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Tag: OSUN

  • Adeleke’s victory triumph of people’s will, says PDP

    The People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) has hailed the verdict of the Osun State Governorship election tribunal, which upheld the victory of its candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, describing the judgement as a victory for democracy and triumph of the will of the people.

    The main opposition party said the judgment was a clear indicator that those who set out to destroy the nation’s democracy can never triumph and that no matter how evil and injustice appear to thrive; the truth must always prevail at the end of the day.

    In a statement Friday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan said Nigerians have accepted democracy as a way of life and a form of government that suits the multi-plurality of the nation.

    The statement said, “The spontaneous jubilation that greeted this judgment is therefore a direct indication that it is in consonant with the wishes and aspiration of Nigerians across the board.

    “For those who have been desperate to destroy our democracy, this judgment has proven to them that their shenanigans will always come to no avail.

    “The PDP commends the judiciary for standing upright in the defence of democracy and for ensuring that those involved in the rapacious desecration of our democratic norms will never succeed.

    “This verdict, which reverberates across our nation, points to the fact that the truth will always prevail and that our party, the PDP, will recover all our stolen mandates in the 2019 general elections, particularly, the Presidential mandate, which Nigerians freely gave to our candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

    “Furthermore, all our candidates who have already won their elections, but whose victories are being manipulated by anti-democratic forces, must take solace in the words of the Osun election petition panel, that once valid votes have been declared and a winner emerges by majority of votes, a rerun is illegal

    “The PDP congratulates Senator Adeleke, the good people of Osun state as well as all lovers of democracy across our country for the triumph of justice over impunity, abuse of electoral processes and unfettered political rascality”.

  • Mandate returned, says Davido on Osun tribunal ruling

    Music super star David Adeleke, fondly called Davido, has reacted to the judgement of the Osun State Election Petition Tribunal.

    “Mandate returned,” he wrote on his Instagam page, in reaction to the declaration of his uncle, Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the 2018 governorship election in the state.

    Adeleke was the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election but Governor Gboyega Isiaka was returned winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

    Read Also: Tribunal declares Adeleke winner of Osun election

    The Davido wrote, “God no dey sleep!!! Mandate returned!!! Imole ti de!! Osun I’m on my way!!”

    On his Twitter handle, he shared a photo from the 2018 campaign trail and tweeted, “Imole ti de!!!!!! Congratulations to the great people of Osun State!”

  • Tribunal declares Adeleke winner of Osun election

    The Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has declared Ademola Adeleke, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party as winner of the September 2018 election in the state.

    The 3-man tribunal upheld the petitions filed by Adeleke and the PDP, challenging the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Gboyega Oyetola at the September 2018 governorship election.

    The tribunal had earlier dismissed the objections of the APC and Oyetola. It said Adeleke’s petition has merit. The tribunal also declared the rerun election as illegal.

    NAN reports that the PDP and Adeleke, had filed a petition asking the tribunal to declare that he polled the highest lawful votes and should be declared the winner.

    But Oyetola, APC and INEC had filed their notices of preliminary objection contending among others that the petition was incompetent and that the court lacked jurisdiction.

    A three -member panel of the tribunal, dismissed the objections filed by Gov. Oyetola, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Both Adeleke and the PDP in their different petitions had urged the tribunal to declare that he scored the highest lawful votes in the election and should be declared as winner.

    However, Oyetola, APC and INEC filed their notices of preliminary objection against the petition on the grounds that the petition is incompetent adding that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the petition.

    Delivering the‎ lead ruling of the three-man tribunal, Chairman Ibrahim Sirajo, held that the objections were misconceived and struck them out.

    The Tribunal held that the CTC should and must be an exact replica of the EC8A pink copies.

    The discrepancies must therefore be explained and justified by INEC.

    In this instance, the tribunal held, INEC failed to explain nor justify the alterations and that they failed to call any witness to justify the alterations.

    The tribunal held that the attempt to explain the alterations on the basis of mere corrections of errors is not acceptable and the fact that the said errors were consistently made in the disputed areas means it was a deliberate action taken.

  • Updated: Tribunal sacks Osun Governor, declares Adeleke winner

    *Voids results in 17 polling units

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal has voided the election of Adegboyega Oyetola as governor of Osun State.

    In a two-to-one split decision by a three-man panel, the tribunal declared Senator Ademola Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the election

    Read Also: Tribunal declares Osun gov re-run election illegal

    Justice Peter Obiora, who read the lead judgement, voided the supplementary election held on September 27, 2018 on the ground that the state returning officer has no power to have cancelled election in seven polling units in four Local Government and order a rerun.

    The tribunal, in the majority judgment, also cancelled results from 17 polling units on grounds of substantial non-compliance with Electoral Act.

    Details shortly

  • Oyetola to LCDAs: seek independent funding to deliver development

    Osun state Governor Gboyega Oyetola has charged chairmen of the Local Government Areas (LGAs) and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to seek independent funding sources to develop their councils.

    He urged Council bosses to develop workable means of generating revenue outside the statutory allocation to cater for the critical needs of their people

    Oyetola said his administration is committed towards actualizing the objectives for which the councils were created.

    The Governor spoke on Thursday while inaugurating the newly-built secretariat complex of Ila Central Local Council Development Area (LCDA), in Ila-Orangun.

    He added that one of the ways LGAs and LCDAs could deliver on their mandate is to creatively increase their internally generated revenue, judiciously utilise their monthly allocations and deliver equitable services to the people.

    He said the welfare of the people has been the priority of his administration, hence the need for the leadership of the councils to allow the agenda of his administration in the areas of quality healthcare, functional and compulsory basic education, equitable infrastructure, economy and agriculture to percolate to the grassroots.

    The ceremony was attended by former Governor Bisi Akande, political and traditional rulers in the state.

    Oyetola said: “It is our dream to deliver prosperity and development to the people, using the local councils as dependable allies and channels.

    “We are committed to the development of all our council areas as they remain the only veritable means of bringing sustainable development to every part of the state.

    “The commissioning of the New Secretariat of Ila Central Local Council Development Area today is a challenge to other LCDAs to seek independent sources to deliver development to their people.

    “It starts with building a structure where staff can think out innovations and initiatives and consequently deliver sectoral services to the people.

    “One way LCDAs can achieve this is to creatively increase their internally generated revenues, judiciously utilise their monthly allocations and deliver equitable services to the people.

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    “The building of this complex within few years of the creation of Local Council Development Areas is a robust testament to the seriousness the leadership of Ila Central Local Council Development Area places on governance and service to the people.

    “I would therefore like to charge the leadership and staff of this LCDA to let the serious thinking that produced this secretariat complex deliver good welfare, education, health, infrastructure and the good life to the people.

    “A sound maintenance culture is central to sustainable infrastructure delivery. This is even more so in a state as ours that is grappling with resource challenges. I, therefore, urge the leadership of the ICLCDA to put measures in place to keep this secretariat complex in good shape and enduring status.

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    “This New Secretariat, built few years after the creation of LCDAs, stands as the epithet to the good life and good governance which our administration is resolved to speedily deliver to the people”.

    The Chairman, Ila Central Local Government Area (LCDA), Mr Ademola Kolawole, commended Governor Oyetola for aggressively transforming the state to the next level of development in spite the not too pleasant economic realities.

    He attributed the successful completion of the secretariat complex to unflinching support received from the state government.

    Kolawole applauded Governor Oyetola’s exemplary qualities and high sense of commitment to human and capital development since assumption of office.

    He said: “The successful completion of this edifice is a manifestation to the fact that our administration is properly directing its focus, getting its vision clear and setting its strategies to take the council to greater heights.

    “What we are witnessing today is a good testimony to the genuine intention of the government in realizing the objectives of the creation amidst economic downturn.

    “This is a demonstration of good governance at the grassroots and a clear testimony calculated at laying foundation for a more successful service delivery to our teeming populace in the council.

    “We are working assiduously to bring rapid development to the grassroot people and discharge other primary responsibilities instrumental to the yearnings of the governed”, he stated.

    Former Governor Akande lauded the steady pace of development brought about by the Oyetola administration and commended the administration for paying due attention to every sector of the economy.

    Akande, who described Local Government as an entity to orchestrate meaningful development at the grassroots, advised the Council boss to prioritize security, saying the essence of any government is to ensure the security of lives and property of the citizens.

  • Tribunal fixes judgment for Friday in Osun governorship dispute

    The Osun State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Apo, Abuja has scheduled Friday for judgment in the petition by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate in the September 2018 governorship election held in the state, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

    PDP and Adeleke are, by their petition, challenging the declaration of Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The date for the judgment was communicated to parties via hearing notices sent to them on Tuesday to that effect by the tribunal’s secretariat, a copy of which The Nation sighted in Abuja.

    Read Also: INEC ad hoc staff protest over unpaid allowances

    Tribunal Chairman, Justice Ibrahim Sirajo had, on March 7, after parties adopted their final written addresses, announced that judgment in the case would be reserved till a later date.

    Justice Sirajo said parties will be informed, at least, 48 hours before the date of delivery of the judgment.

    Wole Olanipekun (SAN) appeared for Oyetola; Akin Olujinmi (SAN) represented the APC while Lasco Pwahomdi appeared for INEC on March 7.

    The petitioners’ legal team was led by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).

    In adopting their separate final addresses, Olanipekun, Olujinmi and Pwahomdi urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition on the grounds that the petitioners have failed to prove their case.

    On his part, Ikpeazu urged the tribunal to uphold the petition and grant all the reliefs prayed by the petitioners.

    Olanipekun, while adopting his final address, noted that the petition was full of confusing claims and betrayed the petitioners’ lack of understanding of the nation’s election petition jurisprudence.

    In identifying what he described as the many contradictions in the petition, Olanipekun noted that “in pages 37, 38 and 39, the petitioners are presenting a different case entirely from their pleadings. The petition is a bedlam of confusion.”

    Olanipekun noted that the petitioners have admitted breaching the electoral law by seeking that some of their votes be quashed.

    He added: “They are also asking the tribunal to quash some of their votes. A self-confessed petitioner, who has in writing, admitted infringing the law, cannot be asking to be returned as a winner of the election.

    “In their relief seven, they want the court to nullify the certificate of return, but they failed to present the certificate before the tribunal. Where is that certificate? Can the tribunal nullify what is not before it?

    “They said the certificate of return is with us. If it is with us, should they not have given us a notice to produce it? They did not give us notice to produce,” Olanipekun said.

    He relied on a decision of the Court of Appeal given on Wednesday in the motion filed by the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar and urged the tribunal to decline the petitioners’ prayer to void the guideline issued by INEC for the conduct of the election.

    In similar argument, Olujinmi faulted the evidence given by 63 polling agents called as witnesses by the petitioners.

    He noted that, though the petitioners called 80 witnesses in all, 63, who were polling unit agents gave common evidence by saying similar things and using almost exactly the same words.

    Olujinmi also argued the the evidence by the petitions’ 74th witness, who was the state polling agent, amounted to hearsay evidence because he admitted getting the information from the documents submitted to him.

    He urged the tribunal to ignore the various documents tendered by the petitioners, which he said they merely dumped on the tribunal without demonstrating their link to the case.

    Olujinmi also noted contradictions in the case of the petitioners and the evidence they led.

    He noted that while the petitioners want the tribunal to declare them winner of the first part of the election held on September 22, 2018 and void the supplementary election held on September 27, 2018, their 74th witness said they have no cause of action as it relates to the election of September 22, 2018.

    Ikpeazu, in his counter argument, urged the tribunal to disregard the issues raised by the respondents’ lawyers.

    He faulted the written addresses by the 2nd and 3rd respondents, which he argued, were not filed as required by law.

    Ikpeazu said there was no confusion as it relates to the case of the petitioners. He said the respondents’ claim of existence of confusion betrayed their misunderstanding of the case.

    Ikpeazu said the petitioners’ case was that, based of the result of the election of September 22, the 1st petitioner, having satisfied provision of Section 179(2) of the Constitution, ought to be declared as having won.

    He faulted the respondents’ argument that the petitioners dumped documents on the tribunal.

    Ikpeazu argued that the petitioners have effectively demonstrated all the documents tendered, including the certified true copies of the result sheets, which he said, were riddled with alterations.

    He queried the powers of INEC to alter election results and urged the tribunal to grant the petitioners’ prayers.

  • House suspends plenary to April 2

    The House of Representatives has suspended plenary to April 2 to enable members engage Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) at committee level on the defense of 2019 budget proposal.

    This was sequel to a unanimous adoption of a motion by the Majority Leader of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) at the plenary on Tuesday.

    In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker of House, Rep. Yussuf Lassun (APC-Osun), urged all the standing committees to work and conclude budget defense before May.

    He said that the 2019 Appropriation Bill should be ready for passage upon resumption of the House in May.

    NAN

  • Day of rage in Osun as protesters brutalise four journalists

    •Court urges IBEDC to restore power to Ilesa •Govt to pay victims’ medical bills

    I rate youths in Ilesa, Osun State, yesterday brutalised four journalists during their protest against the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) over the disconnection of electricity in Ijesha zone.

    It was gathered that the IBEDC management disconnected electricity in parts of Ilesa when some staff of the company during their official duty were assaulted by the youths in Olomilagbala and Bolorunduro communities in Ilesa East Local Government.

    The youths also allegedly have attacked Ilesa business hub of IBEDC on Thursday March 14 and beat the staffs of the company, accusing the company of poor power distribution, extortion and over billing.

    The aggrieved youths started their protest on Sunday and continued yesterday at Isokun area of the town, where the IBEDC power station is located when they attacked the reporters covering the demonstration.

    On sighting the reporters, who came into the town from Osogbo road, the irate youths, who were armed with cutlasses, cudgels and other dangerous weapons, reportedly descended on them to vent their anger.

    The attacked journalists are Television Continental (TVC) reporter Rafiu Muhammad and his cameraman, Taiwo Adu and the Channels Television reporter Shittu Abdulfatai and his cameraman, Sheu Kadri.

    The protesting youths were also on rampage for more than two hours.

    The protester also damaged the official car of the General Manager of Uniq Radio F. M. and the crew van of the Freedom Television.

    They broke the windscreen of the car and destroyed the recording cameras of the two stations.

    Earlier in the day, the youths were said to have barricaded major roads leading into the town and causing vehicular logjam for many hours.

    But, Osun State Governor Mr. Gboyega Oyetola promised to pay medical bills of the attacked journalists, who are on admission at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

    Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Mr. Adeniyi Adesina, who visited the injured journalists in the hospital, assured them that the state government would pay the bills for their medical treatment.

    In a related development, the State High Court sitting in Ilesa, Osun State has directed IBEDC to restore electricity to Ilesa and its environs.

    In his ruling yesterday, Justice A. L. Adegoke directed the IBEDC to restore the supply of electricity with immediate effect.

    Justice Adegoke stated that the decision of the electricity distribution company of throwing the entire Ijesaland into darkness was an illegality.

    Also, the Osun State House of Assembly has directed the House Committee on Public Petition to meet with management of the electricity distribution company and representatives of affected areas in Ijeshaland to look for a way to resolve the dispute between the two parties.

    The Speaker, Najeem Salaam, gave the directive after the Assembly member representing Ilesha West, Tajudeen Famuyide, raised the issue Under Matter of Public Importance.

    Famuyide explained that electricity distribution company had withdrawn it services from Ijeshaland, leaving the area in total darkness due to faceoff between its staff and some youths in the town.

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, has condemned the attack on its members, describing it as uncivilised and barbaric.

    A statement by its chairman, Mr. Kehinde Ayantunji, described the attackers as crude, adding that the union would do everything possible to make sure that the perpetrators face the law.

    The chairman, who acknowledged prompt intervention of some good Samaritans in rescuing the journalists, said: “We are shocked and seriously disturbed by the ruthless attack on four of our members today in Ilesa. We consider the attack as bestial, barbaric and uncivilised; and a declaration of war against journalists, who were performing their constitutional responsibility.

    “It is indeed regrettable that those who were striving hard to ensure that the legitimate grievances of the people are brought to the attention of concerned authorities now became object of attack. The attack was so brutal to the extent that Taiwo Adu of TVC and Kadir Kabir of Channels could not stand on their feet. They were callously hit with bottle and various dangerous objects and held captive for about an hour with serious humiliation.

    “They are currently on admission at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo. Their cameras and other gadgets worth millions of naira were completely destroyed. While we recognise right of protest as a fundamental right, it must not be allowed to degenerate to the level of being hijacked by hoodlums in which journalists unfortunately became victims.”

    Ayantunji called on security agencies to swing into action and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book without delay.

  • Four journalists brutalised in Osun protest

    Irate youths in Ilesa, Osun State on Monday brutalised four journalists during their protest against Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) over the disconnection of electricity in Ijesha zone.

    It was gathered the IBEDC management disconnected electricity in parts of Ilesa when some staff of the company during their official duty were assaulted by the youths in Olomilagbala and Bolorunduro communities of Ilesa East Local Government in Osun state.

    The youths also allegedly have attacked Ilesa business hub of IBEDC on Thursday March 14 and beat the staffs of the company, accusing the company of poor power distribution, extortion and over billing.

    The aggrieved youths started their protest on Sunday and continued the unrest on Monday at Isokun area of town, where the IBEDC power station is located when they attacked the journalists covering the demonstration.

    On sighting the journalists, who came into the town from Osogbo road, the irate youths, armed with cutlasses cudgels and other dangerous weapons, reportedly descended on them to vent their anger.

    The attacked journalists are Television Continental (TVC) reporter Rafiu Muhammad and his camera man, Taiwo Adu, and the Channels Television reporter, Shittu Abdulfatai and his camera man, Sheu Kadri.

    It was further gathered that the protesting youths were also on rampage for more than two hours.

    The protesters also damaged the official car of the General Manager of Uniq Radio F. M. and the crew van of the Freedom Television.

    They broke the windscreen of the car and destroyed the recording cameras of the two stations.

    Earlier in the day, the youths were said to have barricaded major roads leading into the town and causing vehicular logjam for many hours.

    Osun State governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, has promised to pay medical bills of the attacked journalists, who are on admission at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

    The Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Adeniyi Adesina, who visited the injured journalists in the hospital, delivered the governor’s message to them, assuring that the state government would offset the bills for their medical treatment.

    In a related development, the State High Court sitting in Ilesa, Osun State has directed the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to restore electricity to Ilesa and its environs.

    In his ruling on Monday, the presiding judge, Justice A. L. Adegoke, directed the IBEDC to restore the supply of electricity with immediate effect.

    Justice Adegoke stated that the decision of the electricity distribution company of throwing the entire Ijesaland into darkness was an illegality.

    Also, the Osun State House of Assembly has directed the House Committee on Public Petition to meet with management of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and representatives of affected areas in Ijeshaland to look for a way to resolve the dispute between the two parties.

    The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, gave the directive after the Assembly member representing Ilesha West, Hon. Tajudeen Famuyide, raised the issue Under Matter of Public Importance.

    Hon. Famuyide explained that electricity distribution company had withdrawn it service from Ijesha land leaving the area in total darkness due to faceoff between staff of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and some youths in Ilesha.

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council has condemned the attack on its members at Olomilagbala, Bolorunduro, Ilesa East Local Government, on Monday in totality, describing it as uncivilized and barbaric.

    In a statement by the Osun State NUJ chairman, Mr. Kehinde Ayantunji, said:  “Four journalists, namely : Shitu Abdulfatai of the Channels TV, his Camera man, Kadri Kabir,  Rafiu Hammed of TV Continental, (TVC) and his Camera man, Taiwo Adu were among those  attacked  by suspected thugs. The newsmen were in Ilesa in the early hours of Monday to cover the protest embarked upon by irate youths over power outage in Ijesaland.”

    Ayantunji further described the attackers as crude, adding that the union would do everything possible to make sure that the perpetrators face must ice.

    The chairman, who acknowledged prompt intervention of some good Samaritans in rescuing the journalists, said: “We are shocked and seriously disturbed by the ruthless attack on  four of our members  today in Ilesa. We consider the attack as bestial, barbaric and uncivilized; and a declaration of war against journalists who were performing their constitutional responsibility.

    “It is indeed regrettable that those who were striving hard to ensure that the legitimate grievances of the people are brought to the attention of concerned authorities now became object of attack. The attack was so brutal to the extent that Taiwo Adu of TVC and Kadir Kabir of Channels could not stand on their feet. They were callously hit with bottle and various dangerous objects and held captive for about an hour with serious humiliation.

    “They are currently on admission at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo. Their Cameras and other gadgets worth millions of naira were completely destroyed. While we recognize right of protest as a fundamental right, it must not be allowed to degenerate to the level of being hijacked by hoodlums in which journalists unfortunately became victims.”

    Ayantunji called on security agencies to swiftly swing into action and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book without delay.

  • Osun, China to collaborate on mining, agric, others

    China has pledged to assist in lifting the socio-economic growth of Osun State through collaboration in infrastructural growth, education, agriculture, mining and commerce.

    Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Dr. Zhou Pingjian gave the indication of his country’s readiness to work with the state government during his visit to Governor Gboyega Oyetola at the weekend in Osogbo.

    Members of the Chinese delegation on the visit are: Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria Mr. Zhou Xikang; Chinese Embassy Political Officer Mr. Huang Shumsing and officials of the CCECC Construction Firm, Mr. Zhao Kang and Mr. Zhao Sicong.

    Officials of the state government, who joined the governor to receive the visitors include Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi, Secretary to the State Government Mr. Oluwole Oyebamiji, Head of Service Dr. Olowogboyega Oyebade, Chief of Staff Dr. Charles Diji Akinola, Supervisor for Finance Mr. Bola Oyebamiji and Deputy Chief of Staff Mr. Abdullah Adeyanju Binuyo.

    Oyetola noted that the partnership with the Chinese government would help the state to actualise her dreams on Public Private Partnership (PPP) and open windows of opportunities for investors to thrive.

    The governor said the state is endowed with mineral resources available for investment, adding that the climate is conducive for investors, especially the friendly government policies and stable power supply of up to 18 hours daily.

    He also spoke of the reign of peace in the state, the availability of arable land and the policy on land bank, which enables investors to access land with ease for their operations.

    He appealed to the Chinese Embassy to collaborate with the state to facilitate the completion of the MKO Abiola International Airport in Ido-Osun.

    Oyetola hailed the Republic of China for being a reliable partner to the Federal Government.

    Oyetola said: “We are satisfied with the cooperation that China is extending to Nigeria. China has become an economic power

    “China is always the best in the area of construction and infrastructure development. Since government has no business in business, our administration is ready to partner with you to drive our investment in all sectors.

    “We have specific interest in mining, Information and Communication Technology, education, agriculture, infrastructure development among others.”

    Chinese Ambassador Pingjian said: “The visit to Osun is intended to strengthen the existing cordial relations between China and Nigeria and promote cooperation and exchanges at sub-national level.

    “Osun is doing well in all areas of the economy, particular in the education sector. I have seen the quality of the schools built around the state and I have seen so many reasons to invest in this state.”