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Tag: Osun State

  • Undergraduate remanded over alleged murder

    Undergraduate remanded over alleged murder

    A 34-year-old student of Osun State University, Osogbo, Akanbi David was on Tuesday remanded in Ilesa Prison by an Osogbo Chief Magistrates’ Court over alleged murder of his colleague, Amodu Kazeem.

    The accused is facing a two count-charge of murder and conspiracy.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Olusola Aluko, said he ordered the remand of the accused due to the magnitude of the offence against him.

    The accused’s plea was not taken by the court.

    The magistrate, however, adjourned the case until May 5 for mentioned.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, ASP Mireti Wilson, told the court that the accused committed the offense on Jan.16 at about 5.00p.m., at Oke-Baale, Osogbo.

    Willson said that the accused conspired with one person now at large to murder Kazeem by stabbing him with a knife on his chest.

    He also said the accused had a disagreement with the deceased over a business deal which led to the incident and the subsequent death of Kazeem.

    “Both the accused and the deceased are students of Osun State University, they had a fight on an issue which led to the death of one of them,’’ he said.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes Sections 324 and 319(1) of the criminal code cap 34 vol.11 laws of Osun, 2003.

  • Tinubu links visionary leadership to good governance

    Tinubu links visionary leadership to good governance

    Former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has identified visionary leadership with strong intellectual ability as key to entrenchment of good governance in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State at the 1st National Conference of Nigerian Political Science Association, South West Zone, Tinubu noted that a myriad of challenges facing the nation was as a result of inexperienced and capable men and women who have steered the sheep of leadership in many fronts.

    Represented by an international scholar, Prof. Adebayo Williams, he said it was imperative to have proper planning and orientation for would be leaders if the challenge must be eradicated.

    He said: “Excellence political leadership should be based on essential and strategic political vision. In taking any step in life especially to lead, you must prepare your plan and strategize to make it work. There cannot be national progress without solving the problem of national security.”

    In his remarks at the event, the Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, challenged political scientists in the country to provide more information and advice to those in power.

    Noting that the relevance of political scientists has unquantifiable roles to play in the society, Aregbesola decried the alienation between the academic community and the larger society calling for a change.

    The governor, who identified productivity as the duty of leaders, underscored the need for politicians to be concerned on areas that will effectively cater for the needs of the mass populace.

    “The efficient utilization of nature through what we enjoy should be production. The dominion of man to produce continually what he takes and use is a goal of civilization. The moment you continue to use 30% to cater for 99% population brings more challenges.”

    In his keynote address on the theme of the conference titled “Democracy, Nation Building and Development in Nigeria,” former Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State  University formerly University of Ado-Ekiti, Prof. Dipo  Kolawole, called for the refocus, redefinition and reconceptualization of the government at the center to the needs of the electorate.

    Stressing that Nigerians want performance from people in positions of authority, Kolawole hinted that the constraints for national development was as a result of the irresponsiveness of leaders to democratic policies.

    According to him, what needs to be done is for the present administration to redirect its focus by engaging key stakeholders as well as be concerned with the challenges of the common man.

    He said: “We must refocus our politics by redefining areas where we can debate issues for the betterment of the country. Nigeria must try to reclaim its leadership positions in Africa so that a deserved respect will be its pride.”

    He contended that the success of Nigeria’s democracy depends on democratically enlightened and vibrant individuals.

     

  • 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.

  • Aregbesola felicitates with Pastor Adeboye at 75

    Aregbesola felicitates with Pastor Adeboye at 75

    The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola  has congratulated The General Overseer of The ‎Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG)‎ Pastor Enoch Adeboye on the occasion of his 75th birthday.
    ‎
    Aregbesola in a statement by the Director of Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon described Papa Adeboye as a truly inspiring leader who has dedicated his life to service in the vineyard of the Lord.

    The Governor also commended the General Overseer of RCCG for his spiritual and prayerful support to the nation’s leadership at all levels.

    “You have lived a truly inspiring life of dedicated service in the vineyard of the Lord. Rising above the limitations of a background of deprivation to thrive in academics before going into full time ministry, the phenomenal growth of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, all clearly testify to God’s hands upon your life and your productive leadership qualities.

    “In these critical times in Nigeria’s developmental history, we need, more than ever before, to seek the face of the Lord. Your readiness at all times to offer spiritual and prayerful support to the nation’s leadership at all levels deserves special commendation.”
    Aregbesola, who prayed for longer life for Adeboye, added,

    “On behalf of my family and the good people of Osun,  I wish you a happy birthday and many more fruitful years ahead.”

  • SON confisticates 1,000 bags of underweighed rice in Osogbo

    SON confisticates 1,000 bags of underweighed rice in Osogbo

    The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in Osun says it confiscated more than 1,000 underweighed bags of rice in Osogbo markets on Monday.

    Mr Sunday Badewole, the SON State Coordinator, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Tuesday.

    Badewole said the agency made the confiscation during the enforcement operation where more than 1,000 bags of 5kg, 10kg and 25kg of bags of rice were confiscated.

    He said many of the rice sellers had reduced the quantity of rice from the kilogrammes that were indicated on the bags, to make more money.

    Badewole said the observation carried out by the enforcement team of the agency in the markets during the raid revealed that rice sellers would remove some measures from the bags of rice and seal it back for sale.

    He said the quantities removed would thereafter be repackaged in another bag, sealed and sold to buyers.

    Badewole said the rice sellers confessed that they used to buy empty rice bags from Lagos to repackage the quantities that was stolen from the original bags.

    “Based on the information from our operations directorate headquarters that under weighed bags of rice were in circulation, we went to the market with our scale.

    “But it is very unfortunate that many of these small bags of rice have been reduced by the sellers to make more gain,’’ he said.

    Badewole said all the shops where the underweighed rice were found had been sealed and put on hold.

    He, however, said the confiscated bags of rice would not be destroyed but rather rectification and would be carried out by the sellers under the supervision of SON’s enforcement unit.

    “Since the intention is not to further destroy the economic strength, the option we will probably put forward is rectification and fine.

    “That is, we will ensure that all the bags of rice that were underweighed are filled up to the normal kilogrammes under our supervision, before they are put up for sale, because that is what the standard says,’’ he said.

    Badewole said any rice sellers that refused to carryout rectification would forfeit all the underweighed rice to SON.

    He noted that the exercise was a continuous one, and warned rice sellers against shortchanging people.

    “I want to warn rice sellers to always ensure that their bags contain the right quantity of the produce.

    “They should stop deceiving people and allow people to have value for their money,’’ he said.

    Badewole, who noted that the raids would soon be carried to all the supermarkets in the state, said the organisation would not relent in its efforts at sanitising the system. 

  • Aregbesola salutes Chief Akande at 78

    Aregbesola salutes Chief Akande at 78

    Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has described Chief Bisi Akande, former interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as an exemplary leader whose courage in public service has helped Nigeria.

    This is contained in a 78th birthday congratulatory message signed by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the media aide to the governor, in Osogbo on Monday.

    Aregbesola said Nigeria’s political history would be incomplete without adequate mention of the eminent roles played by Akande.

    He said that Akande’s tenure as governor in the state was remarkable, with his selfless service to the people and transparency in governance.

    “Chief Bisi Akande is a democrat of no small status when the history of democratic struggles in Nigeria is written.

    “He was one of those who fought to ensure that the military retreated back to the barracks and he never looked back while the struggle lasted.

    “His emergence as the Governor of Osun in 1999 proved to be one of the best things to have happened to our state.

    “In saluting the courage of this eminent elder statesman, we must not fail to recognise his roles in the conception and actual formation of our party, the APC.

    “Chief Akande demonstrated an uncommon agility and vigour in all the activities leading to the successful birth of our party.

    “Today, Nigerians can heave a sigh of relief from the 16 years of misrule that the PDP represented,’’ Aregbesola said.

    The governor, while praying for a longer life for the politician, said his experience was still much required for the task of building a virile Nigeria.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akande, a former governor of the state between1999 and 2003, was born on Jan. 16, 1939 in Ila-Orangun.

  • Yuletide: Osun offers free train service

    Osun Government is to offer free train service during the Christmas and the New Year for its citizens who will be coming home from Lagos.

    Mr Semiu Okanlawon, Media Aide to Gov. Rauf Aregbesola said this in a statement on Wednesday in Osogbo.

    Okanlawon said that the train would leave Lagos to Osogbo by 11 a.m. on Dec. 24 for the Christmas celebration and return to Lagos on Dec. 27 by 11 a.m. respectively.

    For the New Year celebration, Okanlawon said the train would leave Lagos for Osogbo on Dec. 31 by 11 a.m. and return to Osogbo on Jan. 2, 2017 by 11 a.m.

    He said the essence of the free train ride was to lessen the financial burden of Osun indigenes in the area of transportation during the yuletide.

    “The free train ride is in line with the Rauf Aregbesola administration’s tradition of facilitating convenient movement of its citizen in and out of the state during festive seasons.

    “Government is extending this welfare gesture to residents in spite of financial hardship being faced by different governments of the federation, ‘’the media aide said.

    He enjoined indigenes of the state to maximise the opportunity of the free train.

  • Osun trains 2, 100 teachers in ICT

    The Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) in Osun state, has trained 2, 100 teachers in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and new teaching methodology.

    Alhaji Fatai Kolawole, Permanent Secretary of the board, said on Monday that the training was to prepare the teachers in the effective discharge of their duties.

    He said that teachers, as harbingers of a better future, needed constant retraining to empower them impart qualitative education to their students.

    Kolawole said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo, that the training was part of the board’s agenda of improving teaching and learning in the state.

    According to him, quality teachers ensure better future of any nation.

    “Our duties as a board is to train and re-train teachers in virtually all disciplines who will in turn impact on the students with a view to prepare them for the future.

    “The essence is to build a better future through responsible citizenry, who have been adequately informed to contribute their quota intellectually to the development of our nation.

    “The state had trained about 2, 100 teachers in teaching methodology and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

    “These teachers were selected from all the 30 local governments in the state, including Modakeke area office,” he said.

    The permanent secretary said that the government is working hard to improve the welfare of teachers in the state.

    “It is only when they are well-taken care of and is made more comfortable because of their sensitive job, than they can impact positively on the students.

    “Despite the drastic fall in allocation accruing to the state, the government in Osun is working round the clock to better the lives of our teachers and other workers alike.

    “We will stop at nothing to make them comfortable and better equipped to carry out their obligations,” Kolawole said.

  • Traditional ruler to pay fines for five inmates

    Traditional ruler to pay fines for five inmates

    • Admonishes public not to stigmatise ex-convicts

    The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, Ilufemiloye Telu I, on Thursday offered to pay the fines of five inmates of the Nigerian Prisons Service in Ilesa, Osun State.

    Our correspondence gathered that the inmates have continued to be in prison custody for failure to pay an option of fines imposed on them by the courts.

    Oba Akanbi made the offer during his visit to the prison in Ilesa, where there are 582 inmates out of which 454 are awaiting trial.

    The traditional ruler, who made a donation of cow and cash to the prison service for the upkeep of the inmates, passionately appealed to the state Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo, to look into the cases of those awaiting trial, many of whom had spent between two to twenty years behind bars.

    Disclosing that his mission was to have first hand experience of the situation behind the wall of prisons and see areas he could intervene, the Oluwo said he was identifying with the inmates to give them hope and reasons to believe their lives could still serve good purposes.

    The monarch also admonished members of the society to stop stigmatising ex-convicts and to make sure they are supported during their reformation, reintegration programmes for the society to be a good place for everyone.

    While exchanging handshakes with some of the inmates, Oba Akanbi enjoined them to change from their bad ways and make sure they contribute to the peace and development of the nation.

    He also appealed to the government to improve the facilities in the prison that have been built since 1900, adding that the prison environment, looking ancient, needed “serious rehabilation.”

    Responding, some of the inmates said they were surprised by the monarch’s visit which they described as unprecedented, therefore promising to be of good behaviour during and after their jail terms.

    They pleaded with the state government to grant those with good conduct state pardon while commending the officials of the prison for doing their best to better the lot of the inmates.

    Also, the officer in charge of the Prison, who is a Deputy Comptroller, Mr. Ope Fanmikun, disclosed that his men face huge challenges, conveying 454 inmates for trial daily in 72 courts across the state.

    “We take the inmates to court with just four vehicles. The newest of these vehicles was given to the prison four years ago. Presenting the inmates for trial has been difficult so we are calling on well meaning Nigerians to come to our aid,” he lamented.

    According to him, the prison needs at least 20 vehicles, medical facilities and consumables, adding that some of the inmates that were supposed to be referred for further treatment in more advanced facilities could not do so because of unavailability of funds.

  • 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.