We thank you for attending en masse and making the homecoming of our Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, a memorable one. Osun a dara.
Category: News
Photos of the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from the mammoth crowd at the Re-election campaign rally in Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun onTuesday 15-07-2014
Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left on Top of Vehicle) acknowledging cheers from mammoth crowd during his Re-election campaign rally in Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun onTuesday 15-07-2014
Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left on Top of Vehicle) acknowledging cheers from mammoth crowd during his Re-election campaign rally in Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun onTuesday 15-07-2014
Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (left on Top of Vehicle) acknowledging cheers from mammoth crowd during his Re-election campaign rally in Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun onTuesday 15-07-2014
Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (left on Top of Vehicle) acknowledging cheers from mammoth crowd during his Re-election campaign rally in Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun onTuesday 15-07-2014
Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (left on Top of Vehicle) acknowledging cheers from mammoth crowd during his Re-election campaign rally in Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun onTuesday 15-07-2014
Mammoth crowd at Aregbesola Re-election Rally, from left, Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; First Civilian Governor of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Wife, Sherifat, during Aregbesola’s Re-election Campaign in Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun on Tuesday 15-07-2014
Mammoth crowd at Aregbesola Re-election Rally, from left, First Civilian Governor of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Wife, Sherifat and Member House of Representatives representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency, Honourable Ayo Omidiran, during Aregbesola’s Re-election Campaign in Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun onTuesday 15-07-2014
First civilian Governor, Senator Isiaka Adeleke; Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Top left) addressing crowd, during Aregbesola’s Re-election campaign rally in Ijesa South Federal Constituency, Ilesa, State of Osun onTuesday 15-07-2014
Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said that there is no need to deploy additional security operatives for the governorship election coming up on August 9.
Aregbesola said this in Osogbo on Monday at a forum organised by his wife, Serifat, to sensitise women in the state on the need to participate actively in the election.
The governor said that some leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state had been threatening to use “federal might” to unleash terror on the people.
He said, “Some are threatening to use federal might to harass the people. Don’t be afraid of them. Tax payers’ money was used to buy soldiers’ uniforms, boots and guns.
“Nobody can intimidate us because we will not run foul of the law. Don’t go to polling units with any weapon, just arm yourself with your voter cards and vote the APC.
“We have enough policemen, soldiers, SSS operatives and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. In 2011, we went to the poll without violence. The only violence recorded was five days before election where five persons were killed at Isale Agbara in Ile-Ife.
“The police bungled the case and that is why some of the people are walking freely and are boasting again that they would use federal might.”
The governor accused the police of handling the case with negligence.
In her speech, the governor’s wife urged women to be actively involved in politics, appealing to them to vote for her husband in the election.
Wife of the Osun State Governor and Ambassador, Community led Total Sanitation (CLTS), Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola, has charged women in the state to embrace neatness and good hygiene at all times.
Alhaja Aregbesola gave the charge in Osogbo while declaring open a one-day training programme on Community Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) for Traditional and Religious Leaders from the 400 triggered communities in the state.
According to her, the training programme which is put together by the Rural Water and Environmental Sanotation Agency (RUWESA), is geared towards making the communities an Open Defecation Free (ODF) by providing individual household latrine coupled with safe water, sanitation and hygiene promotion practices to ensure a sustainable behavioural change.
The CLTS ambassador, who used the occasion to call on the people of the state to re-elect Ogbeni Aregbesola for a second term, stated that the present administration is ready to continue to work for the development of the state.
Expressing appreciation to the organisers of the training programme, the firstlady charged the Project Manager and Staff of RUWESA, Directors of Water and Environmental Sanitation (DWES) in the 30 local governments and Ife-East Area Office and all other participants to work harder, so as to meet the goal target of CLTS.
In an address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr Adekunle Igeg appreciated Governor Aregbesola for supporting all programmes geared towards the actualization of his six-point integral action plan designed to make life pleasant for Osun people.
DAILY INDEPENDENT
The determination and commitment of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola led administration in Osun State to make the state the hub of commerce received a boost recently with the commissioning of an ultra modern market, Ayegbaju International Market in Osogbo, Osun State Capital.
Market men, market women, artisans and shop owners were full of praises and prayers when the tw-phased new market which cost the state government a whopping sum of N2.3billion was commissioned with fanfare.
The commissioning was attended by dignitaries from all walks of life. The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Larooye II appeared happiest of all the guests that witnessed the occasion being the traditional head of Osogbo, the state capital.
He drove to the venue of the event in convoy of other traditional rulers from across the state.
Though there had beene markets in Osogbo, the capital city of Osun State all this while, they were more of street or roadside markets where people display their goods and wares by the streets and roadsides.
The implications had been that whenever the market was in session, such as at the markets at Igbona, Olu-Ode, Sabo, Orisumbare, MDS, Alekunwodo, Akindeko among others, there would be traffic gridlock along these busy roads and making life unbearable for motorists.
Effort by the then Colonel Theophilus Bamigboye military regime in the state to construct the new Orisumbare Market at MDS area could not however assuage the situation as the market was inadequate even as it was not meant for agricultural goods and food items.
Nevertheless, the current administration on assumption of office facilitated the construction and establishment of three markets at the same time in a bid to restore the old commercial activities of Osogbo. The markets are Ayegbaju, Dagbolu and Aje International Markets.
As at the time of filling this report, Aje International Market is also nearing completion.
One unique facility provided at the market is the online shopping and home delivery services tagged: e-business. It is the first online shopping facility in the South West of Nigeria.
The Ayegbaju market built on eight hectares of land was conducted under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement in collaboration with Unity Bank. The market is also equipped with facilities such as mini stalls, open stalls, warehouses, locked-up shops, exclusive shops, fire station, police station, banks, medical centre, church, bukataria, meat and fish stalls, washbay, coldrooms, cafeteria, public toilets, roads networks, drainages, an entrance with a gatehouse and public toilets among other facilities.
Others are administrative and maintenance offices, administrative lodge, market coordinator office, mosque, car parks, electrical transformers and distribution network, CCTV Cameras and installation of public address system, under-ground and overhead water tank, two industrial bore holes, water reticulation and generators.
Besides, provision was made to accommodate petty traders, sellers of food items and ingredients to facilitate easy access to domestic needs of users of the market.
Speaking at the commissioning event, the State Commissioner for Special Duties and Regional Integration, Barrister Bashir Ajibola said that the project was aimed to ensure the return Osogbo to her old commercial centre status where people from far and near would come to trade.
He said that since the creation of the state, there has not been a time when the structural and social transformation of the state been attended to with such zeal and passion as that of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
He noted that the people of the state began to see; have the feeling of and comprehend Aregbesola’s plan of action within his first 100 days in office.
Ajibola noted that Aregbesola should be celebrated for embarking on the project, noting that even against all odds from the opposition, the Aregbesola administration has decided to be accountable to the people of Osun.
“In line with Mr. Governor’s philosophy of inclusive economic growth, he has directed Osun Property Development Corporation (OSPDC), Omoluabi Savings and Loans Plc and Osun Investment Company Ltd. to acquire shops for onward disposition to Osun residents and civil servants at highly subsidised rates and payable installmentally.
“These, government have through the agencies currently have100 lock-up shops; 50 mini stalls; 30 open stalls and 12 exclusive offices available. These shops will be distributed to genuine but indigent traders at favourable and liberal payment terms.
He disclosed further that Governor Aregbesola has approved the construction of modern market in all the cities under the urban renewal programmes of the state.
The developer of the market, Engineer Olufemi Oshoniyi of Edward Property Konsult Limited disclosed the project was in line with the Six Point Integral Action Plan of Governor Rauf Aregbesola to banish poverty, hunger and provide employment among others.
He assured that the third phase of the project will be completed soon adding that the layout of the market and roads were named after some indigene of Osogbo for their struggle, commitment, hardwork, and contribution to the growth and success of Osogbo and the State in general.
The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun expressed appreciation to the Governor for the wonderful feat.
He opined that the people of Osogbo will forever be grateful to the administration of Aregbesola for turning Osogbo the state capital into what he described as a mega-city through various infrastructural developments.
In her own remark, the Iyaloja General, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade appreciated the governor for his genuine interest in the affairs of the market women and the people of the state at large.
Alhaja Asindemade said the market will not only boost the economy of the state but also affect the lives of the entire citizenry positively
Performing the commissioning of the market, Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola expressed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of the people of the state irrespective of their religion or political affiliation promising to make Osun the nerve centre of commerce in the South West and Nigeria at large.
The elated governor said the successful construction of the market was a testimony that his administration’s less than four years rule could not be compared with the seven and a half years of his predecessor.
Aregbesola said he was happy that the people of the state appreciated his government for its various development projects, saying that the acceptability of his programmes and projects continued to motivate him to do more.
While saying that the development the people of the state was a tip of the iceberg in what he would do when re-elected for second term, Aregbesola said the development agenda of his administration has translated to progress for individuals saying that the people of the state should consider themselves lucky to witness the transformation that is going on in the state.
He noted that the height of urbanisation in any society is the development of modern markets which has the ability to develop the economy of such a society.
Aregbesola who opined that the market will be the first centre of commerce in the state, described its commissioning as a celebration of wealth, commercialisation and the market women whom he described as the major stakeholders.
He added that the Ayegbaju International market will be followed by other equally big markets in all the nine major cities that have been listed for the urban renewal programme of the present administration.
He explained that his administration has continued to embark on people oriented projects aimed at improving the economic status of the state, and impact, positively on the lives of its people.
Expressing the optimism that the market will definitely enhance the economy of the state, the number one citizen in the state assured the people of the state that his administration will continue to strive for the growth of the state saying it is the main reason he is in government.
Osun State government has reaffirmed its commitment to making life better for people of the state by constantly patronizing local producers.
The state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, stated this while receiving members of the Osun State Knitting Association of Nigeria, who were on hand to register their solidarity with the state government and pledge their support for the re-election of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for second term.
Mrs. Laoye-Tomori said achieving improvement on the living condition of the people of the state is paramount to the present administration which necessitated embarking upon people’s oriented programmes by the state government. The state deputy governor also advised the women to form themselves to cooperative societies so as to benefit from the state’s loan scheme to improve on their businesses.
Advising the women to ensure their full participation in the forthcoming August 9 gubernatorial election in the state and vote for Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the state Deputy Governor urged them not to sell their voters’ cards for any politician, saying it is a tool of safeguarding their future and those of their children.
The program-unveiling event was attended by prominent dignitaries from Osun State including The Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, Olanioekun Larooye II, the Special Adviser to the State Government on Culture and Tourism, Hon Ladi Soyode, veteran international artists, Chief Jimoh Buraimoh and Chief Nike Davies-Okundaye, Ifa Archbishop cum actor, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon and prominent cultural festivals marketer, Mr Ayo Olumoko.
The programme unveiling marks the commencement of the pre-festival events which includes the Ataoja Youth Football Challenge, Iwopopo (Traditional Cleansing of the City), Art exhibition, Ayo Olopon contest (Native Ayo game), and Musical concert to be led by Apala maestro, Musiliu Haruna Ishola, the Lightening of the 642 years old 16 points lamp (Olojumerindinlogun), and Ataoja’s golf Competition. Other pre- festival events include Osun Marathon Walk, Osun Traditional Food Festival, and Osun Trade Fair. The pre-festival events end on Sunday, 17th August, 2014.
The festival’s grand finale kicks off on Monday, 18th August, 2014 with Iboriade (Ataoja’s Crowns Assemblage), Arugba’s berth, a tour of Susanne Wenger’s Sacred Colloquium, Osun Children cultural fiesta, HIV/AIDS Promotional Campaign, Sisi Osun Cultural Pageant and Ataoja’s Royal Invitational Reception.
Corporate sponsors of the Osun-Osgogbo festival were also unveiled. They include telecoms giant, MTN, Nigerian Breweries’ Goldberg, Seaman’s, and Kasapreko’s Alomo Bitters.
A special assistant to the State Governor, Hon Soyode speaking at the event, says the Osun Osogbo festival ‘has culminated in becoming the biggest festival in Nigeria having recorded 21,713 domestic tourists including 123 international tourists while Abuja Carnival recorded 19,015 domestic tourists with 113 international tourists in 2013’.
In Chief Jimoh Buraimoh’s remarks, he said the festival has maintained its originality, authenticity, and acceptability despite the influence of western civilization, education and religion.
“It should also be noted that the Osun Grove was enlisted as a World Heriatge Site by the United Nations International, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Durban, South Africa in July 15th, 2005. Corporate sponsorship and individual’s identification with any of the festival events will therefore be a rare opportunity to advance relations, products and services patronage with the fulfilment of discharging corporate social responsibilities and national obligations to the Osogbo community cultural fiesta, State of Osun, the Government and people of Nigeria”.
As the 2014 gubernatorial election draws nearer in the State of Osun, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment and Sanitation, Honourable Bola Ilori, has stated that disenfranchising of the electorate in the upcoming governorship election would be a knife to the future of democracy in the state and Nigeria at large.
Ilori made this known recently at the re-election campaign rally of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at Seventh Day Adventist Church Secondary School, Ede recently. He affirmed that the warm reception accorded Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by residents of Ede and party supporters from the other local government council areas in the federal constituencies across the state showed that the performance of the present administration was uncommon.
Ilori, while calling on the electorate not to allow some miscreants, who believed the only way to be at the helms of affair was through fraudulent means, charged them to reject the antics of the opposition to disenfranchise them by buying their voters’ cards.
The governor’s aide, who urged the people of the state to come out enmasse to exercise their civic responsibility, stressed the need for the electorate to guard their votes jealously and also ensure that their votes count after the voting exercise.
Ilori, who was excited by the large turnout of people at the event, said it was obvious that the people were there to give their undivided support for Aregbesola’s second term in office, explained that it was an indication that the people really appreciated the uncommon developments witnessed in the state courtesy of Aregbesola’s determination to make Osun a great state.
“What can we say, after seeing what he has done by diversification of the economy, we can point to all sectors, which have taken a dramatic and progressive turn.”
“People are gathering here today to appreciate the good governance and unprecedented achievements of Aregbesola and that is what we can see right now.”
“Aregbesola deserves to be re-elected because his performance cannot be over-emphasized and even a lay-man knows he will definitely do more than this when he emerges victorious on August 9th, 2014,” Ilori stressed.
OSUN DEFENDER
The four-month-old strike action embarked upon by members of the Non-Teaching Staff of Tertiary Institutions in Osun State has been suspended.
The suspension was announced by the chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) of the union, Comrade Olusoji Fasipe, shortly after signing the agreement papers with which the state government met their demands at the Exco Chambers of the Governor’s Office.
While expressing optimism that the state government will fulfill its promise to the union without further delay, Comrade Fasipe directed all members of the union to resume at their respective duty posts today, 14th July, 2014.
Speaking on behalf of the state government while signing the agreement, the head of service, Mr Olayinka Owoeye, expressed appreciation to the union leaders for their understanding and patriotism in resolving the industrial action amicably, assuring them of government’s sincerity in the signing of the agreement.
He urged the JNC of the Non-Teaching Staff Union leaders to appeal to their members to put their grievances behind them and contribute to the meaningful development of the state, adding that the government of Mr Rauf Aregbesola would continue to improve the welfare of its workforce.
Mr Owoeye also appreciated members of the state House of Assembly for the speedy passage of the elongation of retirement year of the striking academic workers of Osun tertiary institutions.
I have seen people move, and I have seen people march. I have been to the State of Osun, and had my perception about where this particular group of people are headed changed. Over the past decades, Osun has not particularly had prominence in any facet of Nigerian life. Today, there is a man who is changing all of that, and building a movement bigger than anything seen in Nigeria since the days of independence.
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| Rauf Aregbesola |
Before I came to Osun myself, I’d found it difficult to believe if truly, or why really indigenes of the State of Osun were so drawn to this man. On my last trip, the crowd was so huge, I started to feel agoraphobic. The last time a crowd that huge was witnessed in Nigeria, it had been the days of “Occupy Nigeria” fuel subsidy protest at Ojota, Lagos.
Having spoken to Osun people from Oshogbo, Iwo, Ikirun, and even Ede too, and having been in various parts of the state, these crowds don’t surprise me anymore. The things happening in the State of Osun under the leadership of Rauf Aregbesola are similar to those seen with Donald Duke in Cross River state. The Governor doesn’t observe things going on in surrounding states in an attempt to measure up, he just blazes his own trail, doing what he feels should obtain in today’s world.
All the towns we’ve visited in Osun so far have pipe borne water. An amenity only enjoyed in the highbrow estates of the most modern Nigerian cities. It may be due to the lower population in comparison to the major cities in Nigeria, but I’d given up on public water supply in Nigeria till I got to Osun.
I’m not one to harp about road construction. Roads are as basic as electricity, but Lord knows if any government has provided as much electricity as Aregbesola has constructed roads, then maybe we would be giving that Vision 20: 2020 a second look. There are standard roads all over Osun state, from Oshogbo to Ikirun, to Ede. The most amazing road for me was the Gbongan Road which I plied on my way to GTBank. The road would be a good road in another state, but in the State of Osun, Aregbesola is tearing it down and re-building it among the new network of super-highways he refers to as “Ona Baba Ona” (the Roads Above All Roads).
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| Gbongan Road Under Reconstruction and Expansion |
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| Roads leading to my hotel around Ring Road, Oshogbo |
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| Some road we passed heading to Ede |
Of everything happening in Osun, if the education sector is allowed to continue as it is, eventually, Osun will become the educational capital of Nigeria. The Governor is executing minimal rehabilitation projects in the previously existing primary and secondary schools as much as to maintain them till all 11 of his ultra-modern school complexes are commissioned.
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| Salvation Army Government Middle School, Oshogbo |
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| Osun school kids using the Opon Imo to learn just like their contemporaries in France, USA & Japan |
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| O-Meals employs 3,000 women to feed more than 250,000 school kids daily |
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| Ejigbo Ultra-Modern School Complex partly demolished the morning it was scheduled for launch. Investigations are on. |
In the early hours of the morning, the residents of Ejigbo were awoken from the sleep by a loud bang, and then a crumbling sound. Farmers and hunter who were already about their business, say they saw a flash. Few minutes after these, an auditorium of the newly constructed Ejigbo High School had turned rubbles on the ground. The state Government has launched investigations into the matter, in order to ascertain where responsibility lies, and execute punishment. I was very disheartened about this collapse of the Ejigbo High School auditorium, as one of my missions to Osun had been to capture images of this educational edifice.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola is seeking re-election to Government House, Oshogbo, and so far, the only dissenting voices I’ve heard are those of other candidates contesting for the same position. As for the people of Osun, they are going somewhere, and they’ve found the man who is leading them there: Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Ogbeni Leekansi!