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Tag: OSUN

  • Osun leads in youth empowerment, says ITF chief

    Osun leads in youth empowerment, says ITF chief

    The Director General and Chief Executive of Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Sir Joseph Ari, has described Osun State as a trail blazer in the empowerment of youths in Nigeria.

    Also, Governor Rauf Aregbesola said ITF’s training initiative is in tandem with the philosophy and policy thrust of his administration’s welfarist intervention.

    Ari said the Aregbesola administration had raised the bar of governance through social programmes that impacted positively on the citizenry.

    The ITF chief spoke in Osogbo, the capital, while delivering a speech at the closing of the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, in conjunction with ITF.

    He noted that the state has demonstrated a high sense of commitment towards improving the general well-being of residents as reflected in the success of government’s empowerment programmes.

    Ari said Osun was chosen, after the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), due to the contributions of the Aregbesola administration to youth and women empowerment.

    The ITF chief hailed Aregbesola for providing an enabling environment for youths to thrive, adding that the state has been identified as doing well in social intervention programmes.

    He said: “The selection of Osun as the second state, after FCT, where this programme is held, was not only deliberate but also intentional due to the high sense of commitment attached to youth empowerment by the governor.

    “It is not in doubt that Osun has proven its commitment as a state where empowerment is prioritised, particularly youth empowerment, making the state to be seen as a leading light in youth empowerment in Nigeria.

    “We are aware of various developmental achievements which the state has made in reducing poverty, tackling unemployment and making the youth to be self-sustaining and self-independent.

    “These, among others, are the reasons the state is seen at the centre of empowerment in the country. Our visit to the state has further exposed us to many of the successes the state has made to empower youths and women.”

    Aregbesola lauded ITF for its focus on reducing unemployment across the country with the provision of vocational and technical trainings.

     

  • Agency sensitises Osun vulnerable groups on rights

    The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sensitised vulnerable groups in Osun State, particularly the people with special needs, women and children, on their rights.

    The sensitisation was facilitated by a member of the National Assembly representing Ede North, Ede South, Egbedore and Ejigbo Federal Constituency, Prof Mojeed Alabi.

    The legislator said the sensitisation was aimed at enlightening the vulnerable groups in his constituency on their rights to enable them defend themselves against perpetual oppression.

    The programme was attended by people with special needs, secondary school pupils, women and other groups from all parts of the constituency.

    ProfAlabi said if the target groups knew their rights and were encouraged to defend them, they would be bold to seek justice through legal instruments, when necessary.

    The guest speakers – Mr. Akudo Moses Okoh and Olaniyi Omodara – said women and children, as the most vulnerable, should always demand their rights.

    The resource persons highlighted different avenues through which citizens could seek redress when oppressed.

  • Council poll victory: A massive triumph for Osun, says APC

    Council poll victory: A massive triumph for Osun, says APC

    THE All Progressives Congress in Osun State has described its victory at last Saturday local government election as a massive triumph for the people and the state.

    The party also said it was one big step forward for the popular desire of Nigerians to revert to parliamentary democracy.

    In a statement yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, by its Director Kunle Oyatomi, the party congratulated he residents for the emphatic statement they got across to the haters of progress in Osun that “the people know what they want and they will not allow themselves to be deceived by the shenanigans of the opposition”.

    The elections were won in all the 389 wards in the state by the APC councillorship candidates.

    The statement said: “Beyond the electoral victory is the political step forward into the less expensive parliamentary democracy, which will now start in Osun’s local government setting for the first time in 52 years since our parliamentary democracy was destroyed by the military in 1966.

    “When the import of this election will be addressed in the history books in the future, the Osun State will be celebrated as a catalyst for the return of parliamentary democracy, if not in Nigeria, certainly in Yoruba land.

    “Those who objected to the development met their waterloo in the court and owing to their obsession for retaining the presidential system, they shot themselves in the foot, anticipating victory at the court by not registering to participate in the election. They miscalculated so badly that it turned out a double tragedy for them.”

     

     

  • Osun council poll peaceful, turn-out impressive

    Osun council poll peaceful, turn-out impressive

    The local government election in Osun State on Saturday was peaceful.

    Residents observed the vehicular restriction order of the Osun State Electoral Commission (OSIEC) as motorist kept away from major roads in the state.

    At the poll, 318 councillorship candidates were presented unopposed in 318 wards with71 out of 389 wards holding the election.

    Only six political  parties participated in the exercise, including the ruling All Progressives Congress, the Accord Party, meanwhile The People’s Democratic Party boycotted the election.

    The poll held in 6 wards of the Osun Central Senatorial District, 13 wards in the West Senatorial and 52 wards in the East Senatorial District of the state.

    Armed security operatives were stationed across the state to maintain law and order.

    Electoral materials had arrived polling booths across the state as early as 8.00 am except in few places in Ife like Akarabata ward 10 unit 2, where voting exercise did not start until after 9.30 am.

    The Presiding Officer at the polling unit, Mr. Isaac Adewole, who disclosed that the unit has 634 total registered voters, said there was an initial mix up in the materials supplied by the electoral body to the ward with 12 polling units.

    Meanwhile, there was  pandemonium at  Iremo road in Ile Ife,  as men of the Nigerian Police Force arrested an alleged cultist popularly known as Oluremo of Iremo.

    Former Commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Hon. Sikiru Ayedun, who was at his More ward 1, unit 10 to cast his ballot, said nobody was disenfranchised in Ile-Ife.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), Mr Segun Oladitan, on Saturday said the low turnout at some polling units in the ongoing local government election was due to some mis-information.

    On the late arrival of election materials, he said logistics and human factor were responsible for the late arrival.

    “But the fact that election materials arrived at their scheduled destination by 9a.m. was a reasonable time,’’ he said.

  • Pray for peace, APC urges Osun citizens

    Pray for peace, APC urges Osun citizens

    The chairman of All Progressives Congress in the state of Osun Prince Gboyega Famodun has urged the people of the state to fast and pray tomorrow, so that God will prevent any incident to disturb the peace and tranquillity of the state as people proceed to vote to elect their councillors into local governments  (LGs) and LCDAs in the state.

    The appeal from the chairman is coming less than 24 hours before the scheduled council polls, which comes up tomorrow.

    The APC is asking everybody to join hands in prayer that those who may wish to cause trouble tomorrow should have a change of heart and allow peace to reign because it is in the interest of everbody that there should be no violence.

    In a statement issued from the party secretariat in Osogbo on Friday, the APC chairman warned those who may be contemplating violence that they will have the law to contend with. And it may not be a very pleasant experience.

    Prince Famodun emphasised that political engagement should not turn violent because politics is about winning the hearts and minds of the people and not about breaking people’s heads and limbs to get to power.

  • Osun council poll: Today, tomorrow declared work-free days

    Osun council poll: Today, tomorrow declared work-free days

    • 318 candidates unopposed

    The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has said 318 councillorship candidates were presented unopposed by their parties to participate in Saturday’s local government election.

    Also, the state government has declared today and tomorrow work-free days, ahead of Saturday’s poll.

    According to the commission, the election will hold in 71 of the 389 wards in the state.

    OSIEC Chairman Segun Oladitan, who addressed reporters yesterday in Osogbo, the state capital, said 12 parties withdrew their participation from the election.

    He said only six parties would participate in the poll.

    The OSIEC chief also said the election would hold in six wards of the Central, 13 wards in the West and 52 wards in the East senatorial districts.

    Oladitan said: “For the purpose of this election, which is based on the parliamentary system of government, 38 parties registered at the initial stage out of which only 18 signified their intention to participate. I can reliably tell you that 12 political parties have withdrawn from participating in the election, remaining only six political parties in the race.

    “Of all the candidates representing the participating political parties in the 389 wards across the state, 318 councillorship candidates in 318 wards have been presented unopposed. They represent the candidates who satisfied the requirements of the law with reference to Section 41 of the Electoral Act (2011), as amended.

    “Therefore, there shall be elections in only 71 wards of the state.”

    The OSIEC chairman, who spoke about the injunction against the commission, said the State High Court, sitting in Ilesha on Tuesday, dismissed an application restraining the commission.

    He said a Federal High Court in Abuja, also on Wednesday, dismissed the ex parte motion seeking to restrain the commission from conducting the Saturday local government election.

    Oladitan assured all of a free and fair poll, saying there would be vehicular restriction from 7 a.m to 2 p.m.

    Also, a statement yesterday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Sola Fasure, said the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, had vacated its 2017 order restraining the commission from holding elections into the Local Council Development Authorities (LCDAs) and withholding local government allocations in the state.

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola urged Osun eligible voters to come out en masse to perform their civic responsibility in the local government parliamentary election without let or hindrances.

     

  • Boroffice welcomes Oke, others to APC

    Boroffice welcomes Oke, others to APC

    Prof. Ajayi Boroffice, Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District has applauded the return of the former legal adviser of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olusola Oke and his supporters to the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Ondo State.

    Oke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria ( SAN ), and a 2016 governorship candidate of Alliance for Democracy ( AD ), defected to APC on Thursday in Akure with his supporters.

    Boroffice commendation is contained in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Mr Kayode Fakuyi, on Friday in Akure.

    READ ALSO: I’m a loyal deputy, says Olusola

    “The senator is delighted to note that the laudable efforts of himself and other party leaders to woo politicians from other political parties to join the APC have started yielding positive results.

    “As a matter of fact, the wave of defection is currently blowing across Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ekiti and Lagos States,” it read.

    The statement added that in the weeks ahead, APC would receive more political gladiators into its fold.

    It urged the defectors to quickly perfect their membership registration in order to join hands with party leaders to build a united and formidable party in the state.

    NAN

  • ‘We ‘ll re-enact Awo’s legacies in Osun’

    ‘We ‘ll re-enact Awo’s legacies in Osun’

    Hon Femi Kehinde is a governorship aspirant on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Osun State. He represented Ayedire Iwo/Ola-Oluwa Constituency in the Second Republic. He spoke with Sunday Omoniyi on his vision for the state. 

    Who are your role models in politics?

    First and foremost, my role model is the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. I admired his Spartan self-discipline, his deep knowledge and his philosophical approach to issues. You can’t fail to admire the first premier of Western Region who had no official vehicle and did not live in the government house. He chose to live in his private residence. On the international scene, I admired Mahatma Ghandi- the Father of Indian Nation. He lived a spartan and disciplined life. He was never in government but throughout his life he stood for the interest of India against Western Imperialism.

    As one of the aspirants for the governorship poll, what is the state of your preparedness?

    We are preparing day by day to run with the vision, I and my party, the Alliance for Democracy AD designed a blue print to give the greatest good to the greatest number of the people of Osun State. This blue print is formulated by a team of distinguished and eminent people in the academia, professional groups etc that will articulate our policies which we believe will re-invent Osun state and make the state first among equals. Osun State will rise again with the help of God, determination and dedication of the political leadership.

    You said Chief Awolowo is one   of your mentors in politics. What   would be the main thrust of your administration?

    My party, Alliance for Democracy (AD) is unshakably determined to pursue the successful policies that made Western Region under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, a pace-setter in Nigeria and Africa. We have done a great research on the agricultural potentials of Osun State. Do you know that Osun State has large quantities of solid minerals in Iperindo-Atakumosa gold belt which is currently neglected? We  will invest massively in agriculture   and mining potentials of the State. Do you also know that we have cassava which is a money spinning   crop?   Out of cassava, you   get   ethanol and about 14 derivatives. We have huge rice deposit at Erinmo, Ila Orogun, Odo-Oba among others. Apart from this we have live stock-poultry that was developed in the days   of   the   Late   Sage,   Chief   Obafemi   Awolowo   and   Chief   Bola   Ige’s administration. These resources can adequately feed the 2,876 communities in the State and still be exported. What of the large quantities of cashew nut. Right now a ton of cashew is being sold for $1,800 in the world market as against the paltry sum of N300 in the past. We are going to look inward so that Federal allocation will just be an addition. We will hit the ground running.

    Money politics has played a great role in our body-  politic.  What do  you think  can  be  done  to check this trend?

    All over the world, election is very expensive because electioneering requires a good deal of funding. It is a common saying “as expensive as election” It is on record, the Action Group led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo spent over 10 million pounds to finance 1959 Federal Elections. AG was the first party in Nigeria that put seriousness  into  election process with modern technology such as using helicopter for sign writing in the sky. The party had Secretariats in virtually all the major cities in Nigeria. Inspite of that the essence of election is to bring a government that will deliver – the party’s motto “Life in abundance” was really felt   by the people of the Western region. You remember the party’s  four Cardinal Programme: Free Education at all levels, Free Health Services, Rural Integration and Full and Gainful employment. My party, the AD is the authentic political platform fashioned and designed after the progressive Action Group and subsequently the Unity  Party of Nigeria (UPN) led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. I could rightly say, AD is the 21st Century replica of Action Group. I believe with definiteness of purpose and dedicated leadership and with the help of God we will not let the good people of Osun State down.

    Have you consulted widely with state-holders like eminent-citizens and traditional rulers in the state?

    In the course of my consultation as governorship aspirant. I have visited notable traditional rulers that criss-cross Osun  Central, Osun East and I hope to visit Osun West Senatorial District very soon. I have visited Ooni of Ife for prayers and consultation. Other monarchs visited include Owa-Obokun of Ijeshaland, the Adimula of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, Owa-Idoka of Ijesha, the Elerinmo of Erinmo and the Regent of Iperindo among others.

    What do you do when you are not politicking?

    I am passionate about writing historical essays. This year alone I have written a lot of historical articles in Nigeria’s major newspapers which includes The Guardian,   Punch, Vanguard, Tribune etc. Some of my articules include “Between Awolowo and Rewane: A study in deviance and audacity,”   Oba Olubadan Oloyede Asanike:   “Oba with wits and Sarcasm: and   JIC Taylor:

    Between JIC Taylor and contemporary justice’ among others. I am always guided by the Immutable words of Judge Santiyana.“

    Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat its failures” I see writing historical articles as my contributions to the socio- political development of Nigeria.

    What is your message to members of your party and the people of Osun State as 2018 approaches?

    My message to our party members is that they should – pray continually for the state and reach out to the people. They should not take things for granted. They should work together as one family. Now to the people of Osun State, they should bear all things happening now with faith in God and prayer. We believe all things work together for good for them that trust in God. They will get the best from an AD led government.

    Tell us briefly about yourself?

    I was born 58 years ago; I am a lawyer and a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. I am a  former member of the House of  Representatives.  I  studied History   and later, Law at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. I started law practice at the Chambers of Obafemi Awolowo and Co. (Barrister and Solicitor) between June and October 1984. I was also in the Chambers of Fawole Babalakin & Co, where I did my NYSC before I established my own law firm, Femi Kehinde and Co,  as the Principal partner in August 1985.

     

  • Fuel scarcity: Osun residents decry hike in transport fare

    Fuel scarcity: Osun residents decry hike in transport fare

    Residents of Osogbo, the Osun State capital and its environs have decried the hike in the price of intra transport fare in the state due to scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit ( PMS ), also known as petrol .

    Some of the residents said on Tuesday in Osogbo said the hike in the transport fare was affecting their daily income.

    Mrs Yetunde Aderogba, a civil servant said due to the hike in the transport fare, she now spent more on transportation to work on a daily basis.

    Aderogba said that the `Korope’ (mini buses) and Okada riders have increased the transport fare by 30 to 40 per cent, adding that the increase was due to the fuel scarcity and hike price where fuel is available.

    Read also: Motorists, Commuters groan as fuel scarcity bites harder in Delta

    “Before now I use to pay N50 from my house to secretariat but now, I pay between N80 and N90.

    Similarly, Nike Adeyobo, a student of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, said she now pays more to transport herself from her house in Osogbo to the campus.

    Adeyobo said that she paid N150 as transport fare to school compared to the previous fare of N100.

    “This is unbearable because I now pay more on transportation; Government needs to do something urgent to address the situation.”

    Also, Mr Taiwo Samuel, an Okada rider, said until the pump price was reverted, the hire in transport fare will continue.

    Some of the Petrol Independent Marketers who spoke under the condition of anonymity said that selling fuel at N145 per litre was not profitable for them.

    “Until government does the needful, the price will remain like that. Selling at N145 now will result in a big loss to us because we are also lifting the fuel at a higher price”, they said.

    NAN visit to some of the filing stations revealed that majority of the filling station were selling at N180 per litre.

    Only few filling stations such as Bovas, Total and NNPC and few others were selling at the official price, with a very long queue.

    NAN

  • Nigeria will be prosperous, says Osun lawmaker

    Nigeria will be prosperous, says Osun lawmaker

    A member of the Osun House of Assembly, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on Nigerians to renew their hope and trust in the imperative of  a prosperous nation.

    Oyintiloye ( APC-Obokun ) also said on Wednesday in Osogbo that there was the need to re-awaken the consciousness of nation building and self-esteem among Nigerians.

    The lawmaker, who spoke against the backdrops of gross abuse and maltreatment of  Nigerians in Libya, said the creation of a  conducive environment, transparency and good governance  would fast-track restoration of hope and inspire a sense of nationhood in the country.

    Oyintiloye, who noted that the dehumanisation of Nigerians outside the country was  unfortunate, said lack of trust and faith in the system had led to  forced immigration.

    Read also: ‘Osun is second wealthiest state in Nigeria’

    The lawmaker, who is the House  Committee Chairman on Information and Strategy, urged Nigerians, especially the youths, to “ resist the temptation of squandering their future for a morsel of bread.’’

    He said there were  enormous potentials and vast opportunities in the country  if properly harnessed.

    While calling on Nigerians  to take advantage of  the numerous government programmes, Oyintiloye enjoined government at all levels to intensify efforts on initiatives  that would lead to job creation and improved  productivity  in the country.

    NAN