Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun was on Tuesday told that his state has the capacity to grow enough rice to feed the entire South-West region of the country.
 

 
 
This was the submission of rice farming and livestock expert and Managing Director of Savanna Seeds and Livestock Limited, Mr. Olafare Richard, at a farmers’ meeting at Onilapa Farm in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area in Osun.
This was just as the Chairman of Committee on Resolution of Crisis Between Farmers and Herdsmen, Hon Mudathir Toogun, said his committee has handled and settled over 5,000 cases involving farmers and Fulani cattle rearers across the state in the last three years.
Olafare said with the available resources, the necessary equipment, the most yielding and quality seedling and the enabling environment, Osun can produce rice need of the whole South-West.
He revealed that Osun State has about 60 percent of the most productive rice seedlings that can be found in the whole country, lamenting that the best of the opportunities of this seed have not been realised.
Olafare therefore canvassed for a complete value-chain to improve rice production, saying with the growing trend of rice production in Osun, the state is capable to take of the rice of the geo-political zone.
He called on the government to further support rice farmers so as to improve their productivity.
“We need effective rice management in the state. At present, we have resource farmers.
Our framers need to be supported and once this is done, Osun can boast of mass rice production.
“We also need the support of the government to build the capacity of farmers because with government support, we are going to produce Osun rice,” Olafare said.
Toogun said after the Boko Haram insurgency, the next most volatile crisis in the country is the constant break in relationship between farmers and Hausa-Fulani herdsmen in all regions of the nation.
He commended the governor for sitting up a committee to interface with these two principal actors, making Osun the safest place in terms of security.
He stated that the foresight of the governor in setting of the committee prior to the outbreak of the farmer-herdsmen crisis in the state helped in no small measure to combat the crisis and ensure that both farmers and herdsmen live harmoniously and resolve any crisis that arises as quickly as possible.
“We are able to be on top of the situation in the state because of the pro-activeness of government in providing a platform for all actors to meet and dialogue among themselves.
“This has helped us a great deal and with this intercession, we have settled not less than 5,000 cases between 2014 and now.
“This is why Osun State is the most peaceful today when you think of farmers-herdsmen crises ravaging the country,” Togun said.
In his remarks, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola called for mass participation in agriculture as the only way to rescue the nation from her present socio-economic challenges.
He said the economic situation in the country has called for the need to improve on the nation’s agricultural capacity, saying all hands must be on deck to promote farming.
Lamenting on the state of the nation’s economy, Governor Aregbesola said it has become imperative for all to do the needful in promoting agriculture.
Aregbesola said his government was ready to support and collaborate with any individual or group that shows interest in farming.
According to him, with the present economic reality, it has become imperative to produce what we consume because failure to do so, we will remain dependent.
“Any nation that cannot feed itself will continue to be enslaved. It is time to embrace agriculture and take our minds from the money coming from the crude oil as the commodity can no longer sustain our economy”, he added.
Expressing the readiness of his administration towards the realisation of an improved farming practices in the state, Governor Aregbesola said efforts continue to be geared up in meeting the state objectives on agriculture sector.
He called on the rice farmers to double efforts at increasing their productivity, saying “Osun has the capacity to produce 20 tones of rice per hectare”.
Governor Aregbesola therefore called on the residents in the state to support his government with prompt tax payment.

The governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday attended an economic summit of the governors of the South-West in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital.
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Muslims all over the country led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, gathered in Osogbo, Osun capital on Sunday to organize a special prayer for the nation.
They also extended the prayers to President Muhammadu Buhari.
This was as the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, observed that economy and abject poverty, rather than religion is the major springboard of the Boko Haram terrorism.
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Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme-Technology is a 6-month rolling programme inaugurated on the 24^th day of April, 2011 by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the State of Osun Nigeria. This training programme in collaboration with a private organization is designed to train 5,000 participants (OYES cadets) in various aspect of applied technology. The government hopes to train and empower 20,000 participants in 2 years.
The programme has 10 training centres evenly spread across the state and covers intensive training on areas such as; Basics of Computer system , Computer Software Application, Computer Hardware, Computer Networking, Mobile Phone Software, Basic Electronics, Mobile Phone Hardware, and Entrepreneurship Studies.
At the completion of this training, successful trainees have various engagement opportunities such as; direct employment in private organizations (including the training partner), employment into a various governmental initiatives as well as opportunities to be self-employed through the provision of initial start-up capital by the government.

President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has commended governor of the state of Osun towards his commitment to religious tolerance in the state.
 

 
The Sultan gave the commendation while on a courtesy visit to the governor at the State House, Osogbo shortly before leading a national prayer for our Nation for peace, security, Stability and development, organized in honour of Deputy President General (South) Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola.
The leader of the Muslims also enjoined various religious groups across the country to make prayer a daily routine as the country needs spiritual solutions to its peculiar challenges.
This was as the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, observed that economy and abject poverty, rather than religion is the major springboard of the Boko Haram terrorism.
During the Sultan’s courtesy call on the Governor, the Sultan commended Aregbesola for his commitment to the development of humanity regardless of socio-economic, political and religious differences. He said the state under the leadership Aregbesola has demonstrated high sense of fairness to religious organisations in the state.
He noted that the Governor has extremely demonstrated to the world the sterling quality expected from whoever holds the office of the Governor. The Sultan said, “I must acknowledge your commitment in promoting unity among the various religious organisations in the state as this is in line with our cardinal objective of ensuring a peaceful nation.
The Sultan stated that his visit makes the 6th time of being in Osun and we are here in large number as one family under the umbrella of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs which is the apex body for muslims in Nigeria to further register our determination to unity, peace and tranquillity of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Meanwhile Governor Aregbesola averred that it must sadden every Muslim to hear that a Muslim can kill himself or herself or accept a suicide mission for the paltry some of N200.
He argued that economy rather than religion is at the heart of insurgency in the northern part of the country.
He therefore called on muslim leaders to undertake the task of how to eradicate poverty in the land in other that terrorism could be uprooted once and for all.
 

 
…..As Gov tasks Muslims to lead war on poverty eradication
Muslims all over the country led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, gathered in Osogbo, Osun capital on Sunday to organize a special prayer for the nation.
They also extended the prayers to President Muhammadu Buhari.
This was as the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, observed that economy and abject poverty, rather than religion is the major springboard of the Boko Haram terrorism.
Tagged “prayer for our Nation for peace, security, Stability and development” was organised in honour of Deputy President General (South) Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola.
The Sultan, while stressing the need to be fervent in prayer in this austere times, also called for the unity of the country and of the entire Muslim Ummah for the country to get out of the current economic downturn.
The leader of the Muslims also enjoined various religious groups across the country to make prayer a daily routine as the country needs spiritual solutions to its peculiar challenges.
Earlier during his courtesy call on the Governor, the Sultan had commended Aregbesola for his commitment to the development of humanity regardless of socio-economic, political and religious differences.
He said the state under the leadership Aregbesola has demonstrated high sense of fairness to religious organisations in the state.
He noted that the Governor has extremely demonstrated to the world the sterling quality expected from whoever holds the office of the Governor.
The Sultan said, “I must acknowledge your commitment in promoting unity among the various religious organisations in the state as this is in line with our cardinal objective of ensuring a peaceful nation.
“We have not in any way closed our eyes to your administration’s determination in making things happen even in the face of the present realities of the nation’s economy.
“We are glad that you are using your position to effect change in promoting and propagating unity in the state and beyond”, he said.
This visit makes the 6th time of being in Osun and we are here in large number as one family under the umbrella of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs which is the apex body for muslims in Nigeria to further register our determination to unity, peace and tranquillity of Nigeria and Nigerians.
“The primary objective of the Council is to ensure peace, unity and stability not only among muslims but also within other religious organisations.
“So, as we are working assiduously to solidify the unity and peaceful coexistence between and among the various religious organisations in the country, we are equally determined to portray to the world that the religion of Islam connotes peace and unity.”
The Sultan stressed the need for Muslims across the country to continue to demonstrate leadership by example as exemplified by the Prophets.
Governor Aregbesola averred that it must sadden every Muslim to hear that a Muslim can kill himself or herself or accept a suicide mission for the paltry some of N200.
He argued that economy rather than religion is at the heart of insurgency in the northern part of the country.
He therefore called on muslim leaders to undertake the task of how to eradicate poverty in the land in other that terrorism could be uprooted once and for all.
“It is disappointing to hear that muslims are being asked to kill for paltry sum as low as N200.
“What is the problem with us muslims. Why is poverty afflicting us so terribly that we can now accept just any amount to kill ourselves.
“This should by now pose a serious challenge to us. And we must set up an organisation and saddle it with the responsibility of how to eradicate this grinding poverty.
“Unless we are not worried by the spate of this economic condition, by now we must develop capacity and strategy to end the poverty.
“Let the truth be told: Religion is not the cause of Boko Haram insurgency but extreme poverty is the root cause. Let us create an organisation to to tackle and eradicate poverty now. This is a challenge to the entire Muslim Ummah,” Aregbesola said.
In his own remarks, the Secretary-General of the NSCIA, Professor Isiaq Oloyede, said Islam can live with any other religions but Islam abhours injustice.
Oloyede said Aregbesola understands this very well that Islam commands everyone, particularly a leader of people to do justice to all manners of subjects irrespective of their religions.
The NSCIA scribe stated that he admires Aregbesola and always associates with his leadership style not because the governor is a Muslim like himself but because he upholds the principle of fairness and justice to all, Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
According to him, the progress and development being made in the state by the governor is to the fact that he is conducting the affairs of the state justly and fairly.
“Islam can live with disbelief; Islam cannot live with injustice. Islam enjoins leaders to be just to all manners of individuals, groups or religious organisations.
“Some people may not agree with the way he gives attention to the three religions. But I say it boldly that he is dispensing justice according to the dictates of Islam.
“This is why there is peace, progress and development in the state. The basis of all this is justice. And that I why I always love to associate with whatever he is doing.”
In his opening remark, the former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Musliu Smith, the prayer offered came at the most appropriate time given the present situation the country is in.
Smith said every Nigerian knows that the nation is going through serious political, economic and security crisis, an unusual situation which also calls for an unusual solution, which is the special prayer to Allah to rescue the ship of the nation from sinking.
He averred that with constant and fervent prayers the efforts and labours of the leaders and the led would not end in vain.
He said: “There is no disputing the fact that our dear nation, considering the state for quite a while now, requires the genuine regular prayer efforts of all to the Almighty so that the labour of our leaders and the led will in no distant future translate into a peaceful, stable and prosperous country benefiting all and sundry.”

Yoruba tradition has it that Ile-Ife in the State of Osun is where Olodumare started the creation of the world. It represents the beginning of life, the birthplace of civilization, the embodiment of all that we see or feel. Osun is the ancestral home of the Yoruba Race whether home or abroad. It is the central and most important location of this morally rich, culturally sound and highly sophisticated race in the world. It represents the spiritual, the physical and the technological.
Vision is the pathway and the guiding light into the future. This was what the founding fathers and agitators for the creation of a state to be named ‘’ Osun ‘’ had in mind and did everything possible to realise the vision. They weathered opposition and confronted obstacles for the  generation past, present and unborn.

Oduduwa Statue

Ori Olokun Statue

The struggle for the creation of Osun started as early as 1950. At that time, the present senatorial districts namely Osun West, Central and part of Osun East were subordinate towns under the administration of Ibadan District Native Authority but in there determination to get independence, traditional rulers and citizens of Osun Area submitted a petition to the British Colonial Administration in Nigeria demanding autonomy for Osun Division, with Osogbo proposed as the headquarters
To realise their aim, they pursued this agenda further in 1951, when a Commission Of Inquiry was set up the Colonialists, headed by H.L Butcher primarily saddled with investigating the crisis in Ibadan District Native Authority between Chief Salami Agbaje and Olubadan-in-Council. At this commission, named H.L Butcher Commission of Inquiry, a representation was made by people of Osun Area reiterating their resolve for autonomy. This demand was granted on March 17^th 1951, thus recommending autonomy for Osun District Towns on April 1^st 1951.
The resilience and doggedness of the founding fathers and crusaders for the creation of Osun was rewarded on August 27^th 1991, when the administration of Gen Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida created nine states with Osun created out of Oyo State with Osogbo as the capital. It was a dream fulfilled and hope achieved.
Osun emboldens the history of a people whose quest for freedom, self-actualisation, determination and hope for a better tomorrow fought and won the battle for its creation. It was a dream fulfilled and hope achieved.