Motorists and other road users have been admonished to put all hands on deck to ensure zero road accident during the forthcoming Sallah celebration.
 

 
Chairman, State of Osun Technical Committee on Road Safety, Professor Joseph Fawole gave the admonition today at the monthly meeting of the Committee held in Osogbo.
Professor Joseph Fawole warned the drivers to avoid over-speeding, wrongful overtaking, driving against the traffic, overloading and driving under the influence of alcohol, among all other traffic offences.
While identifying areas that are notorious for incessant accidents within the State, the don specifically cautioned motorists plying Ilesa- Ipetu axis of the State to be extra careful, hinting that the area is replete with ditches into which over-speeding vehicles are susceptible to plunge.
Professor Fawole then disclosed that the committee members and other road managers would embark on strategic road inspection during the festive season.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, will today (Friday 23rd June, 2017) flag-off this year’s United Nations Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign week in the State.
 

 
Venue is St. Charles High School, along Ilesa-road, Osogbo.
This is contained in a press statement issued by the Commissioner in Osogbo.
The statement urged all Executive Secretaries including religious leaders and market women to attend the flag-off ceremony punctually.

The government of Osun on Wednesday announced the 30th edition of its free train service as it asked indigenes wishing to travel home to make use of the free train provided by the state government.
 

 
Thousands of Eid-il-fitr holiday makers are to benefit from the free train scheme as the government on Wednesdayannounced that the train would move from Lagos to Osogbo, the state capital in its usual practice which commenced in 2011.
The edition coming up on the occasion of the 2017 Eid-il-fitr will be the 30th edition in a scheme that witnessed several thousands of people benefiting.
A statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Government, quoted the Commissioner for Industries, Commerce and Co-operatives, Hon. Ismaila Adekunle Jaiyeoba-Alagbada as stating that the free train service is in continuation of the commitment of Aregbesola’s administration to making life more meaningful for the people of the state.
The free train is expected to convert and pick travelers along Lagos, Ogun and Oyo before it finally stops in Osogbo, Osun.
The Bureau’s statement added that the free train ride would be offered between Saturday and Tuesday while urging indigenes of Osun to maximise the opportunity.
According to Jayeoba-Alagbada, the train will on Saturday 24th of June‎ 2017 convey people from the Ido Terminus, Lagos to the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park Station, Osogbo. The return journey to Lagos from Osogbo will be on Tuesday the 27th June, 2017 by 11 A.M.
The Commissioner said the gesture by the Aregbesola-led administration is aimed at facilitating a stress-free homecoming for the people during the festival.
The state government had, since 2011, been making similar arrangements for people of the state, to travel home during festive seasons.
While wishing Eid-el-Fitri  holiday makers successful journey back home, the statement urged them to take advantage of their homecoming to have a feel of the on-going developments of the state.
“We encourage holiday makers to use this opportunity to update themselves about the developments that are taking place in the state.
“The Aregbesola administration, beyond the negative, hate campaigns of those are threatened by the massive pro-people policies of this government, has created an enduring legacy of service.
“We have taken service to the people to a new height that will be impossible to reverse. We have opened up roads and we have built schools that many find hard to believe are possible in this part of the world.
“We have renewed our urban settlements to attract investors. These are many more would be the spectacles to behold when they visit Osun,” the state Bureau’s statement added.

The newly appointed Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Honourable Bisi Odewumi said  the government of Ogbeni  Aregbesola will continue to accord traditional
institution due respect.

 
Hon. Odewumi stated this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdul Wahaab Adedotun Bibire in his palace today.
He added that traditional rulers are royal fathers whose pieces of advice  are needed for the peace and development of the State.
The Special Adviser  told the monarch that he was in his palace to seek advice on the ways to continue to promote traditional institutions.
Hon. Odewumi explained that the government of Ogbeni Aregbesola will never undermine traditional institutions but will continue to work with them for the peace, security and development of the state.
While responding, the Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdul Wahaab Adedotun Bibire commended Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for his untiring efforts in the development of the State.
Orangun promised that he would continue to support the government in his onerous task of developing the state.
Earlier in the familiarization visit of the Special Adviser, Hon. Bisi Odewumi paid a similar visit to Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja ll on Wednesday in his Palace.
Ooni prayed for the success of the present administration as well as the peace, progress and development of the State.

…Passes vote of confidence in Aregbesola’s administration
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington has applauded the state Government of Osun for its Social Investment Programmes, saying that is the major reason everybody is coming to Osun to learn about her programmes.
 

 
Mr. Symington declared this today when he paid a courtesy visit to governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at the Bola Ige House, Abere, Osogbo, the Osun State Capital.
 
The Ambassador who was accompanied on the trip by the US Consul-General, Mr. John Bray; Deputy Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Frank Sellin and Assistant Regional Security Officer, Mr. Paul Biba commended the state government for its massive infrastructural investment which he said has created wealth and employment for the people.
 
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola had while receiving the US Ambassador with select members of his cabinet described his government’s believe in investing in human capital.
 
The Osun governor also made it clear to the ambassador that his administration came into government with a clear objective of how to tackle the various socio-economic problems of the people of the state.
 
Aregbesola maintained that his administration focused on the six-point integral action plan which has over the years made his government to focus on social security areas through schemes such as the O-YES, O-MEALS, O-AMBULANCE and the welfare scheme for the aged among others.
 
“From the onset, our goal for the people of the state was clear to us. As part of our efforts to take our people out of poverty, we re-energised the school feeding programme which we met on ground.
 
“The OMEAL programme of our state has turned subsistence farming into a commercial venture in Osun. It has boosted the sales of agricultural products in the state tremendously” Aregbesola stated.
 
The governor further revealed that the state has served as at the last count, over 202,234,400 hot meals to primary school pupils in the state.
 
The American envoy on learning that over 200 million meals have been served to school pupils in Osun, lauded the State Government for running an impactful and people-oriented government in spite of the present economic challenges facing Nigeria.
‎
Mr. Symington also commended the efforts of the state government in road infrastructure likened road development to human development.
 
Describing democracy as the best form of government in the world, Syminton noted that the policies adopted by the Osun state government in stimulating her economy and advancing the well-being of her citizens’ remains the major characteristics of democracy in the world.
 
“The state is on a steady growth, I so much appreciate good roads. This state is investing so much in roads infrastructure and it’s very good for the future and overall development of the state.
 
“Another good area is your various social intervention programmes, you are helping in creating jobs and wealth, no wonder people always come to your state to learn,” The American envoy noted.
 
Recall just last week, the UNICEF had led top government officials  drawn from 17 states in the six geo-political zones of Nigeria to Osun for a four-day learning tour of its various social investment programmes.

* As Ambassador lauds Osun over Social Protection schemes
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has on Tuesday urged the United States of America  to seriously consider its stand concerning climate change, as whatever decision America takes will seriously affect many countries of the world negatively.
 

 
This was even as the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington described the social protection programmes of Osun Government as dividend of democracy and good governance.
The American envoy also lauded the State Government for running an impactful and people-oriented government in spite of the present economic challenges facing Nigeria.
‎
‎Governor Aregbesola, while playing host to the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Syminton who paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s office in Osogbo said the United States of America had over the years evolved to be a major factor in what happens to the other parts of the world.
He added that when an entity becomes powerful as America in the world, such a nation needs to consider other nations before taking major decisions.
The governor noted that the position of America in the world is so strategic to the extent that major decisions of the United States have direct baring on other nations of the world.
According to Aregbesola, America is so important and significant that issues like climate change can not be taken for granted.
He said, “America has evolved to be a major factor in world growth and development to the extent that whatever decision the country takes on any burning issue shakes the world.
“When an entity is as powerful as America, such entity needs to be very careful about every major decision it takes because of other countries.
“An entity whose decision can affect other nations of the world must be very careful.
“America’s human and international relations must not be taken for granted, if you love America it is to your own benefit and if you hate America it is to your own disadvantage,” The Governor stated.
The Osun governor also made it clear to the ambassador that his administration came into government with a clear objective of how to tackle its responsibilities to the people of the state.
He said the coming into power of the administration was to revive the peace, progress and prosperity of the state and the nation at large.
Aregbesola maintained that his administration focused on the six-point integral action plan which has over the years made his government to focus on social security areas through schemes such as the O-YES, O-MEALS,O-AMBULANCE the welfare scheme for the aged among others.
“We came into government with a clear objective, it is to stimulate the growth and development of the Osun people and to leave them better than the way we met them.
“From the onset, our goal for the people of the state was clear to us. As part of our efforts to take our people out of poverty, we re-energised the school feeding programme which we met on ground.
“The OMEAL programme of our state has turned subsistence farming into a commercial venture in Osun. It has boosted the sales of agricultural products in the state tremendously” Aregbesola stated.
Speaking earlier, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Symington who commended the efforts of the state government in road infrastructure likened road development to human development.
The envoy also applauded various social intervention programmes of Ogbeni Aregbesola through job and wealth creation, saying that is why people are always interested in coming to the state to learn.
Describing democracy as the best form of government in the world, Syminton noted that the policies adopted by the Osun state government in stimulating her economy and advancing the well being of her citizens remains the major characteristics of democracy in the world.
“The state is on a steady growth, I so much appreciate good roads. This state is investing so much in roads infrastructure and it’s very good for the future and overall development of the state.
“Another good area is your various social intervention programmes, you are helping in creating jobs and wealth, no wonder people always come to your state to learn,” The American envoy noted.

Two newly-born baby girls had been found abandoned at Ikire in Irewole Local Government area of the State of Osun.
 

 

 
One was found at Oke-Ako area while the other was discovered at Moro Area.
A statement from the Ministry of Social Protection, Sports and Special Needs, signed by the Coordinating Director, Mrs Grace Adegoke said anybody who has any information about the biological parents of the two babies should report to the nearest Police Station or the Ministry of Social Protection, Sports and Special Needs

The July 8, 2017 Osun West senatorial bye-election offers us a unique opportunity to examine the politics around us as a people. The last one week has been fraught with intrigues of a loud hue in Osun and beyond especially on the routes through which the major candidates for the election to replace late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke have emerged in their respective parties.
 

 
Of course, since the sudden demise of the former and first civilian governor of Osun and two time senator, the ripples have not ceased from one controversy to another.
The allegations of possible foul play in his death; the violence and attacks on individuals by miscreants who claimed to be followers of the late senator; the controversies over the autopsy and the hullaballoo over the Coroner’s Inquest which was ordered by the state government, have all conspired to ensure that the attention of watchers of political events are not diverted from the issues of the death, the suspicion and the controversies.
The Independent National Electoral Commission’s release of a timetable for the bye-election also came to start another phase of the issues which the death of Adeleke must throw up. Since the senator is dead, his family and coterie of loyalists would not see why his replacement should not come from his family compound and indeed, from one of his blood brothers.
But then, the issue of who replaces Adeleke at the Upper chamber of the National Assembly goes beyond assuaging the family or compensating his kinsmen with the ticket. Adeleke was not an independent candidate who got into the Senate through his personal efforts or popularity. This is where his party, the All Progressives Congress comes in as the overall decision making organ on how Adeleke must be replaced at the red chamber.
Recent political experiences of Nigerians come in handy in understanding the overall decadence that has diminished and enveloped all we do as a people. Most Nigerians who by accident, might not have heard what is called party supremacy came to understand what it means for a political party on whose platform a candidate stands election and gets elected. Especially through the 8th National Assembly, Nigerians have been told that the party matters less in how officers from a particular party emerge as principal officers of the chamber especially when the position of the party runs contrary to their personal preferences.
That was what played out in 2015 with the emergence of Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly. Till date, Nigeria has not recovered from the implosion that the drama imposed on us.
At that time, the refrain was that the party on which they were elected to the National Assembly could not be dictating to them how they conduct their affairs. That in a way, may have polluted the minds of many Nigerians who ordinarily would have had no qualms believing that the party, through whose strength you came to a political office must necessarily be in the know of how the affairs of that office is run since once elected, an office holder is expected to toe the party lines in the delivery of the electoral commitments to the people.
This brings us to the drama  that played out in the election of a candidate to represent the APC in the coming Osun West bye-election. In human life, everything appears to be divine. The choice of Senator Mudasiru Hussain could not have been otherwise for any party that wants to bring back, encourage and reward loyalty to the party and enhance the promotion of party supremacy.
It should interest readers that Senator Hussain, who now holds the ticket of the APC was the same senator who relinquished his seat for Senator Adeleke to return to the Senate in 2015.
Nigerians could not have forgotten what the late Adeleke went through in the hands of Peoples Democratic Party bigwigs in Osun in the build-up to the 2014 elections which forced Adeleke out of the party. Have we forgotten how the the Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, threatened that he would have beaten Adeleke but for the consideration for his (Adeleke’s) health. Of course, he found the APC an attractive option at the time that was sure of victory. His coming into the APC at the time, one must admit, also boosted the re-election chances of Governor Rauf Aregbesola just as the incumbent had the honour of bringing all former governors of the state to his side as part of efforts to ditch the PDP then. But who would not want to be with Aregbesola given the massive crowd that was madly in love with him?
Hussain’s sacrifice at that time could not have been heavier! Without any resistance whatsoever, Hussain relinquished the party’s ticket for Adeleke and the rest as they say, is history.
In my findings, there are even indications that Aregbesola was more disposed to conceding the opportunity to produce a replacement to the Adeleke camp in the freshness of the senator’s demise. My findings indicate that all entreaties to make the family, now headed and directed by billionaire younger brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke, see the death of the lawmaker as act of God which should not be used to tarnish the image of the government fell on deaf ears.
With the outcome of both the autopsy ordered by the Adeleke family and the Coroners Inquest ordered by the state government, it was clear why Adeleke’s death should not be traced to any other source other than complications arising from self-medication and overdose. How do you declare such an unjustifiable war on party and still demand from that party its ticket on platter of gold? It is simply illogical!
But this is not about Adeleke; it’s about the lessons to draw in political calculations that once a member of a political party, the collective good of that party, rather than the good of the self, should be the guiding principle. In recent history of political parties in Nigeria, I doubt if there has been any politician with so much sacrifice for his party. The good thing however, is that Hussain looks set to reap the fruits of his sacrifice and that looks good a lesson in loyalty and party supremacy.
 
*Kolawole ‘Lawan, writes from Ward 1, Isale Oba, Iwo East LCDA, Iwo, State of Osun through lawkolawole2@gmail.com 

The executive governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday paid an unscheduled visit to the site of the new Ilehsa Grammar School.
Aregbesola who was in company some members of his cabinet expressed satisfaction at the level and quality of work done at the site.
See photos below :