Beyond the Adjectives of all languages of the world, I chose to describe the governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the word of Robert Green Ingersoll that; “A great man is a torch in the darkness, beacon in superstition’s night, an inspiration and a prophecy”.
 
 
 
Though, there are countless political philosophies and ideologies globally, the particular one embraced and deployed by the Symbol of good governance, my mentor, the creator of the modern State of Osun, Ogbeni Aregbesola is still unknown to other Nigerian politicians especially in his class as they are witness to his political might.
While examining the personality of our amiable governor, especially as touching his roles in Lagos, Osun and Nigeria’s political scene at large, one would be left with no other option than to agree with the word of elders that says, “the Head of an Elephant is not a load for the young”.
Through good governance and exemplary leadership, Ogbeni Aregbesola has been able to create a prosperous state out of the previous Osun with infrastructure development at its lower ebb.
In both his first term and the ending second term as Governor, this achiever has retooled the state and gave it an enviable economic strength, so strong that the state now rank among the prosperous states in the country, particularly as one of the states with lowest unemployment rate.
In whatever manner you peruse the life of this giant of kindness, whether as a husband, or a father, an engineer, a politician, a democrat, a master strategist, a great investor, a philanthropist, an optimist, a dogged fighter, you are confronted with rainbow in its full splendour.
Like the National leader of our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, countless leaders and future leaders have emerged and are still emerging from the camp of Ogbeni Aregbesola, one of which I am.
He is a determined friend of the masses and benefactor of many. Ogbeni radiates a life of captivating literature, and his comportment appeals to the lofty, the intellectual and the inspirational.
Beyond his political sagacity, his administrative acumen in unrivalled going by series of innovations he has introduced to governance which the people of Osun will continue to appreciate.
It will forever remain in history that Aregbesola is one governor that is aggressively aggressive to develop his territory in a hurry, irrespective of hindrances, particularly as touching finance.
His agenda for development is not for Osun alone, it is for the entire Yoruba states and even Yoruba race and Africa in general. This is the highest form of demonstration of commitment that can be exhibited by any individual, either private or public.
There are testimonies here and there that our Ogbeni, the symbol of good governance has brought unprecedented development to the territory called Osun within the last seven years in all sectors of governance, talk of education, infrastructure development, security, economic re-engineering, rural and urban development, agriculture, youth and women empowerment, environment, healthcare delivery system and others.
There are also several social intervention programmes for youths like Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme (OYES) that has engaged over 40,000 youths and made majority of them self-dependent; you want to talk of the Ambulance Scheme, which has saved about 12,171lives; the School feeding programmes (OMEAL) through which school children are being fed and had in turn increased enrolment into public schools; what about the rehabilitation of the mentally challenged people; Agriculture Youth Academy through which several youths have been empowered in faming; what of the massive construction of schools from elementary, middle and high schools which can withstand any school at that level anywhere in the world, and many more.
Under Aregbesola, Osun has always remained a reference point for several states of the federation and even the federal government on series of his developmental interventions. Most pronounced of such interventions are the OYES and O’MEAL. If not for the ingenuity in the programmes, it is very rear in history, particularly in Nigeria for a Federal Government to adopt programmes instituted by a state government.
No doubt, the man that has changed the face of governance in Osun and Nigeria is worthy of celebration and must be celebrated in grand style, more so that his two-term administration is winding down. What has been baffling many is how to ‘reproduce’ another Ogbeni, that would be empowered and loyal to the course he has set.
As one of those leaders that have emerged and since been growing in the Aregbesola’s political lineage, it is a honour to join millions of friends, associates, politicians, family and other people nationality and internationally to say a very warm ‘Happy Birthday’ to the Symbol himself at 61 while I wish him a long life and prosperity.

Governor of the State of Osun,  Rauf Aregbesola has said that he would not leave Osun after his regime and that he would assist his successor to run the state.

The Governor said this during his all night interactive session tagged ‘Ogbeni Till Day Break’ in Osogbo, the state capital Sunady and assured the people of the state that his successor will sustain his legacy.

He said that when he completes his tenure and handover to another democratically elected governor on November 27, 2018, make himself available to the next Governor and assist him.

Aregbesola said despite the fact that he has just 200 days more to spend as the chief executive of the state, concerted efforts will be put in place to put finishing touches on his legacy projects.

“I’m not leaving this state after the expiration of my tenure. My successor will be better than I am. I won’t leave him, I will be behind the scenes offering him supports.”

“We have 200 days left in office and we intend to make the best use of the time to further better the lot of the Osun people. We are not done with our plan to further develop Osun. There is still a lot more we want to do.”

While justifying that the current debt profile of the state was as a result of the massive infrastructural facilities provided by his administration, Aregbesola assured that he would not leave the state with debt burden. He insisted that none of his programmes failed.

The Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Dr Najeem Salaam has warned elected councilors against unhealthy rivalry that is inimical to smooth operation of parliamentary system across local government in the state.
Dr Salaam gave the warning in his address while declaring open, a two-day workshop on legislative practice and procedure for elected councilors and support staff in all the local governments, local council development areas, area councils and administrative offices in the sate held at the House of Assembly complex, Osogbo
The speaker appreciated the state Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for his wisdom and unparalleled sense of reasoning at all times for putting the state on a sound footing towards economic development.
He declared that the state has attained greater heights among the comity of states in Nigeria
According to him, “The introduction of the parliamentary system at the local governments by the governor and its subsequent endorsement by the House of Assembly will certainly make our state to be a model for other states in the federation to emulate.
“An effective local government system will ensure that both the human and material resources are effectively mobilized and harnessed to ensure that an unbroken chain of communication is maintained between the rulers and the ruled”, he added.
He made it known that the relationship between the executive and the legislature in a parliamentary system is called responsible government.
Salaam noted that Osun adopts a parliamentary system of government at the local level to foster better governance and efficient delivery of dividends of democracy at the grassroots.
He urged all stakeholders in the new system of administration to play the game according to the rules and avoid unnecessary friction.
He said, “There is the need for harmonious relationship among the various actors to make the new system attractive and become a model to other states of the federation”.
Salaam who reiterated the effectiveness of party discipline and supremacy under parliamentary system, urged them to be moderate in the exercise of power.
He also warned against any act that could truncate the operation of the system at the local government level.
In a similar vein, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Prince Gboyega Famodun observed that the grassroot is the starting point for anybody that want to take politics as career.
He urged them to concentrate more on service to the people and stressed the needs for tolerance among the elected councilors for the system to work.
He also admonished on the need to strengthen the bond of relationship between them, the party leaders as well as members at the grass roots.
In their separate lectures, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Kolapo Alimi and the Special Adviser on Legislative Matter to the Governor, Hon. Ipoola Binuyo emphasized the principle of collective responsibility in the parliamentary system.
They stressed the need for compliance with due process and to ensure proper monitoring of projects.
Other resource persons including Dr Wale Olaopa, Dr Solomon Ayegba and Dr Solomon Ojo in their separate lectures highlighted the merits of parliamentary democracy as they cited example of countries where it is being practiced.
The lecturers who noted that the success of any system depend on the operators, charged elected councilors on good performance, which according to them would launch them to further politicking in the future.
In their various responses, Leader of Odo-Otin South LCDA, Hon Adeyemi Adelani; Chairman, Odo-Otin North LCDA, Hon Hakeem Seriki and Deputy Leader, Osogbo West LCDA, Hon Moses Jasuyi appreciated the House for organizing the workshop to sensitise all the elected councilors in Osun.
They urged the state government not to relent on its duties in organizing such workshops periodically.
They all commended the state Assembly for organizing such workshop that would orientate elected councilors at the local levels.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Wasiu Adebayo stated that the workshop was coming at the right time as there was the need to acquaint the elected officials with the rudiment of parliamentary system.

The Government of Osun has described as false, baseless and unfounded the allegation of financial malfeasance levelled against the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola by the state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A statement by the Media Adviser to the Governor, Mr Sola Fasure, said PDP had once against demonstrated its skill at deception and uncanny ability to turn white into blue in a bid to discredit the people-oriented government of Aregbesola.
He stated further that the opposition PDP in Osun in company with the party’s governorship aspirants dished out concocted figures that were a mix-bag of lies and half truths containing wildly flawed and incorrect statistics about spending in the Office of the Governor.
According to Fasure, Osun PDP has demonstrated for too long its inherent ability for untruth and deception and so the recent information it purported to disclose to the public was nothing unusual as it is the party’s stock in trade.
PDP had claimed that the Office of the Governor spent N6.3 billion in 2016, among other sundry financial improprieties. Fasure described this alleged financial information as a display of monumental fiscal ignorance to ascribe the Office of the Governor to the person of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
According to Fasure, the dubious press conference by the PDP was therefore a desperate attempt to change the narrative on the soaring popularity of Governor Aregbesola and the APC in contrast to the dwindling fortunes of the PDP in the state and all over the country.
The statement read in part: “We therefore have the following to say on the cacophonic baloney concocted by the PDP on the account of the state.
“The primary source of the information relied upon was the state audited account for 2015 and 2016 that had been publicly presented with fanfare on April 4 this year.
“It is therefore curious how the state’s account transparently presented to the public could be a source from which the opposition will draw allegations of financial impropriety.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Osun is the only state among the six participating states in the State and Local Governance Reform (SLOGOR) Project that publicly presented its account for three years running. Others are Anambra, Cross River, Jigawa, Kano and Yobe.
“The PDP got its facts wrong by claiming that the Office of the Governor spent N6.3 billion in 2016. It was actually N9.7 billion. N4.8 billion was also expended in 2015, as against N1.2 billion falsely claimed by PDP. But it is a display of monumental fiscal ignorance to ascribe the Office of the Governor to the person of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
“There are 28 agencies under the Office of the Governor. These are: Osun Park and Gardens; Wife of the Governor; Office of Regional Integration; Bureau of Government House and Protocols; Christian Welfare Board; Muslim Welfare Board; Public Procurement Agency; Osun State Sports Council; Office of the Deputy Governor; Public Service Office; Special Project Office; Sustainable Development Goals; O’Jobs; Office of Human Resources; Bureau of Public Service Pension; Office of Economic Development and Partnership; Policy and Economic Team; Office of Forestry, Natural and Mineral Resources; Office of Policy Coordination; Bureau of General Services; Osun State Emergency Management Agency; Bureau of Lands; O’Honey; United Nations Development Programme; Osun State Agency for the Control of AIDS; Sustainable Development Goals; and Bureau of Communications and Strategy. These are the agencies which received the budgetary allocation under reference, not the person of the governor.
“A breakdown of the 2016 sum reveals that N648 million was spent on personnel, N2.5 billion on overhead while N4.99 billion was spent on pension, making a total N8.1billion. The balance of N1.56 billion was expended on capital acquisition and other critical expenditures.
“It is ridiculous and the height of mischief to claim that the state government spent N1.8 million on health in 2016. Capital project and project funded on health alone was to the tune of a total sum of N498 million in 2016. Hospital Management Board in 2016 also got N1.5 billion. Capital projects in health were also carried out under Sustainable Development Goals and the Ministry of Health.
“PDP also claimed that the Office of the Governor spent N276 million on ‘infrastructure maintenance’. This is false. The sum was expended on ‘infrastructure acquisition’. There is a world of difference between ‘acquisition’ and ‘maintenance’.
“The state government has had to use huge sums to repay debts. These debts date back to the old Oyo State. Aregbesola’s administration inherited a total of N19.9 billion debt incurred by the previous PDP administration. These debts were owed UBA, Zenith Bank and Sterling Bank. As it is evident to all, the bonds were used efficiently for infrastructure development.
“The state government also took more than N25 billion loan to pay workers salaries and it was in order to avoid cumulating more debts to pay workers salaries that the government adopted the modulated salary structure arrangement.”
Fasure averred that it is sad to behold the display of intellectual ineptitude of PDP which made a mountain out of the molehill and in the process expose itself to ridicule and public opprobrium with the expression of monumental ignorance on simple fiscal matters.
He stated that the PDP leadership, with its governorship aspirants including a professor and a Senator of the Federal Republic, shamefully displayed crass ignorance in its failure to know and distinguish the difference between the Office of the Governor and the person of the governor.
According to Fasure, this faux pas has morally disqualified PDP and its aspirants from occupying any leadership position, having demonstrated their unsuitability to govern the state.
He therefore, alerted the media and the public to be wary of the diabolic intentions of the PDP leadership who are ‘certified confusionists that have perfected the art of lying and public deception.’