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Tag: OSUN

  • Osun 2018: APC has laid good foundation to remain in govt — Tinubu

    The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on Thursday night declared that the APC government  in Osun State led by the outgoing Osun State Governor, Rauf Aragbesola, has laid  a good foundation for the party to retain the seat in the forthcoming governorship election.

    The election comes up on the 22nd of September, 2018.

    Tinubu spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting of APC South West stakeholders with President Muhammadu Buhari  at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, the APC is also fielding a qualified technocrat in the forthcoming election.

    He said: “We expect victory. We have a progressive government there where the incumbent and the outgoing governor has worked and laid a good foundation. Therefore, we have successes to build upon.

    ”We equally are bringing in one of the most competent and qualified technocrat in the person of Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola. He is eminently qualified.” he said

    Asked if the Osun election is going to be a hard battle like the Ekiti governorship election, he said: “You don’t predict the activity of elections. It can always be unique from one state to the other.

    “But we believe that with our leadership in Osun from the state chairman down to the lowest level and the way they conducted the direct primary and the way people had turned out, are signals to the opposing parties that they have no way of beating us.”

    The Osun State governorship candidate for APC, Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, thanked  President Buhari for the opportunity of the visit.

    He said: “It shows that he is the father of all. He is committed to APC winning the Osun election come 22nd September this year.

    “He is committed to our party retaining the government, he is committed to free and fair elections. And I want to say categorically, that by the grace of God, we are winning that election on the 22nd of September.” he said

    The victory, he said, would be a foundation for the election of President Buhari in 2019.

    He added: “We are committed to it and I belong to Buhari Support Group. We have done very well as a party, we have done very well as a government, the governor has done very well. The state has changed from what it used to be. Huge development projects have been taking place.”

    While thanking the former APC aspirants for their love and understanding, he said that there was absolute reconciliation of all the aspirants.

    “We are all now working together, except for the few people that decided to defect. But that will not have any serious consequence on the outcome of the election.” he said

    Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Gamduje, who is the chairman of the Osun Governorship Campaign Council, said that the purpose of the meeting was to create an inclusive atmosphere so that they would face the election squarely.

    He said: “From what has transpired, all those who contested, the aspirants that lost the election, they have pledged their loyalty, commitment and that they are part and parcel of the election campaign.

    “So, that is very encouraging. And also other stakeholders have made their commitments in order to win this very important election.

    “And most importantly is that Mr President has blessed the Campaign Council. He has appreciated those aspirants who lost the election and he appreciated also the commitment of all those who matter in the South West geopolitical zone APC politics. I think that is very encouraging for us.” he added.

  • Osun is doing well in security, says Idris

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has lauded Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola for living up to expectation as the Chief Security Officer.

    He hailed Aregbesola’s government for being alive to its statutory obligations of providing security the resident since inception.

    Idris commended Osun State Government for creating an enabling environment for the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force to operate effectively, proficiently and professionally.

    The Police boss gave the commendation while paying a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, Osogbo, the state capital.

    Idris was accompanied by the Commissioners of Police in Osun and Oyo States, Olafimihan Adeoye and Abiodun Odude, and other top officers and men of the Police.

    Others in attendance include; Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Mr Tope Adejumo, Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, and members of the State Executive Council among others.

    Idris, who was on one-day security summit to the state ahead of the September 22 governorship election, said Osun government has done excellently well in the maintenance of law and order.

    He said Osun has been so supportive to the officers and men of the Police Force through the provision of state-of-the-art security architectures.

    Idris said that the Police Headquarters in Abuja is fully aware of the state’s collaboration with officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, a partnership he said has made Osun to be among the most peaceful states in the country.

    Speaking on the purpose of his visit to the state, Idris said he came to Osun as part of his efforts to ensure adequate security before, during and after the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

    He added that the mission of his visit was to attend a security summit with major stakeholder where security-related issues would be discussed to ensure free, fair, credible, transparent and crisis-free election.

    Idris said: “I am pleased and happy to be in Osun, I feel at home as I appreciate the state government on its support and cooperation for the officers and men of the Nigeria Police.

    “I thank the state government most especially for the cooperation that has always been giving to our officers to work effectively and proficiently.

    “We are happy that there is peace in Osun and we commend the effort of the state in ensuring that we have a very secured state.

    “As a matter of fact, our visit to Osun is to converge major stakeholders on security summit to deliberate on the need to organise a free, fair, credible, transparent and crisis-free governorship election in the state and in Nigeria, as our country is moving towards another general elections.

    “We will take the advantage of this summit to brainstorm on issues that will help us to organize an effective and rancour-free election at all levels.”

    Aregbesola applauded Idris for being effective, resilient and forthright in the discharge of his duties.

    He said his administration has been blessed with committed, effective and proficient officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force since inception, saying all the police that have served and still serving have done well in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.

     

  • Osun election: INEC to arrest, prosecute vote buyers

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has expressed its willingness to ensure arrest and prosecution of anyone found inducing voters with money or material things in the September 22 governorship election.

    The Deputy Director, Voter Education and Publicity of the commission in Osun State, Ven. Stephen Ojewande, revealed this in a chat with The Nation yesterday.

    Ojewande said the Electoral Act frowns at voters inducement in any way as Section 12 of the documents stipulates a maximum fine of N500,000 or 12-month jail term or both for anyone convicted of inducement. He said the popularity which the crime has gained in recent times is a source of worry for the commission.

    The INEC official explained that sensitization against vote buying is already integrated in its voter education programme as its officers explain to voters that they can not own a government that emerges through vote buying. He added that the electoral umpire is also out to fish out any of its staff that may be involved in such, stressing that the law will be applied appropriately. He said the commission will continue to discourage voters not to sell their votes.

    Read Also: ‘How we deployed ICT to prevent rigging in Osun election

    “Any act of lawlessness is anti-societal development. We will ensure the arrest of anyone caught with voter inducement this time because it is against the law. They will be prosecuted. In fact, INEC is looking for scape goats in this area.” Ojewande said.

    Vote buying allegedly reigned in the last governorship elections in Ondo and Ekiti states.

    On the level of preparation, particularly with card readers, Ojewande disclosed that the machines are being tested from time to time, adding that there are enough back-ups for them. He disclosed that some of the machines were used in the last Ekiti State governorship election and in the house of assembly bye-election held in Oyo State.

    According to him, the machines performed creditably well. He pointed out that the little problem in the Ekiti election was human error, assuring that such errors would not occur in the Osun election.

    A total of 48 parties are participating in the September 22 election.

  • Osun APC chieftain resigns, defects to PDP

    Mr Peter Babalola, the Chairman of Osun Local Government Service Commission, has resigned his appointment and defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Babalola, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a letter to Gov. Rauf Aregbesola, said he resigned to pursue other endeavours.

    The News Agency of Nigeria  reports that Babalola was one of the 17 APC aspirants in the July 19 governorship primary in which Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola emerged the winner.

    Babalola, who was received by the South West PDP Deputy Chairman, Mr Yomi Akinwonmi, and the State Chairman, Mr Soji Adagunodo, at the party secretariat on Friday in Osogbo, said he left the APC because of imposition and impunity.

    He expressed the belief that the next governor ought to come from Osun West.

    Babalola promised to work with the PDP in order to ensure victory for its candidate in the Sept. 22 governorship election.

    In his remarks, Akinwonmi, who represented the National Chairman of the party, Mr Uche Secondus, said that Babalola took the right step by leaving APC.

    He urged PDP members in APC to return to the party, saying equal rights and privileges would be given to them.

    Also speaking, Adagunodo said that the party recently received more than 5,000 APC members in Ila Local Government Area of the state.

    But the APC Publicity Secretary in Osun, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, said Babalola’s defection was a personal choice based on the agitation that Osun West should be given a chance for the governorship slot.

    He, however, wished Babalola well in his political career, adding that the party still remains strong in his absence.

  • Osun 2018: Two party members drag Adeleke to court

    Two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Osun have filed a suit at an Osogbo High Court challenging the candidacy of Sen. Ademola Adeleke as the party’s flag bearer in the September 22 governorship election.

    The suit filed on Monday by Mr Oyetunji Suredi and Mr Olagboye Adedamola is coming on the heels of Justice David Oladimeji’s judgment which dismissed a similar suit against Adeleke.

    The suit dismissed by Oladimeji was filed by Rasheed Olabayo and Oluwaseun Idowu.

    In the fresh suit, the plaintiffs are seeking an interlocutory injunction restraining Adeleke from parading himself as the candidate of the Osun PDP over alleged forged school certificate.

    They are also asking the court to make an order to restrain the state’s party Chairman, Mr Soji Adagunodo, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from further recognising the defendant as the candidate of the party.

    Read Also: ‘Osun, Oyo should take responsibility for LAUTECH’

    The duo are further seeking an order mandating the party chairman and INEC to replace Adeleke’s name with that of  Akin Ogunbiyi, the runner-up in the party’s primary.

    The plaintiffs alleged that Adeleke had presented a forged document as part of the purported proof of his academic qualifications.

    Oladimeji had earlier dismissed a similar case against Adeleke, stating that the constitution does not require the defendant to pass his secondary school examination to contest elective position.

    Olabayo and Idowu had contended that he did not satisfy the constitutional requirements to contest the governorship election.

    The plaintiffs, among others, had urged the court to set aside the election on the grounds that Adeleke did not submit his secondary school certificate.

    Although the judge in his Aug. 8 judgment held that the documents presented by Adeleke contained damaging errors, he noted that it could be addressed separately since the plaintiffs did not include it in their prayers.

    Adeleke had won the primary after he garnered 1,569 votes to beat his closest rival, Ogunbiyi, who polled 1,562.

  • ‘Osun, Oyo should take responsibility for LAUTECH’

    PORT HARCOURT zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared that Osun and Oyo states must take full responsibility of funding Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State.

    The zone, through its Coordinator, Uzo Onyebinama, who was with chairman of the union in University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Dr. Austen Sado, and others, spoke yesterday at a news conference in UNIPORT.

    It said: “LAUTECH, jointly owned by Oyo and Osun States, which was established in 1990, was a prime state university. Today, LAUTECH is a caricature of what a university should be. Bedevilled by underfunding by the owner states, LAUTECH has become a crisis-ridden university. How does a university with a vision to become a centre of academic excellence realise the vision?

    “Staff of LAUTECH are owed 10 months, promotion arrears from 2013 to 2017, and earned academic allowances from 2009 to 2017. The state of affairs in LAUTECH is totally unacceptable to our union. It is inhuman. Osun and Oyo states have exhibited unparalleled insensitivity in their handling of LAUTECH.

    “A labourer deserves his wages. It is not a privilege, it is a right. The inability of Osun and Oyo states to fund LAUTECH and pay emoluments of staff is indicative of gross incompetence.

    “The attempt by the two states to shift the burden of funding LAUTECH to students, through an outrageous regime of tuition fees and other charges should be seen  as an attempt to deny the poor access to university education. It will be resisted. Education is a social service and ought to be treated as such.”

    ASUU also said everyone should work to compel Osun and Oyo states to do what is needful and take responsibility for funding LAUTECH, stressing that the future of the children of the poor is at stake and declared that the time for action is now.

  • Osogbo Agog for grand finale of Osun Osogbo festival

    Tourists and cultural enthusiasts from across the globe on Friday flooded the ancient city of Osogbo, Osun, to join the fiesta marking the grand finale of the annual Osun Osogbo festival.

    The tourists and the enthusiasts include those from Africa, Europe, Latin America and other parts of the world for the celebration.

    The News Agency of Nigeria  reports that the fiesta involves various socio- economic and traditional activities with several Osun devotees singing, dancing while others exhibit some cultural styles as early as 8:00 a.m around the Osun groove.

    Many devotees were seen carrying plastic bottles and kegs, moving to the Osun River to fetch some water for spiritual purposes.

    The event also witnessed traditional masquerades with their masquerades chanting and singing, brandishing locally made gun shots while firing gun shots sporadically into the air.

    Security personnel were seen at strategic locations to include the FRSC personnel, the NSCDC, and also the Nigerian Police with large members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC).

    The Osun FRSC Sector Commander, Mr Peter Oke, had earlier told NAN that special patrol for both the Osun Osogbo and Eid-el-Kabir festival would commence on Aug.17 to Aug .26 to avoid auto accidents and other route violations as such as speeding during and after the celebrations.

    Oke said that 500 personnel from both the sector and unit commands would be on ground to checkmate the activities of drivers who might want to go against traffic rules and regulations.

    NAN further reports that some residents in the area such as food vendors, souvenir sellers and other related business enterprises took advantage of the festival to market their goods and service.

    The event, which started on Aug.10 is expected to end Aug.17 with a young maiden, Aruga, who will carry a calabash on her head as a symbolic sacrifice to the river goddess.

    The Osun-Osogbo festival, whose history dates back to many centuries, is usually celebrated in a Grove outskirts of Osogbo, It is among the last of the sacred forests that adjoined the edges of most Yoruba cities before extensive urbanisation.

    In recognition of its global significance and cultural value, the Sacred Grove was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.

    For the people of Osogbo land, the festival represents traditional cleansing of the town and cultural reunion of the people with their ancestors and founders of the Osogbo Kingdom.

  • Osun begins workers’ full salary payment

    The Osun State government has begun full salary payment to its workers.

    Following harsh financial climate, the government paid a modulated form of salary for over 20 months after reaching an agreement with the labour unions.

    The Rauf Aregbesola administration adopted the modulated salary payment when the state was incapacitated to pay full salary to its workers due to economic hardship during the recession.

    During the period, the state government up till June was paying the workers on level seven downward full salary while workers from the levels eight and above were paid between 50 and 75 per cent.

    Some of the workers, who confirmed receiving full payment of their July salary, were in joyous mood yesterday.

    The Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Jacob Adekomi, told reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, that the local government workers and primary school teachers had started receiving payment alerts from their banks.

    He said: “The state government has started paying us full salary. I have received an alert of full payment of my July salary. But we are waiting for the payment of arrears of the balance of modulated salary. We have already given them a 21-day ultimatum and we hope they will pay the arrears before the expiration of the ultimatum.

    “Negotiation will soon start and we are waiting for them to start paying us the arrears. But I can confirm that they have started paying us full salary. I received the alert yesterday (Wednsday).”

    But the secretary of the 2011/2012 Forum of Retirees in the state, Mr. Sola Olojede said he and his colleagues had not received an alert or payment of their full pensions.

    He said the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Oyebade Olowogboyega, had assured them that they would get full payment of July pensions.

    Olojede said retirees went to see Oyebade and got his assurance that they would be paid full pension for July.

    He said: “We went to the HoS two days ago and he assured us that we would be paid full pension for July. We will make noise again if we are not paid as they promised.

    “He also assured us that retirees whose N100,000 cheques bounced should present the cheques again. The cheques of N100,000 out of millions of naira gratuities bounced. Can you imagine that? The cheques were given to teachers who retired through Teachers and Establishment and Pension Office.”

  • Osun declares holiday for traditional worshipers

    The Osun State Government has declared August 20 as public holiday to commemorate the annual Isese festival, a day set aside for traditional believers in the state.

    According to a statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs, Adebisi Obawale, “the holiday is in recognition of the annual Isese festival’s grand finale, which allows the adherents of traditional religion to come together for the annual celebration”

    “Isese Day is the celebration of the peak of festivities among adherents of traditional religion.”

    “The government enjoined all the traditional believers to celebrate the Isese day in peace and avoid any act capable of breaching the peace of the state.”

    The day is also known as Traditional Worshipers Day.

  • Osun approves free train for Sallah holiday makers

    The Osun State government yesterday announced that arrangements have been concluded for the annual free train service to convey holiday makers during the coming Eid-el-Kabir festival.

    In a statement by the Ministry of Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment, the government said the free train will, as usual, convey passengers from Lagos to Osogbo, the state capital, along the usual Lagos, Ogun, Oyo routes to the state capital.

    The statement, by the Commissioner, Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba-Alagba, noted that the first trip from Lagos will take place at 10 a.m on August 19 while the second trip will take place at the same time on August 20.

    After the holiday, the statement said, the train will return to Lagos at 10 a.m on August 26.

    The government said the gesture is in continuation of its usual practice since 2011.

    The statement said: “The Rauf Aregbesola administration has been doing this in the last eight years to facilitate easy movement during festivities. We, therefore, urge the people to make the best use of the opportunities the free train offers them because government wants them to come home and enjoy the celebration with relations.

    “It is also another opportunity for the citizens of Osun who are resident outside the state to come home to appreciate the massive transformations that have taken place in their state.”