Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday said that, because of the massive infrastructural projects going on across the state, the citizenry have had it difficult to believe that the nation in general and the state in particular, is undergoing economic hardship.
 

 
This was as the governor warned that the country must discourage the penchant and preference for foreign goods among Nigerians if it must sail through the current economic crisis. Aregbesola stated this when he played host to the team of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Osogbo led by its new General Manager, Mrs Omowumi Omidiji.
 
The Governor said, because of the huge work his administration has undertaken in the state, nobody believes that the state is going through economic crisis like it is the case with other states of the federation and the Federal Government.
 
According to the Governor, people of the state failed to appreciate the dire economic condition of the state owing to the fact that everyday work is going on in every nook and crannies of the state.
 
“The difficulty we are experiencing is almost universal; it is national. And no sub-set of the federation is exempted from this economic crisis. Thus, as a state, we are equally challenged. But because of the massive work we embark on in this state, it is difficult for the people to believe that we are going through serious challenges.”
 
“The on-going work they see every day in their vicinity thus makes it difficult for the people to appreciate the seriousness of our economic challenges. The truth is that we are challenged economically,” Aregbesola said.
 
The Governor said the nation must learn a great lesson in what the country is going through now so as to forestall re-occurrence of similar experience in the future. He averred that with the disappointment in oil, the best elixir in terms of diversification is agriculture.
 
According to him, the citizens of the country, the affluent few in particular and the poor majority, must drastically reduce their consumption of foreign goods and patronage of foreign services. He said that God has been kind to the nation by giving it the best of weather, which makes agriculture practicable in all
 
Thus, as a state, we are equally challenged. But because of the massive work we embark on in this state, it is difficult for the people to believe that we are going through serious challenges.”
 
“The on-going work they see every day in their vicinity thus makes it difficult for the people to appreciate the seriousness of our economic challenges. The truth is that we are challenged economically,” Aregbesola said.
 
The Governor said the nation must learn a great lesson in what the country is going through now so as to forestall re-occurrence of similar experience in the future. He averred that with the disappointment in oil, the best elixir in terms of diversification is agriculture.
 
According to him, the citizens of the country, the affluent few in particular and the poor majority, must drastically reduce their consumption of foreign goods and patronage of foreign services. He said that God has been kind to the nation by giving it the best of weather, which makes agriculture practicable in all geo-political zones of the country round the year.
 
He noted that whatever can be produced locally should be the staple foods, saying as a nation, Nigeria should depend on what her soil and climate can best produce. He said if the teeming population of the country refrain from their heavy reliance on foreign merchandise, agriculture will serve as a better alternative to oil as the mainstay of the nation’s economy.
 
He stated that the country has the population and the market to absorb whatever mass production of good it can embark on locally. He however warned that if the market continues to be saturated with 75 percent of foreign goods, the poverty trend in the country may continue for a very long time.
 
Governor Aregbesola held that the nation is destined for greatness, saying the day its local market is targeted to absorb its locally produced goods is the day the country crosses over to its long overdue greatness. “We need to change our consumption pattern, domesticate and indigenise our consumption.
 
We must reduce our penchant for foreign goods and services to the barest minimum and increase our local production and services.” “By this, we would have learnt our lessons and come out better from this economic crisis. But if we refuse to learn any lesson and we return to our reckless past, it would be sad.
 
Generations unborn will not forgive us.” “Whatever we can produce locally should be our staple food. We should depend on what our soil and climate can support and produce such crops in commercial quantity.” “If we do this, we are on the path to self-dependency and happiness but if we continue our dependency on foreign things, we are on the path of continued poverty and dependency.”
 
“We must assume our leadership in the global space by first changing our attitude to life; change our orientation and as well increase our production activities.” “If we do this, we are on the path of greatness. Unless we quickly do this, we may remain undeveloped for a very long time,” Aregbesola concluded.

Governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said that he has not received a salary since he assumed office in November 2010.
 

Aregbesola made the comment on Sunday, December 11, during the launch of Oodua FM in Ile-Ife.
“When people complain about our financial state, I begin to wonder if they think I am spending people’s money. Some of you do not know that I have not received any salary since I became governor of Osun state, why will I take that of others,” he said according to Daily Post.
“Osun State has been in deep financial crisis for a long while and has been unable to pay salaries of workers.
“The minority leader of Osun state House of Assembly wrote a post on Facebook complaining that I have not paid them. We don’t have the money; even the minority leader does not have a car.
“The poor financial condition of the state has also made it impossible to live up to its obligations to the Ladoke Akintola University, Ogbomosho, which it jointly funds with Oyo State,” he added.
Aregbesola also explained that the economic crisis in the state had prevented him from appointing commissioners.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has urged Muslims to pray for the nation as they mark the Eid-Maulud.
A statement by his Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said the current challenges were for the people to be dutiful.
The governor, who promised that the economic hardship would soon be over, said he would not abandon any project at the end of his tenure.

Also, the Senator representing Abia Central, Theodore Orji, urged Muslims to use the celebration to pray and re-establish a new country.
Meanwhile, the Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Prof. Ishaq Akintola, has urged the Federal Government to set all innocent captives free to mark the occasion.
He also commended the government for declaring a public holiday to mark Eid-el-Maulud.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has placed on the shoulders of the media, the urgent need to use their platforms to educate Nigerians on the implications of the economic situations in the country with a view to getting the understandings of all and sundry.
 

 
 
Aregbesola specifically said radio broadcasters have great roles to play in doing this and further promoting the peace of the society by discouraging hate messages and promoting those that enhance communal peace and stability.
The Governor stated these at the official commissioning of Oodua FM, established by a former member of the House of Representatives and an actor, Hon Rotimi Makinde in Ile-Ife Sunday evening.
He said the disturbing war carnage scenes beamed into homes daily by foreign channels should be enough lesson for all that promoting hate messages is inimical to peace.He asked journalists to dedicate themselves to peace and do away with divisive in discharging their duties.
Aregbesola said radio stations must at this time of hardship do all they could to support the government’s efforts in promoting innovative and technology-based ideas to move the nation forward.
He said, “My advise for the owner and the entire management of this station is to use the medium wisely to promote peaceful coexistence among the people in Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.
“Please do not politicise your activities at this radio station. Let this establishment be for the promotion of the highest values and ethos of Yoruba people.
“Strive to let this station be for the promotion of peace, harmony, love and affection among Nigerians especially Yoruba people.
“Shun any divisive tendency and use this station for educational purpose. Use it to promote our culture and balanced entertainment.
“Also, use this station to promote industry, productivity and efficiency as these, will go a long way in rescuing our society from the current recession we are all in.”
He condemned in its entirety the manner in which some broadcast media houses have been bastardizing the profession on self-serving interests, saying if not that his government’s programs and policies resonate with the people, an unnamed Osun-based radio station would have thrown the state into confusion through its hate messages.
He said “the time has come for journalists to be at the forefront of nation building and do away with subjectivity, favourism and personal emotions.”
Commending the owner of Oodua FM, Aregbesola disclosed that with the establishment of the new station, Osun is now a host to four private radio stations.
He called on the management of the station to always employ precautionary measures in all its activities and not wait until being sanctioned by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) before being regulated.
Aregbesola further urged the authority of the station not to allow itself to be hijacked by the disgruntled politicians who according to him, derive pleasures from self-serving interests.
“The management is further urged to stick to the government’s efforts at advancing innovative, technological and inventive knowledge that have been the hallmarks of our government”, he stressed.
Lamenting on the depleting state of the nation’s economy, Aregbesola hinted media practitioners to design programmes that would quicken the recovery of the nation’s values and socio-economic and democratic loses.
He said media should endeavour in sensitizing public on the current economic predicaments through educative and informative programmes capable of orientating the general public on the need to be productive and take-off their minds from crude oil revenues that have crashed.
Earlier in his welcome address, the owner, Hon. Rotimi Makinde, said the station would promote unity, love, peace and harmony of Nigerian people.
He added, “Oodua FM is open to all to give the general public the required quality broadcasting and let me assure the National Broadcasting Commission that we shall do all our best to conform with the rules and regulations as spelt out by the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.
The Governor later made his first broadcast on the station as he wished the people of the state well with the coming of Oodua FM during a live broadcast at the station’s studio.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Ondo State Governor-elect Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar have felicitated with Muslims on the occasion of the Maulud Nabbiy.
 

 
They urged Muslims to have strong conviction that the economic hardship and other challenges facing the country would soon be tackled.
Aregbesola, in a statement issued yesterday by his Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said it was only with “this conviction that the energy of all and sundry could be channelled” for the country’s good.
He urged them to endure for the good of the country and be prayerful.
He admonished Muslims to emulate the humility, good neighbourliness, understanding and love exemplified by the life of Prophet Muhammad.
Ahmed, in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, called on Muslims to emulate the virtues of Prophet Muhammed, which earned him the accolades of being an exemplary character to mankind.
“Prophet Muhammad signifies peace, love and humility, which are essential ingredients for a harmonious and progressive society. As we celebrate this noble prophet of Allah, I call on all and sundry, regardless of religious persuasions, to show love to one another and be ambassadors of peace and care for all,” the governor said.
Tambuwal urged Nigerians to pray for the country to overcome its difficulties.
The governor spoke at the celebration of the Eid-el-Maulud organised by the State Chapter of the Shababul Qadiriya Movement.
Tambuwal, who was represented by the Religious Affairs Commissioner, Alhaji Mani Katami, said: “Such prayers should be intensified by all Nigerians, irrespective of any religious, political or ethnic differences.
“With prayers, Nigeria will soon overcome all her seemingly formidable challenges, including security and economic ones.”
Ortom urged the Muslim faithful to use the Eid-El Maulud holiday to pray for sustained peace and economic recovery.
Ortom said meaningful grow could only take place in a peaceful atmosphere, stressing the need for a harmonious relationship between the Muslim faithful and the people of other faiths.
He said his administration remained committed to transparency and accountability as the pillars of good governance.
Akeredolu enjoined Muslims to remain steadfast in their prayers for Nigeria and Ondo State.
In a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Yemi Olowolabi, the governor-elect, while wishing all Muslims a joyful and peaceful celebration,  advised them to reflect on the timeless teachings of Prophet Mohammed on tolerance, peaceful coexistence, honesty, sacrifice and abhorrence of man’s inhumanity to man.
The governor-elect thanked Islamic leaders for their relentless prayers for peace during the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State and urged them not to waiver in their prayers, “especially at this crucial time that Nigeria is experiencing a major economic downturn”.
Obaseki, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. John Mayaki, said: “I wish all our Muslims brothers and sisters a happy Eid-El-Maulud and I thank the Muslim community in Edo State for their support and commitment towards a better Edo.”
The governor urged the faithful to use the period to pray for the nation’s peace and prosperity, embrace love, sacrifice, tolerance and peaceful coexistence in Edo and Nigeria.
Atiku Abubakar urged Muslims to redouble their commitment to the promotion of tolerance, love and peaceful coexistence, which, he said, were among the shining virtues of the Prophet Muhammad.
The former vice president noted that the best public relations Muslims could do for Islam “is to follow the exemplary conduct of Prophet Muhammad”.
According to him, throughout his life, Prophet Muhammad never told his followers to molest people, who were different or harm innocent people without provocation, adding that he was constantly reminding Muslims that there was no compulsion in religion.
The Turakin Adamawa appealed to Muslims to be more vigilant to avoid the risk of their children being exposed to dangerous and poisonous influences of violent extremism, which is founded on intolerance, hate and bigotry.

The governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola yesterday commissioned the Oodua 90.0fm radio station in Ile-Ife, Osun state.
Pictures from the colourful event are below
 

Governor ,State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right), his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left), Chief Executive Officer, Oodua FM, Hon. Rotimi Makinde (4th left), his Wife, Mrs. Oyebamike Makinde (3rd left), Former Deputy Governor State of Osun, Prince Sooko Adewoyin (left), Southwest Zonal Director, National Broadcasting
Commission (NBC), Mrs. Pauline Ehusani (right)  and Father of the Day, Chief Alex Eluyemi (3rd right), at the official commissioning of Oodua 90.9 FM, in Ile-Ife, State of Osun, on Sunday 11/12/2016.

 
Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle), his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (right) and Chief Executive Officer,  Oodua FM, Hon. Rotimi Makinde, at the official commissioning of Oodua 90.9 FM,
in Ile-Ife, state of Osun,  on Sunday 11/12/2016.

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right), his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left), Chief Executive Officer, Oodua FM, Hon. Rotimi Makinde (left), and Representative of Ooni of Ife and Obalufe of Ile-Ife, Oba Idowu Olaniyi Adediwura,  at the official commissioning of Oodua 90.9 FM, in Ile-Ife, state of Osun, on
Sunday 11/12/2016.
 

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Sunday charged the practitioners and operators of radio stations in the country to be the vanguards of societal values through the promotion of
peace, unity, harmony, love and affection among the people in the society.
He said the time has come for journalists to rededicate themselves and do away with divisive and chaotic tendencies in discharging their duties.
 

 
Aregbesola made the statement during the official commissioning of the Oodua Radio Station, in Ile-Ife, Osun state.
The Governor admonished the radio practitioners on the need to champion fairness in discharging their constitutional responsibilities in the society.
He said media practitioners must avoid sensationalism just as they are required to promote accuracy, balance and objectivity.
Aregbesola said radio stations must at this hardship times do all they could to support the government’s efforts in promoting innovative and technology-based ideas to move the nation forward.
Identifying the importance of radio to man’s life, Governor Aregbesola described radio as the best, faster and populous medium of information dissemination.
He condemned in its entirety the way and manner at which some media practitioners have been bastardizing the profession on self-serving interests, saying if not that his government has developed thick flesh, some media practitioners would have succeeded collapsing his government with evil antics and incitement.
Governor also bemoaned over the unprofessional conducts of some radio station’s practitioners and operators, saying “the time has come for journalists to be at the forefront of nation building and do away with subjectivity, favourism and personal emotions.
Commending the owner of the broadcasting station for his productive vision at establishing the station in the state, Aregbesola disclosed that with the establishment of the new station, Osun is now a host to four private radio stations.
He called on the management of the station to always employ precautionary measures in all its activities and not wait until being sanctioned by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) before being regulated.
Aregbesola further urged the authority of the station not to allow itself to be hijacked by the disgruntled politicians who according to him, derive pleasures from self-serving interests.
“My advise for the owner and the entire management of this station is to use the medium wisely to promote peaceful coexistence among the people in yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.
“Please do not politicise your activities in this radio station. Let this establishment be for the promotion of the highest values and ethos of yoruba people.
“Strive to let this station be for the promotion of peace, harmony, love and affection among Nigerians especial yoruba people.
“Shun any divisive tendency and use this station for educational purpose. Use it to promote our culture and balanced entertainment.
“Also, use this station to promote industry, productivity and efficiency as these, will go a long way in rescuing our society from the current recession we are all in.
Aregbesola called on the residents of Ile-Ife and its environs to avoid using the new station to cause violence, crisis and chaos, but rather, they should see it as a medium to further seal peace and unity of Nigerian people.
“The management is further urged to stick to the government’s efforts at advancing innovative, technological and inventive knowledge that have been the hallmarks of our government”, he stressed.
Lamenting on the depleting state of the nation’s economy, Aregbesola hinted media practitioners to design programmes that would quicken the recovery of the nation’s values and socio-economic and democratic loses.
He said media should endeavour in sensitizing public on the current economic predicaments through educative and informative programmes capable of orientating the general public on the need to be productive and take-off their minds from crude oil revenues that have crashed.
The Southwest Zonal Director, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mrs. Pauline Ehusani, called on the management of the new radio station to reflect on their performance the quality of truthful and fair journalism.
She tasked the station on the need to prioritise objectivity, accuracy and correctness, saying radio station must always be a medium of knowledge acquisition.
Ehusani, who represented the Director General of the Commission, implored the management of the station to always act within the constitutional frameworks of their profession and as well avoid anything that can make the station deviate from the NBC’s rules, guidelines and regulations.
“Let fairness and balance be your watchwords as the station starts to perform its roles in educating, informing and orientating the public on the happenings in the world”, she added.
Earlier in his welcome address, the owner of the newly established radio station, Hon. Rotimi Makinde, said the station would be the mouth piece through which the gospel of unity, love, peace and harmony of Nigerian people would be preached.
He promised that the newly commissioned radio station would perform its constitutional roles to re-echo the noble call of peaceful coexistence of the Nigerian people.
Makinde, a former National Assembly member in Ife Federal Constituency, described the commissioning as the birth of a hub of professional unbiased broadcasting in Nigeria.
According to him,”the people of Yoruba kingdom, the state of Osun, the Ifes and its environs as well as the entire Nigerians are today blessed with quality and non-politically motivated broadcasting”.
He promised that the station would do all it could to ensure perfect performance of its responsibilities with quality and effective broadcasting.
He added, “Oodua Fm is open to all to give the general public the required quality broadcasting and let me assure the National Broadcasting Commission that we shall do all our best to conform with the rules and regulations as spelt out by the Nigerian Broadcasting Code.
“Though we are not perfect as human beings, but we shall always bring to you quality, truthful, reliable and fair reporting that will promote the unity of Nigerian people.
“Broadcasting, the breath of Nigerian society, the navigator to Nigerian people, an industry with various talents, a market that only the special voices trade in, and the traders in this very special markets are regarded as “Mirror of the Society”.
“Likewise, since broadcasting industry indeed avail us the window to redirect and inform our populate in many ways, hence it places enormous responsibilities expected on us to encourage this in our society.
He added, “We are open to constructive criticisms and correction, in togetherness we shall positively influence our environment.
Makinde therefore, called on the radio practitioners to come together and make broadcasting more informative, educative and entertaining as the gate keepers.
Meanwhile, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi who was represented by Obalufe of Ile-Ife, Oba Idowu Olaniyi Adediwura and Father of the Day who doubled as Asiwaju of Ile-Ife, Chief Alex Eluyemi, eulogized the owner of the station (Rotimi Makinde) for his contributions towards human and capital developments in Ifeland.
They described the new radio station as another means of promoting socio-cultural values of yoruba people, saying “the station would avail the people of Ile-Ife, Osun and Nigeria the opportunity to further foster the existing peace and harmony”.
The duo therefore commended Makinde for being committed to all around empowerment programmes.

Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has called on Muslims nationwide to have strong conviction that the current economic hardship facing the country will soon fizzle out.
He said it is only with this conviction that the energy of all and sundry could be channeled towards
He urged them to endure for the good of the country and be prayerful.
 

 
This was contained in a message sent to adherents of the Islamic faith on the occasion the Eid el- Maolud (birthday of Prophet Muhammad) celebration on Monday.
Aregbesola, in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, said what the nation is going through is a lesson for the leaders and the led to act conscientiously.
This was also as he assured the people of Osun that his administration will not leave any abandoned project behind by the end of his tenure.
He admonished Muslims to emulation the humility, good neighbourliness, understanding and love exemplified by the life of Prophet Muhammad.
According to him, Muslims must possess qualities such as commitment, discipline, obedience to and love of Allah, and apply same in their daily relationship to their fellow human beings irrespective of ethnic and religious differences.
He tasked the people of the state to live in peace and extend hands of fellowship to their neighbours so as for the peaceful and tranquil atmosphere the state has been enjoying in the last two years to continue unhindered.
“The time is tough no doubt. Our nation is going through socio-economic hardship but this is just a passing phase.‎ All hands must therefore be on deck for us to move our country forward.
“We must stop paying leap service to fundamental necessities which are catalyst for development in order for our country to take its place in the comity of successful nations,”Aregbesola said

Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has warned that if proactive measures are not applied by the federal government and the citizenry to tackle the ongoing economic recession, the effects would soon snowball into a civil war scenario.
Aregbesola noted that not only government but Nigerians had a lot of proactive roles to play in mitigating the dehumanising effects of the recession.
 

 
 
Speaking with newsmen in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, the governor also stressed the need to patronise local materials, especially agricultural produce, to boost the country’s export profile in order to strengthen the naira against the dollar.

He opined that it was high time Nigerians resorted to developing more appetite for other staple foods, such as plantains, cassava among others.
“Plantain is even healthier and more nutritious than rice. It is edible in different versions. Why must we keep on pursuing rice? Why can’t we develop plantain and promote it internationally?” Aregbesola asked.
He added that: “The Chinese have realised that the energy required to produce a kilogram of rice is more than the energy that goes into the production of a kilogram of other carbohydrates.
“So, why must we insist on rice as if there are no options?”

He enthused that the school children feeding programme was still ongoing.
“Our school children eat eggs twice in a day. They eat chicken, fish and beef. With each meal, they also eat fruits. We don’t import any of them.
“Women go to our local markets in Osun here and buy them. With this you can be sure that the food sellers no longer suffer as they used to suffer. Indirectly, they are benefitting from government,” he said.
He also explained how his people-oriented social service programmes boosted the economy of the state.
“Whatever money we spend on these food items and other commodities goes directly into the local economy.
“If you move round the state of Osun, you can no longer see the kind of miseries you see in some states due to hardship. Here you hardly see harried and bitter youths in the streets.
“Not less than 20,000 youths have been engaged for public work such as sanitation, traffic control, medical emergencies among others to keep them busy and useful to themselves and the society and we pay them stipends. This has done a lot of wonders here.
“Besides the youths, we also give N10, 000 lifeline monthly to elderly citizens in the state that are vulnerable and in deplorable conditions that can not help themselves. We engage a professor from Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile-Ife, who was able to discover them. These are people that are only waiting for death even though their time has not come”, he added.