The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday called on all Nigerians not to tolerate the misuse of the military and the abuse of governmental  authority‎y during the coming February general elections,

The governor made this charge while delivering his address titled “A toast to our men and women of valour”‎ at the launching of Armed forces remembrance emblem held at the Government House in Osogbo.

Aregbesola stated that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the military and other security agents are not used to intimidate civilians during and after the general elections as it was done in Osun during the last August 9 governorship election in the state.

The governor launched the Armed forces remembrance emblem with the sum of 2.5 million Naira, saying government could have launched the emblem with a sum more than the 10 million Naira it donated last year, but for the cash crunch the state is presently facing.

He added that, for a better Nigeria and change, citizens must come out in large numbers to vote out the current leadership and vote in a progressive government.

According to Aregbesola, “it is a great misnomer and misuse of the military and society’s resources for soldiers to be deployed as instruments for abridging the citizens’ freedom and liberty, and to intimidate and bully them for the sinister purpose of gaining electoral advantage.

“This we have witnessed on several occasions in recent times when the government at the centre unleashed combat-ready soldiers on the populace in a purely civil matter of vote casting by law-abiding citizens.

“More alarming is the fact that this happened at a time when a part of the country had been taken over by a terrorist group whose dislodgement should have been a matter of high national security priority.

“Such inexcusable abuse of authority and citizens’ trust ought to trigger in any right-thinking citizen a deep sense of patriotic indignation”. The governor told the gathering.

‎He also stressed that the armed services constitute special vocations which make a very special demand on those who take them up as profession.

The governor added that the service is a distinctly peculiar profession that its members are required to put their lives in the line, in order to preserve the lives of other members of their society.

‎Aregbesola held that there is the need for Nigerians to hold serving members of the armed forces in high regard and give them the special honour that they truly deserve in the country.

‎Earlier in his address, the Deputy Commandant-General and Chairman Nigerian Legion Osun, Col. Alimi Samotu (rtd) called on the Federal government to pay the twenty percent balance of the pension arrears to avoid possible continuous demonstration in future.

He added, “the fallen heroes being remembered today deserve the honour because of the supreme sacrifice they made particularly during the Nigerian Civil war.

“The gallant fighters lost their lives on the battle field without a farewell to their parents, wives, children and other dependants and many who did not die became maimed”. The legion boss stressed.

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Commandant Engineering Construction Company Ede, Brigadier General, AG Adeyemi Gbenga, and others during the Launching of 2015 Emblem of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at Government House Osogbo, State of Osun, on Tuesday 6/01/2015.

From right- Chairman of Legion, Col. Alimi Samotu, Governor State of
Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori,
Senator Bayo Salami, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood
Adeoti and Commandant Engineering Construction Company Ede, Brigadier
General, AG Adeyemi Gbenga, during the Launching of 2015 Emblem of the
Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at Government House Osogbo,
State of Osun, on Tuesday 6/01/2015.

From right, Chairman of Legion, Col. Alimi Samotu, Governor State of
Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi
Laoye-Tomori,during the Launching of 2015 Emblem of the Armed Forces
Remembrance Day Celebration at Government House Osogbo, State of Osun,
on Tuesday 6/01/2015.

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Commandant
Engineering Construction Company Ede, Brigadier General, AG Adeyemi
Gbenga and Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, during the
Launching of 2015 Emblem of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day
Celebration at Government House Osogbo, State of Osun, on Tuesday
6/01/2015.

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and
Commandant Engineering Construction Company Ede, Brigadier General, AG
Adeyemi Gbenga, during the Launching of 2015 Emblem of the Armed
Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at Government House Osogbo, State
of Osun, on Tuesday 6/01/2015.

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and
Commandant Engineering Construction Company Ede, Brigadier General, AG
Adeyemi Gbenga, during the Launching of 2015 Emblem of the Armed
Forces Remembrance Day Celebration at Government House Osogbo, State
of Osun, on Tuesday 6/01/2015.

The Vice Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress APC, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola would today lead Nigerians in the great road procession tagged “Nigerians Walk for Change.”
The road procession is coming up barely 24 hours after the APC kicked off its presidential campaign in Port Harcourt.
The party in a statement released in Osogbo yesterday said that the State capital will be agog when tens of thousands of people take to designated streets in the state capital in a marathon walk from Government House at 7am through Oke-fia/ Olaiya- Odi-Olowo/Isale Aro through Gbemu Junction, Oluode Market, Boorepo- Aiyetoro and terminating at Osogbo City Stadium.
According to Kunle Oyatomi, the APC Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, “the great walk signifies the determination of Osun citizens and indeed the entire South West of Nigeria to join hands with the APC to effect change for the better in Nigeria under the leadership of General Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo”.
The exercise will move from Osun to Ondo State on Friday,   January 9t, 2015 in Akure where citizens are already gearing up to also “walk for change”, the APC said.
VANGUARD

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, on Monday evening, said he was afraid before the conduct of the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial poll in the state, saying “the opposition were even doing a countdown of number of days remaining for us in government.
He revealed that his wife, Sherifat, was even planning to start packing their belongings in the Government House some days before the election.
Aregbesola, who made these disclosures at an interdenominational service organised to mark the beginning of the year 2015 held at the Governor’s Office, Bola Ige House, in Abere, said “the prayers offered during January 2014 interdenominational service by religious leaders for us to comeback this year have been answered by God.”
While alleging that some security operatives who came for the last governorship poll were fake, he observed that a few of them wore students’ belts and put on strange shoes.
According to him, “APC secured the largest number of votes on August 9. APC’s votes was second highest in number to votes secured by Governor Adams Oshiomhole during his election. My victory was ordained by God and nobody can do anything to thwart it. The opposition were just exploring propaganda and lies to hold their members ahead February 2015 general election.”
While describing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a failure since its attainment of power in 1999, Aregbesola charged the electorate to utilise their permanent voter cards (PVCs) as a tool to chase the party away during the forthcoming elections, with a view to bringing about positive change in Nigeria.
He stated: “why do we want General Muhammadu Buhari? All primary schools pupils from Primary 1 to 6 throughout Nigeria would be fed freely if APC wins presidential poll. With this development, N3.6 billion we expend annually on school feeding programme in Osun State would be spent on other meaningful projects. Beside, 20,000 people would be employed in each state while the money expended on federal roads by states, including Osun, would be paid back.”
Aregbesola, however, attributed the current financial challenges, confronting the nation to incessant theft of 400,000 barrels of Nigeria’s crude oil daily and the sharp fall in the price of oil in the international market, lamenting that the November allocation released to the state by the Federal Government in December, 2014 was N1.1 billion, just as the wage bill of workers stood at N3.6 billion.
Meanwhile, the second and third respondents in the petition filed against the result of the August 9, 2014 governorship poll in Osun State before the election tribunal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard bearer, Senator Iyiola Omisore, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) respectively, on Monday, at the resumed hearing, closed their defence.
At the resumed hearing before the Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime-led three-man panel, counsel for the APC, Mr Bashir Ajibola, applied to close the defence of their case, having called a total of eight witnesses.
The development came as the tribunal adjourned till January 28 the adoption of the final written addresses by all parties to the matter.
However, the proceedings were halted for a while due to the industrial action embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), as the judicial workers in the tribunal were withdrawn.
Counsel for INEC, Mr Ayotunde Ogunleye, opened his defence and tendered three documents in evidence from the bar before he later closed his defence. Documents tendered by him included certificate of identification of distribution list of PVCs.
The tribunal, however, admitted in evidences and marked as exhibits the three documents, but reserved ruling on the admissibility of one till the final address stage.
Speaking during a chat with newsmen, counsel for the petitioner, Mr N.O.O Oke, expressed optimism over a favourable judgment, stressing that the tribunal would evaluate the evidence before it to determine which party was right in its submission.
Similarly, counsel for the APC, Ajibola, contended that with evidence and submission of his client before the tribunal, “we are sure of victory.”
TRIBUNE

In his 2015 ‘Budget of Renewed Hope’, Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, proposed to spend N197.8 billion as against the N234 billion he spent in 2014.
The total recurrent expenditure is N87 billion while capital expenditure is N110 billion.
In the proposed budget, the Economic Sector, covering agriculture and rural development, rural/urban electrification, commerce, industry, finance and transportation accounted for the largest chunk with N41.6 billion.
Aregbesola said that the budget would ensure the completion of on-going projects and commencement of new ones for the comfort of the people. He noted that extra efforts would be made to generate more revenue internally, especially through collection of existing taxes and rates without necessarily imposing new tax regime on the people.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has urged leaders in the state to mandate their followers to fulfil their responsibilities of paying tax as a means of supporting the present administration in Osun State.

The governor stated this at the Inter-religious service held at the Governor’s Office, Osogbo to usher in Year 2015.

Aregbesola promised to judiciously use the money to improve the standard of living of masses and development of infrastructure in the state.

He thanked people of the State for their cooperation and support during the past  years and enjoined them to ensure that they vote for the All Progressives Congress in the coming general elections.

He noted that APC is the only party that can guarantee the desired progressive change which the country needs at the moment.

According to him, “It is obvious that the Peoples Democratic Party PDP can not rule the country well and any well meaning Nigerian should endeavour to vote them out of office.‎

“I want to assure you that if the APC comes into power at the federal level of governance, all the masses-driven programmes of the present government in Osun will be extended to all the states in the federation.

“The All Progress Congress is ready to adopt people oriented programmes like the school feeding programme which will accommodate pupils in primary 1-6, the party is also ready to adopt the youth empowerment scheme in all the states of the federation as well as the programme of the aged(Agba Osun)” the governor stated.

He also reminded them of the need to collect their permanent voter cards to be able to exercise their franchise during next month’s general elections.

In their sermons, the State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN Reverend Elisha Ogundiya and the Mufashir of Osogbo, Alhaji Ma’ruf Ishola prayed for the continued peace and development of the state.

The clergy men thanked the Governor for deeming it fit to begin the year with the offering of prayers to God.

“We are very happy that the Governor has decided to start official activities of the state with prayers, it shows that he is God fearing man and we urge all our leaders to follow his footsteps.”

They also stressed the need for Nigerians especially the religious preachers to always speak the truth to those in positions of authority rather than sing- praising them.

Earlier in a welcome address, the State Head of Service, Mr Olayinka Owoeye promised on behalf of all civil servants to continue to support Government towards achieving its aspirations.

Prayers were offered for the peace, progress and development of the state and the country at large by both the Christian, Muslim and traditional religious leaders.

The Election Petitions Tribunal hearing matters arising from Osun State governorship election has adjourned till January 28 for adoption of written addresses.
The Counsel for the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Bashiru Ajibola, had told the panel at the resumed hearing on Monday that the second respondent (APC) had decided to close their defence.
Ajibola told the panel that the petitioner, Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party, had no case.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, which is the third respondent in the case, also opened its case and closed it the same day.
The counsel for INEC, Mr. Ayotunde Ogunleye, had tendered certified true copies of form EC8E which is the final result and declaration form, permanent voter cards distribution list and the certificate of the list.
Counsel for the first respondent, Mr. Wale Afolabi, who is also the counsel to the APC, did not raise any objection to the admissibility of the documents. However, the petitioner’s counsel, Mr. Nathaniel Oke (SAN), however, objected to the admissibility of the document.
He argued that the certificate of the PVCs distribution list should be rejected because it was not front-loaded.
The tribunal admitted the document.
He said, “We apply to close our case upon the evaluation of the case made out by the petitioner, coupled with evidence we have extracted from the witnesses called so far by other respondents and the petitioner.”
Ogunleye told the panel that the third respondent did not need oral evidence since virtually all the document tendered by parties in the case emanated from the INEC.
The strike action embarked upon by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria had almost stalled the proceedings as the union withdrew their members who are interpreters and bailiffs.
The striking workers had earlier locked the gates to the court premises and prevented lawyers and others from going inside.
However, the workers eventually allowed lawyers and others who had businesses in the court to gain entry.
The JUSUN in the state said that they were ready to go on with the strike action until state governors complied with the judgement of the Federal High Court delivered on January 13, 2014, according to all the terms contained in the Memorandum of Understanding.
THE PUNCH

Photos of the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola exchanging with representatives of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),  the Imam of Osogboland, Araba Awo of Osogboland and others during the Inter-religious Service for the New Year 2015 at Office of the Governor, State Secretariat, Osogbo on Monday 05/01/2015.

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right), his
wife, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola (right) exchanging pleasantries with Chief
Imam of Osogboland, Sheikh Musa Animasahun (2nd left); Araba Awo of
Osogboland, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon (left) and others, during the
Inter-religious Service for the New Year 2015 at office of the Governor,
State Secretariat, Osogbo on Monday 05/01/2015.

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola exchanging
pleasantries with Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),
Reverend Elisah Ogundiya during the Inter-religious Service for the New
Year 2015 at Office of the Governor, State Secretariat, Osogbo on Monday
05/01/2015.

From left- Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Mrs. Titi Laoye- Tomori;
Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Mrs.
Sherifat Aregbesola and Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo
during the Inter-religious Service for the New Year 2015 at Office of the
Governor, State

From left- Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Mrs. Titi Laoye- Tomori;
Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife, Mrs.
Sherifat Aregbesola and Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo
during the Inter-religious Service for the New Year 2015 at Office of the
Governor

Ariel view images of the the changed face of Osun; the newly constructed Second Bypass Road  (Oba Adesoji Aderemi Road) as captured at the weekend.

At the close of last year, it was widely reported that the Federal Government and some states were owing workers up to, and in some cases, more than three months salaries. This allegation was first made by the Secretary General of the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Mr Alade Lawal. His concern, on which he gave details, was the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government.
However, Punch newspaper in its usual mischief and anti-Aregbesola diatribe added some states to the mix, prominent of which is Osun. A few days later, regrettably, the president of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) just took the Punch’s false report verbatim and also included Osun prominently in the list of states owing workers three months salaries and in which industrial action could commence.
This is unfortunate. If the Punch had done any investigation as it claimed, it would have known that as at the time of the report, it was only November 2014 salary that was outstanding since the October salary had been paid. So much for mischief and adversarial reporting that makes no distinction between truth and falsehood.
We must however have a holistic understanding of the salary situation. When Governor Rauf Aregbesola was sworn in November 27, 2010, the total wage bill in the state was N1.6 billion. The following year, the minimum wage act was passed into law and it became binding on all states. By 2012, all states of the federation had complied, making Osun wage bill to rise to N3.6 billion.
By the same token, with higher oil prices and increase in the pump head price of refined fuel locally, Osun’s revenue jumped to N4.6 billion, which was relatively safe, wage wise. However, by July 2013, Osun’s revenue had dropped to N2.8 billion. Within the same period, Aregbesola had shored up internally generated revenue from the meagre N300 million he met to N1billion, thus he was still able to pay salaries usually by the 26^th of every month. However, allocation has dropped progressively since then and the last allocation Osun got for November 2014 from the Federation Account was N1.03 billion. There is no magic to this. Aregbesola should be commended for the astute manner he has managed the state’s economy, implementing wondrous projects and still fulfilling obligations to workers in spite of dwindling revenues.
The grim options before any state in this situation is either to reduce its workforce size to a sustainable level or find creative ways to generate revenue. The governor has chosen the later and should be commended. Even the workers understand the dire situation. If NLC and Punch newspaper are so concerned about salaries, let them pay the workers or ask them to transfer their services to your organisations.
Dwindling state allocation is a time bomb that portends the grave danger of state meltdown and the Federal Government should be held accountable for the malaise of oil theft and underproduction, which brought this about, not states trying to cope with the consequences.
Adekunle Ajayi,
Mushin, Lagos