The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has urged Christians and Nigerians of other faiths to take advantage of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ to pray for peace and the sustainability of a one Nigeria free from the carnage of insurgency.

Aregbesola also enjoined them to always strive to be role models as Christ, according to him, lived and died propagating the message of love, peace and truthful co-existence among mankind.

‎The Governor, in a Christmas message released by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, urged Christians to reflect and re-dedicate themselves to the teachings and lifestyle of Christ, which were anchored on sacrifice, love, peace and truth.

Specifically, Aregbesola reminded Nigerians of the need to intensify prayers for the success of the 2015 general elections, calling on Christians to also supplicate for the nation to overcome the security challenges in the North-East and other parts of Nigeria.
He added that harmony is the bedrock of national development and peace.

Aregbesola, quoting from 1 John 4:7 said, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God … Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us” said Osun had demonstrated in very clear terms the freedom of all to choose their faiths according to their convictions adding that such understanding had assisted in promoting religious harmony in the state.

“With this, we have been able to promote communal peace and development which is one of our six point action plans in an atmosphere where everyone loves one another,” he noted.

The governor urged the people of Osun to use the period of the Christmas to pray for the state so that development, peace and security would continue to reign.

‎The governor noted that the peace Osun is witnessing under his administration can be associated with the prayers of all religions in the state and the commitment of government to providing good governance.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has reminded Nigerians that the country needs Buhari at this critical time when the country has been driven to a precipice just as the former Head of State came at the nick of time in 1983 when the conservative National Party of Nigeria had brought the country to her knees.

Aregbesola said Nigerians must recollect that the economy, security and social welfare of the citizens had been completely destroyed after the defunct NPN’s rule from 1979 to 1983 when the military took over and gave Buhari the platform to restore the hope of Nigerians. He said the Peoples Democratic Party has done worst damage to the country.

He however noted the significant difference in the Buhari of 2014 who is a civilian and a democrat and the Buhari of 1983 who was a soldier.

The governor said the first step towards salvaging Nigeria from the claws of death by the PDP is to vote out the party, demanding for explanations why there is so much poverty and misery in the country despite the fortunes it had been blessed with.

The governor, in a release by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, was quoted as speaking when labour leaders in the state met him to submit a report of the efforts by workers in the state to development fresh means of economic sustenance for the state and increasing the internally generated revenue of the state. He also spoke at another forum of directors of water and other environment officials

Aregbesola, who reeled out series of social disorders caused by the Peoples Democratic Party government, said, “In 1983 it was Buhari that God sent to rescue the situation of Nigerians where the conservative elements had brought Nigeria to a rot. Buhari has come again to lead us out of the quagmire and sweep away all three anti-democratic and anti-development elements who have brought Nigeria to this deplorable state.

“The PDP and their wicked allies have been known over the decades for misery. If you have them around you for whatever reason, you would realise that they represent nothing other than misery. They represent the best of wickedness, misery and misfortune. Only the misguided would claim to belong to the PDP in Nigeria.

Aregbesola said the Goodluck Jonathan and PDP cannot be excused from the various crises bedeviling the country today adding that a country that sold crude oil above $100 for more than three years must be asked what it has done with the huge resources that accrued to it.

He said, “The responsibility for the economic tragedy that we are witnessing in Nigeria today rests permanently and absolutely on the PDP and its government at the federal level. There is no way that party and its government can be excused. As a first step to salvage our nation, we must vote out PDP.

“How can we explain that oil sold for more than three years above 100 Dollars level and yet we are faced with this calamity without any redemption in sight? How can we explain it?”

Aregbesola expressed confidence in the capacity of the Osun people to make the best choice saying “Our people can distinguish between the selfish and the selfless.

“Those who voted for me in the August 9 election in Osun have another assignment on their hands. If you voted for me and you don’t vote for Buhari and our representatives in the next elections, you have missed it.”

He said all Nigerians require is a careful easing out of Jonathan and an installation of a government that knows what to do with power to transform the lives of the masses.

“Don’t fight. Don’t carry cutlasses, guns or any other thing. Just go to the polling booths on that day and vote for our party. That is the power we all have to rescue ourselves from these elements.

“If we love ourselves, our towns and our country, we must all promote Buhari and campaign for him vigorously.”

The State of Osun, Laface Entertainment and Plus One Media have concluded plans to ensure each New Year in the state is celebrated in grand style.
Going into 2015, the tallest traditional gong (Agogo) would be unveiled in the state. This, according to a statement made available to NIgeriafilms.com, is part of the major activities lined up to countdown into the New Year.
Laface, a reputable show promoter, commended the government of Lagos State, which has joined the countdown festivities with an array of stars and colourful fireworks, making the Bar Beach a focal point for the New Year festivities.
But he said in the statement that even though major cities of the world usher in the New Year with scintillating fireworks display, Nigeria can never do it better than the Chinese, Europeans, Americans, and Australians, who have been practising it for a long time.
He said it is important for Nigerians to “think, be creative, dig deep and …create a new year countdown that is synonymous to our culture”, which will grow to become “a major tourism earner, thus creating a major spectacle for the whole world and at the same time break world records as the new year rolls in.”
According to the statement, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, has thrown his full weights behind the idea.
The statement also hinted that the dress code for the occasion is the traditional attire and would hold at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park.
The traditional gong (Agogo) in the Yoruba kingdom has a long history. Back then, it was used as a means of communication in the village square, as the people gather to listen to the kings message bearer.
 

Photos showing the Round about in front of State Government Secretariat being decorated Christmas light in celebration of end of the year 2014 and welcoming the new year 2015, at Osogbo State Capital on Wednesday 24-12-2014

Shows Okefia, one of the streets in Osogbo being decorated with
christmas light by the State Government of Osun in celebtration of the
end of year 2014 and to welcome year 2015 on Wednesday 24-12-2014

Shows Okefia, one of the streets in Osogbo being decorated with
christmas light by the State Government of Osun in celebtration of the
end of year 2014 and to welcome year 2015 on Wednesday 24-12-2014

Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday presented the 2015 budget estimate of N197,080,191,560.00 to the State House of Assembly for consideration and approval.
The estimate tagged “Budget of Renewed Hope”, is less than that of the current year which is N234billion.
The Capital Expenditure is N110 billion while the total recurrent expenditure is N87 billion, with the economic sector, covering agriculture and rural development, rural/urban electrification, commerce, industry, finance and transportation taking the largest chunk of N41.6 billion.
The total recurrent revenue is N132 billion, while the capital revenue is N65 billion.
Presenting the budget before the assembly, the governor who was represented by the permanent secretary, Office of Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Segun Olorunsogo, said the budget would consolidate the various achievements made in the last four years to transform the state.
The governor explained that the budget would also ensure the completion of ongoing projects and commencement of new ones that will have positive impact on the socio-economic life of citizens of the state.
Receiving the budget, the speaker, Mr Najeem Salaam said the House would do justice to the budget and make necessary adjustments, either upward or downward, if the need arises before it is passed.
He called on the people of the state to exercise patience, noting that the financial challenges being faced now is due to paucity of funds arising from the consistent drop in the allocation from the federation account.
LEADERSHIP

It was a momentous occasion for the pupils of selected private schools in the State of Osun recently when the wife of the governor, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola, showered them with Christmas gifts.
The occasion was the 2014 flag of cer­emony of Osun State Broadcasting Corpora­tion (OSBC) Christmas Show which the governor’s wife.
The amiable woman commonly referred to as Omoluabi (Noble) by friends and well-wishers, spent quality time with her young friends, hugging and dancing with them indiscriminately. She didn’t stop at that. She also identified with the physically challenged among them. She did not only give them gifts , she also danced with them excitedly.
Altogether, Mrs. Aregbesola presented gift packages numbering about 700 to the various schools. The teachers and staff of the selected schools that turned up in their large numbers were excited by the privilege to lead their pupils to participate in the event.
A couple of them told SWM that it was a rare privilege as many schools looked forward to be selected but were not lucky.
Addressing the guests, Mrs. Aregbesola expressed delight at being part of the show. She commended the management and board of OSBC for not only putting the programme together, but also deeming it necessary to involve her as an energizer and to identify with the children whom she described as leaders of tomorrow. She urged parents and guardians to show adequate commitment to the education of their children and wards, stressing that any­thing contrary to that was against the govern­ment’s policy on education.
To the school children, she said: “Try as much as possible to show adequate commit­ment to your studies in order to become useful to yourselves and the society in future.”
She also cautioned them against actions capable of causing disaffection in their families and the society and asked them persistently to shun social vices and grow up as responsible citizens.
Also, Senator Olusola Adeyeye, while speaking through his representative, Ademola Adefila, commended OSBC for organising the programme to make the children happy at Christmas and Governor Rauf Aregbesola for making education one of the priority pro­grammes of his administration.
The OSBC’s board chairman, Mr. Kola Akanji, restated the corporation’s pledge to go the whole hog in ensuring the continuity of the Father Christmas Show, noting that with the bumper successes it had recorded since it debuted, it had come to stay. According to him, it was a part of the organisation’s social responsibility to serve every segment of the society, including the children.
The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr. Akinola Owolabi, in a remark, commend­ed the First Lady’s kind gesture and assured her of OSBC’s continued commitment to the children’s programmes in tandem with govern­ment’s educational policy.
He also lauded the board and management of OSBC and the staff for their efforts to make this year’s edition of OSBC Father Christmas Show a reality.
Enter the Father Christmas who was the toast of the event. As he sat among the eminent dignitaries at the head table, Santa Claus was the focus of the children who had looked forward to meeting him one on one and also to collect gifts from him. And when it was time to do that, proud mothers with their babies in their arms and older ones clinging to them jostled to meet the Father Christmas and take pictures with him. It was indeed a happy moment for the children and all that attended the event.
SUNNEWS ONLINE

The State of Osun Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has proceeded on Christmas and New Year recess and adjourned its further sitting till January 5, 2015.
The tribunal is hearing the petition of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, challenging the August 9 re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The tribunal chairman, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejim, adjourned the further hearing of the petition till next year on Saturday after the APC, the second respondents in the matter, had called four witnesses for the day, who testified that nobody was harrrased or intimidated during the election.
She said the tribunal was also taking into consideration the 180 days required by the Electoral Act within which to complete the hearing of the petition and would take care of it.
The witnesses called for the day were Azeez Taofeek from Ward 2, Unit 4, Ede-North Local Government Council Area; Ilesanmi Ademola from Ward 9, Unit 4, Ilesa-East Local Government Council Area; as well as Olusola Ademubo from Ward 4, Unit 9 and Agbaje Lekan from Ward 4 both in Osogbo Local Government Council Area.
Telling the tribunal that they acted as APC polling agents and stayed at their units throughout the period of the election, they said, agents of all the political parties signed the original copies of form EC8A for their units, after which they were given duplicate copies each.
Led in evidence by the APC counsel, Ajibola Basiru, the witnesses told the tribunal that they were duly-accredited like other voters in their various units before voting.
Under cross-examination, the APC agents said the INEC officials arrived their polling units at the appropriate time, with all the necessary materials and agents of all the parties jointly inspected and confirmed them.
They said they all witnessed the conduct of the election in their units and every eligible voter was allowed to vote for the party of his or her choice.
They also said there was no inducement of voters or campaign by anybody on the day of the election.
According to them, nobody came to vote without accreditation and there was no arbitrary allocation of votes to any of the parties.
They further told the court that ballots in their various units were sorted, counted, recorded and announced in their presence, saying, none of the agents complained about the conduct of the election.
OSUN DEFENDER

Holiday makers travelling from Lagos along the corridors of Ogun, Oyo to Osun have again been offered free train as part of the efforts of the government of Osun to make the festive season stress-free.

This gesture is in continuation of the free train ride services embarked upon by the government during festive periods, which started in 2011.

A statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the free train ride service underscores the responsiveness of the government to the needs of the masses.

He said, “The first batch of the train passengers will be brought in from Lagos on Wednesday 24th December from the Iddo Terminus in Lagos by 11 AM. Passengers will also be taken back to Lagos from Osogbo Train Station on the 28^th, December.

“The free train ride will also on 31st December convey passengers from Lagos to Osogbo and on the 4th of January, it will be passengers from Osogbo back to Lagos.
“During the last Ramadan, free train ride service was offered by the state government to take Osun-bound passengers from Lagos to Osun and other neighbouring states.
“Passengers were also taken by the train service free of charge to Lagos State after festive periods in Osun State.” Okanlawon stressed.

Since its inception in 2011, the free train service has boosted tourism in the state as it services as a source of encouragement to thousands who desire to travel but consider the prohibitive transport fares and the usually hectic traffic situation associated with such seasons on the Nigerian roads.

The gesture has also rekindled the trust of Nigerians in the viability of the hitherto moribund railway system as a means of transportation.

Pictures of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Former Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Mrs. Tawakalitu Williams and others at the recent inspection Tour to the Kajola Water Dam in the State of Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) and Former Special
Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Mrs. Tawakalitu Williams
at the recent inspection Tour to the Kajola Water Dam in the State of
Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Former Special
Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Mrs. Tawakalitu Williams
(right) and Mr. Sola Adeeyo (left) at the recent Inspection Tour to the Kajola
Water Dam in the Satate of Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) and Project Manager,
Engineer Oladini Awoyemi (right) at the recent Inspection Tour to the
Kajola Water
Dam in the State of Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Project Manager,
Engineer Oladini Awoyemi (right) Former Special Adviser to the Governor on
Water Resources, Mrs. Tawakalitu Williams (left) and Mr. Sola Adeeyo
at the recent inspection Tour to the Kajola Water Dam in the State of
Osun

Consequent upon the austerity measures recently announced by the government at the centre to cushion the effect of the falling oil prices at the international market, some palliatives measures may have been worked out by some state governments to ameliorate its effect at the grassroots level.
A total of N4billion was provided by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration to cooperative groups, market women and men, those engaged in trading and commerce, spare-part dealers, farmers and operators of commercial motorcycles as well as physically challenged people.Having realised the fact that the falling oil prices and the impact on the economy can only be addressed through empowerment of micro, small and medium enterprises and cooperative groups,the Osun State Government has facilitated an interest free credit to more than 10,000 people in the state.
The state government also distributed 22 brand new mini buses to members of cooperative transporters’ association and Road Transport Employers’ Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in the state. It had in the first batch of the exercise distributed 40 mini buses to members of the associations to ease their transportation businesses.
Under the scheme, a sum of N2billion was access by the government under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund (CBN-MSMEDF) to assist people with genuine businesses unfettered access to this credit facility for the operation of their business outfits.
Speaking at the disbursement ceremony of the N2billion accessed by the state under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) N220billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund, the State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Investments Industries and Empowerment, Mr. Ismaila Adekunle Alagbada lauded the current administration in the state headed by Rauf Aregbesola for the gesture saying that
Aregbesola has kept his electoral promises made to the people through this second tier of his administration’s empowerment programmes.
Alagbada said the second promise of distribution of 22 mini buses to transporters is a promise fulfilled.
According to him, “this event is indeed a ceremony of promise fulfilment by the people’s governor in whom the people have implicit confidence.
“The entire landscape of Osun is dotted with innumerable landmarks which bear clear testimony to the sagacity, dedication, commitment and progressive mindedness of our virtuous and passionate governor.
In his remarks, the State Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, hinted that Osun was the first state in Nigeria to benefit a sum of N2billion for the CBN to improve micro, small and medium enterprises, affirming the money was a product of financial engineering of the current administration in the state.
He maintained that 50 per cent of the money is expected to be used for agriculture and commerce.
Bolorunduro assured that the loan would be judiciously used by the beneficiaries in such a way that the loans would multiply in numerous folds.
According to him, “Osun is the first state to have assessed and secured the N2bn loan for Central Bank of Nigeria for the purpose of development.
“The state arrived at this financial opportunity through a careful and prudent financial engineering of the state governor in the last four years.
“This judicious use has helped the state a great deal in the developmental projects and programmes of the administration.
“We hope to focus more on agriculture and commerce in the state for further growth and development,” Bolorunduro said.
The Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Godwin Emefiele who was represented at the event by his Special Adviser on Development and Finance, Mr. Paul Nduka Eluowe said the people-focused programmes and policies of the Rauf Aregbesola administration since inception have established him as “the strongman of Osun politics’.
Emefiele while affirming the belief that the polices of the administration under Aregbesola had raised the state to a higher pedestal, noted that the scheme is a partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the Bank’s N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund, the N2billion secured by Osun is already being disbursed.?
Elumelu said that Small and Medium Scale Enterprises are essential ingredients of growth for any serious developing country.
He commended Osun Governor for formulating policies and programmes that have economically and financially empowered the people of the state.
The CBN boss charged the governor to ensure that 60 percent of the N2billion given to the state should go to women and 2 percent to physically challenged people in the state.
He said: “I am overwhelmed by the numbers of people present at today’s event. It shows that you are the strong man of Osun politics.
“Your programmes have shown that you are loved by your people with this massive attendance. I hope you will continue to be the strongman of Osun.
“I am not surprised that the majority of the people in attendance are women which the CBN beliefs that women are supposed to be empowered to unleash their potentials.
While flagging-off the distribution of the credit facilities and mini buses, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, in his address titled “Marching onto Greater Development Heights”, said his determination to drive the state to a prosperous height was borne? out of genuine commitment to take Osun to the height of socio-economic and industrial development.
Aregbesola held that his administration is conscious of the fact that the success of any development enterprise was dependent upon the active involvement and participation of the people.
He pointed out that Osun, with carefully thought-out policies, programmes, conscious mobilisation and proper organisation of the people nothing can stand in the way of its development.
The governor added that the most effective ways of making people the driving agents of development is to economically and financially empower them, and then allow them to handle the rest.
According to Aregbesola “we thus decided to come up with various economic empowerment schemes in order to give our people the economic wherewithal and the financial enablement to make them job-creators and wealth generators in a manner that will be beneficial to all and sundry.
“In order for the programmes to have the widest coverage for maximum outcomes, we have decided to spread the net to include the people in the lower rung of the socio-economic ladder – the small traders, the market women, the artisans, the transporters, the small-holder farmer, and the craftsmen and women among others.
“It is for this reason that we have established the Osun Micro-Credit Agency which was officially inaugurated on July 9, 2014.
“It was aimed at ensuring easy access to credit facilities by operators of micro, small and medium scale enterprises, particularly those in the informal sector of Osun economy”.
He reassured the residents of the state that his second term in office will witness greater and monumental achievements in spite of the current national economic challenges facing the country.
Aregbesola said that his administration was more resolute and deeply determined to keep the economic ship of the state afloat against all odds.
While noting that the task to move the state forward on all fronts is duty for all the residents, Governor Aregbesola maintained that his government has play its role in prudent management of the meagre resources accruing to the state adding that the residents must equally display their patriotism by willingly discharging their civic responsibilities without hindrance.
Aregbesola charged the people of the state to be fully dedicated to the course his administration has charted to make the state the pride of all.