The Deputy Head of Political Section of the British High Commission (Abuja), Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Fleming, has thumbed up the progress being made by the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Fleming, who was on a two-day visit to the state to assess progress that has been made a year after Aregbesola’s re-election, disclosed that what he saw on ground has testified to the fact that the governor is delivering on his promises to the people of the state.

The British envoy said he is moving round states in the country to scout for investment potentials for British companies.

He identified Osun as one of the country’s leading agriculture-based states that is capable to meet the needs of British companies, which now focus on agriculture-oriented businesses.

He noted that the governorship election of August 9 in the state, which preceded the March 2015 general elections in the country, was quite significant on the part of the state and the country at large.

Fleming affirmed that Osun is one of investors’ area of interests, hence the necessity to visit and look around for available opportunities.

“Osun State is strategic in agriculture and business. It is pertinent for us to come visit a year after the election so as to see the progress being made.

“We have seen progress in virtually all sectors, which shows that the governor is delivering on his political promises.

“This time round, we are here to assess the investment potentials in the state for British companies. We know that Osun is one of the foremost agriculture states in the country.

“Some of the British companies are interested in agriculture-based businesses now. So we want to know what the state is doing in terms of infrastructure and business opportunities available in the state,” Fleming said.

Responding on behalf of the government, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, commended the British Government for its intervention in the country’s general election, which guaranteed it’s free and fair conduct.

Adeoti said the state is a haven for investors because of the available infrastructure, peace and security which the Aregbesola administration takes with great interests.

He harped on the fact that power distribution and supply is central to investors and Osun is the nation’s centre of distribution, which guarantees regular supply of electricity.

He stated that a conducive environment also attracts investment, saying the state is one of the most peaceful states in the country.

He said: “Osun has been developed to attract investments. We have the least rate of unemployment and high turnover of skilled labour.

“Our government, since Ogbeni Aregbesola came to power five years ago, has been equipping the security agencies for effective policing of the state.

“The result is peace, law and order that are reining in the state. And this is very pivotal to any investor. Besides, Osun is the centre of power distribution, which means there is regular supply of power.”

Earlier, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry Cooperatives and Empowerment had presented to the team a comprehensive investment opportunities that abound in the state.

The presentation which was conducted by the former Commissioner for Commerce, Industry Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba Alagba and the former Special Adviser in the same ministry, Dr. Olalekan Yinusa, dwelt on masssive agro-based investment areas of the state and how the state had boosted agriculture and empowered farmers.

NIGRIA’S game of politics is too nauseating to percuss; and its government business environment too nasty to peregrinate. For many years, I had switched off Nigeria in my head; the choice to stay back in the United States basking in its refreshing winter and kicking back in its sweet summer has always been a safe one.
Last year, however, the intense buzz and bustle around the Governor of my home state Of Osun drew me back home and into a bit of its politicking.   The name Rauf Aregbesola didn’t sound familiar to many of us who’d been out of Nigeria for a while.
From different sources, my ears were filled with both sweet and sour stories flying around town about the Governor. I then went verifying the tales before riding alongside others on the vilifying- train throttled by those I didn’t even know.
What I saw in Oshogbo and surrounding towns in the spiraling asphalted roads, in the big bridges, the torn-down and towered-back-up High school buildings that stood in classic comparison with those in many US cities, made my heart throb in joy.
Friends, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the only man many of us in Yorubaland grew up to acknowledge as THE LEADER, died a great and accomplished man who stood on the side of his people.
Rauf Aregbesola as Governor of Osun may not be the Awolowo of this time, but his deeds qualify as fair-game comparisons to the late sage. Men with a populist ideology suffer long.
Sometimes they become as namby-pambies in the hands of wealthy lowbrows who contend with them for position and power.
When I left Oshogbo, I knew opposition against this man would be fierce and destructive. That’s the price populists’ pay. Men who stand by the people always get bludgeoned by those who have a preference for the continuation of status quo idiocy and depravity.
The initial noise around Rauf was actuated by non-payment of workers’ salaries. Osun owed 6 months, 22 other states including the administration of Goodluck Jonathan owed between 9 and 12.
Town-criers of persecution continued to berate only Osun and Rauf. Those who were not citizens of the state also enlisted in the army of pillory.
The Presidential election had just ended so we knew why many of them cried more than the bereaved. It was not about Osun workers’ welfare, it was about their king who had just forever auctioned off his crown.
Rauf is tough, strong, energetic and vibrant. He is a custodian of brain and brawn, and his opponents who wanted him out of power understood the tall order in the State’s last gubernatorial election.
Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, admitted that the task of uprooting Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress from Osun State would be difficult.
He told party ambassador Iyiola Omisore who concurred publicly that: “the task to uproot APC from Osun State is daunting…” That informed why on Election Day August 9th, a legion of attack-dogs came barking into the State accompanied by 90,000 errand-boys of lawlessness in masks and with ammunitions looking to hunt down Rauf.
Many major Osun cities were full of security operatives wielding and brandishing guns and shooting into the air. I was on ground and I saw it all.
But Rauf triumphed in a shellacking! The Governor will always let whoever cares to listen understand that he has done his best for his people.
Many people and Governments in and out of Nigeria agree with him; but the despising minority will not want you to know the truths.
In his creativity and from paltry fund coming into the State’s treasury, Rauf has managed to achieve some milestones. The milestone is in the N5.8bn in Omoluabi Conservation Fund; a wealth fund at a sub sovereign level geared toward promoting the Yoruba culture of leaving wealth for the future generation and planning for a rainy day.
The fund can be used as relief in harsh times only when the state income is almost ‘zero’. Primarily, it is set aside as Future Generation Fund.
The milestone is also in the State Shares and Equity worth N10bn that has not been accessed till today; and the milestone is in the Blue chip shares that were recovered from moribund investment managers and Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
It was worth N3.2bn as at December 31st, 2013, but the value dropped to N2.7bn because of the present dismal state of the Global Capital Market.
Rauf’s milestone is etched in the State and local government investment in Federation Sovereign Wealth totaling 1.1m US dollars, which is 2.2b Naira; and also state and local government investments in the National Integrated Power Plants worth 2.2b Naira today. The State also has other investments in landed properties.
What about Security vote? Reportedly, nothing like that exists in the State of Osun. What the State has is a statutory provision by the House of Assembly.
It is only a figure on paper that can translate to money in case of emergency and only if funds are available. In a state that is numbered 34 out of 36 in money-bags states; show me the money? Osun earned only N204bn in 4 years, and more than N20bn of Osun N87bn loan was gulped by workers as salaries.
RAUF inherited the sum of N4.6bn pension debt when he was sworn in as Governor 2010. He has so far paid N1.6bn out of a debt he did not incur. He increased the IGR from 700 million Naira a year in the preceding administration to almost 10billion Naira in a year today.
Rauf is the only Governor in the country who gave a 13th month salary to his workers before the cash crunch hit in 2013. Why is this man not making enough noise about all of these milestones? Populists don’t usually make noise about what they have accomplished; their good deeds speak louder than words.
Royal fathers even from domains that weren’t fond of Rauf in the last election have all come out swinging in support of this man’s achievements since he became Governor.
Rauf stands on the side of the people, and a Labor Activist, Owei Lakemfa accurately captured it in his article titled “AREGBESOLA: THE IDEALIST AS POLITICIAN” published in a Nigerian Daily this week:“Aregbesola tends to be programmatic like Obafemi Awolowo, a populist similar to ‘Penkelemesi’ Adelabu Adegoke, an orator in the mold of Samuel Ladoke Akintola, with a Talakawa spirit like Aminu Kano.
But in a polity controlled by APC and PDP where all birds congregate; it is difficult to differentiate doves and pigeons from hawks and vultures”; Lakemfa wrote.
The hawks and vultures are mad as hell right now because Muhammadu Buhari is President, and Rauf was a verbose and loquacious facilitator of the sweet victory.
Anyone can petition the EFCC alleging corruption about anybody in Nigeria; that is the easiest part. But not everybody can stand to defend and prove their allegations as true.
Why did those who accused Rauf’s administration of profligacy and corruption take to their heels when the time came to defend their allegations? I don’t know. But what we know is that Rauf has done his best for Osun.
The testaments from his first term as Governor are now in the archives of history. Were there some inadvertent missteps, and are there some lessons learnt from them? Rauf will be the first to tell you that he has learnt a lot in the last five years. As for his foes; they will continue to tell you only what they want you to hear. SMACKDOWN!!!
THE GUARDIAN

The Osun Osogbo day goes gay in celebration of her founder’s day in spite of seeming economic challenges. AGOZINO AGOZINO, who followed this year’s event, offers a review.
The event, which is Osogbo’s biggest export, had begun two weeks ago; with the traditional environmental sanitation exercise called Iwopopo (cleansing of road). Thus all major roads in the city were cleared of debris and filth. Everywhere in the town must be made clean and tidy to celebrate the festival because the goddess abhors dirt, with her devotes always in clean white apparel.
Her steps were carefully calculated, firm and sure. Her face reflected the seriousness, and the commitment, of the task at hand. Oba Jimoh Olanipekun and his high chiefs followed her with bold assurance. The crowd was wild with joy. The atmosphere was one of communal participation, great expectations, and high drama as the Arugba Osun, the votary maid of the ancient festival, carried this year’s ritual calabash reverently towards the Osun River.
It was last Friday. And what was unfolding was this year’s edition of Osun Osogbo Festival. The procession from the aafin (palace) at the Oja-Oba to the Osun River marked the highpoint of the celebration of life by Osogbo indigenes.
The reason of the cleaning, according to some devotees of the river deity, is that while physically Osogbo’s roads have been cleared of dirt and obstacles, spiritually too, “our life is also cleared of anything that may hinder our progress in this life.” It also implies that spiritual security has been put in place at the strategic locations around the town.
However, there are other aspects of the two weeks fiesta, which are not meant for public consumption and these are usually restricted to the palace of the Ataoja.
The next public activity is the lighting of the Ataoja Olojumerindinlogun Osanyin, a 642-years-old lamp. The lamp has 16 wicks, and according to the tradition, must be lit at dusk and kept burning till dawn. The Ataoja, along with some of his chiefs, must dance round the lamp three times. While doing this, they all must invoke the spirit of the ancestors to bless them and the townsfolk. The festival was kicked off by the youthful Ataoja, Oba Olanipekun, and his chiefs.
Another significant rite is the Iboriade ritual. The crown and all other royal paraphernalia are put on display for members of every ruling family in Osogbo. Prayers are said for each of the past Ataojas for their contributions to the development of the town during their lifetime. This is rounded off by the reigning Oba who offers prayers for himself and all present.
After this comes the big one, the procession to the Osun riverbank by the whole town, led by the Arugba Osun. The main rituals are performed at the Ojubo, the sacrificial spot inside the Osun grove. According to tradition, the Ojubo is the very spot where the first Ataoja of Osogbo, Larooye, made his original pact with Osun, the goddess of the river, hundreds of years ago when Osogbo was founded. The Ojubo is located within Agbala Osun courtyard. Here, the Ataoja receives his chiefs, delivers his message and offers sacrifices; all the while sitting on the rock on which Larooye reportedly sat during his reign, the very spot where the story of Osogbo town began.
The Ataoja then feeds the fish in the river with items from Igba Osun, which include porridge, corn pudding eko and a vegetable stew, called yanrin. As these are thrown into the river, the crowd raises its voice in prayers, petitions and supplications, worship and thanksgiving to Osun, the Yoruba goddess of fertility, for her numerous blessings over the years. They wave caps, head-ties and hands in the air, while the priest and priestess chant incantations and break into panegyrics in praise of the deity.
At this stage, the Ataoja takes his leave to a cultural reception where different groups, in their numerous uniforms, perform to the delight of all guests, visitors and indigenes. Meanwhile, the crowd, particularly the women, rush into the river bank to drink or wash their faces in it for the water, so the myth goes, is medicinal. It is believed that the water from river, especially at the Ojubo, and particularly after the sacrifice, is potent enough to cure infertility and all kinds of illness.
The festival is also used by some Osogbo youths to settle personal disagreements. Young men are seen wielding long canes, whipping and lashing each other in a test of manhood and endurance. There are also those who use the opportunity to threaten to whip young ladies who may have rebuffed their advances in the past.
Despite the fervor with which many embrace the tradition, there are those who believe the festival is simply a fun and nothing else. One of such people is Fatai Ola, an Osogbo indigene and a “born-again” Christian. “The whole idea that the water can cure illness is false,” he said. “It is just because they have been told to believe such.”
Some of the tourists in this year’s festival came from countries such as Australia, France, the United States, Canada, Cuba, Brazil, Ghana. Last year, the festival was affected by the outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and was nearly cancelled. This year’s event has, however, returned its groove and it appears the event is gathering more international recognition.
For many years, the Osogbo festival was promoted by the late Austrian conservationist and artist, Susanne Wenger, popularly known as Adunni Ibifunke Olorisha, who came to Nigeria in the late 1950s with late Ullie Beier. The couple helped popularise the Osogbo grove, leading to it being listed as one of the World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 2005.
Jimoh Buraimoh, an Osogbo-based artist and key stakeholder of the festival, is particularly happy that this year’s festival is better than last year’s. “I am happy because this year’s event is better than last year,” he said. “The Ebola crisis almost denied us the opportunity last year; but you can see that all that has now changed.”
For Nike Okundaye, another globally respected artist of the Osogbo art school: “We are all happy because if you come here, you will see that everybody in Osogbo is happy. The festival this year is well organised because we were not happy with what happened last year.”
This year’s festival was sponsored by such brands as MTN Nigeria, Goldberg (Nigerian Breweries), Seaman’s Royale (Grand Oaks) and Alomo Bitters (Kasapreko).
According to the Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, the growing number of people from several cultures identifying with the festival shows how much of a world-acclaimed event it has attained. This, according to him, is critical in the preservation of culture and tradition.
“There is the need to fully appreciate and register my gratitude to UNESCO for not only designating the Osun Grove as a World Heritage Monument, but for also elevating the festival beyond the shores of Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria, to the whole world,” he said. He also used the occasion to urge the Osun people, and Nigerians, not to emulate the attitude of people who throw away their culture. “Your culture is the only way that you can show

Photos showing the Secretary to the Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti who was representing the Governor, a member of the State House of Assembly, the Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh  Olanipekun and others, during the 2015 celebrations of Osun Osogbo on Friday 21-08-2015

A Cuban Association comprising of Yoruba people, named Asociación Yoruba de Cuba has commiserated with the Yoruba race and the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on the transition to glory of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijade.
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The Association in a condolence letter sent to the Governor joined other Yoruba world over to mourn the transition of a worthy ambassador and a pride of the Yoruba race with deep sorrow.
The letter signed by its President, ‎Sir. Awo. José Manuel Pérez Andino, noted that the organisation and her people in Cuba share in the pain and sorrow of other Yoruba people, praying  that God will console the family over the loss of the late monarch.
The letter read, “With deep sorrow for the passing away of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Yoruba traditional leader and friend of Cuba, we join wholeheartedly the pain of the Yoruba People and his family for the loss of such a dear friend”.
Members of the Cuban based Association include; Council of Elder Priests of Ifa of the Republic of Cuba, Council of Elder Priests Oba – Oriaye of Cuba and Council of Elder Iyalochas Priestesses of the Republic of Cuba.
Others are; Council of Elder Babalochas Priests of Cuba, Council of Elder Arará Priests of Cuba and Council of Priests Chiefs of Cabildos of the Republic of Cuba.

Contradictions have become the hallmark of our national engagements almost at every level especially in our public life since the advent of democracy in 1999. They have come in diverse shapes and sizes and in various dimensions ranging from the ridiculous to the absurd and from the completely bizarre to the seriously paradoxical.
That a Senior Judge Osun  State judiciary Justice Folahanmi Oloyede who had made weighty allegations of financial impropriety against Governor Rauf Aregbesola and demanded that he be impeached is now running away from the responsibilities attached to her demands shows that she not only never had any grounds to have made that call in the first place, but may have also been instigated by other political jobbers who are intent on opposing the transformational efforts of the Governor. However, she has been invited by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to substantiate her claim but she also refused to appear.
It should be noted that the Governor never for one day sought to protest that allegation from the judge but chose to make himself available before the members of the State House of Assembly who summoned him and are the true representatives and conscience of the people of the state. He did not grandstand neither did he muster his political influences which is not insignificant in any way to dissuade the House from acceding to the request of the jurist. He made himself available for questions with candour.
Paradoxically, the one who has asked for the empanelling of the process to investigate the Governor has refused to come and make her case when summoned to do so by the House of Assembly. If this is not contradictory, I do not know any other thing that is. My thoughts are that it is both morally compelling and statutorily obligatory for the Judge to appear before the House to defend her allegations. That is the way democracies are run since she has been provided the right opportunity to nail the Governor in fulfilment of her crusade.
What she has done negates the fine principles of law that “he that alleges must prove”. It is unfortunate that she has chosen to abdicate this onerous responsibility especially when the whole nation awaited her testimony.
Judges have moral obligation to obey the law and for a sitting judge to refuse to conform to this dictate, not only makes herself incapable of continuing in that hallowed office but also throws scorn at the entire Judiciary. She has made her position very tenuous thus capable of contaminating the entire Judiciary. Having made her position in the judiciary inchoate thus of no repute bringing shame to the judicial processes what other moral basis would this judge and the Judiciary have to demand that other members and segments of the society obey their judgments?
It is therefore on this note that we say that this judge has grossly perjured herself and to inform her that the only path to self -redemption is an unreserved apology not only to the Governor but also the people of Osun whom she had denigrated by her false and malicious allegations then, immediate resignation from office if she still has any modicum of respect for her office and the judiciary. She has unfortunately made herself a cancerous tumour that has to be surgically excised before it becomes dangerously malignant and pollutes the Judiciary. That is why the NJC has an urgent duty to perform here by neutralising this poison in their chalice and setting in motion their in-house disciplinary machinery if she refuses to toe the path of honour.
However, the Osun State House of Assembly should step to the plate and invoke their constitutional powers to remove her from office if the Judge fails to resign or the NJC abandons its duty. Her removal will be a great service to all stakeholders in the Nigerian project especially the people of Osun.
In conclusion, it is apposite to commend the Governor for his deft and democratic handling of this duplicity by the judge. By refusing to arm twist the House and by making himself available to the House for proper investigation, he has shown himself once again a truly democratic leader worthy of emulation by other Governors and public office holders in Nigeria. His leadership qualities cannot be ignored if Nigeria is to make the desired change. He has once again demonstrated tremendous goodwill thus raising the bar of democratic standards in Nigeria.

• Jimoh, is the Deputy Majority Leader in the Lagos state House of Assembly representing Apapa II Constituency.

THE NATION

It was just before night fall and the palace of the Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji was thick with people as tourists, fun-seekers and indigenes thronged the royal compound to witness the lighting of the 16-point lamp, Olojumerindinlogun.
Within the Osogbo cultural landscape, the lighting of the 16-point lamp is an important aspect of the annual Osun Osogbo festival. Expectedly, the all-night carnivalfeatured traditional dances and music from various dance groups within Osogboland.
The night started with the palace chiefs lighting the 16-point lamp just before dusk after which the king came out accompanied with other ranking chiefs to dance round it. The king first had two round of dancesaround the lampwhich was kept burning by a palace chief  who regularly added cotton wool soaked with palm oil to it. On the third round, the king and his palace chiefs took the dance rites around the city and beforethey returned, the lamps were put off and carried away to where it is stored till the next OsunOsogbo festival.
The spiritual significance of the lamp ritual can never be over-emphasized. Legend has it that the 16 point lamp was taken from the spirits in the Osogbo groove by a powerful hunter called Olutimehin. A ranking chief in the land, Chief Popoola Folarinwa, the Ajaguna of Osogboland said the lighting rites were in line with an instruction the hunter received from the goddess of Osogbo when he took the lamp from spirits in the forest.
He said: “The lamp is part of the history of the founding of Osogbo kingdom. There was an elephant hunter called Olutimehin. While searching for water during hunting in the Osun groove at night, he stumbled onsome spirits dancing around this lamp. As a powerful hunter, he overpoweredthem and took the lamp from them. But the goddess of the river warned that for him to keep the lamp, he will have to replicate thedance steps of the spirits around the lamp. That is how Osogbo kingdom came about the lamp andjust as we are doing tonight, in the last 600 years we have been doing it in compliance with what the deity requested.”
The Ajaguna said it takes no special ceremony to light or put off the lights on the lamps. However, he said two things must not happen; one, the lights must not go off when the king has not danced around it twice. Two the king must not return during his dance tour of the city to meet the lights burning. To ensure neither of the two undesirable events happen, a palace chief has to constantly stay around the lamp stand to keep it burning and put it off at the appropriate time.
To the Osogbo people the lighting of the lamp reminds them of their ties to the Osogbodeity. It is a time to renew and strengthen ancestral bonds.
He added, “It means we are fulfilling the mandate that was given to us by the goddess of Osun Osogbo who allowed the hunter to keep the lamp provided he dances the spirit dance. The annual Osun Osogbo festival is a paramount celebration in Osogbo and it gives us the opportunity to reconnect with the deity of the land. It is a festival no Osogbo man would want to miss.”
Apart from its spiritual significance, the lamp provided photo opportunities for indigenes and tourists alike who took turns to take photographs with it. Besides, in the chilly night breeze, the lamp provided warmth as people encircled it.
For Goldberg lager beer, it was yet another opportunity to treat tourists and visitors to a classy beer experience. A mobile cart was deployed at the king’s palace to serve visitors with Goldberg lager beer. For the third year running, Goldberg lager from the stables of Nigerian Breweries Plc.,is the official beer sponsor of the UNESCO-rated annual festival in Osogbo. Drinking Goldberg was being equated to being in sync with the Osun Osogbo festival.
Tourists, festival revelers and indigenes proudly displayed their Goldberg bottles and cans as they enjoyed into the night. The brand’s activities during the festival has reportedly boosted economic activities in the city. According to a source, the activation of the Goldberg beer village has provided direct jobs and income to some families in Osogbo.
THE NATION

The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has assured the people of its unalloyed support to President Muhammadu Buhari in its drive to change the fortune of the nation for better.

The Senate made this disclosure during a condolence visit to the Governor of Osun, on the transition to glory of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade on Wednesday in Osogbo.

The Head of the Senate delegation, Senator Adamu Abdulahi said that the Senate will leave no stone unturned in its effort to make sure that Buhari succeeds with the change project he has brought.

He promised that the eight Senate will remove all obstacles, seen and unseen that may impede Buhari’s success.

In his words,”I am assuring on behalf of my colleagues that we will leave no stone unturned to support President Muhammadu Buhari. We will surmount whatever obstacle, whether seen or unseen, this we assure Nigerians”.

Senator Adamu Abdulahi who was former Governor of Nasarawa State, described the Ooni as a stakeholder in the unity of Nigeria, a towering‎ personality and a bridge builder across all ethnics groups.

He said the Monarch always answered the call of any government in any matter that concerns the growth, development and progress of the nation.
The Senate in a letter signed by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said the demise of the Oba, who is a worthy Ambassador and a pride of the Yoruba race, is a very sad one.

The letter read, “The senate notes with sadness the demise of the Kabiyesi who was a worthy ambassador for Nigeria and a symbol of pride for the Yoruba race.

“It further notes that the monarch pursued the sustainability, unity and peaceful co-existence of every section of Nigeria. He was a great family man and highly revered in the Diaspora, he received many national and international awards in recognition of his various achievements.

“I pray Almighty Allah grant you the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. May the soul of Oba Sijuade find Al-jannat Firdaus, Amen.

“This letter conveys t‎he condolence of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Your Excellency and through you to the Government and people of Osun state as well as the family of the deceased”. The condolence letter stated.

In his response, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, who represented Governor Rauf Aregbesola urged members of the Upper Chamber to put aside their past differences ‎and work together to move the nation forward.

He charged them to lend their support for Pres‎ident Buhari to run the nation successfully.

He described the Late Ooni as a traditional ruler who combine‎d the office of an Oba with leadership of Yoruba race.

The governor noted that the monarch was a true representative of his people and their culture which he promoted both home and abroad.

According to him, “Do everything possible to put aside your individual differences and support the political will of President Buhari to change the nation for the better.

“I thank the senate immensely for moving the motion on the floor of the senate to sent a powerful delegation bearing condolence letter to the government, people of Osun and the family of the late monarch.

“Your letter is a manifestation of your love for our state and our esteemed late king.

“Oba Sijuade was a traditional ruler who combined the office of traditional administration of his domain with leadership of the Yoruba race. He was a worthy ambassador and a proter of Youruba culture ‎at home and abroad”.

Scores of ghost workers might have been detected in Osun State during the on-going ‘operation show your certificates screening and verification exercise’ in the state.
Investigation conducted revealed that the verification and screening exercise is on-going and yet to be completed, it was discovered scores of ghost workers were discovered in the local government, civil service and teaching service in the state.
The actual figure is not officially known as at the time of filling this report, it was gathered that some faceless workers who were drawing salaries from the coffer of the state were discovered.
Another set of ghost workers were drawing salaries from the purse of the state but were actually living in Ibadan, Oyo State, not working for the money they are drawing from the state.
The operation show your certificates and verification screening exercise was reached between the labour movement and the state during the current unpaid salaries impasse when the number of workers drawing salaries from the state government came up for scrutiny.
There are about 35,000 workers on the payroll of the state government leaving the government with N3.6billion wage bill monthly.
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Jacob Babatunde Adekomi while speaking at the just concluded stakeholders’ conference organised by state legislators both in the state and National Assembly told the state government that the issue of salaries needed to be reviewed adding that the labour movement believed that there are possibilities of ghost workers among 35,000 workforce in the state.
Adekomi noted that chunk of workers of the state had left service in 2012 during the implementation of the contributory pension scheme in the state.
Both the state government and labour thereafter agreed that the screening exercise be conducted immediately after the suspension of strike over unpaid salaries to workers in the state.
As at the time of filling this report, the actual figure of ghost workers could not be determined as none of the ministry officials are ready to speak on the development.
The exercise is still on and once the exercise is completed, the report will be made public by the state government.

“He explained that during the time of Bola Ige, “the government bought equipment for us and we paid back. The difference is that only Aregbesola has given us interest-free loan in the history of this state.”
 
Notwithstanding the challenges the Osun State Government is experiencing in the area of paying workers’ salaries, the success story of the loan scheme evolved by Governor Aregbesola-led administration last year in order to boost the economy of the state is worthy of note. The initiative aimed at moving the state away from being a civil service state to an economically-viable one through the revolving loans.
This is the view of the General Manager, Osun Micro-Credit Agency, Mr. Dayo Babaranti, who explained to Southwest Report that “the agency has extended credit facilities to 133 small and medium enterprises, 800 co-operative societies; 9,955 individuals across the 30 local government areas and the Area Office in Modakeke.
He said: “The agency came into being in June, last year and was launched at Freedom Park Osogbo where the people were told of the enormous opportunities accruable to them through the interest-free loan.
“The government has warned that nobody must be left out in the programme. One good thing is that we still have the opportunity of accessing the N2 billion micro-small and medium enterprises development fund from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“So, we have accessed N1.675 billion from that money. In fact, the CBN has sent a delegation to inspect what we are doing and they confirmed from all the beneficiaries of the loan that we actually disbursed the money.
“The belief of the government is that micro-finance banks are closer to the petty traders and that was why they said we should use micro-finance banks because the people who are in need of the money are those people selling pepper, foodstuffs and the likes.
“Secondly, our own demand is not as cumbersome as orthodox commercial banks. People are very appreciative of the gesture and more so, it is interest-free. When the programme was launched, some people did not believe it. It is unlike the Islamic banking system which shares profit equally with the customer. In this case, the government is saying, use this money for one year, don’t pay any interest; just pay back the principal. You can see that it is rare.
“The interest element on this money that the beneficiary should have paid is a cost borne by the government. The state government underwrites the interest just to alleviate poverty and take burden off the citizens of Osun State.
“The zero-interest of the facility has forced all micro-finance banks in the state to review downward the hitherto high interest rates to borrowers. The participating micro-finance banks have also employed more staff to manage the funds under the scheme.
“We have placed priority on the co-operative groups for the disbursement of the loans under this programme because they know themselves. We have one year, three years and five years tenures, among others. There is nowhere in the word that they will give you N100, 000 and ask you to pay N100, 000 back after one year. That is why this scheme is far better than the so-called interest-free Islamic banking system. In this scheme, nobody is sharing profit. Your profit is gross to you, just pay back the principal.
“The state government is responsible for our salaries. It is an agency of government. We have a full room that contains the form of applicants.”
Speaking on the impacts of the programme, Babaranti said it has improved employment. The SMEs we give are those that are manufacturing and or producing different type of things. As a result of increment in their capital, they have employed extra hands.
“People who have benefited from this programme are paying tax which improved the state’s internally-generated revenue (IGR). Most of those motorcyclists have learnt one trade or the other. It was during the documentation that we discovered this. It was because of lack of capital to buy instrument and start their own businesses that turned them to street boys, okada riders and people who foment trouble. This has also led to the reduction in crime rate as we have given money to those classes of people to start their own businesses.
One of the beneficiaries, who is also the General Manager, Lawod Metal Limited, Mr. Funso Olawoye, said: “We benefited from Osun Micro-Credit Agency. It has enabled us to improve on our productions as more workers were also employed. Babaranti, however, commended the beneficiaries for being committed to the repayment guidelines and procedures.
“There was a moratorium of six months during which we will begin paying the loan; which is from this month. It is interest-free and a three-year term. I have procured more equipment with the money.”
He explained that during the time of Bola Ige, “the government bought equipment for us and we paid back. The difference is that only Aregbesola has given us interest-free loan in the history of this state.
“We must praise Governor Aregbesola and at the same time we want to urge the government to expand the scope on this free-interest loan. We want them to patronise local manufacturers and pay us on time,” he said.
On the number of employees in his company, Olawoye said: “We have over 50 personnel that are permanent in this company and we hope to increase it to 100 if there is fund to increase production.”
Recounting his experience, Director Alaral Technical, who is the state chairman of Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Produce Spare Parts Mr Ali Alabi said: “Personally, I have benefited from the micro-credit loan and I know many of our members also benefited, particularly in the N220 billion Federal Government SME’s funds.
“Incidentally, N2 billion of that belonged to Osun State which the state government, through the Micro-Credit Finance have disbursed.

“We used to have what we call Small-Scale Industrial Credit Scheme, which was inherited from the old Oyo State. The state government also partners with Bank of Industry (BOI) for SME funding which some of our members also benefited from.
“The most recent is the intervention fund by the CBN released for SME which is particularly of interest to me because it is interest-free. It is not interest-free at the national level but the Osun State Government decided to pay the interest. It was disbursed with no interest to all those that applied through the SME.
“I can authoritatively say that the interest is written off by the state government and that is a very big plus. Before now, we have been clamouring for fund for development with generous interest rate but this one is a good one. We have been asking the Federal Government and the BoI to reduce the rate of SME development fund to 2% or 2.5% that is obtainable in the Southeast Asia, India and China. The maximum interest rate for SME is between 2% and 2.5%.
“The tenure given to us is a good one; it ranges between five years and 15 years. There is nothing you want to do with that money that you will not make it on the long run.
“One, the interest rate is very low. Two, the moratorium is there. Then the tenure is also long. That is what we have been clamouring for in Nigeria. If we have to compete with the developed countries such as China and India, our funding must be competitive.
“Though the money has helped us a lot, the major problem we experience currently is that the economy is so dull. We pray that the change in government will change the tide of things because the situation is very terrible.
According to Alabi, Osun State remains a civil service state. We supply spare parts to Nigeria Breweries, Cocoa Products Industry (CPI) in Ede and many other places.
Commenting on whether the state could be moved to an industrialised one away from civil service state, he said: “It is possible. Look at CPI Ede, when it was functioning, not less than 1,000 people were benefiting indirectly from it. The area was like market every day. In fact, people used to come from Ghana to buy ashes there. They employed not less than 500 workers. They have some contractors which I am one of them. We supply spare parts and also carry out repairs for them.”
THE NATION