The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) has reiterated its stance on the conduct of local government election earlier slated for January 27,2018, in the face of a pending litigation.
The OSIEC’ s Chairman, Mr Segun Oladitan asserted that the decision of the commission to go ahead with the exercise was hinged on the premise that the litigation does not in anyway affect the process of the contest.
It would be recalled that OSIEC, at a press conference late last year had announced its resolve and plan to conduct the councils’ poll on Saturday, January 27, 2018.
It was against the backdrop that a human right activist, Kanmi Ajibola and some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) approached the court, to declare the action as unconstitutional and illegal, arguing that the propose parliamentary system at the local government level is in conflict with electoral law.
However,  at a stakeholders meeting organized by the commission in Osogbo, the state capital, the OSIEC Chairman further opined that  the court injunction, which supposedly sought to halt the process would not prevent  the commission from conducting the poll as earlier announced.
Olaitan who faulted the process through which the injunction was served said, January 27 was sacrosanct.
He said, “when the date for the conduct of local government election was announced, the opposition party approached the court, seeking the conciliation of the process but instead of serving  the commission the notice of injunction in Osogbo, they brought it to liaison office, Abuja, which according to him does not fall under the jurisdiction”.
According to him, ” the local governments election was last held in 2007 and the forthcoming  election would take place on Jan. 27 , despite the court injunction.
“The method at which the injunction was served was questionable and the commission position is simple.
” The injunction served at liaison office in abuja would not bind the commission. We have not submitted our self to the jurisdiction of the federal high court”, he resorted.
While giving the breakdown of the election, Olaitan enunciated that out 389 wards in the state,  only  125 wards have more than one person contesting, while 264 wards have only one candidate contesting without opponent.
He explained that 18 political parties out of the 28 that registered would be contesting  in the  3, 018 polling units in the state.
Oladitan sought for the cooperation of the commission , security agencies and political parties to make the contest a success.
Olaitan who called on members of political parties to conduct themselves in a lawful manner in order to ensure itch free polls announced that,  there would be no vehicular movement between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Earlier, the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Osun, Mr Folahanmi Adeoye, enjoined all political parties not to take laws into their hands , adding that election is not a do or die affair.
Adeoye noted that  security agencies would not relent in their efforts to ensure hith-free exercise.
He called on relevant stakeholders to desist from any act capable of destabilizing the election.
Present at the stakeholders meeting are the security heads in the state, political parties, OSIEC staff , among others.

The Speaker of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam has called on indigenes of communities in the state of Osun to always rally round their origin to endear development to the rural areas.
He stated this at the Masifa-Ile Day celebration held at the Community Grammar School in the town.
 

 
He disclosed that the development of ancient communities is a collective responsibility of all the indigenes of such community, saying government alone cannot take charge of developing every settlements in the state.
Salaam disclosed that celebrating a day in the name of a community offers a platform for the sons and daughters of such community to meet and discuss issues relating to the development of the community and its people.
He admonished the affluent indigenes of different communities in the state to always rally round and participate in issues capable of bringing development to their respective communities.
Similarly, the former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in the State, Oluomo Sunday Akere stated the need for indigenes of every community to get involved in the process of building the rural areas, saying it is no longer tenable to rely on government for development of all the nooks and crannies of the state.
He said the Yoruba tradition harps on communal effort towards developing the various communities prior to the advent of colonialism and sought a return to the system in the face of the reality that government cannot provide all the need of its people.
Akere charged the teeming populace in the state to always cooperate with any sitting governor in order for development to take root in their various communities, stressing that development can only be achieved in peaceful atmosphere.
The highlight of the event is the various family compounds paying homage to the ruler of the town and praying for his long reign.

The Wife of the Governor, State of Osun, Mrs. Sherifat Aregbesola said that her husband’s eight years as governor would be memorable for unprecedented women and children development initiatives and promotion of sustainable hygienic culture across the state.
Mrs. Aregbesola said that various initiatives through her foundation, Sheri Care Foundation (SCARF) has minimised the spread of diseases and promoted healthy living in the state especially in rural areas.
According to her, through regular environmental sanitation in the state and public enlightenments pioneered by SCARF, clean and hygienic environment has become a dominant culture among the larger populace in the state.
She said: “Hygienic culture would be one of the enduring legacies of the present administration, people have seen the benefits personally and collectively and to sustain the legacies, our advocacy target groups were mainly young children and nursing mothers to prevent cholera, typhoid, malaria fever and other diseases that are life threatening”.
“Women are important in this campaign because they are custodian of our home and children, by our culture they are responsible for domestic issues and family consumptions and glory be to God, in the last seven years, our advocacy has positively influenced their attitude and I can boldly say that an average mother in Osun understands what hygiene means to his family and the society”.
She explained further that SCARF has equally reduced the prevailing trend of Female Genital Mutilations (FGM) in the state which was adjudged to be the highest in Nigeria and further urged the people of the state to abstain from such practices which she described as barbaric and abuse.
The first lady then urged parents to prioritise the education of their children and stop all forms of abuse that may endanger the future of their children and have them relegated to second fiddle in the society.
Mrs. Aregbesola then promised to continue the advocacy for child education and protection after her husband might have left office in November 27 this year.

The Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers (NICE) has lauded Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun for committing the required percentage of the state’s resources on infrastructure development in the state.
According to the civil engineers, the Aregbesola’s administration met and exceeded the minimum of six percent of its GDP recommended for infrastructural development.
The leadership of the Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers gave the commendation in Osogbo, the capital of the State of Osun at a public lecture.
Speaking on the theme of the conference: “Infrastructure Development and Index for National Development”, the former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Professor Olugbenga Aribisala, lauded Aregbesola’s commitment to human and capital developments in the state.
Aribisala said the present administration in Osun has raised the bar of governance in all socio-economic
sectors, particularly on infrastructure development.
He acknowledged the Aregbesola’s government for always making adequate budgetary provisions for the maintenance of infrastructure sustainability since inception.
According to him, the Osun state government has shown a very great example of government funding on projects as the state in the last seven years has been committing over 6% of the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on infrastructure development.
”I want to state here unequivocally that Osun state has exceeded the minimum of 6 per cent of its GDP recommended for infrastructure developments.
“Since the diversification of the economy remains impossible without adequate infrastructure, there is need for government at all levels to make the required budgetary provisions for the maintenance of
infrastructure development as being done in Osun.
“Obviously, the Osun state government has shown a very great example on how infrastructure should be properly and adequately funded by governments as the state has exceeded the minimum of six per cent of its GDP recommended for infrastructural development.
“As an institution involved in civil engineering policies and recommendations, we can rightly confirm that the seven years of the present administration in Osun has been full of numerous big civil engineering infrastructure projects across the state.
“We have been moving around Nigeria and have been to several states in the country, we have never seen a state like Osun with huge proliferation of infrastructure development in spite of her meager resources.
“The types of projects which we have seen in Osun are the types that students of civil engineering need to come and understudy because they are breath taking.
”I want to use this medium to appeal to both the federal and state governments to make budgetary provisions for the infrastructural sustainability”, Prof. Aribisala noted.
Earlier in his remarks, the National President, Nigerian Institution of Civil Engineers, Engineer Andem Ekpo-Bassey, commended the level of infrastructure in the state, saying Osun has distinguished itself among its peers in developing infrastructure in all sectors of the economy.
“Without mincing words, I can tell you that you are very lucky in Osun to have a governor like Aregbesola who has decided to embark on the third type of project, which is targeted at human development.
“I can confidently tell you that Osun is on the right path to economic development, it may not have been happening today, but with what I have seen on ground, Aregbesola has secured the future for this state.
“Infrastructural development is the way to go if any economy wants to get out of the woods and be self-sustaining” Ekpo-Bassey said.
In his remarks, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola commended the leadership of NICE for organising the Conference in the state.
Aregbesola who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport, Engineer Nurudeen Adeagbo, encouraged engineers on the need for them to champion professional ethics and standards as they play a crucial role in national growth and development.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun has expressed shock at the sudden death of former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Works, Engineer Sabitu Amuda.
Amuda died in the early hours of Sunday after a brief illness.
A statement signed by the State Secretary of the party, Hon Rasaq Salinsile described the death of the deceased as a great loss to Iwo Community, Osun and Nigeria at large.

The statement read: “Osun has lost one of its leading stars whose contributions to the development of the state will be greatly missed”.
“The Late Amuda served as Special Adviser on Works & Infrastructures during the first term of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and was an active member of the ruling party in the state until his death.
“He was always bothered about how to move the state forward.
“On behalf of Osun APC and Iwo community, we identify with the Amuda family at this trying period and pray God Almighty will comfort them and grant his gentle soul peaceful rest.”

There was jubilation among civil servants in Osogbo, Osun State, on Tuesday evening as workers in the employment of the state government under the leadership of Governor Rauf Aregbesola began to receive payment of full salary for the month of December 2017.
 
 
 
The development was the fallout of agreement the state government reached with the top hierarchy of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress ( TUC) and Joint Negotiation Council (JNC) shortly before they suspended industrial action workers embarked in late December to denounce payment of modulated salary, non remittance of contributory pension, amongst other issues.
Cross section of civil servants, who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune exuded joy as they lauded the state government for fulfilling its promise to pay full salary for the month of December 2018, just as they confirmed that the receipt of bank alerts for their salaries.
Though there were pockets of complaints that few of the civics servants received bank alerts of half salary for December, our correspondent reliably gathered such categories of workers may have obtained loans, through cooperative societies, hence the receipt of alert for modulated salary.
Confirming the payment of December 2018 salary to the workforce during a telephone chat with the Nigerian Tribune on Wednesday morning, Osun State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Bola Oyebamiji stated that ” it is not possible for any worker to claim that he received a modulated salary for December because we paid all of them full salaries.
If they have any issue, tell them to come to my ministry. They should come and see my Permanent Secretary immediately. But, I don’t think so because of all of us, I mean everyone of us received the full salary”.
He continued, “by the time deduct tax from their salaries and those who obtained loans may think they were paid half salary.
There was nothing like that, all of them got alerts for full December salary”.