting in Apo, Abuja, on Friday, struck out the petition by Jumoke Lawal and her party, the National Rescue Movement.

    The petitioners had queried the legality of the governorship election on ground of alleged unlawful exclusion.
    In a ruling on Friday, the tribunal, led by Justice Ibrahim Sirajo, struck out the petition after petitioners’ lawyer, Oluwole Adja applied to withdraw it.

    The tribunal awarded N50,000 cost against the petitioners.

    Further hearing resumes on January 14 in the petition by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

  • Police parade suspects for murder, cultism in Osun

    Osun State Police Command on Thursday paraded Dauda Amusat (a.k.a. Adasi) for murder and two others, Alade Afeez (a.k.a Esubiyi) and Adesoji Seyi (a.k.a. Osa) for cultism.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye, who paraded them at the state Police Command headquarters in Osogbo, the state capital, disclosed that the police investigation had revealed that the suspects have killed many people before they were arrested.

    According to the CP, Amusat was arrested on December 28, 2018, at about 4 pm at Ifon-Osun in Orolu Local Government Area of Osun State.

    The police boss said the 36-year-old Amusat was arrested for conspiracy and murder of a 42 years old Sanusi Isiaka, who was allegedly killed on May 14, 2017 around 9 pm near Slava Construction Company along Iwo-road, Osogbo.

    He explained that the head of the deceased was cut off by the suspects before they later used it for rituals.

    He said: “The deceased was deceitfully lured from Saki in Oyo state to Osogbo few days before his death by one of the principal suspects, Yekini Ayinde (aka Abija), now at large.”

    The CP said that the deceased was asked to deliver 500 bags of rice and was later lodged in a hotel with expectation of getting money for the sale of rice through Ayinde.

    “The deceased was taken out to the scene where he was assassinated and the money was stolen and shared by the suspects.

    He further disclosed that the suspect confessed his statement to the police that seven of them perpetrated the killing, adding that four of them used the dismembered head for ritual.

    Speaking with reporters, Amusat confessed to the crime, admitting that he put a rope on the neck of the deceased while his colleagues slew him with a knife.

    Read Also: EFCC secures three fresh convictions

    He said: “I am selling beer in Ifon-Osun where I know Abija. He promised to give us N200,000 if we can help him kill the man. He sent his people to bring the man to us at Okefia, Osogbo. When we finished the job, he gave Oyama N65,000, he gave me N70,000 so that I can use N5,000 to buy beer for people the following day. I took the head of the deceased as an opportunity to use it for money ritual.”

    Meanwhile, the two suspected cultists, Seyi (26 years) and Afeez (26 years) were paraded for being members of a secret cult.

    Afeez confessed that he shot one Bode and killed him, adding that “I also shot another person but he did not die. Those people I shot are members of Aye. He later died when we, “Eye and Aye fraternity were fighting.

    “I have a gunshot in my body. They have tried to kill me before I joined the group. But God saved me. I made a mistake because I was supposed to forgive but I did not forgive.”

    He confessed that he joined the secret cult group, Eye, in 2009 at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, where he studied Ordinary National Diploma in Accountancy.

  • Oyetola canvasses religious harmony, tolerance

    Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola has called for religious tolerance, harmony and peaceful co-existence among the people of the state.

    Oyetola also urged religious leaders to desist from sermons that could divide the people along religious lines.

    He made the call at the New Year Inter-Religious Prayer Service on Wednesday in Osogbo.

    The governor noted that religious harmony and cohabitation by people of different faiths was fundamental to the progress and development of the state.

    “I want to urge all the people of the state to continue living together in peace, irrespective of their religious and political differences.

    “We gathered here today, both Muslims and Christians, to seek the face of God in the beginning of 2019 for the progress of the state.

    “We should tolerate ourselves; there should not be religious discrimination and intolerance.

    “Our religious leaders should do away with sermons that do not preach unity and harmony among our people.

    Our God is one; but we are serving Him in different ways,’’ he said.

    He, however, called on the people to vote for all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general election.

    Oyetola also urged them to be peaceful and orderly before, during and even after the poll.

    “We must not allow the people that bastardised the economy of the nation and subjected us to untold hardship to come back,’’ he said.

    Read Also: Police arrest suspect for killing sons with sniper

    The Mufasir of Osogboland, Malam Maruf Isola, and President of Osun Baptist Conference, Rev. Paul Kolawole, enjoined the governor to be responsive and sensitive to the plight of the people.

    The duo also called on the people to pay their tax regularly to support the government

    The Head of Service, Mr Oyegbade Okowogboyega, assured the governor of a supportive and productive civil service, adding that the workers in the state

    would support his quest of having a better state.

  • ‘Africa’s contribution to world civilization can’t be ignored’

    Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Osogbo, Osun State has said that Africa’s contribution to the world civilization cannot be ignored.

    Speaking at the centre’s symposium for celebrating African iconic figures in all parts of the world, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the CBCIU, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, said Africans are renowned for rear feat and greatness despite “desperate attempt to shroud these wonderful manifestations of triumph and immensity from us and our children.”

    The former Osun State governor said Africa has come out strongly to create an identity for herself and in the process broken all records to show that she did not only have a very rich past but have contributed to the world civilization.

    Represented by the Secretary to Osun State Government, Kazeem Adio, he said celebrating African cultural icons was not to show how their contributions have shaped “our existence as Africans since time immemorial.”

    According to him, Africa is replete with great cultural icons that moved mountains and shook the world, saying African Diaspora is not left out “as we know from history the bravery many manifested even in the most extreme of conditions.”

    He continued: “As far back as the 15th Century, even before Europe had thought of building states and forming empires, Africans had established empires and kingdoms and operated political systems that would be envied by many. Our progenitors had built strong economic network that facilitated trade and commerce, both on cross-continental and trans-national levels. We had powerful rulers, who reigned and left resounding legacies that have continued to be subjects of study across the world today.

    “Africa has also had her fair share of wars and in the midst of theses emerged strong men, who created political institutions that exist even up till this day. For instance, there is a suggestion that the Haitian Revolution is believed to be the first incidence of mass emancipation in a colonial society and the only slave revolt that resulted in the formation of a modern state. It is also believed that our African progenitors in Haiti during the revolution identified with Ogun, who they believed abhors injustice, corruption and oppression. This served as the  most portent rallying force that drove the revolution.

    Read Also: Oyinlola ceded LAUTECH to Oyo, says Alao-Akala

    “Just as our progenitors had done excellently well and contributed immensely to the progress and development of human civilization in time past, so we have this generation and in recent times.Only this year, we lost to the cold hands of death, two great cultural icons, Alagba Adebayo Faleti and Akinwumi Ishola. In South Africa, Mariam Makeba too died few years ago. While these cultural icons are long dead and buried, their cultural legacies still revolves around us every day. We also recognize other cultural icons across the continent and in the diaspora for their immense contributions to the survival of the African heritage.”

    Earlier, the Executive Director of the CBCIU, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, has said that the workshop was meant to be intellectually stimulating and engaging, adding that there would be a lesson for the future.

    Oyeweso, who announced January, 2019 as the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the CBCIU, said the Centre had reached a milestone and even surpassed expectations only a decade since it has been opened to the public in 2019.

    He said: “I congratulate everyone, who has made the smallest of inputs to see that the Centre remains the hub of cultural renaissance in Africa and the world at large. Let me use this occasion to formally invite you all on 9th of January, 2019 to mark a decade of the CBCIU’s noble existence.”

    Among iconic cultural icons celebrated at the workshop include the Ondo State born singer and queen, Comfort Omoge; peace Nobel Laureate and South African Bishop, Desmod Tutu; former President of Tanzania, Julius Nyerere; and author of the “How Europe Under Developed Africa,” Walter Rodney.

  • Oyinlola asks Buhari to quit as ten more parties adopt Atiku

    Former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to quietly back out of the 2019 presidential race to avoid a crushing electoral defeat.

    Oyinlola spoke in Abuja on Monday while receiving the chairmen of 10 political parties that have adopted the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as sole presidential candidate.

    The former Osun governor, who is the chairman of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), a coalition of 37 parties in alliance with the PDP, said with the addition of the 10 new entrants, the Coalition now has 48 political parties under its umbrella.

    At the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the new entrants, held at the Yar’Adua Centre, Oyinlola announced that six other political parties have applied to join the Coalition and that their applications were being processed.

    Addressing a gathering of politicians at the event, Oyinlola said developments in the country in the past three and half years clearly indicated that President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were least prepared for leadership.

    Read Also: Oyinlola resigns as NIMC chairman, writes Buhari

    He enjoined parties in the Coalition to be strategic in approach and work hard for the victory of Atiku, reminding them that they were working against the re-election of an Army General (Buhari).

    Some of the new entrants to the Coalition include in the Save Nigeria Congress(SNC); United Patriots (UP); Reformed and Advancement Party (RAP); Alliance for Social Democrats, (ASD); We the People Nigeria (WPP) among others.

    Commenting on the exit from the Coalition of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Oyinlola said the SDP failed in its bid to push certain agenda down the throat of the Coalition.

  • Redeemer’s VC calls for divine intervention in education sector

    Prof. Anthony Akinlo, Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, on Thursday urged Nigerians to pray for God’s intervention in the nation’s education sector to secure the future of Nigerian children.

    Speaking during a prayer session at the ongoing 2018 Holy Ghost Congress at the Redemption Camp, Mowe, Ogun, Akinlo said that the country’s education sector required divine intervention to save it from collapsing.

    “The education sector in the nation requires serious attention because education is the total development of mankind.

    “We acquire knowledge through education and when it’s not well attended to, it is the other way round.

     

    Read Also: University Professor commits suicide in Makurdi

     

    “As individuals and as a church, it is imperative to pray for the sector so as to avert danger in the future of the sector,” the VC said.

    Akinlo prayed that God should inculcate his fear in the hearts of all students and school administrators.

    He also prayed to God to guide Nigerian schools and restore goodness into Nigerian education.

    He appealed to worshipers to take the prayer seriously even in their privacy, saying “the sector is the life of every nation; therefore, there is need for Nigerians to call on God for intervention

    in the sector.

  • Osun monarchs hail Oyetola for starting his first day with prayer

    Two traditional rulers in Osun State, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, and the Oloba of Oba-Ile, Oba Adekunle Oyeyemi, have commended Governor Gboyega Oyetola for starting his first day in office with prayer.

    They said he had started well and prayed for him to have an “happy ending” like his predecessor in office, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.

    The Oluwo hailed Oyetola for demonstrating a sense of preparedness within his first two days in office.

    The Oluwo, who addressed reporters after the interdenominational prayer session at the Governor’s Office to usher in the Gboyega Oyetola administration in a Osogbo, Osun State capital, said his comportment and punctuality at his first official assignment as governor is “a   mark of a leader ready to serve.”

    According to Oba Akanbi,  punctuality of Governor Oyetola in commencing the prayer session at 10:00am prompt was encouraging, therefore advising public servants and political office holders to respect to emulate him.

    Describing the immediate past governor, Mr. Aregbesola, as a teacher, who had laid a good foundation for his students to build on and surpass, the Oluwo said: “I hope to see an improvement on the digital  infrastructural facilities initiated by the former Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Aregbesola is great, Oyetola will be greater.

    Read Also: Oyetola states plan to sustain hope

    “The interdenominational prayer session to usher in his administration commenced at 10:00am as scheduled. He came at exact time and many people missed the program. Punctuality is the soul of business. He started well and I pray he should end well. That is the one of the marks of a leader ready to serve. He is prepared and I have the hope that he will record laudable achievements.”

    He equally appealed to the state’s machineries to exercise fear of God as manifested in the virtues of Oyetola, hoping to see improvement on the infrastructural facilities initiated by the former Governor of the State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregebsola.

    “As the chairman of welfare committee of Osun State Council of  Traditional Rulers, I am calling for inclusion of monarchs in governance. I can assure our governor of our support as traditional rulers. I pray that God will give him the wisdom to lead the state and build on the foundation of the immediate past administration of Rauf Aregbesola.”

    Meanwhile, the Oloba of Oba-Ile in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State, Oba Adekunle Oyeyemi, has charged the people of the ancient town to rally support for the Gboyega Oyetola administration in the interest of future of the state.

    Oba Oyeyemi prayed for success of the new administration, stressing the need for people of Osun to support Oyetola in order for him to be able to consolidate on the gains of the immediate past administration of Rauf Aregbesola.

    He also called on indigenes of the community, the Oloba-Ile in-Council and members of the Oba-Ile Descendants Union (ODU) to appreciate the efforts of the former governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for his “unparalleled achievements” in his eight years in office.

    In a statement, the monarch said Aregbesola in a letter dated November 5, 2018  approved the elevation of the Oloba of Oba-Ile to the position of Deputy Chairman of Osun State Council of Obas.

    The statement read in part: “By itself this act of elevating Oloba-ile within my two years on the throne is significant and the position to which the elevation places Oloba-ile on the Osun State Council of Obas is not only significant and huge but it also attest to the level of good working relationships we maintained with Aregbesola’s government and our traditional institution in the state.”

  • Oyetola resumes duty, asks civil servants to partner govt

    As Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola resumed official duty on Thursday, he has called on public servants to partner him  in governing the state.

    At an interactive session at the Exco Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Abere, Osogbo with the senior civil servants, including the permanent secretaries, directors, executive secretaries and general managers of parastatals, Oyetola, who was in company of his deputy, Gboyega Alabi, the Head of Service, Dr. Gboyega Oyebade Olowogboyega, enjoined the civil servants to work with him to serve the people of the state.

    Thanking them for their support during the last governorship, he said the victory is dedicated to the civil servants and the people of the state.

    Oyetola, who assured the public servants that their welfare will be given a priority, advised them not to dichotomy the civil service and the government, saying “I want your advice at all times and my doors are open to welcome ideas because I won’t claim to know it all.”

    However, the governor warned that civil servants should rededicate themselves to duty and ensure they are productive.

    He said: “I thanked you for your support during our last governorship   election. I dedicate the victory to all of you and the people of the state. Your welfare is very important to me. So be assured that your welfare will be given a priority at all times.

    “I don’t want you to dichotomy the civil servant and govt. I welcome useful advise from you. My doors are open and I don’t claim to know it all. Let’s work together. Our aim is that Osun must continue to be great. We are partners, so let’s operate so.

    “We won’t  have anyone problem when together we can understand the objective and your humble role is to ensure productivity. Let us rededicate ourselves to the service of the people. Let your conscience guide you in whatever you do. Let us redouble our productivities.

    Read Also: Oyetola states plan to sustain hope

    “I must commend you. In my interaction with someone of you, I can see the depth and I could see your contribution to the state. I am very proud of you. Let run the government together and also let’s show level of understanding.

    “I will be committed to regular payment of salaries. But you must raise the revenue. There is no magic about it. Don’t make it look that it is the responsibility of government alone to do this. We can generate up to N8 billion. Solution to lack of fund is to increase our IGR.

    “We can’t continue to depend on federal allocation. We must look inward. In the time of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the old Western region depended on revenue. Awolowo achieved so much with the revenue his government generated internally. So we are going to take an advantage of being an agrarian state. So, I welcome useful ideas from everybody.

    “Again we can engage our youths through mining. We are going to regulate this. We will look for foreign investors. In tourism, we will  turn around the state through this sector. We will be creative in this area.”

    Oyetola disclosed that he would organize an economic summit in the first quarter of next year,,saying he would bring experts around the world come and participate in the programme.

    According to him, he would harness all available resources to make the state develop.

    Praising the immediate past administration led by Mr. Rauf Aregbesola for “monumental achievements” in road infrastructure, education, health among others, he promised to make primary health care work and to make quality medical care assessable to everyone, especially those in the rural areas.

    He continued: “We want to see you as our partner. So, rededicate yourself to work and don’t see salary as a meal ticket. From now on it is going to be a collective responsibility. And I am going to play my part by looking after your welfare and you must reciprocate by being productive.  To run the government, we need a minimum of N5 billion monthly but our allocation is only over a billion.

    “This is the more reason why we need to improve our IGR.  So, I am appealing to you  rededicate yourself to duty. Let’s play down  bureaucracy. Let us play it down. Let’s have target. Bureaucracy is  good but we can play it down. With right attitude and will power there is nothing we can not achieve. Once we are determined we will get there.”

    Earlier, the the Head of Service, Dr. Olowogboyega, who acknowledged past positive roles of his colleagues in supporting government policies and programmes, assured the new governor of continued cooperation.

    Many of the senior civil servants that spoke praised the new governor for encouraging inclusive and participatory governance.

    They spoke openly about their peculiar needs, making suggestions about things could be done better, praying for success of the Oyetola administration.