Photos from the New State Director of the Agency’s Courtesy Visit and Investiture of the Governor as Patron of Community Support Brigade (CSB) at the Governor’s office, Osogbo, State of Osun

From left, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola;
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Sunday Akere; Special
Adviser on Youth, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade;
State Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Remi Omowon and
Commandant, Community Support Brigade (CSB), Mr Sunday Kayode, during
the New State Director of the Agency’s Courtesy Visit and Investiture
of the Governor as Patron of Community Support Brigade (CSB) at the
Governor’s office, Osogbo, State of Osun

From left, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; State
Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Remi Omowon and Deputy
Director of the Agency, Mrs Yomi Olasinde, during the New State
Director of the Agency’s Courtesy Visit and Investiture of the
Governor as Patron of Community Support Brigade (CSB) at the
Governor’s office, Osogbo, State of Osun

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd left); State
Director, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr Remi Omowon (2nd
right); Deputy Director of the Agency, Mrs Yomi Olasinde (right);
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barrister
Kolapo Alimi (2nd left); Commandant, Community Support Brigade (CSB),
Mr Sunday Kayode (left) and others, during the New State Director of
the Agency’s Courtesy Visit and Investiture of the Governor as Patron
of Community Support Brigade (CSB) at the Governor’s office, Osogbo,
State of Osun

Photos from the Launching of Emblem for Year 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration and Fund Raising Appeal Week at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 09-01-2014

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs
Titi Laoye-Tomori; Deputy Commandant and Chairman, Nigerian Legion Osun
Chapter, Colonel Alimi Samotu; Commandant, Air Force Safety Institute,
Ipetu-Ijesa, Air Vice Marshal Christopher Gudi and others, during the
Launching of Emblem for Year 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration
and Fund Raising Appeal Week at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on
Thursday 09-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd left) being decorated
with Emblem for Year 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration by the
Commandant, Air Force Safety Institute, Ipetu-Ijesa, Air Vice Marshal Christopher Gudi (left). With them are, Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left); Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood
Adeoti (2nd right) and Deputy Speaker, State House of Assembly of Osun,
Honourable Akintunde Adegboye (right), at Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 09-01-2014

From right, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs
Titi Laoye-Tomori and Deputy Commandant and Chairman, Nigerian Legion Osun
Chapter, Colonel Alimi Samotu, during the Launching of Emblem for Year 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration and Fund Raising Appeal Week at
Government House, Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 09-01-2014

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has sought for the approval of the State House of Assembly to access N1.5 billion housing development loan offered by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN.
This is contained in a letter written by the governor to the assembly, which was read at the plenary, in Osogbo, on Thursday, by the Speaker of the House, Mr. Najeem Salaam.
In the letter, the governor said if the loan was approved, it would be used to build 342 housing units by the State Property Development Corporation, OSPDC.
He said the houses would be sold to the contributors to the National Housing Fund, NHF, in the state public service.
The Governor said his administration had deemed it worthwhile to accept the loan offer because of its benefits.
VANGUARD

The governor,  State of Osun, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday, said the Armed Forces in Nigeria are critical to preserving the nation’s national integrity and preventing its internal collapse, saying that all Nigerians should remain committed to the cause of a united and peaceful country.
He made this known while delivering an address at the launch of the 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem held at the State House, Osogbo.
Aregbesola, who observed that Nigerian soldiers have given a good account of themselves as men and women on which the rest of society can rely for the special service of defending them against external armed aggression and hostilities, also announced a donation of N15 million to launch the 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day emblem.
He submitted that soldiers, in the course of their duties, have availed themselves well in the uneasy task of bearing arms in defence of their people.
According to Aregbesola, “we will not easily forget the important role played by members of the Armed Forces in the nationalist efforts that eventually led to the country’s independence.
“Soldering as a profession is a difficult calling. Even if only for the fact that it involves the voluntary sacrifice of one’s life for one’s nation. In this regard, our soldiers have acquitted themselves well.
“They are described as patriots who have severally done the nation proud. They have continually been called upon to make sacrifices on behalf of their country and for the greater cause of humanity.”
The governor further stressed that “this day must therefore serve as a reminder to us, as civilians, that we also have our own complementary role to play in preserving the peace and ensuring the progress of our country.”
Speaking earlier, the Deputy Commandant-General and Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Osun State, Col. Alimi Samotu, said people must, as matter of responsibility, remember the dependant and children of the fallen heroes.
He called on the Federal Government to pay the outstanding arrears of military pension, saying, “this should be taken seriously as we, the state chairmen, are faced with much pressure from our members. In order to put us in a safe situation, the balance of 20 per cent arrears are much awaited to avoid possible demonstration in future.”
TRIBUNE

A health management organisation in Nigeria, the International Health Management Services, has supported the Osun State government with world medical equipment worth millions of naira.
IHMS (IHMS) Executive Vice Chairman Remi Olowude was represented by Dr. Michael Ogunkoya at the presentation ceremony in Osogbo, the state capital, where the equipment were handed over to the Commissioner for Health, Mrs. Temitope Ilori.
Olowude said the company decided to support the government because of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s vision in health care delivery.
He urged the government to provide health insurance cover for beneficiaries of the Osun State Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES).
Olowude said: “We are here today on behalf of the board, management and staff of IHMS to identify with the determined efforts of the state government to provide the highest level of health and wellness for the generality of the people.
“We have noted with much delight the commitment of this administration to the laudable vision of making the state the medical tourism capital of Nigeria and Africa.
“It is our desire, as a responsive corporate citizen, to support the government to make its dream come true. It is in furtherance of this goal that we are presenting this medical equipment to the government as part of our contribution to promoting its laudable healthcare delivery initiatives for the benefit of the good people of Osun.
“Your Excellency can rest assured that in your journey towards making the state a model, IHMS shall continue to walk the path of good corporate citizenship as your ally and reliable partner in progress. Towards this end, we will appreciate an opportunity to implement for the state a promising health insurance plan that will complement your current integrated healthcare system and which will be one of the major legacies of your administration.”
Mrs. Ilori thanked the company and assured it that the equipment would be put to good use.
She said the government was renovating nine state hospitals in the nine federal constituencies, nine comprehensive health centres across the state and two primary health centres in each council.
Mrs. Ilori listed the achievements of the administration in the health sector to include the provision of 50 ambulances strategically positioned to help accident victims and the completion of a trauma centre at the State Hospital in Osogbo.
The equipment include X-ray machines, theatre tables and surgical lamps, among others.
THE NATION

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has urged Nigerians to remain committed to national peace and unity.
Speaking yesterday at the launch of the 2014 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Emblem at the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital, he said the armed forces are critical to preserving national integrity and preventing internal collapse.
Aregbesola said the people can rely on Nigerian soldiers to defend them against external aggression.
Launching the emblem with N15 million, he said: “We will not easily forget the important role played by the armed forces in the nationalist efforts that eventually led to the country’s independence.
“Soldering as a profession is a difficult calling. Even if only for the fact that it involves the voluntary sacrifice of one’s life for one’s nation. In this regard, our soldiers have acquitted themselves well.
“They are described as patriots, who have done the nation proud. They have continually been called upon to make sacrifices on behalf of their country and for the greater cause of humanity.”
The governor said the celebration was important in view of the security challenges experienced in several parts of the country, “for which soldiers have been making serious sacrifices”.
He said citizens must ensure that the numerous sacrifices made by the armed forces for the country are not in vain by respecting the nation’s corporate integrity and diversity, adding that Nigeria is a nation with great potentials, blessed by God with both human and material resources.
Deputy Commandant-General and Chairman, Nigerian Legion, Osun State chapter, Col. Alimi Samotu said people, as matter of responsibility, must remember the dependents and children of fallen heroes.
He urged the Federal Government to pay military pension arrears, saying: “This should be taken serious, as the legion’s state chairmen are faced with much pressure from members. To put us in a safe situation, the balance of 20 per cent arrears is much awaited to avoid possible demonstration in the future.”
THE NATION

And so one after the other in the year of our Lord 2013, the awards saluting the remarkable achievements of State of Osun Governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola rolled in.
Hundreds of kilometers away in Ghana, the respected Integrity International magazine had noticed what the governor was doing to redefine governance in a continent that had for ages suffered at the hand of its leaders. It gave Aregbesola its Integrity Award declaring that the man had offered what it called “outstanding quality and integrity” in political administration. The journal lamented that much of the post-independence era had given Africa leadership without integrity; it concluded that things had however been different with the advent of the Ogbeni in Osun.
Another accolade later came in. Aregbesola bagged the Odua Person of the Year 2013 award on account of the serious effort he has injected into the project of restoring the Yoruba nation its pace-setter role it clinched under the illustrious age of Papa Obafemi Awolowo. There has been a sudden renaissance in interest in the culture, arts, history, politics etc of the Yoruba, thanks to a focus on the Omoluabi spirit championed by Aregbesola.
Business Day newspaper also awarded the Osun governor two honors: Best Governor in Urban and Rural Infrastructural Development and Youth and Sports Development. According to the paper, Aregbesola had made what, by extrapolation, would turn out to be a permanent impact on the polity in the state of Osun. You can’t fault that decision because any meaningful push you exert on society through the solid blocks of infrastructural development, the youth and sports, would invariably touch the soul of society in the future. In other words you can’t develop and progress without addressing challenges in those critical areas.
Then as the year 2014 broke, Daily Independent newspaper unveiled its Man of the Year in keeping with its tradition of more than a decade. Its board of editors picked Rauf Aregbesola from a tough crowd of achievers that included accomplished private sector players, performing governors, ministers, politicians and legislators from the ranks of the opposition and ruling party.
In an engaging and dispassionate discourse, Daily Independent argued that Aregbesola deserves the honor because no other public officer has applied as much distinctive initiative to re-engineer society as Aregbesola has done. He has changed the concept of governance, the paper’s editors argued.
I need to quote them at length for us to grab the depth of their appreciation of what the governor has bestowed on Osun and Nigeria
This is what the editors said: “Aregbesola’s belief in the sanctity of the rule of law is exemplary. Engr. Rauf Aregbesola, on the platform of the then Action Congress (AC) contested for the Governorship of Osun State in the April 2007 elections, and won. To be so declared, however, took close to four years of what must go down as one of the most titanic mandate recovery legal battles of all time, and a moment for the manifestation of the omnipotence of the Almighty God and his steadfastness in support of those who rely on Him.
“Having gone through the tribunal of first instance, an appeal and a retrial tribunal, the second appeal court, delivering judgment on October 26, 2010, declared Aregbesola governor and ordered he be sworn in the next day.
“Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, since assuming office as Governor of the State of Osun on October 27, 2010, has redefined the meaning of governance in the public sector, not just with symbolic posturing, but real and sustainable interventions that will presently enhance the quality of life of everyone that lives or works in the State of Osun. Rebranding of the state as the Ipinle Omoluabi (State of the Virtuous) started from himself, adopting the title Ogbeni, simply Mister, in deference to the singular Excellency of the Almighty God. In just over a year, the chronicle of his achievements is astounding, and may be summarised as a chain of “O-Models”, the most astonishing being the engagement of 20,000 youth in the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme within his first 100 days in office; an accomplishment without precedence that has become the model for others to follow.
“Rauf is a born strategist. Throughout his life, whether as a pupil, student or career man; political appointee or governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has applied the art and science of strategy to ensure success in all endeavours in which he is engaged. He strategised and was outstanding as a student. He strategised and was efficient and effective as a career man. He strategised and was accomplished as a grassroots politician. He strategised and was excellent as a commissioner in Lagos State. He strategised to reclaim his mandate when he was rigged out in the race to offer selfless service to the good people of Osun. He strategised to lay a sound foundation for a regenerated Osun State knowing that sustainable development does not happen with ‘quick fix’ methods, tools, and techniques. He is strategising to position Osun and the good people of the state appropriately in the geo-economic milieu of Nigeria. He is a fervent believer in the dictum that strategists do not fail and so will not fail the people of Osun.
“Committed to a better, egalitarian society, Aregbesola, though fully anxious to build a society with massive physical infrastructures that promote better living, believes in first pursuit of those human values that can pave the way for the emergence of that total man, who is socially responsible. Hence his dogged pursuit of programmes extra-curricular schemes, such as the Calisthenics, Omoluabi Boys and Girls Club, and other schemes aimed at re-orientating the youths to channel their energies towards a society where the promotion of the common, collective goods will dominate the crazy pursuit of the good of the self.”
Honours that are heaped on men and women of ideas are welcome when they come from individuals and groups who have set themselves the task of guiding society through constructive criticism and encouragement. That was the point the famous French writer was making in the quote at the beginning of this essay.
What then is the ultimate honour for a public officer upon whom so much laurel has been heaped? I believe the logical step is for the citizens to re-elect him and allow a consolidation of the achievements that have attracted uncommon universal acclaim.
THE NATION

Dignitaries from Ile-Ife  paid a solidarity visit to Mr Governor in Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 07-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); Obasewa of Ife, Chief John Odeyemi (left); Chairman, Osun State University Governing Board, Professor Gabriel Olawoyin (2nd right) and Prince of
Ife, Ade Adefioye (right), during the Dignitaries from Ile-Ife’s solidarity Visit to Mr Governor in Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday
07-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); Aare of Ife, Aare Muyiwa Omisade (2nd left); Chairman, Osun State University Governing Board, Professor Gabriel Olawoyin (2nd right); Member
National Assembly – Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Babajide
Omoworare (left); Obasewa of Ife, Chief John Odeyemi (3rd left); and
Prince of Ife, Ade Adefioye (right), during the Dignitaries from Ile-Ife’s solidarity Visit to Mr Governor in Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 07-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (centre); Aare of Ife,
Aare Muyiwa Omisade (2nd left); Chairman, Osun State University Governing Board, Professor Gabriel Olawoyin (3rd right); Member National Assembly – Osun East Senatorial District, Senator Babajide
Omoworare (left); Obasewa of Ife, Chief John Odeyemi (3rd left); President Ife Development Board, Professor Muib Opeloye (right) and
Prince of Ife, Ade Adefioye (2nd right), during the Dignitaries from Ile-Ife’s solidarity Visit to Mr Governor in Osogbo, State of Osun on Tuesday 07-01-2014

Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Attahiru Jega, has promised to deliver fair and credible governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states later this year.
Admitting that the controversial November 16, 2013 Anambra State governorship election was plagued by flaws, Jega also pledged to avoid the pitfalls that dodged the poll.
He spoke in Abuja on Wednesday when he received in audience Ambassador of Netherlands to Nigeria, John C.M Groffen, at the INEC headquarters.
Jega noted that the international community had raised concerns over the political stability of the country ahead of the 2015 elections.
The Ambassador had cautioned against political instability of the country ahead of 2015.
Jega, who acknowledged the concerns of political stability, added that the electoral commission has learnt lessons from previous elections, hence it was poised not to repeat those mistakes.
Jega, who said 2014 would be a very busy year for the commission, added that INEC was “aware that friends of Nigeria are anxious as we move towards the general elections and they are keen to know the challenges that we face ahead of the elections”.
He added: “We are aware that a stable nation, will lead to an improved economic growth. Our job is to use the electoral process to ensure that elections are conducted with credibility and add to the political and economic stability of the country.”
He assured that the prospects of the coming year are good because extensive research and preparations have been done since 2011, adding that remarkable improvements have been made in the process.
Jega said “as we move to 2015, we are confident that it will be much more better than 2011. Elections in Nigeria, considering its size and complicity, are very challenging but those challenges are not insurmountable.
“We have also learnt the hard way that sometimes in spite of our best efforts things happen which raise questions about our preparations.”
Promising that the mistakes of last year’s governorship election in Anambra state would not be repeated in Ekiti and Osun states, Jega said, “What happened in Anambra was unfortunate and it will not in any way represent what will happen in 2015. We have learnt additional lessons from it and we are factoring it in our preparations for 2015.
“We will have two governorship elections this year and we are doing everything possible to ensure they are conducted smoothly, freely and fairly. We have mapped out detailed plans from previous elections,” Jega assured.
On his part the Netherlands envoy expressed concern at the political instability of the country, noting that he has been following the political activities in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which he described as an “interesting situation”.
He expressed optimism that the international community would be ready to assist the country and INEC in particular to ensure stability.
While he underscored the long-standing relationship between Nigeria and his country, Groffen said “we know that a stable Nigeria is conducive for business”.
“We are interested to see free and fair elections, as it would help Nigeria become a more stable economy. We are here to discuss prospects of the coming year.
The Nigeria Police similarly vowed on Wednesday to resist any attempt by politicians to cause security breech during the 2015 general elections.
It assured that it has mapped out strategies to ensure that all the elections were crisis free.
Inspector General (IG) of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, stated this at the opening of a conference of Deputy Inspectors General (DIGs) of Police, Assistant Inspectors General (AIGs) of Police and Commissioners of Police (CPs) in Abuja.
“If election will take place in 2015, whether we are on board or not, we have the responsibility as agency of government to ensure that preparation for 2015 starts in 2014,” he stressed.
Abubakar said any politician that is nursing evil intent during the 2015 elections must therefore be warned.
He assured that the police would not leave any stone unturned to ensure that the election is a success.
He said the police would in the next few days pay greater attention to states that have communal crisis to ensure that normalcy was restored in such states. He specifically mentioned Kano, Kaduna, Taraba, Plateau and Nasarawa states.
The conference, according to the IG, will “pay attention to political situation in Nigeria, looking at the zones and each state of the country”.
“We will review the political situations and issues in each state, then adjudge and see what the commissioner of police has been doing, whether he has been able to take care of such situation and areas where he has challenges, we look at that challenges and find out what are the impediments that stop him from doing what he is supposed to do in order to avoid political crisis,” the IG added.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

Governor, State of Osun, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday, appointed former judge of the World Court at The Hague, Justice Bola Ajibola  (SAN)  head of its Omoluabi Peace and Conflict Management Commission.
Governor Aregbesola in a special broadcast to mark the new year to the people of the state, said: “This is to be a standing commission where communal, religious, ethnic or other social disputes can be resolved by a body of respected elders from across Yorubaland and even other groups.”
He named Rev. Ladi Thompson, the Special Adviser to the President of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN,  as the commission’s executive secretary.
Aregbesola also allayed the fears of proprietors of missionary schools in the state that the ongoing education reform policy of his government will affect them positively, saying their fears were unfounded.
He noted that only an irresponsible person will attempt to rubbish or remove the legacy of missionaries in education in the state and even in Nigeria.
His words: “I attended mission primary and secondary schools here in Western Nigeria and I proudly display that in my resume. But let me take us back into a bit of our fairly recent history. Everyone knows that mission schools were taken over by the government of the Western State almost 38 years ago.
“This means that since 1975, all mission schools were owned, funded and run by government. But the succeeding state governments ensured that the names of the schools were not changed, in order to maintain the legacies of the founding missionaries.
“Therefore, as we rebuild the schools and expand their facilities, we also have not and will not tamper with their names. We believe that the missions and missionaries, who founded the schools, must be immortalised by retaining the names of the schools. For example, one of the completed middle schools in Osogbo is the Salvation Army Middle School at Alekuwodo.
“I am also aware of the agitation of some missions to have schools returned to them. Although, as I have said before, the schools have been owned by governments since 1975, our administration is not foreclosing the prospect of returning some of the schools upon the completion of our new schools.
“I wish to emphasise that this process can only begin upon completion of the schools we are currently and aggressively building all over the state.
“The process of return of schools must be well planned and executed because of the various implications, especially the fact that their ownership had changed almost four decades ago.
VANGUARD