The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has reiterated that his administration will remain focused and not distracted in its commitment to turn around the fortune of the state for good among states in Nigeria in spite of the calculated efforts of his government’s adversaries.

The governor stated this at a parley with the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) on their 42 Annual General Meeting in Osun which held at the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital.‎
He noted that at this critical stage of the economy of Nigeria, all hands must be on deck to ensure that the problem of the ailing economy  is solved rather than making a governor the symbol of salary default.

It was a gathering of Nigeria’s best advertising minds which had come for the parley with the Governor as part of the programme rounding off the two day AGM.
Aregbesola while speaking on the state of the nation, noted that it is unfortunate that the country is finding ‎herself in the present position of the economy, adding that the situation must be seen by all as a national problem and not that of Osun.
He pointed out that he will not be distracted in the provision of conscious social welfare programmes for the people of the state, saying  under his administration, Osun is the state with the highest development index in the country according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Aregbesola also added that Osun is next to Niger state in the area of poverty reduction index of the statistic made available to Nigerians by the National Bureau of Statistics, Abuja in 2012.
He said, “As horrifying as the picture our opposition have been painting to you of our people, I am sure that with your physical presence, you would have noticed that all what they are saying do not  reflect in the faces of the accommodating people you see around.
“You will have also noticed that Osun is one of the best places to be in Nigeria. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, an agent of the Federal Government, Osun is the state with highest development index in Nigeria in 2012.
“The Bureau equally said we are next to Niger in poverty reduction index and we would have been above Niger state because the large chunk of Niger’s rating was influenced because of their boundary with Abuja and others.
“Conscious social welfare programmes that our administration has put in place such as our Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) that has impacted on 40,000 youths is so profound that World bank is ready to partner with any state in the country on our model.
“We have also embarked on feeding our school children through OMEAL programme. The programme has increased school enrollment, it has also employed 3,009 women who cater for the feeding of the kids”.
Aregbesola described people who condemned the Airport project embarked upon by the state as ill-informed, saying on the strength of the historical relevance of the project alone, it should have earned his administration kudos.

He regretted that many who comment and condemn his government over the airport merely look at the surface without looking at the abundant opportunities that lay ahead for the state.
He said, “To those who condemn our initiative of the airport, I want to tell them that the history of aviation in this part of the world started from Ido-Osun. And the construction of the airport did not even start with our administration but the one before us. With this and the historical issue, it behoves on us to continue with what the previous administration started.
“It will not take time to develop the airport to aircraft maintenance hub in Africa. We only have just three aircraft maintenance hangers in the whole of Africa. We need not go to Europe or America to get the aircraft in Africa maintained.
“All we need to attract that business is to develop the facility that we have in Ido-Osun. We have signed an agreement with two hanger operation knowing that aircraft maintenance business is a money spinning investment”. He stressed.
Speaking earlier, the President of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, Mr. Kelechi Nwosu, commended Governor Aregbesola for patronising only qualified advertising agencies in promoting the initiatives of the state.
He noted that Osun is a nice place to be with the accommodating people of the state and a lot of tourism sites to visit.
He noted that the choice of Osun as the venue for the 42 Annual General Meeting was informed by the peace enjoyed in the state and that many of the association’s icons are from the State of Osun.
Nwosu added that the Association will continue to provide support as branding experts and communication specialists to expand and deepen peace in Osun.
‎He said, “We thank your Excellency for your kind support to our association and members by patronising only qualified advertising agencies.
“We also will continue to provide support as branding experts to your state to expand the peace and prosperity your state has been enjoying.”

Chairman of the AGM, Organising Committee, Mr. Tunji Olugboji, in his remarks, applaud the state’s heavy investments in the critical sectors such as security, education, health and youths engagement.

He said with these, the Osun environment remains attractive to those who would change the fortune of its people.

 

BEING A BRIEF SUBMITTED BY THE ASIWAJU GRASSROOTS FOUNDATION; AGF, STATE OF OSUN CHAPTER TO THE PETITION PROBE PANEL SET UP BY THE HONOURABLE SPEAKER, STATE OF OSUN HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY TO PROBE A PETITION AGAINST GOVERNOR RAUF AREGBESOLA BY JUSTICE FOLAHANMI OLOYEDE OF THE STATE OF OSUN JUDICIARY.
The State of Osun Chapter of the Asiwaju Grassroots Foundation, AGF commended the Speaker of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Najeem Folasayo Salam for setting up a committee/panel to look into the petition brought forward by Justice Folahanmi Oloyede of the State of Osun Judiciary against our amiable Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola calling on the impeachment of the Governor on his inability to pay workers’ salaries up to date.
Sir, it would be recalled that in our previous letter to the Honourable Speaker, dated 24/06/2015 regarding the petition in question, we had described Hon. Justice Folahanmi Oloyede as an eminent personality whose views must be respected in the state, hence we are commending Mr. Speaker for setting up this panel to look into the petition of the eminent Judge.
Mr. Chairman Sir, it should be noted that we are not holding brief for Mr. Governor; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola here, but as stakeholders in the project Osun, we deemed it fit to come up with this piece to support and aid the good work of your Honourable panel and we hope that at the end of the day, this brief will help the panel and our aim be achieved.
Firstly Mr. Chairman, in our opinion, we believe that Justice Folahanmi Oloyede; a serving Judge in the State of Judiciary lacks the moral right to put up any write up not to talk of a petition against the government or anybody in the government wherein she is also a serving member because she wrote a petition against the head of a government in which she is also senior serving member, based on this, her petition should be out rightly thrown out on moral ground.
Secondly sir, Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola; against whom the petition was written is the No. 1 citizen of the State of Osun and also the head of the Executive arm of government. The supreme law of the land emphasises on the rule of law as regards separation of powers among the three arms of government in the country and various states as applicable, hence it is wrong for Hon. Justice Folahanmi Oloyede of the State Judiciary; another separate arm of government to come up with a petition against another official in another separate arm of government (Executive) because she is expected as a judge, to adjudicate on cases brought to her arm of government (Judiciary). Sir, based on the rule of law that guarantees the separation of powers among the three arms of government, hence the petition of Justice Folahanmi Oloyede should be out rightly thrown out.
Thirdly sir, if any other person or group of persons bring this case against Governor Aregbesola to the court of law presided over by Justice Folahanmi Oloyede, it is obvious that justice will be denied because this petition by her has shown that she is already biased against the Governor and his government for that matter, hence her petition against the governor should be thrown out because a judge should be seen as righteous enough to truthfully adjudicate on any case brought before him.
Fourthly Mr Chairman sir, it would be recalled and noted that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came on board as the Governor of the State of Osun with high sense of good intentions and that reflected marvellously during his first term in office when he executed very many unique and laudable projects that give our State accolades from wide World like the Osun Youth Empowerments Scheme; OYES, which employed over 40,000 youths in the state and has become a template for implementation for other States, the federal government and indeed International agencies like World Bank.
Based on this, Mr. Chairman, the National Bureau of Statistics and United Nation agency at different times recently rated the State of Osun as the state with lowest level of unemployment and poverty in the country as a result of all the initiatives and policies that Ogbeni Aregbesola introduced into governance in the State.
Also Tablets of Knowledge is another unique innovation of Mr. Governor which got the State of Osun varieties of international awards and also UNESCO has copied the template for implementation in sub Saharan Africa.
Among other things Mr. Chairman, you will recall that O’meal programme that guarantee at least a balanced diet meal a day for all the primaries 1 – 4 school pupils in the State was described as a well thought initiative by the British parliament.
Many link road networks were qualitatively built throughout the nooks and crannies of the local governments across the State of Osun; many others are still under construction.
Model Schools of World standard were built and currently being built by Aregbesola administration.
All of the projects and programmes are being implemented with the meagre resources that are accruable to the state and available loans obtained within the limit of the State in favourable terms, hence it is baseless for Justice Folahanmi Oloyede to accuse Ogbeni Aregbesola for financial recklessness, and hence her petition should be out rightly thrown out.
Fifthly Mr. Chairman sir, you will also recall that during the same period stated, workers’ salaries, pensions and other emoluments were being paid as at when due including car loans, 13^th Month Salaries and other fringed benefits among others to the work force in the State of Osun. How can Justice Folahanmi Oloyede at this point in time accused Ogbeni Aregbesola of inability to pay workers’ salaries due to financial recklessness, the petition should be thrown out.
Sixthly sir, things began to go the other way when financial meltdown hit the country through the mismanagement of the national economy by Jonathan’s led PDP government and it is worthy of note Mr. Chairman, that it was our governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola that firstly raised the alarm notifying the nation about the impeding financial crisis that would hit us as a nation and also he raised an alarm sequentially over the rate at which oil theft were being carried out, where 400,000 barrels of crude are being stolen on daily basis but everybody, especially Jonathan’s administration turned deaf ear and now we are all in this financial mess.
All of these plus the political vendetta exhibited by Jonathan and the PDP towards Governor Aregbesola because of his popularity among Osun people prior to the August 9^th, 2014 gubernatorial election accounted for drastic reduction and cut in the allocation that was accrued to the State of Osun from federation account till date.
So it is wrong for Justice Folahanmi Oloyede to have attributed the inability of Aregbesola’s led administration to pay salaries of the State work force till date to financial recklessness with all of the factors mentioned above among others in place, hence her petition should be thrown out.
Seventhly sir, the inability of State Government to pay workers’ salaries in the last one year is not peculiar to the State of Osun alone, over 14 other states including some super rich oil producing states also owe workers’ salaries like Benue State, Bayelsa State, Rivers State, Kogi State, Ondo State, Ekiti State, Delta State, Ebonyi State, among others and some of these states like ours, are just trying to offset the backlog of salaries bit by bit.
Mr. Chairman, it is worthy of note that the workers in Ondo, Kogi and Ebonyi States started indefinite strike today in their various states due to unpaid workers salaries, whereas, workers in the State of Osun are back to work now because they have secured a favourable mode of payment of their remaining salaries after few months had been settled. And nobody is calling for the head of the governors of these states. So why will Governor Aregbesola’s case be different? Sir, claiming that it is due to financial recklessness is unacceptable but rather financial mismanagement by Jonathan’s led government, hence Justice Folahanmi Oloyede’s petition should be thrown out.
Distinguished Chairman & members of this honourable palnel sir, you may wish to refer to articles put together by well meaning Nigerians in National Dailies to get more information on why Governor Rauf Aregbesola should not be crucified for the clog put on our wheel of progress by Jonathan’s government which was voted out in less than 60 days ago. Sir pls refers to the back page of Thisday Newspaper of July 4^th 2015 for a piece put together by Chief Dele Momodu of the Ovation International Magazine and titled “The Travails of Governor Aregbesola” another article published online by John Dada titled “Putting Osun’s Situation in a Broader Perspective” and another one among many others that was published in the edition of The Nation Newspaper of Thursday, 16^th July, 2015 & continued in the Monday 20^{th July}, 2015 edition.
SIR, In the broad interest of the generality of Osun people who had never had it so good when it comes to better governance and if putting a stop to this is what Justice Oloyede’s petition is seeking, then Mr. Chairman sir, in the interest of us all; the people of the State of Osun, the petition should be thrown out in entirety.
Mr. Chairman, Honourable Members of the Committee; we are just using this medium like other well – meaning Osun community to restate our firm commitment and believe in the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as the Governor of the State of Osun to continue giving us dividends of democracy in the next four years.
 
Best Regards
 
SIGNED
 
Adeboye Adebayo:     State of Osun Coordinator              ………………………………………
Adekunle Oloyede:     for the State Secretary                       ……………………………………….
Aresa Kehinde:             for Local Government Coordinators …………………………………..
Raji Ropo Rasheed:    Director of Mobilisation                   …………………………….

*Says school feeding programme has great impact

The State of Osun has bagged another recognition on account of its highly celebrated school feeding program for schools children, tagged OMEAL.

This time around, it was the turn of an Abuja-based international non governmental organization, Voice of African Women for for Human Dignity which showered encomia on Governor Rauf Aregbesola over the highly successful programme.

Osun feeds over 250 elementary school pupils every school days with nutritious meals a programme that also has impacts on agriculture and other value chains.

 Other programms of the Aregbesola administration that also attracted the attention of the organisation include the special welfare programme for the elderly and vulnerable, Agba Osun, as well as that for widows in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the body in Abuja, Barrister Julie Doule who represented the President,  Hajia Amina Idris, disclosed that the board of the organization also found Governor Aregbesola worthy of the emulation for his commitment to child education as well as incentives for the disabled in the society.

 They further commended Ogbeni Aregbesola for his resolve to use his programmes to better the lives of the downtrodden through poverty alleviation.

She said, “this Award of Excellence  is in recognition of your immense contributions to the survival of human dignity.  The free meal Program for school children in Osun State which has become a benchmark on how to increase child education and the incentive programs for the disables,  widows and the aged are laudable programs that are worthy of commendations. ” Hajia Amina Idris said the non governmental organization concluded that the humility of Aregbesola,  his compassionate disposition in the conduct of both private and public as well as efforts towards building a society where human dignity is held paramount must not go unnoticed.

“Your resolve to remove a vast majority of people living below poverty line in the midst of plenty in the country and integrate them into wealth through sustainable creation of various avenues are worthy of commendations,” the Voice of African Women for Human Dignity boss noted.

 In his remarks, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who said he decided to go into politics with sole aim of empowering the populace, bemoaned policies that are anti-people and pro-elite.

He said foremost responsibilities of any responsible administration is to use the commonwealth to bring about just, fair and peaceful society noting that economic challenges remain the cause of insurgency in the North-East of Nigeria.

 “I commend and urge you to support all initiatives directed at empowering the people as well as efforts of governments at mobilizing and motivating for genuine development of the society” Gov Aregbesola stated.

According to the Governor, any contribution no matter how small to the society will remove some class of people from being poor, thereby improving the society, and contribute to human civilization.

“It is not going to be easy offering yourselves for this task of removing people from shackles of poverty. Be prepared to further face  several challenges including spiritual. However, your determination will help in improving the society, reduction in the number of poor people, effects of poverty will be eliminated thereby contributing your quota to human civilization,” the governor stated

The All Progressives Congress in Osun State has urged the opposition parties to desist from telling lies about the Osun State Government.
The party, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Kunle Oyatomi, on Wednesday, said lies against Aregbesola would not stop him from performing his duties.
The APC also enjoined the media to always seek the truth and propagate facts so that the public would not be misled.
The party was reacting to an article written by   Prof. Niyi Akinnaso which was published on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, entitled, ‘Aregbesola and Osun: From billions to millions.”
The party described the publication as the most factual piece on the financial crisis rocking Osun State.
The statement read, ‘Facts in the article showed that the economic crisis in Osun was as a result of a reckless, profligate style of the Peoples Democratic Party government in Abuja that collapsed the country’s economy.
“The writer observed that it was a masterpiece of socio-economic wisdom that Aregbesola could still reach the level of development he achieved before the crash in spite of the fact that every kobo earned by the state was used for recurrent expenditure from 2012 to 2014, incurring a deficit of N2bn in the process.”

The government of Osun State and a private tourism investor, Chief Mrs. Margaret Bolanle Fabiyi are to partner on the development of a world-class tourism resort in Ikirun.
The project, which is being fine-tuned, will cost billions of Naira and when completed, serve as one-stop centre for leisure, hospitality, entertainment, shopping, conference business and tours.
The resort, presumably second to none in Nigeria, will also have agricultural component to grow agric tourism and residential houses in addition to creating room for service providers, hospital, school, jetty, helipad and filling station among other facilities.
Speaking with travel writers in Lagos, Mrs. Fabiyi, popularly called, Webisco, said a project of this magnitude would certainly address the problem of unemployment as it would create jobs and generate revenue for the state in the face of stifling economic condition caused by the fall of crude oil price at the world market.
She disclosed that efforts were being made to complete the land acquisition and documentation, adding that the state government should do the needful by showing above average commitment financially and otherwise to birth the resort.
“We have acquired a 25 sq km land in Ikirun, Osun State for the development of a one-stop tourism resort second to none in Nigeria yet. The land was facilitated by H.R.H the Akirun of Ikirun, Oba Rauf Olawale.
The resort, when developed, will have parks, hospital, school, residential buildings, jetty, filling station, business outlets, conference centre etc.
We are working out the modalities and would make an appropriate comment on its update when we have sorted out the grey arrears.”
Mrs. Fabiyi, who is an active member of most tourism and travel organizations in Nigeria, including Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) is a leading member and country liaising officer for Africa Travel Association (ATA) with headquarters in New York, U.S.A.
“As we continue to invest our individual efforts in promoting and marketing tourism in our country we hope that very soon, we will begin to reap the dividends. A trip by President Barack Obama, for instance, would drive heavy traffic to this country. Although we will not bank on that, given that his tenure is running fast, we are committed to continuously promoting our country as the home of hospitality in West Africa. She informed that as part of her effort to open up the country to influx of tourists that a team of travel writers from the United States is expected in the country for the second familiarization tour being packed by her in collaboration with the federal government to promote tourism in Nigeria.
“For the FAM Trip, we would get in touch with the facilitators so that we would not be taken unawares when ministers, yet to be appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, assume duty. She hoped to use WIFWETN her NGO, to do the needful by liaising with the authorities to ensure that the trip is done to the glory of God and the benefit of every Nigerian.
Commenting on the security challenges in the country, she remarked that there is no country in the world without security challenges. She however, pledged to ensure that the guests are protected during their visit and exposed only to our tourism wealth, to supply them with limitless information of our potentials, because there is the need to move from tourism potential to prosperity now that oil price has become something else.
Dwelling on the familiarisation trip Mr. Fabiyi declared: “because of my background, experience and commitment, I see our stabilizing democratic governance as good omen to sustain this zeal by organizing yet another Fam Trip, this time, travel writers in the US, about 10 of them plan to come to Nigeria as soon as we are ready. They will spend 12 days in all. The move is in partnership with VALinc PR, to compliment what Nigeria tourism writers have been doing and to create a window and a sustainable gateway for the world to see and appreciate our potentials. So the trip is a deliberate effort to expose top media outlets to travel, vacation and cultural opportunities here and to create a rich itinerary and present to the Americans a balanced package of our endowments. They would like to experience firsthand the old traditional Nigeria, visit local producers of food, art, fashion, culinary, nightlife, entertainment, tourist sites, beaches and historical monuments. The trip, all other things being equal, will be reciprocated by us, and would also involve a US road show, meetings with appropriate media and business leaders in target areas such as Harlem, and Brooklyn in New York, Atlanta Georgia, Washington DC, Chicago, Illinois etc.
“Those expected to come include Fathom Away, Travel and Leisure, Conde Nast Traveller, GQ, Time, New York Daily News, The Chicago Tribune and Cuisine Noir. As much as we would benefit immensely from this trip, the cost implication is great and so WIFTWEN cannot carry this burden alone and would seek the sponsorship and partnership of the Federal and State governments to execute this project in the coming months.
“As we wait for President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint his ministers, we hope that our minister will have the industry at heart and create more than the enabling environment for tourism to thrive in Nigeria. Our endorsement will be updated and necessary contacts made with governments of Lagos, Osun, FCT, Kogi, Edo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Cross River to create a soft landing for this project.
“Miss Elizabeth Scott is here to find out and assess our preparations for the FAM Trip. She flew in from the US on Tuesday and has had some local dishes apart from other useful experiences and contacts. Her trip is to demonstrate the commitment of the Americans to the project and advised on how best to package a success.”

BEING THE PRESS TEXT DELIVERED BY OSUN PROGRESSIVE LEFT ON THE STATE OF OSUN.

INTRODUCTION

We of the Osun Progressive Left today organized this parley with the media both print and electronic In order to update the whole world with the politics of do-or-die with extreme bitterness and violence by which the opposition party represented by peoples Democratic Party and their thugs are terrorizing the state.

The basis of our support a popular organizations are cleared, this is based on the pro-peoples, best practice and world acclaimed achievements of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is in doubt as it touches everybody and every part of the state. This media briefing is a show of support and solidarity for a government constituted by the popular mandate of the people through victory in an election upheld as free and fair in all the tribunals up to the Supreme Court.

We actually sympathized with the worker’s who are being owed salaries. We appeal with great concern over this national calamity which is not peculiar to the State of Osun alone but about 24 other states, in fact all states in Nigeria today either owns the salary of states, local government or pensioners, with the exception of lagos. One begins to wonder why Osun state and Mr. Governor are single out for vilifications.

 The peoples democratic party (PDP) shamelessly exploiting a salary crises precipitated by the six year national economic mismanagement of the PDP government headed by Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

We are seriously warning that the government of the state of osun is a government constituted by popular mandate and we will be in support and solidarity to defend it through popular struggle.

The only way democracy understands for change of government is victory in free and fair elections. The opposition should desist from gangsteristics effort to come into government through the back door. They are advice to embrace electoral choice by building up for the next election in 2018 when they can test their popularity

We reject its totally the so called educational summit that the PDP are putting up in the state as this type of educational submit was held in 2011 by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration. The summit chaired by an erudite world acclaimed Professor Wole Soyinka had a compendium which is now being adopted by the federal government in Nigeria.

However, we have to mention some of the landmark achievement of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. They are stated as follows.

Ø      Infrastructural development within every sector-road, schools, health, airport well thought out as a hanger and aircraft destination, one of its kinds in West Africa, e.t.c. and urban renewals.

Ø      Social welfare in providing for the indigent elderly, the physically challenged, e.t.c

Ø      Youth empowerment, one of a kind, with best practice entrepreneurial training and exit strategy as emergency employment, empowerment and social benefit content.

Ø      Value reorientation and rebranding in the omoluabi ethos to reclaim our humanity, reclaim dignity of labour, sacrifice and commitment to the collective good: Heading to calisthenics, teaching school pupils the cooperative spirit, harmony and synergy.

Ø      And all other innovative, award winning best practices for which the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is famous to the chagrin of malicious and envious neo-liberal, anti-poor constituencies, but for which he has earned the support of all well-meaning people of goodwill worldwide today.

With all these aforementioned achievement it is an incontrovertible fact that the governor should be absolutely absorb of any financial misappropriation or recklessness.

In the meantime, the roots of the temporary, diversionary salary arrears crises are clear, but are being conveniently ignored by electoral losers and the doomed opposition, and their lackeys;viz:

1. Jonathan, and PDP 6 years of “corruption is not stealing” of incredible 400,000 barrels of crude oil theft per day out of 2,600,000 barrels, making a 15percent loss, in fact, but miraculously resulting to a 40percent loss of revenue, from mid 2013 onwards.
2. Above directly resulting in oil price crash, and further fall in oil revenue.
3. Unprecedented looting of the public commonwealth.

Conclusion, we are appealing to the security agencies in the state to rise up to the occasion as the PDP hoodlums have invaded the state in their usual manners. We also called on the state commissioner of police to call to order Mr Niyi Owolade , Mr Yinka Odumakin, Mr Bamidele Adeniyi a.k.a Zangaruwa, Mr Alimi Sulaiman, Mr Funsho Babarinde.

These characters are hell bent on setting this state on fire and unleash violence on the innocent citizen for no just cause.

   Finally we remain and stand resolute in support and solidarity as stated earlier and our position to support good governance in the state of Osun remain unshakeable.

Long live Nigeria, Long live state of Osun.

Aluta continua Victoria Accerta.

Photo shows an Infographic of the social and physical infrastructure programs of the state of Osun.

Please read, and share with family and friends. Let’s educate the world on the true state of our State.

Thank you.

The planned summit on education in Osun state by a group of opposition politicians, Osun Stakeholders, may have suffered a setback as one of the conveners has pulled out of the proposed gathering.
PREMIUM TIMES learnt that one of the conveners, who addressed journalists in Osogbo Friday, to announce the summit, Muyiwa Oladijemi, has told a few people, including some of the organisers, that he was no longer comfortable participating in the event.
He reportedly said he was suspicious of the real motives of other organisers of the summit.
Mr. Oladimeji, a former governorship aspirant and chieftain of the PDP; a former Afenifere spokesperson, Yinka Odumakin; and Niyi Owolade, governorship candidate of Accord Party in the last election, who also served as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, are the three key conveners of the planned summit.
However, when our correspondent called Mr. Oladimeji on Wednesday for his comment on the preparedness of his group for the summit, he directed all inquiries at Messrs Odumakin and Owolade.
“You can call Odumakin and Owolade, they are the ones who have information about the summit,” he said.
Probed further on the level of his involvement, Mr. Oladimeji simply said, “I have answered your question, I have asked you to call Odumakin or Owolade.”
Mr. Owolade’s non-committal response, those close to him said, might not be unconnected with the widespread condemnation the proposed summit, slated for Thursday, has drawn.
The All Progressives Congress in the state described the summit as a smokescreen to orchestrate crisis and then blame it on the government of the APC in the state.
The APC alleged that all those organising the summit were a pack of Peoples Democratic Party’s politicians and other allied political opponents of the government.
It accused the group of merely using the summit to cover its selfish political activities.
The two other conveners, Messrs Odumakin and Owolade, could not be reached for comments Wednesday night.
PREMIUM TIMES

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State has appealed to professionals and educators to purposefully promote and disseminate truthful and enlightening information.
The party advised the media to always seek truth and propagate facts that would not mislead the public.
The party’s Director of Publicity, Kunle Oyatomi, was reacting to an article by Prof Niyi Akinnaso.
Oyatomi said: “The publication is perhaps the most graphic, truthful, factual, educative and enlightening piece that has been done by any commentator, critique, reporter or investigative journalist on the financial crisis in Osun.
“It is a model of dispassionate and carefully investigated story told by a person who fully understands what truthful and factual information is all about – to educate an ignorant or misinformed public.
“It is regrettable that in the Nigerian market place of ideas, so much falsehood about Osun has been propagated and assimilated by the gullible and impressionable consumers that the facts contained in Prof. Akinnaso’s piece will be a bitter pill for them to swallow.
“‘Facts garnered from the article are that the economic crisis in Osun was as a result of a reckless, profligate and kleptomanic Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government in Abuja that collapsed the country’s economy.
“That in reality, it was a masterpiece of socio-economic engineering that Aregbesola could still undertake the level of development he achieved before the crash, despite the fact that every kobo earned by the state was used for recurrent expenditure from 2012 to 2014, incurring a deficit of N2 billion.
“The level of ignorance about the Osun situation is so widespread that it becomes a sad commentary on the status of education in the country vis-a-vis the quality of information available.
“People are as educated as the quality of information available for their consumption.  Those who are in that business have a huge responsibility to educate our people correctly.”
The party, therefore, advised that any unbiased person or believer in truth who wants to know the facts about the Osun situation should read Prof Akinnaso’s article.
“No fake summit of unenlightened stakeholders can match the details in that piece”, the party said.
THE NATION