The Oba of Benin, Omo N’oba N’edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II has urged the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to work with his colleagues in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on to stop the incessant killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the country.
The monarch challenged the Presidency to surmount the national security challenges confronting the country by taking the necessary steps that would strengthen security in every part of the country.
 

 
Oba of Benin made the call on Saturday during a courtesy visit to Governor Aregbesola at Government House, Osogbo. He said it is necessary to promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians and as well rescue the country from the shackles of insecurity that has daily become the lot of the citizenry.
The revered monarch lamented the level of insecurity in the country which he said has painted Nigeria in bad light in the comity of nations, hence the need for government at all levels to do the needful to end the menace.
According to him, “I want you to mobilise your colleagues in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to address the issue of insecurity in the country and do something to stop the unwarranted killings by Fulani herdsmen in Benue, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Edo and other parts of the country.
“It is unfortunate that this is going on in our land, we want something to be quickly done as soon as possible so that Nigerians can know peace because people are being swallowed by cattle in the land.
“We even learnt that there might be some international connections to it, we don’t know anything about that, all we want is for it to stop so that our people can know peace again.
“Nigerians cherish their comfort and a peaceful environment so much; so we are charging those of you at the helms of affairs in the country to do everything humanly possible to guarantee peace for Nigerians.
“The bloodletting is too much in the land and the nation is bleeding, we want a stop to this. The killing of innocent citizens has to stop in every part of this country. It is worrisome that the trending news in the country today is killing here and there, no day you will not hear the news that people have been butchered by herdsmen. Mr Governor, something urgent needs to be done about it.
“I want to use this opportunity to implore Nigerians on the need for them to be vigilant and security conscious more than ever before in our society, it is important for us all to know our neighbours for our own safety’, the monarch stressed.
The traditional ruler also condemned in its totality the prevalence of human trafficking in the country particularly in Edo State, describing the menace as modern day slavery that must be urgently confronted.
Oba Ewuare II said it is time for Nigerian government to be on top of its responsibilities, emphasizing that all hands must be on deck to put a stop to the ugly trend.
Describing human trafficking as crime against fellow human beings, the traditional ruler admonished Nigerians not to see it as an Edo State problem but a national challenge which everybody must rise against for the good of the nation.
Oba Ewuare II commended the British government and other members of the international community for being sensitive to Nigeria’s plights, saying ‎their impacts at recognizing the efforts of the royal stool in a bid to put an end to the scourge had yielded positive results.
The monarch called on Nigerians to ‎support the campaign against corruption in the country, noting that for a nation to grow, her citizen must detest any form of corrupt practices.
According the Oba, “The modern slavery in our land today is that of human trafficking and unfortunately many people see it as an Edo State problem, but I tell you it is far from it. We all need to come together and fight this menace that is staring us in the face or else we will all suffer for it.
“On our part we are doing all that is humanly possible to put an end to human trafficking in our land because it is a crime against a fellow human being, other parts of the country don’t need to stigmatize Edo State, we need to see it as a national issue.
“It now a national and international issue and I am happy to inform you that the British government has recognized our effort in trying to curb the menace and it is gratifying to note that the Ife and Benin kingdoms have agreed to work together on solving the problem”, he added.
In his remarks, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed that efforts are in top gear to eliminate all forms of insecurity in the country,
He described the spate of gruesome killings in some parts of the country as criminal and an act of lawlessness which is beyond the issue of farmers, herdsmen clash alone.
Arebesola held that the issue of Fulani/herdsmen killings have been extensively discussed at the last National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja, assured Nigerians that the unfortunate killings by the Fulani herdsmen will soon be a thing of the past.
He said the killings became worrisome for the government to the extent that last National Executive Council meeting was devoted to the discussion on how to tackle the menace, stressing that an end to the lawlessness is already in sight.
The governor who assured Nigerians that government is not folding its arms on threat to national security, charged Nigerians to always go about their lawful duties without fear as the government at the centre is doing everything possible to ensure that Nigeria continues to be peaceful.
“I want to assure that government is not folding its arms as to the security situation in the country, we are pained about what is going on and I want you to know that the last National Executive Council meeting was devoted to discussing a way out of the current security challenge in the country.
“The act is criminal and lawless and we condemn it entirety. I want us to begin to see it beyond just farmers and Fulani herdsmen clash but a monster that shouldn’t be allowed to grow.
“The cheering news is that I want Nigerians to know that we will be over this crisis in the next few weeks by God’s grace”. Aregbesola stated.
Aregbesola also assured the visiting monarch that all efforts will be put in place to mobilize the state’s traditional institution on the need to champion the campaign to completely eradicate human trafficking in Nigeria.
He therefore described the visit as the re-enactment of Yoruba heritage.
Earlier, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi expressed delight on the visit of Oba Ewuare II, saying it is an affirmation to the fact that Yoruba people remain united.
Oba Ogunwusi said the visit has demonstrated the huge love, unity and cohesion between the people of Benin and the whole Yoruba speaking States in Nigeria.
He called on Yoruba people to continue to love one another and always uphold the culture, heritage and values that the race is known for.
“Today, it is evident that we have made another history‎ by our common ancestry and cultural heritage through this visit.
“It shows that Yorubas are one and united, irrespective of place and location because there is no joy as joy of one’s origin, which we have felt through this visit”, Ooni stated

Osun  has scored high in human satisfaction and happiness index, according to the 2017 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 5) report conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics.
 

 
The state Statistician-General, Prof. Alagbe Wasiu Gbolagade, who addressed reporters at the weekend in Osogbo, said the Bi-monthly of Central Pricing Reference System, when compared to other Southwest states, showed Osun was in the lead.
He said: “This fact was attested to, considering the prices of goods and services in market transactions in the state. The publication of the February 2018 edition of Central Pricing Reference System (CPRS), a bi-monthly Price Bulletin of Osun State Bureau of Statistics, showed that the majority of the commodities witnessed a downward price movement  compared to February 2017 commodity prices.
“The significant downward inflation rate is an indication that efforts of the present administration under the leadership of Ogbeni Abdul-Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola are yielding fruits in the lives of Osun indigenes.

The state Government of Osun has released a sum of N1.8bn bond to retired workers under the Contributory Pension Scheme in the state.
No fewer than 210 civil servants would receive their bond certificates which would be presented to them on Tuesday at the state Secretariat, Abere.
 

 
A press release from the Office of the Head of Service, Dr Olowogboyega Oyebade, on Friday explained that 171 retired officers and 39 retired workers from the local government would received their bond certificates totaling N1.6bn and N200m respectively.
According to the release, the money has already been deposited with the Central Bank and the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for immediate payment.
Similarly, the government has also released part payment of gratuities to 720 retired public servants under the old scheme.
It would be recalled that the state government had few weeks ago released a sum of N40 million for fresh set of 400 pensioners in the state.
The sum was meant for the payment of pension of 148 retired secondary school teachers, 250 retired civil servants and 2 retired parastatals workers.
Of the money, a sum of N25m, N14.8m and N200, 000 were to be paid to the retired civil servants, teachers and parastatals workers respectively.
The beneficiaries of the money were the 3rd batch pensioners.

Osun Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has urged Christians to live the ideals of Easter and emulate Jesus Christ.
This message is contained in a statement made available to journalists on his behalf by his Media Adviser, Mr Sola Fasure, in Osogbo on Saturday.
 

 
“The ideal of Easter is love manifested in sacrifice. It was love that motivated Jesus Christ to lay down his life. It was love also that made him adopt non-resistance method, even as he endured a farcical trial that led to his condemnation and crucifixion and death on the cross. But this turned out to be a bigger victory, as he rose from the dead on the third day, according to Christian tradition and the bible.
“Christians therefore should emulate Jesus by demonstrating love to one another and to their neighbours, just as Jesus admonished his disciples to love their neighbours as themselves.
“The absence of love is the foundation of all evils in our society. Those who love others will not steal from them, kill them, tell lies against them or harm them in any way. Christians will only be like Christ if they emulate him and pattern their lives after him”, Governor Aregbesola stressed.
Governor Aregbesola also admonished the people of the state, irrespective of their faith, to pray for the nation and the state of Osun, noting that the challenges before the nation require divine intervention.
“We should all also, irrespective of our religious persuasion, to commit the affairs of our nation into the hands of God. Though we have many challenges which appear to be formidable, but they are nothing in the hands of God. If we pray and seek the face of God, in addition to working hard and eschewing evil, we shall overcome the challenges.
“The future is bright for us if we can take maximum advantage of our human and material resources.
“I wish you all a happy Easter celebration”, the statement concludes.

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has called on University scholars to involve in more research that would provide food and security to eradicate the economic crisis facing Nigeria.

Aregbesola charged Nigerian Universities to embark on research capable of developing agriculture for food production and produce varieties of cattle to stop moving of herdsmen from one region to another that has caused crisis in the country.

Aregbesola made the disclosure on Wednesday in Osogbo,  when members of the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Aregbesola said ” If hunger is eliminated from our land, then human beings will be normal.  Hunger is the true definition of poverty and poverty is the great grandfather of all crises in Nigeria.”

He lamented the failure of Nigerian universities to use research development to address the nation’s socio-economic problems.

He said further that “All the challenges we are facing in this country are due to scholarship problems. Let universities engage in research and development as well as other scholarly programmes to proffer solutions to Nigeria’s problems.”

“You have society totally unaffected. Universities must apply themselves with the society.  There are so many glaring crisis in our society which the universities must address” he said.

Aregbesola who appealed to the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University,  Ile-Ife,  State of Osun and other Nigerian universities  to come up with solutions on matters and problem facing the country, decried the alarming rate of poverty in Nigeria.

The Management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola on rapid growth of infrastructure development in the state with high investment in education sector.

The chairman of the governing council, Prof. Yemi Ogunbiyi disclosed that the seven and half years of governor Rauf Aregbesola as elevated state of Osun to new levels among states in the South West.

He appreciated Aregbesola on his high investment in education sector that would remain unbeatable after his administration.

The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Ivory Tower stated that the performance of Aregbesola towards the infrastructural development of the state encouraged members of his council to pay him a courtesy visit to commend and encourage him to do more.

He said the management of OAU is ready to support the state government to pledging that the university would fulfill its social responsibilities as part of its contributions to the socio-economic development of the state.

-Says Hoodlums, not Students Attack School Where NYSC Members Were Serving
The State government  of Osun has explained that hoodlums, and not students allegedly attacked the Osogbo High School where some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) were serving in 2017, saying that at no time did students of the school attack any NYSC member.
 

 
 
The government in a press statement signed by the Commissioner for Education, Mr Kola Omotunde-Young on Friday, said it has eliminated cultism in it the public schools, stated that there was no official complaint or withdrawal of corps members from any school from the NYSC Directorate before the report.
According to Omotunde-Young, the alleged attacked school was old Osogbo High School with porous and broken down fence at its far end at the back.
Omotunde-Young stated that the school was besieged sometime in 2017 by hoodlums who found accommodation in some abandoned buildings around the premises adjoining the school at the back.
He added that the government reported the presence and activities of the hoodlums to the State Security Service and Police who restored order through arrests, prosecution and surveillance since 2017.
The commissioner wondered why incident that happened almost a year ago, with no officially complaint by NYSC that any corps members was ever endangered, could be a subject of complaint and media syndication in March 2018.
Omotunde-Young said the school has adequate number of full time teachers and N-Power volunteer teachers who have continued to do their work without hindrance or danger, stating that the school has not made request for NYSC Corps member or been turned down.
He said the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is committed to promotion of quality and functional education and the welfare of the corps members in the state.
The statement reads in part: “Osun has eliminated cult activities and hooliganism from its Elementary, Middle and High schools and have been commended severally for this.
“Osun has been acknowledged and commended locally and by international agencies for its success at undertaking substantial reform of the school system, with new world class school infrastructure, decentralisation of management through creation of Senatorial Districts headed by Tutor Generals/PSs, and strict quality enforcement and reorientation of ‎students through the newly established Osun Education Quality Assurance and Morality Enforcement Agency.”
“The government of Rauf Aregbesola has delivered 9 world class high schools each with capacity for 3000 students and another 2 of these are to be delivered in two months. These schools are state of the art and provide secure environments for learning. In addition 25 world class middle Schools and 22 world class Elementary schools have been delivered.
“It has also carried out renovations on hundreds of schools, delivering more than 1,694 standard classrooms in the existing elementary, middle and high schools. More than 12,000 teachers have been employed by the Aregbesola administration to boost manpower in the school system.
“Osun is acknowledged as one of the safest states in the country due to government’s commitment to security of lives and property.
“The government will continue to support NYSC as it is doing in its more than 1000 schools and assures the NYSC and all cadets of the government’s commitment to their best interest.”