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Tag: OSUN

  • Osun to team up with Venezuela, Israel, others on economy

    THE Osun State government has unveiled plans to strengthen its economy by creating an enabling environment for business and investment to thrive.

    Governor Adegboyega Oyetola stated this on Wednesday when he received the Venezuela Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. David Nieves Valasquez-Caraballo; envoys from Israel, Cuba, Cote d’Ivoire and Republic of Benin.

    The envoys, who were received on behalf of the governor by Chief of Staff Dr. Charles Diji Akinola and Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mr. Oluwole Oyebamiji, were among those on a two-day visit to

    Osogbo, the state capital, to attend the International Agriculture Technology Exhibition and Conference tagged “First Agrictech Nigeria”.

    The conference was organised to explore business opportunities in agriculture and to expand the sector.

    Apart from Mr. Valasquez-Caraballo; Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Trejo Sosa was represented by the Deputy Head of Mission, Ms. Leydis Bernal Suarez; Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Pear Duchi, was represented by Mr. Madu Chibueze, among others.

    Speaking on behalf of the governor, Akinola said Osun remained resolute to maximise its potentials for greater productivity.

    He said his administration is committed to enhancing Public Private Partnership, thus creating workable environment for business to grow.

    Oyetola said the state is open for business and had mapped out modality to facilitate local and foreign partnership for positive changes across all sectors.

    He added: “We have just had a meeting with ambassadors, who have come to our state to discuss myriads of business opportunities and explore their potentials as regards the need to strengthen bilateral relationship.

    “This administration is giving priority to agriculture, mining, tourism, information and communication technology among others, to ensure proper diversification of the economy.

    Read also: UPDATED Osun gov, Oyetola asks Appeal Court to reverse tribunal’s decision

    “We had a very fruitful session with them; we have reached a compromise on the need to expand the window of business opportunity, particularly in the areas of agriculture, mining, tourism, science and technology.

    “They have shown interest to partner the state in these areas to ensure that Osun achieves her goals.

    The Venezuelan Ambassador said his country was ready to collaborate with the Osun state government to promote agriculture, mining and tourism.

    Valasquez-Caraballo, who described the agriculture exhibition as fruitful, rewarding and adventurous, said no effort would be spared to partner Osun towards actualising its set objectives.

    He said: “We have come to Osun to deliberate on some of the areas in, which we can collaborate and strengthen bilateral relationship.”

  • Economy: Osun to collaborate with Venezuela, Israel, Cuba, others

    The Osun state government will strengthen its economy by creating an enabling environment for business and investment to thrive.

    Governor Adegboyega Oyetola stated this on Wednesday while receiving the Venezuela Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr David Nieves Valasquez-Caraballo;  envoys from Israel, Cuba, Cote d’Ivoire and Republic of Benin‎.

    The envoys, who were received on behalf of the governor by Chief of Staff Dr. Charles Diji Akinola and Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mr Oluwole Oyebamiji, were among those on a two-day visit to
    Osogbo, the state capital, to attend the International Agriculture Technology Exhibition and Conference tagged ‘1st Agrictech Nigeria.’

    The Conference was organised to explore business opportunities in agriculture and to expand the sector.

    Apart from Mr. Valasquez-Caraballo; Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Trejo Sosa was represented by the Deputy Head of Mission, Ms. Leydis Bernal Suarez; Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, ‎Mr Pear Duchi, was represented by Mr Madu Chibueze, among others.

    Speaking on behalf of the governor, Dr Akinola said Osun remained resolute to maximize her potentials for greater productivity.

    He said his administration is committed to enhancing Public Private Partnership, thus creating workable environment for business to grow.

    Governor Oyetola said the state is open for business as the state had mapped out modality to facilitate local and foreign partnership for positive changes across all sectors.

    He added: “We have just had a meeting with Ambassadors who have come to our state to discuss myriads of business opportunities and explore their potentials as regards the need to strengthen bilateral relationship.

    “This administration is giving priority to agriculture, mining, tourism, information and communication technology among others, to ensure proper diversification of the economy.

    “We had a very fruitful session with them; we have reached a compromise on the need to expand the window of business opportunity particularly in the areas of agriculture, mining, tourism, science and
    technology.

    “They have shown interest to partner the state in these areas to ensure that Osun achieves her goals.

    “As a government, we shall continue to create the enabling environment that would help to facilitate bilateral cooperation in all sectors of the economy.

    “We are looking forward for investment partnership from these countries. It is our hope that this collaboration will bring about the desired results.

    “With this Agrictech, our state stands to gain a lot as this will help to expose the state to various opportunities embedded in every aspect of the economy.

    “This is going to strengthen the economy and enhance commercial activities in the state as we are doing everything possible to record success in our economic diversification bid,” he added.

    The Venezuelan Ambassador said his country was ready to collaborate with the Osun state government to promote agriculture, mining and tourism.

    Valasquez-Caraballo who described the agriculture exhibition as fruitful, rewarding and adventurous, said no effort would be spared to partner Osun towards actualizing her set objectives.

    He said: “We have come to Osun to deliberate on some of the areas in which we can collaborate and strengthen bilateral relationship.

    “We are here to build a strong bilateral relation that will bring about the desired development in all aspects of the economy.

    “We have had a conference where issues were raised and deliberated upon on the need to strengthen bilateral cooperation between our government and government of the state of Osun.

    “Our interest is to pursue things that will drive the economy. We are happy to have been given warm reception, we are also glad with the high level of hospitality received as.

    “We have seen the reasons where the two governments must collaborate to advance their economies as we have been exposed to various business opportunities to which we can tap from,” he said.

  • Osun youths protest against tribunal judgement

    A group of youths in Osun State under the aegis of the Osun Concerned Citizens on Wednesday protested judgement of the Osun Election Petition Tribunal on the September 22, 2018 governorship poll.

    Last Friday, the 3-person tribunal ruled the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) governorship, Senator Ademola Adeleke, was the winner of the poll.

    At the peaceful protest, the youths, in their hundreds, marched round major streets of Osogbo, the state capital, from Ayetoro junction via Old Garage and Okefia to Olaiya area.

    The youths, who carried placards with various inscriptions like “Oyetola remains our governor,”; “We voted for Governor Oyetola”; “We cannot be intimidated” among others caused a traffic gridlock for many hours.

    Addressing the crowd, the General Secretary of the group, Comrade Yaya Ademola, said the protest was necessary to sensitise the people about issues associated with the Osun governorship election.

    He noted the lacuna in the ruling of the tribunal, which declared  Adeleke the authentic winner of the September 22, 2018 gubernatorial election.

    Expressing optimism the Court of Appeal would overturn  the tribunal judgment, he said any attempt to distort the majority votes would be  resisted.

    He said: “The said verdict, which is a split decision by which a majority of 2 of the 3 member Panel, purportedly declared Mr. Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the September, 22 and 29, 2018 Governorship Election is clearly unacceptable to us and the overwhelming majority of the people of Osun in general and the Electorate in particular.

    “Our concern in this matter is not just a partisan disavowal of a judgment that is unfavourable to our preferred candidate, Mr. Isiaka Gbeyega Oyetola of the All Progressive Party.

    ‘’Our rejection of the said verdict is borne out of the clear fact that it is a thinly disguised attempt at clothing the product of a black-market judicial heist with the garb of legality in the hope that it may acquire legitimacy.

    “Notwithstanding the fact that a proper legal response to this unjust verdict has been entered at the Court of Appeal, we hasten to say that the basis with which the majority judgement was made is strange and baseless.

    “In the first instance, the claim of the majority judgement to declare that the 29/09/2018 rerun illegal, on the basis that only Polling Officer and not Returning Officer could cancel results in the 7 Polling Units across the 3 Local Governments in the rerun does not arise.

    ‘’Neither the Polling Officer nor Returning Officer cancelled elections in the affected areas. Elections didn’t take place. Where it did, it was disrupted with ballot boxes snatched and carted away with no returns.’’

    He added: “In Orolu, Ife South and Ife North, elections were disrupted with no returns. In Unit 017, Ward 5 , Osogbo LG, election did not hold at all and no returns.

    ‘’Under this circumstance, it is a settled case at the Supreme Court in James Faleke vs INEC (2016),that where the difference between the two leading candidates will be determined by the votes of places where elections didn’t hold or disrupted, there will be rerun.

    READ ALSO: Four journalists brutalised in Osun protest

    “This situation is not peculiar to Osun. Below are some examples of rerun: a. 2011 Anambra Senatorial Election between leading APGA and ACN with a margin of 697 against the cancelled 7,930 votes. b. 2013 Anambra Guber Election between leading APGA and PDP with a margin of 79,754 against 113,113 cancelled votes. c. 2015 Imo Guber Election between leading APC and PDP with a margin of 79,529 against cancelled votes of 144,715.

    “2015 Bayelsa Guber Election between leading PDP and APC with a margin of 33,154 against 120,000 cancelled votes.

    e. 2015 Guber Election between leading leading APC and PDP with a margin of 41,353 and 49,953 cancelled votes.

    “Again, the Petitioner didn’t prove that election took place or there were returns in the affected areas. He did not even plead that the rerun is illegal. When has Court become a father Charistmas who gives what was not prayed for to declare the rerun illegal?

    “Again, how could the Majority of 2 out of 3 deduct votes in 23 units merely for the fact that INEC did not properly fill Form EC8A? How could 23 units of the entire 3,010 could be substantial enough, assuming it is non-compliance with electoral rule for Judges to alter votes of the people more so, when the Petitioner didn’t demand for it? If it is substantial enough, would it not make better sense to pronounce rerun in the 23 units instead of the algebra, subtraction and addition with which the majority 2 turned themselves?

    “We are concerned and indeed alarmed that rather than adjudicate in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Electoral Act that emphasises Substantial Compliance or lack of it or want of it as the basis for proving the validity or otherwise of the election of a candidate, the majority decision of the Tribunal  arbitrarily pitched its tent with the formal irregularity of the failure of INEC to fill certain columns of the Result Sheets even when they do not affect the number of votes scored by candidates! This amounts to a disingenuous working to a predetermined answer.

    “Under Civil Rule, Electorate votes determine who governs the State and it is by simple majority. Election Tribunal cannot substitute itself for the electorate role – vis-a-vis voting. Osun Concerned Citizens stand for Democracy and Justice. We firmly believe that the Electorate in Osun had spoken and the attempt by the majority decision to turn the Tribunal into a ‘’Selectotate’’ shall be resisted.

    “We shall not rest until true Justice is done in the final determination of all appellate proceedings. No to Jankara Justice! Osun electorate have spoken through their majority votes!! Attempts to obstruct our votes shall be vehemently resisted.”

  • Oyetola reopens three tertiary institutions

    The Osun State governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, has ordered the reopening of three tertiary institutions in Ijeshaland.

    The institutions, the Osun State College of Education, Ilesa; the School of Health Technology, Ilesa; and the Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke, were shut down by the state government on March 18 aftermath of the students’ violent protest against the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC.)

    The schools are to commence immediate academic activities.

    In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Adeniyi Adesina, the governor decided to reopen the institutions after “due consultations with stakeholders – heads of the affected institutions, parents and the leadership of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC).”

    According to the statement, the parties agreed that peace should continue to reign and that the students will henceforth behave in line with the Omoluabi ethos which the State of Osun is noted for.

    The statement read in part: “The restoration of electricity supply in Ijesaland has commenced. It will soon get to all the communities. Governor Oyetola, therefore, advised the students to desist from taking the law into their hands and to exploit legitimate channels to pursue their grievances.

    He also warned that the government would not tolerate any resort to violence in expression of any grievances.”

  • SMEDAN hails Osun for supporting small businesses

    Director-General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) Mr. Umar Dikko has hailed Osun State for creating an enabling environment for small businesses to thrive.

    Speaking at the 2019 Osun Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise opportunities open fair in Osogbo, the director-general said Osun State government with upgrade of infrastructure had made businesses easy to operate and has allowed SMEs to grow rapidly.

    Umar, who was represented by the agency’s Director, Enterprise and Development Promotion, Mr. Elvans Monday, explained that the major priority of SMEDAN is to promote “made in Nigeria products and services” as well as enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs.

    He said Osun State government has done tremendously well in making SMEs to thrive.

    He said: “The agency is positioned as a ‘One Stop Shop’ for growing and resuscitating micro, small and medium enterprises in the country and we must commend the state government of Osun for having done much in this regard.

    “Our job in Osun has been made so easy because of the efforts of the state government, especially on the creation of an enabling environment, which has helped small businesses to grow.”

    In his keynote address, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, who opened the five-day fair tagged, “Expanding Market Frontiers for MSMES”, expressed his administration’s readiness to keep supporting the growth of  medium and small scale businesses.

    He said doing so would boost the state’s economy.

    The governor, who was represented at the event by the Supervisor for Finance, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, described Osun economy as one dominated by the informal sector.

    The governor said he was delighted at the impressive attendance of participants at the fair, noting that event would positively impact on lives of many Osun business operators.

    He hailed SMEDAN for performing “tremendously well” since it was created, acknowledging that the agency’s many programmes have touched  millions of lives across Nigeria.

    The governor said the SMEDAN’s performance was a testament of its achievements in stimulating and developing MSMEs across the country.

  • Osun: Ebora Owu finds mojo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on the Osun election tribunal verdict, just re-found his muffled voice — and just as well!

    But that voice cares little about basic justice — an old man that throws childish tantrums, just because his hypocritical whims are done and dusted with!

    Indeed, Obasanjo’s response was a high horse in grand delusion.  But that won’t fend off his creeping irrelevance.

    The release he personally signed, with the heading: “Statement by HE Olusegun Obasanjo on the judgement of the Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal”, started with the usual Obasanjo show-off : “While I was in Dubai to attend the Global Education  and Skills Forum meeting…”

    The much vaunted “global statesman”, but with little community value at home, needed to reassure himself he was still relevant — no crime!

    Then, the usual tumbling adjectives, that define Obasanjo’s hypocrisy more than any other: “We will continue to sustain Nigeria in stability and unity on the altar of justice, equity, fairness, freedom, human rights and democracy.”  Yeah right — the normal Obasanjo and his pious but empty platitudes!

    On justice, equity, fairness, human rights and democracy, the Obasanjo presidency woefully failed.  The Odi and Zaki Biam massacres were Obasanjo’s stellar records in human rights; while Obasanjo was so fair, equitable and just, he sat on the Lagos council funds, despite the express order of the judiciary he now praises to high heavens!

    And on democracy?  Well, this same Osun (with Ondo, Edo and Ekiti) was a great testimony to Obasanjo’s democracy credentials.

    He was so democratic he conducted the 2007 do-or-die election, from which Olagunsoye Oyinlola enjoyed nearly a four-year illegal term, before the courts drove him out!  Besides, in that virtual war, many in Osun lost their lives and limbs, for Obasanjo’s do-or-die children to prevail!

    On the surface, Obasanjo seemed celebrating Ademola Adeleke’s win.  But really, he was grudging his so-called “international community” friends, for their refusal to demonize Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election, as Obasanjo’s troubled fancies did, well ahead of the exercise, with his 16-page letter conjuring nothing but Armageddon.

    The actual election came and went but the “international community” validated the election as fair.  But this same “international community” had condemned the 2007 (s)election Obasanjo conducted as a travesty. That hurts!

    Listen to the direct Ebora growl, pouncing on his former friends-turned-bitter fiends: “… those who call themselves our development partners and friends, and preach social justice on the altar of so-called stability, are enemies of justice, democracy and Nigeria” — yeah right!  Obasanjo, sole owner of Nigeria, has thus decreed!

    And how about this deviousness, on the conceptual plane? “… if Buhari could go to court three times to seek justice [and behold: this italicized phrase is the crunch], even without reasonable cause, any Nigerian who feels denied of justice must feel free to go to court”!

    So, Adeleke and Atiku (Obasanjo’s new friends) can go to court without conditions; while well, Buhari (Obasanjo’s old foe), too could go  — though “without reasonable cause”! — even with those fanciful Obasanjo-era “election” tallies, when they just wrote figures?  Or why is the voting tally shrinking, when the voting population is increasing?

    It’s another cant from the Ebora Owu stable!  But then, humbug is the lot of those that have neither conscience nor a sense of justice.

    Friends of Obasanjo should tell him to spare us his sour grape gratings!  They not only rankle, they ooze with virulent self-indictment and condemnation!

  • Oyo calls on boundary commission to mediate in dispute with Osun

    Oyo State government has called on National Boundary Commission (NBC) to mediate in the lingering inter- state boundary dispute between Oyo and Osun States.

    The Oyo State Surveyor General, Mr. Alaba Sekore made the call while addressing the journalists during his fact-finding mission visit to disputed areas at Surullere council area of the state.

    Sekore revealed that despite the directive given by the National Boundary Commission to the two States to maintain status quo in the area in dispute pending  final resolution, Osun State government has built physical projects such as boreholes, council development offices  in  boundary areas in Akinnu, Alagba, Koso of Surulere council area, in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

    He appealed to NBC to expedite action on the final resolution on the issue. He called on the  and security agencies especially  the AIG Zone 11 to warn his men to desist from alleged indiscriminate arrest of Oyo State residents including their chiefs at the boundary areas.

    In his remarks, the Chairman Surulere council area, Hon. Ibrahim Gbodeniyi  called on the people residing close to the boundaries to live peacefully and urged the Government of Osun to desist from actions that could lead to violence, noting  that the two states should allow the status quo to remain and wait for the outcome of NBC on the issue.

    Gbodeinyi  pleaded for the assistance from Oyo State government to embark on developmental projects in the  area.

  • Osun tribunal judgment: PDP supporters celebrate Adeleke’s victory

    Supporters and sympathisers of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun were in celebration mood across the state on Friday following tribunal judgement declaring Sen. Ademola Adeleke winner of September 2018 governorship election.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many residents of Ile-Ife were in joyous mood as party faithful and residents trooped out en-masse to celebrate the victory.

    NAN correspondent in Ile Ife reports that PDP supporters were seen jubilating from Ilode to Enuwa, Iremo, Lagere, Mayfair, Iloro, Oka road in celebration of the judgement.

    PDP party faithful were also seen in their large numbers moving to their party leaders’ residences to celebrate the party’s victory at the tribunal.

    Mr Wale Ojo, PDP Ife/Ijesa Senatorial Leader, commended the judiciary for delivering a “truthful judgment, devoid of bias”.

    Mr Rotimi Adeyenuwo, Ife Central PDP Leader, who could not hide his feelings, congratulated Sen. Ademola Adeleke and other party members for the victory.

    Also in some parts of Osogbo, the state capital, some residents were seen jubilating over the declaration of Adeleke as the winner of the Osun governorship election.

    NAN reports that there were shouts and songs of joy along Oke-fia, Lameko Junction and Dada Estate areas of the state capital.

    Commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada riders, were seen jubilating with various displays of their bikes and shouts of ” Imole” Imole” (the campaign slogan of Sen. Ademola Adeleke).

    At Dada Estate area, also in Osogbo, residents trooped out with excitement on hearing the announcement of the tribunal’s judgment.

    However, NAN reports that people of Fakunle, Olaiya, Egbeda, Baruwa and Ogo Oluwa areas of Osogbo carried on their business activities as if oblivious of the tribunal’s judgment.

    Some shop owners and artisans were, however, seen in small gatherings discussing the tribunal judgment.

    A tailor in the Egbeda area of Osogbo, who spoke under anonymity, said he and other tailors were happy about the judgement but could not express their joy or celebrate the victory because their landlord was an APC chieftain.(NAN)

  • Tribunal ruling already on appeal, says Governor Oyetola

    Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola says the judgment of Election Petition Tribunal that declared the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governorship candidate as winner has been put on appeal.

    Oyetola, in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Wole Oyebamiji, on Friday in Osogbo said justice will prevail.

    The state government charged the residents of the state to remain calm and go about their lawful activities following the tribunal judgment in the governorship election petition.

    It reassured the people of their safety and security of properties because “the Government of the State is still the only legitimate Government having the authority to govern the State.”

    The statement reads: “The Government of the State of Osun wishes to appreciate the teeming support of the majority of the people in all things essential for mutual progress.

    Read Also: Osun: Judiciary defender of our democracy -Atiku

    “As it is, the administration of His Excellency, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, Governor, State of Osun, wishes to assure the people that the judgment of the Election Tribunal has been put on appeal.

    “This is to further assure all the residents of the State of adequate security of lives and properties, as the Government of the State is still the only legitimate Government having the authority to govern the State.

    “We assure all our people that justice will prevail at last, and the law enforcement agencies have been instructed to maintain law and order across the State. We therefore urge all the residents of the State to go about their lawful duties without any hindrance.”

  • Osun: Judiciary defender of our democracy -Atiku

    The presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23, 2019 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has applauded the judiciary as truly, the defender of Nigeria’s democracy.

    Atiku Abubakar made the declaration while reacting to the verdict of the Osun governorship election petition tribunal which upheld the election of the PDP candidate in the September 22, 2018 governorship election, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    In a statement yesterday by his media adviser, Mr. Paul Ibe, the former Vice President noted that the restoration of the stolen mandate of Senator Adeleke showed that indeed the judiciary is the last refuge of the common man and that in truth, those who were aggrieved and resolved to maintain the peace, have been vindicated.

    Atiku congratulated Senator Adeleke, the PDP and men and women of goodwill in Osun State, who he said, did not waiver in their commitment to retrieve the stolen mandate.

    READ ALSO: We’ll appeal tribunal judgment on Osun governorship, says APC

    “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy has come for the people of Osun”, Atiku added.

    The PDP presidential candidate commended the courage of the judiciary and its resilience even in the face of alleged strenuous effort by the All Progressives Congress (APC) -led government to undermine and intimidate it.

    According to him, the decision of the judiciary in the Osun governorship election was phenomenal in view of the culture of inconclusive elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in this season.

    “The judgment has rekindled hope and confidence that those whose mandate had been tampered with or denied can look forward to justice being done to them,” Atiku said.

    He urged the judiciary to remain steadfast as the eyes of all Nigerians and indeed the whole world are on them to help ensure that democracy in Nigeria is put on a solid foundation.