The governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesoal was yesterday in Ile-Ife to attend the 2017 edition of the South-West conference of the Nigerian political scientists association.
Aregbesola called on political scientists in the country to be more focused on taking assertive positions on issues of national interest as a means of contributing to national development.
He described politics as a primal activity which any society that wants development and progress must do everything possible to get right.
The Governor who said politics is central to everybody who dwells in a community also charged the political scientists to make their voices heard loud and clear by the leaders of the people.
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The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that all hands must be on deck to ensure that democracy offers the best opportunity for governance and nation building.
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The Governor, at the 2017 South-West conference of the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) held at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife stated that leaders are not just elected to massage their ego or put in a position of dominance over other competitors for power‎, but for power to exercise responsibility for the development of the people.
Aregbesola called on political scientists in the country to be more focused on taking assertive positions on issues of national interest as a means of contributing to national development.
He described politics as a primal activity which any society that wants development and progress must do everything possible to get right.
The Governor who said politics is central to everybody who dwells in a community also charged the political scientists to make their voices heard loud and clear by the leaders of the people.
Speaking further at the conference which has as its theme: “Democracy, Nation-Building and National Development in Nigeria” the governor asserted that political science researches should not just be done for the purpose of gaining promotion alone but should be made to develop the society or else such research is useless.
On the relationship which should exist between the academic environment and the society, he stressed that the major challenge for Nigerian universities is the need to create a mutual relationship with the larger society so that the people can benefit.
The Governor noted that democracy remains the best and offers the best form of governance if supported and backed with the right ingredients especially by the academic environment.
According to the Governor, “Political science research findings should be made public, not just for obtaining promotion and professorial chairs. Any academic discipline must be relevant and responsible to the society.
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“In the developed world, progress comes from application of knowledge in science and technology, administration and other academic disciplines.
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“You should also find a way for robust intercourse between town and gown. Political scientists should get more involved in politics and administration in order to enrich their knowledge base. Sound theory added to sound practice equals sound knowledge.
“On the other hand, well-practised politicians should be appointed as faculties in political science departments to be able to share their experience through teaching, research, seminars and publications”.
In his remarks, the National leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, said a nation that desires progress must have a visionary leader and can translate such vision into concrete achievement.
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Asiwaju, who was represented by Professor Adebayo Williams, argued that a leader, who has no objective, could not be a strategic leader.
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He lamented that majority of political leaders focused more on how to get power and control government rather than what they can do with power to transform human lives.
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He advised politicians to focus more on the development of the country and the promotion of well-being of the people of the country.
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“A leader of the people must have a coherent vision in his mind and work assiduously to translate it in concrete things.
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“There can’t be strategic leadership where conscious objective is lacking. Conscious objective and coherent vision are some of the ingredients of nation-building.
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“Most often time, leadership here is short-sighted, focusing more on power and control of power and government rather than on result-oriented programmes,” Tinubu said.‎
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In his lecture entitled: “Democracy, Nation-building and Development in Nigeria,” the keynote speaker,who is a former Vice Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Professor Dipo Kolawole, said Nigeria has been suffering from poor leadership since independence.
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Prof. Kolawole argued that democracy will end in failure if there are no proper instrument monitoring and evaluation.
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He averred that democracy still remains the best form of government anywhere it is being practised in the word, but advised that politics of it must be played according to the laid down rules for there to be peace, progress and development.
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“Leadership has been the problem of this country since independence. We have been suffering from underdevelopment of leadership.
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“There is no gainsaying the fact that democracy still remains the best form of government.
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“But it cannot be left alone on its own without the proper instrument of monitoring and evaluation. And unless this is done, there is bound to be chaos and anarchy,” the university don said.

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was on an evening tour of several projects under construction in the state, when he ran into a bush fire raging through a community.

The Governor swiftly put a call through to the fire service team who moved into action to put out the fire and restore calm to the community

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At the inception of the present government in the state of Osun in November 2010, it undertook a comprehensive review of its school feeding programme inherited from the previous administration and came up with an overhauled and rebranded programme that was officially launched on 30th April, 2012.
The Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme now known as O-MEALS is the template upon which the President Muhammudu Buhari’s Federal Government has initiated its own national school feeding programme.
However, these ten (10) facts about the state of Osun’s school feeding programme will completely amaze you.

1. The O’Meals programme currently feeds 254,000 school children in the state of Osun, the longest running in the country.
2. O’Meals currently employs 3,007 caterers, and indirectly employs 7,057 people.
3. 12.7million naira is spent daily to feed all school children for 200 school days in a year. 12billion naira has been spent so far since 2012.
4. 900 cocoyam farmers, 700 small poultry farmers, 310 catfish farmers, 63 cow markets currently benefit from the O’Meals initiative.
5. School enrollment increased from 155,318 pupils at inception to 252,739, representing a 62% increment in enrollment.
6. 8,400 crates of eggs are consumed weekly, 336,000 crates are consumed annually and 1,344,000 crates of eggs have been consumed in four years.
7. 10 metric tonnes of fish is consumed weekly; 400 tonnes of fish is consumed annually, while 1,600 metric tonnes of fish have been consumed by pupils in 4 years.
8. 35 heads of cows are slaughtered for consumption per week, 1,400 heads of cows are slaughtered for consumption annually, while 5,600 heads of cows have been slaughtered for consumption in 4 years.
9. 15,000 birds are consumed per week, and 600,000 birds are consumed annually by the pupils. 2,400,000 birds have been consumed in 4 years.
10. 0’Meals is the longest running Government scheme of its kind in Nigeria, So far , 202,234,400 hot meals have been served in the last four years.

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and his Oyo State counterpart, Abiola Ajimobi have joined other prominent Nigerians to felicitate with the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, as he clocks 60 on Wednesday 8 March.
 

 
Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, described Osinbajo as a judicial revolutionary whose contributions to the administration of justice have changed the face of the judiciary in Nigeria.
He said when the accounts of law reforms in Nigeria are given, Osinbajo’s robust contributions would continue to be a source of reference.
Describing him as one prominent promoter of selfless leadership, Aregbesola said Osinbajo’s trajectory of service to the people has seen him taking up worthy causes for no personal gains as long as they serve humanity well.
“In public and personal lives, Prof Osinbajo has demonstrated that the most worthy service is that carried out for the good of fellow human beings even for no personal gains and comfort,” Aregbesola noted.
Recalling his roles in the pioneering efforts of Lagos State in law reforms, the Osun Governor, who served along Osinbajo when the later was the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, said the face of Judiciary did not remain the same after eight years of Osinbajo’s intensive reforms as the Chief Law Officer.
“Today, it is gratifying to note that his pioneering efforts in that sector has influenced in no small dimension, similar reforms in other parts of the country. This is one crucial aspect of our national life as a people where the acting President has had tremendous impact.
He said the Vice President has demonstrated that he is a man of the people, always identifying with the grassroots across the country.
The statement read further, “On this occasion of your birthday, I join you and your immediate and political families in celebrating the abundant grace of God on your life.
“Your life has been an eventful one dotted by numerous achievements and accomplishments.
“Nigeria has benefited immensely from your fountain of knowledge, wealth of experience, and leadership acumen.
“The remarkable impact you have made in all spheres of human endeavour remains a reference point.”
“You are indeed a cerebral academic per excellence, a judicial revolutionary; stabilising force; a bridge-builder, an embodiment of and astute observer of the rule of law.
“This is so that you can continue to make significant contributions to the overall development of our country, Nigeria in general.
“On behalf of the government and the people of Osun, I congratulate you on the attainment of this age.”
Also, Ajimobi, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Yomi Layinka, said the Acting President’s intellectual disposition to governance as well as his passion for the well-being of Nigerians was worthy of emulation.
“He has, since assumption of office, demonstrated his readiness to work assiduously with President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring the socio-economic transformation of Nigeria through well-thought-out policies and programmes.
“His unflinching support for the president’s anti-corruption fight has also helped in sanitizing the polity and ensuring judicious utilization of the available resources for the betterment of the generality of Nigerians,’’ he said.
Ajimobi also commended his several visits to the Niger Delta region and constant dialogues with the militants which, he said, had led to the restoration of peace to the restive region and the attendant rise in oil exploration activities and improvement in the nation’s economy.
“Even though President Buhari is away in the United Kingdom on vacation, Prof. Osinbajo has risen to the occasion, while still maintaining regular contact with his boss in the running of the nation’s affairs,’’ the governor said.
While congratulating Osinbajo on joining the sexagenarian club, Ajimobi urged him not to rest on his laurel but to continue joining forces with the President in entrenching an egalitarian society that would be the pride of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Yemi Osinbajo was born into the family of Opeoluwa Osinbajo on 8 March 1957, at Creek Hospital, Lagos. Osinbajo is married to Dolapo (née Soyode) Osinbajo, a granddaughter of Obafemi Awolowo.
Yemi Osinbajo was educated at Corona primary School, in Lagos. Between 1969–1975, he attended Igbobi College Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. From 1975–1978, he studied for his undergraduate degree in Law at the University of Lagos, where he was awarded a LLB Law degree. From 1979–1980 he attended Nigerian Law School. In 1981, he was awarded a Master of Laws after attending the London School of Economics.
From 1979–1980, Osinbajo served the compulsory one year youth services as a legal officer with Bendel Development and Planning Authority (BDPA), Bendel state.
In 1981, he was employed as a law lecturer at the University of Lagos, Nigeria. From 1983 to 1986, he was Senior lecturer of Law at the University of Lagos. From 1988 to 1992, he was an Adviser (legal advice and litigation) to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola.
From 1997 to 1999 he was made Professor of Law and Head of Department of Public Law, University of Lagos. From 1999 to 2007, Osinbajo was Member of Cabinet, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, also Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.
From 2007 to 2013 Osinbajo was once again employed as a Professor of Law, Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos. In 2007, Osinbajo was made Senior Partner, Simmons Cooper Partners (Barristers and Solicitors), Nigeria. Osinbajo was also a Senior lecturer at the Lagos State University

The governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday attended the 2017 Memorial lecture of Cheif Obafemi Awolowo.
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Five years after his death, major stakeholders in the nation’s justice administration at the weekend remembered one of the greatest Justices of Supreme Court, Justice Kayode Eso at a book launch in Lagos. Justice Eso, who died in 2012, was eulogized by the crème la de crème in justice administration who had thronged Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, venue of the launch of a book in his honour.
 

 
The book entitled ‘Justice Kayode Eso: Beacon of Judicial Activism” was authored by by four lawyers-Dauda Ajadosu, Ayodele Temitope Justice, Arigbabuwo Lateef and Odunlami Oluwaseun and supported by a journalist, Mr. Rranti Thomas.
At the book launch were the Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, a former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Adesola George Oguntade, the late Eso’s widow, Helen Aina, Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, represented by Prince Adegboyega Ogunwusi, a former Ekiti state governor and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Engineer Segun Oni, Ekiti state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, Ogun state Justice Commissioner and Attorney- General, Dr. Olumide Ayeni, Mr. Stephen Kola-Balogun, Venerable Ladipo, Mrs.Bunmi Eso-Williams, Mr. Mike Igini, Commodore A. C. Unonome and Brigadier-General Yusuf Shalangwa, among others. Aregbesola and Oguntade described the late Justice Kayode Eso as a courageous and fearless jurist whose life was dedicated to the rule of law.
The duo while speaking at the presentation and launch of the book- “Justice Kayode Eso: Beacon of Judicial Activism” urged judges to remain steadfast and courageous in carrying out their functions.
For instance, Aregbesola, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Mrs Titilayo Laoye Tomori described Justice Eso as a quintessential legal intellectual who brought much erudition and elevated language to the service of law without losing the greater objective of justice. Aregbesola said: “Justice Eso belonged to the rarest breed of legal minds whose life and times was dedicated to law as the instrument in service of justice for the rich and the poor, the weak and the strong.
“The late jurist did not just pass through the land but left giant legal landmarks and shot into national prominence when he successfully defended black miners in tin mines of Jos who protested against colonial authorities.
“At the western Nigerian judiciary, he gave landmark judgements most notable of which was the trial of Prof. Wole Soyinka for bringing gun into the television studio of Western Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation.
He discharged and acquitted the Nobel Laureate. This was a courageous decision that earned him ‘banishment’ to Akure as a punitive measure. “He also gave the dissenting judgement on the 1979 presidential election petition.
Though the Supreme Court with a verdict of 6-1 resolved the petition in favour of Alhaji Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Justice Eso ruled in favour of Chief Obafemi Awolowo of the Unity Party of Nigeria. “Justice Eso delivered a total of 463 judgements, 390 of which were concurring judgements, 69 lead judgements and 4 dissenting judgements.”
Oguntade, who doubled as the chairman of the occasion, noted that the late jurist had constantly demonstrated that the essence of judicial function was to continuously develop and strengthen the law and its resultant effect.
He said: “This he was able to achieve by intelligibly applying provisions of the law to scenarios not fully envisaged by drafters of the law and arriving at what many soon after referred to as ‘locus classicus.’ Justice Oguntade also revealed that the judgements of the late Justice Kayode Eso have been very helpful to him in his career on the Bench.
“I remember being labelled ‘Mr. Dissenter’ by lawyers and jurists alike on the positions I took in arriving at some of my decisions on the Bench.
The ability to channel my reasoning in arriving at some of those decisions then was brewed from examples already laid by the late Hon. Justice Kayode Eso.”
The book reviewer, Prof. Ademola Popoola, the Dean of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife, said the publication was done with the aim of celebrating the everlasting integrity of Justice Eso, describing him as a crusader for human dignity and the rule of law and also praised him for “his exceptional brilliance of the law.”