The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has described the victory recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Saturday election as a fulfilment of the vision of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

This was just as Aregbesola described the outcome of the poll as a watershed in the annals of democratic elections in Nigeria.

The governor in a broadcast to the people of the state noted that the election of Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari as president of Nigeria is the culmination of the struggle for the enthronement of a people-driven democratic governance in the country.

Aregbesola reminded Nigerians that Awolowo had in 1983 predicted that the progressive elements in the North and South would one day come together for the liberation of the country.

He pointed out that the progressives have always wanted to come together in the past but their march had always been stopped by cruel fate.

The governor cited the example of intention of the coming together of the progressives under the United Progressives Grand Alliance (UPGA) in the First Republic that was cut short by military rule in 1966.
Aregbesola also pointed out the progressive tendency of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), that produced the Chief Moshood Abiola presidential election of 1993 which was brought to an abrupt end by the military after the election was annulled.

According to him, “the APC however, is an idea whose time has come and there can be no stopping the match of history. It is significant that Chief Awolowo was instrumental to the formation of UPGA and PPA.
“Awoists formed the bulk of SDP in the South West. Also, the dominant party in the South West that became a major partner in APC was an offshoot of Awolowo’s Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN). I congratulate you all for being part of the making of history”.

He commended the people of Osun for their determination, orderly procession and peaceful conduct before and after the polls, saying that the sacrifice of the whole election day has shown their commitment to the defence of democracy.
‎
Aregbesola said that the pattern of the election in Osun was consistent with what obtained since 2011 general elections barely 6 months after he assumed office and last year’s governorship election in the state.

“It is greatly significant how the election went in Osun. Your enthusiastic response, determination, orderly procession and conduct, peaceful disposition and commitment to the defence of democracy all shone through.
“We saw the various categories of people, young, old, men, women, the aged and the physically challenged, all trouped to the various polling stations to perform their civic duties. Because of vehicular restriction, many had to trek for long distances to get to their polling stations, in order to vote.
“You all willingly sacrificed a whole day to be able to cast your votes to elect the president and federal lawmakers, in order to help shape the direction of the governance of our nation in the next four years.
“You voted and stood by your votes until they were counted and defended the integrity of the election. Your enthusiasm did not wane, even where voting started late and continued till the next day”. The governor emphasised.
He stressed that, with last presidential election, there is a measure of assurance that political power is now returning to the people through the democratic process.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Sunday described the former Governor of Lagos State Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, as a formidable political warrior whose exploits have advanced the cause of democracy in the country.

Aregbesola, in a special birthday greeting in honour of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, said the present and future of Nigeria’s democracy would depend largely on the sacrifices already made by the likes of Tinubu.

In a statement on behalf of the Governor by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola extolled the virtues of Tinubu, whom he said had been visionary, perseverant, and committed to the institution of good governance and enduring democratic ideals in Nigeria.

“At 63, he represents the most formidable bundle of energy in the fight for the installation of a true democratic society in our country. From a humble professional beginning, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has emerged as the most creative public financial manager of all times that I have met.

“He has equally emerged a giant political figure whose contributions have enriched our political history.

“The history of Nigeria’s modern democracy would be incomplete without the struggles and sacrifices made by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.”

Aregbesola said the battle for the institution of a culture of transparent and credible elections in Nigeria has not been without the robust contribution of Asiwaju Tinubu, adding that he has been very consistent in his opposition against the government at the centre because of its anti-people policies.

Aregbesola prayed for long life for the former governor adding that Nigeria would continue to reap from his unmistakable commitment to the good of the common man.

*Says Nigeria must get it right for Africa to get it right

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Saturday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the successful use of the card reader for the 2015general election.

The governor made this remark after casting his vote at the Ifofin Ward 8 in Ilesha East Local Government of Osun.

Aregbesola in company with his wife and mother around 2pm noted that the card reader device has advanced the voting experience of Nigerians, which has drastically reduced possible manipulation of electoral process.

According to the governor, the ongoing 2015 general election in the state is far better than what was witnessed in the August 9 governorship election in the state in 2014.

He commended the security arrangement, which he described as being civil in contrast with what the people of the state experience in the last August poll in the state, where security agents were used to harass and intimidate voters.

Aregbesola recalled that the people of the state will not forget in a hurry the siege laid on the state by the deployment of large number of security agents reminiscent of a state of war.

He noted that despite the initial pocket of hiccups in the use of the innovative electronic device, subsequent elections would be better held.

“We must give it to those who introduced the use of card readers in this election because the introduction has improved the processes in terms of efficiency and credibility of the voting exercise.

“In spite of the little complaints reported in few locations, we still must give it to INEC for the success so far recorded being the first test the card reader is undergoing.

“In terms of security, the situation in Osun now is different from what happened in the August 9 governorship election where hooded men, terrorists and other fake security agents were deployed to intimidate the people, though the people refused to be intimidated.

“In this election, the security men had learnt to be decorous in their conduct. The exude dignity that should be in the security operations,” Aregbesola said.

Pictures of the South west ccordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Presidential Campaign, Governor Rauf Aregbesola casting his vote at  Unit 4, Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area, State of Osun, during the Presidential and National Assemblies Elections,on Saturday, 28/03/2015.

South west ccordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Presidential Campaign, Governor
Rauf Aregbesola casting his vote at Unit 4, Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa
East Local Government Area, State of Osun, during the Presidential and
National Assemblies Elections,on Saturday, 28/03/2015.

South west ccordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Presidential Campaign, Governor
Rauf Aregbesola casting his vote at Unit 4, Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa
East Local Government Area, State of Osun, during the Presidential and
National Assemblies Elections,on Saturday, 28/03/2015.

Wife of the Governor, State of Osun, Sherifat Aregbesola and
Aregbesola’s Mother, Alhaja Sarat, casting votes at Unit 4, Ward 8,
Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area, State of Osun, during the
Presidential and National Assemblies Elections,on Saturday,
28/03/2015.

Wife of the Governor, State of Osun, Sherifat Aregbesola and
Aregbesola’s Mother, Alhaja Sarat, casting votes at Unit 4, Ward 8,
Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area, State of Osun, during the
Presidential and National Assemblies Elections,on Saturday,
28/03/2015.

South west Coordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Campaign, Governor Rauf
Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from his admirers after casting vote
at Unit 4, Ward 8, Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area, State of
Osun, during the Presidential and National Assemblies Elections,on
Saturday, 28/03/2015.

There is a financial mathematical inclination to believe that about N142 billion dollars (N28.4 trillion naira) have been missing under NNPC and allied institutions since the inception of Jonathan administration in 2010 in the midst of national poverty. Who stole it and where is it kept. Nigerians must demand to know those who embezzled $142 billion dollars (N28 trillion naira) in five years or else there is no hope for the future generations. This is far above the S20 billion dollars revealed as missing under the former Governor of Central Bank Sanusi Lamido who was fired exposing monumental corruption in the high places.

I have released a report last year March where using the benchmark of 45 months and excluding the stolen funds from excess crude account, the probable missing fund is S90 and $115 billion dollars. That time I deliberately chose to ignore some other corrupt indices in the oil sector. This report is to update the report of 2014.

Sanusi Lamido, when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance in February 2014, said that “as far as the Central Bank is concerned, the most important point to establish is that there is a difference of $20 billion between what NNPC shipped and what it repatriated”. The Government has hidden the details of the forensic audit report on issues raised by Sanusi, releasing few doctored information.

Adams Oshiomhole, Governor of Edo State and former Labor leader in Nigeria for close to a decade who was involved in all petroleum related strikes, negotiations and resolutions with the Federal Government said that $27 billion dollars that should be in excess crude account has been stolen. Oshiomhole opined that “Nigeria’s budgets for the past three years have been based on the average of $77 and $79, while the average price of the country’s crude has been $108 per barrel, which gives an average surplus of $30 per barrel.

“Ideally, we ought to be saving $36 per barrel on the 2.3 million barrel a day over the past three years and if you look at these numbers you will find that what we have in our excess crude oil account should be over $30billion but as we speak, we have barely $3 billon in our excess crude account,”

The Managing Director of Shell Group, Mr Mutiu Sumonu revealed that $5 billion dollars is stolen annually by oil bunkerers. Speaking at the Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Up-Stream) and Navy in 2012, Sumonu said that “The scale of crude oil theft now is more than what the oil companies can handle. It is extremely pervasive now. If you over-fly the whole of our operational areas in the Niger Delta, you will see canoes, barges and illegal refineries all over the place…”The country is losing about 150,000 barrels of crude oil per day, the equivalent of $5 billion per annum. Imagine what that amount of money could do to our economy if we chose to put it into the power sector”.

The Chairman House ad-hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Bashir Adamu, revealed that $5 billion dollars is annually stolen by oil thieves. Speaking during the inauguration of the Committee in 2013, Bashir disclosed that “The oil and gas industry accounts for about two-thirds of government revenue and more than 90 per cent of export earnings in Nigeria. “Illegal bunkering has caused Nigeria to lose an estimated $5 billion (N780 billion) yearly, amounting to $400 billion since Nigeria’s independence”

The Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Andrew Yakubu, said that Nigeria lost $11 billion dollars to crude oil theft in 2013 alone. While disclosing this at the Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja in March 2014, Yakubu said that “in 2013 alone, the country lost 300,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd). By implication, computing these figures at an average price of $100 per barrel, it would result in a total loss of $10,950,000,000 (300,000 x $100 per barrel x 365 days= $10,950,000,000) in 2013 alone”.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Mr Dikko Inde, revealed that the nation lost N603.8 billion naira ($4 billion dollars) to waivers in 9 months, out of which N263 billion naira was for petroleum products. Speaking when he appeared before the Joint Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriation in 2013, The Customs boss said that “of the N603.8 billion, N263.8 billion was lost to waiver granted on importation of petroleum products.”

A report by a Swiss based non-governmental advocacy group titled “Swiss Traders Opaque Deals in Nigeria,” the Berne Declaration’, outlined how the NNPC, in connivance with two Swiss oil trading companies- Vitol and Trafigura, drained Nigeria of over $6.8 billion in subsidy payments through shady deals involving lifting of crude oil at prices far below what obtained in the open market. This revelation sparked off outrage in Nigeria’s Senate in November 2013 but the lawmakers have probably forgiven the offenders.

In 2012, following the exposition of another $ 1 billion dollars Malabu Oil Scam where funds were wired into the private accounts of some friends of government, the embarrassed Nigeria Senate mandated its Committee on Upstream and Finance to investigate everything about the Malabu/ OPL 245 deal.

The investigation has yielded nothing.

According to Hon Farouk Lawan ad-hoc Committee on Subsidy report, N1.2 trillion ($ 6.8 billion dollars) was overpayments in subsidy, which they asked the indicted companies to refund to the government coffers. The Committee had reported that contrary to earlier figures from various official sources, subsidy payment of N2.59 trillion had been made as at 31st December, 2011, an amount more than 900 percent over the appropriated sum of N245 billion.”

In addition, there are “outstanding claims by NNPC and the marketers in excess of N270 billion as subsidy payments for 2011.” The Committee, in its report, established that “NNPC was found not to be accountable to anybody or authority”. Based on these findings, the committee recommended among others that, “ii. The freezing of the accounts and recovery of all illegal payments made to the Petroleum marketing firms, the NNPC, PPPRA and others which, according to the House Committee, amount to N1.2 trn or $6.8bn”

In my earlier report published in March, 2014, I used the benchmark of 45 month, which is from the period Jonathan became President till when Sanusi spilled in 2014. For the current computation, it will count from when Jonathan became the substantive President till May 29th, when he would have finished his first tenure which is sixty months, i.e., two months away.

Though the NNPC had agreed that under their watch, $ 11 billion dollars was stolen in 2013 alone, we shall still use the conservative figure of $ 5 billion dollars annually to calculate the oil theft. The use of least average in cost computations is applied.

Going further, In Jonathan’s 60 month period ending May 29, 2015, there is a probability that the sums stated below might have totally missed if he fails to tackle corruption within NNPC.

(1) $20 billion dollars missing in 18 months =$1.1 billion monthly x 60 months =$ 66 billion dollars.

(2) $ 30 dollars per barrel above budget benchmark of $ 79 dollars not accounted for meant for excess crude account = $27 billion dollars

(3)$5 billion dollars lost annually to oil thieves =$0.41 billion monthly x 60 months=$ 25 billion dollars

(4) $1.5 billion dollars (N263 billion naira) lost to suspicious waiver on petroleum products in 9 months=$0.16 billion monthly x 60 months= $ 9.6billion dollars

(5) Subsidy Scam of 2011=$ 6.8 billion dollars

(6) Swiss-NNPC Oil Scam of 2013=$ 6.8 billion dollars

(7) Malabu Oil Scam of 2011=$1 billion dollars

Total probable missing/ stolen or unremitted Oil funds in 60 months = 142.2 billion dollars.

In an earlier piece first published in April 2012 and titled, ‘How Babangida, Abacha, Obasanjo shared Nigeria’s Oil Blocks’, and latest one titled ‘30 Facts about Owners of Nigeria’s Richest Oil Blocks’ I had opined that “Discretionary allocation of oil blocks entails that a president can reward a mistress who performs wonderfully with an oil block with capacity for cumulative yield of over $20 billion dollars without recourse to any process outside of manhood attachments”.

I also added in the report that” those in the petroleum industry dread retirements as though it is tantamount to hell fire. No matter how little your influence, something substantial must enter your hands especially in hard currency. The nation loses billions of dollars in diverted revenue whenever any round of auction occurs”. The Jonathan led government seems too frightened to fight corruption.. Who is he afraid of.

The volume of corruption as recently revealed by state agencies had shown that what was contained in that report was a mere tip of the iceberg. NNPC has proven worse than Boko Haram and this Economic Boko Haram and their helpers in government are responsible for sending lots of Nigerians to early grave through poverty, insecurity, diseases, deplorable road conditions and other harsh living conditions. Nigeria must insist on a full probe of the criminality that went on under NNPC and their allied accomplices in government. Failure to institute an independent probe and bring all the thieves to book, Nigeria risks a violent revolution.

Power is responsibility.

 Obinna Akukwe

All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has debunked the rumour making the rounds that the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, was planning a massive retrenchment of senior civil servants on grade level 12 and above, including other workers above the age of 50 from the state’s employment after the general elections.
A statement by the party’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the APC described the rumour as, “The usual silly spin of falsehood characteristic of PDP’s evil genius for manufacturing and propagating wicked lies especially in Osun state.”
According to the APC, “At no time did Aregbesola contemplate to retrench any staff of any grade or age, and no such thing will be allowed to happen any time soon or in the future.
The statement read in part: “From day one, the policy of gainful employment of the APC governor, Rauf Aregbesola, had been, continues to remain and will be the intensified mantra of the party in the months and years ahead. The only monstrous obstacle to this policy is the evil construct of the PDP-led Federal Government in starving Osun State of its legitimate statutory funding.
“Not many people knew, until Governor Fashola of Lagos State revealed recently, that to further starve APC states in particular of funding assistance, the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, ordered the banks not to help fund state government projects.
“This kind of frustrating impediment is what the PDP is using to force states of the opposition to look for ways to overcome deliberate strangulation, through forced retirement of workers.
“But the APC government is more innovative and constructive than the PDP had imagined.
“Rather than contemplate retrenchment as being schemed, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is planning the creation of more jobs for the people; and one of the ways, indeed the most effective way to achieve this for Nigerians, is to defeat the PDP on March 28 and April 11 presidential and general elections.”
VANGUARD

11 days to presidential elections. If you’re voting remember these factors:

1. The Chibok Girls;

2. NNPC Scam;

3. Police pension fund;

4. Missing N20Billion;

5. $9million Arms deal;

6. Bomb Blasts;

7. Immigration job Scam;

8. Petroleum pump price.

9. Devaluation of Naira;

10. Oil Theft;

11. Power Outage;

12. Selling of NEPA;.

13. Selling of Refineries;

14. Skyrocketed NEPA Bills;

15. ASUU and Polytecnic Strike;

16. Healthworkers Strike;

17. National Assembly Tragedy;

18. Stella’s Oduah Aviation Scam; and

20. Kerosene Subsidy————–

They Didn’t Raise N21Billion for Ebola; They Didn’t Raise N21Billion for dilapidated hospitals; They didn’t raise N21Billion for Military Weapons against Boko Haram; They Didn’t raise N21Billion for Flood Victims; They Didn’t raise N21Billion for Children dying of Vaccine preventable diseases; They didn’t raise N21Billion for the homeless>:O  BUT they all gathered to raise N21Billion for another 4Years of INEPTITUDE AND BAD GOVERNANCE.

We must vote Jonathan out of Aso Rock. So if you are not part of them, forward it to many and God will bless you as you do so!

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has reminded the people of the state of the urgent need for change as the only necessary antidote to the nation’s political and socio-economic hardship.

In a statement by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the Governor was quoted as speaking in a round-off campaign for the All Progressive Congress candidates from presidential to the State House of Assembly positions.

He was quoted as tasking people to vote APC candidates all through.

The governor in company with the former Governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, on Tuesday traversed several towns and local governments in Osun Central Senatorial districts flanked by three senatorial candidates in the state, nine Federal House of Representatives and 28 House of Assembly candidates.

Some of the towns the campaign train visited include Oba-Ile, Oba-Oke in Olorunda Local Government; Eko-Ende, Eko-Ajala in Ifelodun Local Government and Ore, Agbeye, Ekosin in Odo-Otin Local Government.

Aregbesola reminded the crowd at every campaign ground of the need for them to be resolute on how to return the nation to path of progress and development by voting General Muhammadu Buhari on March 28 to rescue the nation from its present doldrums.

He averred that what the country yearns for now is a brave, patriotic and committed leader like Buhari for its dwindling fortunes to stop.

He said that with Buhari as President, the nation will witness tremendous turn around because APC’s programmes are targeted at the mass of Nigerian people.

“I can assure you that the March 28 election is a crucial one for us. It is an election we in APC intend to use to free the nation from the clutches of politically fickle leaders.

“Buhari had been tested before. We knew how he once rescued the country from the precipice during the Second Republic.

“Given this antecedent, Buhari is ready again to lead the country out of the woods the sixteen years of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has led it into.

“Therefore, vote for APC at all levels of government so that we can all rescue our country from PDP’s endless years of hunger, hardship and servitude,” Aregbesola said.

He also educated the people on the best ways to go about voting during the elections, during which he also presented the party’s candidates to them one after another.

For Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the best thing that could happen to Nigeria is the Buhari Presidency.

He told the people to troop out in large number to cast their votes for APC if they actually want the nationwide insecurity, unemployment and hardship to a thing of the past.

“All I can tell you, our dear people and supporters, is to let us all come together and end these years of misrule.

“We can only effect this change by closing rank jointly and firmly resolve to go in one direction. This resolution to vote no other party than APC is a task that must be performed,” Oyinlola said

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun State, Dr. Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola, has handed over transcribed voter education materials to People with Disabilities (PWD) in the state to acquit them with the materials ahead of the March 28 and April 11 elections.
The materials were handed over to their representatives at a meeting held with zonal representatives of People with Disabilities (PWDs).
Braille voter education materials for the visually impaired frequently asked questions on electoral process, posters, correct thumb printing pad, general election dates and types, election offences and penalties, fliers and voting procedures and card readers were parts of the materials handed over to them.

According to him, INEC under the chairmanship of Professor Attahiru Jega was determined to empower disadvantaged citizens through innovative programmes such as Braille materials for the visually impaired group.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

The All Progressive Congress (APC), Ijesa North Federal Constituency, has expressed displeasure over the alleged attacks on its members. The Chairman, Campaign committee of Ijesa North Federal Constituency, Wale Bolorunduro, spoke at a press conference on Tuesday, in Osogbo.‎
Displaying photographs of brutalized victims, Bolorunduro said the APC has asked its loyalists not to reprise any attack. Bolorunduro lamented that security agencies in the state had refused to act on petition and reports sent to them on the activities of the hoodlums. He said, “The police have failed to make any arrest, as the perpetrators of the dastardly acts are moving freely in the communities. All of these attacks, were reported to the police in the local governments where they occurred. It is on record that none of the individuals mentioned at the police stations have been arrested for questioning.”
He called on the Police, Department of State Security Services (SSS), to intervene as a means to ensure the protection of its members. While lamenting that majority of schools in Ilase had been closed by the state government because of the terror activities, he noted that the hoodlums had engaged in consistent sporadic shootings.
He added, “We are not satisfied with the physical attacks on the APC members and supporter, the opposition also went ahead to set the shop of Ade, popularly called Gereko on fire in Ilase and destroyed many properties. “On Friday, March 13th, the APC had a rally in Ilase, Obokun Local Government and ‎we discovered that the banner around the rostrum had been purportedly torn by Fadahunsi’s thugs.”
Responding to the allegations, the spokesperson for Fadahushi Campaign Organisation, Mr. Sola Olowoye, alleged that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, were also attacked in the area. He said, “The truth is that, Mr. Jumoke Ogunkeyede, an indigene of Ilase, with about 10 men working for APC, descended on one of the drivers working with Fadahunshi campaign organisation, who was pasting posters and beat him up.
“The allegations that Fadahunshi’s men are attacking APC in Ilase is unfounded and can only emanate from the domain of a party that has lost touch with the grass roots.”
DAILY TIMES