Ogun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has reaffirmed his government’s determination to complete all ongoing projects across the state before the expiration of his tenure.
Aregbesola said his administration has been working round the clock to
ensure sustainability of the legacies and impacts made in all aspects of the economy.
 

 
The Osun chief executive gave the assurance in his address at a colloquium titled: ‘Raufnomic’ organised to mark the second year anniversary of his second term in office.

Reflecting on his developmental scorecards since assumption of office, Aregbesola said his administration through innovative thinking, within one hundred days in office, engaged 20,000 youths in public
works, through the universally appraised Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme,
(O’YES).
On education, Aregbesola said his administration has expended billions in the provision of free meals for 262,000 pupils in every school day, noting that the innovation was aimed at revamping agriculture, empowering farmers, cooks and food vendors in a value chain of wealth creation that cascades to, at least, one million homes in Osun.

“Died in beauty, like a rose blown from its parent stem”

– Charles Doyne Sillery.

At last the curtain fell on the exemplary life of the Commandante of The Army of the oppressed and dis-inherited people world-wide. Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz has passed on after 90 eventful years, 49 of which he held sway as the Prime Minister and later President of Cuba. Indeed, Castro has become a permanent feature of political and ideological discourse for more than five decades, such that we almost thought he would live forever.

The feeling is mixed. Yes mixed! To lose such an inspiring and profound personality is eternally painful but for such a legend to depart at such a ripe age of 90 deserves a huge celebration in a world where average life expectancy hardly surpasses 50 years, but not more than 70 years for men in the most advanced nations on our planet.

On behalf of the Government and people of The State of Osun, and in recognition of the historical and cultural bond between the Cubans and Yoruba in the State of Osun in Nigeria and worldwide, we salute the courage, determination, vision, resilience and revolutionary zeal of Fidel and his companions, the indomitable spirit of Cubans, and Solidarity of all people of the world, committed to human dignity, freedom and happiness.

From the July 26 movement of 1953, the Granma Expedition of November 25,1956, the ultimate victory of the revolution on January 1, 1959 and to his final departure from our realm yesterday night at about 10 pm, November 25, 2016, we  are sure that our Commandante had lived a fulfilled life that history will never forget.

Millions of people – students, academics, poets, politicians, trade unionists, artisans, revolutionary cadres and humanists – including my humble self, drew inspiration from him, his rhetorics, writings, reflections,dedication, integrity and commitment to building socialism.There is no doubt that the world is a better place because of him, consequently a gem has been lost indeed.

He was a symbol of resistance to injustice and oppression as all the oppressed people of the world drew inspiration from him. He holds the unenviable record of the man who has had the most assassination attempts on his life, with none succeeding. He stood for what he believed in and not for once did he flinch in the face of the most formidable military encirclement and daunting economic and financial strangulation. Ironically, the man that the greatest powers on earth could not break, finally succumbed to illness and ultimately the cold hands of death, in the way of all mortals.

As Africans we remember the solidarity, partnerships, high level of discipline and sense of DUTY of the Cubans to the  liberation struggles, health care delivery, education, sports and youth development and political consciousness in Africa under the leadership and direction of Fidel and his administration. Although Castro’s Cuba is a nation with modest means but she has a gargantuan spirit of internationalism, support and assistance to the poor and exploited peoples and nations of the world. We proudly acknowledge the heroism of Cuba in this unparalleled show of Solidarity and Humanism.
Nevertheless, even in death, Castro has joined the pantheons of immortals whose ideas and praxis dominated and influenced their world and will therefore live forever in the hearts  of people, in literature and politics and in the physical monuments that will be named after him all over the world. Millions will carry on the struggle, where he left.

Fidel Castro has been rightly described by The Guardian of London as a ‘revolutionary icon’. It is expected that well deserved encomiums and heartfelt tributes will pour in for a life of struggle, Spartan discipline, selflessness and sacrifice that he lived.
As we mourn and celebrate the passage of this international revolutionary legend, hero of the oppressed, fighter of oppression and exploitation, promoter of social justice, soldier and Commandante of ideas, we join the people of Cuba in their national grief and urge them to renew and redouble their commitment and duty to the struggle and ultimate victory of socialism.

Humans, and indeed groups and societies, will always be governed by interests, which in the final analysis, can only be two: good and evil, social and personal. Fidel made his choice and staked all he got for the common good. Those on the other dark side can say all the vile words against him and his legacies, but the helpless wretched of the earth who bear the brunt of the exploitation and oppression, can revamp their courage for struggle against inhumanity and injustice by replying them in Fidel’s own words: “despots are the masters of the people they oppress but slaves of the forces that sustain their oppression. I do not know what pleasure an oppressor finds in using a whip against the human back but I know that there is infinite pleasure in fighting against oppression, in raising a strong arm and saying ‘I do not want to be a slave.’”

Fidel Castro has completed his earthly assignment but the ideas for which he struggled, defended, sacrificed, lived and died like his other immortal colleagues, will live forever.

Long Live Cuba !
Long live the revolution !!
Till  Everlasting Victory !!!

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
Governor, State of Osun.

Power is responsibility.

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has been commended for his determined effort towards achieving his vision and developmental agenda that will make the state self- sufficient and
to better the lot of the citizenry.
 

This commendation was contained in a congratulatory message marking Mr. Governor’s 2nd Year Anniversary of the second term by the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Mrs Femi Webster- Esho.

According to her, developmental programmes of Ogbeni Aregbesola have taken the state a step ahead and a paradigm shift reflected in the socio-economic and political structure with the Six Point Integral Action Plans of Mr. Governor since the inception of his administration.
The Coordinating Director applauded Mr. Governor as a good manager of human and capital resources particularly at this recession period and the recurring revenue dwindling to the State of Osun and Nigeria as a nation.
While eulogizing the Governor in the area of physical infrastructure, functional education and communal peace among other laudable projects across the state, the Coordinating Director said Governor Aregbesola is a true democrat and highly principled.
Celebrating with Mr. Governor and the All Progressive Congress, the ruling party on the 2nd year anniversary, the
Coordinating Direcor also prayed that the rest of the term will witness many more progress and sustainable development in the state.
Mrs Webster- Esho therefore called on all and sundry in the
state to support the Governor by paying all levies and taxes in his effort to transform Osun to a state where we will all be proud of within the South-West and Nigeria as a whole.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said that his administration is laying a foundation in every sphere of live that would put the state in a steady progressive path such that even after his tenure, reversing or halting such progress would be difficult or totally impossible.
He promised that none of his ongoing projects would be left uncompleted by the time he is handing over to the next governor.
 

 
The Governor spoke both at a special edition of live interview broadcast organized by the state-owned radio and television station, OSBC and the Colloquium organised to mark the second Anniversary of the second term of his administration held in Osogbo.
‎Aregbesola held that, before coming to office, he had done his homework well, knowing that youth engagement was of immediate necessity, adding that in less than 100 days of his inauguration, he engaged 20,000 youths in public works through the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES). ‎
‎Governor said the O’YES initiative has gone a long way in taking a lot of idle youths off the streets, redefining their lives and as well giving them hope capable of sustaining them throughout their lives.
He said his government had also impacted positively in the lives of over 40,000 youths through O’YES scheme as the good gestures had helped in turning Osun to state with the lowest crime rate in Nigeria.
He added the N200 million monthly allowance being given to O’YES volunteers had tremendously reflated the economy of the state.
Governor said the stipends being received by the O’YES cadets goes directly into the economy of the state, adding that in less than two years, Osun GDP shot to the seventh largest in Nigeria.
On education sector, Aregbesola said his administration has expended billions in the provision of free meals for 252,000 pupils every school day, noting that the innovation was aimed at revamping agriculture, empowering farmers, cooks and food vendors in a value chain of wealth creation that cascades to at least one million homes in Osun.
He said the state under his watch has built several state-of-the-art model schools across the nooks and crannies of the state having taken seriously the importance of education to development.
According to the Governor, “I have no doubt that our monumental performances made the organisers of this event to also coin out ‘Raufnomics’ to reflect how our policies have positively affected Osun in a most fundamental sense.
“We provided E-learning tablets to final year grade 12 pupils in the state. This is an innovation that is not available anywhere in the world except Osun.
“We have also made significant investment in agriculture. We realised that food is an integral aspect of national security. No nation is secure that cannot feed its people. Agriculture is also the gateway to industrialisation.
“We have consequently empowered our people in various agriculture schemes. We have sent two batches of our youths to Germany for further training in modern agriculture practices.
“We have constructed more than 800 kilometres of quality, stone based roads with concrete drainages across the length and breadth of the state. These are not just any roads that catch our fancy. They are roads carefully selected because they impacted the most on the social and economic activities of our people.
“We incorporated the weak and vulnerable groups like the specially challenged, destitute, the aged, women and the girl child for special care and attention through special schemes”.‎
Considering the adverse effect of the present economic challenges, Aregbesola said his government has been working hard to rescue the state from the pangs of economic recession.
He pledged to continuously position the state on the path of economic stability, progress and prosperity, saying “we have made it a point that no one is left behind by our administration”. ‎
‎
Speaking on the topic titled “Democracy, Good Governance and Sustainable Economic Development: Value Added Approach”, the Guest Speaker, Professor Akin Oyebode commended Governor Aregbesola for being consistent in threading the path of economic greatness since assumption of power.
Prof. Oyebode said the event was to celebrate the doggedness, unrelenting and unwavering commitment of Governor Aregbesola to all round growth and development.
Oyebode who described politics and governance as instruments deliberately designed to give hope to the people, said the present administration has clearly resuscitated the already lost hope, sustained it through good governance and as well rekindled the future of the state through massive infrastructures across the length and breath of the state.
“Aregbesola has changed Osun landscape politically and economically. The presence of his good governance has been felt in every nook and cranny of the state.
“Aregbesola has left his footprint on the sound of time. He has been within the last six years doing his best to ensure that the state maintains and sustains her status as pacesetter in infrastructure development.
“Very many initiatives such as Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme, O’YES, Osun Rural Enterprises and Agricultural Programme, O’REAP, E-learning computer tablets produced and distributed freely to students of public high schools, Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Programme, O’SCHOOLS, Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme, O’MEAL, among others are initiated to bring about the much desired socio-economic transformation to the people of Osun.
“All the projects being executed under Aregbesola’s administration are purposefully designed to add values to general well being of the citizens”, Professor Oyebode stressed.‎

The Commandant of O’YES in the State of Osun, Col. Eni Ibukun Oyewole (Retired) has charged the OYES Cadets in the State to be more focused and engage themselves in agro- business ventures such as  vegetable and Orange Flesh Sweet Potato(OFSP) cultivation which has become part of the schools menu by the O-meal programme, in the State rather than looking for white collar jobs.
 

 
He stated this during an interactive session with the Transformation crew of the Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture in his office.
He further explained that, this will help the cadets to be more independent instead of depending on Government all the time.
He further advised the OYES cadets to see what they are doing as part of what would transform their lives for the better.

The Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has approved the immediate commencement of a unified Public Service in the state.
This was made known in Osogbo in a circular letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office in the Office of the Head of Service, Mr. Leye Aina.

 
 
The Permanent Secretary explained that the intention is to rejuvenate and reposition the State Public Service for efficient and effective service delivery at all levels of governance.
Mr. Aina pointed out that by this development, the Civil Service (including Extra- Ministerial Departments, Parastatals, Commissions, Boards, Agencies), Teaching Service and the Local Government Service have been subsumed under the ambit and management of the Public Service Office (PSO) in the Office of the Head of
Service with respect to deployments and postings of staff.
Consequently, he explained, all restrictions to seamless movements of personnel from one spectrum of the Public Service to the other have been removed henceforth.
He however pointed out that various officers and staff to be deployed or posted under the new dispensation would have recourse to their respective originating offices, parastatals and commissions as regards their career progressions, emoluments and retirement benefits for purpose of administrative conveniences.
The Permanent Secretary further explained that with this human resources management innovation, there is now room for deployments across the various services into areas where there are critical needs for personnel.
This innovation will also assist in addressing the visible lopsidedness and imbalance in staff dispositions and will help to save cost to be incurred in recruitment of new appointments.
Above all, it would give unfettered latitudes to public servants to be all they want to be in their careers.

Members of the Federal House of Representatives  on Wednesday lauded the monumental infrastructural development in Osun state under the leadership of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
The legislators also applauded the high sense of commitment of Osun state government to enhance both human and capital developments.

 
 
The members of the legislature gave the commendation during a one- day federal road projects inspection tour to Osun on Wednesday.
The National Assembly members who were conducted round the ongoing federal roads projects being funded by the state government, lauded Governor Rauf Aregbesola for remaining resilient to capital and physical infrastructural developments.
The visit had in attendance the entire  honourable members of the House Committee on works with its Chairman, Hon. Amuda Kannike representing Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency, other members of the Committee include: Hon. Muhammad Sani Abdu representing Alkaler/Kirfi Federal Constituency, Bauchi state, Hon. Abubakar Yunusa Ahmed representing Yamaltu-Deba Federal Constituency, Gombe State, Hon. Taiwo Michael Akintola representing Egbeda Ona Ara Federal Constituency, Oyo State, Hon. Adaranijo Taofeek representing Agege Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Hon. Kingsley Ebenyi representing Enugu East/Ibi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Enugu State, Hon.  Lazarus ogbee representing Ezza South/Ikwo Ebonyi state and Hon. Ajibola Famurewa representing Ijesa North Federal Constituency, Osun State.
Addressing journalists shortly after the inspection tour, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Amuda Kannike said the presence of the Committee in the state was to attest to the quality of the Federal Government roads being implemented by the state government.
He said the visitation tour was in consonance with the resolution of the House to inspect and assess some of the Federal Government infrastructural projects being financed by the states for reimbursement.
Kannike further noted that part of the efforts of the House was to attest to the socioeconomic and democratic impact of the roads on the citizenry.
He added; “We have seen a quite of number of roads in Osun and we found out these roads are of economic value since the Osun is an agrarian state.
“We have seen some federal roads that have been intervened by the state government. We have attested to the quality of some of these roads.
“It is our beliefs that if these roads are opened it will boost agriculture and as well give way for industrialisation and real economic connectivity.
“With the completion of those roads we have seen so far in Osun, there is no doubt that the inputs to farms would be revamped just the outputs to the markets would be boosted.
“With what we have seen, we cannot imagine the perpendicular development that would have come to Osun if all these road projects have been completed”.
“For instance, the road linking Osogbo/Ikirun/Ila-Odo Kwara state boundary, would have brought monumental development if it has been completed since; likewise, Akoda/Ode-Omu/Gbongan road, Osogbo-Ilesa roads and Osogbo/Ilajue roads respectively.
“I am very sure that if these roads have been completed since, it would have helped to turn around the state’s economic fortunes and as well give birth to industrialisation.
“Though some these states are working very hard to ensure that these projects are reclaimed by the owner (federal government), but I can assure them that the House Committee on works and the entire honourable members in the House have started reviewing the claims.
“We are also working on the reimbursement of financial commitments being made by some of these states”, he added.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday reaffirmed his government’s determination to complete all ongoing projects across the state before the expiration of his tenure.

 
He said his administration has been working round the clock to ensure adequate sustainability of the legacies and impacts made in all aspects of the economy.
Governor Aregbesola gave the assurance while addressing people at a colloquium titled: ‘Raufnomic’ being organised to mark the anniversary of his second year of the second term.
He said the state under his watch had since assumption, laying the foundation in every area with the sole aim of placing the state to a steady progressive path.
Reflecting on his developmental scorecards since his assumption of office, Aregbesola said his administration through innovative thinking was within one hundred days in office engaged 20,000 youths in public works through the universally appraised Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme, O’YES.
Governor Aregbesola  said the O’YES initiative has gone a long way in taking a lot of idle youths off the streets, redefining their lives and as well giving them hope capable of sustaining them throughout their lives.
He said his government has also positively  impacted the lives of over 40,000 youths through the O’YES scheme as it  has helped to drastically reduce crime rates in the state, saying the N200 million monthly allowance being given to O’YES volunteers has tremendously reflated the economy of the state.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said the stipends being received by the O’YES cadets goes directly into the economy of the state, adding that “in less than two years, Osun GDP shot to the seventh largest in Nigeria”.
Speaking about education , Aregbesola said his administration has expended billions in the provision of free meals for 262,000 pupils every school day, noting that the innovation was aimed at revamping agriculture, empowering farmers, cooks and food vendors in a value chain of wealth creation that cascades to at least one million homes in Osun.
He said the state under his watch has built several state-of-the-art model schools across the nooks and crannies of the state having taken seriously the importance of education to development.
He added; “I have no doubt that our monumental performances made the organisers of this event to also coin out ‘Raufnomics’ to reflect how our policies have positively affected Osun in a most fundamental sense.
“We provided E-learning tablets to final year grade 12 pupils in the state. This is an innovation that is not available anywhere in the world except Osun.
“We have also made significant investment in agriculture. We realised that food is an integral aspect of national security. No nation is secure that cannot feed its people. Agriculture is also the gateway to industrialisation.
“We have consequently empowered our people in various agriculture schemes. We have sent two batches of our youths to Germany for further training in modern agriculture practices.
“We have constructed more than 800 kilometres of quality, stone based roads with concrete drainages across the length and breadth of the state. These are not just any roads that catch our fancy. They are roads carefully selected because they impacted the most on the social and economic activities of our people.
“We incorporated the weak and vulnerable groups like the specially challenged, destitute, the aged, women and the girl child for special care and attention through special schemes.
Considering the adverse effect of the present economic predicaments, Aregbesola said his government has been working hard to rescue the state from the drift of economic collapse.
Governor Aregbesola however pledged to continuously position the state on the path of economic stability, progress and prosperity, saying “we have made it a point that no one is left behind by our administration”.
In their separate remarks, the Guest Speaker, Professor Akin Oyebode and other discussants include: Dr. Charles Iyore; President General of Osun State Market Women, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade, Permanent Secretary Budget Planning in the state, Mr. Olusegun Olorunsogo, Chairman Osun state command of Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, Comrade Amitolu Shittu among others, reign praises on Governor Aregbesola for being diligent and unrelenting in taking the state to enviable heights ever known in history.
Speaking on the topic titled “Democracy, Good Governance and Sustainable Economic Development: Value Added Approach”, the Guest Speaker, Professor Akin Oyebode commended governor Aregbesola for being consistent in treading the path of economic greatness since assumption of power.
Prof. Oyebode said the event was to celebrate the doggedness, unrelenting and unwavering commitment of Governor Aregbesola to all round growth and development.
Oyebode who described politics and governance as instruments deliberately designed to give hope to the people, said the present administration has clearly resuscitated the already lost hope, sustained it through good governance and as well rekindled the future of the state through massive infrastructures across the length and breath of the state.
“Aregbesola has changed Osun landscape politically and economically. The presence of his good governance has been felt in every nook and cranny of the state.
“Aregbesola has left his footprint on the sound of time. He has been within the last six years doing his best to ensure that the state maintain and sustain her status as pacesetter in infrastructure development.
“Very many initiatives such as Osun Youths Empowerment Scheme, O’YES, Osun Rural Enterprises and Agricultural Programme, O’REAP, E-learning computer tablets produced and distributed freely to students of public high schools, Osun Schools Infrastructure Development Programme, O’SCHOOLS, Osun Elementary School Feeding and Health Programme, O’MEAL, among others are initiated to bring about the much desired socioeconomic transformation to the people of Osun.
“All the projects being executed under Aregbesola’s administration are purposefully designed to add values to general well being of the citizens”, Professor Oyebode stressed.

The establishment of the State Traditional Medicine Practitioners Board hasbeen approved by the state government and the inauguration date will be announced soon.
 

 
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Akinyinka Oluseyi Esho made this disclosure during the meeting held with the Traditional Medicine Practitioners representatives in his office.
He stressed further that the Board will manage the activities of Traditional Medicine Practitioners in the state.
According to the statement, the Government of the State of Osun, under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, will not relent in its effort to see that people living in Osun have access to all inclusive health care.
Present at the meeting were Deputy Director, Primary Health Care, Mr Tunde Adekunle ,Chief Kayode Esuleke, Chief Olalude Oluajo and the desk officer, Mr Moronkeji Bolarinwa.