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Category: General

Semiu Okanlawon is the Director of Press to the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. In this interview with a CORRESPONDENT, he bares his mind on the last governorship election in the state, the on-going projects of the APC-led government, issues surrounding the Opon-Imo tablets and other issues. Excerpts…

What’s your observation on the outcome of the August 9, 2014, governorship election in the state?

Semiu Okanlawon

We never had doubts about victory. Up till two weeks before the election, we were still beginning new projects. We were so convinced of victory. It is not possible for people to drop what is good for what is bad.  People had tasted performance, they had tasted a kind of government that had elevated them and provided for them. So, we did not expect the people to jettison that for what was not good.

What are some of the projects you inaugurated during that time?

Shortly before the election, the Governor did the turning-of-the-sod of the assembly plant of small buses we called Korope. The assembling plant is at Dagbolu in Osogbo. If we were not so confident of victory, we would not be doing that. So, the issues of abandoning projects did not arise. Though we had some hitches financially before the election, and it was not only in Osun State – it was caused by unforeseen circumstances by the Federal Government. We had a 40 percent reduction in allocation and this was not a joke. It affected us badly but thanks to the foresightedness of our governor, Rauf Aregbesola. We had anticipated such things and we were able to pay salaries. Our opponents did not expect us to pay salaries but we were able to pay without borrowing. They did not expect us to pay salary and tried to turn the people against and thank God we scaled through the turbulent water. If you go round the state, you will see that the road projects, building projects are ongoing. We have assured people that at the end of this year we are going tom have mega class rooms that will contain not less than one hundred thousand pupils. So, if we are assuring people of that, we know what we are saying. So far, we have constructed not less than 900 kilometers of road all over the state and more and still ongoing. We have so many other projects on health, security, agriculture and other infrastructure spread across the state. Just a few weeks before the election, we distributed state-of-the-art equipment and armored personnel carriers (APC) to the Police. This is to tell you that we were never bothered.  Our opponents are so good at propaganda and they were able to change the mind of some people but they were not able to do that for the majority of our people because they know them. Election came and it has gone, we have fought a battle and now we are concerned with how we will make life more meaningful to the people of the state. The government is a continuum and we will continue with our good works. Of course, if a government knows that the only reason why the people are so personate about it and so adamant that this is the kind of government they want, then the only thing you can do is to keep on doing what endeared you to them.

There is this fear that most governments and governors who won second term don’t perform the way they did in their first term. What is your take on this?

Let me tell you one thing: this government of Rauf Aregbesola is a government that put people at the centre of all that it is doing and I tell you it can never falter, whether first term or second term. I don’t see the reason that will make Governor Rauf Aregbesola not to perform more than what he did in the first term. The first four years was like when a plane was trying to take off, which was the most turbulent time, now that it has reached the cruising level, it has stabilized. The rate at which people will see development will even be faster than before. When we came, we met a rotten state, now – after removing all the obstacles to development – is it now that we have solved all the problems we met on the ground that we will not be  able to perform? When we came, we met a terrible situation and thank God we have put an end to those problems and the people of the state are beginning to see developments like they had never seen before. If you have seen anything like governors not performing in second term in other states, that cannot happen in this state. I assure you that in four years’ time, the people of the state will tell you that the first term was just a stepping stone. The real construction in the state has just begun.

What is the assurance that developments going on in the state will get to the nooks and crannies of the state?

Let me tell you this, I can beat my chest anywhere that what is being witnessed in the state has never been seen before now. There is no part of the state that is not experiencing developments.  Places were there are no schools now have schools, places without hospitals now have it, in most places where hospitals have collapsed, the Rauf Aregbesola’s government has rebuilt them with drugs, school pupils are not been well fed. In Osun of today, everywhere is witnessing developments.

You said hospitals have been rebuilt, but when I was coming into the state, I saw an abandoned general hospital at Ikire, what is the state doing about rehabilitating it, or is there any other hospital in the town?

There is another hospital in the town. It was relocated several years ago when they people said the place was been regularly attacked by armed robbers. The place has been like that long time ago, it even preceded Oyinlola’s regime.

On Opon-Imo tablets, Prof Adeyeye spoke on a Televeison programme before the election that the Opon Imo has some issues. How soon will those issues be resolved?

There are no serious issues surrounding Opon-Imo. The opposition just tried to make an issue out of the collection of the tablets back from the pupils.  They made it looked to then people that the collection was because of any fault. The agreement was that when you are passing out of school, you are going to drop it. There was a case of a few of them who failed to return those tablets and we have to retrieve it from them.

What I learnt was that the tablets have technical issues from Evans Publishers, which owns the copyright for the e-book used for the tablets. How true is this?

It was from Evans that we got the e-book and if there is no problem with the hard book, there cannot be any problem with the Opon-Imo tablet. There is no issue whatsoever with the tablets. Currently, theOpon-Imo is being revised. Let me tell you, is there any device that doesn’t need upgrading? Look at ipad by Apple; they keep upgrading it with several innovations. I don’t know why some people are afraid of innovations. The question we should ask those who are making noise about the tablet is that, did they come close to this innovation? The answer is no; and I don’t understand why they are making noise about it. They said it is Ibo made. Even if it is Hausa made or China made, the fact is that we are doing something. If we do not attempt to do something, will there be an Opon-Imo tablet? Let them also begin to think of what they can do and not to pull down and innovation like this. Nobody can destroy Opon-Imo and it has come to stay. Subsequent governments after us will only build on it. It has become our educational standard. Nobody, no matter how wicked a government it is, will tell the people that it can not continue with Opon-Imo. The people will revolt, parents will revolt and students will stone such person. You can only come and improve on it.

At the launch of Opon-Imo, the Governor said the state will build a factory where the tablets will be manufactured. How far has the state gone with that?

Yes, the factory is on-going and it is one of the ways the governor want to create employment for the people. The Governor said out of the 1,500 units of the tablets, 50,000 will be imported and that the rest 100,000 units will be manufactured by the company.

Will the 50,000 units be enough for the SS1 to SS3 in the state?

When we first took delivery of the first batch, we prioritized it and we first gave them to those students in the final year. I mean students that are about to write their West African Examination Council exams. We were giving them out as we collect them. We collected them in batches. There was no student who did not get his tablet.

DAILY INDEPENDENT

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Flag off Rural Roads-3

Photos of the Governor,  State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola  exchanging pleasantries with the Team Leader, World Bank/French Development Agency, Mr Mohammed Essakali, during the Flag Off for Construction of 225 KM Rural roads and Official Launch of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) Phase II at Ira Open Square, Oriade Local Government Area, State of Osun at the Weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (In face Cap);  Team Leader, World Bank/French Development Agency, Mr Mohammed Essakali, behind deputy Governor; Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr Kunle Ige (left to the Governor)t); Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood. Adeoti (5th right); Director-General, office of Economic Planning and Partnerships, Dr Charles Akinola (4th right) and others, during the Flag off Construction of 225 KM Rural roads and official Launch of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) Phase II at Ira Open Square, Oriade Local Government Area, State of Osun at the Weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle); his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (In face Cap); Team Leader, World Bank/French Development Agency, Mr Mohammed Essakali, behind deputy Governor; Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr Kunle Ige (left to the Governor)t); Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood. Adeoti (5th right); Director-General, office of Economic Planning and Partnerships, Dr Charles Akinola (4th right) and others, during the Flag off Construction of 225 KM Rural roads and official Launch of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) Phase II at Ira Open Square, Oriade Local Government Area, State of Osun at the Weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) exchanging pleasantries with the Team Leader, World Bank/French Development Agency, Mr Mohammed Essakali, during the Flag Off for Construction of 225 KM Rural roads and Official Launch of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) Phase II at Ira Open Square, Oriade Local Government Area, State of Osun at the Weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) exchanging pleasantries with the Team Leader, World Bank/French Development Agency, Mr Mohammed Essakali, during the Flag Off for Construction of 225 KM Rural roads and Official Launch of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) Phase II at Ira Open Square, Oriade Local Government Area, State of Osun at the Weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd left) flagging off the Construction of 225 KM Rural roads and Official Launch of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) Phase II at Ira Open Square, Oriade Local Government Area of Osun. With him are, his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr Kunle Ige (2nd right); Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood. Adeoti (left); Member, House of Assembly, Honourable Olatunji Ibraheem (right) and others, at the Weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd left) flagging off the Construction of 225 KM Rural roads and Official Launch of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) Phase II at Ira Open Square, Oriade Local Government Area of Osun. With him are, his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr Kunle Ige (2nd right); Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood. Adeoti (left); Member, House of Assembly, Honourable Olatunji Ibraheem (right) and others, at the Weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th right) cutting the tape to flagging off the Construction of 225 KM Rural roads and Official Launch of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) Phase II at Ira Open Square, Oriade Local Government Area of Osun. With him are, his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr Kunle Ige (2nd right); Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood. Adeoti (3rd right); Director-General, Office of Economic Planning and Partnerships, Dr Charles Akinola (right) and others, at the Weekend

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (4th right) cutting the tape to flagging off the Construction of 225 KM Rural roads and Official Launch of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) Phase II at Ira Open Square, Oriade Local Government Area of Osun. With him are, his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs, Mr Kunle Ige (2nd right); Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood. Adeoti (3rd right); Director-General, Office of Economic Planning and Partnerships, Dr Charles Akinola (right) and others, at the Weekend

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Ebola-‘Ebata-300×160

Ebola-‘Ebata-300x160As part of efforts to curb the spread of Ebola Virus Disease, the Osun State Ebola Monitoring and Prevention Committee has organised a sensitisation workshop for Traditional rulers in the state.

The event was held at the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Conference Hall, in the state capital. Speakers at the programme were unanimous in urging the traditional rulers to join hands with the state government in the fight against the deadly virus.

In her address at the occasion, the state Commissioner for Environment, Prof. (Mrs) Olubukola Oyawoye, harped on the need for traditional leaders to educate members of their various communities on the knowledge they acquired from the workshop.

The Environment commissioner also called on the monarchs to liaise with appropriate authorities in the state in ensuring that people maintain healthy environment in their communities.

Also speaking at the event, Commissioner of Health, Dr. Temitope Ilori, disclosed that the state government was collaborating with both federal and state medical institutions to curb the spread of the virus to the state.

Director of Primary Healthcare and Disease Control, Dr. Kayode Ogunniyi, while speaking during the event, urged the people to observe hygienic living to protect themselves against the disease.

NATIONAL MIRROR

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homepage-icon

homepage-iconTHE Special Adviser to Osun State governor on Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Bade Adesina, has said that the 2015 Budget call circular for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state is ready for collection.
Speaking in a statement issued by the Permanent Secretary, Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Segun Olorunsogo, he called on heads of the MDAs to collect the call circular from the Office of Budget and Economic Planning, Finance in Osogbo, the state capital.
While imploring all the MDAs to adhere strictly to the instructions in the call circular for the formulation of the 2015 budget, the governor’s aide further enjoined them to ensure thoroughness and transparency in the preparation of the 2015 budget.
According to him, budget preparation and formulation is a serious exercise which should be accorded the deserved seriousness and attention.
THE NATION

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EBOLA-STAFF-300x224Osun
 State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Temitope Ilori, has reiterated that Osun State is free of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease.

She disclosed this at an Ebola sensitization workshop organised by the State Ebola Virus prevention committee for religious groups in the state at the Local Government Service Commission Hall in the State Secretariat.

She disclosed that the suspected case of a student at Obafemi Awolowo University campus was negative after undergoing medical screening, adding that presently, the country has no single case of victim undergoing treatment for the virus.

According to her, the disease is deadly but preventable, hence the decision of the state to set up a committee to ensure regular creation of awareness among the populace.

In her address, the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Professor Olubukola Oyawoye, urged religious leaders to see themselves as stakeholders in the fight against the deadly scourge.

She hinted that the essence of the workshop was for the religious leaders to help spread the gospel of the fight against the disease among their various congregations.

She disclosed that government is being pro-active in its campaign on prevention, because the resources at its disposal are not sufficient, less spending it on curbing the spread of an endemic viral disease.

In his address, the Director of Primary Healthcare and Disease Control, Dr Kayode Ogunniyi, emphasized the need for regular washing of hands and hygienic living as the most potent way of preventing contacting the virus.

In their separate interviews, the religious leaders at the workshop commended the state government for taking proactive measures against the disease, saying everyone has a role to play by sensitizing their neighbours and immediate family members.

DAILY INDEPENDENT

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Pastor Kumuy's Visit-3

Pastor Kumuy's Visit-3

The General Overseer of the Deeper Life Church, Pastor Folorunso Kumuyi said on Friday that the Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has demonstrated exemplary leadership with his disposition to all religions and massive infra structural development in the state.

Kumuyi said the attitude of the governor has not suggested the promotion of one religion above others in his policies and programme.

The Deeper Life General Overseer said this while addressing journalists during a courtesy visit to the Governor, at the Government House, Osogbo, before the commencement of the Three Days Crusade of the Church, tagged ” Explosion of Supernatural Miracle”.

Kumuyi, while reacting to previous allegation that the Governor wanted to Islamise Osun said “for those who are saying that, I’m not living in Osun State, I don’t know what they have observed or what they have seen, but what I have observed is that Aregbesola is Governor for everybody. He is a man for every one, he wants the progress and development of individuals and the state not minding if you are Muslim, Christian,‎ non Muslim or non Christian.”

He said the crusade was brought to Osun for the manifestation of God power and love for the people to heal,and turn every life around, saying the event will be wonderful for every one that comes.

Kumuyi expressed gratitude to God for the peaceful conduct of the August 9 Governorship Election in the state and the emergence of Governor Aregbesola for second term.

The clergy urged the governor to double his efforts as the head of state during the second term.

He said ” I have moved around and seen what you have done in the first term, but there is still more to do, there is no way people will not point out deficiencies in Government but you must not be distracted, you must be focused and move close to God, we are looking for a better and more successful second term”

” We want you to believe in God that he can conquer any challenges, that is the most significant aspect of our crusade here; to remind the people that no matter how bad it may be for individuals, state and nation, God can still turn things around and can move things forward” Kumuyi said.

Responding, Governor Rauf Aregbesola appreciated Pastor Kumuyi for bringing the crusade to Osun saying the crusade will definitely manifest spiritually in his administration and the life of the people of the state.

The governor said Osun is blessed with the leading lights in Christendom with Pastor Kumuyi as one of them which according to him informs the state government decision to build inter-denomination convention ground for revivals and crusades.

He said his administration is determined to do better during second term and tasked pastor Kumuyi to pray for the success of the administration.

Aregbesola said” we thank God, we have remakable four years, our wish is to put into the next four years, programmes and policies that will only be possible in 20 years and we are believing God through the prayer from somebody like you, it will be possible”

He urged Kumuyi to pray for him and the people of the state, sound health, and mental capacity to carry out the assignment.

The governor also urged the Clergy to pray against Ebola virus which is disturbing the Nigeria and rest of West of Africa.‎

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Pastor Kumuy's Visit-1

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and General Superintendent  of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams, during a visit by members of Deeper Life Church to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 19-09-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); General Superintendent  of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Kumuyii; his wife, Esther; a Veteran Journalist, Pastor Segun Babatope (left); and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Mr. David Omojola, during a visit by members of Deeper Life Church to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 19-09-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Kumuyii; his wife, Esther; a Veteran Journalist, Pastor Segun Babatope (left); and Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police, Mr. David Omojola, during a visit by members of Deeper Life Church to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 19-09-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); General Superintendent  of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Kumuyi (3rd left)i; his wife, Esther (2nd left); State Acting Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Famodun (left); Secretary of the Party, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi and Alhaja Ayo Omidiran, during a visit by members of Deeper Life Church to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 19-09-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Kumuyi (3rd left)i; his wife, Esther (2nd left); State Acting Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Prince Famodun (left); Secretary of the Party, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi and Alhaja Ayo Omidiran, during a visit by members of Deeper Life Church to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 19-09-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and General Superintendent  of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams, during a visit by members of Deeper Life Church to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 19-09-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams, during a visit by members of Deeper Life Church to the Governor at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 19-09-2014

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palmoil

palmoilA joint effort of the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture have resulted in the commissioning of two new oil palm processing cottage industries in Osun State. Both have however expressed optimism of an increased investment in the sector. On the development, industry stakeholders noted that the initiative would serve as a catalyst for expanding industrial capacity and enhancing value addition efforts to the nation’s raw materials.

Special Adviser to Osun State governor on Agric and Food Security, Festus Agunbiade, said at the event that most farmers are challenged at the stage of processing because when they sell without adding value they are bound to get a poor price. He said: “If we don’t take care of processing facilities then we would just be producing for wastages and if you are sure that your commodities would be processed you will be encouraged to add more value.

From today, in Osun State, you can be assured that farmers would be encouraged to grow oil-palm because they are sure that their incomes will increase as wastages are being drastically reduced.” He added that the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, understands the challenges of farming and the farmers and his efforts have resulted in the increased production capacity.

“We are also witnessing a better approach to the issue of funding by BOI because they have come down to the real issues; farmers can no longer bear the high costs of commercial bank facilities; it is very good that BOI has now come down to its real mandate and is financing agriculture by charging single digit interest rates. I will advise them that they increase their monitoring activity so that such facilities will be well monitored,” he said.

Company Secretary of one of the beneficiary firms, E99 Oasis Integrated Services Ltd, Bola Adebowale, commended the initiative as a worthy one under the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) championed by Adesina. “Let me sincerely thank the Bank of Industry for the support provided on this project.

This is a clear indication of a financial institution building strong support in the actualisation of agricultural programmes, especially in the oil palm cottage processing mill. Today’s commissioning is a great event and a milestone in the annals of the history of farm E99 that was established to aid food production in the country as well as enhance stable food availability to the people.

With this Mill, I am sure palm oil produced in the farm will meet the international standard,” Adebowale said. Chief Executive Officer, Process Concepts and Technologies Ltd, the fabricator and installer of the machines at the industries, Victor Olomo, said that the machines would be used to process oil from harvested bunches from the oil-palm plantation.

“The idea is that we want to produce palm-oil that is of high enough quality that can be safely consumed, used by industries and meet export specifications and this facility here meets the requirement. “Another great thing about this project that is being supported by BOI is that part of the terms is for us to train the equipment operators and we have trained those presented by the cottage industries to ensure that there will be no problem with operation and maintenance of the installed equipment,” he explained.

TELEGRAPH

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frsc_logo2

frsc_logo2The Chief Judge of the State of Osun, Honourable Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, has reiterated the judiciary’s support with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) towards proper adjudication of traffic-related cases, in order to reduce road accidents in the state.
The CJ stated this while playing host to the state Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr. Husaini Mohammed, who paid His lordship a courtesy visit at the State High Court, Ilobu Road, Osogbo.
His lordship assured the FRSC boss of the state Judiciary’s readiness to continue working in harmony with the FRSC in order to curtail traffic violation through Mobile and Regular courts.
In his address, the FRSC state Sector Commander, Mr. Husaini, appreciated the Osun State Judiciary for its support and cooperation, urging it not to relent in its efforts.
He noted that road users in the state are law abiding, saying that the level of traffic regulation compliance in Osun is about 70 percent, which according to him, is “commendable” compared to some states in the Northern part of the country.
He used the avenue to advice motorists on the danger of putting under-aged children in front of cars, saying “survey revealed that under-aged children were more involved in accidents last year’’.
DAILY TIMES

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Chief-Awolowo-and-Aregbesola

Chief-Awolowo-and-AregbesolaIt is a truism to assert the fact that the late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo of blessed memory gave us a son; Rauf Aregbesola, when he bade this world a farewell. Meanwhile, Rauf Aregbesola, as people may think, might not necessarily mean a biological son of the late sage but can be admitted as one, without any fear of contradiction, having transparently seen some exceptional attributes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola.

There is no doubting the fact that Awolowo was one of the most cerebral of the great nationalists in Africa’s colonial and post-colonial history. Many words and phrases have been used to capture his essential greatness. He has been ‘Titan’, ‘Legend’, ‘Sage’, ‘Colossus’, ‘Awo, the Great’, Mystic’, ‘Patriarch’, ‘Papa’, ‘Immortal Awo’, ‘Nigeria’s man’ of 29th Century’ and even ‘Eternal Spirit’. The man who the former British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson said during Awo’s life time that he (Awo) “could lead the United States or Britain, he came too soon for Nigeria”.

The late Chief Obafemi Awolowo has been the first outstanding individual and idealist among public figures in Nigeria and on the continent of Africa. His knowledge was deep; so was his consciousness of events. His positive direction of the mind for proffering solutions to human problems was unparalleled in the contemporary history of Africa. Among his contemporaries and compares he stood out as a leader who has been able to combine active political achievements with intellectual pursuits, as exemplified in his many articles and books, all of which are addressed to contemporary political problems of our society. As destiny had it, some of his dreams remain unfulfilled, but as a matter of fact, many of the policies he advocated have become the received policies of the day.

Of Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, ‘The symbol’ as popularly called by his admirers, is a man who simply wishes to be addressed as ‘Ogbeni’, in the avoidance of sentiment, has in him, the sterling qualities as the late legend. He is a man of dedicating mind, humane, suave, articulate, sensational, focused, committed, high flyer and a visionary leader. Rauf is simple and down-to earth that he can mix easily and effortlessly in a crowd without attracting any attention. He is a man who is very much in tune with the yearnings of his people. Rauf Aregbesola is a true democrat, a strategist and restive activist, an effective organizer and mobiliser, a rigorous logician and neat thinker. His actions are full of reminiscences of the late Matriarch. In many ways, Rauf like Awolowo’s political enterprise can be analyzed and understood within Gramsci’s theory of practical, political action in the transformation of a society.

However, Rauf in liken to late sage comparatively and relatively is a performer; in the area of education which Obafemi Awolowo took as first of his many priorities of all his developmental precedents during his leadership of the Western Region, the first of its kinds was the free education at all levels, which Rauf Aregbesola has maintained and sustained with the inclusion of other new educational policies such as: O’meal, tablet of knowledge (Opon Imo), re-classification of schools, infrastructural development of public schools and educational policy of 9:3:4.

In the same vein, when one takes a critical assessment of Obafemi Awolowo in terms of infrastructural development such as roads, bridges, Cocoa House and other development projects that are numerous to mention, Ogbeni, in his developmental strides alike, has done much on roads rehabilitation and construction with standard drainage works across the state, as a channel for economic growth and development. As this will encourage free accessibility of state to other towns and villages, so also, will make at ease the contribution of every person to the economy.

On security, Obafemi Awolowo’s security measure on lives and properties of the citizens can be likened to Rauf Aregbesola’s efforts to curb the menace of criminalities, corruptions and other social vices in Osun. He established Robot, SAS, empowered vigilante groups, community policing etc. In the history of Osun as a federating state, she has never witnessed criminal-free environment as we experience now. All residents of the state now sleep with their two eyes closed, business thrive in such a peaceful environment which has helped the socio-economic development of Osun.

“Health is wealth” was a regular sing-song of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo during his life time. He took no chances against ill-health of his people, as these witnessed free healthcare services during his time as Premier of Western Nigeria. However, in order to complement the efforts of the late sage, Ogbeni could be understood to be singing the same song with the late Patriarch. Besides his free healthcare services delivery, he provides Osun Ambulances across the state for quick conveyance of accident victims to hospitals for urgent attention, health programmes and all other health facilities on welfare of the people of Osun.

The late Awo had been making a clarion call before leaving this world to the great beyond over the empowerment of the youths through employment opportunities to reduce the idle minds as known to be the devil’s workshops. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Executive Governor, in his efforts, is seeing to have been yielding to the call by instituting meaningful social and economic progress through employment of 20,000 job seekers under a programme called (O’YES) or Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme.

During Awolowo’s democratic governance as the Premier of Western Nigeria, Nigeria experienced cocoa pyramid. He provided the farmers with farm inputs at a highly-subsidized rate to boost agricultural production. These agricultural outputs had a significant contribution to Nigeria Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as at that time. This gesture has been replicated by this present government under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Osun farmers in their various groups /associations have been severally helped and assisted by the state government through a programme called (O’REAP) otherwise known as Osun Rural Enterprises and Agriculture Programme.

With these and all other initiated far-sighted projects and programmes of relevance and significance for the citizens by the late Sage as Premier of Western Region, which have been replicated by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Executive Governor of the State of Osun, who also in his giant step, has resuscitated the railway transportation and has under construction, the local airport, building of international markets and lots more, as his contributions to socio-economic development of the State of Osun.

Like father, like son of same spirits in transforming a society.

LAWAL wrote in from Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria

OSUN DEFENDER

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