‎The Governor of the State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday evening said the plot of the Federal government to cripple his administration before the August 9 election in the state through the statutory monthly allocation will fail.

The governor while answering questions during the 8th edition of “Gbangbadekun” a state government public interactive feedback programme in Ijebu-Jesa Oriade North Federal Constituency, said, aside from the drastic drop in the allocation, plans are underway to stop it temporarily to the state.

He accused the federal government of Nigeria of a deliberate attempt to weaken the federating units especially the states where the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) is ruling, by ways of not making funds available to them for political reasons.

Aregbesola held that, despite the falling allocation , his administration will continue to pay the workers regularly.

According to him, “federal government aside from the drop in the allocation has devised a means to cripple our government before the August election by not giving us the statutory monthly allocation.

“Though the allocation aside from the drop has not been coming on time, the allocation for the Month of May only came yesterday, even before it came we have paid the May salary of our workers.

“Let me tell you that their are plans by the Federal government not to release the allocation of the coming months before the election so as to cripple our government, thinking that we will not be able to pay workers salary. I want to tell you that they have failed because we will device means of paying our workers”. The governor told the crowd.

‎He assured the people of the State of Osun that his administration will never sack any worker despite the falling allocation from the federation account.

According to him “my pact with God and the people of the state of Osun is not to sack any worker, if we can retain the glaring enemy, why are we going to sack workers who never offend us or neglect their job. Those peddling such rumour are ignorant or mischievous”.

 The programme was attended by over 60 traditional rulers in Ijesa North Traditional Council.

Aregbesola said but for his administration’s final ingenuity,  the state would have experienced what many other states of the federation are experiencing in forms of salary cuts, three to four months delay in salaries.

The governor said it was gratifying that opposition candidates have not found it possible to accuse his government of not deliverying on life changing programmes noting that all they could do is to attempt to discredit the various achievements.

“But the good people of Osun have seen through the various lies they carry about. Our style of governance cannot be compared with any other in Nigeria. We have demonstrated it’s possible to make a modern state of our own territory.

On the four state owned tertiary institutions striking lecturers, the governor said as a government, his administration has offered the best to the workers saying the state lacked the financial capacity of the close to N90 billion pension fund they are requesting for and urged the stakeholders in the state to appeal to the lecturers in the general interest of the people.

The governor also assured the people of Ipetu-Ijesa that the Osun State University Education College in Ipetu will not only remain but equally upgraded to  an aviation school contrary to the relocation rumour.

He assured the people of Imesi Ile, Esa Oke, Ira of the completion of their roads and building of new elementary, middle and high school in their various communities.

The royal fathers who pledged their support for the governor on behalf of their community while speaking at the programme include the Akeji of Ikeji-Ile, Olura of Ira Ikeji, Oba Julius Olukayode, and Oba Felix Taiwo Aribisala, the Elekuruu of Ijebu- Ijesa represented by Odofin of Ijebu Ijesa, High Chief Olutola.

The Owamiran of Esa- Oke Oba Akanbi Adediran said Osun election will never be like that of Ekiti, “we are grateful people, we are strongly behind the governor, and I urge the people to also replicate the good gesture of the governor by voting him in August 9.

The monarch also expressed concern over the low pace at which the contractor handling the Otan-Ile, Esa-Oke to Ijebu -Jesa and urged the governor to liaise with the contractor on how to fast track the road project.

The senior Pastor of the Business Church, Ado-Ekiti, Rev. Tope Popoola, has said the landmark achievements of Governor Aregbesola motivated ministry in donating hospital bedding to the state public hospitals.

The clergy man, who said the inspiration to make the donation was driven by passion to contribute the widow’s mite of the church ministry to performing administration of Aregbesola.

Rev. Popoola made the donation of three hundred (300) pillows to state-owned hospital under the aegis of his NGO, Give Pillow Campaign.

“Sick people need comfort as the quality of sleep they have enhance their quick recovery.

“The decision to do this is for us to identify with the good work going on in the state,” Rev. Popoola said.

Receiving the materials, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Temitope Ilori, commended the cleric for supporting the good work of government and contributing to the course of humanity.

Ilori said every single item donated will be judiciously utilised by the hospitals’ management.

She noted that such philanthropic gestures from men of God and faith-based organisations is encouraging as they give back to the communities.

“I appeal to agencies and organisations to come and partner with government.

“We also solicit prayers for peaceful conduct of election in the state and triumph of Governor Aregbesola at the poll.

“As government, we are not resting on our oars in making sure that we give our people qualitative healthcare services,” Dr. Ilori said.

Photos from Mining Western Company, Australia’s visit to the Governor in Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 27-06-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) with Project
Manager, Andalusian Mining Limited, Perth Western Australia, Colin Miller,
during the Company’s Visit to the Governor in Government House, Osogbo,
State of Osun on Friday 27-06-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) with Project
Manager, Andalusian Mining Limited, Perth Western Australia, Colin Miller,
during the Company’s Visit to the Governor in Government House, Osogbo,
State of Osun on Friday 27-06-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Project Manager,
Andalusian Mining Limited, Perth Western Australia, Colin Miller (right)
and Managing Director of the Company, Wayne Miller, during the Company’s
Visit to the Governor in Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday
27-06-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (centre); Senior Special
Assistant to the Governor on Mineral and Natural Resources, Prince Tunde
Ajilore (left); Special Adviser on Commerce,Co-operatives and Empowerment,
Dr Yinusa Dauda (right); Project Manager, Andalusian Mining Limited, Perth
Western Australia, Colin Miller (2nd right) and Managing Director of the
Company, Wayne Miller (2nd left), during the Company’s Visit to the
Governor in Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 27-06-2014

Governor Rauf Aregbesola has described the death of a management staff of New Telegraph, Mr Suleiman Bisalla, as depressing, miserable and sad piece of news.

Mr Bisalla was among the 21 people who died at the popular EMAB plaza, Abuja, following a bomb blast yesterday.

In a statement by the director, bureau of communications and strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola described the untimely death of Mr Bisalla as one that has once again robbed the media industry and the country of a young, energetic man and a fine journalist.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday observed a minute silence in honour of victims of the terrorist bombing which rocked a parking lot at a crowded plaza in Abuja, killing 21 people and injuring 52 others.

Lawmakers also condemned the recent terror attacks in several villages in Kaduna and Mubi in Adamawa State.

The House called on the federal government to immortalize the former director general of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and former minister of information, Prof. Dora Akunyili, by naming the NAFDAC Headquarters after her.

It also urged the federal government to immortalize the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, who died on June 6, 2014.

OSUN DEFENDER

The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, has appealed to citizens and residents of the town to give maximum support on the second term bid of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The monarch, who spoke at an event held at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park where the community honoured Governor Aregbesola with the title of Aare Akinrogun of Osogboland, said the gesture was in recognition of the sterling performance of Aregbesola. Ataoja, who showered encomium on the governor at the programme put together by members of Osogbo community and environs to appreciate and officially endorse the governor for a second-term in office.

The monarch pointed out that the town has never had it so good since it was made the state capital, stressing that the touch of Aregbesola is very visible in every part of the town hence the need for Osogbo to ask him to continue the good work he has started.

According to him, “We are so happy and grateful to Aregbesola for the wonderful work he is doing in Osogbo and the state at large, our town is now wearing the look of a true state capital.

“Osogbo has benefited so much from the various life changing policies of this administration and we shall forever be grateful to Aregbesola who has made us to be proud of our town because the town is on a steady progress ever since he assumed office as the governor of the state.

“From “Oyes” to O Ambulance to the building of modern schools, the feeding of our school children, the abattoir projects going on in Osogbo and construction of roads, I can boldly say that Osogbo has highly benefited from the administration of Aregbesola.

“We are here today to appreciate the governor and to tell him that we want him to continue because the good work he has started in Osogbo and Osun as a whole must continue”. The royal father stated.

In a keynote address, the Asiwaju Muslumi of Yoruba land, Alhaji Olatunde Badmus, who is also an Osogbo indigene, emphasised that the administration of Aregbesola has changed the image of Osogbo town to a modern city which the sons and daughters of the town can now be proud of.

DAILY INDEPENDENT

The Director General, Ogbeni Aregbesola Door-to Door Campaign Organisation (OD2D), Mr Segun Omoworare, has urged the people of the state not to believe the rumour being spread around by the opposition parties that Governor Rauf Aregbesola would ban commercial motorcyclists known as Okada and the intercity commercial buses called ‘Korope’  operators during his second term.

Before the inauguration of the present administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the State of Osun, he undoubtedly came up with a popular six-point integral action plan; banish poverty, banish hunger, banish unemployment (create work/wealth), restore healthy living, promote functional education and to enhance communal peace and progress, which the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and other government agencies keyed into, and according to the commissioner, Mrs. Mofolake Adetoun Adegboyega, “all these centered on women, and are issues that concern women very much”. This administration in its effort to forestall events and restore confidence to the people of the state in promoting functional plan and programmes to the longing and aspirations of the people in the state, brought about caring attitude of the Ogbeni’s developmental plans. The Ogbeni’s success story begins with the people of the state where evidences of his government are felt, and have changed their lives positively. The environment has yielded the dividend of his peculiar administration even; the atmosphere in the State of Osun is filled and charged with peace, tranquility, and security. One can say that his administration’s agencies are interwoven for delivery purposes:-

Subvention To Orphanage Homes

This administration has provided platform to assist and encourage committed and selfless operators of registered orphanage homes in the state as a token from the governor of the State of Osun. Fund was approved and released as subvention by his administration. First quarterly meeting of registered orphanage home operators was held at the department for close monitoring and evaluation of practices and to uphold best practices in orphanage activities. Through the ministry, one of the registered orphanages, named Covenant Orphanage, Moro was chosen and presented different tangible gift items by Osogbo CBN staff.

School Social Work

In line with the six-point integral action plan of Governor Aregbesola, school social work is engaged as a tool to facilitate the followings:

·Enhancement of communal peace and progress

·To reduce cases of mal-adjusted behaviours among school children

·restoration of sound moral values into school pupils/students

·Social case work to foster family cohesion

·To identify peculiarities and challenges of each pupil, utilizing mechanism of school social work to intervene in a way to ensure the welfare of such pupil.

·To stem the tide of cultism amongst students/pupils of primary and secondary schools.

·To organise preventive programmes in schools through collaboration of stakeholders

·To uphold academic strength of students/pupils by encouraging academic aided culture, habits and principles.

·To unite students/pupils and their home fronts in the interest of their academic pursuits.

·To stem the scourge of vulnerability in school children

·Holding counselling retreat for the school guardians and career counsellors

·Fund was approved and released by Governor Aregbesola for activities of school social work. Social cases treated across the six (6) geo-political zones include: counselling, Interview, lectures/talks, Home visit, case conferencing, referral-peculiar cases across the zones.

Reconstruction and Renovation of Collapsed Fence and Dilapidated Building of the Children Rehabilitation Centre

Reconstruction of collapsed fence to safeguard the lives of the children and prevent encroachment into the children Rehabilitation Centre, the Ministry had been requesting for fund to reconstruct the collapsed fence since 2005. Several letters for inspection and bill of quantity were written to Ministry of Works and Transport. The fund was not released but when Mr. Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola came on board, fund was released for the reconstruction of collapsed fence, which was handled by the Ministry of Works and Transport. The completion of the reconstruction of the fence and construction of gate house was included in the 2013 Budget Estimates
The renovation of building conforms to the State Child’s Rights Law, which states that all categories of children in difficult circumstances should enjoy the following: Rights to good health and environment, right to development, right to survival and right to life.

Establishment of vocational unit in the Children Rehabilitation Centre

In conformity with four of the six-point integral action plan of the present administration, the ministry rehabilitated children in conflict with law, who have constituted nuisance to the society and threatens the peace of the land by empowering them with vocations that would make them to be self-reliant and dependent. Fund was released for the establishment of vocational centre by Aregbesola’s administration. First phase of the vocational training unit had been completed, it comprises of snailry, (already stocked with snails), equipment was also purchased for tailoring and shoe-making materials.

Children End of the Year Celebration

The Oodua World Children’s Day was celebrated in the State of Osun on Monday 27th May, 2013 at the State Sport Stadium Osogbo. The theme for the celebration was “Treasure Our Children”. Part of the activities organized by the ministry to observe the day were essay, march past competition among the students from the state and students from invited Yoruba-speaking states in Nigeria, calisthenics was displayed by school children. The State of Osun Cultural Troupe also contributed their quota to the activities. Top traditional Yoruba Obas from far and near including Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and other notable Obas from Diasporas were in attendance.
The Year 2013 End of the Year Party for the children of the State of Osun was carried out on Monday, 23rd December, 2013. The programme was jointly organized by the Ministry and Office of the Wife of the Executive Governor, State of Osun.
The party is celebrated annually purposely to bring all categories of children, irrespective of their religion, social background and ethnic group together to interact, move closer, dine and wine with Her Excellency, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, wife of the Executive Governor of the State of Osun, who was the Chief Hostess and Mother of the Day.

Distribution of Nutritional and Educational Materials to Vulnerable Children

The Ministry in collaboration with Osun State Agency for the Control of AIDs (O-SACA) distributed nutritional and educational to support 400 vulnerable children, who were in dire need of assistance in public primary and public secondary schools.
The programme was held at the hall of Moremi Creche New Secretariat Complex. The objective of the distribution was to alleviate the challenges faced by these children in their schools and at home.

Assistance for individuals in need:

A seven year old rape victim was financially supported with the sum of N100,000 for surgical operation, two women diagnosed of cancer of the breast were assisted with the sum of seven hundred thousand (N700,000.00) for chemotherapy treatment O’YES Corps members, who are couple that gave birth to a set of triplet were supported with their medical bill fully settled and empowered to be able to carry on with the maintenance and sustenance of their children; A one-year old girl of destitute parents, who was diagnosed of critical mal-nutrition and dysentery was referred by the Ministry to a registered Non Governmental Organization (NGO), Ebun-Oluwa Foundation for further in-depth medical examination; A mother of triplet with chronic Tuberculosis infection was supported by this administration to get optimum medical attention, while her children received essential food supplements for a quick recovery.

An adopted child in need of support is being sponsored educationally by the Government of the State of Osun to pursue her University programme. A critically ill widow from Osogbo zone, who is a mother of three, without any source of income was empowered to start-off with a trade of her choice.

Adoption (local) Visitation

87 homes of Adopters were visited across the Federation for follow-up and updated reports on adopted children by Zonal Welfare Officers and reports gathered on adopted children revealed that there was no negative report on any of the children. Homes were fostered in love. Intervention and psycho-socio support was given to a battered young lady.

OSUN DEFENDER

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has again disclosed that the purpose of his government is to cater for the welfare and well-being of the people.

Aregbesola stated this at a meeting held with the Conference of Principals of secondary schools and head teachers of all elementary schools in the state.

The governor observed that since the inception of his administration, he has continuously put in place programmes and policies that have brought poverty to its barest minimum and boost the economic base of the vast majority.

He stated that his vision and mission for the state is to arrest the mismanagement of affairs of the people inherited from the past administration.

According to the governor, people are the wealth and capital of politicians and so they are the targets around which government is centred.

“A responsible government has people at the centre of its policies. We are not in government but to make sure that the welfare of the people gets better by the day.

“Our government was able to survive the economic impasse brought about by injurious reduction in the federal allocation following the sacrifice for not forming cabinet for 10 months and not being frivolous with the excess crude, offering us opportunity to save about N5 billion,” Aregbesola said.

Appealing to the teachers to further make sacrifice in the interest of the state, the governor announced despite the not-too-encouraging revenue accruing to the coffers of government, the administration still managed to sponsor some principals of secondary schools to Tanzania for a workshop between 2012 and 2013.

He refuted the rumours that government will sack workers, saying when he came to the office in 2010 he was pressured to sack but he refused.

The governor, who said there is a grand plan to stifle the state with allocation until after the election, assured the teachers that his government will pay salaries as at and when they fall due with or without payment of allocation, adding that “I need your support; I need your understanding; I need your commitment to ensure a better state for all.”

Earlier in his remark, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, who doubles as the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Saka Adesiyan, highlighted some of the gray areas the teachers are desirous of government’s quick intervention.

The Labour leader listed contributory pension, special subvention for teachers in rural areas and international seminars and workshops as some of the areas needing urgent government attention.

Adesiyan noted that the interactive session with the government was an opportunity to disabuse the minds of some people, who are insinuating that the teachers do not support Aregbesola’s second term bid.

Adesiyan also commended the governor for paying salaries as well as 2014 leave bonus despite the shortfall in allocation.

The Governor’s influence at the grassroot is one that cannot be told in stories alone, the pictures sure say more. From every corner and day in, day out…the bond thickens, making him the man of the people. We have brought you some pictures that tell many stories of love, confidence, trust and appreciation.

NIGERIAONPOINT