The Nation Newspaper

Tag: OSUN

  • Normalcy returns to Ile-Ife

    Normalcy returns to Ile-Ife

    Normal commercial activities resumed on Monday in Ile-Ife in Osun, after a clash between the indigenes and the Hausas, which restricted the movement of many people for about two weeks.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that doors of banks as well as government offices, including shops and offices, which were locked since Wednesday, March 8, had been opened.

    Everybody, including civil servants, now moved freely without being challenged by security agencies, as most barricades on the roads had been removed.

    The situation was calm in Sabo and Lagere areas of the town where the crisis erupted.

    The Hausas had resumed their businesses as usual with people moving freely around Sabo and Lagere areas.

    The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ile-Ife, Mr. Isiaka Olatunbosun, told NAN that his members were back to their commercial duty posts fully.

    Olatunbosun appealed to all to “give peace a chance” across the city.

    According to him, there is no gain in violence, as violence will disrupt the development of the town.

    The Otun Babaloja of Ife Central, Chief Jimoh Odeyemi, said the turnout of traders in the major market (Oja-Tuntun) was impressive, compared to the low turnout of traders and buyers recorded on Friday, March 17.

    He commended the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni-In-Council and the state government for their efforts in bringing the crisis to an end and for re-opening markets for commercial activities to fully resume.

    Also, the Otun Iyaloja, Ife Central, Alhaja Falilat Lawal, called on the people to maintain peaceful coexistence.

    Lawal said that there was no disparity between the Hausas and the Yorubas, “for both had been living peacefully together for almost 200 years without  violence”.

    She confirmed that peace had returned to the city and assured buyers and sellers to come to market for patronage.

    Mr. Saheed Lawal, a Computer Operator at Lagere area, could not hide his feeling.

    He appreciated God and the stakeholders who intervened in the crisis.

    “I am not an Ife Indigene but I am from Ede. I was born in Ile-Ife. Ife people are loving, caring and accommodating, I strongly believe that the crisis emanated from the devil.

    “For complete 13 days, I stayed indoor. I did not find it easy,

    “I appeal to the people to exercise patience and allow dialogue rather than violence,” he said.

    Mrs. Titilayo Osotimehin, the Coordinating Director Osun-East Education District Office, Ile-Ife, told NAN that both public and private schools closed down due to Ife/Hausa crisis would be opened on Tuesday, March 21.

  • Osun prospering under Aregbesola, say editors

    Osun prospering under Aregbesola, say editors

    The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has described Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as a “visionary governor” who has opened Osun to the world.

    Leading the NGE Standing Committee members to inspect projects across the state at the weekend, NGE President Mrs. Funke Egbemode attributed the state’s development to peace and security.

    Some of the projects inspected include the 18 kilometre Oba Adesoji Aderemi East By-Pass; Ataoja Government High School, Osogbo; Government High School; Nelson Mandela Freedom Park and Atewogbeja Fountain, Nigeria Railway Terminus and park.

    Egbemode, who is the managing director of  New Telegraph, said however ambitious any governor is, he can only achieve little without peace and security.

    She said there had been an improvement in terms of infrastructure in the state since the present administration came on board.

    The NGE president added that every part of Osun, especially Osogbo, the state capital, was cleaner, developed and beautiful.

    Mrs Egbemode, who observed that the state has moved forward under Aregbesola, noted that she is always impressed by any government working to leave a state better than it met it.

    The NGE president praised the governor for attracting businesses and investors through masses-friendly programmes.

    According to her, “by and large, your government has done well for the people and we urge you to do more.”

    Responding, Aregbesola linked the nation’s economic problem to lack of productivity.

    He lamented that the resources in the hands of a few were not channelled for the nation’s development.

    The governor cautioned journalists to be conscious of their writings and reports.

    The Guild condemned the continuous xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.

    It said the Federal Government should be more responsive in protecting its citizens in foreign countries.

    “The Federal Government, should as a matter of national interest apply the country’s foreign policy of reciprocity that affects mutual relations between Nigeria and other countries.”

  • Rain brings pains in Osun community

    A three-hour rain on Thursday evening has displaced many residents of Owu-kuta community in Ayedire Local Government Area of Osun State.

    The affected families are currently living with good-spirited Nigerians who came to their aid after the heavy rain had removed the roofs of their houses.

    The rain was said to have been preceded by windstorm which first caused panic among the residents. But the wind, it was learnt, did not cause any havoc until the rain began to fall.

    The Olowu-Kuta of Kuta, Oba Hammed Adekunle Oyelude lamented that the rain was unprecedented in the history of the town, especially since he became to the monarch five years ago.

    The traditional ruler said he was in town when the rain began and witnessed its severity, saying that the rain was a sign of what lies ahead in the coming months.

    Oba Oyelude said part of the palace where he usually holds meetings with his chiefs was also affected by the rain while a mosque and shopping complex built by the St Peter’s African Church were also affected.

    The monarch expressed his sympathy over the suffering of his subjects who were victims of the incident, just as he urged them to accept it as an act of God.

    He also called for calm among the residents, stressing the need to imbibe the culture of tree planting. He stated that trees have a way of shielding buildings from the effects of rainstorm and minimising danger.

    The royal father thanked Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola for sympathising with his people over the ugly incident. He also thanked officials of Ayedire Local Government Area for their visit to the palace as a show of solidarity.

    “I want to appeal to Governor Aregbesola to sensitise the public to the importance of tree planting. It is a preventive measure we need to tackle rainstorm. I know our governor is a proactive man, but I still need to remind him that the earlier this is done to encourage our people to protect their buildings from natural disaster, the better,” he said.

  • Ife crisis: No reprisal attack in North -Kwankwanso

    Ife crisis: No reprisal attack in North -Kwankwanso

    Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso,(APC- Kano Central) on Tuesday  said there would be  no  reprisal attacks   against the Yoruba   living in the North following the crisis in Ile-Ife on March 8.

    Kwankwaso said this in Sabo area of Ile-Ife after meeting  with members of  the Hausa community inside a mosque.

    The former Kano State governor, who was in company with Gov. Rauf Aregbesola and  Sen.  Babajide Omoworare (APC-Osun East), told journalists   that he was in Osun  to promote peace and the rule of law.

    According to him, the Kwankwasiya Foundation will offer the victims of the crisis succour as from next week.

    He urged members of the Hausa community to resist the temptation to take laws into their hands and further  breach the peace gradually  returning to the affected area.

    Also speaking,   Gov. Rauf Aregbesola stressed the significance of peaceful co-existence in spite of the activities of the hoodlums which led to the incident.

    He said security agencies had arrested some suspects in connection with the crisis, adding that the perpetrators would face the full wrath of the law.

    Aregbesola further said that the state government would help set up a Peace and Reconciliation Committee with a view to finding a   permanent  solution  to the crisis.

    Receiving Kwankwaso  on behalf of  the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Obalufe of Ife kingdom,  Idowu Adediwura,  recalled  that Hausa  had   been living in Ife since 1894 without any fear of molestation.

    He attributed the incident to the activities of miscreants, saying Ife had been generally peaceful.

    The traditional ruler commended the efforts made by Kwankwanso toward  resolving the crisis while appealing to security agents to handle the issue with fairness and objectivity.

    “We are creatures of Almighty God, hence we are all citizens of the world and we abhor bloodletting in all its ramifications, ” he stated.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and its state’s counterpart had distributed some relief materials to the victims of the communal clash.

     

  • Kwakwanso, Aregbesola deepen peace moves in Ife

    Kwakwanso, Aregbesola deepen peace moves in Ife

    • Caution media against false reports

    Former Governor of Kano state and Senator representing Kano Central district, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso; and the Seriki Hausa Community in Ife on Tuesday said reports of the evacuation of Hausa men from Ile Ife after last week’s clash are targeted at further escalating a breach that has already been quenched.

    Both Kwankwaso and the Governor of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola cautioned the media against reports that could jeopardise the peace of the country.

    Kwankwaso described as mere rumours report that Hausa people in Ife have been migrating from the state up North.

    He said commentators should be careful with reports on both the conventional and social media so as not spark another trend of a crisis in other parts of the country. 

    The senator stated this during a condolence visit he paid to Governor of Osun at the government house Osogbo.

    Senator Kwankwaso who stressed that the kind of reports being disseminated by the media may aggravate the crisis commended the efforts of the Osun Governor in arresting the ugly incident. 

    “I want to appeal to our media men and women to be mindful of how they report the crisis so that it won’t lead to a reprisal attack in other parts of the country. 

    “We should be mindful of what we write and use on our conventional media and the social media as well, we need some sense of responsibility from our media houses.

    [quote]”We are not saying you should not do your job, but you should know that you also have a responsibility of maintaining peace in our society,” – Kwankwaso [/quote]

    Senator Kwankwaso
    Senator Kwankwaso

    He pointed out that as soon as he got wind of the crisis he put a call through to Aregbesola and the peace moves taken by the governor has been corroborated by the Arewa community in Ife. 

    While urging members of the Hausa community in Ife and other parts of Osun to allow peace to reign, Senator Kwankwaso said they should be reminded that wherever they live is their home and everything possible must be done to embrace peace.

    The senator who thanked the state government of Osun and the National Emergency Management Agency of Nigeria (NEMA) for trying to make life bearable for those affected through the provision of relief materials promised that his foundation will follow suit as soon as possible.

    According to him, “As soon as I got to know about the crisis, I put a call through to my brother, Ogbeni Aregbesola who promised me on the phone that he was already on top of the situation.

    “I am happy that when I got here,  members of the Arewa community corroborated what he told me on efforts at ensuring the safety of my people.

    “I am using this opportunity to appeal to the Hausa community in Ife and around Osun to embrace peace and continue to live together in unity with their Yoruba hosts.

    “Wherever you find yourself is your home and you should ensure it is peaceful.

    “I thank the governor and NEMA for providing relief materials to those affected and I also promise to bring more through my foundation,” the Senator said.

    On the entourage of the Senator are members of national Assembly and leaders of the Arewa community in Osun.NEMA

    Meanwhile, Senator Kwankwaso was accompanied by Governor Aregbesola to the scene of the crisis in Ile-Ife for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation. 

    Aregbesola also disclosed that more than twenty people who were said to have participated in the crisis have been arrested and will be made to face the law.

    He said that what happened was just accidental as people of Osun are peace loving and accommodating.

    He noted that Yoruba people may fight one another but they are always protective of and friendly with their visitors.
    He buttressed his point with the Ife/Modakeke crisis which he said never touched the Hausa community.

    According to him Yoruba and Hausa did not engage in any fight but the crisis was caused by miscreants from both sides of the divide.

    “What caused the crisis was a minor disagreement. We are afraid that those who want to cause chaos in the country might be behind this crisis

    “Yoruba may fight one another but they will not fight with their visitors. We are very peaceful and if you look around you will find out that enemies of peace are at work and they are few.

    “And we don’t know what their aim or interest was in causing this crisis. Perhaps they were sponsored because I have never heard that Yoruba and Hausa fought each other in Ife before but there might be misunderstanding and it would not be more than that.

    “God has created and put us together in Nigeria. We must, therefore, live together in harmony. We should not allow agent of division to cause disaffection among us,” Aregbesola said

    Aregbesola also commended all security agencies for their swift response to a distress call.

    He averred that but for the quick response of security agencies the crisis would have snowballed into terrible level better imagined.

  • Osun APC’s blight

    SIR: I read with dismay the report in the media that the former Chairman of Osogbo Local Government and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Alhaji Fatai Diekola, launched a verbal assault and tirade on Governor Rauf Aregbesola. It was at a function organised by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Lasun Yussuf.

    Diekola was reported to have said that he brought Gov Aregbesola into Osun politics and he would send him back to Lagos. He said many other unprintable things about the governor which amounted to inciting party members present at the function against him.

    This is clear indiscipline which the party must take a strong stand against. The strength of the party in the state, among others, is the unity and inclusion which Ogbeni infused into Osun APC.

    It is on record that the party was moribund, huddled in a ramshackle apartment, without any vehicle and having only a 1965 Olympia manual typewriter at its then Orisunmbare office. However, Aregbesola gave it another fully equipped office at Ogo Oluwa, many vehicles and placed some party officials on monthly salaries, before he even got the party ticket or became governor.

    Aregbesola with his resources, unbounded energy, resilience and never-say-die spirit fought and dethroned PDP in Osun and gave the party members the opportunity to govern the state. He is a philanthropist who used his personal money before (and since) he became governor to assist members of the party and ordinary people of the state, including Diekola. Without any doubt, Aregbesola is an asset and treasure to the party. He should be appreciated and celebrated, not savagely attacked.

    Secondly, as governor, he is the leader of APC in Osun and one of the national leaders of the party. He should therefore be treated with respect. An attack on him is an attack on the integrity of the party and all its members and Aregbesola’s friends and associates.

    It is curious why Diekola attacked the governor. He did not say he has done anything wrong or offended him in any way, other than the governor was based in Lagos before he became the governor.

    This is very disheartening. This attack on him is a destructive virus in a putative stage which the party must surgically remove before it destroys the entire body. When one act of indiscipline is allowed to stand, others will be encouraged to follow suit and this could lead to breakdown of order and peace in the party.

    The party leaders must rise to the occasion and correct this indiscipline before it grows into an uncontrollable monster.

     

    • Olayinka Agunbiade,

    Osogbo, Osun State

     

  • Ethnic clash: Osun declares curfew in Ife

    Ethnic clash: Osun declares curfew in Ife

    The Osun state government has declared a two day curfew in Ile-Ife over alleged clashes between Hausa and Yoruba communities in the state.

    In a statement signed by Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the Director of Communications and Strategy, office of the Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, it said “the curfew, which will be between 6pm to 7am, takes effect from today Wednesday March, 8th, 2017 and will be in force till Friday.”

    The government said the curfew was necessitated by the breach of the peace in the area which has led to avoidable destruction of lives and properties.

    Five persons have been reported killed and many others injured in the clash.

  • Old students praise Osun

    The Old Students Association of the Baptist High School, Iwo, Osun State, has hailed the government’s effort in ridding schools of cultism and other social vices.

    Handing over a block of classrooms renovated by the 1989 set, the President of the set, Prince Ademola Adedapo, said it was important for everyone to support the government to revamp education in the interest of the future of the nation.

    On behalf of his mates, Adedapo, who urged students to shun cult activities, praised Governor Rauf Aregbesola for planning to introduce Education-Marshals (Edu-Marshals) in all state secondary schools to enforce discipline.

    He blamed parents for their wards’ bad behaviours, advising that training and upbringing of their children should not be left in the hands of teachers.

  • Osun pupils, teachers laud volunteer corps scheme

    Public secondary school pupils in Osun State have lauded the Volunteer Corps Tutoring programme, a private intervention to help less privileged pupils improve through extra lessons.

    The programme aims at preparing SS3 pupils adequately for public examinations such as the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO), as well as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the JAMB.

    The programme which features intensive weekend (Friday-Sunday) coaching began in Osun on December 10, last year, though it has existed in Lagos for 25 years.

    The pupils and volunteer teachers are fed meals during the classes to avoid distraction due to hunger and tiredness on the Saturdays.

    The pupils are being taught Mathematics and English and were given work books on both subjects that contain past questions as well as notebooks.

    Teachers got a manual; marking scheme of WAEC standard.

    State coordinator of the programme, Mrs Ibiyemi Ifaturoti, said there are scholarships available for those who excel in the examination.

    She visited some centres where the classes hold in various schools in the Ife/Ilesa zone recently, where pupils and teachers made positive comments about the scheme.

    Ozomue Mathew of School of Science, Ondo Road, described the intervention “as a nice project helping us. It will really be effective in eradicating mass failure in schools; we thank the organisers.”

    Abosede Fadare of St. Margaret’s High School, Ilesa, has her eyes on the scholarship.

    “(I will) try to be among the best so I can be one of those who will get the scholarship,” she said.

    Maths teacher, Mr Segun Lawrence Omisakin, said the programme was yielding fruits.

    “The project is fine and the students are responding well. I have no qualms teaching for free on the weekends I am supposed to be resting but it is God that rewards.  No amount of money can ever be enough,” he said.

    Mrs Abimbola Awofisayo, also a Maths teacher at the School of Science, Ondo Road, advised the organisers to start earlier with the next set.

    “It is a really nice programme but the time for preparation is short. I’ll advise the organisers to let’s start from maybe SS2 so we can catch them young. I have done a lot of volunteering in the past and my joy will be to meet the students in future when they have become successful,” she said.

    Hamza Musa, a youth corps member serving at C&S Middle School, Ilesa, but who teaches maths on weekends at St. Margaret’s High School, Ilesa, said participating in the programme was fulfilling.

    “I am usually free at weekends and decided to engage myself by coming here to teach. I’m enjoying imparting knowledge to the younger students and I’m happy they are responding well,” he said.

    Disclosing the reason for the intervention, Mrs Ifaturoti, said the poor performance of public schools pupils in the last WASSCE was just one of the motives for the initiative.

    “It is one of the motivations but it is really high time that we started impacting the lives of children in other places apart from Lagos. Let’s just say the time was just ripe” she said.

    The coordinator, who disclosed that convincing the teachers to work free on weekends,  was not easy  however acknowledged the roles played by the three zonal coordinators, Alhaji ‘Lekan Salami, Deaconess Adeola Akanji and Pastor Ayodele Obadire  in getting the programme started.

    She also thanked the Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for approving the initiative.

     

  • Lagos partners Osun on calisthenics training

    The Lagos State Government on Monday said its training of students and youths on fundamentals of calisthenics was being done in partnership with the Osun State government.

    Deputy Governor Idiat Adebule spoke on the partnership while receiving a six-man delegation from Osun in her office at Alausa.

    Adebule said the training in calisthenics would help in developing the students mentally, physically and socially.

    Calisthenics consists of a variety of movements often performed rhythmical and usually conducted in concerts with stretches to depict specific symbols.

    The calisthenics training is in preparation of the ‘Lagos @ 50’ celebrations coming up in May.

    Adebule said the calisthenics display of students at the 25th anniversary of the creation of the State of Osun in Aug. 2016 spurred Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode into the partnership.

    “Governor Ambode was impressed by the breathtaking calisthenics performances at the Osogbo City Stadium and has decided to replicate same in Lagos State.

    “We are partnering with Osun State to share ideas and learn from them to ensure a historic performance at the Lagos @50 celebration and beyond.

    “One of the components of calisthenics is to give meaning to the total package of educational training for young minds.

    “We are starting this training with our students and we will extend it to the youth in the state,” Adebule said.

    Mr Adebayo Ojo, Director, Department for Social and Grassroots Mobilisation and Guidance, Office of the Governor, Osun, who led the visiting team, said the school calisthenics programme had been a success in Osun State.

    He said the calisthenics programme was conceived to enhance the emergence of a new generation of students who were physically fit, mentally sound and socially responsible individuals that would be well-adjusted to societal needs.

    “Osun State is the first in the country to revive this sterling and rewarding initiative in about more than three decades.

    “We shall do our best to ensure that we bring out the best in the students who will be trained to produce Eko-Calisthenics that will be of global standard,” he said.