The Chief Missioner of Ansar-Ud- Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Ab­dul-Rahman Ahmed, has cautioned against heating the polity over the Christians Association of Nigeria’s (CAN) reaction to the court judg­ment that permitted female Muslim students to wear hijab to school.
 

 
In an interview with VINCENT KALU, Sheikh Ahmed said if CAN is not comfortable with the court pronouncement, it should go to the appellate court, instead of doing things that undermine the religious harmony that existed in the state. Excerpts…
CAN is accusing Osun State government of wanting to cause religious crisis in the state, what is your opinion on this?
To wear the hijab or not is a very simple matter. It is being over politicised. The partisanship of reli­gions in Osun State is rubbing off very heavily and negatively on the religious harmony that had existed between Muslims and Christians in the state.
One thing we must steer clear off is playing politics with religion either as individuals, or at the level of the family, the state and country. Nigeria is blessed because it’s a very diverse country. Our philosophy has been live and let live. The way I dress should not affect you and the way you dress should also not affect me. Barring that, the rule of decency and good conscience is observed.
If I wear Agbada and you put on turban it shouldn’t detract from my humanity; it doesn’t infringe on any­one at all.
At the Nigeria Inter Religious Council, this is what we strive to promote, not to involve our cultural identity into one, but with respect and regard for the diversity that we represent.
I’m yet to see how a student dressed in Hijab is infringing on the rights of others. In real life, we do not dress the same way. What we are practicing is secularity not secu­larism. Distinction must be made; secularity is a deliberate state policy to create a level playing field for ev­eryone, and making no one suffer any disadvantage as a result of his religious conviction.
In the US military, there was a Sikh person by religion and you identify Sikhs by their turban.Just recently, the US Army allowed him to wear his turban over his uniform. Even in countries that pride them­selves as secular like the UK and US, you find military men, policemen and women with their religious iden­tity. We just need to be tolerant of one another and be honest with our­selves. We should stop unnecessary heating up of the polity because we will not go anyway with that. If you exercise the right that is peculiar to you, should I find an equivalent? For instance, if you carry an ivory stick because you are an Igbo chief, must I now insist that I must also carry the cow horn? It doesn’t make sense be­cause it is not rooted in my culture but carrying an ivory staff is rooted in the Igbo culture. If I put feather on my cap, people would ask me, what mode of dressing is this because it is not my culture. We can only progress if we avoid all these narrowness and bigotry.
Everyone knows that Hijab is part and parcel of the dressing of female Muslim, guided by her faith. I don’t see an issue here. In real life we dress differently.
What does this portend?
It will lead to further intolerance. In Osun, it is the same people who have lived and are very happy to live together. Even in Iwo where women cover their faces and have lived like that forever and there has not been any issue. So, what is bringing this? It is nothing but politics, which must be excused in its totality.
Will it not amount to a mockery of the judiciary that made the pronouncement?
It has implications for us as a peo­ple and for law and order. I think the proper thing as law-abiding citizens to do is that if there is any court rul­ing that didn’t go down well with you, you should go to the appeal court.
I don’t think, unless there is any evidence to the contrary that it has anything to do with the state govern­ment.
Individuals took the state govern­ment to court and there was a judg­ment delivered. So, it is an invitation to anarchy if people disobey court order when there is a normal channel to go on appeal. It is an affront to the judiciary.
What is the solution to this problem?
It is simple. Let us all be law-abid­ing. If there is a problem, the courts are there. You cannot disagree with the court and do what is contrary to the ruling of that court. If you are dissatisfied, go and appeal the judg­ment.
For instance in Rivers State, after the court judgment that Wike was duly elected and Peterside disagreed and relocated the headquarters of Rivers to wherever, it was going to breed anarchy. Respecting court judgment is the only way we can have peace.
Those who are calling for distor­tions are those who would not take recourse to the judiciary to address their grievances. They are not ulti­mately religious people. They do not behave like religious people, they are thugs. But I believe they are not thugs. They are supposed to be religious people and are supposed to respect constituted authority. In case they are not satisfied, the courts are there, and I don’t know what exam­ples they want to set for others.
This is a state where workers have not received salaries for months, and they have been pitched against one another, doesn’t it justify your position that the political elites are marginalising the people?
Sometimes it is intriguing how we behave and react to issues. Our na­tion is going through crises now and most of the crises are self-inflicted. We must be honest, and we don’t have business being where we are today. I saw the footage about the Osun school, the students are not fighting, they are not enemies to one another. The students are being used. They are pawns in the chessboard of the politicians. They are not at each other’s throat. The issue has nothing to do with them.
It is a serious issue in Osun State and in Nigeria, making a serious is­sue out of how a student should dress leaves much to be desired. There is more to it than meet the eyes.
This hijab issue started during the Aregbesola ad­ministration, and CAN has accused him of trying to Is­lamise the state?
There was a time in Osun when the governor was a Christian, the deputy was a Christian as well as the Speaker of the House, and nobody said that Oyinlola was Christianising the state. Nobody ever said that. This Islamising and Christianising which are the new words in our lexicon, do not matter to the poor people. The most important thing is for them to live a comfortable life. These po­litical impostors are friends. What is important to them is to divide the people, but there is nothing divid­ing them, all of them are one and the same. They should stop deceiving the people. If there are scores to set­tle, they should do so among them­selves and stop hiding under religion to perpetrate all the atrocities. It has nothing to do with religion. The peo­ple are not involved. it is the infec­tion of the elites who are disgruntled and looking for relevant.

After months of serene emptiness and bewilderment occasioned by economic adversity, the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo came alive, with people attending the epoch-making launch of “Osuwon Omoluabi”-the re-introduction of the culture of Standard Weights and Measures as the basis of commodity sales transactions after many years of guesswork purchasing.
 

 
 
This culture-changing event consistent with the vision enunciated by Governor Rauf Aregbesola in his famous “Six-Point Integral Action Plan” for the State’s accelerated and orderly development drew a large crowd of residents determined to put behind them the hard times and embark on the march toward expected economic recovery.
 
The official launch on June 15, 2016 of “Osuwon Omoluabi” and its compulsory use will ensure that buyers get value-for-money in these lean times. With this important step toward equity, weights and measures of quantities of goods sold and bought in markets of Osun, whether solid or liquid, bulk and retail commodities can now be verified and uniformity of standard ensured throughout the State.
 
The Introduction and use of 40,000 units of “Osuwon Omoluabi”in all markets in Osun will eliminate sharp practices, haggling and quarreling, introduce uniformity and make equivalent quantities of goods sold predictable, thus ending the short-changing of buyers while ensuring that sellers get a fair return on their sales. This will reinforce state government’s drive for honesty and integrity in matters of trade and attract more buyers to the State, thus reinforcing the Osun Brand reputation.
 
Thus, the State Government’s insistence on compulsory usage of this Scale in all markets marks a turning point in the life of the people of Osun, and indeed the South West of Nigeria. Yorubaland had an ancient practice of ensuring through counting that a fixed number of pieces of goods equivalent to One Penny was used as the basis of sales transactions of food items but it fell into disuse long ago and no decent replacement was found for this reliable age-old system.
 
This system was so effective that it ensured that even when a seller was absent, goods could be bought by simply placing a Penny coin next to the sample of goods displayed for sale and the goods collected.
 
As it is well known, what cannot be measured cannot be managed: These transactions favoured the clever and more psychological prepared seller but created a massive problem of standards and integrity which we now live with and has become the bane of our development.  It has created a vicious circle of exploitation, resistance and unpredictability where people cannot plan their expenditure with reasonable assurance, and this gradually led to pervasive corruption and integrity gradually vacated the markets and this erosion eventually crept into all transactions.
 
The launch of “Osuwon Omoluabi” at the beginning of the Ramadan fasting when all Muslims are enjoined to embrace the spirit of repentance, sacrifice and piety, the government’s message that business transactions should be done with honesty and integrity should sink deep into hearts and minds, just as the Holy Quran enjoins
 
“And give full measure when you measure, and weigh with even balance, that is good and the best interpretation”- Quran 17 vs 35. Christians are in like manner reminded that “a false balance is an abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight-Proverbs 11 vs 1. Now is the right time to end the perverse tradition of deceitful bargaining in our daily life, a throw-back to the age of the Barter Trade with all its disadvantages and embrace a new era of progress when we can be confident that transactions come with integrity because the standards of measurement and weights are the same everywhere.
 
To change this nationally damaging habit, there is a need to institute and enforce the strict use of Standards, Weights and Measures, and enforce price control for all goods traded in Nigeria, imported and locally made. All things are learnt and remain only by habit.  We can reprogramme the behavior of Nigerians only when we cultivate and enforce new habits of honesty, integrity, love and care for our neighbours.
 
Introducing standards, weights and measures into daily transactions will help to educate our people and practically translate the theoretical mensuration taught in schools to daily life realities. Settling the issue of quantitative integrity will free us to concentrate on the more substantial issue of Quality, the final basis of integrity on our way to getting rid of substandard products that are soon spoilt and end up as pollutants and litters everywhere in Nigeria.
 
Keeping to the strict use of Standards, Weights and Measures will enable citizens get value for money and help the Naira to appreciate in value over time as Nigeria and Nigerians get used to this new way of life and acquire a new image and reputation of being trustworthy partners.
 
By instigating and initiating this effort, the Ministry of Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment of the Stat of Osun has pioneered a major grassroots effort to change the thinking of Nigeria by first changing our deeply ingrained habits.

Rt Hon. Najeem Salaam, the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, has appealed to Christian and Muslim leaders in the state not to allow court judgment on wearing of hijab in public schools to lead to crisis in the state. Salaam, in an interview on Friday in Osogbo, said the religious leader should not allow the issue to create enmity between the two religions.
 

 
The Muslim community in the state in 2013 instituted a case against the state government on the right of female Muslim students in public schools to use hijab on their school uniforms. A high court in its judgment on the case on June 3, granted female Muslim students the right to be wearing hijabs. But the state Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) faulted the judgment and vowed to appeal it. CAN further said that it would direct Christian students in public schools to be wearing church garments to schools to propagate their faith if the state government implemented the judgment.
 
Since the court Judgment on the issue, female Muslim students have been wearing hijab on their school uniform, while Christians students were also wearing church garments on their uniform as directed by CAN. Salaam, however, appealed to Christian leaders to seek redress in the court if they are not satisfied with the judgment.
 
“We have been enjoying peace in the state and the issue of hijab should not be allowed to cause crisis in the state. “We have been living together as brothers and sisters peacefully in the state and we should not allow anything to cause disunity among us. “l want to seek the indulgence of Christian community to kindly seek redress in the court if they are not satisfy with the judgment.
 
“The issue is not a political matter, but rather a legal issue which I want to appeal to our Christian brothers to address legally. “There is law in the society and judiciary is very key and important to the development of democracy in the country.’’ Salaam said the judgment was not in any way influenced by government, adding that the judiciary is an independent body.

The Osun State Government has described the activities of some Fulani herdsmen as the biggest security challenge facing the country.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Mrs. Olajumoke Bello, spoke on Friday  at a forum organised by the Justice Development and Peace Makers’ Centre with the theme, “Peaceful coexistence in a democratic  society: The challenge of herdsmen in focus.”
 

 
The permanent secretary, whose address was read by Mrs. O.A. Oni, said the destruction of farms and attacks on innocent persons by some herdsmen could be stopped if all stakeholders decided to find a peaceful means of addressing the issue.

Bello said, “The greatest security challenge facing Nigeria now is the attack by some herdsmen.
“But I want to applaud the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, for the foresight he had to have set up a committee on the peaceful coexistence between Hausa/Fulani/Bororo (herdsmen) and the Yoruba in the state since 2014.
“There is no doubt that the setting up of the committee has greatly helped the state in having very minimal/no record of herdsmen attacks  on our crops let alone farmers or individuals in Osun State.”
The Secretary of Osun State chapter of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Oladapo Kolawole, said many farmers had become bankrupt as a result of destruction of their farms by herdsmen.

The governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola took centre stage as the federal government launch the National school feeding programme in Abuja on Thursday June 9, 2016.
See photos below
 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

 

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has reaffirmed his government commitment to continuously champion the welfare of the citizens by providing essential amenities capable of improving their general well being.

 
Aregbesola also noted that no effort must be spared in the move to provide electricity as it is the major driving factor of the economy.
Aregbesola stated this while signing a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with an energy company that will generate 20 megawatts of power with the use of the Kajola Hydro Power plant in the state.
Speaking at the signing of the MoU, at the Government house Osogbo, Aregbesola noted that no effort must be spared in the move to provide electricity as it is the major driving factor of the economy.
He expressed delight in the drastic step taken by the state to revive and improve its economy towards the provision of stable electricity supply, saying with adequate power supply, small, medium and and large businesses would grow for the benefit of the state.
Governor Aregbesola said tapping into the alternative source of power which hydro provides, saying enough power supply in the country will definitely ease the stress on the economy.
According to him, “no effort must be spared for the provision of electricity as it is the major tonic to boost the economy.
“I am happy to be sitting and signing this MOU because I know that we are signing our way into prosperity as the availability of electricity guarantees prosperity for all.
“When there is stable and adequate power supply, there is a certainty that small scale businesses will grow and existing businesses will keep floating in the society.
Speaking on the realization of the project, the state Governor urged the energy company to take the project seriously and bring it to a reality for the benefit of all parties involved.
He stated further that any form of delay in the execution of the project should be avoided, stressing that all the state obligations as contained in the MOU will be met as at when due.
“I want this company to take the execution of this project seriously and bring it to reality for the benefit of all.
“I don’t want any party to suffer any delay in the implementation of the project.
“I am assuring you that all the state obligations as contained in the MOU will be met as at when due and I want you to meet with yours as well”, Aregbesola added.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of CBC Energy Company, Mr. Kunle Oderinu, assured that the project when completed will go a long way in assisting the energy deficiency in the state and the country at large.
He assured that the company’s technical partners are already on ground with a view to commencing activities just as everything is already set towards the realization of the said objectives.
He explained that the 20 megawatts electricity project which will be ready for use in the next two years is just a tip of the iceberg as it will not cover the state’s energy need because of the planned commercial activities in the state.
He said “the 20 megawatts we are starting with is just a tip of the iceberg, we are hoping that this “first-start” will stimulate the commercial activities in the state.
“In terms of being fed into the national grid or to work as an independent national plant we are discussing with the distribution company that has the responsibility for the state of Osun.
“At the right moment we are going to bring them on board to discuss together on how to manage it so that the benefits will be more to the people of the state”

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday called on all stakeholders in the state including the organized labour to assist government in plugging leakages so as to make the state economically independent.
Aregbesola also noted that his government would not relent in his effort to jack up the state Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, saying all hands must be on deck to improve the State IGR for economic independence.

 
He made the call while receiving the report of the Committee on Plugging of Revenue Leakages in the state, at Government House, Osogbo.
The Governor noted that the only way Osun could become economically stable is to be able to generate at least N5billion monthly.
Governor Aregbesola who welcomed the report, expressed satisfaction in the fact that the state has the capacity to generate triple of its current IGR basis.
The Governor said once the revenue projection of state could be conveniently upsurge to N20billion, expressing confidence that with such income accruable to the state coffer, his government would be definitely aided in meeting the all needs and obligations of the state.
He noted that it is particularly suiting to know through the report of the committee that Osun has the capacity to generate between 5 and 8billion every month throughout the remaining months of this year if all the palpable leakages are blocked.
Aregbesola stated further that it is heartwarming to know that Osun can conveniently pay salaries and execute capital projects if there is sincerity of purpose from everyone in the generation of revenue for the state.
The Governor hinted that his government would put in place a permanent committee that will be in charge of monitoring all revenues accruable to the state in order to maximize its potentials.
Commending the committee for a job well done, Governor Aregbesola said the details of the report has reflected the realizable potentiality of the state as its serves as an eye opener towards economic prosperity.
Aregbesola expressed delight that the job done by  the committee has made the state government to realize that Osun has the capacity to grow and develop without relying on the federal allocation.
He said “it interesting to know that if all leakages are blocked, our state can realistically generate between 4 to 8billion every month for 2016 alone, which can also rise to between 5 and 8.5billion per month next year and there after at least 7.5billion on a monthly basis.
“We have been made to know that with every conveniency, our state is capable to generate 4 to 5 billion this year 2016; 5 to 8billion by 2018 and 8 to 20billion by 2018.
“For this obvious purpose and economic projection, I believe it is high time to call ourselves to order for the benefit of our dear state, because having understood that Osun can conveniently generate this much as IGR if there are no leakages.
“I have said it before that if Osun can hit a revenue base of at least N5billion per month then our troubles are over.
“Because of the eye opening job this committee has done, I think its importance that a permanent committee that will be saddled with the responsibility of monitoring revenue and blocking leakages be set up.
“I am also calling on the organized labour and other relevant stakeholders to join hands with government in ensuring that our revenue are intact for the benefit of all”, he added..
Earlier, during the presentation of the report to the governor, Chairman of the committee who is also the Auditor General for Local Governments in the state, Mr Emmanuel Kolapo pointed out that a viable generation of revenue must go alongside blocking of leakages for it to be meaningful.
He stressed that all revenue generation needs to be accounted for by all relevant agencies, saying that there has to be a working synergy between all government agencies so as to boost the revenue drive of the state.
Mr. Kolapo added that the semi-formal and informal sectors of the state’s economy needs to be monitored so as not to draw the economy of the state back.
According to him, “Osun has the capacity to be great if we can block all leakages very well.
“the revenue drive of Osun can only be on a steady rise if all leakages in the system are blocked and this is not a job for the government alone, we all need to be involved.
“All sectors of the economy need to be involved, I am talking about both the semi-formal and informal sectors of the economy.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has reassured the citizens of his administration’s determination to place the state to an enviable height never known in history.
Aregbesola also reaffirmed that the current government in the state would not in any way be deterred by the current economic crisis in its bid to promote functional and quality education.

 
Governor Aregbesola gave the assurance while addressing the people during the official commissioning of St. Micheal’s R.C.M Government Middle School, Ibokun, Obokun Local Government Area of the state.
Aregbesola disclosed that the school being commissioned in structure, furnishing and landscaping  cost the government a total sum of N164 million.
Aregbesola noted that committing such huge sum on a school is a clear sign of commitment to basic education particularly in the face of the obvious lean resources of the state.
He said his government was not building the schools across the state for showmanship, but rather for the development of the new man intellectually, socially and morally, saying new man is placed in the centre of society, who views his own development as part of and for the development of society.
According to him, “this is a non-parasitic and non-oppressive man who regards his or her own existence in light of the growth of others; he or she views whatever he acquires to be subsumed in the overall interest of others.
“He is a man in himself and a man for society. This is the Omoluabi essence. Everything we have done in the school reform is for the building of this man.
“We are also developing a man of the future who will take a pride of place in a competitive digital and knowledge driven world. From these schools will emerge world renowned scientists, diplomats, educationists, jurists, clerics, statesmen, inventors, academic and entrepreneurs.
Recounting some of his achievements in education sector, Aregbesola said his government has successfully provided e-Learning tablets (Opon Imo) for final year high school studebts in the state just as free school uniforms for pupils in public school were provided.
According to him, “Our free school feeding and health programme (OMEALS) has been adopted nationally and had won applauds across the globe. The food programme is not just to develop the brain and confidence of our pupils, it is also a way of poverty alleviation for parents who do not have the means to send their pupils to school”.
He said the state was bent on revamping , reviving and resuscitating the education sector, stressing that his government has transformed the old ramshackle buildings into architectural masterpieces that will make school and education attractive to the pupils and their teachers.
The Governor explained that the middle school, like the others building in the state, has the maximum capacity for 1000 pupils, 28 classrooms, an ICT room equipped with 30 computers, 24 toilets for pupils and teachers, three head teachers/principals’ office, one staff room, one facility manager office, a multipurpose hall, food court, library, sick bay, security/reception gatehouse and recreation zone.
He disclosed that his government since inception has been building a total of 170 state of the art schools with 100 of them at elementary, 50 middle schools and 20 high schools, saying out of these, 14 elementary schools, 15 middle schools and 11 high schools have been completed.
He said, “Some are already commissioned while others are receiving finishing touches and waiting to be commissioned too. We are going to complete them before the expiration of our tenure. None of our projects will be abandoned.
Aregbesola who condemned in its totality the insinuations that the female students across the public schools should be allowed to wear religious  garments in place of uniforms to schools, said any student found with uniform contrary to an authorized uniform for public schools would be legally dealt with.
Governor Aregbesola bemoaned over the move purported being sponsored by an unnamed religious group in the state, instigating secondary school students to wear religious garments to schools in place of the official uniforms, adding that the current government would not condone any act of indiscipline.
According to him, “the government therefore cannot support or be seen to be supporting a particular religion. The government is a democracy, not a theocracy.
“It is not the role of government, through the schools, to lead a child in a particular religious direction. That will be for parents and religious institutions, in private capacity, until the child is grown enough to make a decision on religion.
“For this reason, our government will not hesitate to deal with anyone flouting the court order on the wearing of Hijab by the female Muslim students.
“It is our believe as a constitutionally rooted government to continuously respect the law of the land as well as other constituted authorities before taking any decision as it amounts to subversion of the educational needs of a child for him or her to be drawn into and used for political purposes.
“I want to make it clear again that the fundamental role of government in schools is to equip every child with the intellectual and moral requirement needed to be useful for himself or herself and society.
He therefore warned residents not to allow themselves to be used as instrument in the hands of the opposition, just as he called for religious tolerant.
Earlier, the State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titilayo Laoye Tomori, said the numerous developments going round the state  were clear manifestation of what the present government stands for.
Mrs. Tomori who doubled as the state commissioner of Education said the prompt intervention of Governor Aregbesola in education sector had really snowballed into greater performance of pupils and students in both learning and character.
She disclosed that the state under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola had successfully equipped the state pupils and students the needed facilities, saying Aregbesola has provided enabling environment capable of facilitating smooth teaching and learning process.
“The commissioning of this school at this special economic period symbolizes our avowed commitment to turn around the education sector.
“The exercise also confirms the actualization of our mission statement in the provision of structurally and architecturally designed schools coupled with the adequate provision of the state-of-the-art facilities to improve level of quality education.
Speaking on the various achievements recorded in education by the current government, Mrs. Tomori hinted that 20 elementary schools, 22 middle schools and 17 High schools are already either put into use or at completion stage.
According to her, “Our laudable feat in all sectors shows that we are unstoppable as we have been treading the path to greatness as we assumed office.
The Deputy Governor said the commitment of government towards the building of edifices around the state was in furtherance of the fulfillment of its electioneering campaign promises made to the good people of the state.
“Building state-of-of-the art schools being equipped with modern facilities to enhance teaching and learning is indeed one of the many recommendations of the education summit held in 2011 to arrest the rot in the education sector.
“The edifice we are commissioning today is in no doubt the architectural masterpiece of our administration in the quest to build a new man of greater intellectual capacity.
“This school is purposefully built and tailored towards functional, efficient utility service delivery.
“Our government believes in the development of a complete and total man as such requires us to strengthen our education system in such a manner that common man can access.
“For this purpose, our government would not in anyway condone any act of indiscipline in our schools.
“We shall maintain high level of discipline in all the public schools, as this noble gesture calls for collective support of parents and teachers towards the achievement of greater future for our children”, Mrs. Tomori stated.
She therefore called on the pupils, teachers and parents to imbibe good maintenance culture towards the utilization of the school so as to justify the huge investment being made in education by the current government.
In his remarks, Chairman, Osun State Universal Basic Education, SUBEB, Prince Felix Awofisayo, charged parents and guardians on the need to complement government efforts with regular tax payment.
Prince Awofisayo who implored the parents to prioritize the welfare of their children and wards towards the actualization of brighter future, said quality education remains only sustainable legacy a parent could bequest on his child.
SUBEB Chairman applauded Governor Aregbesola for setting an unforgettable legacy and standard for the state in all aspects of the economy.
In their separate remarks, the Alademure of Ibokun, Oba Festus Kayode Awogboro; Chairman of the Chairmen, Local Government Education Authority, Mr. Yisa Ojewola; Chairman, Community Based School Management Committee, Chief Olasoyede Fadeyibi, Member representing Obokun State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Bosun Oyintiloye among others, commended Governor Aregbesola for being aggressive towards the promotion of functional, quality and qualitative education.

The government of Osun on Monday formally inaugurated the use standardised weighing scales in all its markets as the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said the move was to make the state the preferred destination for commercial activities in the sub-region.
 

 
Aregbesola said his administration will not relent in its goal of developing economic activities in the state.
The unveiling of the “Osuwon Omoluabi”, was held amidst a huge crowd of market men and women who thronged the Nelson Mandela Freedom Square in Osogbo venue.
He pointed out that Osogbo ‎in the 60’s and early 70s was a great centre of commerce because of the railway that passed through the city‎.
The Governor emphasised that “Osunwon Omoluabi” policy is backed by law, saying Weights and Measures constitute item 63 on the Exclusive Legislatives list of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He noted that the laws made in this regard include Weights and Measures Act CAP W3LFN, 2004, Pre-Shipment Inspection of Export Act CAP P25 LFN, 2004; Weights and Measures Standardization of Indigenous Measures Regulations, 1992 and the Weights and Measures Fees Regulations.
Aregbesola noted that all hands must be on deck to revive the economic status of the state, adding that the state had in the past attracted sellers and buyers from neighbouring states, as far as Akure in present day Ondo State and that only Ibadan was greater in trade and commerce than Osogbo in the region.
‎The Governor held that the  launch of standardised weighing scales is in continuation of the provision of the infrastructure of the mind which we began at the inception of his administration, when it rebranded Osun as Ipinle Omoluabi.
‎Aregbesola stressed that “Osunwon Omoluabi” will eliminates cheating and other underhand practices that have become the hallmark of trading in most markets.
He averred that the use of standardized scales in markets across the state will give rise to a chain of economic benefits, adding that market expansion for dealers in weighing scales is assured as the programme will increase the demand for the product.
Aregbesola assured that jobs will be created for service providers in the areas of maintenance and repair of scales, adding that 178 OYES cadets have been trained in the maintenance and repair of scales in the first phase of the Train-the-Trainers Empowerment Scheme which is an integral part of the Standardised Weighing Scales Programme.
He said, “In the quest to be competitive and make more profit, which is greed, traders now devise varying means of short-changing buyers. Measures are deliberately reduced through cutting, filling with candles and wax, and sleight of hand.
“Scales are tilted fraudulently while husks, chaffs, barks and other rubbish are included in goods sold, with the intention of reducing the actual values of what the buyers take home.
“One of the tragedies of this immoral practice is that foreigners began to distrust our export because, for instance, cocoa graders put top grades at the top of the sack, leaving poor quality at the bottom, and in the process, collect money for the top grade.
“Those who are in the business can tell you what loss they suffered because the foreigners distrusted their products and classified all cocoa coming from our land as inferior, irrespective of the grade”.
Earlier In his opening remarks, the former Commissioner for Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismaila Adekunle Jayeoba-Alagbada, the standardised weighing scale across markets in the state became necessary to mitigate challenges noticeable in commercial transactions.
Jayeoba-Alagbada said in order to erase cheating in the process of exchange of commercial goods and checkmate other market forces challenges, government decided to formally introduce the standardised weighing scales.
According to him, training workshops had already been conducted in the markets all over the state on the effective use of the scales.
He stated that the Ministry of Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment is saddled with the responsibility of monitoring the day-to-day administration of the programme.
He said: “I need to emphasise that market women and men had been fully mobilised to key into this emerging commercial revolution.
“Both the leadership and the followership of the associations of market women and men had agreed, not only to comply with the right use of the scales and measures but to continuously carry out peer reviews with a view to ensuring flawless implementation of the standardised weighing scales and measures programme.
“I want to place it on record that, but for the grace of God and the dogged determination of Mr. Governor, this launch and indeed the entire standardised scales and measures programme would have been a mirage.”
The President General of Osun State Market Women Association, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade, said the standardised scale became necessary owing to imbalance in measurement and fraud in commercial activities.
Asindemade said the Kongo measurement introduced to the market in the old Oyo State became the standard measurement in Osun when it was created.
According to Market leader, the old measurement was gradually subjected to abuse and fraud to the extent that individual seller used his or her yardstick for measurement, thus the need to re-standardise and unify it.
She however warned that the introduction of the standard scale should not translate to increase in commodity price system in the market.
“It is in a bid to correct the anomaly in measurement and scale that the Government of Osun introduced the standardised weighing scales in markets in the state so as to forestall fraud and cheating in measurement.
“As we welcome this innovation, I call on my constituency – market men and women – to cooperate with government to make this a success.
“Besides, introduction of this weight and measurement does is not and should not lead to increase in price of commodities in our market,” Asindemade said