* As Ambassador lauds Osun over Social Protection schemes
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has on Tuesday urged the United States of America  to seriously consider its stand concerning climate change, as whatever decision America takes will seriously affect many countries of the world negatively.
 

 
This was even as the United States of America Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Stuart Symington described the social protection programmes of Osun Government as dividend of democracy and good governance.
The American envoy also lauded the State Government for running an impactful and people-oriented government in spite of the present economic challenges facing Nigeria.
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‎Governor Aregbesola, while playing host to the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Syminton who paid him a courtesy visit at the Governor’s office in Osogbo said the United States of America had over the years evolved to be a major factor in what happens to the other parts of the world.
He added that when an entity becomes powerful as America in the world, such a nation needs to consider other nations before taking major decisions.
The governor noted that the position of America in the world is so strategic to the extent that major decisions of the United States have direct baring on other nations of the world.
According to Aregbesola, America is so important and significant that issues like climate change can not be taken for granted.
He said, “America has evolved to be a major factor in world growth and development to the extent that whatever decision the country takes on any burning issue shakes the world.
“When an entity is as powerful as America, such entity needs to be very careful about every major decision it takes because of other countries.
“An entity whose decision can affect other nations of the world must be very careful.
“America’s human and international relations must not be taken for granted, if you love America it is to your own benefit and if you hate America it is to your own disadvantage,” The Governor stated.
The Osun governor also made it clear to the ambassador that his administration came into government with a clear objective of how to tackle its responsibilities to the people of the state.
He said the coming into power of the administration was to revive the peace, progress and prosperity of the state and the nation at large.
Aregbesola maintained that his administration focused on the six-point integral action plan which has over the years made his government to focus on social security areas through schemes such as the O-YES, O-MEALS,O-AMBULANCE the welfare scheme for the aged among others.
“We came into government with a clear objective, it is to stimulate the growth and development of the Osun people and to leave them better than the way we met them.
“From the onset, our goal for the people of the state was clear to us. As part of our efforts to take our people out of poverty, we re-energised the school feeding programme which we met on ground.
“The OMEAL programme of our state has turned subsistence farming into a commercial venture in Osun. It has boosted the sales of agricultural products in the state tremendously” Aregbesola stated.
Speaking earlier, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Symington who commended the efforts of the state government in road infrastructure likened road development to human development.
The envoy also applauded various social intervention programmes of Ogbeni Aregbesola through job and wealth creation, saying that is why people are always interested in coming to the state to learn.
Describing democracy as the best form of government in the world, Syminton noted that the policies adopted by the Osun state government in stimulating her economy and advancing the well being of her citizens remains the major characteristics of democracy in the world.
“The state is on a steady growth, I so much appreciate good roads. This state is investing so much in roads infrastructure and it’s very good for the future and overall development of the state.
“Another good area is your various social intervention programmes, you are helping in creating jobs and wealth, no wonder people always come to your state to learn,” The American envoy noted.

Two newly-born baby girls had been found abandoned at Ikire in Irewole Local Government area of the State of Osun.
 

 

 
One was found at Oke-Ako area while the other was discovered at Moro Area.
A statement from the Ministry of Social Protection, Sports and Special Needs, signed by the Coordinating Director, Mrs Grace Adegoke said anybody who has any information about the biological parents of the two babies should report to the nearest Police Station or the Ministry of Social Protection, Sports and Special Needs

The July 8, 2017 Osun West senatorial bye-election offers us a unique opportunity to examine the politics around us as a people. The last one week has been fraught with intrigues of a loud hue in Osun and beyond especially on the routes through which the major candidates for the election to replace late Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke have emerged in their respective parties.
 

 
Of course, since the sudden demise of the former and first civilian governor of Osun and two time senator, the ripples have not ceased from one controversy to another.
The allegations of possible foul play in his death; the violence and attacks on individuals by miscreants who claimed to be followers of the late senator; the controversies over the autopsy and the hullaballoo over the Coroner’s Inquest which was ordered by the state government, have all conspired to ensure that the attention of watchers of political events are not diverted from the issues of the death, the suspicion and the controversies.
The Independent National Electoral Commission’s release of a timetable for the bye-election also came to start another phase of the issues which the death of Adeleke must throw up. Since the senator is dead, his family and coterie of loyalists would not see why his replacement should not come from his family compound and indeed, from one of his blood brothers.
But then, the issue of who replaces Adeleke at the Upper chamber of the National Assembly goes beyond assuaging the family or compensating his kinsmen with the ticket. Adeleke was not an independent candidate who got into the Senate through his personal efforts or popularity. This is where his party, the All Progressives Congress comes in as the overall decision making organ on how Adeleke must be replaced at the red chamber.
Recent political experiences of Nigerians come in handy in understanding the overall decadence that has diminished and enveloped all we do as a people. Most Nigerians who by accident, might not have heard what is called party supremacy came to understand what it means for a political party on whose platform a candidate stands election and gets elected. Especially through the 8th National Assembly, Nigerians have been told that the party matters less in how officers from a particular party emerge as principal officers of the chamber especially when the position of the party runs contrary to their personal preferences.
That was what played out in 2015 with the emergence of Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers of the two chambers of the National Assembly. Till date, Nigeria has not recovered from the implosion that the drama imposed on us.
At that time, the refrain was that the party on which they were elected to the National Assembly could not be dictating to them how they conduct their affairs. That in a way, may have polluted the minds of many Nigerians who ordinarily would have had no qualms believing that the party, through whose strength you came to a political office must necessarily be in the know of how the affairs of that office is run since once elected, an office holder is expected to toe the party lines in the delivery of the electoral commitments to the people.
This brings us to the drama  that played out in the election of a candidate to represent the APC in the coming Osun West bye-election. In human life, everything appears to be divine. The choice of Senator Mudasiru Hussain could not have been otherwise for any party that wants to bring back, encourage and reward loyalty to the party and enhance the promotion of party supremacy.
It should interest readers that Senator Hussain, who now holds the ticket of the APC was the same senator who relinquished his seat for Senator Adeleke to return to the Senate in 2015.
Nigerians could not have forgotten what the late Adeleke went through in the hands of Peoples Democratic Party bigwigs in Osun in the build-up to the 2014 elections which forced Adeleke out of the party. Have we forgotten how the the Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, threatened that he would have beaten Adeleke but for the consideration for his (Adeleke’s) health. Of course, he found the APC an attractive option at the time that was sure of victory. His coming into the APC at the time, one must admit, also boosted the re-election chances of Governor Rauf Aregbesola just as the incumbent had the honour of bringing all former governors of the state to his side as part of efforts to ditch the PDP then. But who would not want to be with Aregbesola given the massive crowd that was madly in love with him?
Hussain’s sacrifice at that time could not have been heavier! Without any resistance whatsoever, Hussain relinquished the party’s ticket for Adeleke and the rest as they say, is history.
In my findings, there are even indications that Aregbesola was more disposed to conceding the opportunity to produce a replacement to the Adeleke camp in the freshness of the senator’s demise. My findings indicate that all entreaties to make the family, now headed and directed by billionaire younger brother, Dr. Deji Adeleke, see the death of the lawmaker as act of God which should not be used to tarnish the image of the government fell on deaf ears.
With the outcome of both the autopsy ordered by the Adeleke family and the Coroners Inquest ordered by the state government, it was clear why Adeleke’s death should not be traced to any other source other than complications arising from self-medication and overdose. How do you declare such an unjustifiable war on party and still demand from that party its ticket on platter of gold? It is simply illogical!
But this is not about Adeleke; it’s about the lessons to draw in political calculations that once a member of a political party, the collective good of that party, rather than the good of the self, should be the guiding principle. In recent history of political parties in Nigeria, I doubt if there has been any politician with so much sacrifice for his party. The good thing however, is that Hussain looks set to reap the fruits of his sacrifice and that looks good a lesson in loyalty and party supremacy.
 
*Kolawole ‘Lawan, writes from Ward 1, Isale Oba, Iwo East LCDA, Iwo, State of Osun through lawkolawole2@gmail.com 

The executive governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday paid an unscheduled visit to the site of the new Ilehsa Grammar School.
Aregbesola who was in company some members of his cabinet expressed satisfaction at the level and quality of work done at the site.
See photos below :

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

Justice Kudirat Akano of Osogbo High Court, Osogbo has granted bail to the six suspects arrested  in connection with the crisis that ensued recently between the Hausa and Yoruba communities in the ancient town of Ile-Ife  which left about  46 persons dead.

 The six accused persons are: a traditional monarch,  Oba Ademola Ademiluyi, Pastor Taiwo Fakuajo, Akeem Eluwole , Bamidele Elurisanmi, Jimoh Sakiru and Daniel Olanrewaju 

 The bail of the suspects were argued by the defense counsel, Wole Olawoyin SAN and the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Simon Lough on Wednesday.

 Justice Kudirat Akano in her ruling on Friday said “the main objective or function of bail is to ensure the presence of the accused persons in court during trial, bail to accused during trial particularly capital offences are based on grace. Ordinarily granting bail rests solely on the discretion of the court especially on the discretion of the judge”

 “Bail is hereby granted to each of the applicant with N5 million each, two sureties, to swear to an affidavit of means. One surety must be one an Oba  or a level 14 officer resident in Osun State and other surety must be a blood relation of the applicant” 

“I hereby adjourn the case to July 13th, 2017 for further trial”.

 The court which had commenced trial on Wednesday had taken two Hausa witnesses; Mallami Nasri, Abubarka Mutari and a Police Investigator in monitoring unit of Inspector General of Police, DSP Akinlabi Ogundile.

 Before the bail was granted on Friday DSP Akinlabi was led in evidence by Prosecuting counsel, Mr Simon Lough.  He testified that, “I sighted 100 houses  and shops burnt during the clash, I saw 13 burnt vehicles and six motorcycles while myself and team also saw 46 dead people. We took the body of the 46 to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife”.

 “I called pathologist, Dr. Olufemi Ojo and two other doctor to conduct autopsy on the corps after that we buried the corps .”

He further  explained  that some incriminating materials were recovered from the accused persons. Some items like; a green wheel barrow, 3 axes, a knife, sawing machine and four motorcycles.

He further said “During my findings I find out that the first accused person, Oba Ademola started and ended the clash but he claimed he traveled to Lagos during the clash”.

The witness, DSP Akinlabi tendered green wheel barrow, three axes, a knife, sawing machine and four motorcycle and three a standing fan while the court rejected the photograph of the 46 corpses because of failure of the witness to produce the serial number of the document.

Acting chairman of the Osun Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Bicci Alli, has appealed to unemployed graduates in Osun to seize the opportunity provided by the social empowerment programme of the federal government known as N-Power which commenced recruitment process of graduates across the country last week.
 

 
Mr. Bicci revealed that hundreds of graduates will be employed as Community Tax Liason Officers (CTLOs) across the state.
The NPower programme which is expected to reduce unemployment will engage a fresh 300,000 graduates in teaching, agriculture, healthcare and tax collection.
A statement by the Secretary, JTB, M L Abubakar, said the programme is available for people within the age of 18-35 years and will cover a period of two years.
The desire to diversify the nation’s economy warranted the introduction of Community Tax Liason Officers (CTLOs) for the Voluntary Asset and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), a new field of the programme meant to optimize government revenue at all level.
He however urge qualify graduates to visit the N-Power portal at http://portal.npower.gov.ng for prompt registration before it closes.

Two parcels of land are being processed for UNIG Polymer Construction Ltd that specializes in the production of Modern plastic pipes and YUZHMASH Company that specializes in the production and assemblage of -Machinery for Agriculture both of which have their parent company in Ukraine.
 

 
The Honourable Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Arc. Akintunde Akinajo stated this while receiving the representatives of the following companies YUZHMASH- Mr Andriy Shchebet and Mr WILKFY OLADIPO of UNIG, in his office.
He noted that fifteen hectares of lands are being processed for the proposed YUZHMASH-Tractor Assembly Plant for Agriculture while ten hectares of land are being processed for UNIG-Polymer Construction Ltd, for their use , adding that the required documentation to fully secure the acquired landed properties are being worked upon by the relevant departments within the Ministry.
Arc Akinajo assured the duo that the Government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will continue to run an open door policy and will continually encourage more Private public partnership in the development of the state.
While appreciating the State Governor , Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for the interest shown to industrialize the State as well as creating employment opportunities directly and indirectly for the people of osun, Arc Akinajo enjoined all and sundry to give maximum support to the present administration.
Also with him were Officials of the Ministry led by the Coordinating Director of the Ministry, Estate Surveyor & Valuer (ESV)Tayo Hassan, the Director of Town Planning, TPL Ezekiel Oladejo, Deputy Director of Lands, Mr Dapo Fashina, TPL Segun Adeyemo and other staff.

A renowned University Don and the Proprietor of ENPOST FOREST RESERVE, Ido-Ijesha, Professor Olu Odeyemi has advised Nigerians to be less dependent on government in order to be able to
tap their potentials.
Professor Odeyemi gave this advice at the celebration of this year’s World Environment Day which was held at the ENPOST FOREST RESERVE, Ido-Ijesha.
 
 

 
The Professor observed that one of the banes of the modern Nigeria is people over-dependent on government which made it almost difficult for the citizens to utilize the potentials inherent in them.
The renowned Professor also observed that, the Nigerian educational curriculum being used at the present should be re-designed to incorporate the theoretical as well as the practical aspects of learning in order to make students practically oriented in whatever discipline they found themselves.
He also advised the people to take environmental protection seriously as the adverse effects of mans encroachment on the environments is now being felt worldwide.
In the lead lecture delivered by the Provost, State of Osun College of Health Technology, Ilesa, Dr. Fritz Olaoye, the Provost observed that over-population, deforestation and man’s uncaring attitude to the environment pose a great danger to man’s existence considering the fact that, man even with advanced technology may not be able to cope with some environmental hazards when they occur.
Dr. Olaoye therefore advised government at various levels and individuals to be proactive in protecting all environmental components in order to guarantee a safe and healthy environment for all.
The World Environment Day celebration which was observed by ENPOST FOREST RESERVE was done in collaboration with Eco Centre for Transformation and Empowerment Initiative, Osogbo and the Soroptimist
International, Osogbo chapter as part of their contributions towards the protection of the environment.
The occasion was graced by top officials of the State of Osun Tourism Board and the State Tourism Authority who were led by their Chairman, Engineer Abimbola Daniyan who advised the students of Abolarin College, Oke-Ila Orangun on the need to be science conscious and try to exhibit their talents without fear.
Highlight of the celebration was arts exhibition by the students of Abolarin College, Oke-Ila Orangun and a tour of the twelve hectares ENPOST FOREST RESERVE for observation of nature in its pristine state.

The newly appointed Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Arc. Akintunde Akinajo has assured the people of the State on plans to digitize all the existing layouts in Osun Government Reservation Areas, as well as to update the recommendations of Urban Renewal in the State and making things easier for all.
 

 
This was disclosed by the Commissioner while addressing the journalists in his office shortly after the site monitoring to the Government Reserved Areas (GRAs) across Osogbo Metropolis adding that, his Ministry is ready to provide all what the people need in order to protect their property.
He also stated that contractors, builders and people should do away with any form of contraventions and encroachment into the Government acquired lands. He however urged the people to work with the professionals in the industry, and lodge to the planning authorities of the State Government of Osun for approval saying that all the approvals must be perfected before moving to the site.
He pointed out that the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning is available for the people and set to create a server adding that photo-mapping shall be very strictly confirmed to recognize the land map and even faster to update digital maps as a way of ensuring that everybody is being captured.
While appreciating Mr. Governor for the opportunity accorded to him to serve as the Commissioner for the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning, Arc Akinajo enjoined the people to continue to give total cooperation to the present administration for more proactive developmental projects.
He also advised the people of the State to have the required title documents and build their projects according to the specifications.
Also with him were officials of the Ministry led by the Coordinating Director, Mr Tayo Hassan.