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Category: News

Reactions in Ede –  (19)

Reactions in Ede -  (19)The statistical analyses of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the August 9, 2014 governorship election in Osun State have revealed that the state has the lowest figure of double registration in the country.

The INEC’s Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Engineer Chidi Nwafor, who revealed this at a stakeholders meeting held in Osogbo, Osun State Capital, organised in collaboration with International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) declared that 2,459 multiple registration were recorded in the state representing 2.7 per cent of all the total voters recorded in the state.

Nwafor said further that women have the highest register of vote in the state, adding that the registration of civil servants were also low.

While displaying Permanent Voters Card (PVC) of some voters and even candidates, the Nwafor assured that the August 9 governorship election in the state would be free and credible.

Also speaking, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC in the state, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, promised to give all political parties level playing ground to operate.

While presenting Certified True Copy voters register to the political parties, Agbaje said the commission had resolved to distribute the remaining PVC on July 26 and 27, 2014.

He however urged politicians to shun do or die politics promising “there will not be malpractices on the part of INEC.”

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Osun Pays N813m Compensation

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has paid N813 million as compensation to owners of properties  affected by  infrastructural development.
Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development Muyiwa Ige toldf the NUJ Correspondents Chapel in Oyo State at the weekend that arrangements had  been made for the payment of the N2billion balance.
Among the property owners and affected traders who got the palliatives, according to the commissioner, are those around the Railway Station corridors as well as shop owners at Ajegunle and Ayetoro.
Ige said: “We have paid over N813 million as compensation in the last 30 months inclusive of palliatives. Yes, we still have about N2billion to pay because of paucity of funds, but we have continued to engage the affected, the claimants to let them know the true position of things, we had a meeting with them a week and half ago. “
The commissioner said a minimum of N100, 000 was given as palliative to the traders who were tenants in the affected buildings to enable them relocate “because the government believed that once they are affected, the businesses would affect their livelihood”.
He said the beneficiaries include 295 shop occupiers and tenants at the Train Station corridor who were given N65million; 581 shop owners at Ayetoro who got N58.1million at N100,000 each;  and some settlers at the Airport area of the city.

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Ogbeni's Potrait –  (6)

Ogbeni's Potrait -  (6)

The measure of a man is what he does with power. Plato

Those who profess to favour freedom and yet depreciate agitation are people who want crops without ploughing the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning; they want the ocean without the roar of its many waters. The struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, or it may be both. But it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Frederick Douglass

My father was not too pleased when I wrote that I wish I was from Osun. For those that read my page you know that I find the Ogbenis leadership inspiring and refreshing. Ogbeni puts his opinion of leadership so well when he said, Indeed, it is my belief that leadership offers a golden opportunity to serve the people and bring improvements to bear on their lives and existence. I also do hold onto the view that leadership is a core pillar upon which a viable and successful human society can be built. And that Indeed leadership is all about rendering service to the people and this.

He continues to create opportunities for all the people of Osun to access education, health and employment. He has laid down a strong foundation and the people can see and feel the difference. This is not a party politics but a call to other states to emulate the Aregbesolas administration. I have always nailed my colours to the mast.

When something works and works well, it is important to admit and admire the process and that is what I do. With well over half of the Nigerian population unemployed, poverty is higher than it has ever been, administrations and the government have promised to improve our lot and they have consistently let us down and not delivered.

The administration has employed the highest number of civil servants in any other states in the country. So, here is an administration that does exactly what it set out to do. It did more and beyond to improve the lives of its people.

One of the few in the country that has consistently improved and laid down solid structures and sound governance. This is essential in order to get the country working again.

Margaret Thatcher was once asked what was her governments top priority, without hesitation she said Education, education and education. Education is the key. That is exactly what Ogbenis administration has done. Making education free at the point of entry means more children are educated. This means that the future of Osun is brighter as more children are given the opportunity to better their lot. They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating and the people bear witness to the changes in the state.

In the Ogbeni, the people of Osun have witnessed a committed and hard-working governor who is willing to work for the interest of its people. He has single handedly transformed his state and its people. He has produced results for all to see. The feeding programme is a master stroke after all the army matches on its stomachs they say.

No point sending children to school on any empty stomach. So they offer free nutritious meals so that the childrens bodies are optimise for learning and development. The programmes sublime quality is that it considers every aspect of the health of the children as the programme also includes the de-worming programme and distribution of free uniforms and school materials. This means that every child is equal at the point of entry.

As a result of all these innovations, the school attendance has improved exponentially and more teachers are recruited to deal with the demand, Osun government spends more than N3 billion annually on its home-grown elementary school feeding, OMeal. N600 million was spent on about 3,000 community caterers as well as transportation fare to the various schools.

As result of the feeding programme, there has been an increase in the enrolment of children and decrease in absenteeism. The meal programme employs local people; farmers, butchers, fishermen and trained women meal supervisors. You raise the most vulnerable up then everyone benefits. Osun has made big strides and other states should take a leaf from the Ogbenis book. Over the pond, the OMeals programme has been recognised and earned the international recommendation and support of the London-based Partnership for Child Development (PCD). And so it should be.

The OYes youth programme has trained young people by providing and equipping them with employability skills. The standard of instilling good work ethic is highly motivational because it again espouses pride, confidence, self-esteem, motivation and respect for the environment, good health and ownership in their state.

The young people now have a promising future; they are equipped and are able to actively participate in nation building. Unlike, other parts of the country, in Osun the young are part of the planning and at the core of the programme. They are not excluded and disenfranchised. The distribution of OPON IMO (Tablet of Knowledge) to high school pupils is now established and this will bring the young to compete with other young people in the world.

So what motivates the Ogbeni? He said: The improvement of the lots of the people of Osun was therefore a strong motivation for my seeking office and a paramount object of the deployment of my talents. Thus, as a leader I constantly seek for ways of bringing about progress and advancement for my people in every area of their lives. We can no longer use our young as political hoodlums, thugs and professional vagrants and unemployable. We should not allow our young to be ignored for the selfish ambition of the seasoned political kleptomaniacs.

With August 9th governorship election approaching, I know that the people of Osun will follow their conscience. They cannot afford to do otherwise as their future and that of their young depend on it. I do hope that we get the American style public debate going with Aregbesola and Senator Iyiola Omisore; it will be interesting to hear both out and let the people of Osun decide.

BLOGSPOT

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OGBENILEKANSI

OGBENILEKANSI Last year, November, 2013, Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola celebrated three years of his administration. In this report, Adebayo Abdulrazaq sampled the view of the people across the three senatorial districts on the performance of the governor since November, 2010.

Rahman Olawale To my own assessment, trading activities is not going well. May be that is from the top. Concerning social amenities, it is improving because of the stability of electricity in my district. That has greatly improved when compares to its condition before. (IKIRUN)
Moshood AlabiMay God guide Governor Aregbesola. We have noticed a great and positive transformation in educationa, agriculture and economic sectors in the state of Osun. He is trying but he still needs to put more efforts. Most of his projects have not been completed. (IWO)
Gbadamosi Abdulwahab We thank God for Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for his great effort in transforming our state since inception of his administration. Security of lives and property is guaranteed in the state and he is doing his best in the economic transformation of the state of Osun. He is trying in terms of education. We can see changes and all he has been doing to the people’s aspiration. O-Yes scheme has been tremendous in keeping the youths engaged in the state. (IWO)
Abdurrahman Kozeem I commend the Governor for his laudable project. First and foremost, he provides drugs for hospitals for the benefit of the people in term of health. He also provides eye glasses for those that are infected with eye related problems and he is really taking care of our elders through his programme called ‘AGBA OSUN’. Provision of Knowledge Tablet, school uniform, free meal for primary school pupils are typical examples of good governance in the state of Osun. (IWO)
Olusoji Oluwasogo Things are changing in Osun state because in the past we know the kind of challenges we are facing in term of education, infrastructural facilities like road but now we know how things are, under governor Aregbesola. (EDE)
AbdulWahab Adedoyin He has transformed Osun state in term of roads construction and the transformation of Osun state capital to a modern one. In education, he has transformed Osun education base on WAEC result of our students,and Opon-imo (knowledge tablet) which he is distributing to secondary schools in the state. In term of health, I must state in this regard that I am health officer, and I can testify that he has really done a great work in this regard. Let us remove sentiment I have engage in a lot of rescue operation for accident victims on our roads through O-Ambulance policy of the state government. In term of employment, he has employed teacher and enlisted a large number of youths to O-Yes scheme, to get them engaged. On infrastructural development, Oshogbo has just got its status as state capital. Examples abound in old-garage where the state government has just build Freedom Park. He really tried and I can give him 80% mark. (OSOGBO)
Alarape Ibrahim There is development in a state when the people are affected positively. He is really trying in road-networking, and education. He has even diversified the economic sectors in the state. He has brought a new dimension by introducing the 3 levels of education, the elementary, middle and senior class. For the agriculture there is “O-Reap” where most partners were supported and in construction there is O-Road, for every local government there is at least 10km of road construction going on. (ILESA)
Adebayo Dennis I have not seen unfair in the administration of the governor. He should be hailed concerning education. (IKIRUN)
Akeem Ogunse In my own view based on the visible projects executed, they have embarked on a lot of activities in which this Osun State capacity may not be able to sustain in the nearest future, because it is better to do small things and end it successfully without delay than doing many things such that none will be successful. The food given to the pupils in primary schools really motivated the pupils to go to school and parents for the enrollment of their children in schools. I really commend him particularly on the schools uniform. He also tried in terms of infrastructure, though most of these projects are yet to be completed. Notwithstanding, he deserves to be praised. (IKIRUN)
Saheed Alatise He has tried a lot and he is a person raised by God to help masses .When Lagos State governor Babatunde Raji Fashola started his own , people rebuked him but later praised him. He has really tried though I am not a politician.He motivated students in every aspect. Also in employment segment, he provides jobs for people such as furniture-makers, carpenters, and bricklayers. If he can be voted in, for second term I believe he will do more. I will rate him 60% for the fact that he is yet to complete the projects. (IKIRUN)
Adeleke Afeez Abiodun Concerning the road construction, he has to put in more effort but he is trying in education sector and he has succeeded in providing 3000 job for youths through O-Yes scheme. I will also advise him to provide water for the people of the state.
 Sodiq Amina He has transformed our school through the construction of new model schools across the state. In term of health, accident victim are catered for through ambulances, employment generation, he had tried by providing O-Yes scheme for unemployed youths. On infrastructural development, we are just experiencing it in Oshogbo. In my own view, I will rate him 100% (OSOGBO)
Kunle Adesola For educational programmes, he is the best. Indeed all the students were happy concerning tablet of knowledge. Also in agricultural sector he tried because he gave all farmers loans and good chemical. He also provides fund with effective management and monitoring. (OSOGBO)
Animashaun Olalekan Much still need to be done in term of education, although he established ‘government private schools’ in Ile-Ife will be commissioned very soon. The schools will be affordable for middle class who are interested in enrolling their children in ‘conventional private schools’. The development will bring a paradigm shift thereby eradicating large numbers of mushroom private schools which did not only charge parents exorbitant fees but also fail to provide qualitative education for these children. Indeed the policy has attracted parents to enroll their children in public schools. In the area of water, much water is yet to be provided. In the area of employment, he has to be commended; though a lot of criticism come from people as a result of paltry #10,000 he is paying monthly for the members of O-Yes employment scheme. The man has started somewhere because a loaf of bread is better than none. This initiative has kept many youths from committing crimes and helping them to be productive. (IFE)
Arayewu Oluwaseyi He has transformed the various sections in the state and has contributed meaningfully in empowering the people in Osun state. (ILESA)
Moshood Agbaje Actually, I can score him above average because he has tried almost in all sectors. In the areas of health, road construction and agricultural sectors, when compare to the past administrations. He has tried his best to make changes especially in area of education, construction of new schools. And almost all the roads that linked to the state capital have been opened. That is the express model! Also in employment generation, he has been fair to people. In the sense that he organized examinations so that the employment will be on merit in order to get better result. I will give him 100% because he has tried more than other governors.
Taofeek Olalere In my view, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been fair. In fact, people have been commending his efforts in all sectors like agriculture and education. He has performed excellently but in that of education, the only comment is that the merging of school looks somehow because there is no way you can distinguish a student of Fakunle Comprehensive High School from Laro Grammar School. They all put on the same attire. But, my advice is that, that should be a way of distinguishing them should in case of any crime or problem.
Abdulwakeel Sakirullah In my view, it’s hard for many people to understand how he operates. He has really done plausibly in the economic and social development of the state. He has done impressively by distributing the Opon-Imo because this will help the student. He has done well in the health sector by distributing the needed equipment for the health workers. He is the best for now.
Amoo Olusegun Governor Aregbesola has been a great one for the state and at the same time it has been a misfortune on the other side. I like his O-Yes programme. His education programme is good. The merging of schools will be a setback for his administration. In terms of employment, he has done a great job in this regard. Some of his programmes are okay while some are unfair. For instance, it was said that Osogbo has been developed but nothing was done there and the same thing for Iwo. We have not seen any good change there.
What do you think of the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola? Share with us on Facebook at Government of the State of Osun and Twitter @stateofosun

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oyes-logo

oyes-logoI was in Osun state recently and I must confess that I was very impressed when I learnt that the state employment revolution which has taken the youths off the streets and crime as O’YES is partnering with First Bank Nig Plc to make entrepreneurs of the youths also by engaging them as agents of First Monie which is a platform for transacting business electronically for payments such as water bills, electricity bills, DStv, purchase of recharge cards and what have you.
Honestly, this change of the youths by making them to become entrepreneurs through innovative programmes by the Rauf Aregbesola administration is commendable and worthy of emulation.

 Thanks,

Nelson Ekujumi

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OSUNOSOGBO

OSUNOSOGBOIn a fews weeks from now, the annual pilgrimage to Osogbo, the Osun State capital, for the Osun festival would begin. And as a prelude to the festival, INFOGEM ltd, a Lagos-based tourism consultancy firm presents a glimpse of what to expect in August. 
There in the sky is already a conspicuous mark that the Osun Osogbo festival 2014 would come in a different colour to conform with the Yoruba witty maxim that sign of a beautiful Friday radiates in the preceding Thursday.
The sizeable gathering that converged on the elitist Eko Hotel and Suites on Victoria Island, Lagos last Tuesday, had a mouthful of appetizer of what to expect in Osogbo between August 7 and 22.
The press conference, as the attendees would later remark, literally did a great marketing job for the festival with the attendance cutting across different sectors of the society, especially the corporate and cultural world. The exquisite Iris Hall, which hosted the conference, indeed justified the reason the organiser of the event settled for Eko Hotel this year.
Saturday Newswatch gathered that given the tremendous success so far recorded in previous editions, “the management of the hotel, therefore, woke to the reality that a good number of tourists who would first have a stop-over in Lagos before heading to Osogbo, are involved in the festival.”
The programme was compeered by the Chief Executive Officer of the sponsor-organisation, INFOGEM, Ayo Olumoko, while the task of enumerating the programme of the festival to the media was assigned to Chief Jimoh Ibrahim, and the renowned artist did not put anyone in doubt of his full grasp of Osun Osogbo.
The Asoju Oba of Gbodofon suburb took the podium like a university don before his students, reeling out one event after the other. Ibrahim was so engrossed in the assignment that Olumoko had to tactically, but disappointingly remind him of time constraint.
Even at that, the chief made himself clear to the audience as he asserted the status of Osogbo not as only the capital of Osun State, but also as the culture city according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
“To buttress this fact, Osogbo is the only city in Nigeria with the highest assemblage of artists. We have not less than 70 artists who are doing the nation proud in the art world. These artists are known everywhere participating in one exhibition or another.
The Ataoja, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, who spoke extemporal in Yoruba language, showered praises on the audience for identifying with Osun Osogbo festival. He particularly commended and prayed for the media for what he called their encouraging coverage of the festival every year.
He said the good publicity had gone a long way in projecting the festival, which according to him, is being monitored around the world through the internet. He recalled his last trip to the United States where he was warmly received even by the foreigners who claimed to have heard so much about Osun festival.
“Those white men were so interested to the extent that they showed me a river they said they wanted to name Osun. I told them Osun cannot be replicated anywhere else. All the same I acknowledged their appreciation of the festival,” the Ataoja said.
In the company of the Ataoja at the event, aside his olori, Adeola Olanipekun, were the Araba Awo of Osogboland, Chief Priest Ifayemi Elebuibon and notable members of Osogbo Progressive Union (OPU), Lagos State branch.
The Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola’s election campaign train which landed in Ede town on Tuesday, did not rob the event of government presence as his Special Adviser  on Culture and Tourism, Ladi Soyede, held brief and delivered a speech, showing a government genuinely committed to make an enduring impact on the festival.
It would be recalled that in less than two years in office, the government gave Osun groove a facelift by constructing a befitting pavilion, which has provided the needed relief to the Ataoja who is accompanied to the groove by a large crowd of dignitaries from within and outside the state.
To demonstrate the government’s support, he said the government is introducing marathon walk, Tourism ambassadors, festival trade fair, food festival as well as festival concert in the 2014 edition.
Like his principal, who is noted for refreshing the memories of his audience with details of his achievements, Soyede said that since November, 2010, the Aregbesola administration has been in the forefront of promoting matters that have to do with the renaissance of Yoruba culture as a means of reducing poverty.
“Solid progress has been made in this regard in the past three years, which had made Osun Osogbo festival to become the biggest festival in Nigeria. From our records, the 2013 edition of the festival recorded 21,713 domestic tourists including 123 international tourists while Abuja Carnival 2013 recorded 19,015 domestic tourists which includes 113 international tourists as N147, 250 was recorded as the expenditure,” he stated.
Given the large turnout at the festival, Soyede promised a water-tight security, not forgetting a clean environment and emergency service personnel to ensure a peaceful festival.
To underscore the cultural significance of the event, Ayo Ewebiyi Cultural Group thrilled the audience with their traditional music and dance. Their performance, which clearly exceeded the time allotted to them, was worth the while as they exhibited their dance prowess to the heavy bata percussion.
The Apala maestro, Musiliu Haruna Isola, also added to the entertainment segment of the event. Besides, the late Kennery exponent, Orlando Owoh’s baritone voice rented the hall when a young musician shocked the audience with a brief performance that perfectly mimicked Owoh’s. The audience acknowledged the performance with an ovation that accompanied him back to his seat.
Of special interest was the moment the renowned female artist, Chief Nike Okundaye, was called upon to offer prayers for the success of the festival. The woman, whose blue adire batik flowing gown was the cynosure of all eyes, especially with her special head gear, showed the audience that her foray into art is not a happenstance.
She danced from her seat to the podium with the Ataoja’s olori providing a beautiful partnership alongside another female guest. Ekundaye thanked the guests and promised them a spectacular Osun festival. She was said to have introduced Osun children cultural fiesta to give the young ones equal opportunity at the festival.
“The white would say the best way to bequeath a tradition to the youth is to catch them young. What we have so far achieved in the world of art today should be exposed to the young ones to teach them that our culture is richer in content and outlook,” she said.
Corporate sponsors of the festivals had their representatives in attendance to address the audience. The platform offered them the needed opportunity to market their products and encourage the audience to be in Osogbo to evaluate their respective contribution to the festival.
Olumoko, who was in full control of the proceeding, traced the history of corporate sponsorship of Osun festival to 2002. Olumoko revealed that sponsors were approved based on merit, saying that Osogbo people don’t compromise merit.
“I have been doing business in the town for the past 15 years, and I must tell you that I always feel at home. Same goes to a lot of non-indigenes who have done wonderfully in the town. I must mention someone like KSA (King Sunny Ade) among others who passed through the town,” he said.
Chief Elebubon, in his usual calm disposition, urged the youth to know their root to appreciate their existence. He said celebration of traditional festival is an appeasement to the deities, who oversee the world.
The Ifa priest, who is also preparing for the Ifa festival coming up on July 17, said return to root is a way to find lasting solution to the social malaise plaguing the nation.
“No nation can develop without identifying with its root. This is one area where we are not getting it right. But since the constitution gives equal right to religions, nobody would force others to embrace his own. But I am happy and fulfilled that what we are doing is giving us joy on daily basis,” he said.
Light refreshment was served at the end of the programme with Olumoko urging the media to continue their partnership for the success of the festival.
“I always say it that the role my colleagues in the media play in this project is great and appreciated. We are friends and we shall always be. Let’s do it together once again. See you in Osogbo,” he concluded.
DAILY NEWSWATCH

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Amour Perssonel Carrier-2

Amour Perssonel Carrier-2OSUN State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has   warned  criminals and agents of violence to steer clear of the state or face the law, as the governorship election approaches.

Aregbesola spoke during the launch and handover of 20 Amoured Personnel Carriers (APC) that cost N1.3 billion to the State Police Command in Osogbo, the state capital.

This was in fulfillment of his administration’s promise to equip the command with the APCs.

The governor expressed pains at what he called the Federal Government’s penchant for playing politics with crucial security matters.

Aregbesola urged President Goodluck Jonathan to separate politics from the issue of security by granting the state a short code for its emergency centre.

The governor noted that when government fails to guarantee safety of lives and property, it has no business   being in power.

Aregbesola said security, safety and the welfare of the people are the primary responsibilities of any government as enshrined in the nation’s constitution.

He affirmed that since his first day in Office, he warned his party members and the people that there will be no room for infraction of law and that people should refrain from using their previous experience to persecute their political opponents.

“Politics should not be mingled with security, because security does not know religion, party affiliation or ethnicity.

“The Federal Government just refused to give us short code to make our emergency centre work. It has been ready for the past 13 to 18 months ago. If that centre had been activated, our helicopter will get to the farthest place of this state in 15 minutes to attend to emergency issues.

“It won’t cost the Federal Government a dime, but to just direct the NCC to allow us to use their 122 line. I wrote to the President, he did not even acknowledge the letter, let alone giving us approval,” the governor stressed.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police, David Omojola, who represented the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, praised the courage of the governor in fighting crime.

He pointed out that the IGP has directed that the equipment should be moved to the state Police headquarters for immediate use in fighting crime and criminal activities.

“We are very grateful for your effort at lifting our spirit by providing the Armoured Personnel Carrier. This is the first in the history of the country when a government will be providing such numbers of equipment for the police in one fell swoop.

“The presentation of the APC is the climax of your practical demonstration and support for security in the state, and our effort to fight crime has received a huge boost.

“Criminals no longer have a hiding place in Osun, as we make everywhere secured,” he Inspector General of Police pointed out.

Speaking earlier, the Commissioner of Police, Osun Command, Ibrahim Maishanu, described the  government’s gesture as the first in the state’s history.

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Dad_1

Dad_1Osun State governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the August 9 governorship poll, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has disclosed that the desire to serve the people motivated him to go into politics.

Aregbesola said, while others have no ideas of what to do with power, he thinks about policies and programmes that will positively turn the fortunes of the people around positively.

Speaking at the palace of Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, during a political campaign to Ede federal constituency, Aregbesola said that a holistic analysis of his administration’s programme will reveal that his government has treated the people and various political districts in the state equally.

Revealing that Ede constituency supported his ambition in 2007 by voting en mass for him, the governor said the Cocoa Industries in Ede will soon be rejuvenated as a government delegation has gone to China to purchas new machines for the industry.

He said: “Ede has been supportive of our ambition and government. Without the votes of Ede North and Ede South local government areas, I would not be governor.

“Without these two local governments, we would not have the two members of House of Representatives and one member of House of Assembly.

“Don’t let the opposition tell you lies, because that is their stock in trade. Ask them to tell you the programmes they have for the people. But we know they have none.”

Saying that what he had done in Osun in less than 40 months surpassed what the opposition did in seven years, both in quantity and quality, Aregebesola assured that this is just the beginning of good things in Osun.

He listed some of the achievements of his government in the constituency to include rehabilitation of 21.3 kilometre Ede township roads, construction of 7.3 kilometre local government roads in Ejigbo council, construction of 7.7 kilometre local government roads in Ede South, construction of 10 kilometre local government roads in Ede North, among others.

Former governor of old Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, described Aregbesola as true politician with love for his people, adding that the works of late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo; former governor of old Ondo State, Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Chief Awokoya, which had been stagnated has received a boost from Aregbesola.

He said Aregbesola understands the game of politics more than all the governors in the South-West.

Timi of Ede, Oba Lawal, while giving his royal blessings, commended Aregbesola for the massive work going on in the state, saying that the governor, having given a good account of his administration in the first term, deserves to be re-elected to continue the good work.

NATIONAL MIRROR

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collapse

Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam has decried the outrageous insinuation that greeted the collapse of a school hall within the premises of the state of art facility of Ejigbo High school, saying that the statement  credited to some political players that substandard materials was prejudicial and an act of sabotage.

In a statement issued by his media office, Speaker Salaam who hails from Ejigbo, the host community of the school, noted that while an investigation team was yet to get to the spot where a loud bang was reportedly heard by the people in site before the collapse of a detached auditorium, some political actors who appeared to be happy with the rubbles of the edifice went on air to pass judgment on the material composition of the building.

Speaker Salaam then challenged those who insinuated on substandard building materials as the cause of collapse of the structure to present their empirical evidence or stop their ill-motivated  politicking on the matter until the result of investigation is out, Saying that he personally monitored the work-in-progress and there was nothing suggesting that something was fishy and for a new building to be uprooted from the foundation, more information need to be processed. So, prejudice is needless.

Besides, Speaker Salaam has condemned the hate and threat speech of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Iyiola Omisore against a lawmaker representing Atakunmosa East and West, Hon. Babatunde Festus Komolafe at Ifewara few days ago, warning that the parliament has it on tape where he threatened to deal with the lawmaker using soldiers.

He said: “when we listened to Omisore governorship campaign at Ifewara, it is disappointing that he was busy threatening to sack Hon. Komolafe’s home and that he would unleash soldiers on him for daring to mobilize his constituents for the reelection of Gov. Rauf Aregbesola.”

The Speaker then stressed that he would forward the tape of the threat against the lawmaker to the security agencies for the safety of the legislator.

Signed:

Goke Butika

Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker

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OGBENILEKANSI

OGBENILEKANSI
Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola spoke with reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, on his administration, the Ekiti governorship election and preparations for the August 9 poll in the State of the Living Springs. Excerpts:
The governorship election will hold in Osun State next month. How can the APC  avert what happened during the Ekiti poll?
A genuine democrat must be willing and ready to embrace defeat as he or she will embrace victory, provided the election is transparent, credible, free and fair. The real issue is not about you as a candidate, but the quality of the electoral process. Once the quality is good and high, whatever the people say is the final because they are the ultimate decider of who represents or govern them. Democratic choices is expected to be correct, good and right, but it is not always that the choice is good, correct and right. Long before I assumed this office, I prepared so well for the office in a way that, going by the normal run, I should not be working as hard as I am working now for re-election. I am one of the politicians that from day one began my campaign. From the day I entered this office, I started my campaign. How many governors walk the streets with their citizens? I have been doing that since the first month in office. How many governors creates interactive forum in Nigeria before me? There is none. I was the first governor that devoted close to 10 hours of continuous engagement on a quarterly basis with the citizens.
The ‘Ogbeni Till Day Break’ is a worldwide engagement because we take feedbacks from social media. Hardly is there any community in this state that I have not touched personally. In terms of physical and social services, this is the first government that will say that there is no household, be it the PDP, be it the APC and others, that our programme has not reached, there is none. I feed 300,000 pupils every school day at the cost of N3.6 billion a year, I have been doing it since 2012 and I have spent N7.2 billion on that. The students consume 15,000 whole chicken every week and it is served twice. They consume 300,000 eggs every week, one egg a week. They consume 400 tons of fish every week. They consume 35 herds of cattle every week. We gave close to N600 million to the poultry farmers and also the fish farmers.
Also, 1000 new farmers who we raised to produce cocoyam are in this, close to 500  ‘O’Yes  cadets’ are equally empowered to outtake the cocoyam and give to the vendors. Also, tens of thousands are equally engaged providing different items. From this alone, close to one million people are directly impacted from just one programme, ‘O’meal’. We have the second batch of O’Yes cadets, the first batch of 20,000 had gone, the 2nd batch of 20,000 is on and they are from homes. They work two or three days a week and they have the entire days of week left for them to see what they can do with their hands and earn a living because they are taught entrepreneurial training but they earn N10,000 monthly as cadets. On this scheme alone, this administration has spent N9 billion. I tell people what this type of scheme means for national government. You can’t say I don’t have 18 friends who I can give half a billion naira contract to, whether they do it or not, I would have still given it. But, the maximum amount of that investment that will stay here will be less than 50 per cent, yes, you will have the project here but there would still be capital flight because we are talking about direct impact on the economy.  O’Yes have changed the paradigm; 100 per cent of that N9 billion is in this economy.
The programme has huge economic benefit to the state. Every O ‘Yes cadet has a smart card and the issue of anyone handling or tampering with their money does not arise. We are one of the few government that develops a meaningful programme for elderly citizens care. We are not into a blanket social welfare scheme for the elderly, we have a package that did an extensive survey of citizens that are 65 years and above, we have them in our database. We now identified those among them that are without any support, that is the first time any government will so do in Nigeria. We engaged a consultant, who is a professor of gerontology in OAU, Ile-Ife . He developed the programme they used and without sentiment or parochialism, they got elderly citizens that lack support, we called them critically vulnerable people who are aged but have nobody to care for them. If we did not discover them, nobody will know such people exist in Nigeria because they are waiting to die because they lack everything. We identified 1,800 of such people state wide.
The selection was purely based on their conditions, not primodial sentiment. We didn’t do the selection anyway, Professor Ogunbameru of OAU administered everything, gave us the list and the addresses. We have been giving them N10,000 monthly since 2012.Your question is if am bothered about Ekiti, I don’t even think about it. As a loyal APC member, I was disturbed. But, as a head of  a government that has worked so well with the people, I don’t even see the effect. I look at my engagement with the people, the products of my government, which has not left any home unaffected positively, and I said if election is about acceptance, popularity and impact you have made on the people, we are waiting for what the dictate of democracy would be. In a credible, transparent, free and fair election, Rauf Aregbesola does not have any worry at all about what people will say about his administration.
 Is your administration in good terms with four critical sectors, namely teachers, civil servants, okada riders and students?
Let us start with the students. When we came in, students were given a bursary of N3,000 and they won’t even get the bursary on time and it was full of scam. They brought it to me to sign and I said why do I have to sign N3,000 for anybody? We raised the bursary to N10,000 flat. For medical and law students N20,000 while our indigenes in the Law School get N100,000. I don’t see how such students will hate us. I can’t see it. Whoever now hates us has something else against us not for the fact that we have not done the needful. The increase wasn’t solicited; we did it out of our own understanding of the reality of what the students are going through. There was clamor for the reduction of fees. We reduced the fees from a huge amount to something that is comparably affordable. Also, we have been investing in developing the institutions much more than any administration has done in the history of this state.
For okada riders, they have no problem with us. They may want us to do things for them as we have done to some other groups, but it not as if they said, compared to others, these are the problems. The roads here are appreciated even by those who used legs. Has any government succeeded in constructing 200 kilometres of road in all the nooks and crannies of the state? There is no part of this state that we have not constructed a new road and it is not just any road, but roads with concrete drainage, with stone base and kick asphaltic cover and above all, when I get to campaign grounds, I say our roads have tribal marks. We now have special roads. When we complete some of them, they will be tourism attraction and centres on their own. The road we are building in Gbogan, people will be coming to look at it, mark my words. That road you see, Gbongan/Akoda Road will be a tourism attraction because it is not an ordinary road because its a road that took me time to conceive and design and we are taking our time to develop it. We also want to tell the world that the black man is a human being. I have two major objectives on earth. One is to help in the process of eliminating poverty because I hate poverty. I wasn’t born poor, but I feel bad to see people in destitution. Two is that I don’t like how blacks are in the world today. As long as I live, I must be part of the process that will give the black man a good reckoning where they are because sadly, we are in the lowest part of civilisation. I have been everywhere in the World, except the continent of Australia, and in everywhere in the world, the most depressing portion of it is inhabitated by blacks. These are the two issues that motivate me.
What about civil servants?
Before our advent, the civil servants never knew that salary could be paid before the end of the month. For seven and half year, salaries were never paid here before the end of the month. But, from when I assumed office, we changed that. Before the year ended when I assumed office, I paid 10 per cent of their basic as the 13th month salary and paid December salary before the end of the year.
The civil servants were dazed. Since that day up until December 2013, I pay salary on or before the 25th of every month. But, as from January 2014, we ran into trouble which we explained to everybody six months before then. In July 2013, the Federal Government began a squeeze. They said 400,000 barrel of crude oil is being stolen everyday. We didn’t know the problem was coming. Instead of collecting N4.6 billion, they gave this government N2.6 billion, 40 per cent slashed. We thought it will be temporary because, after that month, they said the stolen crude has reduced to 200,000 barrel per day. When the oil being lost reduced, would you still expect a 40 per cent cut? From that July to now, the maximum allocation this state has ever received is N3.2 billion, which was in November 2013. I am not making up anything, simply saying the truth. Now ask me how was I able to pay up until December 2013? My people are called osomalo. They are very deft in the management of money and I took this from them. I had been saving through the ‘Omoluwabi Conservation Fund’ in which 10 per cent of all allocation must just go and rest. So, I had money in reserve, which was a build-up from my refusal to form cabinet for 10 months. I had the money. Whereas my income fell to N2.6billion at the lowest and N3.4billion at the highest for a month, my statutory expenditures, which are expenditures that I have no control on, once we have agreed on it, for instance salary, pension and they are N3.6 billion every month, I have no power over it. I can’t say no Iam not paying, Between July and December, I augmented my income with N5.4 billion.  All in the hope that this thing will go, it didn’t go. It has not gone as we speak, it is even worse. Before, when you get your allocation, you will cash it by the 15th of every month, that is why they are paying salaries on the 15th of the month before we came in.To make up the deficit in what I received and what I must pay, I spent extra N5.4 billion. However, I told you earlier that I gave 10 per cent of basic salary for 13th month salary; the second year I gave 25 per cent; the third year I gave 50 per cent; the fourth year, I gave 100 per cent. So, December of 2013, I gave every worker in the employment of Osun 100 per cent of their basic salary as extra income, which I paid before the end of the year. Why should any worker say I am not friendly with them?  Before, workers here were given their leave allowances enbloc at the end of the year, I told them this is unresonable because we don’t go on leave at the same time. So, choose when you want your leave allowance to be paid. Is it at your birthday or the anniversary of your employment into the service. So, whenever you summit your birthday, your leave allowance will be credited to you. I don’t know if any other government in Nigeria that does that. Two, go and visit the secretariat and see what we have made of their work enviroment.  So, if these are things that should motivate workers, I stand tall and proud because I have done my best. As we speak, we have not collected June allocation. They might not give us June allocation until the end of August. But, we will pay our workers, already we have pay June. I am happy to tell you that majority of our civil servants see and appreciate what we are doing. You can to the secretariat and see what we are doing. We increased the car loan by 400 per cent; we increased housing loans by 100 per cent. For 36 out of 43 months we have been paying regularly, let’s even assume that there is a problem of delayed payments now, I cannot believe all the workers will be against us because I have done my best. If the demonstration of interest of workers in their remuneration and allowances counts and with what we have done, I don’t think they will be against us.
I read the advert they published and I laughed because it indicted them. They wrote that my income was N2.8 billion and this is what I have to pay, N3.4billion and pegged it with state and local governments. There is no way I can touch the local government account because it is separate and distinct. I can only give policy statements on that.
What about teachers?
Our teachers in the state are now very well motivated such that you cannot distinguished between our them and bank workers. When you see a teacher in Osun before you know. They are so depressed, unmotivated and absence of facilities. Our teachers now appear corporate and well-motivated. This is the first government that will say that you don’t need to buy textbooks for your children in the high school, Opon Imoand its targeted at 150,000 students. It is a high school a library of 53 textbooks.
Are you prepared for a possible lockdown of the state, few days to the election?
You see, I came here from the street and it is easy for me to go back to the street. My real home is on the street. Whoever will hold me on the street will try. I laugh when they talk about me because they don’t know I am from the street.
What is your perception about the term stomach infrastructure?
To those people who are the elite and are therefore separated from the people, this term may make a new meaning. I am a product of the popular forces, the people. I am part and parcel of them. I emanated from them. Iam a product of their struggles. What is now known as stomach infrastructure is what we know as interaction, engagement, living with the people and meeting their aspirations and needs. That is what we have been doing from the very beginning of this administration; I feed their children every day meal.
My administration does not suffer alienation from the people. It is one and same with the people and that is the basis of our confidence in their ever ready support at all times.
Is there any aspect of the state that you think you have not touched?
There is no trade, commercial or social group in the state of Osun that we have not impacted.  There is no aspect. Apart from Lagos, we are the only state government that has an emergency call center but has been made dysfunctional because the federal government just refused to give us short code to make it work. It has been ready for the past 13 to 18 months ago. If that centre had been activated, we acquired a helicopter that will get to the farthest place of this state in 15 minutes to attend to emergency issues. It won’t cost the federal government a dime but to just direct the NCC to allow us use their 122 line. I wrote to the president that emergency does not know political parties, what we don’t want is needless death because of absence of emergency services and the state of the art facilities is still lying down there fallow.
THE NATION

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