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Tag: Osun State

  • Late Adeleke, a patriotic statesman – Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki on Sunday described the late Sen. Isiaka Adeleke (APC-Osun West)  as  a patriotic statesman.

    Saraki, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, said the death of the two-term senator was “a sad personal loss.’’

    He said  Adeleke,  who was the first civilian  governor of Osun, was an important figure in the 8th Senate.

    Saraki also said: “My heart goes out to the family of Sen. Adeleke and the people of the great State of Osun.

    “Adeleke was a leader in every right, a formidable colleague, patriotic statesman, good family man and complete gentleman whose contributions to the development of Osun State in particular and the nation in general will never be forgotten.”

    The senate president described   the late lawmaker,  who served as Chairman, Senate Committee on Capital Market,  as  a consummate reformer and  courageous public servant.

    He added that the late senator was a grassroots politician whose love for his people and commitment to national service remained unparalleled.

    “From his track-record as a second term senator, it is clear that Adeleke was a man who his people trusted to carry out their mandate in the Senate.

    “He was always passionate about his work in the legislature  and showed competence, dedication and an ability to work with everyone to bring about the greater good.

    “ He will be sorely missed,” he said.

    Saraki commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased, the larger Adeleke family, Osun West Senatorial District, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola and the entire people of Osun as well as  the 8th National Assembly.

  •  Isiaka Adeleke dies in hospital at 65

     Isiaka Adeleke dies in hospital at 65

    The first civilian governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, died in the early hours of Sunday at the age of 65.
    Adeleke, who dacamped from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in 2014 to become the Senator representing Osun West senatorial for the third term died at Biket Medical Centre, Osogbo where he was rushed to after complaining of stomarch ache.
    Hale and hearty till early Sunday morning, he attended a social fuction of a party member in Iwo on Saturday evening.
    A family source said he was complained of serious stomach upset after he arrived from the Iwo function and asked his aides to call his younger sister, Dupe, whom he was fond of. He also reportedly complained of pain in one of his legs.
    Adeleke was rushed to the hospital at 6.00 am and died few hours after being admitted.
    Adeleke was governor on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party in 1992 to 1993. Chairman, Senate Committee on Independendent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from 2003 to 2011.
    He attempted to run for governorship of the state on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in 2014 but was stopped in a controvercial circumstance by PDP chieftains and he later decamped to the APC where he was given the tickect to run for Senate.

  • Abdulsalami links national development to security

    Abdulsalami links national development to security

    Former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar Thursday said there would be no meaningful development in any nation without adequate security.

    According to the former military president, security is important for the peace and progress of any nation.

    He said this at the first National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Faculty of Social Sciences public lecture delivered by Prof. Hakeem Tijani of the Department of History and International Studies, Adeleke University, Osun state, in Abuja on Wednesday.

    The elderstateman who was the special guest of honour at the event, reminded Nigerians particularly politicians who are fanning the embers of division and war through their utterances to have a rethink and promote things that would strengthen the fragile peace and unity of Nigeria.

    According to him, the individual and collective ambitions as well as the entity called Nigeria would not exist if crisis or major war was visited on it, suggesting a paradigm shift in security system of the country considering the new wave of crime and criminality that had caused tears and pains in many countries of the world.

    Abdulsalami said: “Certainly, security in any house, in any nation is very important for the peace and progress of that nation. But without security, there won’t be a house, neither would there be a nation, not to talk of its citizens.”

    In his lecture titled: Nigeria in Transition: Interrogating the nexus between human capacity development, labour union, education and national security, Prof. Tijani said Nigeria had been able to overcome the shaky and uncertainty that trailed its existence as a nation through collaboration with security agencies.

    According to him, the transition to a developed economy in Nigeria was predicated upon its success in mitigating forces that hindered security, peace and unity.

    “The transition to a developed economy in Nigeria is predicated upon its success in mitigating forces that hinders security, peace and unity. The mix of human capital development and labour union education are significant in prospecting for national security as the nation transition into permanent peace, unity and development.

    “The urgency for human intelligence to eliminate the sporadic militant and terrorist attacks in the hot spot areas across the nation, and the collaboration with neigbouring nations and international agencies are better coordinated than ever before.

    “The shaky and uncertainty of the corporate existence of Nigeria in the past seems to have been overcome. With quick and coordinated response by the NSCDC and other forces, the assurance of peace and tranquility is better than before.

    “Training of personnel and the provision of other essential requirements have empowered law and civil enforcement agencies like the NSCDC and the police to mitigate the damages of the few, but dangerous militants and terrorists, within the nation.

    NOUN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abdalla Adamu, highlighted the importance of the lecture.

    Prof. Adamu, who was represented by a former national publicity secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Prof. Rufai Alkali, added that the lecture served as a veritable platform to periodically examine all facet of Nigeria’s national life particularly as it concerns transition as a nation.

    He commended the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Dr. Ganiyat Adesina-Uthman for putting  the public lecture together, urging other faculties to emulate such gesture for collective growth and development of Nigeria.

    In her remarks, Dr. Adesina-Uthman said Nigeria could correct some of its past mistakes if the people commit to work together irrespective of tribe, religion and political affiliation.

    She urged the citizens to support and commit to the course of nation building.

    “With the collapse of almost all sphere of the economy, elections characterized by malpractices, political intimidation and assassination during and after elections and preponderance of social vices, and other threat to national security, we could conclude that our dysfunctional education are some of the reason for the challenges regarding insecurity, insurgency and terrorism,” she said.

  • Absconded Ondo bride calls Parents from Osogbo

    The bride who allegedly absconded from her wedlock in Ondo town last Saturday, Miss Taiwo Orimoloye has reportedly called her parents from Osogbo, the Osun State Capital.

    Taiwo disappointed her husband to-be, family members and many guests including traditional rulers who attended the wedding.

    Her whereabouts was unknown on the day she was to be at the altar to sign her matrimonial vow with her prospective husband.

    A resident of Christ Land area in Oka, Ondo, where Taiwo’s parents live, who spoke on condition of anonymity said the absconded bride had called her parents on a different telephone line, informing them of her destination.

    According to the resident, “She has called her parents on a telephone line on Monday where she told them that she was in Osogbo. Her call, as a matter of fact has doused the tension in her family. Everybody in the family is now happy that she is hale and hearty.

    “But the reason for taken such an action is still unknown to us and we did not know what she discussed with her parents. Her father has gone to meet her in Osogbo and we believe all is well with her.”

    Sources however denied the report that the bride ran away with another man on the fateful day because she wanted to dump her long time future partner.

    He said the lady was a good Christian and could not do such a thing.

    “We don’t know what actually happened that day, but I am sure Taiwo did not elope with another man, she is a good and devout Christian, she has a good Christian background, her father is a founder of a church, she is not a wayward girl.

    “We did not know any other man with her except Abiodun and they have been coming a long way. So the reason for that action is what no one cannot explain but she cannot abscond with another man.” The source said emphatically.

  • 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.

  • 12 injured in Ashipa/Ipetumodu clash

    12 injured in Ashipa/Ipetumodu clash

    No fewer than twelve persons have been injured in a violent communal clash between Ipetumodu and Ashipa in Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State.

    Trouble reportedly started on Wednesday when youths of the two communities clashed at an inter house sport competition held of the Community High School, Ipetumodu, a few meters from Ashipa.

    Dangerous weapons like cutlasses, clubs, knives, broken bottles, axes were allegedly used by the youths before the police came to disperse them and bring the situation under control.

    It was gathered that by Thursday night the Ashipa youths allegedly set the Akinola Market in Ipetumodu on fire and simultaneously shooting sporadically into the air to scare the residents of Ipetumodu.

    An Ipetumodu chief, Adedeji Asalu, accused the Ashipa of initiating the clash.

    But a community leader in Ashipa, Chief Julius Ogerinde, said it was not true that the clash was started by the youths of Ashpa

    According to him, the people of Ipetumodu was not happy because result of the white paper released by the government on the ownership of the land where the Akinola market was contructed was not in their favour.

    Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer, Folasade Odoro, said normalcy jas returned to the two communities.

     

  • BREAKING: OOU student goes missing

    BREAKING: OOU student goes missing

    A student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye in Ogun State, Mr Olamijulo Mayowa Emmanuel who is in 300L has been declared missing after he left home on 27th march 2017 and has not been seen since then.

    Mayowa, of the department of geophysics, was said to have boarded a bus from Ibadan, with the intention of going to Konigba junction, Ago Iwoye but all efforts to get through to him have been in vain.

    It was revealed through the office of students affairs that he is a senator and constituency leader of the faculty of science in OOU.

    And his father Mr Olamijulo said to our Reporter via a phone interview that he dropped him at Iwo road a popular park in Ibadan yesterday morning and they’ve not heard anything from him since then.

    The concerned father then came to Ago Iwoye to complain today, “he said it has been confirmed that there was no accident on the road” so definitely something else must have prevented him from reaching home, he then solicit to the public to help contact him on *07031937092* if any lead is found. 

  • ICPC vindicates Aregbesola of alleged corrupt practice

    ICPC vindicates Aregbesola of alleged corrupt practice

    The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence‎s Commission (ICPC) has described the petition of the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State against Governor Rauf Aregbesola as baseless and unsubstantiated.

    The ICPC, in a letter with reference number ICPC/INV/NGB/T.E2/003, addressed to the petitioner, Chairman, Civil Society Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State, with a copy sent to the Osun Secretary to the State Government, stated that it’s investigations have not established an act contrary to the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000 as none of the allegations were substantiated.

    The commission stated that having diligently investigated the allegations and finding nothing against Governor Aregbesola, the allegations have been dismissed.

    The Government, through the Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, reminded Nigerians that the ICPC’s final decision was a vindication of the repeated claims by the government that the group was one of individuals hired for the purpose of tarnishing its name.

    ICPC, in the letter titled, Re: Petition against Osun State Governor- Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, for criminal and reckless mismanagement of Osun State funds since November 2010 to August 2015 held that all of the allegations brought forward have been looked into conclusively with no infraction substantiated.

    According to ICPC, “The above case bordering on fraudulent diversion of N11.4 billion obtained through Osun SUKUK bond to private foreign account, money meant for building of schools regardless of the N13.9 billion intervention funds from. The Federal Government through UBEC for the purpose of building classrooms has been investigated conclusively with no infraction substantiated.

    “An investigation of‎ the above allegations confirmed that Osun State government raised N11.344 billion from the issue of the SUKUK bond through Nigerian commercial banks. Investigation also revealed that after the issue of the bond, Osun State Government sought and got approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission and Shariah Board of Lotus Capital Ltd. To amend the schedule of schools to be constructed from 27 mixed schools to 11 high schools and to furnish the schools. The approval of SUKUK holders is still pending.

    “Also contrary to the allegation that the SUKUK proceed was diverted to private foreign account, it was disbursed from Osun SUKUK company accounts with 13 Collecting Nigerian Commercial banks and used for payments of contractors awarded the contracts of construction and furnishing of 11 senior Secondary Schools in various part of Osun State.

    “Furthermore, contrary to the allegation that N13.9 billion was disbursed by UBEC to Osun State, the total of N7,192,585,041.64 has been disbursed to Osun SUBEB for the period 2011-2015. This amount consists of Universal Basic Education matching grants, Special Education Funds, Teachers Professional Development Fund and state’s counterpart funds lodgement in line with UBE Act 2004.

    “In view of the above paragraphs, investigations have not established an act contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 as none of the allegations were substantiated. Therefore the matter is hereby laid to rest”. The Commission said.

    The Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, stating the Government’s position over the outcome of the ICPC’s investigations, said the Aregbesola government was never in doubt that the group was an illegal one which was only being used by traducers of the administration to diminish its many achievements.

    “When the so-called group was everywhere making its highly irresponsible and frivolous allegations, we never minced words on the fact that it was an unregistered group of few disgruntled, hired individuals to tarnish the image of the government and seek to diminish the massive good governance initiatives that are the hallmarks of our interventions here.

    “The ICPC’s dismissal of the frivolous allegations is a vindication of our earlier position on the group and other collaborators in their ignoble campaigns of calumny.

    “The Aregbesola administration has instituted the most transparent, people friendly government in its six years and more and we do not intend to depart from this path. This is because we are convinced in this lies the brighter future of our dear state,” Okanlawon added.

  • Auto crash kills Journalist, four others in Osun

    Auto crash kills Journalist, four others in Osun

    An auto crash which occurred at Asejire end of Osun on Friday killed five persons while others sustained severe injuries.

    Among the dead was a journalist, Nathaniel Abimbola, working with the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) in Osogbo.

    Abimbola, a graduate of University of Ibadan was attached to the State Assembly and had been on the beat for 10 years.

    Four others who died, alongside Abimbola, were all members of Celestial Church of Christ (CCC) Ayetoro Osogbo.

    It was gathered that the entire occupants of the ill-fated 18seater bus were heading to Imeko headquarters of the church for a retreat.

    The driver of the bus was said to have lost the brake of the vehicle before ramming into a stationary Nigerian Bottling Company Coca-Cola truck.

    Those that sustained injuries in the accident are being treated at state hospital Ibadan and Ikire.

    Gov. Rauf Aregbesola has expressed grief over Abimbola’s death.

    Aregbesola in a condolence message signed by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon in Osogbo on Saturday said the death of Abimbola has robbed the state-owned media organization of one of its most dependable hands.

    “This is sudden and tragic. Abimbola has shown himself as a reliable hand in the business of dissemination of information.

    “His life was short but was eventful. He has demonstrated capacity for professional excellence but he has come to the end of his journey

    “We console ourselves with the reality that death is a necessary end that must come when it is our time.”

    The governor urged the entire OSBC family to take the loss with equanimity.

    Also, the state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has declared seven day mourning for Abimbola.

    Mr. Mr Biodun Olalere, chairman of the union, described Abimbola as a man loved by all through his penchant for peace and hardwork.

    Also, the State House of Assembly, has described Abimbola’s death as a rude shock.

    In a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the assembly said Nathaniel’s death was like a strange dream.

    Abimbola, who attended Oluponna Community High School, in Osogbo, was survived by an aged mother, wife and three children–two boys and a girl.

     

  • Crime has no tribe, IGP replies critics on ‘one-sided  arrests’ over Ife crisis

    Crime has no tribe, IGP replies critics on ‘one-sided  arrests’ over Ife crisis

    The police responded Friday to the accusation that they have been partial in their investigation of the recent communal crisis in Ile-Ife,Osun State that claimed at least 46 lives.

    The clash pitched the Yoruba against Hausa.

    The police moved in and arrested a number of suspects majority of whom are Yoruba.

    The development drew sharp criticism from prominent Yoruba leaders and groups, who believe the police are partial towards the Hausa.

    They wonder why only the Yoruba are being arrested and harassed over the clash.

    However,Police Inspector General Ibrahim Idris yesterday denied any such act by the police.

    “Crime has no tribe,” he told State House Correspondents after briefing President Muhammadu Buhari on the security situation in different part of the country.

    He added: “if you are a criminal you are a criminal.

    “Crime has no face. We don’t look at crime in the identity of where you are coming from.

    “As far as you are a criminal and the police find you wanting, we apply the law.”

    The Police IG expressed doubts over the involvement of Fulani herdsmen in the recent killings in Zaki Biam, Benue State.

    He said indications point in the direction of a wanted hoodlum, Gana.

    His words: “No I don’t think its Fulani herdsmen. It was an activity of a criminal who is using members of his criminal gang in the state to harass people.

    “We deployed Mobile Police Unit on 16th of this month and that incident that happened at Zaki Biam there are allegations that Gana, one of the wanted man,caused it.

    “This man has been on the police wanted list, I now decided to deploy some special units to go after him and get him by all means.

    “Definitely that man we are going to get him.”

    On his mission to the State House,he said: “I came to see the President to update him on the deployment of the police in our effort to ensure that we have security all over the country.

    “Obviously, it’s to share with him our deployment strategies on ground; our deployment to some of these flash points all over the country, especially Benue which is the current one; deployment to Kaduna state which started some few weeks back; and deployment to the Ile-Ife crisis where recently we have a lot of police officers, both special squads and investigation team on ground to conduct investigation on the matter.”

    Asked on the specific directives given to him by the President, he said: “Obviously, there should be a specific directive to ensure that all of us use all the facilities at our disposal to make sure that some of these incidents we are talking about are brought under control as soon as possible.

    “I gave the President my assurance that we are going to do that. As I said earlier, we have deplored a special squad to Benue and we are surely going to get that Gana within a short time.”

    He dismissed suggestions that the police have no strategy for fighting crimes in the country, saying: “You know some of these crises, we have to look at their and the immediate cause for you to make a proper classification of the crimes,

    “If you follow some of these crimes, they are just crimes that happened without any warning.

    “If you look at that Ife crisis, if you see how it started it’s just a disagreement between two people selling food along the road. So you have to look at the dynamics of the country itself.

    “Obviously, when you have such situation we have to react to it. We had to move in to ensure we provide some security to the people.”