Contrary to insinuations by the Osun Peoples Democratic Party PDP that the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has diverted the bailout loan to finance contracts, the National President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Aliyu Wabba ‎has said that the Osun bailout loan is intact.

Comrade Wabba made this disclosure while speaking with journalists shortly‎ after the union and other labour leaders met behind closed doors with the governor in his office in Osogbo.
‎
The NLC boss stated that NLC and other leaders who had come on a fact-finding mission have confirmed that Governor  Aregbesola has no intention to divert the bailout funds on any project in the state as speculated in by the opposition.
Wabba described the allegation as misleading and unfounded, stating that Osun government and labour leaders have come to a common ground on how the bailout funds would be disbursed for the payment of backlog of workers’ salary.

He said the union and the state government have agreed to set up a five-man committee to oversee and work on the improvement of the state Internally Generated Revenue in order to prevent the state from future economic problem.

Speaking on the progress made by the meeting, he noted that the state government has agreed to pay the backlog of salaries from the bailout loan it received.

He added the delay in payment of the bailout by Osun government was occasioned by concern on the sustainability of the state resources to continuously meet up with the payment of workers’ salary after the bailout loan had been expended for the purpose it was meant for.

The NLC boss stressed that the union has assured the governor of its support in boosting the state IGR so as to make the state to meet up with its recurrent and capital expenditure as well as other commitments.
According to him, “I want to make it clear to the whole world that Governor Aregbesola has no intention whatsoever to divert the bailout funds for the execution or completion of any project in the state as he is ready to use the money for the payment of workers’ salary arrears.
“We have reached a fruitful and workable ground with Mr. Governor on how the backlog salaries of our members would be paid.
“Our union has comprehensively discussed with Mr. Governor on  how the state IGR would be exponentially elevated so as for the state to meet with all its engagements as the governor envisaged largely on the sustainability of the state workforce in terms of salary payment”,
Comrade Wabba noted.

Speaking on the position of the state government towards the resolutions made at the meeting, he stressed that the governor was bordered by the state of the nation’s economy which he said has negatively affected the allocation received by the state.

Wabba said that Aregbesola was of the opinion that unless the state IGR is improved, the state would be incapable to settling the bills of her workforce. Comrade Wabba said the union has come to realize the position of  the state government on the need for all the stakeholders in the state to work collectively at blocking all leakages and as well increase the state IGR.

•Aregbesola seeks cooperation with NSA
The Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA) has urged on the Federal Government to involve the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in the monitoring of crude oil export and refined petroleum products importation with a view to ensuring reliable statistical data on the nation’s merchandise.
This is even as it also called for urgent review of the existing policies guiding the economic activities in the Export Processing Zones (EPZs) such that the export-import trade business in the zones could be accessible to agencies involved in data collation and production for national planning and development.
Setting this agenda for government at the just ended 39th Annual Conference of the Association in Oshogbo, Osun State, its National President, Dr Mohammed Tumala, said these policy measures were required to get accurate data on Nigeria’s merchandise trade trends on a broader scale and by implication, support statistics-based planning for development.
Tumala, who described the exclusion of statistics as a core subject in secondary school curriculum as undesirable for the country, said the involvement of the NCS in crude oil lifting and fuel import regime, given the agency’s capacity to do so, would go a long way in minimising the abuses that had characterised the oil and gas industry operations over the years.
On the current moves to build a credible identity database for Nigerians as well as the  anti-corruption crusade in the country, Tumala said such agenda would only succeed if the relevant agencies had the right data to work  with and also involve professional statisticians in the collation, analysing, production, and application of such statistical data on their investigations.
He therefore advised security agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to see how they could begin to rely on and adopt proactive data mining approaches to fight financial and other crimes in the country.
While expressing the readiness of the NSA to partner with the various agencies including the EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (CPC), Directorate of State Security Services (DSSS) and the National Identity Management Commission  (NIMC), Tumala said  the group was prepared to help state governments establish their Bureaux of Statistics to support their drive towards effective policy implementation.
In his opening speech at the Conference, Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, appealed to the association to rise to the challenge of helping the country develop a credible statistical database on key areas of education, health and the economy, among others, with a view to supporting the tiers of government in basing their developmental agenda on statistics-based planning.
THE NATION

The suit filed by Justice Oloyede Olamide Folahanmi against the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Najeem Salam, and 10 others has been re-assigned to another judge and further hearing of the case fixed for October 5, 2015.
The case was hitherto handled by Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe, a vacation judge. Aderibigbe, while giving the order, said the process of adjournment was to allow counsel to the plaintiff, Kanmi Ajibola, serve the third to ninth respondents duly.
The defense counsel, Lawal Ibrahim and Idris Mikail, had tendered two applications before the court in the sitting.
The applications contained a counter-affidavit to show that the complainant was not truthful in fair hearing, despite her proxy and also an application seeking the court to dismiss the case on grounds of baseless facts and improper serving of the defense counsel.
Oloyede, a serving judge in the state, who was recently queried by National Judicial Council over her unethical and impropriety disposition, had sent a petition to the House of Assembly, calling for the impeachment of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for allegedly financial mismanagement.
The Assembly, however, dismissed the petition on August 4, 2015 following the recommendations of a seven-man ad hoc committee set up to investigate the allegations and recommended appropriate sanctions against her.
Ibrahim, while speaking with journalists, said that the application brought by the plaintiff was not meant for this court to entertain, because the decision of the House cannot be quashed by order of certified right.
He said, “No disciplinary action taken against her yet and her right to sue has not been crystalised.
“The application is just a waste of time; as you can see, there is no urgency in the case, hence their request for adjournment.”
DAILY INDPEPENDENT

The Government of the State of Osun on Monday assured the people of the state that the N34.988billion bailout funds received from the Federal Government will be used for the very purpose for which it was received.

The Bureau, in its statement by the Director, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, explained that while the first batch of payment this week will be effected through the allocations received for the month of July, this is only pending the conclusion of the verification exercise which the labour itself called for in order to determine the actual workforce of the state.

The clarification, according to the Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, became necessary given the various insinuations and manipulations of the minds of the people giving the impressions that the funds will be diverted to other purposes.

“We are using the opportunity to assure the entire workers in the state that all arrears of salary and pensions will be paid from the bailout funds as the reason for which it was received. And this is why the government has ensured that the verification exercise is concluded and the actual figure of workers is determined for the purpose of payment,” the Bureau stated

Explaining further, the Bureau said that bailing out by the Federal Government will not be a continuous thing in the life of Nigeria, adding that the current bailout scheme was necessitated by the economic doldrums the ousted PDP-led Federal Government plunged the country into.

The statement said the government must protect fully the interests of its real workers who toil day and night to ensure the growth and development of the state.

“It is therefore pertinent for workers themselves to ensure effective conclusion of this process in order to ensure they reap the fruits of their labour and prevent the criminal and dubious activities of those who reap where they do not sow.

“Therefore, we must agree that civil service reforms are absolutely critical at this stage in the life of our dear state. There is a need for the engagement of all critical segments of leadership of government and labour for the necessary actions that will make the service effective, efficient and economic.

“If our state, and by all means, the entire South-West region will become financially and materially viable, a wholesome review of what works and what does not  must be carried out and implemented with considerable alacrity and efficiency.”

The statement ended with the Governor reemphasising his commitment to sustaining the many social programmes his government operate, stating that compassion with the distressed and poor members of society is the true definition of successful leadership.

Prof. Oyawoye Bukola, an Environmentalist and former Commissioner for Environment, Osun, said the state has food inspectors that monitors and oversees activities of food vendors in the state.
Bukola, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, said government was in partnership with Food Vendors Association to ensure standard and hygiene.
She explained that food vendors’ association in the state was well organised, saying that it also regulates activities of food vendors to make sure they keep up to standard.
She added that the food vendors association was part of the stakeholders’ forum of the state ministry of environment which helps to monitor food vendors’ activities in the state.
The ex-commissioner said whenever the association report vendors that are defiant and don’t keep to standard for hygienic in food preparation, the state task force (environmental officers) go after them.
Officers are deployed to visit such vendors’ places of operation and sometimes sanction them when found guilty.
She said from time to time, the ministry holds interactive meetings with executive members of the food vendors association in the state.
According to her, consultants are also engaged to go round and check the environment and quality of water used by the food vendors to prepare their foods.
Bukola said in some cases where vendors were at fault, the first thing they do was to correct and educate them.
She also said when unregistered food vendors were seen hawking, they stop such a vendor, and ascertain where he/she prepared the food.
Bukola said the effort was to safe guard the health of the people and to make sure the food was prepared under hygienic conditions.
(NAN)

After a stream of cheery developmental news, the Osun opposition, with both hands, grabbed the demon of unpaid salaries — and hard, it nailed the Osun government.
It thoroughly demonised Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his ambitious social and physical infrastructure programmes, donning the Ogbeni in an unflattering garb — a grand hypocrite in the progressive space, that should be condemned by all!
Which lover of the masses, they ask in triumph, cheeks bathed in subversive tears, would sit pretty and watch his people go hungry, months on end, without salaries?
It was all emotive blackmail, of course.  On the salary issue, the governor was not unfazed any more than he created the failure, though his finances were rather tight, with virtually every kobo over-leveraged, on ambitious — over-ambitious, many insist — capital projects, such that any shock, no matter how slight, was catastrophic.
The real culprit was, however, former President Goodluck Jonathan — his recklessness with the national till. This point Ripples made in “Osun’s politics of the belly” (July 7), when it argued that since the Jonathan Presidency caused the problem, the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency should fix it, instead of the media roasting of victim governors, which solved no problems.  The president did just that.
But the blackmail grandly resonated.  Those unconvinced by its logic were easily swept by its pathos; with not a few succumbing fast to plaintive kith-and-kin, going hungry and clearly angry, for not earning salary, for no less than six months.
Well, all is fair in war — and the Osun government, in the clouds most times, plummeted back to earth!
Now, with a Federal Government-secured loan to clear the salary backlog, is the demonization set to end?  Not a chance!
For one, play on emotions is the exclusive preserve of those who cannot build clinical arguments; or the mischievous, who have nary a case.
For another, the Osun opposition is not about dismantling its egbirin ote — what the Yoruba would call a complex web of intrigues — for in Aregbesola’s failure lies their own salvation!  When, after all, comes from the gods, another potent blackmail weapon, ala unpaid salaries, to torture a clear and present nemesis?
So, enter a fresh controversy: the reported verification, in the build-up to clearing the salary arrears.
The Osun opposition insists it is yet another example of the government’s coldness to the plight of the Osun workers — for why is the verification bobbing up “now”, on the virtual eve of settling what was owed?  Some especially creative minds even posit, swearing by all they hold dear, that the government had “fixed” the salary money to earn some “quick interest”, while workers continued starving!
To be sure, the government has not exactly done itself much favour by the verification’s timing, with its high blackmail value: its opponents’ penchant for eternal spinning; and a jaded workers’ near-zero resistance to emotional manipulation, masquerading as hot sympathy.
Still, the government insists that since Osun would continue re-paying the loan far into the future, it was an excellent time to vet the salary bill, lest the money ends in some ghost pockets.  That makes a lot of sense, though not a few would be too angry to see reason with it.
It could also well be that a few ghosts and their ambassadors are the most trenchant in the protest racket — for the more raucous the racket, the more the confusion; and the more the confusion, the better chances the ghosts continue to get paid!
Whatever is happening, the Ogbeni owes the Osun people clear explanations and full disclosure.  At the end, the government would do what it must do to protect public money and its own integrity.
So, with the opposition always buzzing with mischief, of the most fantastic hue, it may be morning yet on Osun’s day of eternal intrigue!
Still, the Osun government must be gratified it continues to point the way, for the rest of the country, to the welfare state; despite its lean resources.  Two policy news appear to reinforce this point.
Two weeks ago, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo announced the Federal Government was set to implement the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign promise of a schools feeding programme, which, apart from boosting school attendance, would also boost investment in agriculture, catering and allied lines.
On September 9 in Osogbo, as the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) kicked off its nationwide distribution of plastic chairs to schools, a Federal Government official confirmed Osun’s leadership in this schools welfare programme.
“The home-grown school feeding programme, the O’Meal,” said UBEC’s Dr. Yakubu Gambo, “is one programme that has endeared the governor to us because he is the only governor doing it despite the capital intensive nature of the programme.”
Governor Aregbesola, present at the occasion, weighed in: “We are building state-of-the-art 100 elementary schools, 50 middle schools and 20 high schools.  This is a big project by any standard,” he gushed, “which has injected life into the construction industry; and has provided jobs for artisans and professionals.”
Prince Felix Awofisayo, the Osun SUBEB chief, was not left out of the developmental whoop: “Let me reiterate that the provision of functional education for the citizenry,” he declared, “as the administration is anchored on the implementation of a cohesive and an all-encompassing six-point integral plan.”
So much developmental news in a day — a far cry from rumbling tummies, plotting adversaries and scapegoating media, just as it was at the beginning, before the salary demon!
It is the final triumph, then?  Hardly!
‘Governor Aregbesola needs a cabinet now to finish as strongly as he started, before the salary catastrophe.  If he delays, he risks facing a crisis — an internal crisis — much more lethal than the hell-raising Osun opposition can ever muster’
And the battle next time would not be solely from the Osun opposition, even if its bad-tempered buzz would always vibrate; but more dangerously from inside Aregbesola’s own camp, which may well, not unfairly, declare itself starved of legitimate pork.
Thank God, the salary odyssey is coming to an end.  The Ogbeni should draw a closure as swiftly as he can, and bring smiles back to the cheeks of Osun workers.  He should also seek funds to complete his grand capital projects, among them crucial roads.  It is nice developmental news, from Osun, is hitting the wires again, after the horror tales of the past months.
But the come-back would not be complete without the governor constituting a cabinet. Nearing the end of the first year in a four-year second term, it is time to bring in as many bright and committed minds as possible — for it is a challenging juncture, demanding a brilliant and committed collective.  It could make the difference between success and failure.
Governor Aregbesola needs a cabinet now to finish as strongly as he started, before the interregnum of the salary catastrophe.  If he delays, he risks facing a crisis — an internal crisis — much more lethal than the hell-raising Osun opposition can ever muster.
THE NATION

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to initiate a national blue print on fighting corruption, and establish a means of ensuring international standard in executing government business.

Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a member of Osun State House of Assembly, made the charge shortly after the end of a capacity building workshop on Transparency and Accountability for members of Houses of Assembly of states in the South West geo-political zone, organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja at the weekend.

According to him, the President should establish a Transparency Charter that would re-awaken value and promote compliance with the established protocols of doing government business such as Due Process that has been abandoned by MDAs and most states government.

Oyintiloye said the charter must see to it that the costing of public work is done in such a way that the citizens are not short changed.

He said the charter, if properly developed, would ensure adherence to global standard in executing government projects, and activities, thereby eliminating cutting corners and shady deals, hence discourage corrupt practices.

The lawmaker stated further that the survival of the nation’s economy depended on the success of the fight against corruption, stressing that the nation is faced with myriads of challenges. 

Oyintiloye maintained that the war against corruption should not be that of the President alone, but a campaign that must be supported by all Nigerians in a bid to place the country on the path to greatness.

“This Transparency charter would reduce the psychological pressure on the Presidency and make Nigerians take ownership of the battle through in-built mechanism  to monitor government and question it’s authority. 

“It will ensure standardised procedure in doing business, destroy cutting corners and will be a platform that directs attention to the best international practice on executing public activities or business”.

“By Transparency Charter, I advocate a Compendium that connects with the people, reshapes conduct, resets value orientation and influences comportment in tandem with the reality of the nation’s resources. As soon as the charter is well internalised by Nigerians, it will become norms to live by. It’s all about a new mindset”, he added.

DAILY INDEPENDENT

*Asks how can a government pay N20billion to a company handling a N14.5billion road project

The State of Government of Osun on Sunday asked Nigerians to watch out for series of distortions, misinformation and outright lies as part of the strategies of the Peoples Democratic Party and their allies to distract the Rauf Aregbesola government in the aftermath of the receipt of the bailout funds.

The Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor said on Sunday that the PDP and its allies are irrevocably committed to a shameful assignment of manipulations of the minds of the people through a litany of lies and concoctions as they embark on their fruitless journey to pull down the government.

The statement, signed by the Bureau’s Director, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the latest of the PDP’s falsehood is the allegation that the government of Aregbesola has paid a sum of N20billion to a construction company, Slava Yeditepe, the construction company handling the Oba Adesoji Aderemi Second By-Pass Road out of the N34.988billion received as bailout funds.

“Nothing could be more ridiculous as an allegation! First, Governor Aregbesola commenced the construction of the Adesoji Aderemi Road in July 2013 at the total cost of N14.5billion and this was publicly announced.

“What then would be the reason for the payment of N20billion to the contractor in 2015?

“Secondly, the PDP has shot itself in the foot and punctured its own lies of last week where it accused Aregbesola of fixing the bailout funds in a deposit account for interests to accrue. If its claim of fixing the N34.988billion in a deposit account was true, how then was the governor able to pay N20billion to Slava Yeditepe? This stands logic in the head. This does not show some good thinking on the part of the PDP and its allies in the destabilisation plot.”

The Bureau said that in the last one week, the PDP had initiated spurious allegations bordering on the bailout funds, adding that there can be no other reason behind this other than mischief.

“There can be no other rationale behind these spurious allegations and those they still plan to make other than a determined effort to incite workers against the government.

“The PDP last week accused Aregbesola of fixing the N34.988 bailout funds in a fixed deposit account. Contrary to confirmations from the CBN, PDP also said that the state had received the bailout funds two weeks prior last week. It was apparent that this was a calculated attempt to set workers against the government.

“If not outright mischief, how could the PDP accuse Aregbesola of having collected the funds two weeks before when in actual facts, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), just three days before then, confirmed its release of the funds to the states? And this was widely reported.”

The Bureau said it was aware that with the clear assurances that the state is getting out of the logjams created by the national economic crisis which exposed the Aregbesola administration to orchestrated media attacks, the party and its allies must commence another phase of their war of attrition.

“This is why the public must be wary of the antics of this party and its co-travellers. Just within one week, the party has accused Aregbesola of fixing the funds in a deposit account with a view to making personal gains. It has also said at least N20billion of the same N34.988billion has been paid to a construction company. These are all within the same week.”

The Bureau accused the PDP of thinking very little of the Osun people to conclude they will not see through these open lies.

“Whether the PDP and its allies in the evil plot realise it or not, the Osun people are much more sophisticated and more discerning than they take them to be. Such lies are too cheap for them,” the Bureau added

  The statement further assured that the government will commence the payment of salary and pension arrears, explainning that the verification exercise was necessary to ensure that only people deserving of the salaries get paid.

“In these days, strategic planning is key to the survival of any venture, be it public or private. The entire planet is undergoing a slowdown in economic growth and the sharp decline of the price of crude oil – Nigeria’s main source of revenue at the moment – means we have to question every financial decision we take,” it added

It thanked the people of Osun for their resilience, perseverance, and for resisting the temptation to be used to destroy the peace and progress the state had always enjoyed under the current leadership.

“It would be remiss not to mention the uncomfortable but necessary sacrifice made by our diligent and faithful workers during the trying period.

 “The vast majority of our people stood by this government not because it was easy, but because they had seen how we invested massively and honestly in their lives via multiple social, developmental and infrastructure programmes that mitigated the challenges. Our people understood the circumstances that led to this unfortunate situation.”

Pictures of the Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the National President, Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA), Dr. Muhammed Tumala, and others during a dinner party, organized by the State Government, at Government House, Osogbo, at the weekend

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle) discussing
with the Consultant to Nigerian Statistical Association, Prof. Peter
Osanaye (right), with them is; National President, Nigerian
Statistical Association (NSA), Dr. Muhammed Tumala, during a dinner
party, organized by the State Government, at Government House, Osogbo,
at the weekend

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); National
President, Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA), Dr. Muhammed Tumala
(2nd left), Consultant to Nigerian Statistical Association, Prof.
Peter Osanaye (2nd right), Fellow of NSA, Dr. Sere Ejembi (left) and
former Senator, Ekiti Central, Babafemi Ojudu, during a dinner party,
organized by the State Government, at Government House, Osogbo, at the
weekend.

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) presenting the
State Anthem to National President, Nigerian Statistical Association
(NSA), Dr. Muhammed Tumala, during a dinner party, organized by the
State Government, at Government House, Osogbo, at the weekend

Ayo Olopon is one of the oldest local games among the Yorubas and has been in existence since time immemorial. It is usually played by old people in the past, which only two persons sitting face to face could play at a time with the game at the center.

Old people usually prevented younger ones from participating in the game because different types of jokes usually arise during the game, most of which may lead to fight.

But for the wisdom and perseverance of elders, fighting would be prevented by them with a common saying that “Ere lanfomo ayo se” (the game is meant just for entertainment)

 However, with the advent of technologies in modern days, Ayo Olopon has been designed to suit the purpose of entertainment for both the young and the old.

The old game has also been modernized that it can apparently be played at any time by even one person.

One of the sponsors of this year’s Osun Osogbo Festival, the Grand Oak Limited, however, unveiled the introduction of Ayo Olopon on mobile phone. Prizes worth million of naira were also doled out in the Ayo Olopon competition, organised by Grand Oak.

Mr. Olayinka Amuwo, who represented Seaman’s Schnapps at the palace of Ataoja of Osogbo, chided the neglect of culture by Nigerian youths, urging parents to value culture and encourage their children to promote culture.

He disclosed that his company has perfected plan on a package where youths would be able to download Ayo Olopon on their mobile phone and enjoy it at any time of the day.

Speaking on behalf of the company, the Senior Brand Manager, Grand Oak Limited and Regal Dry Gin, Mr. Olufemi Afolabi Falomo, said there is the need to fuse culture and tradition with the introduction of modern technology.

He noted that Seaman’s has been supporting culture while Regal is about enjoyment and satisfaction, adding that “Ayo Olopon has been a game that we have been sponsoring over some years now. We realized that we are entering a digital age and we noticed that Ayo Olopon is no more applicable to the youths. That’s why we came up with what seems to be an appeal to attract the youths, we created an online game in which a person can download the application and learn how to play the game on mobile phones. By that, we hope that Ayo Olopon will not be boring to the youths.

“Especially, it affords the opportunity to play it at any time of the day contrary to the earlier belief that it is a game that belongs only to the elders,” he said.

The representative of Goldberg, Mr. Tayo Adelaja, noted that the company has been progressing since 23 years ago that it has been participating in Osun festival, noting that the festival reflects the true culture of Yoruba land.

Adelaja said Goldberg would continue to promote culture.

Responding to the gesture, the winner of this year Ayo Olopon Competition, Adebayo Ademola, lauded the programme organised by Seaman’s, urging the company not to relent in its effort at uplifting the culture of the Yoruba race.

Also, Mrs. Olajide Omolade, who won the female set of the game, described her emergence as accidental and unexpected, praying that God would continue to bless the organisers of the competition.

“I have never participated in the competition and I don’t think I can win any price, let alone the first price. May God continue to bless Seaman’s company,” she prayed.

Ademola and Omolade were given mini refrigerator each, while the second winners, Adesoji Adedire and Adeniyi Aisat, were given portable gasoline generators, while the thirds were given rechargeable fan.

The company also distributed iron, umbrella, T-Shirt, pen, and different sizes of Seaman’s drink to the people, with a view to add fun to the fanfare.

In his remarks, Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Larooye 11, prayed for Seaman’s company, assuring that their company would continue to grow whenever they are supporting Osun festival.

Also, as part of efforts to promote culture, the Grand Oak Limited, producers of the old dry gin, Seaman’s, had staged a canopy on the road to the grove of Osun, with musicians providing fun for visitors.

They were seen at the right hand side of the road, distributing sachets of Regal to the passersby with dancing competition.

Also, visitors from various states were not absent despite the cash crunch that is bedeviling the nation.