Wale Afolabi is the immediate past Justice Commissioner and Attorney-General in Osun State, in a no holds barred  interview with ADEOLU ADEYEMO of the New Telegraph newspaper, commended Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on the massive infrastructural development in the the state of Osun despite its dwindling resources.
In fact, he noted that the only thing people are blaming Ogbeni Aregbesola for is that, he put so many projects on ground which he cannot even pay for now.  
“So many contracts have been completed that people see.”
“About 200 kilometers of roads that we did for Local Government have almost been completed, nobody complained.”
Read excerpt from the interview below. Enjoy!
You were in Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s cabinet, what is your assessment of his administration so far?
Ogbeni is a fantastic phenomenon in Osun state. I am happy to answer such question. I have been in government before now and I know the way it is. When Ogbeni came on board, he came with vision and passion. The only thing people are blaming him for is that he put so many projects on ground which he cannot even pay for now.
Don’t forget that but for the drop in the allocation, when he awards contract, he doesn’t pay immediately. He spreads payment for 36 months. For the fact that there was 40 per cent drop in allocation, look at the oil problem that we have now, as a matter of fact, they don’t even know that last month it was about 24million that was given to Osun state because by the time they took our deductions and loan, there was nothing to pay salary and the installment payment of some of the contract. Don’t forget that so many contracts have been completed that people see.

About 200 kilometers of roads that we did for Local Government have almost been completed, nobody complained. Like I said, it is only when people see something that is negative that they cry about it. Schools are being commissioned on daily basis.
These are projects that he started and he is commissioning them. Just recently, they commissioned Anthony Udofia Elementary School and he is commissioning so many high schools too. So, it is only when people see something that is negative that they complain about.
By and large, he said he will complete these projects and I am praying that he will complete all the projects. By the time he finishes all those projects, you will see another Akande in our land. You know Bisi Akande did his best for this state. He laid a solid foundation for the state. If you look at Aregbesola, he is working along the path. I am sure with the support of the people, he will succeed.
What is in a tax that the state government has been appealing to residents to comply with?
Yes, tax payment is a legal issue. There are so many people on the street that are not paying tax. There are so many people doing business that are not paying tax. What Aregbesola is saying is that, we are going to pursue it vigorously now.
It is not only him, look at the Federal Government, they said they are going to pursue tax payment vigorously too. By the time the oil money was coming very well, we all slept off. Now that we know that the oil money is not something we can depend upon, that is why government is now looking at tax payment.
So, it is not a new thing that he is talking about. If this man has been working very well before the fall in oil price, of course he will do well. I have confidence in him. He is a man that will do well. Therefore, I want to appeal to the people to pay their tax.

Many may not have heard the story of Olajumoke Orisaguna, a native of Ire in Osun State, who now is a big model in Lagos.
Osun Defender learnt Jumoke who is a trained hair stylist, relocated to Lagos to join the bread-hawking business when she was ‘mistakenly’ discovered by celebrity photographer, TY Bello.

Jumoke began hawking bread when she got to Lagos; and that was what she was doing on the day she walked into a shoot of TY Bello, popular photographer and musician. Bello did not take note of Jumoke that moment – not until she was editing the image of the client who took her to that location.
Realised the hawker’s potentials, Bello launched a manhunt for her. Both of them later met and below is what she wrote of the newfound model who made it to the cover of the latest edition of THISDAY Style:
Aso kan na ni mo wo kiri Lana ‘.. Jumoke, the ‘model’ the Internet had been searching for, speaks almost no English.
She explained how she had worn the exact outfit in our photograph the day before and someone showed her her own photograph on his phone from Facebook. A mallam led her to my studio that morning.
She narrated her journey to Lagos…A hair stylist from Ire in Osun state but not making enough profit… between her and her husband, a sliding door installer in same village, to care for their two young children.
At the invitation of a distant relative who knew someone operating a bakery, she relocated Lagos with her 14-month-old daughter to give bread hawking a try, leaving her husband and the older five-year-old behind.
As I listened to her, I wandered if the beauty I had seen on my screen as I edited my image was a fluke ..well until she smiled . I realized that I was wrong. I had in fact underestimated the beauty of this 27-year-old woman. As always, it was her eyes and of course her perfectly chiseled features that jumped out at you when she chuckled. This lady belonged in front of my camera.
After a conversation with her husband telling him the story of our meeting, I decided I was going to photograph her that very afternoon. Within an hour, Bimpe Onakoya, one of Nigeria’s leading makeup artists, and Zubby, one of my favourite hairstylists, were at my studio to work magic.

They had both followed the story online and were more than happy to put in their very best for her. Olajumoke … with curly extensions out revealed a short natural Afro that beautifully hugged her face.
Bimpe Onakoya also had decided to keep the make up minimal… She stepped in front of my camera and I almost couldn’t recognize her. She moved differently too. Jumoke looked straight into my lens emoting like she had done this all her life …. I knew we had found a star.
 
Source: Osun Defender
Photo credit: TY Bello

Osun State House of Assembly, on Monday passed into law, the State Land Use Charge Bill 2016.
According to a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, the passage of the bill followed a motion by the Leader of the house, Honourable Timothy Owoeye for the third reading and seconded by member representing Ede South constituency, Nureni Adebisi at the plenary.
 

 
The bill, which, he said was sponsored by the executive arm of government was seeking to make provision for the consolidation of all property land based rates law, the neighbourhood improvement charge law and tenement rate law  into a new land based charge, to be called Property Land Use Charge to make provision for the levying and collection of the charges and for connected purposes.
The Assembly had on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, held a public hearing on the bill, where professional bodies and other stakeholders lauded the bill and said, it was coming at the appropriate time.
Pronouncing the passage of the bill, the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, said its passage was delayed to ensure that affordable rate that would not put unnecessary burden on the people are arrived at.
According to him, the present economic situation require that every property owner must contribute to support the government, just as he charged the executive to ensure effective sensitisation of the people to key in into the new law and see reason to pay the appropriate charges. Salaam also called on the implementers of the new law not to hide under it to put unnecessary burden on the people, urging that the law should rather be used for the benefit of the people,” he said.

Governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has condemned the violent attack on a radio state, Orisun FM Ile-Ife by some students of Ife High Schools because of their disqualification in the state government’s sponsorship of the registration for the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
 

 
The students attacked the state owned radio station during their protest over alleged inability of the state government to pay their WAEC fees.
Aregbesola warned that he will no longer condone any act of indiscipline and irresponsibility on the part of the young ones, warning that the full weight of the law will be applied if such lawlessness repeats itself.
The governor said it was unthinkable that students who failed examinations and should be remorseful and face the challenges of correcting their academic poor performances could go out and vandalise government property in the name of protests.
In a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola said the refusal of government to register them for WASCE was because of their poor performance and that it would be irresponsible to continue to fund examination registrations of students who didn’t demonstrate readiness to pass.
Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/aregbesola-flays-students-over-attack-on-media/132521.html#iz2MwfA2LMXrOipQ.99

Tuns Farms Nigeria Ltd, a leading producer of broiler meat in Nigeria, has reiterated its commitment to sustain its partnership with the Osun Broilers Out-growers Production Scheme (OBOPS).
 

 
The agricultural scheme, which was initially established by the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration in December 2011, aims to create jobs and boost food security.
OBOPS is operated on a tripartite basis and spurred a joint venture between the State Government, represented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Tuns Farms Nigeria Ltd and Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN).
Speaking at an interactive session with poultry farmers, the chairman of Tuns Farms Ltd, Asiwaju Olatunde Badmus, said government’s participation in the meat programme has empowered farmers to leverage on a network of buyers, including fast-food chains and retail outlets.
According to him, “Government partnered with TUNS Farm Nigeria Limited and the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) to jump start and promote broiler production to empower poultry farmers and create jobs under the Osun Broilers Out-growers Production Scheme (OBOPS).”

THE Minister of Transport, Rotimi Chibueke Amaechi has commended the Osun State government for embarking on the construction of federal road infrastructure in the state.
Amaechi said the initiative was an indication of effective management of the meagre resources accrued to the state.
 

 
Amaechi, who spoke shortly after an inspection tour of federal roads under construction from the Gbongan axis to the Kwara boundary in Ila-Odo, lamented that the good intention of the government had been left to suffer.
The Minister, who refused to be categorical about the expected relief on the work done by the Osun government, however said detailed report about what he saw on ground would be communicated to the presidency for action.

He said the inspection would also take his team to other southwest states.
Explaining the focus of his ministry, he said serious attention would be placed on the development of the rail transportation network to enhance movement of goods and humans.
The Minister also visited the Moshood Abiola International Airport being constructed at Ido Osun, Egbedore local council of the state where he was briefed on the level of work done and the challenges facing the project.

The new Comptroller of Prisons, Osun State Command, Mr. Segun Oluwasemire yesterday paid a courtesy visit to the governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola at the state house, Osogbo.
Find photos from the visit below:

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle), his Deputy Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (right), and New Comptroller of Prisons, Osun State Command, Mr. Segun Oluwasemire (left), during a Courtesy Visit to the Governor, at Government House Osogbo, on Thursday 4/2/2016.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting the State Emblem to the New Comptroller of Prisons, Osun State Command, Mr. Segun Oluwasemire during a Courtesy Visit to the Governor, at Government House Osogbo, on Thursday 4/2/2016

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola presenting the State Emblem to the New Comptroller of Prisons, Osun State Command, Mr. Segun Oluwasemire during a Courtesy Visit to the Governor, at Government House Osogbo, on Thursday 4/2/2016

Secondary School Teachers in Osun State have praised Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his love and commitment towards making the educational system in the state best in the nation.
The teachers undauntedly praised the state governor, saying his achievements in the education sector in the last five years cannot be overemphasized.
 

 
The secondary school teachers made the commendation while welcoming former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Dr Surajudeen Ajibola-Basiri at Laro Middle School, and the School for the Persons with Special Needs in Osogbo, the State Capital.
Dr Basiru had in a bid to complement the effort of the State government in its quest to provide qualitative education to the students of the state donated school uniform to about 200 students of Laro Middle School, Osogbo.
He also distributed 64 school uniforms to School for persons with special needs in Osogbo where he promised to always support the school for the handicapped.
Speaking on behalf of the entire teachers of the state, one of the Principals at Laro Middle School, Mr. Siyanbola Afolabi, expressed joy over the gesture by the former commissioner, saying he has gleefully demonstrated what his Principal (Governor Aregbesola) was known for.
Afolabi who could not hide his joy over the donation, described as laudable  the achievement of the present administration in revamping education in the state. He said politics apart; Aregbesola had outperformed every other  governor  the state has had since its creation.
According to him, “Politics apart, Aregbesola is the most performing governor since the creation of this state and I have to eulogize those who worked with him among which you (Dr Basiru) were one the team who achieved all those sterling achievements within that short period of time”.
Appreciating Dr Basiru for tapping from the wisdom of Aregbesola to develop the state, the school principal said Aregbesola is an achiever who in no measure has affected the people of the state.
Afolabi said, despite the dwindling in economy, Aregbesola still deemed it fit to embrace the principle of late Obafemi Awolo’s “Education for all”.
While echoing a similar view, Mrs Adesina L.I, Assistance Head Master, School for Persons with Special Needs, Osogbo showed encomium on Dr Basiru, for his support of education in the state,stating that he has followed in the foot steps of the governor.
Mrs Adesina said no reasonable person should doubt the good intention of the present administration under the watch of Aregbesola in developing the state, adding that the state has witnessed considerable dividents of democracy in every sector and the education sector in particular.
Stating some of the laudable achievements of the Aregbesola in education sector, Mrs Adesina noted that, the daily free meal for the pupils, free school uniform, distribution of Opon Imo (tablet of knowledge), and the state-of-the-art school buildings have contributed immensely to the influx in the enrollment of the students into the public schools in Osun.
The duo urged the former commissioner to use his influence in the law profession to contribute to the development of the schools and to facilitate from the state government the dredging of borehole water and fencing of the school.

The Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Education, Mr. Lawrence Oyelade Oyeniran has disclosed that the Government of the state of Osun under the leadership of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, has registered and paid for over 11,000 students seeking to seat for this year’s West African Examination Council, WAEC, West Africa Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
 

 
His submission was contrary to report of a section of the media which reported that Osun has placed an embargo on the payment of WAEC fee for the final year students of public Secondary School in the state.
Debunking the allegation while addressing the journalists in Osogbo, Mr. Oyeniran who described Osun education policy as one of the best in the world, said the state has recorded greater achievements in education sector.
He stressed that the education initiatives and policies introduced by the current government in the state has contributed meaningfully to pupils in all the public schools across the state.
Analyzing the selection procedures and criteria adopted by government in picking those students that were paid for, Mr. Oyeniran opined that the step was taken to restore seriousness among the students, saying with the new development, the students would see greater need for them to sit tight for any examination.
Mr. Oyeniran recalled the state under the Ministry of Education had initially conducted prerequisite examination called “Mock exams” for those students in S.S.3 which according to him was aimed at selecting the best to be enrolled to write WAEC free of charge.
According to him, the criteria includes compulsory pass mark in four subjects, of which Mathematics and English were mandatory for all candidates.
He stated further, “As I am talking to you now, the State Government of Osun has paid WAEC fee for 11,394 students across the state.
“The students that benefited from this scheme are those that passed the state pre-WAEC exams known as Mock examinations conducted recently.
“This action was taken because out of the nine subjects that were written by the students, each of them must at least pass four subjects before such a student could be qualified for the government scholarship.
“Any candidate who is able to pass four papers including English and Mathematics, such candidate would be fully registered by government and as a matter of fact they have been registered.
“It is those candidates who were unable to pass English and Mathematics that their parents were asked to pay to register for the WAEC examination.
Mr. Oyeniran stated that the purpose for the exams was to build the needed confidence in the students and ensure government is only spending resources on those students who are ready to learn.
The Permanent Secretary also frowned at what he described as gross indiscipline and violation of law, saying those students that were allegedly caught while destroying government property at the Ile-Ife branch of Osun State Broadcasting Corporation should be legally punished.
“The students involved were misled in their thinking and as a matter of fact, these are the students who wrote the Mock Exams but failed to pass the required four subjects or perform as expected.
“If you look at the neighboring states, many of them are no longer registering their students free of charge for WAEC.
“What the protesting students have done was nothing but a criminal offence and they should be held responsible, prosecuted and properly dealt with for the action”, Mr. Oyeniran stated.
He debunked the rumours making the round that the government motive on the Mock Exams was to serve as discriminatory measures, saying the exams was totally conducted with utmost sincerity, transparency and accountability while the students were selected on merit.
The Permanent Secretary said the current government successfully registered students free of charge in the past five years, adding that, in 2011, over 26,000 students were registered and paid for.
According to him, “in 2012, over 32,000 students were registered. In 2013, over 34,000 students were registered. In 2014, over 36,000 students were registered and last year, over 32,000 students were registered.
He said Osun government has so far expended over N2billion on the payment of West Africa Examination Council, WAEC for Secondary School Students.