The Osun Ministry of Education on Thursday in Osogbo ordered the immediate closure of four allegedly unregistered private schools, the News Agency of Nigeria has reported.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran, ordered the closure to check the growth of mushroom and unregistered schools.
According to the report, the affected schools include, Cornerstone Model College, Ota-Efun and Riverside International School, Oke Onitea.
Others are Treasure Group of Schools and Greater Love Nursery and Primary School, Oke Onitea, all in Osogbo.
“The inspection teams observed that some of the illegal schools have been established long before  2009 without any evidence to show that they were registered.
“Others have been operating in environments not conducive to learning and those that can endanger the lives of students and pupils,” the permanent secretary said.
Oyeniran condemned the owners of illegal schools who made no consultation with the ministry but decided to exploit members of the public.
He, therefore, warned that the ministry would continue to clamp down on all private schools that failed to register as well as fulfill their civic responsibilities.
According to him, the affected schools shall remain closed under the supervision of Olorunda Local Inspector of Education, pending their clearance by the ministry.
All efforts made by NAN to speak with the owners of the affected schools failed, as none of them could be contacted for comments.
PUNCH

The Independent National Electoral Commission in Osun State on Friday commenced the distribution of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to the people across all the 30 local governments including the Ife Area Office, in the state.

Photos showing the Governor and many others at the collection of their Permanent Voters’ cards at Ward 8, Ilesa East Local Government, Ilesa, State of Osun on Friday 07-03-2014

From left, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola; his wife, Sherifat; Chairman, Resident Electoral
Commissioner, Ambassador Rufus Akeju and others, during the collection
of their Permanent Voter cards at Ward 8, Ilesa East Local Government,
Ilesa, State of Osun on Friday 07-03-2014

From left, Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi
Laoye-Tomori; wife of the Governor, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola; Governor,
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Chairman, Resident Electoral Commissioner,
Ambassador Rufus Akeju and others, during the collection of their
Permanent Voter cards at Ward 8, Ilesa East Local Government, Ilesa,
State of Osun on Friday 07-03-2014

 
My good people of Osun,
Good day to you.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in its duty of conducting a free, fair, transparent and credible election, has reeled out the time-table and is kick-starting the process with the verification of voters’ register and distribution of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC). This will take place between Friday March 7 and Sunday March 9.
PVC is a smart card based Voters Identification Card that looks like an ATM card. It is an electronic card that contains vital information about the holder: his or her photograph, biodata and thumbprint. It will be given to only those that registered to vote at the 2011 elections and possess a Temporary Voters Card (TVC). Even if you have lost your Temporary Voters Card, you will still be able to collect the new permanent card.
This card is very important. Please get your own; without it you will not be able to vote in the August 9 governorship election and next year’s general elections.
This card is not transferable, meaning you cannot impersonate someone else; it cannot be counterfeited; you cannot have more than one copy; and you cannot manipulate it in any form. This is a warning to anyone designing any plan to manipulate the card, impersonate someone else or use it illegally in any form, that he or she will be caught and risks going to jail.
From 8.00am on Friday, you will peacefully proceed to your polling unit in your ward and present yourselves to INEC officials for verification after which you will collect your Permanent Voters Card.
If your name is not on the register, remain calm, do not panic. There is no cause for alarm. Adequate provisions have been made to address your case and to ensure you collect your own card.
Be vigilant but conduct yourselves peacefully and in an orderly manner, like an Omoluabi, which you are, in the three days that the exercise will last. Do not give room for the use of force and coercion by law enforcement agents.
My good people, we have provided jobs, built schools, constructed good roads and other infrastructure towards your material empowerment and we will continue to do more. But the right to vote and choose your leader is the highest level of empowerment any government can ever provide for its people. As John Locke put it, no man has the right to govern another without his consent. Political empowerment therefore is a God-given right that must not be taken lightly or toyed with.
Historically, governance has taken different forms, from monarchical absolutism to fascism, military autocracy and despotism, but now this trust is expressed in a one-man-one-vote multi-party democracy.
Registering to vote is a sacred responsibility for the people. You must therefore take it seriously by ensuring total participation in all the processes. This is why this exercise is very important.
However, because elections empower the people, there will be resistance from those who want to keep the people in slavery and bondage. They are agents of destabilisation and confusion who would rather wish that elections do not take place or at best are manipulated and the people prevented from exercising their God-given right to choose their own leader. They will want to short-circuit the process and pre-determine the end result from the beginning by keeping as many people as possible away from the voters’ register. We want to warn such people that the law enforcement agencies will be alive to their responsibility and take all necessary actions to make the exercise hitch-free and a resounding success.
You must therefore be resolute in your stand for democracy, to register for election, to vote and to make your vote count. Do not be intimidated. Do not be scared; and do not be despondent.
I am also calling on all the political parties to ensure that they are adequately represented at the venues to guide their members through the process and how to conduct themselves appropriately.
To enable you have ample time for the exercise, I have declared Friday March 7 a work-free day. I enjoin you all to verify your name on the register, collect your card and put yourselves in a good position to vote on August 9 and afterwards.
I am also identifying with our Christian faithfuls who have commenced the Lenten Season, a period of fasting for 40 days. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer through prayer, penance, repentance from sins, almsgiving, atonement and self-denial. It is a period, more than ever, to get closer to God. Since it precedes Easter, it is a period for believers to come to greater awareness of the purpose of the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ and the redemption he purchased. The essence of this is love – towards God and fellow man – and to make us better persons in our daily conduct.
I wish you a fruitful and successful Lent and may your prayers and worship be acceptable unto God.
Osun a dara!
 

Photos from the Governor’s assessment of the fire outbreak at the TCN Osogbo Sub-Region 330/132/33kv Substation in Osogbo, State of Osun onFriday 07-03-2014

From right, Assistant General Manager of Transmission, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engineer Niyi Oladele; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Executive Director of Transmission, TCN, Mr Shahid Mohamad; Executive Director of Operations, TCN, Dipak Sarma; Principal Manager of Transmission, TCN, Engineer Ade Odukale and others, during the Governor’s assessment of the fire outbreak at the TCN Osogbo Sub-Region 330/132/33kv Substation in Osogbo, State of Osun onFriday 07-03-2014

From right, Assistant General Manager of Transmission, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engineer Niyi Oladele; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Executive Director of Transmission, TCN, Mr Shahid Mohamad; Executive Director of Operations, TCN, Dipak Sarma; Principal Manager of Transmission, TCN, Engineer Ade Odukale and others, during the Governor’s assessment of the fire outbreak at the TCN Osogbo Sub-Region 330/132/33kv Substation in Osogbo, State of Osun onFriday 07-03-2014

From right, Assistant General Manager of Transmission, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engineer Niyi Oladele; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Executive Director of Transmission, TCN, Mr Shahid Mohamad; Executive Director of Operations, TCN, Dipak Sarma; Principal Manager of Transmission, TCN, Engineer Ade Odukale and others, during the Governor’s assessment of the fire outbreak at the TCN Osogbo Sub-Region 330/132/33kv Substation in Osogbo, State of Osun onFriday 07-03-2014

From left, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Barrister Adekunle Amos; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Executive Director of Transmission, TCN, Mr Shahid Mohamad; Executive Director of Operations, TCN, Dipak Sarma; Principal Manager of Transmission, TCN, Engineer Ade Odukale; Assistant General Manager of Transmission, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engineer Niyi Oladele and others, during the Governor’s assessment of the fire outbreak at the TCN Osogbo Sub-Region 330/132/33kv Substation in Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 07-03-2014

From left, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Barrister Adekunle Amos; Executive Director of Transmission, TCN, Mr Shahid Mohamad; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Executive Director of Operations, TCN, Dipak Sarma; Principal Manager of Transmission, TCN, Engineer Ade Odukale; Assistant General Manager of Transmission, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engineer Niyi Oladele and others, during the Governor’s assessment of the fire outbreak at the TCN Osogbo Sub-Region 330/132/33kv Substation in Osogbo, State of Osun on Friday 07-03-2014

RESIDENTS of Oyo, Osun, Kwara and Ekiti states may be thrown into total darkness as an early morning fire on Friday affected a section of the national control centre of the defunct  Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, destroying electrical installations worth millions of naira.
The centre, situated on a large expanse of land along the new Ikirun road, serves as a distributing channel supplying electricity to Osun, Oyo, Kwara and Ekiti states.
Saturday Tribune learnt that the incident, which occurred around 2:00 a.m., triggered fears among residents living along the Power Line area of Osogbo as some of the affected electric transformers exploded.
A credible source informed Saturday Tribune that the fire was caused by a technical fault, but men of the state’s Fire Service were able to put out the fire by 9:00 a.m.
Some residents of the area had to flee to other parts of the town when the intensity of the fire became frightening.
“We had to run away from our home because we thought it was a bomb (that went off) when some of the burning transformers exploded,” a source said.
When she visited the scene of the incident around 3:30 a.m., the deputy governor, Mrs Grace Titi-Laoye Tomori, however, allayed fears of the people that the incident was caused by members of the Boko Haram sect.
As a result of the development, most parts of Osun State, including the capital, have already been thrown into total blackout.
When Saturday Tribune visited the scene, officers of both the Nigeria Police and Nigerian Army were seen mounting surveillance.
TRIBUNE

Photos from the National Summit of All Progressive Congress (APC),  at congress Hall, Transcorp  Hillton Hotel, Abuja on Thursday 6/03/2013.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola(2nd left);Chairman All
Progressive Congress (APC), Adebisi Akande(2nd right), Former Head of
State, Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari (right) and
Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha during the National Summit of All
Progressive Congress (APC), at congress Hall, Transcorp Hillton Hotel, Abuja on Thursday 6/03/2013.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola(right) Ekiti State Governor,
Dr. Kayode Fayemi(2nd right), Imo State Governor, Rochas
Okorocha(4thleft)Kano State Governor, Mohammed Kwankwaso(3
rd left)Kwara State Governor,Abdulfatah Ahmedq(2nd left) and Senator Bukola
Saraki (left) during the National Summit of All Progressive Congress
(APC), at congress Hall, Transcorp Hillton Hotel, Abuja on Thursday
6/03/2013.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); Imo State
Governor, Rochas Okorocha(left), Chairman All Progressive Congress (APC),
Adebisi Akande (3nd right), Former Head of State, Federal Republic of
Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari(2nd right) and Former Governor of Lagos
State, Senator Bola Tinubu (right), during the National Summit of All
Progressive Congress (APC), at congress Hall, Transcorp Hillton Hotel, Abuja
on Thursday 6/03/2013.

Osun state government has said that the ongoing construction of a cargo international airport named after late Moshood Kasimaawo Olawale Abiola embarked upon by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola led administration will boost the economy of the state when completed.
The state Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperative Empowerment, Hon. Ismail Jayeoba Alagbada, noted that the airport situated in Ido-Osun, Egbedore Local Government Area of the state will make the state, the economic hub of the nation.
Alagbada, who featured on the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) Correspondent Chapel programme tagged “News Point” in Osogbo on Thursday, 6th March, 2014, said the airport which is manned by the Engineering Department of Nigerian Army will be of international standard thus transforming the economy status of the state.
Jayeoba said Aregbesola’s administration is totally committed to upgrading the economy of the state adding that the people of the state are already testifying to the giant strides of the present administration.
Speaking on the on-going construction of international markets embarked upon by the Aregbesola administration, the commissioner said, two of the markets which are Ayegbaju and Aje markets would soon be completed thereby paving ways for serious commercial activities in the respective locations of the market.
He said 650 shops would be completed and ready for use at Aje market by June this year while Ayegbaju market has reached 80 percent completion.
Alagbada while speaking on the drive of his ministry in the area of cooperative empowerment, he said, no fewer than 600 cooperative farmers have benefited with the sum of N600 million as a soft loan from Aregbesola government.
He declared further that, over N1billion was inherited as a loan issued by the Oyinlola administration to various cooperative societies in the state which are yet to be recovered.
 

Osun State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to the people of the state to turn out en masse for the voter registration kicking off today nationwide.
The party, in a statement issued by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi, called on the people to use the opportunity provided by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to get the new permanent voter cards.
The party urged all Osun citizens eligible to vote as a fundamental right, to obtain the card, otherwise, they will be short-changing themselves of their civic responsibility to vote for responsible people to take charge of government.
The registration is open to every person who has the temporary voter card issued at the last election and every other person up to and above the age of 18 years, who is not yet registered as a voter.
The first group of people with temporary cards should turn up for the new card from today, Friday, till Sunday, while all eligible voters who have not registered at all, have from Wednesday, March 12 to Monday, March 17 to do so.
In addition to active participation in the registration exercise, APC called on the people to be highly security conscious, because Osun is being targeted by the enemies of progress who want to use violence and chaos to achieve their ambition.
The party takes serious note of the unexploded bomb incident that was discovered and removed by the security forces in the banking hall of one of the first generation bank in Osogbo, which it suspected, may not be unconnected with the threat to violence by those who want to make Osun looks unsafe for investment and business people.
The APC recalled that it had informed security agencies earlier in February that some elements within the state were planning to cause chaos before, during and after the governorship election.
The party therefore enjoined Osun people to make security consciousness part of their everyday life in order to help the security agencies perform their duties more efficiently.
“As things stand”, the party said, “security should now be the business of every citizen of the State, so that we can sustain the peace in the state”.
DAILY INDEPENDENT