Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, the Ataoja of Osogboland, has assured visitors and tourists expected at the forthcoming Osun Osogbo annual festival of adequate security throughout the two-week cultural event.
Olanipekun gave the assurance on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo.
He said that said all hands were on deck to ensure maximum security and safety of all visitors and tourists throughout the duration.
event scheduled to hold from Aug. 11 to Aug. 25 in the state capital of Osun.
He said that the organising committee, community leaders and neighbourhood watch would be working closely with security agencies to ensure a violence-free programme in the ancient city.
“All hands are on deck to ensure maximum security for tourists and visitors during and after the festival.
“There is sufficient security around the city, right from the entry points of the city, to all the arenas of the celebration,’’ Olanipekun said.
He said that personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) would be involved in providing security during the festival.
The traditional ruler said that these security agencies would work before the official commencement of the event because, “the safety of tourists, indigenes and visitors matters most to us.’’
Olanipekun pledged a befitting festivity for indigenes, visitors and tourists.
He further said that some of the community members had prepared some local games that could be used to entertain them.
“These are traditional games that are used in promoting the city’s culture, traditions, norms and beliefs.”
NAN reports that 11 foreign countries will be participating in the festival as against eight that participated last year.

With a view to proffering means of tackling the financial challenges facing the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state, lawmakers from Osun in both the National and State Assemblies will be holding a conference that would be attended by over 1,000 stakeholders in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Osogbo at the weekend, the chairperson of the lawmakers under the eagis of Osun Legislators’ Forum, a lawmaker representing Irewole, Isokan, Ayedaade Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mrs Ayo Omidiran said Osun was in dire financial straits and needed to be assisted.
She said the stakeholders’ conference slated for Monday, 10th August, 2015 would bring stakeholders from all works of life together at WOCDIF event centre in Osogbo to suggest workable ideas to the present administration to work with.
Omidiran said Governor Aregbesola would be present at the conference to give an account of how his administration got to what she described as “sorry pass.”
She noted that the conference does not exclude members of other political parties saying “it’s an all encompassing conference geared at proffering lasting solutions to the myriad of problems confronting our dear state; thereby ensuring the continuation and completion of all the laudable people friendly programmes already started by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.”
While saying that the idea of the conference came sequel to Aregbesola’s expression that the financial crisis facing the state was beyond him, Omidiran said the Deputy Speaker of the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Hon. Lasun Yusuf, an indigene of the state would be in attendance.
Her words: “the members of Osun Legislators’ Forum, comprising of all legislators from Osun in both the National and State Assemblies have decided to deliberate on the state, interact with all stakeholders including, but not limited to, all past governors and their deputies, technocrats and artisans, labour unions and non-governmental organisations, traditional rulers and market women.
“The conference presents an opportunity for all stakeholders to hear from the horse’s mouth, how we got to this sorry pass. The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will explain in clear terms and plain language during his submission; the what, when, why and how. He will answer all our questions and lay all his cards on the table.
“Stakeholders are expected to contribute intellectually through submissions based on facts and experiences”.
She said invitation letters had been sent to about 1,000 stakeholders across political differences in the state adding that the ideas of the conference would be presented to Aregbesola after which they would wait for the governor’s decision.
It would be recalled that a group, Osun Stakeholders (OS) had had a summit in Ile-Ife last month that was geared towards harnessing ideas that would be presented to Aregbesola to assist his administration get over the crisis in the state.
GAZELLE NEWS

A member of the House of Representatives in the Seventh Assembly, Mr. Rotimi Makinde, has hailed the decison of the Osun State House of Assembly to dismiss the petition filed by Justice Folahanmi Oloyede against Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Oloyede had in the petition accused Argebesola of financial recklessness following his inability to pay salaries.
However, in a vote of 25 against one, during its plenary last week, the House adopted the recommendations of the investigative committee calling for the dismissal of the petition and a sanction for the judge.
Makinde, who represented Ife federal constituency in the Seventh Assembly, said in a statement on Sunday that the ruling of the Osun Assembly showed that falsehood and deceit could never defeat truth, adding that the state can now move on after the cacophony of lies presented as truth by Justice Oloyede.
Makinde, who had earlier called for caution in the process of sitting over the petition by the lawmakers, stated that the contents of the petition by the judge seeking the impeachment of Aregbesola had no basis or precedence, adding that her decision to shun the invitation of the ad-hoc committee easily gave away her intentions.
He said, “I want to commend members of the Osun State Assembly for quickly nipping the falsehood masquerading as petition in the bud. Again, they have proved to the world that they are a crop of legislators who know their onions in the ethics of legislative practice. From the outset, we knew that this was a typical case of hand of Esau but the voice of Jacob.
“As recommended by the house, I want to call on the National Judicial Council to look and determine whether the action of the judge were in compliance with due process, especially when she is still serving under the same government.”
PUNCH

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday spoke on his last conversation with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
It was the first time the governor was making a public statement on the paramount ruler.
Aregbesola said he received a touching short text message from the Ooni shortly before the monarch left for London.
He simply said: “When the time is ripe I will let you (the public) know the content of the letter.”
The governor however did not reveal the content of the message.
The governor, who spoke at a special sitting at the Osun State House of Assembly to mark the 50th birthday of the Speaker of Osun Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam, explained that he discussed the message with the palace chiefs during their visit last week at the Government House, Osogbo about situations in Ife.
Aregbesola also prayed for the Speaker, who turned 50 yesterday, saying he deserved the prayers of the people for his contribution to the state.
He said: “The effective leadership we have provided in this state with the massive delivery of people oriented programmes could not have been without the appropriate cooperation of the House under the Speaker.
“It is therefore pertinent to note that the Speaker has been a major factor in the delivery of good governance and this we are optimistic will continue.”
It was learnt at the weekend that the body of Sijuwade has been moved from Ile’gbo to Obatala House otherwise known as Ile Ase, literally meaning the House of Authority.
Oba Sijuwade’s body, which has been laid in Ile’gbo since mid last week, was said to have been embalmed locally by traditionalists.
The Ile Ase is believed to be where the late paramount ruler got the spiritual decree to assert authority during his lifetime.
Investigation also revealed that traditionalists will carry out a new round of rites on the Ooni’s body at the Ile Ase after the conclusion of the ritual at Ile’gbo.
Ooni’s body is expected to spend few days at Ile Ase before it is moved to the Inner Sacrificial House within the palace.
According a palace source, the Inner Sacrificial House is symbolic because of its power to claim from the Ooni’s body all the authorities he had acquired from the gods.
It is from there, it was learnt that the body will be finally laid to rest.
OSUN DEFENDER

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has congratulated the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam on his golden jubilee birthday Anniversary.
The governor in statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon felicitates with the speaker who turned 50 years on Sa‎turday the 8th of August.
Aregbesola stressed that Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam deserves the prayer of all as he turns 50, saying the state at this stage needs quality leaders to steer the state to the desired level among states in Nigeria.
“The effective leadership we have provided in this state with the massive delivery of people oriented programmes could not have been without the appropriate cooperation of the House under the Speaker.
“It is therefore pertinent to note that The Speaker has been a major factor in the delivery of good governance and this we are optimistic will continue.” The governor was quoted as saying
The governor commended the Ejigbo born politician for ‎providing effective leadership for the House of Assembly through passage of various laws and other oversight functions for the smooth and unhindered progress of the state in the All Progressives Congress dominated House.‎
Aregbesola enjoined the people of the state to pray for long life for the speaker so that he will continue to wax stronger in uplifting the state of the virtuous.‎
“On behalf of my family, government and the people of Osun State, we wish the speaker a happy birthday.
“We pray that Almighty God will grant him long life and the grace to continue to do that which will benefit Osun and the country at large”.
OSUN DEFENDER

House of Representatives member Hon. Adeyinka Ajayi spoke with reporters in Lagos on the challenges facing the Osun State Government and the way out of the crisis. 
What is your take on the allegation of mismanagement of public funds against the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola?
The state we found ourselves in Osun is quite unfortunate. It is unfortunate because it is the best of intension, the best planning and forward looking mechanism the governor has put in place to serve the people. But, was misrepresented.  We found ourselves not being in control of those parameters that determines whether we are a growing concern or not. That is not peculiar to Osun anyway, it happens across the federation. I dare say that despite the fact that the whole nation is going through some challenges till now, Osun is pronounced because certain political gladiators that wanted to use unconstitutional and illegitimate means to get what Osun State did not want to give them. That is why Osun has been highlighted, that is where we have found ourselves once again.
The government was accused of buying an aircraft. Yet, workers are being owed salaries…
I will take that issue in isolation and I am sure in the course of this interview, I will address it in holistic manner. How much does a helicopter cost? It will not pay one month salary in Osun. Is that mismanagement? The issue of helicopter was bought for security reason. It was not bought for the movement of the government officials, which is a fact. The Federal Government of the previous administration stifled that initiative. The government of Osun applied for the equipment because we need a code from the National Communication Commission (NCC) to effectively perform the kind of serve the helicopter is needed for. Good initiative, but unfortunately politics reared its head. The equipment came, but getting the code, the channel from the NCC to be able to operate the equipment became impossible. The so-called order from above tried to stall it, therefore, Osun State government had two alternatives, either to resell the aircraft or make it available for other purposes that could bridge the gap, while we are sorted out the issue with the NCC. The equipment was actually being run commercially pending when the NCC will give us our code to be able to operate the equipment. How is that mismanagement? That equipment could actually be useful across the regions.
What would you say about the debt profile of the state?
In terms of debt profile, Osun is legitimately within the acceptable debt limit. My concern is the federal government, as it is run today, does not empower states, to go their own capacity to generate revenue. Those areas where you can expand the scope of economy are controlled by legislations of the Federal Government. Therefore, it is difficult to separate the sub-state’s economy from the federal economy. So, a huge your percentages of revenue from the state will always go back to the Federal Government. Lagos State economy is probably the only economy today that is striving to set out itself from the federal economy. And we can begin to have Lagos as an independent economy. Lagos has begun to build the sub-economy, but other states unfortunately cannot because they do not have that latitude in term of resources. The debt profile of Osun is not on the negative side, safe for the debt profile that is coming from the Federal Government structures as it were.
Osun State Government has been accused of embarking on projects that are not viable. What is your reaction?
I will not agree that Osun State embarked on projects that are not directly relevant to the welfare and wellbeing of the people. If you know the person of Ogbeni Aregbesola, the governor of the state of Osun, you will know that he is irrevocably committed to the welfare of the people. That is what he lives for, that is what he preaches. The OYES scheme has become a model not only for Nigeria, but for the whole of the world. Several governments in Nigeria have copied the project. In an economy like Osun, it is a civil service state; we have over 35,000 civil servants in the state, probably second to Lagos has much on its shoulder. What are we doing to the 35,000 civil servants in the state like Osun with struggling resources? That is where we found ourselves. As an elected government, trying to do something about that, the chances are that you may not survive it. But as a government, something has to be done about it. We inherited so much from the western region and Oyo State government before the creation of Osun. At a time we have Osun State indigenes who were in the service of Oyo. Fortunately and unfortunately, they were like the 80 percent of the Oyo State civil service, within that period we had a governor in Oyo State, who was from Osun, the late Bola Ige, his deputy Afolabi and Chief Bisis Akande the Secreatry to the government, all from the government of Oyo. When Osun State was created, the Oyo government cut off the civil service structure by indigene-ship, so people from Osun State were force to relocate. So, whether you had 100 directors and 80 percent of them were from Osun, they had to go. Whether Osun had the structure to accommodate them or not was immaterial. The OYES scheme is meant to keep some money in the economy of Osun. We found that the people who were making money from Osun have their business outside Osun. Aregbesola saw this and tried to create a way of circulating fund within Osun, in the hands of the people. That is how the idea of OYES came. This was also part of his campaign promises, that within his 100 days in office, he would employ so many numbers of youth. He created the OYES scheme that puts N200 million every months in the hands of people who would have to spend it on the economy of Osun. We had so many graduates who were jobless and we tried to mop them up. How the OYES scheme has been a waste, I don’t really know. The OYES scheme is like an entrepreneurial development programme, it’s not supposed to be a job. It is supposed to be a way to tell our youth that the only way to survive is not to look for monthly paid jobs. Every economy in the world thrives on small and medium enterprises. The organized private sector provides the job, while public sector employs less than 20 percent.
But, the NLC suggested to the government to stop the school feeding programme…
Remember that schools are built for children; they are built to educate our children. They are not built to create jobs. Yes, the NLC suggested the stopping of the school feeding programme, but stop the school feeding programme will stop the children from schooling. The feeding programme ensured that our pupil enrolment increased. It is the best in the world today by that standard. So, the parents do not have to worry about the feeding of their children at schools. With this, the child would get education; he would be taken off the streets.
THE NATION

Osun State is one of the 24 states currently contending with the challenge of unpaid workers’ wages. Obviously, the state’s workers are currently on an indefinite strike action over the issue.
Consequently, things are a bit more complicated for the people and government of the state. Dealing with dwindling revenue, unpaid salaries and labour unrest is certainly not what any progressive and people oriented government prays for. Forlornly, the way things currently stand, this is what the Osun State government has to contend with.
It is, however, rather excruciating that while the Osun State government is making constructive and strategic efforts to ensure that all issues relating to the unpaid salaries debacle are addressed (the government has actually begun the process of offsetting part of the unpaid salaries), there seems to be a politically motivated plot and a groundless campaign of calumny against the state government. From the reprehensible activities of some self styled ‘activists’ and emergency ‘friends’ of Osun, one is tempted to conclude that those that were rejected at the polls by the good people of Osun have suddenly seen an opportunity to hide behind the unpaid salary matter to cause confusion in the state. Like a bolt from the blue, some of them had suddenly found their hitherto silenced voices. And they are not just talking; they are actually singing like a Red-eyed Vireo bird which sings more than 20,000 songs a day.
In their hypocrisy and desperate pursuit of political vendetta, together with their co-travelers in the mischievous contrive to ridicule the State Government, these unprincipled elements have continued to shamelessly trade in blatant and unfounded lies against the state government. Their mission is simple: To distract the state government and confuse the good people of the state. But like it is with all dubious individuals who love to play to the gallery, it is not surprising that these men are attempting to bounce to reckoning on the platform of the current Osun workers’ salary issue. How irresponsible!
What is, perhaps, quite absurd is their proclivity for rumour mongering and peddling of falsehood. How on earth could any reasonable person accuse Ogbeni Aregbesola, whose major selling point is his integrity and sincerity of purpose, of fraud? It needs to be stressed that Ogbeni Aregbesola has run, perhaps, the most prudent and transparent government in the country, thus far. In order to save cost and get the much needed funds, which were subsequently committed into judicious use for common good of the state, the governor, for nearly a year, during his first term in office, did not constitute a cabinet. Through this astute imitative, the government was able to make a few savings that were used in uplifting public education, agriculture, job creation, road construction, culture and tourism, environmental sanitation and beautification, flood control, rural development among others.
What this self pseudo ‘activists’ and unfriendly ‘friends’ of Osun did not tell the public is that what is happening in Osun is not peculiar to the state alone. About 23 other states and, indeed, the federal government, are experiencing same harsh economic reality. For the record, Osun State, which received five billion naira as monthly allocation in February 2013, got a mere N466 million in April, 2015! This aptly captures the dire financial strait of the state and the country as a whole. But these peddlers of falsehood won’t tell their audience this. Since their intent is devilish and naughty, Osun must be singled out for constant persecution and needless ridicule.
Ironically, it was the sixteen years’ reign of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that anti-people’s platform which these defective individuals represent, and in particular the six-year reign of former President Goodluck Jonathan that actually plunged our beloved nation into the present mess. It is common knowledge that Dr. Jonathan ran a truly clueless, visionless and most corrupt government in the history of the country. Under his watch, the nation’s foreign reserve was recklessly depleted. Like never before, corruption became the order of the day during Jonathan’s tenure. When the President of a country affirms on national television that ‘stealing is not corruption’, you don’t need to be a prophet to know that such a country is in trouble. The truth, however, is that our economy is actually in trouble courtesy the Jonathan and PDP years of gross misrule.
It must be stressed that prior to the dawn of this present national economic predicament, Osun State had faithfully discharged its responsibilities to its workers. For a period of not less than 30 months, there was no record of rancorous moment with its workers. Indeed, the state, despite its lean purse is one of the few states in the country that paid its workforce a 13th-month salary every December. The government has equally helped to develop the local economy. For instance, the uniforms of pupils and students in all public schools in the state are sourced and produced locally. This has brought about a perceptible boom in the local fabric and fashion industry in the state. Equally, local contractors have been given a great boost as they handle most of the State Government construction works. Artisans, especially at Osogbo, the capital, would readily attest to the fact that things have never been this rosy for them as a result of the unprecedented
patronage they currently enjoy from the State Government. The free meal programme for primary school pupils also offers local entrepreneurs sufficient opportunities to make ends meet.
It has, therefore, become imperative for Osun State workers to call off their strike, team up with the governor to find a lasting solution to the financial crisis bedeviling the state. Their cause is a justified one, and they deserve their wages, but the strike option would only worsen the parlous financial situation of the state. It is simply a counter-productive alternative. Since the State Government did not hide the facts concerning the finances of the state from them, the rational thing to do is to put faith in the already existing line of communication between them and the State Government.
It is important to stress that the workers are part and parcel of governance in the state and as such are in prime position (especially those that work in the state revenue board) to come up with viable strategies that would help shore up the state’s IGR. The state’s civil servants need to rise up in unison by encouraging every eligible resident of the state to fulfill his civic responsibilities of tax payment to the state. Until this is effectively done, the state workers could not be actually absolved of complicity from the current economic woes of the state.
Raji is former Special Adviser, Information & Strategy, Lagos State.

Pictures showing the on-going construction of multi-million Fish Pond project of Aregbesola’s administration to boost the revenue generation in the State of Osun, to be commissioned soon in Osogbo.

The Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has disclosed that his government has never spent a dime without the approval of the State House of Assembly since he assumed office.
Aregbesola made the disclosure while addressing a gathering during the Special Parliamentary Session organized by members of the House of Assembly in honour of the  Speaker, Hon. Najeem Salam, who turned 50.
Aregbesola stated that his government has been conscious of the legislative roles in the running of the constitutionally designated duties of the government, stressing that the impact of the legislature can never be over emphasized towards the achievement of a sustainable democracy.
Aregbesola who reacted to the recent petition allegedly written and forwarded to the House for investigation  by a sitting Judge of the State High Court, Justice Folahanmi Olamide Oloyede, where he was accused to have collected and mismanaged over N538billion  between 2010 to 2014, described it as unfortunate fabrication and baseless.
While denying the allegation, he stated  that even if the state is earning five billion (N5billion) every month, it could not still accrue to such outrageous amount within the years in question.
The governor noted that despite his high level of transparency and openness,  he could not believe that such hate statement could emanate from other arm of government who is part of the system and who by the virtue of her office is highly respected.
He vowed that he would not be distracted or forced to deviate from the right path of fulfillment in spite of the current economic challenges ravaging the state and the country at large.
According to him, the role of the legislative arm in a democratically elected government can never be over emphasized as most of the executive roles are hinged on the collective ratification and approval of the legislature, adding that in the eye of the law, nothing can be done without the approval of the members of the House of Assembly.
He  explained that the roles of the legislature was not only limited to the approval of the appropriation bill from the executive but also has a prominent oversight functions and roles in ensuring that executive performs his statutory duties as expected in line with the constitution.
Aregbesola said it is also the duty of the State House of Assembly having approved the implementation of a proposed appropriation bill or the proposed projects to be executed by the executive, to equally monitor it and ascertain that the approved fund is used for the said projects which his government has been successfully managed with the previous and current legislators.
The governor said if anyone now feels that he or she at the comfort of his house can just petition the Governor without the requisite knowledge on the fact that it is not possible for the executive be it Governor, Commissioner, and other government parastatals and agencies, to implement any project whatsoever without the consent and approval of the House, he or she is just wasting his or her time and such petition will always amount to mere emotional disposition that can never be enforced by law.
Governor Aregbesola lauded the resilience and doggedness of the state legislators for being forthright and unwavering in carrying out their constitutional duties since its inauguration, stressing that the House has been very cooperative, supportive and collaborative with his government.
He  assured that the current economic crisis in the state would soon become a thing of the past as his government is working round the clock to make life more prosperous, meaningful, fulfilling, peaceful and abundant for the entire citizenry.
Governor Aregbesola stated that the  parliamentary system of the government remained the best for Nigeria and other developing countries of the world, noting that it is the only system of government that concentrates all governmental powers in the hands of the legislature and as such, helping the financial management of the government because all the financial resources are concentrated on legislature for distribution and disbursement and whoever fails, either member of the parliament or the executive will definitely face the sanction of the parliament.
He, however, described Speaker Najeem Salam as an epitome of humility, patience, tolerance, perseverance and God fearing.
He therefore wished him more prosperous life on earth as he celebrates his golden jubilee, urging him not to deviate from good deeds, good work and as well be more committed and dedicated welfare of the people as part of his traits.
THE NATION

The organisers of the 2015 Osun Osogbo Festival on Thursday said participants from 11 countries would attend the 2015 edition of the festival slated to begin on Aug. 9.

Mr Ayo Olumoko, the Managing Director of INFOGEM Ltd., a cultural consulting firm, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo.

Olumoko listed the countries as: Trinidad & Tobago, Austria, Philippines, Brazil, France, Cuba, Germany, South- Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda.

He said that this was an increment from eight foreign countries that participated in the festival last year.

“This is due to the mass publicity given to the festival this year. More participants indicated their interests to attend this year’s events because we do not have any cases of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) challenge the country faced in 2014,” he said.

Olumoko said that participation by those countries would strengthen their cultural relations with Nigeria.

“It will enable citizens of those countries to know and understand the Nigerian culture,” Olumoko said.

He said that the festival would bring influx of tourists into Osun in particular and Nigeria in general.

According to him, it will boost the commercial activities of the city.

“The festival will increase foreign exchange earnings and increase the state’s revenue base,” he told NAN.

Olumoko speaking on security arrangement said that the state government and the organising committee have a working relationship to ensure maximum security in the state before, during and after the festival.

“Osun is a peaceful state. The state government is at the fore-front of security matters. The safety of indigenes, visitors and tourists is paramount to the government and the organisers,” he said