The government of the State of Osun is aware of the claims by the Nigerian Medical Association today over issues of welfare where its leadership has accused the Rauf Aregbesola-led administration of insensitivity to their welfare.
 

 
This is far from the truth. This government has engaged the doctors, perhaps, more than any other category of workers in the state, on the need to equally be sensitive to the hardship foisted on the finances of the state especially since Nigeria as a whole entered into its trying period of economic recession.
The Osun government has developed perhaps the most ingenious formula for satisfying the needs of its workforce within the limit of the available resources.
This was what necessitated the setting up of a revenue apportionment committee led by no less personality than a former number labour leader in Nigeria and veteran labour activists on the continent of Africa, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu.
On the state of the health facilities, the doctors must be fair enough to admit that the health sector of Osun has witnessed a huge improvement since the coming of this administration.
Apart from the huge investment of about N1.8bn for the upgrading of the state General Hospitals, this administration has ensured that health care safety and emergency measures are improved as with the provision of the state-of-the-art ambulances across the length and breath of this state.
As a professional body whose duty it is to safe lives, we expect and continue to implore the doctors to see themselves as partners with the government in the overall task of ensuring the sanctity of lives which the doctors also swore an oath to protect.
We hereby wish to reiterate for the umpteenth time, that the Rauf Aregbesola administration remains s a labour-friendly one and we have always called on all groups, including the NMA to be sensitive to the prevailing economic situation across the land while the government continues its relentless efforts to make the best of the situation we have found ourselves as a country.
 

Semiu Okanlawon
Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy
Office of the Governor

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has on Thursday inaugurated 67 Executive Secretaries to oversee the administration of Local Governments and Local development Areas in the state.

The Governor at ‎the Multi-purpose Hall, Local Government Service Commission, State Secretariat, Osogbo stated that his administration inherited 30 local governments and an area office.

Aregbesola noted that as it stands today, the state has added 31 new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), three Area Councils and two Administrative Offices to make 67 Local Governments and development areas.

He held that Federalism is a constitutional arrangement in which power is shared between the units of government and the central government in which the sphere of authority of each is clearly delineated.

The Governor also added that federating units therefore are the states of the federation and the federal government, making only states and central government the federating partners.

He emphasised that the federal government is not superior to the states and not a supervising authority to the states, just primus inter pares, the first among equals.

According to him, “Local Governments on the other hand, are not federating partners and therefore do not have direct relationship with the Federal Government. 

 

“It is a subversion of the federal principle for the Federal Government or any federal institution or agency to begin to undercut states and forge direct relationship with the Local Government. Understanding this point is important in defining the autonomy of the local government.

 

The Local Government is an integral part of a state and its autonomy therefore is definable within the state. I agree and support therefore the notion of its autonomy in this light. 

 

“The Local Government should be not be shackled; it should be empowered to operate freely within its domain. It should have a wide latitude of responsibilities, control and operation within its jurisdiction.

 

“We have had challenges and abuse. Some states have turned their councils into cash cows. While the constitution requires states to guarantee a democratic system in the local government, this has also been subverted into state’s fiefdom. But we cannot throw out the baby with the bath water.

“The principle of federalism is important and we cannot sacrifice this on the altar of convenience. If there are abuses, let us address it, but don’t let us undermine federalism.” The Governor told the gathering.

‎Aregbesola speaking on Local Government autonomy queried “why do some people demand autonomy at the local government? ” noted that the answer is not far-fetched. 

 

The Governor held that the councils too want to go Abuja and collect monthly allocation from the Federation Account to spend the way they want, which he noted amounts to power without responsibility.

 

“The greater responsibility and true autonomy consists in being able to mobilise the people in your domain for development through revenue generation and economic participation by all.

 

“The officials we are inaugurating today have their autonomy within this umbra of responsibility. It is a new day in local government administration.

 

“Many people have strange ideas on how access to local government administration could be a get rich quick scheme. I have bad news for them. 

 

“All of you being inaugurated today should have it at the back of your mind that this is a call to service, with little or no reward”. The governor stressed.

Following the untimely, shocking and sad demise of the first civilian governor of the state of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke almost two weeks ago, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola signed an executive order for the institution of coroners inquest into the death.
See photos below

 
 

 

It is belaboring the obvious to say that all mortals would taste the pang of death, but the sudden departure of the first civilian governor of the State of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke brings about an instructive reminder, that we are all terminal projects with expiry date, and that reminds me of the words of Caesar in the book of Shakespeare that: “Death will come when it will come”.
 

 
My heart is heavy, and my nerves are weakened just like you all,  upon hearing the demise of the political titan, but he teaches a lesson to all political class just as the deceased taught us a political lesson while he was alive. However, what must be considered a take home is that all of us in the position of advantage must be closer to our constituents, share their pain, and celebrate their feat, for that is the only way to remain indelible in their mind, long after we might have departed the position and the given assignment.
Distinguished Senator Isiaka Adeleke was like a revolving door, which understands the nuances of the executive and legislative assignments. He ruled as a governor for 22 months, before his mandate was truncated by the military interregnum, and his sojourn to the Senate of the Federal Republic was an experience well stocked, but his death was a devastating blow to the political class in Nigeria, and in the State of Osun in particular.
As painful as it could be, we should not lose sight of some issues his departure had raised: that all political leaders should be reminded that their survival depend on the people who voted them to power, and we should endeavor to interact and interface with them on issues bothering on their welfare, duties and responsibilities. Of course, no man is perfect, but the strive of an individual for perfection is what will define him or her from those who want to be stagnant with the tradition which has been overtaken by events.
My heart aches because the Asiwaju of Ede would no longer be with us, it saddens me, because legions of his dependants have lost a great leader; it runs my emotion, because the shoe he left behind is very large, but who are we to query why the creator of life takes it back, when it is so glaring that we are in the journey designed and perfected by the uncreated creator, at the risk of sounding spiritual.
We condemn the violence caused by some roughnecks during the burial of the Great Senator, and we strongly decry the way some miscreants unleashed unpleasant scenario at the burial site in the presences of dignitaries from far and near, including our respected governors from some states around us. Also, we strongly deplore the violence visited on Hon. (Ms) Idiat Babalola, an accomplished daughter of Ede, and a respected former member of this Assembly. We are confident to say that the ugly scenario does not define us in this state because we are very accommodating people who cherish peaceful coexistence as “omoluabis”.
Our sympathy goes to Adeleke family in Ede who has lost a father, our condolences to Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola lawal who lost one of the pillars of his kingdom; to Governor Rauf Aregbeosla and leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) who lost one of their political gladiators and a leader of his people. We pray that God will give us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola will this afternoon perform the swearing ceremony of the newly appointed Local Government Executive Secretaries in the State.

 
A release signed by the Secretary to the State Government of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti disclosed that the venue of the programme is Local Government Service Commission Hall, Government Secretariat, Abere.
It would be recalled that the list of Caretaker Management Committee nominees for the thirty (30) Local Government Areas, Thirty-one (31) Local Council Development Areas, three (3) Area Councils and two (2) Administrative Offices in the State had earlier been sent to the State House of Assembly by the Governor for screening.

The Osun State House of Assembly has confirmed all executive secretaries and members nominated by Governor Rauf Aregbesola for the 30 Local Government Councils, 31 Local Council Development Authorities, three Area Councils and two administrative offices except three nominees who failed to appear for the screening.
 

 
This is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam, Mr Goke Butika.

The State Government of Osun, through the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs, will inaugurate new set of Osun Children Parliamentarians on Tuesday, May 2nd 2017.

According to the release by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs, Pharmacist (Mrs.) Omolara Ajayi, the selection arose through low-key abridged election, by the directives of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, conducted by the ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science
and Technology.
The inauguration which is kicked off with a training of the children parliamentarians will hold at the conference hall of the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs, Government Secretariat, Osogbo.
Time is 2:00pm prompt.
The statement added that only invited participants are expected.

 
The Governor of Osun Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Monday promised workers in the state their sacrifice and commitment to the stability of the state even in the face of economic challenges would not be in vain.
 

 
Aregbesola stated this in Osogbo in a statement where he also saluted the umbrella body of the workers for being sensitive enough to put off the May Day celebration as a mark of honour for the late first civilian governor of the state Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
In the statement admonishing workers which was signed by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor said the government is well-acquainted with the sacrifices they have made under the gruelling economic condition the country is going through.
According to him, the government had at the inception taken care of workers’ welfare because of its belief that it is through this and the cooperation of the workers that a virile state can be jointly built.
The Governor commended the workers for the resilience and understanding they have displayed with the government in this crucial times, saying his administration is “sensitive enough to recognise their contributions especially in the face of the economic crisis foisted on us certain modalities for the payment of salaries, pensions and other welfare packages.”
He averred that the economic impasse the country and the world is going through affected the majority of the states’ capacity to fulfil some of their statutory responsibilities.
He said, “We must express appreciation for the rare sensitivity of the umbrella body of the workers, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), in putting off this year’s celebration in our state as a mark of honour for the memory of the first civilian governor of the state, our own brother, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, who unfortunately and suddenly exited this world on Sunday April, 23, 2017.
“The Labour Day has coincided with the state burial. The pains and pangs of his sudden death are still with us. May the peace of Allah be with him in his final abode of rest.
“We remember with nostalgia, how this administration, at inception, showed ample commitment to the welfare of its workforce.
“We could not have done less for we hold tenaciously to the belief that it is only through the commitment and cooperation of our workers that we can realise the very noble objectives for which we are here as government.
“More than six years, we have no reason to doubt that our workers have been dependable partners in our development journey so far.”
He stated that with the glory of God and the unflinching support of the workers in the state, he has been able to pilot the affairs of the state effectively.
Aregbesola, therefore, sought for the continued understanding and support of workers and the people in government’s determination to take the state to an enviable height.

 
…As Aregbesola leads others in state burial for Osun’s first civilian governor.
 
 

 
Clerics on Monday in Ede, home country of first civilian governor of Osun, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, described the life of the former governor as a worthy one that should be emulated by all.
This was as Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, led  other dignitaries at the 8th day Fidau by the state that converged on Ede, the country home of the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke for his eighth day Fidau prayers.
Senator Adeleke died on Sunday 23rd April 2017.
Aregbesola led the entire state officials to the burial ceremony where family members and other well-wishers all gathered to pray for the repose of the soul of the former.
Secretary to the State Governor, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, who spoke briefly on behalf of the government, thanked everyone present for their love and concern for the family and the state and prayed for the repose of the soul of the late senator.
The gathering equally had in attendance former governors, lawmakers, monarchs, friends and well-wishers, who came to pay their last respect to the deceased and commiserate with the family members.
Prayers were offered for the repose of the soul of the late politician, who was until his death the Asiwaju of Ede Land.
In their sermons, the two Islamic clerics emphasised the emptiness of the world and praised the sterling qualities of the late Senator.
They disproved the insinuation making the rounds that Senator Adeleke was killed by some forces within the political circle, saying only God, who created souls, can take them as He pleases without consultation with anyone.
In one of the lectures, the Chief Imam of Offa, Sheikh Muideen Salmon Hussein, stated that except Allah wills that a person shall be killed in a particular manner or from action or inaction of a fellow human being, no one can kill another person.
According to Sheikh Hussein, Allah is the custodian of everything he created and he does with them as it pleases Him, including allotting them a time to die as it happened in the case of Senator Adeleke.
He said: “No one can kill a fellow human being except with the knowledge and permission of Allah. It is Allah that creates and it is He that kills. So, the notion that Senator Isiaka Adeleke was killed was an erroneous one.
“We should erase it from our mind and our thought that some people killed Adeleke. Allah created Adeleke. He made Adeleke governor. He gave him good life. He blessed him. He made him Senator. In fact, Allah made all Adeleke became in life possible.
“Who then killed him? The same Allah! That is the age Allah allotted him to spend on the surface of the earth. Don’t let us say what will infuriate Allah because Adeleke’s death was painful to us.
“He lived one year less than Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Adeleke spent 62 years while Prophet spent 63. We should therefore be thankful to Allah that Adeleke led a good life, one worthy of emulation.”