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Tag: Osun State

  • Osun guber polls: BBC to hold live debate in Yoruba

    As part of its strategy to bring governance closer to the people, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) will hold its Osun State Governorship live debate in Yoruba language.

    This initiative, the first in the country, BBC said is a pilot to next year’s General elections where it intends to do the debate in the three major languages in the country-Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa- as well as English language.

    Governorship candidates of the All Progressives Congress’ (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ADC, ADP and SDP would take part in the 90 minutes debate billed for September 14.

    According to BBC’s publicist Marina Forsythe, the debate is meant to built impactful governance in Osun State.

    “The BBC has done debates before general elections in the United Kingdom and will be extending this culture to Nigeria.

    “BBC Yoruba, one of the newly launched language services will kick off the Nigeria debate series in Osun State with the theme: Building impactful governance in Osun State.

    Read Also: BBC launches new company for content creation

    “Most debates in Nigeria are conducted in English language but this is not sufficient for a multicultural nation like Nigeria. We believe that governorship debates in local languages will further bridge the gap between candidates and the electorate.

    “Conducting the debate in Yoruba language also promotes inclusivity and clarity. The beauty of communicating in local languages is that it makes participants active contributors in the conversations that matter to them,” she said.

    “We encourage people to send questions via BBC News Yoruba Facebook page before and during the debate. Audience can also join up with #BBCOsundebate.

    “It will hold on September 14, between 10am and 11:30am at Olagunsoye Oyinlola auditorium, Osun State University. The debate will also be broadcast live by our partners: OSBC TV, Rave FM, OSBC Radio 104.5FM and also the BBC News Yoruba website, Facebook and Instagram TV platforms.

    “This debate is important because BBC Yoruba is for the Yoruba audience. One of the aims of having a Yoruba service is to provide avenues for our audience to participate in social, cultural, economic and political discourses. “This is the first time the BBC is conducting governorship debates in Nigeria and also in local languages- and this is an indication of the premium we place on the Yoruba audience.”

    Asked if the debate was a marketing strategy for the BBC, Forsythe said: “We definitely want to grow new audiences and we recognise that we must go beyond being a news platform. One of the ways to do this is to make BBC platforms a place for purposeful engagements and interaction that adds value to the lives of our audiences.

  • Oyetola offers free treatment for 2,000 patients in Iwo

    Oluwo lauds initiative 

    Over 2,000 patients were treated free-of-charge in Iwo, Osun State on Monday.

    The treatment was supported by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the September 22 election, Alhaji  Gboyega Oyetola, under the Ilerioluwa Free Health Mission project. His campaign is themed Ilerioluwa

    The project was undertaken in partnership with the Development Support International, a organization with rich experience in medical outreach projects.

    The medical team which included doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, optalmologists, optometrics, pharmacy technicians and logistics staff, saw the huge number on an open field opposite Iwo Local Government Secretariat. The team was made up of about 209 members with various specialties.

    The team offered free treatment including surgeries in five broad areas. They are eye care, general outpatient, dental care, emergency medical services and health education. Through surgeries, lumps were removed in several parts of the body while cataract was removed from the eyes of many patients. Hernias were also corrected through surgeries.

    Commenting on the project after undergoing eye test, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, commended Oyetola, stressing that he brought succor to his subjects. He said many residents were suffering ill-health due to poverty but that initiative such as free health mission has brought succour to them.

    Read Also: Oyetola: Osun’s future brighter under APC

    The monarch explained that good efforts should be lauded irrespective of who is behind it. He told his enthusiastic subjects to ignore any attempt to demean the initiative by describing it as political.

    Oba Akanbi said the project brought smile to the faces of thousands of poor people who cannot afford medical care. He challenged other politicians to emulate Oyetola.

    To the monarch, the free health care is a heavy project that is expensive. He said only people who have means; connection and interest of the masses at heart can undertake such. Akanbi said great projects are easier said than done.

    “Even if they describe this as political, it is welcome here. As long as it benefits my people, we are happy to have it. Let other politicians bring good initiatives like this to Iwo. As long as it benefits my people, we will also embrace it. But it is easier said than done,” the monarch said.

    He also expressed gratitude to all members of the medical team for leaving their jobs in foreign countries and Lagos to offer free service to his subjects.

    The Project Manager, Ilerioluwa Free Health Mission, Dr Adebola Odunsi, described the project as laudable. He said people should support leaders that are interested in people’s health and total well-being.

    Odunsi said they conducted  population estimate and found out medical needs of residents to determine the team members and the kind of services to render. About 300 surgeries are being undertaken in all.

    Drugs and eye glasses were offered free to patients.

    Patients thronged the venue of the project till evening. They struggled to benefit from the programme in the various units as population surged continually.

  • Redeemer’s University to graduate 422

    422 students of the Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State will be graduating in the institution’s  10th convocation on Thursday September 13, 2018.

    Addressing a pre-convocation press conference in Ede, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Debo Adeyewa, further disclosed that 27 out of the graduands bagged  first class honours.

    According to him, 160 students made second class upper, 178 bagged second class lower division and 57 graduated with third class and pass.

    Adeyewa explained that post graduate students with diplomas, master and doctoral degrees after satisfactory academic performance will be graduating.

    The Vice Chancellor, who disclosed that the Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, will be conferred with an  honorary degree of Doctor of Management Science D.Mgt, Honoris Causal), said the honour was  in recognition of the monarch’s significant contribution to the development of Ede.

    Read Also: Rotary to sponsor three orphans in university

    He said: “At this tenth convocation, we have altogether, 422 graduands. 27 of them made First Class honours (6.4%), 160 are in the Second Class Upper Division (37.9%).

    “While 178 are graduating with Second Class Lower Division (42.2%). 57 others (13.5%) fall into Third Class and Pass categories.”

    Announcing the commissioning of the Redeemer’s University Radio on Thursday, he said the radio would provide information for the university and local communities and as well be a training ground for students of communication in the institution.

    He added that the radio would be managed by the Mass Communication Department of the institution, saying   the frequency of the FM radio is 103.5.

     

  • I vouch for Oyetola’s competence – Aregbesola

    The Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, on Sunday vouched for the competence of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the September 22 Osun governorship election, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, to succeed him.

    He assured that he would consolidate on the achievements of his administration.

    At a rally of the IleriOluwa Campaign Organization in Iperindo, the headquarters of Atakumosa East council area and Ijebu-Jesa, the headquarters of Oriade Local Government, Aregbesola further assured that he had no doubt that Oyetola would perform to expectation of the people of the state.

    According to him, some of his celebrated programmes, including the school feeding initiative tagged O’MEAL, the youth empowerment initiative known as the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) would be sustained.

    He rallied support for the APC candidate, saying votes for Oyetola would further stand Osun out as one of the performing states.

    Read Also: Bureau releases figures of schools Aregbesola built

    Aregbesola, who warned the residents of Osun not to allow the state to retrogress, advised the people to vote for Oyetola and “sound future of the state.”

    Speaking, Oyetola assured he would advance the fortune of the state, saying “A good foundation” had been laid by the Rauf Aregbesola administration and that he was prepared to consolidate and break new grounds.

    Oyetola said: “My words are my bonds. I have the competence, the integrity and the pedigree. I will run an all-inclusive government. Workers would enjoy the best of time in my tenure. I believe the time has come for all us to come together and ensure the best government is installed for all us to reap the fruits of our labour. Together we can promote good governance when we vote for the competent, experienced and more importantly some one that we lead the state with fear of God.”

    Many trooped out to show solidarity for the APC candidate and his campaign team in the two council areas.

  • Ooni advocates for repositioning of African traditional religion

    Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has advocated for repositioning of African Traditional Religion to make it contribute to the modern world.

    He tasked the adherents of the Traditional Religion to use their powers to solve many challenges facing the nation.

    The Ooni spoke in Ile-Ife when the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Ancient Religion Societies of African Descendants International Council (ARSADIC), who visited the Ile-Oodua Palace to present the Certificate of the association to him as chairman of the BoT.

    ARSADIC is an umbrella body for all adherents of traditional religion worshippers formed in 1775 with headquarters in Ile Ife, Osun State.

    Tasking the traditionalists, the Ooni said they could support Nigeria to overcome many of her contemporary economic and health challenges with their traditional powers.

    According to the foremost Yoruba monarch, the adherents of traditional religion should use their sound knowledge of God and nature in a positive way to solve myriads of challenges facing the contemporary world, especially Nigeria and Africa.

    He said: “Until we begin to make positive contributions to the modern world with our knowledge of God and nature we may not treated fairly and win the world recognition. We are at the Centre of the world in Ile-Ife here and we deserve to be models to all parts of the world. With our religion, we have the best and most efficient means of communicating with the Supreme Being.

    “I don’t believe in misuse of powers. We have this powers because of our sound knowledge of the nature and God. Our dieties are servants of God. Let’s stop wrong use of power.
    Activities of many adherents of Traditional African Religion is not helping us to endear the religion to many people that are interested in joining us. We know God and nature very well. God would not have given us this knowledge, if there would no be need for positive use for the powers.”

    However, he warned the traditionalists not to use their powers to inflict pains on the people, saying those who paint the traditional religion in a bad light with their actions are making it unattractive.

    As parts of plans to re-position the traditional religion to enable it attract more people, Oba Ogunwusi said N200 million should be raised for the activities of ARSADIC.

    Oba Ogunwusi, who donated N1 million to the association, said: “Let’s solve problems and earn good money for ourselves and for this country. To repackage this association, I want us to raise a sum of N200 million. Collectively, we will look for the money.

    “I will give the association a sum of N1million and we will plan towards raising more money to help our association. I want you to be united and work towards a better Yorubal and and Nigeria at large.”

    Briefing the monarch about activities of the association, ARSADIC President, Chief Ifagbenusola Atanda, said since its inuaguration on 7th October, 2016, the association had registered 44 organizations within Nigerian and in the diaspora.

    According to him, plans are under way to register more traditional organizations under ARSADIC.

    Atanda, who disclosed that fund was a major challenge of the association, said the ARSADIC is now giving a priority to giving new orientation to its members to make them align with the advice of the Ooni.

  • Osun election: INEC to convey security meeting next week

    ….says preparations are on course

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be convening a security meeting next week for the Osun state governorship election slated for the 22nd of this month.

    The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said the essence of the meeting is to review the security arrangement for the election.

    Besides, he said the commission is working on a multi-faceted approach to the menace of vote-buying and other sundry electoral malpractices.

    He assured the general public that INEC will introduce changes to the election-day administration at the polling units. 48 political parties have indicated interest to participate in the poll.

    Yakubu spoke on Thursday at the opening of the meeting of the management of the commission and Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC) in Abuja.

    He said, “The Commission is convening a meeting of the national Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) next week to review the security arrangement for the election.”

    On the preparation for the election, Yakubu said that the omission is on course; adding that all processes and activities are going according to schedule of activities.

    Read Also: INEC moves to foil vote buying

    He said: “Furthermore, the Commission is convening a meeting of the national Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) next week to review the security arrangement for the election.

    “We are working on a multi-faceted approach to the menace of vote-buying and other sundry electoral malpractices. We will introduce changes to the election-day administration of our polling units, in addition to the electronic tracking of our sensitive materials. We are discussing with the security agencies on a more vigorous enforcement of the law against voter-inducement.”

    On the preparation for the Osun State Governorship election, he said “all processes and activities are going according to our timetable and schedule of activities released almost a year ago. The last major activity was the presentation of the Voters’ Register to each of the 48 political parties fielding candidates in the election, giving detailed information of the distribution of the 1.6 million registered voters by Local Government Areas, Wards and Polling Units. The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State will brief this meeting on the state of readiness so far.

    “Furthermore, we are working with the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and other stakeholders on voter education and sensitization. This is the third election we are conducting in Osun State since the 2015 general elections. The first was the Ife Central State Constituency and the Osun West Senatorial District. We wish to reassure the people of Osun State that their votes will continue to count.”

  • Osun 2018: Uncollected PVCs reduced to 463,186

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday said that the figure of uncollected Permanent Voter’s Cards for the September 22 Osun governorship election has reduced to 463,186.

    According to the INEC, the PVCs left uncollected as at last week stood at 515,773.

    The commission said the figure has dropped by one percent.

    Addressing a press briefing at a Sensitization Forum for Media Executives and Reporters on 2018 Osun Governorship Election in Osogbo, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, appealed to voters yet to collect their PVCs to do so.

    He said they still have the opportunity till September 14, 2018 which is a week to the election.

    Represented by Head, Voters Education Department of the commission in Osun State, Steven Ojewande, the REC assured nigerians that the September 22 governorship election in Osun state will be credible, free and fair.

    However, Agbaje warned against vote buying and selling, saying Osun governorship poll would be used to send signal to those that may want to be involved in the act.

    Giving out statistics of voters for the governorship poll, he disclosed that the registered voters in the state stood at 1,682,495, while PVC collected was 1,213,026 and uncollected stood at 463,186.

    Read Also: Joseph Yobo urges Nigerians to get PVC

    According to him, the number of Local Government Areas is 30 while number of registration areas is 332 and voting points and polling units are 3,765.

    Agbaje, who maintained that Osun election would be used to to further prove that the INEC can conduct free and credible elections, promised to ensure adequate security during the poll.

    In his goodwill message at the forum, Chairman of Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Kehinde Ayantunji, appealed to INEC to ensure proper registration of journalists for the election so as to guide against invasion of fake and unaccredited journalists in the state during the election.

    Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Rave FM, Mr. Femi Adefila, advised the INEC to make information accessible to newsmen  during the election.

  • Saraki heads 85-member PDP’s Osun campaign council

    The President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki is heading an 85-member campaign council of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 22 governorship election in Osun State.

    All the party’s serving governors and presidential aspirants are also members of the council. The council, which was inaugurated in Abuja Monday by the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus has since resumed work.

    Read Also:Crisis rocks Imo PDP over alleged alteration of delegate list

    Secondus, while inaugurating the team, described election rigging and vote buying as the worst forms of corruption, warning that the PDP would not tolerate the charade.

    The party chair recalled that the July 14, 2018 governorship election in Ekiti State was marred by vote buying and election rigging and warned that the Ekiti experience must not be allowed to happen in Osun.

    Secondus said, “Enough is enough, PDP will not tolerate Osun being rigged like Ekiti. We have a popular candidate and the performance of the APC ruling government has been awful with months of salaries owed to workers.

    “We are aware that the electoral commission that is supposed to operate as an unbiased umpire in the conduct of elections has suddenly made itself a parastatal of the federal government, conniving with APC and security agencies to exchange results.

    “Even security agencies whose allegiance should be to the constitution and people of Nigeria, have allowed themselves to behave as if they are operatives of the ruling APC.

    “We decided to set up this high powered committee to demonstrate the importance we attach to this election. All our presidential aspirants and some state governors are members, plus all other critical stakeholders from South West and other parts of the country”.

    The party chairman implored lovers of democracy around the world to show more than passing interest in the Osun State governorship election, saying that the APC is not disposed to conducting free and fair election.

    In his remarks, Saraki charged President Muhammadu Buhari to stand on the commitment he made recently to two world leaders that visited the country recently; that he would conduct free, fair and credible election, with Osun as example.

    Saraki said that aside the popularity of the PDP candidate in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the people of the state were yearning for change to return their state to the PDP.

  • Eight CPs, not 30, deployed for Osun governorship election

    Contrary to earlier reports that 30 Commissioners of Police (CPs) would be deployed for the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State, the Police said yesterday that only eight CPs would be deployed in the state.

    According to the Police, the senior police officers expected to supervise security arrangements in the state would man the eight area commands and not each local government as reported.

    The election is slated for September 22, 2018.

    The clarification is contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood, yesterday.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to publications in some sections of the media reporting that 30 Commissioners of Police will be deployed to supervise security arrangements for the Osun State gubernatorial election coming up on 22nd September, 2018.

    “The Force wishes to categorically state that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, during a one-day seminar on imperativeness of Police collaboration with essential stakeholders towards secured, free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, held in Oshogbo, Osun State on 30th August, 2018,  mentioned that there are eight area commands in Osun State and a Commissioner of Police will be deployed to man each Area Command to supervise security arrangements for the Osun State gubernatorial election and not a Commissioner of Police to a local government in the state as reported.

    “Consequently, critical stakeholders and the general public are enjoined to discountenance and disregard the report.

    “Only eight Commissioners of Police, one to each Police Area command, will be deployed in Osun State to supervise security arrangements in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Osun State.”

     

  • Police to deploy eight CPs for Osun governorship election

    Contrary to reports that 30 Commissioners of Police would be deployed to Osun State for the governorship election, the Police said only eight Commissioners of Police (CPs) would be deployed.

    According to the Police, the senior Police officers who are expected to supervise security arrangements in the state would man the eight Area Commands and not each local government as reported.

    Read Also:INEC to arrest, prosecute vote buyers in Osun election

    The election is slated for 22nd September, 2018.

    The clarification is contained in a statement in Abuja on Friday by the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood.

    It reads: “The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to publications in some sections of the media reporting that 30 Commissioners of Police will be deployed to supervise security arrangements for the Osun State Gubernatorial Elections coming up on 22nd September, 2018.

    “The Force wishes to categorically state that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris during a one day  Seminar on imperativeness of Police collaboration with essential stakeholders towards secured, free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria, held in Oshogbo, Osun State on 30th August, 2018,  mentioned that there are Eight Area Commands in Osun State and a Commissioner of Police will be deployed to man each Area Command to supervise Security Arrangements for the Osun State Gubernatorial Election and not a Commissioner of Police to a Local Government in the State  as reported.

    “Consequently, critical stakeholders and the general public are enjoined to discountenance and disregard the report.

    “Only eight Commissioners of Police; one to each Police Area command will be deployed to Osun State to supervise Security Arrangements in the forthcoming Gubernatorial election in Osun State.”