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Tag: OSUN

  • Osun, sukuk (Islamic bond) and relentless critics

    Osun, sukuk (Islamic bond) and relentless critics

    The plan by Osun to issue N10bn Islamic bond called sukuk has predictably come under fire from Christians in the state and, as expected, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). By some global estimates, Islamic finance, a $1.2trn market, is growing at some 50 percent more than conventional banking and could rise to become a $2.7trn market in the next three or four years at its current rate of growth. Sukuk runs on sharia principles, prohibiting interest and instead offering stakes in investments. If the bond is successfully raised, Osun will become a leader in the patronage of Islamic finance in Nigeria.

    The Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, Kunle Oyatomi, was indeed right to point out that sukuk does not invariably translate into an agenda to Islamise the state, especially considering the fact that the United Kingdom is also planning to issue sovereign sukuk of about $323m. I also think that those who issue or buy sukuk have the forcible conversion of any state or people to Islam as the last thing on their minds. It is simply an economic activity whose profile is rising in the international financial market for its durability and ability to withstand global fluctuations.

    However, Mr Oyatomi’s rebuke of Christians and the opposition PDP over the sukuk matter gives the worrisome impression that the state is both unduly combative whenever it encounters opposition to its policies, and also fanatically desirous of winning every argument. But in a pluralistic society, elected officials thrive only when they are able to persuade the opposition by reason, not by browbeating them. For, indeed, whether the party in office is right or not, opposition exists to win over the electorate. After all, in the end, everything in a democracy boils down to winning votes.

    More crucially, Osun officials appear to have a rose-coloured idea of what governance is all about. Whether in the case of sukuk or the declaration of Hijrah holiday or the schools reform being undertaken by the state, Osun officials have approached matters legalistically, and have, perhaps inadvertently, further ossified the growing sectarian fractures in the state. They seem unable to appreciate that the problem is not that they are wrong to reform schools, or declare holidays as they deem fit, or take sukuk bonds at no interest in order to finance infrastructural development. The problem is that these issues all have religious overtones, are controversial, as Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood’s failure to raise sukuk showed, and follow hard on one another. In a country where religious sensibilities have been stretched to breaking point, elected officials have a responsibility to weigh lawfulness against expediency.

    Osun gives the impression it has the courage of its convictions, and is determined to strive at all times to do what it believes is right. There is a sense in which this kind of approach to governance is refreshing, edifying and noble. But the state must not be surprised by the opposition it attracts now, or will attract in the coming months, as the public begins to bellicosely exercise its right to judge whether by being the first to daringly declare a holiday for traditional religion worshippers and adding a Hijrah holiday to other national Islamic holidays (among other things like schools reform), the state is not elevating courage disproportionately over wisdom and restraint.

  • Osun shines at Brain Awards

    Osun shines at Brain Awards

    Its introduction of Opon Imo, the tablet of knowledge, five months ago, was hailed by many. Since then, the Osun State government has been receiving awards for the initiative. It picked up another award last Wednesday at the maiden edition of the Brain Awards at  the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI reports.

    The event was the first of its kind in the country. Brands got awards for exceptional performance.

    Brain Awards 2013, organiser of Brands in Nigeria Awards, honoured seven winners, including personalities, organisations and products.

    People came from far and wide to attend the ceremony at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    Arriving in their exotic cars, they exchanged pleasantries from the ground floor, taking of pictures on the red carpet.

    The guests later moved to the first floor where the award was held.

    Inside the hall, B’ Clean Disk Jockey led by Sola Lawal supplied music which entertained guests.

    Guests converged on the fully air conditioned hall in various outfits including dinner, corporate and traditional wares. Those who followed the All Progressives Congress (APC) Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and wife, Kudirat wore white natives with orange caps.

    The hall was decorated in gold, white and black while the chairs were stylishly set around the tables which had glass vase with mercury like substance in it. There were music from Just Dance Entertainments, The Gliz, Solid Star and a young man simply identified as Victor.

    The event started with all guests standing as a Saxophonist – Yomi Sax led the National anthem with his instrument.

    Comedian, Gbenga Adeyinka anchored the event.

    In his opening remark, the Executive Producer of Brain Awards, Mr Gboyega Akusile, said the award was meant to celebrate brains coming from products, organisations and individuals in the country.

    “Brain award is meant for brands made in Nigeria, brands brought to Nigeria or brands doing well in Nigeria and we are here to celebrate seven of them,” he said.

    Akusile thanked all the sponsors and others who made it to the event despite traffic snarl and all other challenges.

    The award session followed.

    Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola led the pack of awardees. He got Information Technology Product award.

    Aregbesola was represented by Alhaji Mohammed.

    He thanked the organisers for the honour, saying that Osun State has branded its educational system through the provision of Opon Imo (Tablet of knowledge also known as I-pad) for students.

    He added that the Opon Imo has cut down the cost of education for students in Osun State and has brought technology to every nook and cranny of the state.

    “Opon Imo, he said, “is an hand held device that contains not only all the textbooks that the students will need in their classes but also past questions and lecturers that would be useful in their academics”.

    “Parents in Osun now through Opon Imo are becoming more technology inclined,” he said.

    Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi represented by Kayode Akinyemi said branding is a very crucial part of advertising in Nigeria.

    “We cannot mention products, personalities, or organisation without branding being mentioned. Ekiti State investment in branding has helped the state to achieve greater things”, Akinyemi said.

    Other awards given include: Political brand personality award to Alhaji Muhammed; Food Product of the year to Cowbell; Best Production of the year and sponsorship to MTN Project fame; Fastest growing creative agency of the year to Extreme Ideas; Telecom product of the year to Etisalat for easy click and Most impactful regulator of the year to Advertisers Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).

    In attendance were General Manager The Nation, Soji Omotunde; President Public Relations Officers Consultancy of Nigeria, Jude Nwakanma; Mr Femi Adeniran; Nokia Marketing Manager, Jide Akinyemi; Hon Babatunde Adepitan; Hon Hakeem Bamgbola; Hon Omobolanle Akinyemi-Obe; Hon Abiodun Mafe; Comrade Kamal Salau-Bashua; Alhaji Jubreel AbdulKareem; Hon Ayodeji Joseph; Hon Joseph Bamigbose; Mrs Ngozi Anifowose; APCON Director, Job Onuara; Managing Director, Plural Media, Mr Bassey Rufort; Mr Peter Adebayo; Mr Ibrahim Anibaba; Managing Director, Extreme Ideas/ Extreme Music, Mr Steve Babaeko; Ambassador Kaniya Nndofia; Mr Seun Muyiwa, Head Corporate Communications Skye Bank Otegar Abram; and Hon Victor Adeyemi, among others.

  • Osun school reclassification: Aregbesola’s aide pleads for understanding

    Osun school reclassification: Aregbesola’s aide pleads for understanding

    he Senior Special Assistant to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on General Matters, Mr Kareem Olajoku, has appealed to the people of the state not to misinterpret the good intention of the government to reclassify the school system, which he emphasised, was aimed at the sound and qualitative education delivery.

    Olajoku, who is in charge of the state’s calisthenics programme, said his interaction with the schools since he was appointed to coordinate the programme has revealed the rot and decay in the education system in the state; a development he linked to the long years of abandonment of the sector by successive governments.

    He added that the newly introduced education policies of Aregbesola such as the provision of free meal and school uniforms; increase in allocation to schools, reduction in tuition fees, payment of West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees and the distribution of computer tablets to students, are all geared towards changing the status quo ante.

    He, however, commended the people for raising questions where necessary, saying their action could only strengthen the belief and commitment of the administration to carry the public along in its programmes and policies.

    “We must emphasise the fact that things cannot just continue the way they used to be,” Olajoku stated in a statement.

    “Change is the most constant thing in life and until we are ready to be part of the change the challenges facing Nigerians would not be addressed. We have run a system for years and it did not change things, rather, what we continued to witness is mass failure, cases of dropouts, teachers’ poor performance, among others. That is not too good for a nation willing to be among the best 20 economies in the world by the year 2020.

    “We will therefore appeal to the good people of Osun State not to be distracted by some religious sentiments because our desire to deliver good and qualitative education to our people is more resolute.

    “Religion or ethnic sentiment shouldn’t be the basis of our disagreement; rather let’s be objective in our analysis.What this administration has invested in the education sector is already yielding good results such as increase in enrolment, better performance in external examination, among others. What we need do is to consolidate by providing conducive teaching and learning environment for both the pupils and the teachers,” he added.

  • ‘Why we’re investing in culture and tourism’

    ‘Why we’re investing in culture and tourism’

    Ayedun Sikiru, the State of Osun’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, is a chartered transporter and maritime expert. He believes that tourism can boost the state’s economy. In this interview with GBENGA ADERANTI, he explains the government’s efforts to make Osun a tourism haven, among other issues.

    The government of the State of Osun is investing N5.7billion in tourism. How far have you gone with this?

    The investment, N5.7billion, that is our target and you know that taking N5.7billion out of Osun revenue is a huge money, so what we intend doing is going into public-private partnership with serious investors, but we know that getting this done, you know what the status of our tourism, getting this done in the state might not be attractive but what we intend doing now is to get a pilot scheme that will take little intervention into all our tourist sites to the level that it will be very attractive for the investors to come and partner with us.

    Talking of post investment period, do you have the facilities and resources to cope with the traffic of people you are trying to attract?

    That is why we are having infrastructural development that is ongoing in this state. Not just roads, our hospitality sector is also growing because we know that for tourism to develop you have to successfully work three areas of life: You must have good roads, the hospitality industry must be fantastic and security must be extraordinary and these are the things the state government is really working on.

    If you have gone round the town, you will see the level of infrastructural development, you will see that we are gauging the standard of our hotels, we are working on the hygiene of all our eateries, also on the issue of security, we are working round the clock to make sure we have a peaceful and accommodating environment in terms of police coverage, in terms of fire services, in terms of health, in terms of cleaner environment. These are the things that complement tourism development.

    We have envisaged this that with the investment, we are looking at the influx of tourists in the state, to any part in the state, we need a lot of facilities to cope with and we’re already working on this.

    Hotels in the state are privately owned. What actually is the government doing about this?

    Yes, what we are doing are in three folds; One, we are standardising our hotel business and services in the state. Agreed that if you want to build a hotel, t it is a private thing, you want to invest in hospitality business, but we have a standard that you must be able to meet before it can be approved. Even when you have done with your construction, your services is also under the scrutiny of the state, so with this, we will be able to know that inasmuch as we have a business operating in the stet, there are standards rules you must follow in attending to guests, in securing the lives and property of the guests in your hotel and also in terms of culinary or services provided, we are working round this.

    The state is trying to develop tourist sites but the urban renewal programme is ongoing. It seems some of these tourist sites will have to go. What are you doing about this?

    Well, it is a big concern to every stakeholder in tourism industry but we are discussing with ministry of Lands, Physical and Urban Planning, also the office of the Mr. governor, on how to preserve all these our historical sites. We know the importance to the state, to our culture, to the nation at large and also to the Yoruba community throughout the world, so we will find a way around it but it has to be common consensus with all the stakeholders.

    People have argued that except the Osun festival that pulls crowd to the state, no other tourist attraction to justify huge of money that is going into it?

    Well, I first of all want to say something, for whosoever that say culture and festivals is a waste that person must not be a real Yoruba man. Why did I say this? First of all apart from the fact that we are celebrating, we know that our festivals entail. It exposes our culture and tradition to the outside world. Today Yoruba culture and tradition are already going into oblivion. Every household today prefers western ideas than our tradition, every family wants itself to be prided as the best westernised family but that is not our culture our tradition, culture, festivals have a lot of intakes which people are trying to neglect. Yoruba culture teaches us a lot in terms of our tradition, in terms of our relationship with one another, with government with authorities, also our culture teaches about integrity or what you call Omoluabi ethos because it directs our way of dressing, stepping, eating and even talking wherever you find yourself. So, those are the issues culture has to do with.

    Now statistically, we have it that Yoruba is in the world is around 100million and some of them are already losing the tribe, they are having nostalgic feelings of coming back home to their roots. If they don’t have the opportunity even if not a firsthand witness or attendance even if is true that they were able to have access to all these festivals they would know that they have their roots and they have tradition.

    That is by the way and you know that each community or tribe in this part of the state   has his own festival that has its own historical and social background to them and with this we have seen and we know that we have a lot of our brothers even who are not of the slave trade, who have gone outside Nigeria shores for more than 30 years or 40 years that have even lost track of who they are as Yoruba person. These festivals give them a background to fall into. Those are the things we look at and we say what we need to do even if we need to promote our tourism as we are saying, our culture and festival is part of what we can use to promote this. So investing or investment does not even yield in a day, it is a gradual development. I would tell you that the kind of patronage we had in osogbo during 2011 Osun Osogbo festival was not what we had in 2012 it was not what we had in 2013, so what we are looking at is not immediate gain but a future development that will help the state financially, one create wealth, banish poverty and create employment for our youths.

  • Was it an earthquake or volcanic eruption?

    Was it an earthquake or volcanic eruption?

    Olobeide, a village in Ikeji- Ile, Osun State was recently hit by an explosion that sent old and young scampering to safety. Two months after residents of the rocky community are yet to get over the scare. Taiwo  Abiodun  reports.

    The cock had just crowed at 3 o’clock on September 23, a Monday. The farmers and the traders who mainly dominate this town knew at once that they should be getting ready to set out for the day’s work. Seconds later came a massive explosion. The earth shook, the houses vibrated. No one could have missed the impact.

    By now everyone had woken up, asking the nearest person what was happening. There was no precise answer, only gesticulations that indicated nothing.

    In twos and threes, the panicked residents stepped out of their houses to ascertain what had happened. What they saw next would only confuse them and terrify them the more: water gushing from the top of the rocks and cascading down. Trees were uprooted and flung away, some over 100 meters. Food and cash crops were not spared.

    There was no need for further probing; the race for survival had begun. Some fled into the bush: some just kept running, to nowhere in particular. Some were practically nude. Mothers reached for their children, all screaming and running at the same time.

    The explosion had blasted off the top of the rock, leaving a huge opening through which the water gushed out. The base of the rock was littered with gravel.

    Olobeide village has 12 mud houses and about 200 inhabitants who are chiefly farmers. It is nearly three kilometers from Ikeji- Ile. The town is surrounded by rocks which seem to be competing for space with one another.

    A resident, Pa Oladiti Isaiah Ajayi, said of the explosion:”It was in the early morning around 3.00 am on September 23 when we heard a deafening explosion that sounded:’graagra gbagbagba gborogodo gba, ya, ya, ya, yooo.’ It was terrible, it woke us all up!

    “And then we heard the sound of flood rushing down on us. We started running helter-skelter. In the morning we all went to look round but lo and behold there was a wide range of a big gulf with uprooted trees flung away.”

    Ajayi, who said he has been living in the village since 1963 added: “ I am a farmer planting cocoa, kola-nut and others .We were shocked .Most of the residents ran away and abandoned their children though some came back to take their kids. I advised them against running away; I told them that nobody should run and that there was water all over the place. I’ll keep telling them that it was the ground that opened and caused water to come out. For one week, the water kept gushing out.”

    He recalled that the explosion was preceded by a tremor.

    “The entire village was shaking (trembling) the previous night until we heard the blast that woke us up. There was a tremor but we were all sleeping when it happened. We are about 200living in this village.

    “We didn’t know what could have happened but once in a while we would some sound coming from the rocks. The explosion destroyed so many things we cannot quantify now. About 30 farmers lost their crops. Such a thing has never happened before.”

    Another resident, Elizabeth Ajayi, said: “We were sleeping when we unexpectedly heard ‘ waa,wa waaa wooo’, and we all ran out. In fact I forgot my children behind for it was unexpected until we were asked to go back for it could be water. In the morning we went to Ikeji-Ile to inform them about what had occurred.”

    Prince Segun Ogunmokun, a retiree, farmer and politician said: “Immediately I heard of the eruption, I called Bola Ilori, Special Assistant who is in the Ministry of Environment in the Osun State Government. He demanded for some pictures which I sent to him but up till now I have not heard from him. We need an expert to discuss this and tell us what actually happened.

    Hon. Busayo Akinsuyan said:’’ I learnt that this is not the first time. In the past a small portion burst about 13years ago. We were told that the water that gushed out was smelling and hot.

    “The actual place where this thing occurred has rocks, big trees, crops pulled out and the place is still soft till now. If it had happened in the cities we would have been saying a different thing. The place looks like a bulldozer came there to work. This is an act of God. I believe there is a large water storage which forced itself out from under the ground, or there was some chemical reaction.”

    Retired Major Owoeye Abiodun described what happened as a mild volcanic eruption. “Naturally, a volcanic eruption would occur when the earth moves. There is tendency of an eruption where the earth is weak. In every part of the earth, we have certain movements under the ground when it will form a radius and we find small explosions, but if the explosion is big we will be able to identify a volcanic eruption, but if it is mild we would say it burst,” he said.

    “There is what we call molten lava; much of the hot lava is continually moving .We are very lucky in this part of the world for all these activities are mild. In 1985 there was a mild quake in Ijebu- Ode down to Oke -Ado in Ibadan when there was a tremor

    “When the bed of hot lava under the ground comes to a point where it is weak, it will burst and come up but when it is a real volcanic action it will cover a wider area and it can destroy a whole town.”.

    A soil scientist, Emmanuel Olayemi, argued that it could have been caused by the movement of hot water under the ground that could no longer contain it.

    “There are some elements in the ground which can cause this .We need to investigate. The water which was said to have come out from it had a foul smell and should be taken to the laboratory for tests.”

    The villagers would no doubt be hoping that Osun State government officials would initiate urgent investigations to determine whether what occurred was a localized phenomenon, or whether there are other areas where such volcanic activity could occur and endanger lives.

  • Why Osun is embarking on new education system

    Why Osun is embarking on new education system

    The new educational system in the state of Osun is aimed at producing the total man who will not just be literate, but be educated enough to effect a positive impact in the state and the nation as a whole. The total man, in the words of the great avatar, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, “ … is what he is because the three main constituents of his entity-his body, brain and mind are fully developed.”

    The governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola declared to the pupils of Salvation Army School, Alekuwodo, Osogbo while inaugurating the new school system that “our dream is to make you all renowned scholars in the future so that you can be a pride to the State of Osun and the entire country”. The reclassification of primary and secondary schools sectors into elementary schools, middle schools and high school is in line with global best practices and trends. It is worthy of note, that the new educational system in the state has not in any way deviated from the 6-3-3-4 National Policy on Education or effected changes in the school curriculum.

    Why the state government embarked on the new system

    The colonial-education handed over to us was not aimed at producing an all- round scholar but to train clerical clerks, interpreters and messengers. Thanks to the likes of Awolowo who gave the then Western Region free but qualitative education that produced the present leaders and men. That investment in men by Chief Awolowo made the South West to remain the pacesetter in social and economic development till date, even though, unfortunately, the military intervention later ruined our educational sector. The civilian regime failed to revive the dying or dead educational institutions, while others merely paid lips-service to it…

    The government of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola inherited a poor educational sector just as what the former President of America Bill Clinton met at Arkansas when he became the governor in 1983. The standard of public education in Arkansas then was a disgrace. This prompted Clinton to make that sector a priority; and at the end of his first term, his achievements in that sector was phenomenal. The same can be said of Aregbesola today, as the Osun people home and abroad, acknowledged the governor’s impact on the educational revolution, which has successfully placed the state on the global scale with the introduction of Opon Imo-tablet of knowledge that earned the state commendation internationally.

    Categorization of schools

    Elementary school: The elementary school, which is made up of Grades 1-4, admits pupils of age range of 6-9 years. The advantage that parents and pupils derive from this class of school is the proximity to the residence, trade and work place of parents. And that will not only save both parents and pupils the cost of transportation, but will also save them the trouble of early morning rush and closing time struggles to and from school.

    Enrolment in the elementary schools has been so arranged in cities to be 900 pupils per school while that of schools in rural communities may have less population, and the pupils need not walk long distance in order to attend schools.

    The Aregbesola’s administration has embarked on the construction of 13 elementary school buildings across the state at the cost of N14.76 billion.

    Free meals

    The pupils in the elementary schools are already enjoying free meals in each school day. The availability of these free meals has tripled the school enrolment in the state making it the state with the    highest numbers of pupils’ enrolment in Nigeria. This idea of providing free meals to pupils was adopted in Britain in September 2013; the British government hopes this will save parents the sum of £50, 000 annually.

    It is worthy of note to mention, also, the provision of unified school uniform free of charge, increase in school and examination grants, supply of instructional materials and customized exercise books.

    Middle school

    The Middle school is made up of Grade 5-9 with pupils of age range of 10-14 years. The schools are located within 2-3 kilometers radius of the pupils’ residents. The enrolment will be between 900 to 1000 pupils.

    The schools, when completed, will be state- of- the- art, with modern facilities. The pupils stand to enjoy a unified uniform, increase in schools and examination grants, instructional materials and customized exercise books.

    High school

    The high school is made up of Grades 10-12 with students of age range of 15-17 years. These schools are located in old school compounds with a very large space. The enrolment will be 3000 students per school The buildings, three schools- in- one complex, are state of  the art with modern facilities, staff quarters, standard laboratories, food courts, standard sporting facilities, a school hall of 1000 minimum sitting capacity and school managers for the proper facility management.

    The students in the high school are also beneficiaries of the unified school uniform and free Opon Imo-tablet of knowledge. The government has also increased school and examination grant as well as payment of WASCE fees.

    20 high schools are being built across the state, while some have already been completed.

    Why government is investing in education

    This can be summed up in Aregbesola’s own words. “Education is the key to our economic revival and our perennial quest for prosperity. We must dedicate more of our limited resources to paying teachers better; expanding educational opportunities in poor and small districts..” This, indeed, is the philosophy behind the governor’s huge investment in education.

    Critique

    The Aregbesola educational revolution has received the popular support of a high percentage of the people in the state. This is evident in the high increase in the number of enrolment in the public schools across the state. The groups that are in solidarity with the Aregbesola on the new educational system are stupendous.

    The initial fear of government changing the names of the old schools has been put to rest with the commissioning of Salvation Army Schools at Alekuwodo that retained its name. The rumour about government intention to Islamize the state via school classification has since been debunked. The intention of the government is to rejuvenate education in the state in accordance with Awolowo’s philosophy of the total man.  Therefore there is nothing to fear. What the governor needs now is the people’s maximum support in form of regular payment of our taxes, and also to ensure that he wins the forthcoming election with a landslide victory.. The former names of school and locations are not as important as the provision of modern facilities in today’s world. Several institutions in Nigeria have either been relocated or have their names changed; a good example is the relocation of a group of people from where they used to live at  the National Stadium area in

    Surulere, to Shitta Bey area of Lagos; the Kala- kuta Republic owned by afro-beat musician, Fela Anikulapo Ransom Kuti which was  razed down by unknown soldiers in the 1970s, was converted to Ransom Kuti Grammar School; CMS Grammar School was relocated from Broad street to Mushin area in Lagos; the Ibadan Airport, which was formerly located at Sango area was later moved to Alakia area in Ibadan. The investments in education today will certainly produce a better generation of leaders that shall take our nation to its zenith tomorrow.

    •Yomi is an aide to Osun State Governor

  • Osun concludes plan to turn waste to raw material

    Osun concludes plan to turn waste to raw material

    The Osun Government says it has concluded plans to turn waste to raw materials.

    The General Manager of the Waste Management Authority in Osun, Alhaji Ganiyu Oyeladunm, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo that government was committed to transform the state.

    According to him, the state is presently compressing the e-waste content of the waste product for metal smelting company to use as raw materials, while plans are on the way for recycling.

    “We realise the economic benefit inherent in the recycling of the waste product generated in the state to viable raw materials for industrial usage which will help the economy in no small way.

    “Also, this policy of waste-to-wealth as new global trend will reduce the hitherto hazards which heaps of refuse in our environment is generating on daily basis.

    “Although, we have not been able to have a recycling factory here in Osun, efforts are being made to establish one to complement the efforts of the government to diversify,’’ he said.

    Meanwhile, an environment expert, Dr Adeleke Osipintan, has enjoined governments at all level to look inward and improve the economy of their domain through environmental innovation.

  • ‘Osun bond oversubscribed’

    N10 billion bond sought by the Osun State government from an Islamic financial institution, tagged Sukuk, has been oversubscribed by 20 per cent.

    Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget Wale Bolorunduro said the bond was approved by the Security Exchange Commission (SEC), despite high interbank rates and liquidity challenges.

    He said the bond would be used to build schools.

    The Commissioner 900 pupils would be accommodated in the elementary school each and Middle Schools 1,000 each.

    High Schools are to have 3,000 pupils each with mini-campuses comprising three schools.

    Bolorunduro said the over-subscription of the bond affirmed the confidence the market had in the Governor Rauf Aregbesola administration, “owing to its prudence and performance”.

    He said: “The bond was approved by the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) in the midst of market turbulences and the state started the process of book-building and request for investors to submit their subscriptions.

    “The book building closed last week and was oversubscribed by 20 per cent. However, the regulator will only allow the Osun Sukuk Plc take about N11.4 billion, which has been ring-fenced to build state-of-the-art schools. “

  • CAN alleges plot to Islamise Osun

    CAN alleges plot to Islamise Osun

    The Osun State government’s reclassification of schools has continued to generate mixed reactions.

    Christians and Muslims protested on Monday, shutting down some of the schools.

    The national body of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of trying to Islamise the state.

    In a statement in Abuja, CAN’s National General-Secretary Rev. Musa Asake alleged that the reclassification was part of “a grand plan to systematically silence Christians in Osun”.

    He said if the decision was not reversed, CAN would do all in its power to resist it.

    Asake alleged that the plan to Islamise Osun was not peculiar to the education sector. He questioned a loan purportedly taken by the state government from an Islamic bank.

    Asake said: “We have been following the events in Osun State. The decision to merge Muslim and Christian schools is a ploy. There is no pretence about it and we will resist it. I totally agree that the plot to Islamise Osun is not peculiar to the Education sector. They have an agenda.

    “If you follow the event in that state and the way the governor is going about things, he has an agenda. Why is he particular about Christian schools? If he really wants to promote education, why can’t he build other schools? Why is he particular about Christian schools? We Christians can no longer fold our arms and allow them do what they want.”

    Asake accused past and present governments at the centre of ignoring the plight of Christians. He said Christians had been reduced to second-class citizens in their own country.

    Asake said: “Forty years ago, under the supervision of a Christian minority Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, someone somewhere brought the idea that mission schools should be taken over. Forty years later, under the supervision of another Christian minority President, Goodluck Jonathan, Almajiri schools have been introduced.

    “The school is strictly for Muslim children. These people are never concerned about the Christians. After they took over missionary schools, they introduced Almajiri schools. They have placed Christians as second and third-class citizens.

    “This time, we will not allow it to happen in Osun. It is a ploy to tarnish the educational system. There is an agenda behind it. The governor was elected by both Christians and Muslims, so he must be fair to both parties. I urge Christians to rise up and say no. That education policy can be implemented in any places, but not in mission schools. The time has come for mission schools to be returned to churches.

    “Sometime ago, we were told the governor took a loan from an Islamic bank. What does he want to do with that loan? How many governors have taken loans from Islamic banks? What is his plan? Christians are not fighting him.”

    Asake urged the government to curb the activities of Fulani herdsmen, who had been allegedly attacking farmers across the country.

    He said: “I am at the centre of the whole thing. I am a northerner and I have been suppressed. No one thinks about me as a northerner because I am a Christian. They are only using Fulani herdsmen to destabilise these areas. They want to Islamise everywhere and take over everything.

    “Innocent souls are dying and I do not see any serious effort by our leaders to solve this problem. No one is saying anything about those that were killed? Northern governors are saying the presidency must return to the North, is that the issue now? I expect them to be having sleepless nights and trying to put an end to this, but that is not the case.

    “Northerners have ruled this country and put us in the mess we are in today. Whenever these same people talk about the North, they are not talking about Christians. Christians must open their eyes. As a northern Christian, I am not regarded as anything. When they talk about power coming to the North, Christians are not in the picture.”

     

  • Osun lawmakers endorse Aregbesola for second term

    Osun lawmakers endorse Aregbesola for second term

    • Governor vows to do more

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration has been described as the reincarnation of the progressives in the Southwest.

    The senator representing Osun Central District, Prof. Sola Adeyeye, spoke yesterday at a rally organised by the Osun State Forum of Legislators to mobilise support for Aregbesola’s re-election.

    The rally was held at the Freedom Park in Osogbo, the state capital.

    The forum comprises three senators, nine House of Representatives’ members and 26 House of Assembly members.

    The legislators said Aregbesola’s achievements in the past three years were visible to the public.

    They said Osun was lucky to have a visionary leader like Aregbesola, whose preoccupation is the well-being of the masses.

    The forum unanimously endorsed Aregbesola for a second term after a motion moved by Mr. Ayo Omidiran (Ayedaade, Irewole and Isokan Constituency) was seconded by Mr. Timothy Owoeye from Ilesha East Constituency.

    It said: “We endorsed Aregbesola for a second term because of his administration’s laudable programmes and prompt delivery of the dividends of democracy. We endorsed him for his vision and mission to develop the state. His achievements are visible to everyone.

    “His programmes are people-centred. Opon Imo is a unique e-learning tool all over the world. Osun is lucky to have Aregbesola as governor. This is why we endorsed him to continue his good work in office.”

    Aregbesola said it was the first time in Nigeria that all elective officers in a state, except the governor and his deputy, would endorse a governor for a second term.

    Noting that the programmes and policies of other parties could not be compared to those of the APC, he said: “We thank God and the people of the state for the opportunity they gave us to serve them. The past administration spent close to eight years, yet we did not see what it achieved. In our three years in office, things have completely changed for the better.

    “Our people are witnesses to the development in the state and the progress we have recorded. We have the will to do more. I assure you that this our first term is meant to lay solid foundations in all sectors. So what you are commending us for is just a tip of the iceberg.

    “Our second term will witness enormous developments, such that this state would be one of the best, if not the best, in the country.”

    Also at the occasion were Deputy Governor Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori; House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salam; Secretary to the State Government Moshood Adeoti; the Chief of Staff, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola; former Deputy Governor Chief Sooko Adeyemo; Senators Jide Omoworare and Mudasir Hussein; Elder Peter Babalola; Alhaji Fatai Diekola; Alhaji Sule Alao; Mr. G. O. Lawal and other APC chieftains.