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Tag: OSUN

  • Stop complaining, pray for Buhari, CAC President tells Christians

    The President, Christ Apostolic Church. ( CAC ) Worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun on Saturday urged churches to stop complaining but pray for President Muhammadu Buhari to overcome challenges facing the nation.

    Akinosun made the appeal while ministering at the Grand Finale of a Seven-Day Fasting and Prayer at Ikoyi Mountain Ero-Omo Village, Osun for the nation on Saturday morning.

    Thenewsmen reports that the prayer was organised by  Evangelist Felix Adunpe, General Overseer, Signs and Wonders Prayer Ministries in collaboration with the CAC, held between April 21 and April 27.

    The prayer, which had hundreds of Christians praying from 11 pm to 4am, was tagged: “Nigeria Must be Redeemed”.

    Akimosun, the former Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said that only God could redeem Nigeria from her present predicaments.

    According to the cleric, who read from Psalm 122: 6 and Jeremiah  29:11, God loves Nigeria and would heal the nation of her current socio-economic and security challenges with prayers.

    “Leaders fail when people fail to pray. Stop abusing and cursing our leaders because as you curse them the consequences will be borne by all citizens.

    “If we pray for our leaders, God will inspire them and everything will be all right. We should not lose hope in Nigeria.

    “Let us pray for peace, progress and prosperity of the nation. We need to pray for economic resurgence and prosperity. We need God’s intervention in this country.

    “We need to pray for this nation because of innocent people that are being slaughtered everyday. Let’s pray for the redemption of this country.

    “It is important we pray for the President. It is our response as children of God to pray for our leaders and the country. If we fail, many evil will be springing up,” he said.

    According to Akinosun, Nigerians must bring to fore sincere love for the country and shun hatred because it is the only country we possess.

    He said that Nigeria required a forthright leadership that would lead her to desired destinations of economic advancement, peace and prosperity.

    The cleric, who cautioned against self defence, said that such step would make killings more rampant in the nation.

    He added:”Let’s cry to God. This is the work of the church. The hope of every nation is the church. People continue to rebuke the church if we fail to do our responsibility.

    “We have God that answers prayers. If we can reverence God by asking forgiveness, God will heal our land. It now clear that this nation needs prayers for the leadership and the followership.”

    The cleric, who urged the Federal Government to restructure the security architecture of the country, expressed dissatisfaction over recurrent killings and economic hardship facing Nigerians.

    Akinosun, who also called for an end corruption, ritualism, kidnapping, urged the political leaders to be alert to their responsibility and be selfless to end crisis.

    “The president must do everything in his capacity to see that the killings stop,” he added.

    He later led the people into serious prayer for nation’s redemption and intervention in her governance, saying sacking the President would not solve Nigeria’s problem.

    Read Also: Buhari leaves Abuja for talks with Trump

    Also Pastor Elisha Alalade, Oke Osun DCC Superintendent and Chairman/Presiding Pastor, CAC Ori- Oke IIkoyi ( Ikoyi Mountain ) said in his address, said that Nigeria’ was facing a battle that must be won spiritually.

    “All these killings are devil’s work to set Nigeria on fire.  Where there is no peace, there will be no prosperity. It’s time to pray.

    “The moment we win the spiritual battle, the nation will move forward. God will intervene and darkness will vanish. Nigeria must be redeemed,” Alalade said.

    The cleric, who led the congregation in fervent prayers for peace and God’s intervention in Nigeria’s governance, asked God to terminate all works of Satan.

    In his remarks, Adunpe, co-host of the prayers noted that God revealed him that the nation had exalted idols through the hostage of Festival of Arts and Culture ( FESTAC ) in 1977 and demoted God.

    He said God directed him to hold the prayers on the mount, adding: “Before Nigeria can enjoy peace and unity and make progress, Nigerians must pray and ask for God’s forgiveness.

    “There is hope for Nigeria as God will intervene, peace will reign after this prayer,’” Adunpe assured.

    The newsmen reports that hundreds of Nigerians across denominations prayed God to forgive the nation’s sins of bloodletting, occultism, ritualism, idolatry among others.

    They also prayed for peace, unity, and end to killings as well as economic prosperity of the nation.

    NAN

  • Police arrest suspected operator of fake WAEC centre

    The Police Command in Lagos State has arrested a 48-year-old man suspected to be the operator of a fake West Africa Examination Council ( WAEC ) examination centre in Igbogbo, Ikorodu.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Edgal Imohimi, said the suspects were arrested on April 25 following a complaint by a senior member of staff of WAEC office, Ogba.

    “The complaint was that there exist a fake WAEC centre at El-Supreme Private School located at No. 3, Oseni Adekogbe Street, Igbogbo Ikorodu.

    “Operatives of the Command attached to Area ‘G’ Ogba, were mobilised to the above address where one Pastor Adeniyi Joshua of El-Supreme Church was arrested.

    “WAEC question papers and answer sheets suspected to be forged were recovered from the suspect.” Imohimi said.

    Similarly, four suspects who specialise in solving examination questions and circulating the answers through various websites and Whatsapp numbers were also paraded by the police.

    Read Also: Police debunk rumours of planned attack on mosques in Benue

    Imohimi said the Rapid Response Squad ( RRS ) decoy team traced and arrested the suspects from Edo, Osun and Ondo State.

    “Some other suspects had been traced to Ghana. We are working with Interpol to make sure they are arrested as soon as possible.

    “We are also working with the examination bodies involved to make sure we get to the bottom of this.

    “This is something of national interest and a great embarrassment. We will ensure that this does not repeat itself.

    “Parents, guardians and tutors must also guide their wards not to engage in exam malpractices,’’ Imohimi said.

    NAN

  • INEC releases timetable for Osun Guber polls

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun has released the timetable for the conduct of the state’s Sept. 22 governorship election.
    Presenting the timetable to newsmen on Thursday in Osogbo, Mr Olusegun Agbaje, the newly appointed Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) said election activities would commence on June 23 with the release of “Notice of Election’’ by INEC.
    Agbaje said political parties would commence public campaign on June 24 while candidates for elections and their parties would have the opportunities to obtain forms at INEC headquarters from June 25.
    The REC said that party primaries and resolution of disputes arising from the primaries would hold from June 24 to July 23.
    “The last day for withdrawal of candidate(s) and replacement of withdrawn candidate(s) by political parties would be August 8 while the last day for the submission of nomination forms would be August 22.

    Read Also:  INEC ‘has not created 30,000 illegal polling units’

    “The last day of campaigns will be Sept. 20, while the election proper will hold on Sept. 22 as provided in section 178 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended),’’ he said.
    Agbaje said that as parts of the commission’s roadmap for the election, Continuous Voter Registration (CRV) had been extended at the 332 wards in the state from April 11 to April 16.
    He said those who were newly captured would undergo Automatic Finger Identification System (AFIS) before their names would be ratified and added to the present list of registered voters in Osun.
    The REC reassured that the PVC for registered voters in the state would be distributed before the governorship election on Sept. 22.
    Agbaje said that 411,438 PVCs were yet to be collected in the state.

  • 2411 graduates to undergo NYSC in Osun – Official

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Osun, on Monday, said a total of 2411 graduates would undergo the one year mandatory national youth service in the state.

    Mr Emmanuel Attah, the State Coordinator of the corps, made this disclosure at the inauguration of the Batch A, corps members deployed to the state, at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp in Ede, Osun.

    Attah said that as at the close of registration of the prospective corps members on Friday, a total of 1,188 males and 1,223 females were registered and they would undergo the 21 days NYSC orientation programme at the camp.

    The NYSC coordinator explained that the national service was a clarion call to sacrifice, humility and dedication to the nation.

    He stated that the physical and psychological training at the orientation camp was strategically designed to equip corps members with skills to adapt, integrate and sharpen their inherent leadership potentials for progressive and united Nigeria.

    “It is important, therefore, that corps members utilise this opportunity to the fullest, knowing fully well that it is only through active participation in all camp programmes and activities of the scheme that they will imbibe ideals of nation building.

    “As highly skilled segment of the youth population, your amenability to tolerance and peaceful co-existence with one another will always remain a reliable barometer for national cohesion, therefore you must not let the nation down,” he said

    In his goodwill address, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of the state, welcome the corps members to the state and congratulated them on the successful completion of their various programmes from their higher institutions.

    The governor, who was represented by Mrs Adeboyega Folake, the Osun Commissioner for Empowerment and Youth Engagement, stressed the importance of the scheme, stating that the scheme was established 40 years ago to foster national development and unity.

    He charged the corps members to participate in the orientation camp programmes actively and draw maximum benefits, even as he also urged them to maintain discipline and decorum in the camp.

    The Chief Justice of Osun, Mrs Oyebola Ojo, who was represented by Justice Oyejide Falola, later administered the oath of allegiance on the corps member.

    NAN

  • Court remands man over attempted suicide

    An Osogbo Magistrates Court in Osun on Friday remanded a 23-year-old man, Andrew Peter, in Ilesa Prison over alleged attempted suicide while in police custody.

    The Magistrate, Mr Olusegun Ayilara, ordered the defendant to be kept in prison due to the magnitude of the offence involved.

    The Prosecutor, Insp Lamidi Rasaki, had told the court that the defendant, who was arrested and detained for alleged theft of a cell phone, committed the offence in April at Okefia area of Osogbo.

    He said the defendant was taken to the hospital for treatment but later escaped before he was apprehended and brought to the court.

    The defendant, who had no legal representation, pleaded guilty to a three-count charge which contravened sections 327, 192, and 135(9) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol. 11 Laws of Osun, 2003.

    The magistrate, however, adjourned the case to April 27 for the presentation of facts before sentencing.

    NAN

  • Osun targets five million trees to control climate change

    Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola  said the state government has planted three million trees to mitigate climate change effects.

    In a statement, the governor’s media aide, Sola Fasure, said Aregbesola stated  this at a meeting with members of the African Forest Forum in Osogbo, the state capital.

    The governor said the government was targeting five million trees, insisting that Africa did not deserve to suffer the bad effect of climate change, if its forests were properly preserved.

    Aregbesola blamed the care-free attitude of past leaders on the development of forestry and efficient management as cause of the challenges posed by climate change in Nigeria.

    He expressed displeasure over the way natural rain forests were being managed, urging African leaders to develop a modality to strengthen forest management.

    The forum’s Executive Secretary, Godwin Kanero, said the forum recorded successes in its public enlightenment programmes.

    Kanero said the forum was established 10 years ago to find a solution to the environmental challenges occasioned by deforestation.

    “We are concerned about climate change because we have been informed on the need for humanity to preserve natural environment to curtail its menace,” Kanero added.

  • Strike: NMA, JOHESU trade words over legality

    The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Wednesday has described the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) as an illegal body.

    The President of NMA, Prof. Mike Ogirima, also advised that no one should entertain or deal with JOHESU.

    Ogirima was apparently reacting to the indefinite nationwide strike commenced on April 18, by members of JOHESU.

    “JOHESU is an illegal body that should not be accorded any recognition by Nigerians,’’ he said.

    He also said that JOHESU’s industrial action was unnecessary as its demands were driven by envy.

    But Dr Chris Mbata, Rivers Chairman of the union, on Wednesday in Port Harcourt dismissed the NMA statement describing JOHESU as illegal.

    Mbata said the strike was purely to make government respect the agreement it entered into with the union on Sept. 30, 2017.

    According to him, the NMA is unfit to declare a recognised union such as JOHESU an illegal entity.

    “The NMA is not a trade union in the first place; it does not know that JOHESU is a union of all registered health sector trade unions,’’ he said.

    The chairman said the strike was not in any way targeted at any other body of service providers within the health care system.

    “The strike is simply a way of demanding a better welfare package for our members, it is not in any way targeted at anybody or group.

    “We are not in any form of competition, we are all strategic service providers in the system, we are all important,’’ Mbata said.

    He said other groups of health service providers were envious of JOHESU because of its strength and strategic position within the system.

    “About 80 per cent of workers in hospitals in this country are JOHESU members, they are aware of our position in the health sector.

    “Activities come to a halt whenever JOHESU is on strike, we occupy strategic position within the system,’’ he said.
    Meanwhile, the JOHESU strike has been reported to be effective as many branches joined the nationwide indefinite action.

    Mr Obisesan Oluwatuyi, the General Secretary, Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Oluwatuyi said that they would not call off the strike until government met their demands.

    The health workers of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTHC) , Ile-Ife, Osun, under the aegis of JOHESU, has joined the strike.

    Mr Obinna Ogbonna, National Vice Chairman of JOHESU, announced this during the congress of the union at the hospital complex in Ile-Ife on Wednesday.

    Ogbonna said the union decided to join the strike due to alleged failure of Federal Government to honour its agreement with the body.

    He said that federal government had on Sept. 30, 2017, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with JOHESU on its demands, which was supposed to be implemented within five weeks.

    “It will be recalled that JOHESU suspended its last nationwide strike action on Sept. 30, 2017, after the signing of the MoU.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, our demands are upward adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), employment of additional health workers.

    “Also, implementation of court judgment and upward review of retirement age from 60 to 65, among others.

    “However, it is disheartening to note that after six months of the suspension our last strike and still counting, the federal government has not done anything tangible over the issues,’’ he said.

    He said that the 30 days working ultimatum given to the federal government had expired.
    Similarly, the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi , Nasarawa State, has also joined the nationwide indefinite strike.

    Mr Achimugu Isaiah, the JOHESU branch Chairman at the centre, disclosed this on Wednesday while declaring the strike during the union meeting in Keffi.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all healthcare workers complied with the strike, except medical doctors providing skeletal services at the centre.

    Achimugu said the strike was in the interest of the public especially the poor.

    The chairman called on the federal government to meet up with the demands of the union in order to improve on the health status of Nigerians.

    However, Dr Luka Samuel, the Acting Medical Director of the centre, appealed to JOHESU members to return to work in the interest of the health sector.

    NAN

     

  • FMC Keffi, OAUTHC joins JOHESU strike

    Members of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU), Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, Nasarawa State has joined the nationwide indefinite strike called by their union.

    Similarly, JOHESU members at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun, have also joined the industrial action.

    The JOHESU National Vice Chairman, Mr Obinna Ogbonna, and Chairman of FMC Keffi branch, Mr Achimugu Isaiah, confirmed this on Wednesday in Osogbo and Keffi, respectively, to our reporter.

    The union leaders said that all the health workers complied with the strike, except medical doctors who are providing skeletal services.

    Some of the demands of the union include upward adjustment of salary scale, employment of additional health professionals, review of retirement age from 60 years to 65 years, implementation of court judgment, among others.

    Isaiah said that they decided to join their colleagues in the strike following a directive from the national body.

    “The primary aim of every health worker is to see that the welfare of patients is improved, but health workers have no option rather than to embark on the strike in order to improve on the health status of Nigerians,’’ he said.

    He said that in September 2017, the Federal Government and JOHESU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the promised that they will within five weeks implement the demands of the union.

    “This is the sixth month and nothing has been done by the federal government. We have been given the mandate by our national body to embark on a full strike.

    “It is on this note and based on the strength and power given to me by sister unions, I declare the indefinite strike as directed by our national body,” he said.

    According to him, “No implementation, no coming back to work. I want to direct all unit heads to lock your offices and hand over keys to your head of departments and any of our member found wanting will be sanctioned’’.

    Isaiah added that the strike was in the best interest of the public, especially the poor.

    The chairman called on the federal government to meet up with the demands of the union in order to improve on the health status of Nigerians.

    Reacting, Dr Luka Samuel, the Acting Medical Director of FMC Keffi, appealed to JOHESU to have a rethink and return to work in the interest of the health sector.

    Samuel reminded them that the strike would only bring untold hardship to many Nigerians, especially the less privileged who do not have the means to access private healthcare services.

    In Osogbo, Ogbonna told members that the union decided to join the strike due to the alleged failure of the Federal Government to honour agreements with the body.

    The national official recalled that the federal government had on Sept. 30, 2017, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the union on its demands which, according to him, was to be implemented within five weeks.

    “It will be recall that JOHESU suspended its last nationwide strike action on Sept. 30, 2017, after the signing of an MoU with the union.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, our demands are upward adjustment of Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), employment of additional health workers, implementation of court judgment, upward review of retirement age from 60 to 65, among others.

    “However, it is disheartening to note that after six months after the suspension of our last strike and still counting, the federal government has not done anything tangible over the issues”.

    Ogbonna, who is also the President of Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals (NUAHP), explained that the union had to embark on the indefinite strike after the 30 days working ultimatum given to the federal government expired.

    “JOHESU unions hereby direct all her members in all federal health institutions to proceed on an indefinite strike.

    “States and Local Government health institutions are by this placed on red alert and are to continue intense sensitisation and mobilisation of members for possible entry into the fray if the government foot drags in attending to our demands,” he said.

    Ogbonna, however, called on Nigerians to prevail on government to meet its demands as agreed.

    JOHESU consists of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Medical and Health Workers Union (MHWUN), Senior Staff Association of University Teaching Hospitals, among others.

  • INEC swears in seven new RECs

    Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has sworn in seven new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) bringing the total number of serving RECs in the commission to 33.

    Performing the ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, expressed confidence that the new RECs would contribute to the commission’s determination to make 2019 general elections the best in the country.

    He said “with the track records of service in the academia, public service and private sector, it is gratifying to note that the new RECs made positive contributions to the society in various ways.

    “I am equally delighted to note that some of you have managed elections at national level as RECs.

    “I am confident that you will bring to bear on your new assignments, the experience of the recent past that will contribute to our determination to make the 2019 general elections our best elections in Nigeria.”

    Yakubu advised the new commissioners to maintain openness and consultations, as well as be firm and courageous in carrying out their new assignments.

    The chairman disclosed that in addition to the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, the commission would be conducting four bye-elections this year to fill vacancies.

    These, according to him, include Takum state constituency in Taraba, Lokoja/Koton-Karfe Federal Constituency in c, Bauchi South Senatorial District, and Kastina North Senatorial District in Kastina State.

    The INEC boss reassured newly registered voters in the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ) of getting their Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ) before the 2019 general elections.

    He added that “we have consistently reassured the public that for those who registered in 2017, their PVCs would be available for collection in the first week of May 2018.

    “Those who registered in the first quarter of this year, that is between January and March, as well as those who are registering right now in the second quarter of this year, would collect their cards thereafter.”

    Yakubu also reassured the public and those who applied for replacement of their PVCs that their cards would be available for collection before the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: Wanted: An ‘independent’ INEC

    “For those who registered in Ekiti and Osun in 2017 and 2018, priority attention was given to the production of their PVCs, such that all the cards would be available ahead of the July 14 and Sept. 22 governorship elections,’’ he said.

    Responding on behalf of the new RECs, Mr Segun Agbaje, representing Ekiti State, pledged the new commissioner’s readiness to justify the confidence reposed in them.

    He said “by the grace of God, we shall finish well.”

    He expressed confidence in the leadership of Yakubu, saying “with your style of leadership, we would
    not be surprised if 2019 elections turned out to be the best elections in the country.”

    The new RECs are: Mr Baba Yusuf and Mr Segun Agbaje, representing Borno and Ekiti states for second term.

    Others are Dr Uthman Ajidagba, Kwara;  Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa State; Dr Emmanuel Hart, Rivers; Mohammed Ibrahim, Gombe and Dr Cyril Omorogbe, Edo.

    NAN

  • Osun scores high in human satisfaction index

    Osun State has scored high in human satisfaction and happiness index, according to the 2017 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 5) report conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics.

    The state Statistician-General, Prof. Alagbe Wasiu Gbolagade, who addressed reporters at the weekend in Osogbo, said the Bi-monthly of Central Pricing Reference System, when compared to other Southwest states, showed Osun was in the lead.

    He said: “This fact was attested to, considering the prices of goods and services in market transactions in the state. The publication of the February 2018 edition of Central Pricing Reference System (CPRS), a bi-monthly Price Bulletin of Osun State Bureau of Statistics, showed that the majority of the commodities witnessed a downward price movement  compared to February 2017 commodity prices.

    “The significant downward inflation rate is an indication that efforts of the present administration under the leadership of Ogbeni Abdul-Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola are yielding fruits in the lives of Osun indigenes.

    “The six-point Integral Action Plan of the Aregbesola administration has impacted on the lives of the people.”