A new dawn in the history of Ile Ife occasioned by the recent appointment of 40 years old Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja 11, as the Ooni of Ife, has continued to resonate with the Ooni set to declare Ife as a tourism zone in furtherance of his promise to foster peace and unity and bring economic prosperity to his people by opening up Ife to the world through tourism. Significantly, it a boost for the promotion of arts and culture.
 

 
The Ooni who is a business czar and owner of Inagbe Resort, one of the few privately run resorts located across Lagos waters, has from the first day of assumption of office not hidden his resolve to elevate the historical and abundant cultural wealth of his people and town by opening it to the world through massive investment in tourism related projects, which are aimed at transforming Ife from a mere tourism attraction to a mega tourism destination.
To this end, the Kabiyesi, his newly appointed chief tourism adviser and consultant, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, who is the Founder of La Campagne and Motherland Beckons, disclosed that Oba Ojaja 11 is set to declare Ife a tourism zone on February 26 and to kick start the development of the zone into a tourism destination of world class standard has concluded plans to build a N7.6 billion Ife Grand Resort.
Also in line with his resolve to foster peace and unity amongst his people, a major ingredient for sustainable tourism development, and put to rest the ghost of the over 200 years old conflict between Ife – Modakeke, the Ooni over the week brushed aside all protocols and barriers to attend the Modakeke Day celebration even as he announced the employment of 20, 000 widows from the over 40, 000 widows recorded in the last Ife – Modakeke crisis to work in the tourism zone project with a promise to absolve the remaining 20, 000 widows alongside the teeming population of unemployed as the project gathers traction.
The Ooni’s attendance at the Modakeke Day celebration has been hailed by many people as a deft move by the Kabiyesi to finally bury the Ife – Modakeke intermittent conflict that has lingered for over 200 years as this has never been done by any Ooni in the past 200 years, as attending Akoraiye Day Modakeke, is a way of not only healing the wounds of the past but also clearing the negative past and replacing it with a prosperous future through tourism.
As part of the grand design to secure life and property in Ife, the Kabiyesi has approved the construction of a watch tower with standby rapid response squad that is fully equipped and which response time to any distress call should not be more than 10 minutes and this time frame hopefully would be cut to five minutes in the days ahead.
Speaking on these new initiatives by the Ooni, Akinboboye, who has also announced the Kabiyesi as the grand patron of Motherland Beckons, said it is a grand design by the Ooni to redesign the tourism map and agenda of Ife by drawing the attention of Africans, the Diaspora and the entire globe to it in a way that has never been done in the history of the former Ife Kingdom, which is not only regarded as the Source of Yoruba but the cradle of South west civilisation.
According to him, ‘‘the glory of Ife is finally coming to light. Ife is now the new destination in Africa as the sleeping giant of tourism in Africa wakes up to a new reality,’’ insisting that henceforth the whole world would come to Ife on religious, cultural, economic, educational, and archaeological tourism among others, as the new Ooni constructs a new agenda for the kingdom of Ile Ife.
Akinboboye revealed that the declaration ceremony and the kick off for motherland beckons has been fixed for February 27 with the president of Black Lawyers in England and Wales, Peter Herbert, billed to deliver the key note address while the chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) America, among a host of other dignitaries are expected at the event.
This development from the palace, he said is in partnership with La Campagne with Motherland Beckons serving as a multi – purpose vehicle for bringing to fruition the agenda of the Ooni.

Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola hosted Dr. Edwin Madunagu and his wife when they came calling on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Osogbo, yesterday.
Here are photos from the meeting with the governor.
 

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right); Dr. Edwin Madunagu (left)

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Dr. Edwin Madunagu (left) and his wife, Professor Bene Madunagu (right), during a Courtesy Visit to the Governor, at Government House, Osogbo, on Saturday 23-01-2016.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); Dr. Edwin Madunagu (left), his wife, Professor Bene Madunagu (2nd right) and Dr. Wumi Raji (right), during a Courtesy Visit to the Governor, at Government House, Osogbo, on Saturday 23-01-2016

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has reassured the citizens of the state of his government’s commitment to position the state towards socio-economic and political advancement and prosperity.
 

 
Governor Aregbesola said the central point of his administration’s agenda is to steer the affairs of the state in a right direction that will continuously bring genuine succor and dividends of democracy to the good people of the state, saying he is determined to place the state to a prosperous economic vantage that has never known in history.

 
Aregbesola made the statement while addressing people at a conference organized in honour of a veteran activist, Professor Biodun Jeyifo at Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, State of Osun.

 
Governor Aregbesola who flayed at the way and manner at which one of a section of the press reported his statement where he was quoted to have said he wanted to apply the civil service rule against some of the state health workers, admonished journalists to always verify and scrutinize any information before it being reported.

 
Aregbesola also frowned at the industrial action embarked upon by a section of the state health workers, saying their action has caused unnecessary damages and irreparable loss to the sector.

 
He said “It is unfortunate that a section of media portrayed Osun as a failed state and that we were unable to pay salaries but I challenged whoever sponsors that come out with fact be are the only state at the best of time that implemented 13 month salary across the length and breath of civil service.

 
“I know it is not possible for someone like me On the issue of doctors strike, how will a sodmasse preside over a state and critical element like doctors would be on strike and he will not solve.

 
“In the first instance not all doctors in the state are on strike. It is only a section of about 200 doctors that resident in Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital and some doctors at the state hospital that refused to work.

 
” All the doctors at our primary healthcare centre at the local level are fully operational and other health workers in all our health facilities both primary and secondary are working.

 
“All the consultants in our secondary health facilities are on duty.

 
“Before it became practically impossible for us to meet our salaries obligations to our workers, we invited the workers to tell them that in sixty days time the state might not be able to pay salaries and we later to be paying in accordance with whatever we receives as we have been doing.

 
“So, since July 2013 our allocation has been short by N2billion. But since then the state has been coping based on our initiative to raise the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) until last year when the shortfall started to be on a free fall which later snowballed into the present economic situation.

 
He call called on the striking health practitioners to jettison their differences with government in the interest of the state as well as the people.

 
Governor Aregbesola who further lamented over the continued dwindling revenues to the state said the time has come for everybody to be more innovative, productive and creative.

 
According to him, unless we see the need to work harder and remain productive individually and collectively by  contributing our quota through tax payment for the development of our state, there is no other option to avert this economic menace.

 
He said Nigerians must equally embrace, resuscitate and explore the potentials embedded in the long-abandoned agriculture, solid mineral resources and industrialization.

 
Aregbesola added, “the solution to this abnormal economy is for us to be concerned and interested in production. We must be creative, innovative and as well ready to work and work.

 
“The era of free crude oil has gone and there is no sign of it coming back again, while the season of free money from the Federation Accounts has also gone.

 
“Agricultural production is the best solution to this economic insurgency and I implore all the intellectuals to join others to ensure that the nation is rescued from this menace.

 
“We must refocus our attention to enhancing the productivity of Nigerian people in a way that we no longer depend on a commodity that has already faded out.

 
“To avoid being remained in a huge economic mess which the reality of the current economic situation has posed on us, we must as urgently as possible genuinely diversify our economy in consonance with the present economic reality for the greater socio-political and economic development of our state.

“All hands must be on deck to develop our state at this period of economic hardship.
 

Governor of the state of  Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has inaugurated Community Based School Management Committees, tasking the members to ensure that the schools under their superintendence function effectively.
 

 
 
The use of such committees, Aregbesola said, was one of the best strategies to providing sustainable and functional education at the community level.
The governor stated this during the inauguration of the 14, 000-member Community Based School Management Committee in Osogbo. The committee members are to work in elementary, middle and high schools in the state.
The governor, while hailing the approach, noted that it was a convenient global practice of managing schools.

According to him, those imbued with the right sense of ownership are in the best position to drive an organisation or possess it for it to be successful.
The governor added, “Education is critical to every society because it is an area where any society cannot afford to fail. It is through education that every society renews itself by socialising its new members into its past, present and the future. It is through education that the intellect is cultivated, character is built and an individual becomes adjusted to society.”
The Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, also noted that education was the pivot of development.
She, therefore, urged the committee members to contribute positively to the success of the schools.
The Permanent Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Fatai Kolawole, said the essence was to rejuvenate elementary, middle and high schools in the state.

The Governor Of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, has notified the State House of Assembly of the restructuring of the state’s machinery of government reducing the state’s ministries to 12 in the process.

He has also announced the creation of a new ministry while merging some existing ones.
In a letter of notification forwarded to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Najeem Folasayo Salaam, Governor Aregbesola stated that while there will be 12 ministries, nine agencies and bureaus will be under his office for direct supervision.
The governor stated in his letter which was dated January 21 that the decision to restructure was arrived at after a reappraisal of the machinery of government.
The letter titled: “Notification of the Restructuring of Some Existing Ministries and Creation of a New Ministry in the State of Osun” listed the 12 ministries in the letter to the House of Assembly:

1. Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Youths Engagement
2. Ministry of Industries, Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment
3. Ministry of Economic Planning, Budget and Development
4. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology
5. Ministry of Environment, Sanitation and Physical Planning,
6. Ministry of Finance
7. Ministry of Health,
8. Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture,
9. Ministry of Justice
10. Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, Water Resources, and Community Affairs
11. Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Affairs
12. Ministry of Works and Transport
 
The letter also listed nine agencies and bureaus that will be operating directly under the office of the governor. The agencies are:
1. Office of Regional Integration
2. State of Osun Sports Council
3. Department of Social and Grassroots Mobilization and Guidance
4. Office of Policy Coordination
5. Osun Job Centre
6. Bureau of Lands,
7. Pilgrims Welfare Board (Christian Wing)
8. Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing)
9. Office of Forestry, Natural and Mineral Resources
The governor while urging the Speaker to communicate the development to members of the House, also explained that the decision was taken to reduce the cost of governance as well as enhance service delivery.

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has  commiserated with the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, over the demise of the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade.
 

 
The Governor described the late monarch as fatherly, quiet, peace-loving, progressive and a bridge-builder during his time.
 
In a statement by the Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, Governor Aregbesola said the death of the first class monarch has left a huge vacuum in the traditional rulers’ council in Oyo State and by extension in Nigeria.

He lauded the late monarch for always championing peaceful co-existence as well as fostering cordial relationship among diverse ethnic nationalities residing in the ancient city.
 
According to him, the monarch’s reign was peaceful, remarkable and progressive even though his reign was brief.
 
The statement added: “Indeed, the exit of Olubadan is a sudden one, yet it was also a glorious one at the time it came.

“Olubadan’s reign was remarkable and peaceful. The people of Ibadan and Oyo State as well as its government have certainly lost one of Yoruba’s foremost traditional rulers.
 
“I, on behalf of government and people of Osun, commiserate with the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the Ibadan Elders’ Council, the entire people of Ibadan and Oyo State in general.
 
“We pray that the Lord repose the soul of our dearest monarch in paradise.”

The Governor of the state of  Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, and the newly installed Oluwo of Iwo, Abdu-Rasheed Akanbi at the weekend said that the first basic requirement for any citizen to make demands from the government is the fulfilment of their civic responsibility to the government by payment of taxes.
 
The Governor identified the importance of tax in governance at the occasion of the presentation of staff of office and instrument of appointment to the Oluwo of Iwo.
 
 

 
Also at the event was the Governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi, Deputy Governor of Osun State, Grace Tomori, and many others.
 
‎Governor Aregbesola stated that taxation is the heartbeat of any government and that the primary way people can demonstrate loyalty to the state is by supporting it through payment of tax.
 
He held that people must return to payment of tax like before, saying what states of the federation gets from the federal allocation can no longer sustain them in meeting their responsibility to the people.
 
Governor  Aregbesola called on people of the state, most especially young school leavers to be productively engaged in farming.
 
According to him, “with the precipitous fall in oil price, an end has come to this and by necessity, we must earn our own money, if we must tide over this special and challenging time.
 
“Every able-bodied person, most importantly the youth and school leavers, must be productively engaged, especially in farming. This should not be difficult to do in Iwo because the people are predominantly farmers.
 
“We are rolling out a new programme with huge incentives for all interested persons to participate in farming, in a way that will make them rich and yield huge revenues to the government,” the governor stressed.
 
‎‎Mr. Aregbesola charged the monarch to lead by example, saying leadership naturally comes with certain privileges and that a good leader must convert privileges to resources of governance.
 
He also admonished that the monarch must rule with wisdom and fear of God, noting that the people over whom he presides are diverse politically, ideologically, temperamentally, socially and by moral disposition.
 
“Not all of them will readily agree with you and many of them will say or do things you will consider abhorrent. But they are all your subjects and you are required to preside over them with tact and wisdom in a way that will enable you to get the best out of them.
 
“A leader must also be a unifying person and must never constitute a divisive agent. There are two kings whose reign the Yoruba never forget. These are the king whose reign is peaceful and the one whose reign is characterised by turmoil and scattering.
 
“May your reign be peaceful and usher in prosperity for the people in the realm,” the governor said.
 
In his acceptance speech, the Oluwo said he is in the total support of government’s tax efforts and that state and the communities making it up will witness tremendous progress.
 
He then joined the call by the governor to all well-meaning citizens to carry out their civic responsibilities by promptly paying their taxes.
 
He lamented that this was not the situation in the past as “our fathers used to fulfil their obligation to government and thus expected good governance.”
 
The monarch enjoined the people of Iwo and Osun in particular that they must publicise the necessity for tax payment to all and sundry.
 
He said: “What then has happened that we must turn away from taxes and at the same time expect wonders from the government.
 
“Please, as you stand here today, say it loud to the hearing of the next man or woman to you “Emi o sanworii temi, Iwo nko? (Meaning I will pay my own taxes, what about you?”
 
The monarch also advocated for the use of local resources in the economic production process for the development of our own God-given potential, saying this will guarantee economic well-being of the people of the state.

 

Promising that his reign would focus on the development pursuit of economic liberation of his people, he stated that he would continue to advocate for a massive utilisation of locally sourced materials for the production of those articles and goods being massively consumed by the people.
 
He continued: “I am here to serve my people. I am here to take my homeland to that height that it deserves among the comity of modern cities of the world. ”
 
In his remark, the Chairman of the occasion, Wale Babalakin, described the coronation as the most singular notable event in recent history of the town and the state.
 
He commended the people of Iwo Land for the maturity they employed in choosing the monarch without any rancour.
 
He noted that Osun has the most concentration of cities in the country, which presents any monarch and government both challenges assets.
 
He stated that the peaceful selection of the new monarch would be a harbinger of good things to come to the town and state.
 
“This is a singular notable event in the history of presentation of staff of office to a king in the state.
 
“Very remarkable and done in the most mature way, the people of Iwo must be congratulated for this achievement.
 
“They people have done well in chosen a popular, we’ll educated and we’ll exposed man as king.
 
“This is a great asset as well as a challenge to the town and the state; challenge to progress and population as asset. If the state’s natural and human endowments are annexed, today’s event will be a harbinger of good things to come,” Mr. Babalakin said.

The Osun State Government has given an assurance that it would continue to create an enabling environment for investors to thrive in the state.

The Acting Chairman of the Osun Internal Revenue Service, Dayo Oyebanji, stated this in Osogbo the Osun State capital, at a meeting where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with a foreign gaming company.
He stated that the gaming initiative was not only to create employment for many youths, but to also boost the state’s revenue generation through entertainment.
He explained that creating an enabling environment for investors would in turn improve the economic base of government to help meet its statutory obligation of providing basic needs for its citizens.
Describing the initiative, which is a landmark for Osun State, he added that the project would also empower people to make money for themselves.
The Internal Revenue boss maintained that in order to achieve the objectives of the partnership, the gaming would be automated thereby enhancing zero tolerance for leakages of revenue.
One of the project partners, John Kamara, had earlier pointed out that aside from building and discovering new talents, the entertainment industry in Osun state would also be developed.
Kamara promised to deliver on the MoU signed with the Osun State government to boost the state’s economy as agreed.
While assuring them of success, he said that the company, through gaming and entertainment, had partnered with many countries to build their economy.

Osun State government yesterday said 55 contacts traced to the index case of Lassa Fever in the state have been placed under surveillance.

Addressing newsmen in Osogbo, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Temitope Oladele, said the state could not be said to have recorded case of Lassa fever, because the confirmatory test that would have confirmed that the index case died of the disease, could not be run.

He explained that, so far, none of those being monitored have shown symptoms of the disease, adding that the state is in contact with the hospital where the doctor died to be abreast of new development on the matter.

According to him, the 33-year-old doctor that died in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, OAUTHC, on Monday, whose blood sample proved positive in first test, lived in an unnamed neighboring state and only came to Osun on visit.

He added that second sample that should have been used for confirmatory test could not be taken from the index case before he died.

But in preparation for any eventuality, Oladele said monitoring room has been set up in the state ministry of health with mobile lines giving out to people to report any suspicious case.

He added that doctors working in all local government areas in the state have been put on red alert, while other health practitioners have been mobilised to prepare ground in case any incident of Lassa is reported.

Oladele further averred that massive sensitisation is being embarked upon by government for people, especially in the grassroots on how the disease can be contacted.

Pictures of the First President, Academic Staff Union of Universities {ASUU}, Professor Biodun Jeyifo with the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Chairman of the Occasion, Barrister Femi Falana (SAN), and the Keynote Speaker, Professor Attahiru Jega,during the 70th Birthday of Prof. Biodun Jeyifo, at the International Conference  Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on Thursday 20/01/2016.

First President, Academic Staff Union of Universities {ASUU}, Professor Biodun Jeyifo, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman of the Occasion, Barrister Femi Falana (SAN), and Keynote Speaker, Professor Attahiru Jega,during the 70th Birthday of Prof. Biodun Jeyifo, at the International Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on Thursday 20/01/2016.

From Left- First President, Academic Staff Union of Universities {ASUU},Professor Biodun Jeyifo, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman of the Occasion, Barrister Femi Falana (SAN), Keynote Speaker, Professor Attahiru Jega,and Professor Kole Omotoso during the 70th Birthday of Prof. Biodun Jeyifo, at the International Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on Thursday 20/01/2016.

From right- Lead Speaker and Chairperson, Dr. Edwin Madunagu, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Professor Kole Omotoso and Comrade Chido Onumah, during the 70th Birthday of the first President, Academic Staff Union of Universities {ASUU},Prof. Biodun Jeyifo, at International Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on Thursday 20/01/2016.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, exchanging greetings
with Dr. Seinde Arigbede,during the 70th Birthday of the first President, Academic Staff Union of Universities {ASUU},Prof. Biodun Jeyifo, at International Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife on Thursday 20/01/2016.