The government of the State of Osun is on the verge of becoming the hub for rice production in the Southwest, with its recent move to focus on rice cultivation, as part of its agricultural policies.
The governor, Rauf Aregbesola, his deputy, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, and other members of his team recently visited one of the major rice farms collaborating with the state government to produce Ofada Osun Rice.
 

 
If the partnership sails through, it is expected to break the country’s reliance on imported rice, generate more income for the state and also create job opportunities for the populace of the state, as people from every part of the country would be coming into the state Osun Rice.

The Guardian’s visit to one of the farms in Songbe borders, near Ogbagba in Iwo area of the state, attested to the drive. Though the rice has just been harvested, the plan is to cultivate 450 hectares mainly for rice in the next three weeks, for the new planting season.
The Guardian learnt that the move is part of the holistic agricultural policy of the state, which has placed it on the green map of the Southwest within the space of six years; making it one of the major suppliers of agricultural produce to markets in Lagos and other South Western states.
Executive Chairman of ajogbe group, Bosoye Olalere, who is partnering the state, said the target for the new planting season is to do a lot more than last year, noting that additional land has been acquired to achieve the dream.
While disclosing that youth, under the state modern agriculture techniques would be integrated into the system, where they would be given acres of land to cultivate and manage, he added that 35 workers are on the pay roll of the farm, noting that during harvest ad-hoc staff would be employed, as another way of creating employment for the people.
“The idea of the farm is to run an integrated farming system. There is a plan to build the processing plant, which is the second phase of the project for processing of rice paddy.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offence‎s Commission (ICPC) has described the petition of the Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State against Governor Rauf Aregbesola as baseless and unsubstantiated.
 
 

 
ICPC, in a letter with reference number ICPC/INV/NGB/T.E2/003, addressed to the petitioner, Chairman, Civil Society Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State, which was copied to the Osun Secretary to the State Government stated that it’s investigations have not established an act contrary to the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act, 2000 as none of the allegations were substantiated.
The commission stated that having diligently investigated the allegations and finding nothing against Governor Aregbesola, the allegations have been dismissed.
The Government, through the Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, reminded Nigerians that the ICPC’s final decision was a vindication of the repeated claims by the government that the group was one of individuals hired for the purpose of tarnishing its name.
ICPC, in the letter titled, Re: Petition against Osun State Governor- Mr. Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, for criminal and reckless mismanagement of Osun State funds since November 2010 to August 2015 held that all of the allegations brought forward have been looked into conclusively with no infraction substantiated.
According to ICPC, “The above case bordering on fraudulent diversion of N11.4 billion obtained through Osun SUKUK bond to private foreign account, money meant for building of schools regardless of the N13.9 billion intervention funds from. The Federal Government through UBEC for the purpose of building classrooms has been investigated conclusively with no infraction substantiated.
“An investigation of‎ the above allegations confirmed that Osun State government raised N11.344 billion from the issue of the SUKUK bond through Nigerian commercial banks. Investigation also revealed that after the issue of the bond, Osun State Government sought and got approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission and Shariah Board of Lotus Capital Ltd. To amend the schedule of schools to be constructed from 27 mixed schools to 11 high schools and to furnish the schools. The approval of SUKUK holders is still pending.
“Also contrary to the allegation that the SUKUK proceed was diverted to private foreign account, it was disbursed from Osun SUKUK company accounts with 13 Collecting Nigerian Commercial banks and used for payments of contractors awarded the contracts of construction and furnishing of 11 senior Secondary Schools in various part of Osun State.
“Furthermore, contrary to the allegation that N13.9 billion was disbursed by UBEC to Osun State, the total of N7,192,585,041.64 has been disbursed to Osun SUBEB for the period 2011-2015. This amount consists of Universal Basic Education matching grants, Special Education Funds, Teachers Professional Development Fund and state’s counterpart funds lodgement in line with UBE Act 2004.
“In view of the above paragraphs, investigations have not established an act contrary to the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 as none of the allegations were substantiated. Therefore the matter is hereby laid to rest”. The Commission said.
The Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, stating the Government’s position over the outcome of the ICPC’s investigations, said the Aregbesola government was never in doubt that the group was an illegal one which was only being used by traducers of the administration to diminish its many achievements.
“When the so-called group was everywhere making its highly irresponsible and frivolous allegations, we never minced words on the fact that it was an unregistered group of few disgruntled, hired individuals to tarnish the image of the government and seek to diminish the massive good governance initiatives that are the hallmarks of our interventions here.
“The ICPC’s dismissal of the frivolous allegations is a vindication of our earlier position on the group and other collaborators in their ignoble campaigns of calumny.
“The Aregbesola administration has instituted the most transparent, people friendly government in its six years and more and we do not intend to depart from this path. This is because we are convinced in this lies the brighter future of our dear state,” Okanlawon added.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Akinyinka Oluseyi Esho has enjoined all health workers across the state of  Osun to be up and doing in discharging their services towards saving one million souls in the state especially children under 5yrs old of malaria infection

This is contained in an address by the Permanent Secretary during the opening ceremony of a training programme for health workers.
Speaking earlier, the Programme Officer of Save One Million Lives (SOML), Mr. Gbenga Oyebode enjoined all health workers in the State of Osun to render quality health care services by educating mothers on the importance of the use of mosquito nets. Also speaking, the Director, Public Health, Dr. Adepoju Gbenga assured the trainees that, the state government will not relent in its efforts in ensuring that malaria infection is brought under control.

The Osun State House of Assembly has described as a rude shock, the death of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC) correspondent in the Assembly, Nathaniel Abimbola on Friday.

A lot of hullabaloo has been generated around Osun Debt Portfolio especially in the run-up to the 2014 gubernatorial election in the State when the incumbent Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, was contesting for the second term. The target of the opposition at the time was to use it, among others, to confuse Osun populace, sow seed of discord between the Government and the Electorate and rubbish all the pro-people policies and programmes of Aregbesola Government and of course, hijack Bola Ige house .
 

 
Yes, it is an inalienable right of the citizens to know their State debt profile, reasons for the loan / what the loan is meant for and exercise oversight function to monitor if the loan is justifiably utilised. However, this is not the case here. The opposition was merely hell-bent on using it to score cheap political point and still intend to so use it in the forthcoming campaigns and elections. Hence, they come up with contradictory figures of N413 billion, N400 billion and N360 billion etc as Osun debt “burden”.
This piece, is therefore, not meant for the irredeemable opposition. It targets only average and genuine Osun people who deserve to know the exact financial state of their State and whether or not their resources are judiciously and justifiably utilised.
Debt is that thing, such as money, being owed by one person to another with an obligation to pay back on agreed terms and time and usually with interest. In the contemporary world, loan taking is not a crime. It is taken to address challenges which ordinary regular income would not do. In the case of a government, it is usually taken for infrastructural development which requires huge resources that are not readily available but could be gathered over a period of time. When loan is taken for such a purpose, it is a positive one. On the other hand, when a loan is taken for a white elephant project or recurrent spending, it is negative.

This explains why the advanced and powerful nations in the world today are among the mostly indebted. According to CIA Factbook – 2013 Q1 Figure for instance, external debts of United States of America (USA); United Kingdom (UK); France; Germany; Japan; and China in US$ are 17,910,859,000,000; 9,219,000,000,000; 5,750,152,000,000; 5,546,869,000,000; 2,861,488,000,000; and 1,680,000,000,000 respectively – trillion in dollars.
Here in Nigeria, Lagos State was recently declared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the 6th largest economy in Africa. Its external debt as at 2015 was $1.087 billion and a debt profile of N368,409,682,283.25. Lagos, the most prosperous State in Nigeria, is Nigeria’s unrivalled, most indebted State. It is followed by Kaduna with $234million external debt; Cross River; Edo; Ogun and Osun; $131.469million; $123million; $109million; and $67million external debts respectively, according to Business News Report online, April 13, 2015.
Based on Debt Management Office release on 31st December, 2016, on States and Federal Governments External Debt Stock, Osun External Debt is N70,533,845.79. As at today, the real totality of Osun debt – external and internal – is estimated at N162.5 billion. This debt is to be repaid for a period of 20years. This figure should put to rest various fictional and controversial figures.
The debt profile of a Country/State, however, has to be assessed against its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) value. GDP is a broad measurement of a Country/State overall economic activity. It is the total value of goods and services produced by an entity in a given period of time, usually annually and quarterly.

Osun is populated by 4 million people. Its debt profile of N162.5 billion is to be repaid in 20years as DMO intervened to help States extend their loans life span. This implies that each Osun indigene is obliged to pay N2,031.25 per annum for a period of 20years to repay the debt. If this is divided per day, every Osun citizen will pay N5.56 (five naira, fifty-six kobo) daily for 20 years, which is not enough to buy a sachet water popularly called Pure Water!
Meanwhile, the debt incurred by Osun Government on behalf of its people was not incurred by the Aregbesola administration alone. Assuming it is, what has Aregbesola administration guaranteed by calling every citizen to pay Pure Water Price daily for 20 years?
security of lives and property as provided in Section 14 Subsection (1b), Chapter 11 of the 1999 Constitution as amended via procurement of 25 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) with 100 Patrol Vehicle for 24-hour security cover of the State 365 days a year. This has made the state highly risky to criminals and crimes to the extent that Inspector General of Police recently proclaimed Osun as the least crime-infested State in Nigeria.
Massive road networks construction and maintenance unprecedented in the history of the State. Today, Osogbo wears State Capital look with parks and gardens among others.
Building of State of Art Model Schools across the State with all modern facilities that will make teaching and learning conducive.
School-days feeding of over 253,000 elementary school pupils with nutritional meals – chicken, fish, beef, eggs and fruits.

Renovation and upgrading of Tertiary Health Facilities like State Hospitals with modern medical equipment; Construction of various Primary Health Centres across the Local Government Areas with medical equipment, solar and new motorised powered boreholes. Highly mobile ambulances for a swift response to emergency.
Various empowerment and social intervention programmes for youths, the aged, the physically challenged, farmers, artisans, small and middle scale businesses to business men and women, transporters (NURTW and RTEAN) via the cooperatives, etc.
If the State debt obligation is valued via achievements in all these areas, the debt is a blessing as it has enhanced the totality of our lives from infants to the aged. It has guaranteed a better life for the urban and rural people. It has made our State attractive to various investments and businesses. It has made Osun to be a State to reckon with in the Committee of States. It has made us proud. All these within a short time.
If the most indigent citizen of Osun is asked to conscientiously put her widow’s mite on these massive infrastructures and facilities, the least she will commit to put down on a daily basis is N20 which is almost 4 times of what an average citizen is obliged to pay on this debt profile for 20years. Only shallow minded elements and the unreasonable opposition will hold that the debt is an albatross.
Governor Aregbesola’s deep vision, solid plan and determination to produce positive results have laid a solid foundation in Osun for incoming generations to build on. Osun cannot afford to retrogress. Aregbesola achievements must be consolidated and built upon.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola on Thursday commended the Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola on what he termed a “fantastic efforts in infrastructural development” in the state.
Fashola was in the three states of Ondo, Ekiti, and Osun, to inspect some on-going Federal Government projects.
See Photos of the visit below:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola was on Thursday in Osun to inspect federal government road projects across the state just as he described the efforts of Governor Rauf Aregbesola on the projects as fantastic judging by the meagre finances of the state.
 

 
The inspection by the minister is part of the inspection of federal roads in the Ondo, Ekiti and Osun axis.
Federal road projects visited in Osun include: the 30 kilometre dualisation of Gbongan-Akoda road and Chief Adebisi Akande Trumpet Interchange Bridge, the 30.20 kilometer reconstruction and rehabilitation of Gbongan-Iwo-Oyo road.
The minister also assessed the condition of the Ifetedo-Ile Ife road as well as the Ilesa-Ife dual carriage way.
Fashola who paid a courtesy visit to the Osun Governor in his office shortly after the inspection stressed that the federal government is not in competition with any state governor concerning road projects, but that the federal just wants good roads delivered across the country.
The minister while commending the intervention of Aregbesola on the Gbongan to Akoda road and especially the Adebisi Akande Trumpet Interchange bridge stressed that the job will certainly be a masterpiece when completed.
Fashola says the visit is necessary in order to take stock of the state of federal roads and also to liase with necessary ministry officials to facilitate support for the drive of governor Aregbesola in terms of road networks.
The minister who was led round the project sights by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, state of Osun, Engr. Nurudeen Adeagbo also charged the contractors handling the road projects to ensure a timely completion of the job.
While at the sight of the ongoing projects, the former Lagos state governor also urged the handlers of the project to do a thorough job and keep to the specified standard given to them at the beginning of the project, stressing that standard should never be compromised for any reason whatsoever.
He said, “I want to sincerely appreciate the efforts of Ogbeni Aregbesola on his intervention on federal roads in the state despite the paucity of funds.
“He is not only attempting at doing the roads, I can see that the projects have been given to competent contractors who are doing a good job.
“Road construction is a continuous thing, we will see how we can partner with you and support your efforts. I assure you that the debts on these roads will be paid very soon, the President is serious about making this easy for you.
“I am so delighted seeing the kind of mutual relationship that exists between the federal controller of works and that of housing with government officials in Osun, these people should be seen as ambassadors because they are to assist in delivering good projects for Osun.
“Let me make it clear that the federal government is not in competition with any state governor concerning road projects, we are just concerned about the delivery of quality road projects across the country. He said.
Speaking on the issue of power and housing as it affects Osun, Fashola expressed gratitude to the Osun governor, saying Osun is one of the few states in the country that out land for the federal housing project.
He said such a project will go along way in generating employment opportunities for the youths of the state adding that the federal government has recently approved the extension of the Osogbo transmission station which according to him will boost energy supply in the country.
According to the minister, “I want to sincerely thank the government of Osun for being one of the few states that gave us land for housing project, this will go a long way in enhancing building as well as reducing the rate of unemployment in Osun.
“We are also responsible for the delivery of power to Nigerians, we have recently approved the extension of the Osogbo transmission station, this will also help in boosting energy supply all around the country.
“We have got the letter from the government of Osun seeking to provide power through involvement in a solar project, I want to assure you that we are fully in support of it and I have forwarded it to the minister of finance and we are only awaiting financial approval.
The minister then promise to see to the payment of procurement cost on the roads as the federal government is committed to redeeming the expenses incurred by the state government stressing that all stakeholders involved will put hands on deck in making sure that there is smooth relationship between the state government and the ministry of Power, Works and Housing.
In his response, Governor Rauf Aregbesola commended the passion of Fashola on the welfare of the Nigerian people as well as the development of their standard of living.
The governor while appreciating the efforts of the minister since assuming the seat, urged him to see to following the correct allignment of federal roads in the state, while expressing gratitude to the minister for extending the construction of the Ilesa-Osogbo road to the railway junction in the state capital.
He also charged the federal government through the minister to intensify efforts at rehabilitating the Ilie-Ikirun-Iragbiji Road, stressing that it will be a major break as it will go a long way in Opening a lot of agricultural communities in the area.
Ogbeni Aregbesola also used the minister’s visit to solicit for transformers from the federal government, noting that the state government had supported a lot of distribution centers and would need assistance from the federal government in that regard.
He also charged Fashola to expedite action on the federal housing estate in the state, saying the state deserves it as a matter of right.
“I am grateful for your commitment to the improvement of our nation and we urge you not to look back, I have absolute confidence in your capacity to deliver.
“Concerning most of the federal roads in Osun, I want you to please follow the actual allignment in the rehabilitation of these roads, for example, the Ilesa-Osogbo road is not just from the round about at Ilesa, but from “Eti oni”.
“I know there is paucity of funds, but will be very glad if you can embark on the Ilea-Ikirun-Iragbiji road, it will be a major break through for government as it will go a long way in opening a lot of farming communities in that area.
“As you go about doing your job around the country, in whatever capacity you feel you can assist us to better the lives and living conditions of our people in terms of the social amenities which your office oversees, please do,” Aregbesola stated.

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said local government elections will hold before December.
 

The governor dropped the hint in Osogbo, the state capital, at a workshop for information officers.
According to Aregbesola, this will spread good governance to the grassroots.
He challenged information officers to promote state activities, especially in the rural areas.
“What we have is a situation where most of our activities are under reported.

“You must work hard to become information specialists that we desire to provide good information to the public,” he said.
Aregbesola described the hues and cries following the state’s debt burden released by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) as “insignificant to the achievements of his administration”.
The governor said the financial credit incurred was judiciously utilised.
He added that the report should not be overblown as justifiable projects have been executed.
In their presentations, the resource persons, Sanya Oni of The Nation, Wale Adebisi of the Ola Oni Centre and a media aide, Sola Fasure, challenged information officers to be aware of new trends in their profession.
They urged them to be more vibrant and resourceful to achieve better results.

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described as mere exaggeration the alleged heavy burden of debt hanging on the neck of the state.
Aregbesola said the N165billion debt being touted as huge debt is nothing compared with the development that the state has witnessed in the last six years.
 

 
A statement by the Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, quoted the Governor as making the observation yesterday while declaring open a one day seminar organised for information officers in local government and local council development areas and area offices across the state.
Aregbesola said if those spreading the rumour of huge debt by the state understand what governance is all about with little that God has done through his government in the state, they would know that the debt is nothing to write home about.
He stated that if the so-called N165 billion debt is divided by the 4 million population of resident of the state, the burden each person out of this debt is N2,031.25 annually.
“To analyse this alleged 165billion debt, Osun is made up of 4million people. Four million residents are here in Osun and this debt anyway has been transformed largely to a bond organised by Federal Government that would last for twenty years.
“Let us now divide N165billion by 4 million people for 20 years. To help you mathematically. This will give  N2,031.25 as cost of N165billion debt to every resident of Osun per annum.
“Ironically, this debt that people are shouting and crying about summed up to N5:56K per person daily. This practically means that every Osun resident carries a burden of N5:56K per day.
“This government we are talking about that puts burden of N5:56K to every citizen of the state, thus feeds every pupil in the public school with N70 every school day.
“That government guarantees security for every citizen and the cost for security can not be determined. That government ensures that roads are increasingly getting better.
“That government provides access to rural areas. That government ensures that Osun school functions at the best form. That government guarantees water supply.
“That government guarantees sanitation. That government guarantees so much. That in practical economic terms, is far beyond what individual must have to give on a daily basis.”
Meanwhile, the governor has charged Information Officers at the local government level to see themselves as information specialists and adequately report government activities on the nooks and crannies of the state.
With the theme, “The Impact of a New Partnership in Information and Management for Sustainable Development in the State of Osun,” Aregbesola also charged the information officers to supply robust information about their communities at all times.
He said government has decided to put the seminar together because it will help develop their zeal and passion to write and make people understand and believe in them.
He explained that the major achievements of the present administration were recorded at the local areas, lamenting that it is worrisome that the progress made by the present government has not been adequately reported by information officers at the local government level.
He said, “Since the creation of the local councils about a year ago, we are proud to say that a lot of developments have taken place in this areas and they have witnessed more of government activities.
 
“As at today, we can beat our chest to the fact that a foundation for effective administration has been laid down by our government at the local government level, but it’s a pity that it is being under reported.
“We have put this together because we want people who are in charge of informing the people from the grassroots to be well equipped and have the prerequisite knowledge of what is being expected of them.
“We must hear from you, we want to know what is going on in your domain, how do you feel about people not hearing you? The truth is that if you don’t blow your trumpet nobody will blow it for you.
“Our major achievements have been done in the grassroots and local areas and this requires adequate reportage.”