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Tag: OSUN

  • Charlyboy’s group takes `vote buying’ campaign to Osun

    The OurMumuDonDo civil society group led by Charles Oputa,a.k.a Charly boy , on Monday held a public campaign against vote- buying in Osun, ahead of the governorship election on September, 22.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that members of the group, drawn from across the country, took the “Don’t sell your Vote” campaign across major streets, markets and parks in Osogbo.

    According to the conveners, the rally is part of the Voters Education initiative of the group to ensure that ordinary Nigerians get rightly involved in governance and hold leaders accountable to their campaign promises.

    Charlyboy, popularly known as “Areafada”, said that vote-buying was an increasing menace to Nigeria democracy that must be curbed on time if the nation wants selfless and competent leaders.

    “As a group that is genuinely interested in good leadership at all levels in Nigeria, we do not want the incidence of alleged massive vote-buying that took place in Ekiti, to happen here in Osun state.

    “We are here to tell the electorate that, as they go to the poll on Saturday, they should not sell their votes for any other monetary value, and then suffer for the next 4years.

    “The ordinary people here in the market and on the streets, need to know that they must not allow desperate politicians to take advantage of hunger in the land, to rob them of their future,” he said.

    Read Also: The con Men of God – Charlyboy

     

    Also, Mr Deji Adeyanju, a co-convener of the ‘Ourmumudondo’ group said: “Election should not be seen as a business transaction where there are sellers and buyers.

    “All we want is a society that works for everyone at the end of the day, instead of mortgaging our future for stipends,” he said.

    Mr Ariyo-Dare Atoye, also a co-convener of the group, told NAN on the sideline that the campaign was a timely intervention to savage the Nigerian electorates from the hand of selfish politicians.

    He lamented that desperate politicians were taking advantage of the current economic challenges facing the average Nigerian voter to manipulate them with money.

    “A lot of our politicians have nothing to offer the people other than money, and that is why we are preaching that people should not sell their future for five thousand naira.

    “Vote-buying is a hurricane that will eventually kill all of us if not stopped, “he said.

    NAN reports that the group also visited the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation and other stakeholders in Osogbo with the anti-vote buying message.

  • Aregbesola advises corpers to resist being used for rigging

    Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Monday advised corps members in the state to resist being used for rigging by politicians, in the Sept. 22 gubernatorial election.

    Aregbesola gave the advice at the closing /terminal parade of the orientation course for the 2018 Batch B Stream II corps members, at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) permanent orientation camp in Ede, Osun.

    The governor, who was represented on the occasion by Mrs Folakemi Adegboyega, Commissioner for Employment and Youth Engagement, said it was necessary to continue to admonish the corps members, especially those who would be engaged as ad-hoc staff for the election.

    Aregbesola advised them to be neutral and should not betray the trust reposed in them.

    “You all have been rightly informed during the swearing-in ceremony of your role in the forthcoming election in the state.

    “Ensure to abide by the advice which came to you through seasoned officers of the scheme and its collaborating agencies, when you are called upon for participation in the election process in the course of your service year.

    “Shun violence and corruption, ensure that the votes of every citizens at the polling units counts and do not allow yourselves to be used by anyone to perpetuate rigging during the process.

    “Remember your family, the scheme, and the nation at large are looking up to you; and so, do not let the trust reposed in you by these people be at naught,” he said.

    Mr Emmanuel Attah, State Coordinator of the NYSC in Osun, in his own address, assured the people of the state and Nigerians that the scheme would continue to play its neutral role in the Nigeria electoral process.

    Attah said the scheme had given credibility to past elections in the country and it intended to maintain it.

    He, however, warned that the NYSC would not take it lightly with any individual or group of persons who attempt to intimidate or harm any corps member (s) in the name of political thuggery.

    Attah advised politicians to stay away and not induce the corps members, adding that they were well-trained and sensitised not to listen or take anything from them under any guise.

  • Osun: Buhari to flag off basic health provision fund

    As part of Federal Government’s efforts to improve basic health care in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari will perform the national flag off of basic health provision fund in Osogbo, the Osun state capital.

    Dr Niyi Oginni,the Executive Director of Osun Health Insurance Scheme (O’HIS), who disclosed this at a news conference on Sunday in Osogbo, said the flag off would be performed by the President and the Health Minister, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Sept. 20.

    Oginni said that the basic health provision fund , which was signed into law under section 11 of 2014 Health Act, would be flagged off along side Osun Health Insurance Scheme by the President.

    He said that after the flag-off, malaria treatment, high blood check, diabetics screening would be free of charge for all residents.

    Oginni said that under the scheme, delivery, anti-natal, post-natal and family planning would be free for pregnant women, while immunisation would be free for children.

    He said other pilot states where the basic health fund scheme would be flagged-off include Abia, Niger, Katsina, Yobe and Edo.

    Oginni said the basic health fund would be disbursed through the State Primary Health Care Development Agency and Social Health Insurance scheme.

    He said the primary health care development agency would be responsible for personnel, infrastructure and purchase of consumables and drugs.

    Read Also: Lagos requires change for progress, says Sanwo-Olu

    “While the health insurance scheme will capture the data of those who have received services under the basic health fund,” he said.

    Oginni explained that under the insurance scheme, those who require further services, which basic health fund could not cover, would have to be enrolled into the scheme.

    He said for civil servants and those in organised formal sector, who would be enrolled into the scheme, 1.5 per cent would be deducted from their basic salary while their employers would contribute 3 per cent on a monthly basis.

    He said the beneficary could add their spouse and four children who are under the age of 18 years.

    He said those in the informal sector could also be enrolled under the scheme.

    Oginni said the health insurance scheme would provide robust health services for the people of the state

  • Osun releases N 500 million to LAUTECH

    To further demonstrate its commitment to the continued existence of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, the Osun State government has fulfilled its promise to release the sum of five hundred million naira (N500,000,000:00) to the university.

    The said sum promised last week by the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, hit the institution’s account on Friday.

    Aregbesola, had while receiving members of the governing council and Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH, Professor Adeniyi Gbadegesin, last Saturday, explained that State Osun was committed to the welfare of staff and students of the institution.

    He told the visitors that on no occasion had Osun wanted to shy away from its responsibility to LAUTECH.

    Adding that his government was proud of the various giant strides of the university, the governor appealed to staff and students to continue with the good works aimed at sustaining its present position in the committee of tertiary institutions, focusing on the fact that all will be well soon.

    Responding, Gbadegesin said he was glad that the State of Osun has again shown its commitment as a part owner to LAUTECH.

    He thanked the governor and people of the State of Osun, appealing that they further demonstrate love to the university and its workers, through adequate funding.

     

  • It’s a make or mar election for Osun

    Mr. Olugbenga Akintola is the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the forthcoming governorship election in Osun State. In this interview with Bisi Oladele, he says the September 22 election is a make-or-mar exercise for the people of the state

    HOW has the campaign been since you started?

    The campaign has been very, very tough because of the injection of what I will call extreme money spending by major parties which are either in government or have been in government. I am only supported by well-meaning Nigerians who believe that our people must be free from the shackles that are currently holding them back from prosperity. If you look round, you will see that the quality of development is not commensurate with the amount that has been spent by the government. Most parts of our state do not have manageable road network. It hurts me that they have subjected our people to this condition. They complain of paucity of funds but what they did with the little available is not commensurate. We are still talking about roads built by Obafemi Awolowo till today. It’s a shame. Some of the roads built five years ago are already in mess. I’ve been in road construction and management for eight years in Lagos and Oyo states and I did well there. This is not good for our people. We all travel to Europe and America and we see how things are done there. For God sake, let’s just do a bit for our people. I am angry with the way they are treating our people. It is not fair. Government sometimes gives pittance to people instead of developing the environment to make it conducive for citizens to thrive. Stop giving them fish; let them fish by themselves.

    I have been empowering people in this state in the last six years. We have done free diagnosis of hypertension and related ailments for over 20,000 people across the state via the Olugbenga Akintola Foundation. We have very many testimonies from the beneficiaries. I’m just coming from Ila Orangun. The women were crying. They held me by my feet. They said they had been looking forward to meet me having benefitted from the works of my foundation. In addition to that, I have given microfinance assistance to over 1,000 people costing N19.8 million. I have given free drugs to all the major hospitals in Osun State worth N64.4 million. There is a disease called infection of the blood, abdomen and the lungs. One of the most potent drugs for its treatment is called Taxocin.  It is an injection which costs N9, 000 each. For a man earning N30, 000 a month, who has a wife and three children to cater for, where will he get that kind of money to treat himself or his wife? I had to go and knock on the doors of my development partners abroad and my friends here to raise money to provide the drugs. I brought 7,200 of the drugs and distributed to government hospitals. I did not just do this in year 2018. It was in the midst of it that people knocked on my door and asked me to contest so I could have a larger platform to do well for our people.

    Given the fact that you have done so much empowerment and charity for people at the grassroots in addition to taking your campaign to them, how will you assess your chances in this election?

    When I get to them, they have been asking me why people have not been hearing so much about me. I went for the debate organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and was told that I won. I went for the debate by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and was also told that I performed best. I came tops in the one organised by the state broadcasting corporation. But people don’t know me enough because I have not got the funds. So, there is no level-playing field. Some candidates are being backed by the government and some wealthy individuals. So, they can spend billions.

    Are you discouraged by this?

    No way. Even if I don’t win, I will be an example for others to follow. People will see that even if you don’t have money, you can still make serious progress in this environment. I went somewhere now and gave them my fliers. They queried me what they would do with the fliers when they were not accompanied with money? Can you imagine what our society has been turned to? This is not fair. We don’t deserve this. This is what we must resist.

    What message do you have for the people of Osun State as they approach September 22 to cast their votes?

    My people in Osun State should realise that this is going to be the most important election in the history of Osun State. It is a decision-making election. We either vote for retrogression or geometric progression because PDP and APC will take us back again. They have done their best but their best is not good enough. It is not that they have not done anything but their best is not good enough. What is missing is sincerity of purpose. So, people should take this election seriously. Don’t be threatened by anybody. Stay with your vote. When they offer you money, take it but vote according to your conscience because anybody that offers you money is a criminal. Let the people vote for AD, the party with stars, for the sake of their future, for the progress of Osun and to end poverty.

    If elected, we are going to rejuvenate our economy and our state will come to reckoning among other states

  • Osun: Between continuity and change

    It is less than one week to the September 22 Osun governorship election and expectations have understandably reached fever
    pitch as the leading parties jostle for political advantage.

    At the last count, 48 political parties have been cleared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to participate in the crucial election, which, like the Ekiti poll, may be a forerunner to the possibilities inherent in the 2019 general elections.

    Many political observers are unequivocal that the Osun election will be a three-horse race among the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Gboyega Oyetola; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer, Senator Ademola Adeleke; and serial governorship aspirant, Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    If the crisis that trailed the party primaries are anything to go by, it will be foolhardy to underestimate the portents posed by a ‘third force’ represented by the duo of Moshood Adeoti of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Fatai Akinbade of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

    The outcome of the crisis-ridden primaries of many of the leading parties and their policy direction as well as the outlook and persons of the flag bearers may yet determine where the pendulum will swing.

    Oyetola, a former Chief of Staff to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, is readily the man to beat given his proven track record in the private sector, the critical incumbency factor, coupled with his personality which saw him winning the direct primary with 127,017.

    With his Ileri Oluwa (God’s Promise) campaign slogan, this Iragbiji-born politician will be riding on the crest-wave of continuity epitomised by Aregbesola’s massive infrastructural development of the state in almost eight years of his administration.

    As perhaps the most influential official of the administration, the self-effacing Oyetola has been credited with the enunciation and execution of many of the state government’s flagship projects.

    Instructively, his academic and professional background has suitably positioned him for this arduous task of sustaining the legacies of the Aregbesola years.

    He bagged a Bachelor in Insurance in 1978 from the University of Lagos and the Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1990 from the same institution. In 1980, he joined Leadway Assurance Company Limited as Area Manager.

    In 1987, he left for Crusader Insurance Company Limited as Underwriting Manager and in 1990, moved to Alliance and General Insurance as Technical Controller.

    The insurance expert was to establish Silvertrust Insurance Brokers Limited in 1991, serving as its Managing Director from 1991 until he emerged Chief of Staff in 2011.

    Oyetola is seen as the totem figure for continuity in the development stride of Osun and many believe that a change in government may reverse the gains of the administration.

    Having been a member of the ‘kitchen cabinet’ of the Aregbesola administration these years, the policy thrust of his administration, if he emerges victorious, is certainly not in doubt. This much, he highlighted while unveiling his agenda for the people of the state.

    But in spite of the many factors in his favour, Oyetola would have to contend with some of the dissembling challenges facing the outgoing administration such as the huge pension bill, the arrears of salaries owed civil servants and the quite emotive campaign in favour of the governorship slot being zoned to the West Senatorial District.

    Significantly, the mammoth crowd that held Osogbo prostrate during Thursday’s mega rally of the APC flag bearer may well be an indication that Oyetola remains the candidate to beat at the poll.

    The workaholic Oyetola is not giving anything to chances. A first-time visitor to Osogbo, the Osun State capital, is likely to conclude that only APC is contesting in the gubernatorial race, with designer billboards of Gboyega appearing in almost every nook and cranny. Every street has miniature billboards with catchy phrases of promises of Ileri Oluwa, complemented by a burst of posters.

    The ‘dancing’ Senator Ademola Adeleke will predictably be exorcising the ghost of his elder brother, Adeleke, to sway the electorate votes in his favour.

    Isiaka, a flamboyant politician and former governor of Osun, died on April 23, 2017, in controversial circumstances which curried political advantage for the younger Adeleke who was to win the subsequent Osun West Senatorial bye-election by a landslide.

    Adeleke has promised not to loot if he emerges governor, saying he is already a blessed and comfortable man seeking the position only to benefit the masses.

    “I’m contesting because of the people. Our people are suffering and we need to liberate them.

    “If I become governor, I cannot steal money that belongs to people. I have achieved everything that I could need money for in life.

    “I have built houses, I have cars; I have everything. So, what would I do with stolen money? So, I won’t steal as a governor. I only want to serve,” he says.

    Pretty little is known about the educational and professional background of the PDP flag bearer although he will be contesting under the shadows of the controversy surrounding his secondary school certificate and the disclaimer by an American university on his status as a student of the institution.

    But other than the legacy of a political family bequeathed to him by Providence, the senator from Ede appears to be a political neophyte given his last outing in the PDP primaries in which he defeated his closest rival, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, by seven contentious votes in spite of the massive war chest deployed by his billionaire elder brother, Deji.

    Adeleke scored 1,569 votes during the governorship primary in Osogbo to defeat Ogunbiyi, who scored 1,562.

    Although dissatisfied with the outcome of the primary and the certificate fraud litigation against the candidacy of Adeleke, Ogunbiyi, a grassroots political warhorse, has insisted he will remain in the party.

    In spite of the seeming farcical resolution of the dispute between the duo in Abuja by Senate President Bukola Saraki last week, observers say the continuous silence of Ogunbiyi may be ominous for the PDP standard bearer.

    Sen. Iyiola Omisore has become the archetype aspirant in the governorship race of Osun and he will be flying the flag of the SDP in this latest exercise after a bitter primary election.

    Many will recall that the party held two parallel primaries that produced Omisore and Munirudeen Atanda, with the National Chairman of the party, Chief Olu Falae, backing the Ife-born former Deputy Governor in the Chief Bisi Akande administration.

    In spite of the initial hiccups to his aspiration, Omisore, the incurable optimist, believes the election is his for grabs, hinging this on the ill-feelings over unpaid wages and pensions.

    “If I become the governor of Osun State, the salary and wages of the workers will be paid promptly and there was a testimony to this when I was the deputy governor.

    “I will treat workers with dignity and respect. I will focus on building major infrastructure in the state, such as roads,” he said.

    Although credited with a deep pocket and some level of acceptability in his Osun East Senatorial District, Omisore is throwing his hat in the ring with too much political baggage which saw his exit from the PDP, the platform on which he was soundly defeated in the 2014 governorship election in the state by Aregbesola.

    Can other fringe candidates swing the votes? Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, the former Secretary to the State Government and the standard bearer of the ADP is another veteran politician with a track record of grassroots mobilisation.

    The 63-year-old politician, who hails from Iwo in Iwo Local Government area of the Osun West Senatorial District, was the pioneer Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria in Osun.

    Analysts say Adeoti, who left the APC following the outcome of the party’s direct primary which produced Oyetola as flag bearer, should not be wished away in the political calculus of the state.

    With the growing popularity of the ADC in the South West Zone of the country, observers also say Fatai Akinbade, a former Secretary to the State Government in the Olagunsoye Oyinlola administration, remains a candidate to watch in the unfolding dynamics that may determine the outcome of this electoral exercise.

    Formidable as the credentials of the candidates are, the critical factors of vote buying, the safety of election materials and security at polling units may ultimately decide where the pendulum swings.

    Already, INEC, worried about the incidence of vote buying during the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti, had read the riot act to all stakeholders. The commission says it is working on secret balloting to curb vote-buying in the September 22 election.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, says the current trend of inducing voters with money popularly known as ‘see and buy’ in the local parlance is worrisome.

    All told, with the APC campaign apparatus solidly and visibly laid across the state, and with a formidable team of foot soldiers daily criss-crossing the entire Osun, from door to door, community to community, city to city, appealing and canvassing for votes, Gboyega, as he is fondly called, remains the man to beat.

  • Osun: Why solid education and competence matter

    The race to succeed Governor Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State is now getting to the wire with barely a week to the all-important election. The September 22 poll is important in more ways than one. Coming after the Ekiti July 14 election, the Osun poll is one of those elections that would herald the 2019 general election. As one of the forerunners of the 2019 election, it would serve as an indicator, giving us an idea of what to expect at the general election, particularly in terms of the preparedness and actual performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies and the likely voter turnout given the seeming voter apathy in the land. It was just the same way the 2014 elections in Ekiti and Osun, with its varied electoral tales in the two states, foretold then of what was to come in 2015, leaving a sour taste in the mouth. In that ensuing 2015 election, however, the then newly-cobbled rainbow coalition that is the All Progressives Congress eventually uprooted a sitting incumbent at the centre for the first time in Nigeria’s political history.

    Specifically for us in Osun, next Saturday’s election is significant for what it portends for the future of the state in the next four years. It will determine who takes over from Governor Aregbesola who in eight years laid a solid infrastructural and socio-economic foundation for the state to move to the next level, which is economic development and industrialisation level. It is a big electoral decision we have to make and a mistake may prove too costly as it may set the state back irretrievably.

    Created in 1991, Osun has indeed recorded giant strides under Aregbesola. With the good network of roads particularly in the capital Osogbo and the various educational infrastructure put in place across the entire state, the governor has done more than his predecessor in the state. According to official statistics, the Aregbesola government delivered over 1000 kilometres of urban roads across the states, particularly in the capital Osogbo that has been beautifully transformed, reconstructed up to 27 intercity roads, covering 381.89 km and upgraded 81 township roads, covering over 255.17 km.

    The administration improved the economic and financial management of the state, shoring up Internally Generated Revenue from N300 million to an average of N1.3 billion per month. Among other laudable things, the government also established multi-billion Osun Micro-Credit Agency for cooperative groups and societies in a bid to indirectly power small scale businesses.

    Critics of the administration may draw attention, as they often do, to the occasional delay in payment of salaries and pensions, but truth is given the parlous state of the finances of the state, it is a miracle that the governor could keep its salary and other financial obligations and yet able to embark on the laudable projects it has delivered thus far.

    Indeed, it is partly a measure of the enviable height Osun has attained under Aregbesola that it has witnessed the kind of intense interest the governorship race is generating. More than anything else, however, it is this matter of the governor’s fine performance, the credentials and competences or otherwise of those aspiring to take over from him and the challenges confronting the state that should dominate debate at present. However, sadly but not unexpectedly, the race has been low on issues and high on destructive campaigns. We must not allow ourselves to be hoodwinked or be distracted. What is at stake is too serious and too important. It’s about the future of our state. We must pay attention and interrogate the competences of those that have come forward for the exalted job for the sake of our people and generations yet unborn in the state.

    The race parades the contenders and pretenders, those who know they lack what it takes to lead us in Osun and yet continue to grandstand as potential governors of the state. On one extreme is one candidate, the All Progressives Congress candidate, Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola alias Ileri-Oluwa, in a class of his own, imbued with solid education, private sector experience spanning over 30 years and excellent record of performance as Chief of Staff in the outgoing administration. At the other end is another candidate, bereft of education and ideas, his main qualification and experience being credit in dancing. In between is a mixed grill of the good and the bad. The tolerable and intolerable and even the distasteful.

    It’s perhaps owing to their widely-known inadequacies that some in the race have elected to indulge in the reprehensible. They concoct lies, spread fake reports and launch disruptive campaigns. Rather than canvass ideas and articulate issues that will help uplift the people they want to govern, they trade in barbs and campaigns of calumny, indeed confirming the correctness of those immortal words of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, that only the deep can reach out to the deep. You cannot give what you don’t have. Knowing full well Oyetola is the man for the job and the one to beat, they move to delimit and de-market him. They claim he is in the race to engage in wanton wealth accumulation. But not a few know Oyetola has achieved financial success in his private life before coming into politics and has a reputation for honesty and integrity. Such a person is not one that can be said to be running for governor to accumulate wealth. He is not an opportunist who is out to get rich with Osun’s funds.

    The opposition also attempted to twist the APC National Leader Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s remarks at the palace of Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, to give the impression he disparaged the traditional ruler and Osogbo people. This writer was at the courtesy visit. Asiwaju was received with pomp and ceremony by a traditional ruler who said the visit was an opportunity for him to show gratitude to the APC leader for his tremendous support when he had challenges over the throne. Asiwaju neither disparaged the traditional ruler nor demeaned the people of Osogbo.

    Given his background and record over the years, is Asiwaju the type of person or politician who will disparage anybody or group of people on account of whether they are rich or poor?

    Asiwaju has always stressed the fact that he was born into poverty and had to achieve success in life through much suffering, perseverance and industry. This is also true of many of our great leaders including heroes like Chief Obafemi Awolowo and MKO Abiola. Like these icons, Asiwaju’s goal in politics is to utilise all he has to help empower people and lift them out of poverty.  His message at the Ataoja’s palace was that this is also the mission of Oyetola in politics and not to accumulate wealth.

     

    • Rahman, former Editor Thisday on Saturday and Sunday Newspapers, hails from Iwo in Osun State.

  • Osun: one week to governorship poll

    Since the campaign started in full strength in August, Osun State, particularly Osogbo, the state capital, and other major towns have not remained the same. Southwest Bureau Chief BISI OLADELE gauges voters’ mood and highlights how the campaigns of the many political parties participating in the election have been enlivening the entire state.

    All eyes are on Osun State as the electorate go to the poll to choose the next governor on Saturday. The incumbent, Rauf Aregbesola, will hand over to his successor in November. Though the campaigns of political parties and their candidates have been stepped up in the last one month during which issues of development and welfare take centre stage, the soft angles to the massive political activities are as interesting as the vote canvassing itself.

    As the electorate are bombarded with radio and television jingles, newspaper and billboard adverts among others, the mixed interests of residents in the contenders and their campaign

    machinery can not be overlooked. Several factors combine to make the voters upbeat about the coming election.

    Signages

    All the cities, towns and communities in Osun State are alive this time. They bear glittering posters, banners, billboards and other signages of governorship candidates of the major political parties struggling to produce the successor of the incumbent governor, Rauf Aregbesola. Their appearances brought colour, practically beautifying the towns.

    The aesthetic appeal of the signages contrasts with the general perception of the state as poor. No! Even if the state is said to be poor, certainly these candidates are not. Neither are their political parties. From Osogbo to Ilesa, Gbongan, Iwo, Ede to Ila, beautiful signages show that the candidates are exposed and dynamic. If nothing else, these signages confirm that Osun people are well travelled, educated and sophisticated. The beauty and sophistication of the signages alone are points of attraction to participate in the poll.

    It is not all about beautiful signages alone, their campaigns largely have themes. They include Ilerioluwa: continuity (All Progressives Congress, APC), Imole Osun; West lo Kan (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP), Soludero (African Democratic Congress, ADC) Atunse 2018 (Alliance for Democracy, AD) and Rescue 2018 for (African Democratic Party, ADP) among others. Because the major parties are more than four, no one is able to escape the signages everywhere one goes in Osun State. It enlivens the state in obvious ways.

    Free expression of support or rejection

    In the last two weeks, talks about the election have dominated discussions in offices, commercial vehicles, recreation centers and public places. The discussion is accentuated by the increase in the pace of the campaigns of the parties and their candidates. For instance, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Sen. Iyiola Omisore, flagged off his campaign in Ilesa two weeks ago. As a former senator representing the area, crowds attended his campaign with the town feeling their presence. Early last week, the ancient town of Ile-Ife practically stood still when the APC candidate, Alh. Gboyega Oyetola, flagged off his own.  From  the palace of the Ooni to Technical College, Ilode venue of the campaign, resident squeezed in between cars and crowds of supporters to get to their homes as they returned from work. It was a surging crowd that occupied the town from 10:00 am till 6:00 pm.

    But just as it happened to Omisore in Ilesa when those who do not like him watched without interest, seeing the campaign as a mere jamboree, Oyetola also had a few people wishing they did not come to ‘disturb’ the town. But the enthusiasm of their supporters muffled such feelings and voices.  They waved the broom as they moved up and down the entire area.

    In commercial vehicles, offices and public places, residents freely ventilate their support or dislike for the candidates and their parties. Amazingly, no one attacked the other. Everyone just expresses his or her interest and jokes over areas of disagreements. Even when some tell campaigners to get off, they smile back, assuring them that victory is ahead! It’s really a peacefully environment. It shows people of the state have matured over the years in handling political differences, even when they are expressed with passion in public discussions and open places. No one even thinks of attacking others they dislike or resent.

    Acknowledging this, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Idris, confirmed the peaceful environment during his visit on A fortnight ago. He said the peaceful nature of the state would not necessitate deployment of unnecessarily high number of policemen to provide security for the election. Osun voters are indeed mature and peaceful!

    Hotels fully booked

    As at middle of August, virtually all good hotels in Osogbo, the state capital have been fully booked by those planning to participate in the election. They include observers, security personnel, media practitioners, staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), politicians and other stakeholders. It’s such as booming time for hotels and guest houses.

    Booming economy and surge in population

    Since the state government announced payment of four months arrears for workers on Tuesday, the mood of the people has changed positively. While civil servants and traders look forward to a time of plenty, the PDP criticized the APC government of deliberately doing that to win people’s votes. The decision has also joined the list of topics for discussion since then. While some openly hail the announcement, some deplore it without reservation.

    As the election draws closer, the population of Osogbo is also increasing. While some people come to the city for business and political activities, some are there to tap the economic advantage. Consequently, vehicular movements have increased while traders and service providers including operators of recreaction centres recording higher sales.

    The police authorities just announced that 40,000 policemen have been deployed to the state for the election. Other security agencies are expected to follow suit in coming days. All these will lead to more economic boom for the state.

    Since the major campaigns started, traders, hotels and restaurants among others have been having a swell time. As several thousands of personnel and other stakeholders join from this weekend, things will only get more interesting.

    Already,  commercial motorcyclists, taxi and bus drivers are recording improves sales. So are restaurants, recreation centres and filling stations.

    Free health 

    The Ilerioluwa Free Health Mission and that of the AD candidate have brought smile to the faces of many families in Osun State. As at yesterday (Friday), over 10,000 patients have benefitted from the APC candidate’s free treatment. Over 200 of them enjoyed free surgery in major towns and cities including Osogbo, Iwo, Ede and Ila.

    The project also brought many more medical personnel to the state in the last 10 days. For the Ilerioluwa Free Health Mission, the two teams are made up of about 250 personnel. While a group offers general treatment with free drugs and glasses, the other performs surgery. The AD candidate’s project has also seen over 3,000 people treated by medics.

    An Osogbo resident, Mr Biola Olowofela, describes the current state as ‘interesting.’ He said the number of major players makes it difficult to predict the possible result of the election, pointing out that the terrain has been that if flexing muscles. He said the situation is really stretching the candidates and their parties.

    Olowofela said he was not in a hurry to see September 22 arrive due to the interesting preparations.

    It is hoped that voters will sustain their maturity till September 22 and thereafter to serve as a good example to other Nigerian citizens.

  • Osun Govt settles debts to workers with N19.6b

    •Four months’ salaries, pensions arrears, others covered

    The Osun State government has disbursed N19.8? billion for payment of salaries and pensions to its workers.

    The Commissioner for Finance Mr Bola Oyebamiji said the money covers August full salary, backlog of the salaries and the pensions for September to December 2015? as well as leave bonuses.

    Oyebamiji said Governor Rauf Aregbesola gave the payment directive after consultation with Labour unions and other stakeholders.

    The commissioner broke the news yesterday while addressing reporters at the Ministry of Finance in Osogbo, the state capital.

    He said the payment would be from the N16.6 billion latest Paris Club refunds from the Federal Government.

    Oyebamiji said the state added additional N3 billion from other sources to the Paris Club refunds to ensure the payment.

    According to him, this is not the first time the Aregbesola administration was committing lump sums from the Federal Government to pay salaries and pensions.

    The commissioner recalled that in November 2016, the government received N11.4 billion Paris Club refunds and disbursed N13.6 billion the following month ?to pay active and passive workers’ salaries, pensions, leave bonuses and other emoluments, with N8.5 billion covering September to December 2016 salaries.

    He also said N924 million was paid in 2016 as leave bonus for September to December, adding that from the same Paris Club refund, N2.5 billion was paid to cover pensions for September to December of the same year.

    Oyebamiji added: “?Again, in July 2017, the government received N6.3 billion as the second tranche of Paris Club refund and paid N6 billion as salaries, pensions and leave bonuses. The breakdown is as follows: N3.76 billion as workers’ salaries, N504 million as leave bonuses, N791 million as pension and N935 million as salaries in the local governments.

    “Since the commencement of the Aregbesola administration in November 2010, salaries, pensions and workers emoluments had taken not less than 80 per cent of the total revenue of the state. Indeed, a sizeable portion of the state’s debt was incurred on salaries.

    “When the administration came, monthly workers’ salary was N1.4 billion while pension was N200 million. However, with the increase of minimum wage from N9,000 to N19,000 and hiking of monthly pensions to N500 million, monthly salaries and pensions rose to N3.6 billion.

    “Though there was a steady increase in revenue till the late 2013, however, by 2014, oil price commenced a steady decline, dropping to as low as $22 in 2015 from the height of more than $100 in 2013.”

  • Osun wins three gold in weightlifting

    Team Osun has continued with its brilliant run at the ongoing National Youth Games in Ilorin, picking laurels in weightlifting and Ayo Olopon.

    Edin Emmanuel swept home three gold medals in the male weightlifting event in 70kg, 75kg and 81kg categories beating his colleagues from Kwara and Akwa Ibom.

    Also, Rafiu Akinpelu clinched bronze medal in the male single event of Ayo Olopon, becoming the second bronze winner for Osun after Zainab Hammed in female weightlifting.

    Ogun -born Segun Kilani won gold medal in Ayo Olopon while Lukman Yahaya won silver.

    In Karate, Osun athlete, Fausiya, lost to her colleague from Abia.

    Osun athletes will further compete in taekwondo, female Ayo Olopon as well as female weightlifting.