The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and the Leader of the Hausa Community in Ife, Alhaji Mahmud Madagali, on Thursday canvassed for peaceful coexistence between the Hausas and Yoruba communities in Ile-Ife and its environs.

The trio described the recent chaos that ensued between Hausa residents in Ile-Ife and Ife indigenes as unfortunate, saying no efforts would be spared to promote the diversity of the Nigerian nation.
The appeal was made following the recent clash between Hausa and Yoruba people in Ile-Ife which according to the report had claimed some lives and property.
Leader of the Hausa Community, Alhaji Mahmud Madagali, who spoke at the palace of the Ooni during a peace meeting, said some miscreants merely exploited what could have just passed as mere disagreement between two people to breach the peace they had all enjoyed in Ife and Osun in its entirety.
Governor Aregbesola while addressing residents of Ile-Ife at the Ooni’s palace shortly after his inspection tours to the areas where the incident occurred, promised to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Governor expressed sadness over the incident, pointing out that “it is disheartening to experience such wanton destruction in Ile-Ife again, after the end of tragic event of Ife/ Modakeke war of fifteen years ago”.
Aregbesola explained that the northerners in Ile-Ife and other parts of Yoruba land are not strangers but part and parcel of their host communities, as many of them were born and bred in those places.
Describing the cause of the incident as trivial, the state helmsman expressed displeasure over the escalation of the incidence that snowballed into killing and maiming of innocent people.
He condemned in its entirety the way and manner at which people took law into their hands over the matter, saying his administration was bent on bringing to justice perpetrators of the violence.
He noted that whoever is involved in the incident would be apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the provision of the constitution.
Governor Aregbesola attributed the existing love, peace and harmony between the three major tribes in Nigeria as part of legacies built by the nation’s founding fathers, stressing that his government was ready to strengthen the virtues of togetherness.
Aregbesola said as part of his efforts to guaranteeing peace and security, his administration would not in anyway condone cases of lawlessness.
Affirming the existing cordial relationship between Yorubas, Hausas and other tribes in the state, Governor Aregbesola attributed the cause of the recent violence in Ife to what he described as intrusion of miscreants to the midst of Hausas and Yorubas who have been living together in peace and harmony for years.
He added that Ile-Ife being the cradle of Yoruba race was known for peace, love and tranquility, saying “This is the cradle of mankind by the belief of the Yorubas, a revered town of this pedigree should not be in the news for bad things.
“Osun is the land of peace and love, we have not experienced this in the last six years, and I believe such thing would never happen again.
“This incident is unfortunate because the cause of the fracas is not worth it. How could one explain that a common slap could lead to pandemonium and later death as we witnessed in Ife?
“There must be a mix-up somewhere because with the picture we deduced from the incident, it shows that some people had taken the advantage of the peaceful cohabitation between our people in Ife most especial the Hausas and Ifes to cause mayhem.
“As much as we condemn this violent attack, we equally want to place it on record that whoever is found guilty of perpetrating this wouldn’t go free.
“We will bring to justice those who were involved in the violence so as to serve as deterrent to others”, he stressed.
Governor Aregbesola who used the occasion to extend the two days curfew early announced said “ongoing curfew is being extended to next-week Monday in view of the security reports”.
Governor also charged the people of Ile-Ife and Osun state in general on the need to imbibe the spirit of decorum whenever there is misunderstanding, saying constitution doesn’t permit anyone to take law into his hands.
Reiterating his government’s commitment to promote communal peace and progress, Aregbesola promised to assist the victims within the limit of the state’s resources and capability.
He therefore assured the Hausa Community of adequate protection as government is already on top of the situation.
Speaking also, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, described the incident as unfortunate, promising to do whatever is humanly possible to punish the perpetrators.
He contented that the crisis was instigated by the agent of darkness who always derive pleasure from wrecking havoc and unrest.
Ooni who described members of the Hausa Community in Ile-Ife as his subjects, said the cordiality being entrenched by the two ethnic groups had been the source of relative peace being enjoyed in the town.
He said, “We are very grieved with what happened because our partners (Hausas) in Ile-Ife whom this violent attack affected are not strange to us. We know ourselves. We have been living together for years.
“We understand the pains they are going through in the course of this incident as we equally feel their agonies because we never thought this could happen in this town where we have been together for so many years.
“I know all Hausas and they know me. Their leaders used to pay visit to palace and we used to give them warmth reception each time they come but quite unfortunate that this happened.
“Though I understand the fact that those that perpetrated this are miscreants who had mixed up with our people to cause unnecessary mishap, but nevertheless, we would ensure that they are all brought to book.
“As part of the efforts to prevent this, when the incident occurred, I sent some chiefs to address the situation which was amicably resolved at the initial stage and we all thought it was over until we woke up the following morning (Wednesday) to hear that they had started attacking one another but I swiftly informed the security agencies and they responded promptly.”
The monarch, who commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola and members of his administration for their prompt response to the incident, described their quick intervention as reason for the resolution.
According to him, “the police and army personnel have been deployed to sustain the normalcy. The Osun state government has extended the curfew in Ile-Ife which will start from 6pm and end by 7am till Monday. We all need to do our part to ensure peace”, he assured.
In his remarks, the leader of Hausa Community (Sherik Hausa) in Ile-Ife, Alhaji Muhamud Madagali expressed disappointment over the incident, saying “we have been living peacefully in Yoruba communities for ages but not expecting such attack”
He confirmed that the incident was orchestrated by miscreants who according to him took the advantage of peace being enjoyed in Ile-Ife.
Madagali therefore appealed to the state government to provide adequate security for his people and as well support them in recovering their losses to the incident.

The governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesoal was yesterday in Ile-Ife to attend the 2017 edition of the South-West conference of the Nigerian political scientists association.
Aregbesola called on political scientists in the country to be more focused on taking assertive positions on issues of national interest as a means of contributing to national development.
He described politics as a primal activity which any society that wants development and progress must do everything possible to get right.
The Governor who said politics is central to everybody who dwells in a community also charged the political scientists to make their voices heard loud and clear by the leaders of the people.
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The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that all hands must be on deck to ensure that democracy offers the best opportunity for governance and nation building.
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The Governor, at the 2017 South-West conference of the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife stated that leaders are not just elected to massage their ego or put in a position of dominance over other competitors for power‎, but for power to exercise responsibility for the development of the people.
Aregbesola called on political scientists in the country to be more focused on taking assertive positions on issues of national interest as a means of contributing to national development.
He described politics as a primal activity which any society that wants development and progress must do everything possible to get right.
The Governor who said politics is central to everybody who dwells in a community also charged the political scientists to make their voices heard loud and clear by the leaders of the people.
Speaking further at the conference which has as its theme: “Democracy, Nation-Building and National Development in Nigeria” the governor asserted that political science researches should not just be done for the purpose of gaining promotion alone but should be made to develop the society or else such research is useless.
On the relationship which should exist between the academic environment and the society, he stressed that the major challenge for Nigerian universities is the need to create a mutual relationship with the larger society so that the people can benefit.
The Governor noted that democracy remains the best and offers the best form of governance if supported and backed with the right ingredients especially by the academic environment.
According to the Governor, “Political science research findings should be made public, not just for obtaining promotion and professorial chairs. Any academic discipline must be relevant and responsible to the society.
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“In the developed world, progress comes from application of knowledge in science and technology, administration and other academic disciplines.
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“You should also find a way for robust intercourse between town and gown. Political scientists should get more involved in politics and administration in order to enrich their knowledge base. Sound theory added to sound practice equals sound knowledge.
“On the other hand, well-practised politicians should be appointed as faculties in political science departments to be able to share their experience through teaching, research, seminars and publications”.
In his remarks, the National leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said a nation that desires progress must have a visionary leader and can translate such vision into concrete achievement.
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Asiwaju, who was represented by Professor Adebayo Williams, argued that a leader, who has no objective, could not be a strategic leader.
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He lamented that majority of political leaders focused more on how to get power and control government rather than what they can do with power to transform human lives.
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He advised politicians to focus more on the development of the country and the promotion of well-being of the people of the country.
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“A leader of the people must have a coherent vision in his mind and work assiduously to translate it in concrete things.
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“There can’t be strategic leadership where conscious objective is lacking. Conscious objective and coherent vision are some of the ingredients of nation-building.
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“Most often time, leadership here is short-sighted, focusing more on power and control of power and government rather than on result-oriented programmes,” Tinubu said.‎
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In his lecture entitled: “Democracy, Nation-building and Development in Nigeria,” the keynote speaker,who is a former Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Professor Dipo Kolawole, said Nigeria has been suffering from poor leadership since independence.
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Prof. Kolawole argued that democracy will end in failure if there are no proper instrument monitoring and evaluation.
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He averred that democracy still remains the best form of government anywhere it is being practised in the word, but advised that politics of it must be played according to the laid down rules for there to be peace, progress and development.
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“Leadership has been the problem of this country since independence. We have been suffering from underdevelopment of leadership.
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“There is no gainsaying the fact that democracy still remains the best form of government.
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“But it cannot be left alone on its own without the proper instrument of monitoring and evaluation. And unless this is done, there is bound to be chaos and anarchy,” the university don said.

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was on an evening tour of several projects under construction in the state, when he ran into a bush fire raging through a community.

The Governor swiftly put a call through to the fire service team who moved into action to put out the fire and restore calm to the community

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At the inception of the present government in the state of Osun in November 2010, it undertook a comprehensive review of its school feeding programme inherited from the previous administration and came up with an overhauled and rebranded programme that was officially launched on 30th April, 2012.
The Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme now known as O-MEALS is the template upon which the President Muhammudu Buhari’s Federal Government has initiated its own national school feeding programme.
However, these ten (10) facts about the state of Osun’s school feeding programme will completely amaze you.

1. The O’Meals programme currently feeds 254,000 school children in the state of Osun, the longest running in the country.
2. O’Meals currently employs 3,007 caterers, and indirectly employs 7,057 people.
3. 12.7million naira is spent daily to feed all school children for 200 school days in a year. 12billion naira has been spent so far since 2012.
4. 900 cocoyam farmers, 700 small poultry farmers, 310 catfish farmers, 63 cow markets currently benefit from the O’Meals initiative.
5. School enrollment increased from 155,318 pupils at inception to 252,739, representing a 62% increment in enrollment.
6. 8,400 crates of eggs are consumed weekly, 336,000 crates are consumed annually and 1,344,000 crates of eggs have been consumed in four years.
7. 10 metric tonnes of fish is consumed weekly; 400 tonnes of fish is consumed annually, while 1,600 metric tonnes of fish have been consumed by pupils in 4 years.
8. 35 heads of cows are slaughtered for consumption per week, 1,400 heads of cows are slaughtered for consumption annually, while 5,600 heads of cows have been slaughtered for consumption in 4 years.
9. 15,000 birds are consumed per week, and 600,000 birds are consumed annually by the pupils. 2,400,000 birds have been consumed in 4 years.
10. 0’Meals is the longest running Government scheme of its kind in Nigeria, So far , 202,234,400 hot meals have been served in the last four years.

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and his Oyo State counterpart, Abiola Ajimobi have joined other prominent Nigerians to felicitate with the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as he clocks 60 on Wednesday 8 March.
 

 
Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, described Osinbajo as a judicial revolutionary whose contributions to the administration of justice have changed the face of the judiciary in Nigeria.
He said when the accounts of law reforms in Nigeria are given, Osinbajo’s robust contributions would continue to be a source of reference.
Describing him as one prominent promoter of selfless leadership, Aregbesola said Osinbajo’s trajectory of service to the people has seen him taking up worthy causes for no personal gains as long as they serve humanity well.
“In public and personal lives, Prof Osinbajo has demonstrated that the most worthy service is that carried out for the good of fellow human beings even for no personal gains and comfort,” Aregbesola noted.
Recalling his roles in the pioneering efforts of Lagos State in law reforms, the Osun Governor, who served along Osinbajo when the later was the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, said the face of Judiciary did not remain the same after eight years of Osinbajo’s intensive reforms as the Chief Law Officer.
“Today, it is gratifying to note that his pioneering efforts in that sector has influenced in no small dimension, similar reforms in other parts of the country. This is one crucial aspect of our national life as a people where the acting President has had tremendous impact.
He said the Vice President has demonstrated that he is a man of the people, always identifying with the grassroots across the country.
The statement read further, “On this occasion of your birthday, I join you and your immediate and political families in celebrating the abundant grace of God on your life.
“Your life has been an eventful one dotted by numerous achievements and accomplishments.
“Nigeria has benefited immensely from your fountain of knowledge, wealth of experience, and leadership acumen.
“The remarkable impact you have made in all spheres of human endeavour remains a reference point.”
“You are indeed a cerebral academic per excellence, a judicial revolutionary; stabilising force; a bridge-builder, an embodiment of and astute observer of the rule of law.
“This is so that you can continue to make significant contributions to the overall development of our country, Nigeria in general.
“On behalf of the government and the people of Osun, I congratulate you on the attainment of this age.”
Also, Ajimobi, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, said the Acting President’s intellectual disposition to governance as well as his passion for the well-being of Nigerians was worthy of emulation.
“He has, since assumption of office, demonstrated his readiness to work assiduously with President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring the socio-economic transformation of Nigeria through well-thought-out policies and programmes.
“His unflinching support for the president’s anti-corruption fight has also helped in sanitizing the polity and ensuring judicious utilization of the available resources for the betterment of the generality of Nigerians,’’ he said.
Ajimobi also commended his several visits to the Niger Delta region and constant dialogues with the militants which, he said, had led to the restoration of peace to the restive region and the attendant rise in oil exploration activities and improvement in the nation’s economy.
“Even though President Buhari is away in the United Kingdom on vacation, Prof. Osinbajo has risen to the occasion, while still maintaining regular contact with his boss in the running of the nation’s affairs,’’ the governor said.
While congratulating Osinbajo on joining the sexagenarian club, Ajimobi urged him not to rest on his laurel but to continue joining forces with the President in entrenching an egalitarian society that would be the pride of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Yemi Osinbajo was born into the family of Opeoluwa Osinbajo on 8 March 1957, at Creek Hospital, Lagos. Osinbajo is married to Dolapo (née Soyode) Osinbajo, a granddaughter of Obafemi Awolowo.
Yemi Osinbajo was educated at Corona primary School, in Lagos. Between 1969–1975, he attended Igbobi College Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. From 1975–1978, he studied for his undergraduate degree in Law at the University of Lagos, where he was awarded a LLB Law degree. From 1979–1980 he attended Nigerian Law School. In 1981, he was awarded a Master of Laws after attending the London School of Economics.
From 1979–1980, Osinbajo served the compulsory one year youth services as a legal officer with Bendel Development and Planning Authority (BDPA), Bendel state.
In 1981, he was employed as a law lecturer at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. From 1983 to 1986, he was Senior lecturer of Law at the University of Lagos. From 1988 to 1992, he was an Adviser (legal advice and litigation) to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola.
From 1997 to 1999 he was made Professor of Law and Head of Department of Public Law, University of Lagos. From 1999 to 2007, Osinbajo was Member of Cabinet, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, also Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
From 2007 to 2013 Osinbajo was once again employed as a Professor of Law, Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos. In 2007, Osinbajo was made Senior Partner, Simmons Cooper Partners (Barristers and Solicitors), Nigeria. Osinbajo was also a Senior lecturer at the Lagos State University

The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday attended the 2017 Memorial lecture of Cheif Obafemi Awolowo.
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