Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola with Founder, Christ Apostolic Church, Mountain of Mercy, Orile-Agege, Lagos, Pastor Elijah Ajayi, during a Solidarity Visit to the Governor in Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun, during the weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) with Founder, Christ
Apostolic Church, Mountain of Mercy, Orile-Agege, Lagos, Pastor Elijah
Ajayi, during a Solidarity Visit to the Governor in Government House,
Osogbo, State of Osun, during the weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Founder, Christ
Apostolic Church (CAC), Mountain of Mercy, Orile-Agege, Lagos, Pastor
Elijah Ajayi (left) and Senior Pastor, CAC Mountain of Mercy, Harrisburg,
USA, Pastor Sunday Ajayi (right), during a Solidarity Visit to the Governor
in Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun, during the weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); Founder, Christ
Apostolic Church (CAC), Mountain of Mercy, Orile-Agege, Lagos, Pastor
Elijah Ajayi (left) and Senior Pastor, CAC Mountain of Mercy, Harrisburg,
USA, Pastor Sunday Ajayi (right), during a Solidarity Visit to the Governor
in Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun, during the weekend

Still on the Ijesha South Federal Constituency gubernatorial election mega rally of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola held on July 15, 2014 in Ilesha, I came across two women and seeing the joy on their faces at being present at Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s campaign rally despite their physical challenges and the difficulties of meandering their way through such a mammoth crowd, I took up the job of a journalist to do an interview on what could have motivated them to overlook the stress of coming for the rally.
The woman on the left will be referred to as Mrs. A, she said she is a widow with four children with the last born in secondary school, she claimed that before the coming in of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administration in Osun state, that life was very difficult as two of her children had finished school with no funds to proceed further educationally or learn a vocational job and that sustaining the last born in school was hell due to poverty.
However, luck smiled on her, just like other families in the state of Osun as two of her children were engaged in O’yes voluntary community service scheme and are paid ten thousand Naira monthly stipend by the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration.
According to her, the condition of living in the family has changed for the better as the scheme has been able to save family’s image and helped the society at large by engaging these youths and taking their minds of crime, since like they say, an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
She further explained that Ogbeni Rauf is God sent as his administration has relieved millions of families the burden of maintaining their children in public schools as the government provides free school uniforms, an electronic textbook device called Opon Imo, free nutritional meals in schools made up of eggs, chicken and fish. To her, she has only one meal a day to provide for her daughter in public school as Ogbeni Rauf has relieved her of that financial burden.
Infact, she said, she is forever grateful like millions of others to the government of Ogbeni Rauf for taking this burden of the shoulders of the masses and in her words, come August 9, 2014, she and her household will vote for this masses burden bearer.
Thanks,
Written  by Nelson Ekujumi
BLOGSPOT

Photos showing the new Omoluabi Scholar Buses and of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola with  the ecstatic mammoth crowd during the official commissioning of St. Stephen’s Middle School, Modakeke State of Osun on Friday 18/07/2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola [middle], Ogunsua of Madekeke, Oba Francis Adedoyin [2nd left],Chairman Osun Schools Reclassification Committee[O’ Schools], Alhaji Layi Oyeduntan [left] and the Executive Secretary, Ife-East Area Office, Modakeke, Mr Wale Amusan during the official commissioning of St. Stephen’s Middle School, Modakeke State of Osun on Friday 18/07/2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola addressing the participants during the official commissioning of St. Stephen’s Middle School, Modakeke State of Osun on Friday 18/07/201

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola addressing the participants during the official commissioning of St. Stephen’s Middle School, Modakeke State of Osun on Friday 18/07/201

The late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was well known more for his political philosophy in those days. His literary works, which are well documented for generations yet unborn, speak volume of a political philosopher. Awolowo wrote volumes on his thoughts regarding how Nigeria should be governed, what are expected of politicians as well as how society should be ordered.

Most political writs of contemporary Nigerian society have continued to borrow from his wisdom of thought known popularly as Awo’s Philosophical thoughts. Awo was a political warrior in his days and he generated so much controversy because of his forthrightness, unparalleled discipline, boldness and vision. In fact, Awo saw far beyond his time. This may be responsible for his frequent bruises with those who could not see beyond their nose. He was betrayed, abused, cursed and even jailed. He was undaunted even till the end of his life.

Awo’s legacy could not be matched even by the best of politician till date.

It is quite rare to find a combination of political philosopher and true politician like Papa Awo. This is where the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, has continued to be different from the pack. He stands out and he is still being seen as a wonder which the Almighty has bestowed on the people of Osun.

Governor Aregbesola has not ceased to amaze me as a politician and political philosopher combined in one personality, a rarity. In these days of politics of no direction, the Governor of Osun has confounded critics that you can be a political philosopher as well as a good politician.

He shared so many attributes with Chief Obafemi Awolowo, some of which include forthrightness, discipline, boldness, and vision. It is therefore not surprising that he also shares from some of Awo’s woes which include betrayal, misunderstanding from a section of those who should know better and verbal abuse. As if these are not enough, he was even faced with financial decapitation.

His political philosophy spans education reformation, welfare, governance, personal and environmental health, food security, just to mention only a few. In these days when application of deceptive rhetoric to get what you want, Aregbesola has been very honest with the people, saying it as it is. He lives a modest life known only to philosopher kings. You can hardly associate him with crass opulence which is prevalent in today’s men of power.

His Walk-For-Life physical exercise programme which he carries to the grass root has almost turned into a Movement of sort; the Apalara youth engagement scheme has literarily bailed out our youths out of idleness and unemployment; his education reform has been applauded both at home and outside.

In a recent encounter, the General Overseer of the Living Faith Church (a.k.a. Winners Church) Bishop David Oyedepo had this to say of him “any governance that is producing results and affecting the lives of vast majority of the people, must be deeply appreciated”.

He also declared that the new educational policy, which had culminated in the building of mega schools in the State, deserves global applause.

He said: “I deeply appreciate the infrastructural development. Besides, the education revolution is for us a great achievement. I can see the massive road construction going on.

“This is to the benefit of the people. No policy can remove the roads. I am very impressed”.

As the election D-day draws nearer by the hour, the people have the choice as to whether they would want to go back to the old days of the locusts represented by the opposition in the state.

 Ayo Akinola, a social and political analyst

BLOGSPOT

Members of the Fulani Community in the State of Osun on Sunday endorsed the second term ambition of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

Majority of the Fulani community members, who are mostly herdsmen, stormed the Government House in their hundreds to rally support for the governor.

Speaking on behalf of the Fulani Community in the state, Alhaji Toyin Sulaiman, expressed appreciation to the governor for advancing the course of Fulanis in the state.

Sulaiman said most of the programmes of the present administration in the rural areas are targeted towards making life better and meaningful for the Fulani herdsmen and their families in the state. Sulaiman called on the governor to create more opportunities for Fulani community by assisting in boosting their cattle business. He also called on the government to assist them in the area of building more schools in their communities and create employment opportunities for their educated children.

He said: “We are in full support of your administration because no government has supported and assisted our people like your administration. “We are so happy that you have given us so much recognition by setting up this committee that will see to the needs of our people, which no government has ever done before in this state.”

Within the first term of the current administration, Aregbesola has displayed uncommon zeal, to banish hunger, poverty, unemployment and restore healthy living beyond the imagination of the people. Responding, Governor Aregbesola urged every ethnic group in the state to draw closer to the present administration in the state, as a way of knowing further the yearnings of every resident of the state.

Aregbesola, who lauded the efforts of the committee on harmonious relationship between Fulani herdsmen and farmers, said the six-point integral action plan of the government touches every live in the state. He said the Fulanis are not left out, having been able to supply the state government with about one thousand cows for the school’s feeding programme (O-MEAL) in the last two years.

According to Aregbesola: “Our six-point integral action plan carries you along in the schemes of things and we are not ready or planning to leave any ethnic group, especially the Fulanis, out in our developmental agenda.” “Our programmes towards development have no preferential treatment for any religion or group. This administration is an administration for everybody and it will continue to be like that.”

“Our six-point integral action plan cuts across every citizen in this state, regardless of your tribe and religion. I implore you not to distant yourselves from this government and the rest of this state because we are one and we want to make life more meaningful and easier for you.”

Also speaking earlier, Assistant Chief of Staff and Chairman of the Committee on Harmonious Relationship between the Fulani Herdsmen and the Farmers, Honourable Oguntola Toogun, said the committee, with the support of the state government, has been able to maintain good relationship between the two groups, adding that other pending issues would be settled soon.

He said the committee worked in collaboration with all the executive secretaries in the state, which has made the job easier.

Photos from the commissioning of Omoluabi Scholar Busses, tagged O-School Bus for public Schools by Aregbesola’s administration, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 17-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his Deputy,
Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Special Adviser to the Governor on Lands, Dr
Ayo Owaade (right); his Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Bade Adesina
(3rd left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Commerce, Industry and
Cooperatives, Dr. Olalekan Yinusa (2nd right) and others, during the
commissioning of Omoluabi Scholar Busses, tagged O-School Bus for
public Schools by Aregbesola’s administration, at Nelson Mandela
Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 17-07-2014

A cross section of the newly commissioned Omoluabi Scholar Buses with
the crowd of people during the commissioning at Nelson Mandela Freedom
Park, Osogbo on Friday 18-07-2014

A cross section of the newly commissioned Omoluabi Scholar Buses with
the crowd of people during the commissioning at Nelson Mandela Freedom
Park, Osogbo on Friday 18-07-2014

A cross section of the newly commissioned Omoluabi Scholar Buses for
public Schools by the administration of Governor Aregbesola, during
the commissioning at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo on Friday
18-07-2014

A cross section of the newly commissioned Omoluabi Scholar Buses for
public Schools by the administration of Governor Aregbesola, during
the commissioning at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo on Friday
18-07-2014

A day after the landmark commissioning of 100 units of Handheld Ultrasound Scanners, four units of 3D Colour Doppler Scan machines and splashed N370 million welfare scheme on women empowerment, the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, added another feat in the chain of welfare programmes on Friday as he launched 30 new civilian buses for students of public schools in the state.

Tagged “Omoluabi Scholar Bus”, the newly purchased civilian buses are meant to convey students from their respective homes to schools and back every school-day.

Aregbesola said if the government’s quest for enduring socio-economic progress is to be achieved, government’s commitment to education and the future of the children cannot be superficial.

The governor said his administration embarked on this laudable programme because it’s dangerous to play politics with the education of children.

He said that the realisation of the importance of education and development of human capacity building prompted his government to create the best possible environment for the development of their total person.

He described the provision of buses for transporting the students as another proof of government’s focused attention to education.

“The buses we are rolling out today for the use of our High School students are another solid proofs of the importance and undivided attention our government genuinely accords education.

“With the O’Scholar Buses, the culture of punctuality will be further deepened in our students. They will be encouraged to get ready in time for the bus and in so doing get to school on time.

“And while on the bus to or from school, or travelling to and from school events, they will have the time to further bond together, reflect on their works and exchange useful ideas.

“One of the unique characteristics of our administration’s programmes is that they ensure the empowerment of the people. This explains why no single household in all of the state is without positive testimonies of the impacts of our programmes on them,” Aregbesola said.

He added that the buses will provide comfort and ease for students and parents and create employment for those, who will be driving the buses.

In her remark, the Deputy Governor, who is also the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomorri, noted that the provision of the buses is another demonstration of government’s commitment to providing quality and qualitative education for the children.

She charged the students to make the best use of the buses and maximise the opportunities the buses afford them.

The Managing Director of Sterling Bank PLC, represented by Mr. Ademola Adeyemi, Regional Business Executive, South-West (2), said the bank finds it profitable to partner government in providing the buses.

Adeyemi noted that Sterling Bank will continue to partner with government in realising its noble programmes.

He enjoined all the stakeholders to make judicious use of the scholar buses to benefit of all.

One of the beneficiaries, a student of St. Mark Anglican School, Osogbo, Miss Olatunji Oluwakemi, commended the governor for making education one of his administration’s top priorities.

Oluwakemi said Aregbesola’s government has made a lot of impacts such as provision of Opon Imo, Free school feeding, free uniforms, building of ultra-modern school buildings as well as construction of roads.

She implored the people of the state to vote wisely by returning Aregbesola to continue his laudable programmes in the state.

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has commissioned the L.A Elementary School, Obada, Ede amidst pump and fanfare as parents, guardians and students thronged the venue in their thousands.
The elated parents defied the heavy rain to witness the epoch-making commissioning event of the new school which has the capacity to accommodate 1,000 pupils with 25 classrooms, one large exam hall, 16 toilets, one audio visual room, recreation facilities among others.
Addressing the gathering, Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola described the commissioning as a celebration of good things to come to the state in the education sector.
He expressed happiness that God has used his administration to impact positively in the state education sector despite not being the first Governor of the state, describing the rebuilding of public school buildings in the state as a vision from God.
The Governor noted that parents and kids alike in the state should be rest assured of a positive future because the present administration is determined to continue to lay a solid foundation for the generation yet unborn.
He then congratulated the people of Ede and environs, saying the new schools and more to come will serve as a catalyst for development for the people of Ede and surrounding towns.
He said, “this commissioning is capable of marking a positive turn around for education in our state and we shall continue to strive for things to get better for our children.‎
“I am delighted for the students that will use this facility now and those that will use it in future because we now have a very good education facility that can stand the test of time.
“I am happy that God has used our administration to achieve this despite the fact that our administration is not the first in the state.” The governor pointed out.
Speaking earlier, the Deputy Governor of the state who also doubles as the state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Grace Titi Laoye Tomori stated that education is the bedrock to development which is why the present administration is investing so much into education.
She said the the commissioning portrays the joint and collective effort of the people and the government in bid to creating a total human being which in turn take the state to greater heights.
The deputy Governor stressed that the present administration remain unflinchingly committed to giving the children which are the future of the state the best it can offer.
“Our education policy is to ensure that every student that graduates from any Osun school is the best anywhere in the world.”
“Education is the bedrock of development which is why the present administration is committed to producing a total human being.” She stressed.
In a goodwill message, the first civilian Governor of the state, Alhaji Isiaka Adeleke expressed appreciation to the present administration in the state for providing an enabling for the students in the state.
He noted that it is worthy of mentioning that it is the first in the history of the state despite not being the first governor of the state as it is the first of its kind in Osun.

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has frowned at the use of military men to provide security during the forthcoming election in Osun State.
This came on the heels of the statement of the Resident Electoral Commission in Osun State, Mr. Segun Agbaje, who said that the state will not be less militarised during the forthcoming governorship election as it was the case during similar election held on June 21 in Ekiti State.
Agbaje said this in Abuja at an event organised to assess the level of the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Residents and observers of the June 21 governorship election had witnessed heavy presence of the military men and other security agencies across Ekiti State during the June 21 poll.
Reacting to the state of Osun REC, the Executive Chairman of the Coalition, Mr. Debo Adeniran averred that the intervention of military men in democratic process is an aberration.
He said, “The government must realise that the use of military men to provide security during election is an aberration. It is antithetical to the spirit of true democracy. The police should be well-equipped to provide security during elections; we shouldn’t be inviting khaki boys from their barracks to intervene in democratic process.
“As we have been made to believe that Ekiti Governorship Election was free and fair, the events preceding it and the heavy presence of military make a mess of the result came out of the poll. The evident presence of the federal might before and during the poll with the reported harassment of All Progressives Congress members and its visiting governors in the state some days to the election was uncalled for. Everyone should be given equal opportunity because a pan for the goose is good for the gander.”
Speaking further, the human rights activist argued that the militarization of Osun State may influence the outcome of the election and therefore urged that the soldiers should be kept in the barracks until the situation demands their coming out.
“Basically, the military men should be kept in their barracks, not within the town to intimidate the people. As a matter of fact, military men could even instigate violence with a view to tilting the outcome of election in favour of the candidate that has better relationship with their commanding authority. We are not saying that the citizens should not be protected during the election, all we are asking for is that the military men should not come out until there is manifest threat of violence not contrived violence,” Adeniran said.
DAILY TIMES

The annual Osun Osogbo festival was Flagged off on high note last week, with a press briefing in Lagos, writes Omolola Itayemi
At about 2pm on July 8, the Osun Osogbo 2014 programme unveiling took off on a high note when Managing Director, Infogem Nigeria Limited and Chief Festival Consultant for Osun Osogbo,  Ayo Olumoko, picked the microphone to welcome guests, royalty, artistes, corporate representatives and members of the media at the corporate forum heralding the festival this year at Eko Hotels and conference Centre, Lagos.
Remarkably, the arrival of the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun and his entourage, comprising his Olori and High Chiefs, added colour to the programme.
Speaking, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, said the Osun Osogbo Festival had continued to grow bigger each year with new programmes and exciting events being added every year.
“And this year, it is definitely going to be bigger in terms of attendance, packaging, sponsorship and others for the year 2014. I can tell you that there are many indications for this assertion. For instance, in my travelling around the world in recent times, I have met people who told me they would be coming for this year’s edition of the festival,” Oba Oyetunji said.
Emphasising the enthusiasm with which some of the Africans in the Diaspora speak concerning the Osun Osogbo festival, the traditional ruler added that “some people even showed me a river they intend to refer to as their own Osun River but I was frank enough to let them know that Osun cannot have a duplicate anywhere in the world as only the Ataoja and top chiefs know what the festival entails each year and the spiritual process that goes with it which can only happen in Osun.”
Hon. Ladi Soyede, special adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Tourism and Culture, said the renaissance of Yoruba culture remains a priority of the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administration in a way that encourages industry and expertise in combination with a celebration of culture.
Soyede said: “Solid progress has been made in this regard in the past three years and has culminated in Osun Osogbo Festival becoming 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 and 113 international tourists.”
According to him, activities being promoted by the Government of Osun and which are aimed at promoting and enlarging the scope of the festival include the Tourism Ambassadors programme, Osun Osogbo festival trade fair, festival marathon walk, festival concert and the Osun Osogbo food festival.
Earlier, the festival coordinator and Asoju Oba Gbodofon of Osogbo, said: “All forms of socio-cultural developments have some attributes of celebration and thanksgiving to the almighty God. Festivals are, therefore, regarded as important socio-cultural means of supplications to the Supreme Being, at most times though His intermediaries according to individual beliefs.
Consequently, the month of August of every year has become a unique month among the people of Osogboland. It is the month of celebration, traditional cleansing of the city and cultural reunion of the people with their great ancestors and founders of the Osogbo kingdom. The celebration of Osun Osogbo Festival is a period of stocktaking and assemblage of all sons and daughters of Osogboland and most especially Yoruba-speaking people both in Nigeria and Disapora.”
Listing pre-festival events as including a corporate forum, Iwopopo (traditional cleansing of the city), Ataoja Football Challenge, festival musical concert, Ataoja Golf competition at Miccom Golf Resort, festival art exhibition and others, organisers announced other events for the week-long festival finale.
Billed to begin on Monday, August 18 and ending on Saturday, August 23, events to be part of the grand finale include Iboriade (Ataoja’s crown assemblage); Arugba’s berth/Association of Nigerian Thearte Practitioners  performance night; Susanne Wenger’s sacred colloquim; closing of festival art exhibition; Osun Children cultural fiesta; HIV/AIDS promotional campaign and Sisi Osun cultural pageant. Others are the Osun Osogbo Festival procession and Ataoja’s invitational reception as well as Osun Trade Fair.
Olumoko who also spoke at the event, said the essence of the festival is now very visible as he urged corporate organisations to partner with the Osogbo traditional stool and State Government of Osun towards celebrating Osun Osogbo even more
The quality of the activities put together to whet the appetite of the guests and make the grand finale of the festival a must watch.
The 15-minute display by a cultural dance group practically electrified the hall. The group, made up of delectable ladies with enchanting voices brought out the best in African dance.
Representatives of the sponsoring corporate organisations whose presence were felt by all include Nigerian Breweries Plc, MTN, Kasapreko, makers of Alomo Bitters and Seamanship Schnapps.
For the second year running, Goldberg Lager Beer, brewed by Nigerian Breweries, has been adopted as the Official Beer of the Osun Oshogbo Festival. Oba Oyetunji commended Goldberg for its steadfast commitment and support to the festival and the Yoruba culture. “It goes without saying that the Osun Oshogbo Festival is regarded as a very important festival, not only in Yoruba land and Nigeria, but also in the world. The event is a huge tourist attraction that lures the global community to Oshogbo in Osun State. Goldberg’s identification with the celebrations shows the brand’s commitment to the customs and values of the Yoruba people, and we are happy about it,” he said.
On his part, Edem Vinda, the Brand Manager Nigerian Breweries Plc, represented by Kufre Ekanem said the brand was very happy to be associated with this age-old Nigerian festival that is very dear to the people of Oshogbo and the western region in general.
According to him, as Nigeria’s premier and largest brewing company with a portfolio of high quality brands, Nigerian Breweries has partnered with this festival over the years and for the second year running, the Goldberg brand is proud to be part of the Osun Oshogbo festival.”
THISDAY