Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has raised the alarm over Boko Haram’s ceaseless attacks on the country, expressing fears that Nigeria could be destroyed.
Aregbesola in a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, strongly condemned last Friday terrorist attack on Kano mosque where over 150 were killed.
The governor was said to have stated this in Osogbo, the Osun State capital on Sunday at a prayer session of Nasrullahi -il Fathi Society of Nigeria, Osogbo Branch where he joined other Muslim faithful to pray for the country as well as Osun State.
Aregbesola, while describing the Friday’s attacks as sad and unfortunate said every Nigerian irrespective of religion or ethnic background should come out and condemn the act.
He said, “Last Friday’s bombing of the Central Mosque in Kano has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the nation is in the throes of life-threatening crisis. Nigerians should be alerted to the serious danger that lurks around with the ceaseless spate of bombing in some parts of the country.
“The bombing of Emir’s palace’s Mosque has proved ultimately and beyond any doubt that this country faces daunting challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgents.
“Condemnable as the act is, yet it baffles one that a lot of us still deceive ourselves by reading religious colouration to this whole violence.
“I do not believe that a Muslim, who is a true Muslim, can do this to a Christian let alone a fellow Muslim hiding under the guise of promoting his religion.
“It is painful to hear that the places of worship are no longer safe places for our people.
 

OSUN state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday said Nigerians have demonstrated capacity to stand by and support any government that is committed to their welfare.
The governor while expressing gratitude for what he called an impressive turnout at the Thursday swearing in ceremony at the Osogbo Township Stadium, said the people, with their massive turnout, made an impactful statement of affirmation that the governor they voted for on August 9 this year was the one being inaugurated.
In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola was quoted as saying that he was highly appreciative of those who made the inauguration a huge success.
According to the statement, the governor said he was elated to see national and state leaders of the party, members from across the country as well as well wishers from all walks of life.
The governor noted that he was impressed by the conduct of the huge crowd, who came out to make the ceremony a memorable one.
He said: “I wish to express my joy and appreciation to all who blessed us with their presence at the inauguration of our second term in office: artisans, market women and men, professional bodies, associations, corporate organization, members of the diplomatic community, traditional rulers, religious leaders and religious organizations up to national leaders of our party. Words are not enough to express our appreciation.
“That crowd could only be interpreted to mean one thing: That the outcome of the August 9 governorship election was the true reflection of the wishes of our people and a complete triumph of the wishes of the people.
“It is a demonstration of the fact that our government in its first four years, worked with the people and changed their conditions as never witnessed before our advent. We are therefore committed to doing more.”
THE GUARDIAN

The Governor of the State of Maryland, United States of America, Mr. Martin O’Malley, has congratulated Governor of the State of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, over his inauguration for a second term in office.

Governor O’Malley’s congratulatory message and a Citation of Honour was delivered by the Global Ambassador, All Eyes on Africa, Mrs. Kemi Fadojutimi, at the Government House on Friday.

The Citation delivered to Aregbesola reads: “Be it known that on behalf of the citizens of this state, in recognition of a well-deserved tribute to honour and congratulate you on the occasion of your second term inauguration with best wishes for success in future and as the people of Maryland join together with your many admirers in expressing our great respect and warmest regards.

“We are pleased to confer upon you this Governor’s Citation.”

Governor Aregbesola, while responding, said the recognition had come to further boost his resolve to work for the people and ensure a more monumental delivery of good governance for the people.

“The honour is very timely and a show of the fact that what we are doing here reverberate through the whole world.

“Our second term will definitely prove that the feat we have achieved in the first term is a mere foundation for a more monumental development of our state.”

The Citation was signed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Anthony Brown and the Secretary of State, John McDonough.

Aregbesola was sworn in on Thursday following the outcome of the August 9 2014 governorship election in which he was declared the winner.

THE All Progressives Congress has congratulated the people of Osun for their exemplary demonstration of strength and determination to enforce the democratic will of the people which was consolidated over the weekend in the second term inauguration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as governor of the state.
According to the party’s director ?of publicity, research and strategy, Barr. Kunle Oyatomi, ‘the inauguration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in Osogbo was a celebration of the people’s triumph over tyranny, state terrorism and blackmail by the forces of evil.
‘The people of Osun have become the symbol and testimony to all Nigerians that people are the ultimate power in a democracy.
‘They have demonstrated that no matter the intimidating power of any government, if people stand their ground and reject tyranny as the people of Osun did on August 9, 2014, they will triumph’.
‘What happened in Osogbo on Thursday, Nov 27 when the people’s choice – ? Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was sworn in for second term as governor of the state of Osun, was a celebration of the triumph of the courage of the human spirit to overcome evil.
‘The APC said that Osun has become a symbol for Nigerians that it is possible for our country to come out of the evil of strangulating tyranny which the PDP-led Federal Government is foisting on Nigeria.
Unless Nigerians use their votes as the Osun people did to stop the PDP monstrosity, that party will lead Nigeria into perdition.
‘The APC therefore urged all Nigerians to brace up to fight and defeat the PDP next February with the power of their votes, so that the country can celebrate in May next year, as the people of Osun celebrated over the weekend.
‘No matter the tanks, hooded soldiers and the terror security forces, they may deploy next February, Nigerians should show courage and vote out the PDP which has in the last 15. Years done more harm to Nigeria’s progress and unity than at any other time in our history’, the APC said.
BIOREPORT

All the governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have described the people of Osun as defenders of democracy, who show that might cannot take victory over the will of the people.
According to the governors, the valour displayed by the people before and during the August 9, 2014 governorship poll, defying the intimidation imported into the state by the Federal Government, was commendable.
Speaking at the gathering, the immediate-past governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, described the people of Osun as real Omoluabis, who refused to trade peace and tranquillity against terror and illegality currently going on in Ekiti.
He urged the people to start the processing of enthroning change in Nigeria and should not wait until the people in public offices reduce the country to what is happening in Ekiti and the National Assembly.
In his speech, Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole said Osun has taught Nigerians that democracy is not unlicensed, adding that election is about people and that the decision of who wins is for the people to decide and not for the military.
“The people have shown they are real Omoluabis and posses, valour. Osun has shown that change is possible in Nigeria and there would be change in 2015.”
In his address, the governor of Kwara State, Mr Abdul Fatai Ahmed, disclosed that the entire people of Nigeria are happy with Osun over the way they defended democracy in the face of intimidation during the August 9, 2014 gubernatorial election in the state.
“You have shown that Nigeria can truly be moved to the next level. Nigeria must change and by God’s grace, it would happen.
We salute your courage as a people and the success you achieved during the poll and pray that God will guide Ogbeni Aregbesola to move the state to the promised land.
In his own view, the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, dedicated the inauguration to the people of the state, saying that without their valour, the day could have been impossible, commending them for their courage in the face of military provocation.
“Today is made possible by your courage. It is your will that prevailed despite the intimidation by the Federal Government. Osun has shown the path to development. Even in the face of war, you have done us all proud as a country.
In fact I am more happy for the state because I am a son in-law in the state and I share in the glory of this success,” the Governor added.
Similarly, Governor Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, said Osun people have seen and conquered and prayed that all shall conquer the terror of PDP together come February 2015.
“Nigeria would be great again, particularly with what Osun people have done. Nigerians would in 2015 repeat and achieve similar feat of enthroning change across the federation,” he added.
OSUN DEFENDER

Former military Head of State and a presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammodu Buhari (rtd), has said that the swearing-in of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s second term is nothing but the celebration of the courage of the people of the State of Osun.
Buhari spoke just as the National Leader of the APC, Senator Bola Tinubu, maintained that the inauguration would not have come, if the people of the state had not resisted the threats, harassment, intimidation and seduction from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to Buhari, Osun people were the pillar of Aregbesola’s victory in the August 9, 2014 governorship election, saying that the people stood solidly on ground and voted continuity of development and good governance in the state.
The APC chieftain stated that the people of the state had through their votes in the last governorship election, been boosting the morale of the APC nationally, adding that they have earned more respect as virtuous people.
Buhari said: “I congratulate the governor and the people of the State of Osun for their uprightness, progressive and democratic character. After the Ekiti disaster, Osun people made us proud. Osun people stood their ground and won the election for APC, in spite of the threats and PDP machineries.
“God helps those who help themselves. The people of Osun helped themselves and God helped them. The Osun election boosted and is still boosting the APC morale. I show my respect to the people of the state. You are boosting our morale in Osun.
“We must also effect the Osun people’s courage at the next year’[s general elections. The PDP must be voted out. They do not mean well for Nigerians. So, we must vote the PDP out in the 2015 presidential election.
In his on congratulatory speech, Tinubu acknowledged the courage of the people during the last gubernatorial election, saying that the people stood to fight and protect the confidence and trust they reposed on Governor Aregbesola.
Tinubu said: “You people stood to fight. You remained undaunted to change. They tried but you defeated them. I salute the people of the State of Osun. I also salute and appreciate the good works of Governor Rauf Aregbesola. They brought security men to intimidate you, but you remained steadfast in the face of provocation, intimidation and harassment.
OSUN DEFENDER

Osogbo, the Osun State capital stood still yesterday as Governor Rauf Aregbesola was sworn in for another term of four years amidst glamour.
It was a day leaders of the major opposition party, the All Progressives Congress crowded on Osun to celebrate the party’s recent victory over what it believes was the worst intimidation in the history of elections in Nigeria.
While Aregbesola blamed the Peoples Democratic Party , PDP, for the nation’s multi-form woes, insisting the party must be ousted from power come 2015, lead speakers at the event reiterated their earlier positions that the APC remained the only answer for a prosperous Nigeria.
Former Head of State, Gen. Muhammad Buhari (retd), told the crowd that gathered at the Osogbo Township Stadium to witness the occasion that in the midst of democratic impunities of the ruling federal government, the Osun election epitomised the success of democracy in the country.
Buhari while congratulating the people for the success of the election, said Osun offered a promising future for the nation’s democracy amid unconstitutional removal of the governor of Adamawa, the shenanigans in Ekiti election and the orchestrated impeachment moves of speakers and governors in other states of the federation.
In his speech after taking the oath of office, Aregbesola stated that democracy is the best political system ever devised by mankind in the annals of power politics.
Aregbesola lamented the reversal of the nation’s fortunes, saying that the PDP-led Federal government has through its maladministration impoverished Nigerians, particularly in the last six years under President Jonathan.
Former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said people’s oriented programmes of Aregbesola and that of the APC has shown that people will be on the side of the party, come February 2015.
He charged the governor to continue his people-oriented programmes like that of giving aids to the vulnerable elders, the Osun feeding programme and other youth empowerment schemes.
Also, Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole stressed that when people are united to fight, no power can defeat them, saying this is what Osun people demonstrated by voting Aregbesola for second term.
VANGUARD

The Power of Conviction. That is what may be used to describe the force behind the creation of www.hundredreasonsogbeni.com, the website that went viral during those fever-pitched days leading up to the last gubernatorial election in the State of Osun. The emergence of that website is a lucid testimony to what can come from inspiration triggered by factual comparison between a manifestly consistent change-making administration and a set of political players of controversial character and questionable agenda.

But, truth be told, the website was also a product of desperation. A desperation born out of an event of utmost incredulity, which unfolded in a neighbouring state, where logic was turned on its head when a sizeable proportion of the electorate voted out (or, so we were told) a performing chief executive. Very few they were, if any, of the Omoluabi of Osun, that did not fear the worst in view of these happenings, especially with the posturing and utterances (not to mention needless intimidation by the central government) of these pretenders to the seat of governance of Osun State.

Of course, most people saw through their pandering, verbosity and bombastic. But, since the state, in spite of the manifest will of the cross-section of the electorate, would still need to go through the electoral process, thousands of Omoluabi were apprehensive. How could we be sure that the hitherto “fool-proof” formula so recently used next-door would not be repeated here?

We have Providence to thank for the resounding success that attended the re-election of Ogbeni Aregbesola. It was well deserved, through and through. To signify that this victory reflects the wishes and aspiration of the people, there were celebrations all over the state.

In the euphoria of this victory, we may lose sight of some things that affirmed our decisions and convictions to throw our weight behind Aregbesola. This handy volume is produced to remind us of those things that endeared him to us. Not only that, it is to direct our minds to the fact that the process of politics does not end with the election of the political player; it is a continuing conversation. We must put our mouths where we put our votes. We need to contribute to the political process by putting forward constructive criticism, suggestions, even commendations. We need to seize the moment and tell the truth to power. The website need not outlive its usefulness with the conclusion of this electoral process; we think it a good idea that it should serve as a meeting place for all patriotic Omoluabi to ventilate their ideas, inspirations, contributions, observations, even commendations, so that we’ll have an even better (and a politically-conscious) state. After all, Democracy is about giving the power back to the people!

We thank you all, Omoluabi Osun.

Osun a gbe wa o

To download full brochure copy, please click HERE

When the struggle for the second term bid of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola started, a lot of lies were fabricated to ensure he is hated by those who are hitherto in love with him and his good work in the State of Osun. They called him names, They put a toga of terrorism on him all in a bid to make him loose his support base.
The Obanikoro’s with his control of the army, the Buruji Kashamu’s with his drug money; Jelili Adesiyan ably supported by the IGP deployed over 75000 police force; the DSS with arrays of hooded cops in a show of strength and other security apparatus with the sole aim of removing Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola from Office as the Governor. The brutalisation of known supporters of Rauf and APC using the federal might to silence them to submission.
Tempers were high, people were more than determined to ensure their vote counts despite PDP shenanigans. People waited anxiously to know who carried the day. Rauf was declared winner of the election. It was like a dream to all and sundry. However, Osun PDP is still wallowing in such delusion.
For us in the State of Osun, the hour of glory is here with us. Triumph of good over evil. Rauf is wearing a crown of glory once again in our dear state. I congratulate the good people of Osun for making this possible. We earnestly pray for abundant blessing, development and prosperity in the second term of our dear Governor. Ride on Rauf, we are solidly behind you.
By Ibrahim Lawal Esq