That it took over three year’s battle to recover his mandate from the ousted government of Olagunsoye Oyinlola is now history.  Nobody gave Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola the chance of winning the legal battle. Some of his supporters gave up at the eleventh hour while waiting for the final Court of Appeal judgment. It was the longest electoral battle in the history of Nigeria and at the end of the trial, the Electoral Acts were amended in order to reduce the period of electoral litigation to 180days.
The government of Aregbesola from inception promised to be a peculiar administration, and three years later the governor has lived to its promises. The six integral action plans of the government remained the compass that guides the working and actions of the government. The government sets out to battle; Poverty, banish hunger, banish unemployment, restore healthy living, promote functional education, and enhance communal peace and progress.
At the inception, for about eight months, the governor refused to appoint commissioners as it was the custom in all democratic states. This action of Aregbesola did not go down well with the political opposition who took the new government to the cleaner and threatened to take legal action against the governor. But Aregbesola remained unmoved for he has his trick up his sleeve, and when he eventually appointed the commissioners, he told the nation that the state was not financially buoyant to afford the financial implication of political appointees , he averred: “ I used the first eight months to save enough fund for the projects and programmes of the government, our predecessor took a bank loan that grounded the financial wheel of the administration to the tune of 18.6 billion naira to finance stadia projects when we were not hosting any sport competition.
Every effort to renegotiate with the bank where the loan was taken failed until we found another bank that bought over the said debts and granted us a convenient loan to finance our projects.” The judicial panel of enquiry set up to probe the loan found the  Oyinlola guilty over the aforesaid loan. However, the government moved ahead and began the journey of a new state that has since turned around the fortune of the state to the level that the blind could feel the changes and the deaf could see the gigantic development of the state, even the political opponents have been silenced from their initial negative propaganda of non-performance, to the allegation of turning the state into a debtor state. This negative gab has not fit in to the image of the government as quite often, the financial institutions such as Central Bank, Debt Management Office have excluded the state from the list of debtor’ states.
The next issue that surprises the opponents is the employment of 20, 000 youths that were engaged within a hundred days in office by the governor under the OYES-Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme. This singular acts was the first of its kind in Nigeria. The ousted government did not waste time from writing off the scheme as ridiculous and insulting for the state graduates to be engaged in communal work with ordinary 10, 000 naira per months. They accused the government of deceit over the numbers said to have been engaged.  Aregbesola was not bugged by the negative criticism; rather he asked them to verify the actual numbers under the scheme from First Bank who paid the youths monthly. He also replied the opposition by demanding from them what were they able to do for the same youths for a period of 90 months they were in power in the state, if the pain and the anguish of these youths did not touch the opposition, at least, the implication of having army of youths roaming the street without any means of living could trigger high level of crime in the state and the nation as a whole.
While the opposition was criticizing, parents and participating youths were full of praise and appreciation of the government actions of making them bread winners. The critics were still on the same page when the government engaged another batch of 20, 000 youths making it 40, 000 youths that have participated in the scheme so far and many of them apart from being engaged by the government, a large percentage are today trained and empowered to become entrepreneurs and employer of labour.
This OYES scheme has since received the approvals of the World Banks which in turn  sold the good idea to the Federal government and supported the scheme financially, the Federal government has since  kicked off the scheme under the name YESSO. The prophet is said not to enjoy respect at home, the Aregbesola scheme that was ridiculed and disparaged by political opponents is today being celebrated nationwide for embarking on such a noble scheme in reducing the joblessness in our nation among our youths. The Aregbesola government has also got the youths motivated in taking into farming via O’REAP, through training within and outside Nigeria, by also clearing virgin lands for large scale farming, loans schemes and farming equipment as well as fertilizers to boost farming in the state. Consequently the state is gradually becoming the food basket of the South West through massive food production and the vision of kicking out poverty has become a reality and the peace and security is reigning in the state as poverty which Nehru Gandhi said to be” the harbinger of crime” has been conquered.
This effort of the government has made Osun to be voted as second best in poverty index in Nigeria, the Federal office of Statistics has also adjudged it as the best among the states with less percentage of unemployed youths.
State of Osun was another burning issue, a deviation from the commonly use of   “state”. The opposition accused the governor for trying to secede for having the audacity to call State of Osun, the introduction of a state anthem provides the opposition the ground to call the state a rebellious one. But the governor was unbowed, but told those that care to know that “we are charting courses that had never been charted”. The governor declared that the long military rule had mesmerized the nation to the extent that we have forgotten that we are a republic. That the oppression by the military has made some educated ones to have lost the import of Nigeria as a Federal Republic. Aregbesola defended his choice of using “the state of” as constitutional,and  that the constitution did not put any prefix or suffix. He cited section 176 of the 1999 Constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria to draw home his defense. Today, more than eight states in Nigeria have followed his footsteps.
. Opon-Imo tablet of knowledge, an educational iPad that today has earned the state and the governor international award and recognition was born in controversy. When the tablet was launched, the political elite especially the opposition was acidic in their condemnation of the device to them, the governor and his son were merely milking the state of its resources. The tablets cannot be cost effective; the priority of the state ought not to be the tablet. Newspapers columnists added insulting articles upon articles ridiculing the government, but like the Right brothers were disparaged initially but celebrated till date over invention of aircraft, the Opon Imo tablet of knowledge has become an international phenomenal, that has earned one award after the other, the governor himself declared at the launching “with this Opon Imo Africa has come of age”. Indeed, Aregbesola has added his name among the people that contributed to the development of knowledge among mankind.
 DAILY INDEPENDENT

The Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) has joined the whole world to mourn the passing away of the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, who was known for his tireless campaign against apartheid.

Mandela, according to the coalition, was the first South African black president to unify the country to ensure that an egalitarian society is achieved.
The coalition in a press statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ismaeel Uthman, yesterday, described the late Mandela as an epitome of humility, justice and equality. Uthman said Mandela was an embodiment of selflessness and courage, who has inspired generations on the campaign for human dignity and an egalitarian society.
According to him, Mandela’s death is a great loss to the world, most especially to human rights community, adding that the antiapartheid icon enjoyed universal mourning for his contribution to world peace.
“Mandela demonstrated equality and egalitarianism in his lifetime. He was a hero of all time and he will forever remain a source of inspiration to generations unborn. He was a liberator, who worked tirelessly for the good of Africa as a continent.
“Mandela sacrificed his freedom for, not only South Africans, but the Africans generally. He spent 27 of his useful years in prison to ensure a just and fair society for the blacks, who had been segregated by the apartheid policy”, Uthman stated.
NATIONAL MIRROR

Ajibade Jumoke and Ayodele Abib of Osogbo High School have emerged winners of the maiden SCARF Golden Quiz Competition organized by the wife of the Governor, State of Osun, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola.

They went away with a cheque of two hundred thousand naira while a cheque of one hundred thousand naira was also given to the second position, Ede Muslim High School and seventy five thousand was given to the third position. Certificates of excellence were also given to all contestants who participated in the competition.
Speaking at the event held in Osogbo, Mrs. Aregbesola said the event was to further broaden the knowledge of the students and encourage them in their educational endeavours.
“I am optimistic that your presence here today would elicit interest to make you and your colleagues to excel in your education.
“Our participants in today’s program are pioneers in this maiden edition of the Quiz competition, which we have called SCARF Golden Quiz. We have given the name “golden” to this competition because of the objective it is set out to achieve in our students.
This Quiz is to broaden the knowledge of our students and encourage them to aspire for further education.
“When SCARF was conceived about four years ago as a non-profit organization dedicated to rendering care to the less-privileged in our society, indigent students were considered a vital group of people we must reach out to.
Our philosophy of care revolves around positioning the poor and the needy to make positive contributions to the society.
“Practical experience in Nigeria has shown that we have unquantifiable talents among our people which have often been blighted as a result of lack of resources to actualise the talents.
“We therefore resolved in SCARF that we shall devote a portion of our available resources to help promote education among our children.
This is to compliment the intensive award-wining education program being implemented by the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who believes that education would ensure that our children are made to become complete persons through the concept of the total man.”
NATIONAL MIRROR

“Our School Reforms and Reclassification exercise has exposed not only the inherited infrastructural decay un-befitting even for animal pets, but also a horrendous moral decadence and delinquency which are the natural offspring of the rot and are capable of derailing our educational transformation, so, they must be checked” –Aregbesola
A 27 man high powered Special Committee on Discipline in Public Schools has been inaugurated; Wednesday to examine the moral decadence in the public schools in Osun.
The step is in a bid to urgently arrest pockets of violence in public schools across the state.
Explaining why such Committee was put together! Governor Rauf Aregbesola said that recent mindless violence in public schools is worrisome and disheartening- considering the priority his administration is giving to education in the state.
He described the recent violence in some schools as a major challenge in the middle and high schools which must be address before it spreads to the elementary schools.
“The situation is so terrible to the extent that there is the need to declare a state of emergency on middle and high school education in the state of Osun if not in Nigeria as a whole.
“Population of the trouble makers may be minute and tinny but such violence is discouraging and capable of derailing the ongoing education transformation in our state”, he explained.
The committee’s terms of reference include unveiling the level of moral decadence and discipline in public schools and recommend appropriately a long term approach to curb the menace.
Aregbesola tasked the committee to dwell as much as possible on the causes of bad habit and gross indiscipline by not sparing any stakeholder in the cause of their investigation- including teachers, principals, Local Inspectors of Education, LIE among others.
Members of the committee were urged to carry out the task with what Aregbesola described as full sense of responsibility; urging them to handle the assignment as a mater of destiny of the Yoruba race and to justify the huge resources invested on education.
“The cankerworm must be flushed out of the education sector because we want to make our state a model. That is why we rebranded it as the state of the virtuous
“The decay in the physical infrastructures of public schools has already spread to the morals of pupils. We must sanitise this”, said Aregbesola.
The Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Education Otunba Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori said it was the reclassification exercise that exposed the indiscipline among the school pupils which was difficult to imagine.
Laoye-Tomori added that the need for the inauguration is in furtherance of the administration’s policy on revamping the decadence in public schools. The committee is put in place with a view to correcting indiscipline in schools.
Acting Chairman of the Committee and Special Adviser to the Governor on Land and Physical Planning, Dr Ayoade Owoade said members of the committee understand the pulse of government, considering where it places education as first priority. He assured the governor of diligent exercise on the assignment.
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
1. Mr Sunday Akere, Commissioner for Information and Strategy
2. Prof. Mrs Funmi Tonobi, A Professor of Psychology and former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
3. Hon Jonshon Ojo – Osun Legislature (OSHA)
4. Hon Samson Fafiyebi – Osun Legislature (OSHA)
5. Hon Ademola Ajiboye – Osun Legislature (OSHA)
6. Mrs Esho Williams – Special Adviser For Women Affairs & Social Welfare
7. Mrs Latifat Giwa – a Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Education.
8. Mr Lawrence Oyeniran, Permanent Sectary, Ministry of Education,
9. A representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
10. A representative of Muslim Communities
11. A representative of Traditional Religion Worshippers
12. Representatives of NUT and ANCOPS
OSUN DEFENDER

Photos from the Governor’s Endorsement for Second Term Running by all the thirty one Local Government Executive Secretaries in the State at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo the State of Osun at the weekend.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th right); his
Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (5th right); Chairman, Association of
Local Government Executive Secretaries in Osun, Prince Soji Ajayi (3rd
right); Interim Chairman, All Progressive Congress, Elder Adebiyi
Adelowo (right); Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Wale Afolabi (4th
left) and others, during the Governor’s Endorsement for Second Term
Running by all the thirty one Local Government Executive Secretaries
in the State at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo the State of Osun
at the weekend.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th right); his
Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (5th right); Chairman, Association of
Local Government Executive Secretaries in Osun, Prince Soji Ajayi (3rd
right); Interim Chairman, All Progressive Congress, Elder Adebiyi
Adelowo (right); Executive Secretary, Ilesa West Local Government,
Alhaji Issa Azeez (2nd right) and others, during the Governor’s
Endorsement for Second Term Running by all the thirty one Local
Government Executive Secretaries in the State at Nelson Mandela
Freedom Park, Osogbo the State of Osun at the weekend.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th right); his
Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (5th right); Interim Chairman, All
Progressive Congress, Elder Adebiyi Adelowo (3rd right); Secretary to
the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (5th left) and others,
during the Governor’s Endorsement for Second Term Running by all the
thirty one Local Government Executive Secretaries in the State at
Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo the State of Osun at the weekend.

Traditional Religious Worshippers in Osun State have warned the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) against attack on the merger and reclassification policy of the government of Osun State.
The worshippers at a press conference addressed yesterday by their President, Chief Idowu Awopetu in Osogbo noted that CAN should be cautioned to desist from action that could derail the laudable programme of government aimed at transforming education to a greater height in the State.
Awopetu said it was wrong for CAN to claim ownership of any public school in the State since it is a matter of public knowledge that since the takeover of ownership of schools by the government in1975, government also took over the responsibility of staffing, administration and provision of infrastructure in the schools.
His words: “We challenge the leadership of CAN to give evidence of contribution of even a kobo for the upkeep of these schools. It is shameless that these elements in the CAN leadership are coming forward to lay claim to the schools that have been left to rot by all before
Governor Aregbesola decided to fulfill his promise of providing qualitative education to all the children of Osun, irrespective of creed or religion”.
“In this regard, we have observed tremendous investment of Aregbesola’s Government in educational infrastructure. Our public schools are now attractive for learning and more students are leaving private schools to be part of the revolution that is taking place in our public schools. Gone is the era where our public schools are not fit for animal husbandry”. He said.
Chief Awopetu expressed shock and dismay that CAN asserted that the reclassification exercise is capable of triggering terrorism in the state saying that the leadership of CAN ought to be mindful of their language especially when such utterances can fan the ember of discord in the state.
He urged security agencies in the state to invite the leadership of CAN with a view to investigating this claim: “In view of the grave implications of the alarmist claim of the CAN Chairman for the immediate security of lives and property in the State, we hereby call
on security operatives to, as a matter of urgency, invite leadership of CAN with a view to investigating this claim and if found to be untrue should henceforth warn them to stop spreading lies that can put this state in turmoil.”
The President insisted that religious tolerance is the hallmark of the Yoruba people saying: “there is hardly any home in Yoruba land, State of Osun inclusive, where you will not find adherents of all the three dominant religion. This, notwithstanding, has not created a wedge between us as a people rather we co-exist peacefully with mutual respect for one another”.
The traditionalists called on citizens of the State to prevail on CAN leadership to maintain peace adding that the state has enjoyed tremendous peace in the last three years of administration of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola.
DAILY TRUST

A new report by the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CSNAC, has lauded the recent move by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State to reclassify the public schools in the state.
The report made noted that the reclassification is an innovative and sustainable way of implementing the new 9-3-4 educational policy of the federal government.
While it stated that the government’s policy has increased the standard of infrastructure in public schools; it also noted that the controversy that had arisen from the merger of the schools was “not essentially political,” but opposition politicians had feasted on the feud.
Last October, Mr. Aregbesola embarked on a massive education reform in the state that saw the reorganization of the school system into elementary (Primary 1 – 4), middle (Primary 5 – JSS 3) and high school (SSS 1 – 3) categories.
But the most controversial part of the reform was the government’s decision to merge schools. For instance, male students were introduced into the Baptist Girls’ High School, Osogbo; while hijab-wearing pupils were merged with the pupils of Baptist High School, Iwo.
The attendant controversy led to civil society groups dispatching a Governance Monitoring Team delegation to Osun State who, for four days, met with stakeholders in the educational Sector of the State.
MIXED CONCERNS
The Osun State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, are one of the fiercest opponents of the education reform.
According to CSNAC’s report, CAN and the Baptist Convention insisted that there were no prior and informed consent of Christians on the reclassification of schools by the state government.
They also insisted that: “The Christian schools should retain their age-long identities and culture threatened by the reclassification policy.
“That the state government did not conduct enough consultations before the school reclassification was embarked upon.
“That the reclassification could lead to faith-based feud in the State of Osun.
“That the Baptist Mission cherish the legacy of segregated learning at the Baptist Girls School and is resolved to protect same.
“That the traditional Christian schools will not allow the wearing of Hijab by Muslim students transferred into the Christian schools,” the report stated.
The report also said that the Christian community maintained that the new common public school uniform has an inscription ‘ELLA’ which they believe is the name of a Yoruba deity and this could be a way of initiating children into ‘voodoo’ or occult
The Christian community also acknowledged that the “notorious” inclusion on the ‘Opon Imo’ is actually not ‘Ifa’ but a book titled ‘Asa ati Oosa Ile Yoruba’ (Culture and Deities of Yoruba Land) but they nonetheless considers this uncalled for and an introduction of children to traditional worship.
“They called attention to the derelict state of schools’ facilities owned and maintained by government in sharp contrast to the good and attractive state of missionary owned and maintained facilities like church and halls.
“The ‘schools merger’ is wrecking hardship on pupils as transport fare for some have gone over N500 daily.
“They referred also to a notice banner in front of the public Baptist Girls High school gate that forbids any student wearing hijab from entering the premises. This ban is enforced strictly by the security personnel hired by the church.
“Expressed concern that the wearing of ‘hijab’ is a mere subterfuge for indulging in examination cheating and to conceal teenage pregnancy,” the report added.
The Muslim community in the state, however, noted that the stereotyping of the reclassification policy from the prism of the governor’s religion (Mr. Aregbesola is a muslim) was a “traditional misconception.”
The Muslim leaders also accused some Christian-named schools of banning the teaching of Islamic Studies.
The civil society group also consulted other stakeholders such as the Parents and Teachers Association, Nigeria Union of Teachers, the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, market women and men, and Mr. Aregbesola among others.
Mr. Aregbesola, in his submission, maintained that the reform was designed to solve the state’s growing educational crisis.
“The schools have been taken over by the state government since 1975 with adequate compensation paid to the affected owners,” Mr. Aregbesola said.
“The education policy takes into consideration the ultimate good for the highest number of the people of the State of Osun, irrespective of religious considerations,” he added.
The report recommended that a Monitoring Team be set up comprising of representatives of CAN, Muslim groups, the State Government and Civil Society Groups.
“Given the utilitarian content of the new education policy, there cannot be an end point in consultation and dialogue on the policy and its merits. The stakeholders, government, CAN, Muslim groups should begin a monthly public dialogue on the educational policy,” the report stated.
“There should be and expanded dialogue table to involve leaders of ethnic communities, artisan groups like Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, (NATA), Civil Society Groups and Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW).
“After one year of policy implementation, the state government should embark on Education Review summit to be able to review the strength and weaknesses of the policy.”
The recommendation acknowledged that the Hijab was a fundamental rights issue and recommended that Omoluabi garment (owned by the state government), in consultation with stakeholders (NUT, ANCOPPSS, PTA and the Muslim Community) be contracted to design appropriate Hijab that will fit well with the schools uniform.
“Subsequently, pupils/students should be required to wear only the approved hijab on top of their school uniforms,” it added.
PREMIUM TIMES

THERE was this bond, Sukuk bond, by the Osun State Government that generated controversy. How would you react to this?
Well, the bond didn’t really, really generate controversy because when you use the word controversy, it would mean uproar. Controversy would also mean a resistance, but there was nothing like that. It was more of a section trying to play politics with it by saying that the governor was trying to Islamize Osun State.
The Sukuk bond is like any other conventional bond where you go to the capital market and raise funds and make a commitment that over the next seven years you would make good your promise. Apart from the nomenclature, there is nothing different from conventional. It was the structure of that Sukuk that enabled us to raise that funds at 14. 75 per cent and so if today I see an opportunity in my borrowing window limit as stipulated by the Debt Management Office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and as stipulated by the Security Exchange Commission, and if I were a Moslem, there is an opportunity to raise funds and I see a structure that is called the Christian bond or Christian financing I will also use it.
There are lots of constructions going on in the state, considering the fact that Osun is not Lagos or Rivers. How are you going to complete these projects?
Those projects will be completed. Some will be completed over a span of two years, some will be completed over a span of three years. If you look at what we have done, despite that we don’t have available money now, but if we are allowed to spread it over three, four, or five years in some cases, we will be able to gradually pay. By then we would have started enjoying the road.
Let me tell you what we have done, we are the first state to have done this. Under Ogbeni Aregbesola, he was able to stick out his credibility and the state’s credibility and said you know what? If you want to be our partner, you must be able to go the whole hog with us i.e. you must be able to hang in there, construct the road and wait for your money. We had come up with the kind of what we call derivative financing. Derivative financing means something that is not going to impact you or poke a hole in your balance sheet. We said okay we can pay you with cash if we have cash we would pay you with promissory note if we have promissory note. The promissory note becomes a tradable instrument so that derivative financing allows bankers to participate in infrastructure development and allows contractors to participate in the development. So, we have shared the responsibility in such a way that nobody will take the advantage of government.
At the tail end of the last administration, N18.35bn loan was taken from the UBA…
Governor Rauf Aregbesola never said it was wrong to take a loan. He rather said it was wrong to take loan at the twilight of your administration. Not at dawn but at dusk and so the PDP took that loan at dusk. There was no way they could say that the intention was for the people of Osun because the project that they could have used it to implement, there was no way they could have finished it between February and March when they took that loan. If you look at the timing, and if you look at the purpose of that loan, both the timing and purpose were to build six stadia, if you are going to build six stadia at a go, you need to be preparing for the Olympic.
I remember that the governor promised to bring investors to the state, especially those dealing in IT/ICT but they are not here yet…
There are here. The LG Electronic will soon commission their factory in Ilesa. The other one that is going to be making Opon Imo tablet computers has almost finished their factory in Osogbo. You must have heard that we’ve encouraged International Breweries Limited to retain their investment in Osun State, rather than go elsewhere. By God’s grace, we are going to reach out to Dangote to open the steel company.
There has been an increase in the IGR of the state. Considering what you met, what would you say is the secret?
We’ve just increased efficiency and we told our people to be honest. So, we blocked leakages, we’ve the automated revenue collection mechanism and we’ve a passed revenue law.
People talk about capital flight here in Osun; how do you explain this?
There is no capital flight. If you look at it, we were the first state in Nigeria to come up with a policy which we call local content and not only that we measure it. We measure this in the sense that we have a consultant that goes round to find out how many jobs that have been created, direct and indirect. There is local content policy and in our agreement, we have forced the contractors to sign an undertaking that they will comply. Today, under our construction of road programme, we have people that are benefiting and the governor always says this to us in the cabinet: ‘If you’re doing road or building a school in your area, make sure your people are employed. No contractor should turn down people.’ So if you want to work and there is work around your area, you go there and tell them as an artisan that you must be given a job. The intention of the government of Rauf Aregbesola is to industrialise Osun and indigenise all contracts. Omoluabi Garment Factory came into existence because we did not want the capital to fly away. We insisted that for you to sew 750, 000 uniforms, you must set up a factory here, you must employ our people.
THE NATION