The Osun State government has reiterated its commitment to treat all religions and their groups in the state equally and charged adherents of all religion to live together in harmony.
State Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Alhaji Ajibola Basiru, at a press conference in Osogbo, justified the decision of the state government to declare a public holiday for the celebration of Hijirah 1435.
He said the state government declared Monday, November 4, as a public holiday in commemoration of the commencement of another Islamic calendar year, 1435 A.H, to enable Muslims in the state celebrate the beginning of the new Islamic year with their loved ones.
“No religious sentiment or favouritism here in Osun. We shall treat all religious bodies equally without bias. Governor Aregbesola, in an official statement has made it clear that every first of Muharam shall be a public holiday in Osun State. So, any day that falls into the first day of Muharam will be a public holiday and we are going to celebrate the new Islamic year in a special way,” he said.
DAILY TRUST

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday said his administration had placed orders for armoured tanks to fight crime in the State.
The governor disclosed this at “Gbangba Dekun’’ forum with the people of Ede, Ede South Local Government Area of the state.
According to him, the State Government is doing everything possible to ensure adequate security and protection of lives and property in all parts of the state.
‘I have placed orders for armoured tanks from China to be stationed in Ejigbo, Ode-Omu, Ede and Iwo among other towns”, stressing that armed robbers would have no option but to flee the state.
Aregbesola said the armoured tanks “are so sophisticated that people inside it can easily view everything outside but nobody can see the operators from outside.”
The governor disclosed that a development plan was underway to turn around the infrastructure in some major towns including Osogbo, Ilesa, Iwo, Ede and Ejigbo.
He said such towns would receive maximum attention from the state government such that all the facilities befitting city centres would be put in place to boost development.
The governor, however, hinged the success of the plan on the improvement in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Aregbesola, who was a former Commissioner for Works in Lagos State, said increased IGR was the secret of development in that state.
(NAN)

The hue and cry about reclassification of schools and alleged Islamisation of Osun should not be. There is a difference between politics of propaganda and politics of development. The people of the State of Osun must embrace change and development.
Nigeria and the State of Osun need real practical transformational leaders, rather than paper work transformational ones. It is only a low thinking person that will want to Islamise a secular state like Osun.
Let the citizens engage in dialogue with the government to avoid distraction before the politicians who are part of the rot hijack the process. What the nation needs now is real quality leadership and not politics of ethnicity or religious propaganda.
Our politicians are the problems of this nation; they introduced politics into every policy that will be beneficial to the citizens. We need to shun them to ensure development.
Ojewoye Gbenga,
PUNCH

As part of efforts to celebrate Global Handwashing Day, using it to drive change in hygiene behaviours, Unilever through its Lifebuoy soap has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State Government of Osun.
The key objective of the MOU is to share a common vision and improve the health and wellbeing of Nigerian children through implementation of integrated school health education and behavioural change activities around hygiene, oral care, nutrition and sustainable energy consumption as part of their commitment and dedication of resources into measurable results for all children.
Speaking at the Global Handwashing Day celebration in the State of Osun, David Okeme, brand building director, Unilever, said the company’s key motivation is how to help children reach the age of 5 through the promotion of knowledge, behaviours and practices on soap use for handwashing and improved hygiene.
While acknowledging that handwashing with soap can cut diarrheal diseases among children, Okeme, who was represented by Victor Ajieroh, nutrition and health manager, West Africa, Unilever, stated that it was collaboration with stakeholders to drive this initiative which is aimed at improving the wellbeing of children susceptible to developing infection.
“Unilever is happy to be part of the 2013 celebration of the Global Handwashing Day in collaboration with the State Government of Osun, the Partnership for Child Development and other stakeholders. To further drive behavioural change, we are continuing with our Lifebuoy community hygiene programme in collaboration with the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, National Task Group on Sanitation and UNICEF through the community Assisted Total Sanitation programme in Nigeria,” he added.
BUSINESSDAY

The Government of Osun on Monday, donated health materials for integrated measles campaign to 30 local government areas in the state as part of measures to reduce the spread of measles. The materials donated included measles vaccines, deworming drugs and vitamin c, among other items.
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Mrs Temitope Ilori, while presenting the materials in Osogbo, said that there was the need for improved immunisation activities to save children from child-killer diseases.
“There is the need to visit remote communities to help kick measles out of the state,’’ she said.
She added that 10,000 personnel had been recruited and trained at the state and local government levels for the next round of immunisation campaign.
“The exercise is expected to kick-off tomorrow, November 2 and it will end on November 11. The people need to come out en masse and immunise their children,” she said.
The state’s immunisation officer, Mrs Ade Osun, urged the people of the state to embrace the opportunity by volunteering themselves to be immunised when the exercise kicked off.
Osun said that the exercise was aimed at protecting children from nine months to five years against measles in the state.
She urged every member of the society to join in the crusade against measles.
TRIBUNE

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has given assurance to school teachers in the state that his administration is ready to distribute an electronic device known as Opon Imo to them.
The governor said this on Thursday in Ede during an interactive forum between the governor and the people in the constituency.
He said the distribution of the device to pupils in public schools in the state had started impacting positively on their academic performance.
He appealed to parents and teachers in the state to assist in monitoring the use of the devices previously given to some pupils by the state government.
He said some people had been criticising the inclusion of Ifa knowledge in Opon Imo but advised parents to ask their children to read either the Holy Bible or Koran to them from the device, depending on their religious beliefs.
Aregbesola, who said his administration was determined to transform education in the state, added that the device would assist in boosting saving and learning among the pupils.
“The same appeal goes to all parents. Ask your children to read either the Bible or Koran to you on the device. The Bible and Koran are some of the subjects on the device. Ask them to read to you and monitor the way they use it.”
The governor, who assured the people that the school reclassification policy of his administration was aimed at further transforming the education sector, said that no place would be without a school.
PUNCH

Bonds are essentially debt instruments that will be repaid by the entity that issues them. Issuing Islamic bonds make borrowing cheaper and limits the chance of a debt crisis.
Since 2006 when the Paris Club of creditors agreed to cancel a massive $18 billion of Nigeria’s debt, enabling the country to become a credit-worthy nation, Nigeria has since become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
But that achievement meant that the nation’s infrastructure gap has to be bridged to sustain its economic growth. To do this, the federal government has majorly relied on the domestic bond market. State governments have also resorted to the bond market to finance their budget deficits and development needs.
In its annual National Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) released by the DMO recently, the total domestic debt of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) reached N1.471 trillion last year. This is an increase of 19.34 per cent compared with the N1.233 trillion domestic debt figures the previous year. As at December 2011, the value of federal government bonds listed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) was N3.54 trillion. The amount, which represented the total sum borrowed by the federal government to finance various projects, was issued from 2003, with maturity dates of up to year 2030.
This is apart from the N3.5 trillion Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) bond. Late in 2011, AMCON listed its N1.675 trillion zero coupon bond on the NSE, with the last tranche expected to be listed soon.
Meanwhile, analysts have warned that the growing domestic debt may result to a debt crisis if not checked. Others have advised the government to look for cheaper alternatives to finance its transformation agenda.
One of the cheaper alternatives today is Sukuk or Islamic bond, which is interest free. Regular bonds are  a debt that is going to be repaid by the entity that issues them. However, with Islamic bonds, this is not the case. Instead, they will give you a piece of ownership in something.
Islamic bonds or sukuk are a type of security that works differently from traditional bonds. Sukuk essentially means financial certificate in Arabic. Islamic bonds are not used in the same way that traditional bonds are used. Under Islamic law, the charging of interest is strictly prohibited. Therefore, interest is not paid on this type of bonds. Because of this, the bond is structured differently so that they can adhere to Islamic rules. Sukuk are structured to pay a fixed profit rate rather than a coupon and are commonly backed or based on real estate or infrastructure.
Leading by example, State of Osun has begun offering the country’s first Islamic bond, taking a major step towards developing an Islamic finance industry in Nigeria. The issue makes Nigeria the first big economy in sub-Saharan Africa to market a sukuk. The offer will close at the end of this month. The sukuk is based on an Ijara structure, a common leasing arrangement in Islamic finance, which bans the payment of interest. Local credit rating agency Agusto & Co gave an A rating to the sukuk, suggesting it will attract ample investor demand.
Other African countries are also embracing large-scale Islamic finance as they seek to tap cash-rich Middle Eastern investors to finance their large infrastructure programmes. Africa is home to roughly 400 million Muslims  but until now only Gambia and Sudan have issued any sukuk, and they were for tiny sums on a short-term basis.
Defending the decision of his government to issue a sukuk, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola,  said the N11.4 billion sukuk bond under the government’s N60 billion debt issuance programme was not an Islamic fund but an instrument of development. The governor, who spoke at the completion of board meeting of Osun Sukuk Company Plc, explained that the bond would be used to finance road projects and other developmental projects embarked upon by his administration.
He said: “The sukuk has an Islamic name but just one out of the 42 investors, Jaiz Bank, is Islamic. Sukuk is just a nomenclature, the investors are secular Nigerians. Can we say First Bank Plc is Muslim or Christian bank? No, so other investors there except one with Islamic character.
“This is not a special Islamic fund but a means of accessing fund for development for the benefit of the people of the state. The sukuk bond is a veritable avenue for us to access capital to develop our state. We want our people to also see this opportunity that opens to us as such. In name, the bond is Islamic but it has the conventional bonds’ characteristics and is coordinated by the regular capital and money market investors.”
Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, described the sukuk as a unique product.
Bolorunduro said the bond made it possible for the first time in Nigeria for a government to open itself up to the capital market in transparent manner.
He said the landmark achievement had offered the Osun State government the opportunity to optimise capital for business purposes.
The sukuk bond was issued in accordance with the enactment of the Osun State Bonds, Notes and Other Securities Law 2012 and setting up the Osun Sukuk Company Plc.
Analysts said the Nigerian Sharia-compliant bond issued by Osun State while relatively small at $62 million, signalled the start of a trend.
culled from THIS DAY

Course 22 participants of the National Defence College Abuja have commended the Government of the State of Osun for using its Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) and other strategic youth engagement programmes to reduce youth restiveness in the state.
This was the conclusion of the Course 22 members during its presentation following the study tour of Osun with the theme: ‘Infrastructure as Catalyst for Development in the State of Osun: Issues and Prospects.” at the Sani Abacha Hall of the National Defence College in Abuja.
Navy Captain B E Dauda on behalf of participants applauded the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in Osun for its OYES initiative that has become a model for other states in Nigeria on how to bring unemployment to its barest minimum in spite of the meagre resources at its disposal.
He also commended the state for its financial ingenuity which has allowed the state to embark on developmental projects that has restored progress and prosperity to people of the state.
According to him, “I want to use the opportunity of this presentation of the Course 22 participants of the National Defence College Abuja following a Geo-Strategic tour recently carried out by us to commend Aregbesola’s three year old administration.
“This among others is to applaud Osun for using the OYES to arrest idleness and restiveness among youths by profitably engaging them despite the fluctuations in federal allocations.
“Our geo strategic tour of the state indicates prudent management of resources accruing to the twenty two year old state under Gov Rauf Aregbesola’s administration”. The Naval Officer pointed out.
He revealed that the fluctuation and dwindling Federal allocations to states in the country poses significant threats to infrastructural regeneration in states of the Federation.
Group Captain Iroubuisi in his own remarks held that the Course 22 found out during its stay in Osun that there is an appreciable decrease in crime rate in the state as a result of the engagement of youth through the OYES scheme.
He also commended Governor Aregbesola for its government’s internal revenue generation as well as massive encouragement given to farmers committed to agriculture.
In his words, “We of the Course 22 of the National Defence College want to commend Osun for the robust security infrastructure provided in the state.
“Our findings have also revealed a sharp decrease in crime rate in the state as a result of the engagement of youth through the OYES scheme of the government.” Group Captain Iroubuisi stressed.
In his response, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Osun, Mr. Sunday Akere, noted that figures of the National Bureau of Statistics identified Osun as NO 1 in public schools enrolment.
The Commissioner held that the feat was achieved as a result of the state’s investment of N12. 7million daily for the feeding of pupils in primary schools across the state.
Hon. Akere also added that, “it was on record that twenty one states of the country were ravaged by flood last year, but for the foresight of our amiable governor, the state has not recorded any since the inception of the administration in the state because of the regular channelisation and dredging of waterways in the state.
“Aside the OYES scheme which you have noted, various companies to mention a few like the Omoluabi Garment Factory, RLG, an Information Technology company are some companies established in the state to provide employments for the youths of the state.” The Commissioner revealed.
OSUN DEFENDER

Photos from the official presentation of a book entitled ‘Isa Ayo Salami: Through Life and Justice’, in Honour of Honourable Justice Isa Ayo Salami, at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Garki Area 8, in Abuja, yesterday.

From Left –Governor Ekiti State; Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Honourable Justice
Isa Ayo Salami; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola;
Justice Ayo Salami’s wife, Olayinka and former Chief Justice of
Nigeria; Hon.Justice Muhammad Lawal Uwais, during a Book
Presentation, titled: Isa Ayo Salami: Through Life and Justice in
Honour of Honourable Justice Isa Ayo Salami, at Nicon Luxury Hotel,
Garki Area 8, Abuja on Wednesday 30th

From right -Governor State of Osun; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his Zamfara
State counterpart, Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari and their Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi during The Book Presentation, tiitled: Isa Ayo Salami: Through Life and Justice In Honour of Honourable Justice Isa Ayo Salami, at Nicon Luxury Hotel, Garki Area 8, Abuja on Wednesday 30th October, 2013

The Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, Mr. Segun Oladitan has reiterated the commitment of the newly inaugurated board of the commission to conduct a free, fair and transparent local government election in the state.
The Chairman stated this during the meeting of the board held at the headquarters of the commission in Osogbo. He noted that members of the Commission are people that have made their mark in their various callings and as such would not engage in acts that would tarnish their image.
He stressed that the Commission would adhere strictly to the principle of one man, one vote with a view to making the vote of the people to count. He stressed further that the Commission will not serve the interest of any person or group no matter the pressure from either politicians or any self seeking individual.
He therefore solicited for the support of all and sundry particularly the media so that the effort of the Commission to enshrine an enduring democratic principle yields positive result.
OSUN DEFENDER