…Collects N87.9 million compensation for church’s removal

The National President, The Apostolic Church of Nigeria, Pastor Gabriel Oladele Olutola, has on Thursday expressed the Church’s readiness to support the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on infrastructural development by giving up a branch of the church at the heart of the state capital for road construction.
The Clergy stated this while receiving an  N87,932,510 cheque as compensation for The Apostolic Church of Nigeria whose branch at Olaiya Junction in Osogbo has been marked for removal to allow for the construction of Olaiya-Ita Olokan dual carriage way.
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Pastor Olutola held that the Church is a partner with the governor in his quest to turn Osun’s fortune around for good, thus the agreement by the church on the separation of her branch for the project to enhance free flow of traffic at the popular Olaiya Junction.
He also expressed satisfaction over the decision of the state to compensate the church, saying Governor Aregbesola has distinguished himself as an epitome of transformation and performance.
Olutola noted that the leadership of the church found it easy to cooperate with government on the removal of the church building simply because it has been the principle of the church to abide and support the authority.
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The Clergy said, “We want to thank God today that the leadership of our church and Government of Osun were able to arrive at a meaningful conclusion that resorted in this compensation.
“Our general principle in the Apostolic Church is respect for constituted authorities and government, because the Holy Book (Bible) teaches us to obey those people in the position of authority. That is why we deemed it fit to release the church for the state to construct road which we believe will serve the general public.
“With this compensation, our Governor has really shown to us his love for peace and passion for development which has manifested and impacted tremendously in the lives of Osun people.
“It is our duty as men of God to pray, support and as well assist government in all ramifications for general success, and we are ready to continue in supporting this administration because once government fails, we all fail.
‎The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola however used the occasion of the presentation of cheque to the church to reiterate that his administration remains committed to its resolve to turn the state around through massive infrastructural development and financial re-engineering in the face of the present cash crunch affecting the country.‎
Aregbesola stressed that he will live up to his statutory responsibilities regardless of the current economic situation the state may be encountering.

He noted that the church was valued at sum of N57.9 million, stressing that the state having considered the constant renovation of the church resolved to add N30million to its valued cost making N87.9 million.

The Governor disclosed that his administration had paid over one billion Naira as compensation to people whose property will be affected in the course of development and transformation of the state.

He stated that his government has also made available N392 million as compensation fees for another set of 149 identified to have been affected by various constructions going on in the state.

Aregbesola emphasised that people whose property fall between Olaiya-Odiolowo axis will be compensated monetarily, while those around Isale-Osun/Ita Olokan axis would be resettled to Awosuru area, Osogbo.
He pointed out his government would not in any way trample on the rights of the citizens, saying the time has come for all and sundry to see personal sacrifice as a veritable tool to all-round development.
Governor Aregbesola noted that his government has no intention to victimise or disturb people of the state including religious organisations.
According to him, ” Before our administration, physical planning of our towns and cities was nothing to write home about as the state lacked availability of good access roads. I am confident that this era would go down in history. Our desire is to modernise our towns particularly the state capital and city centres through our urban renewal projects.

“Our joy is in the fact that the leadership of the Apostolic Church of Nigeria has agreed to our request to remove one of its branches in Osogbo for the purpose of upgrading and beatification of the state.
“Our government has set aside N392 million as compensation to our people whose property will be removed in the course of the ongoing reconstruction of Olaiya-Ita Olokan.

“We are doing this in other to give our towns a befitting look and guard against any form of human and vehicular conflict within our cities, dual carriage ways have been the priority of our administration since inception”.

Governor Aregbesola therefore commended the leadership of the church for being part of the state developmental process.

“I thank the leadership of this church for their willingness to be part of the progress of our state particularly the state capital. We thank God that your church has really cooperated and supported us, infact this is win-win for us.

“We pray God to reward the leadership of the church, the members and those who contributed to the success of this agreement” he stressed.

Ahead of the public presentation of the instruments of office to the 51^st Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II by the Osun State Government today, Monday, the State House of Assembly has congratulated the monarch on his coronation.
The Assembly, which felicitated with Oba Ogunwusi Ojaja II through its Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Oyintiloye Olatunbosun, noted that the towering confidence in his ascendancy would serve as a catalyst for the advancement of Ile-Ife, the Yoruba nation and the country at large.

The legislators said they are convinced that the credentials of the monarch is a testimony to the candor and tireless creativity the king would bring to the throne.
They also lauded the ruling houses for the manner in which they harmoniously resolved their differences during the selection process just as they congratulated the state government of Osun, the Council of Obas, and the good people of the state, especially the descendants of Ile – Ife, home and abroad for the peaceful transition.
“The spontaneous enthusiasm that greeted the announcement of the new monarch across Ile Ife, the state of Osun, and the entire nation is a substantiation of the better days ahead”, Oyintiloye explained.
The Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Najeem Salam, in a goodwill message to the Ooni during a parliamentary session, enjoined him to give inimitable service, and surpass the worthy legacies of his predecessors.
Hon. Salam also urged him to join hands with other traditional rulers and government at all levels to inspire harmony, peace and development in the country.
The lawmakers implored the Ooni to use his position as the custodian of the cultural heritage and traditions of the Yoruba land for the service of the people, urging him to be father to all.
They further urged the Ooni to use his royal office to foster peaceful coexistence not only in Ife and the Yoruba land but throughout the country and beyond.
The assembly further called on the new monarch to use his wealth of experience in business to uplift the fortunes of Ile-Ife industrially, politically and socially.
They equally charged the people of the ancient town to support the new monarch in his efforts to make Ife the pride of all.

The Osun State government has trained about 210 youths as tax revenue marshals to help in the collection of tax especially from the informal sector.
This was disclosed by the acting Chairman of Osun Internal Revenue Service (ORIS), Dayo Oyebanji, at a three-day capacity building programme for the trainees in Oshogbo, the Osun State capital.
Mr Oyebanji said the training became necessary owing to a drastic drop in the monthly revenue coming to the state from the Federation Account.
He explained that the tax collectors were expected to deal with the informal sector of the state economy by taking the collection process to the doorsteps of market men and women, shop owners, artisans among others.
The OIRS boss, who maintained that there would be no room for tax evasion and avoidance, emphasised on the need for all citizens of the state to perform ‎their civic responsibility by ensuring prompt payment of their tax.
‎He hinted that the agency had embarked on massive sensitisation , adding that the prompt payment of tax would drastically boost the revenue of the state and make it attractive to potential investors.
Drawn from the 30 Local Government Areas across the state, the tax collectors named “Osun Revenue Marshals”, were armed with Point of Sales (POS) machines each to ease their activities.
This comes as part of efforts to increase the revenue generation drive in Osun State, South-west Nigeria.
CHANNELS TV

…say agriculture remains the largest employer of labour

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Oyo State counterpart, Senator Abiola Ajimobi have urged Nigerians to see agriculture as a better alternative to oil in the resuscitation of the country’s ailing economy.
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The Governors stated this in their separate speeches during the seventh Annual Lecture of Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun.
The duo noted that agriculture remains the largest employer of labour hence the need for individuals and government at all levels to encourage agriculture in a bid to revamp the dwindling economic fortune of Nigeria.
Aregbesola said since oil has been selling for less than $40 for the past months, it is quite predictable that the figures for November, when it is ready, would have dropped again.
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The Governor comparing the present situation when Osun collected N55.8 million to 2013 when the average  money distributed to states from the federation accounts was in excess of N800 billion, said Osun’s average allocation then was N3.6 billion.
According to him, “While our monthly wage bill is N3.6billion, the highest amount we have received this year alone was N2.1 billion. It went as low as N466 million in April while the figure for September was N55 million.
“Don’t think this is a problem for the states alone. The Federal Government under the last PDP administration had to borrow N476 billion from commercial banks to pay salaries of some of its workers (not all) for the last four months of that better forgotten tenure.
“We did not make this up. This statement came from the administration’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.The implication is that governments will be under a lot of strain to pay salaries, sustain themselves and embark on meaningful projects for the citizens.
“This also mean that employment in the public sector will be frozen. If this trend continues, it is a recipe for social upheaval and a mortal threat to the survival of the Nigerian state.Given that oil is volatile. Some unforeseen conflict in the Middle East might trigger price surge and change this scenario altogether.
“However, what we are sure of is that Iran will soon add to the oil glut once the sanctions on it are lifted and increasing research and innovations in alternative energy sources will continue to reduce demand for oil and push further down the price.
He noted that the current economic challenges is an opportunity for government to urgently diversify the economy and break the monopoly of oil, adding that it will also be an opportunity to explore other areas like agriculture, solid minerals, communication technology and services.
“If we respond to this challenge appropriately, the creative energy of our people, especially the youth, will be activated and unleashed. This will lead to increased productivity and wealth creation on a scale we have never witnessed before.
“While it may appear difficult, it is not undoable. The ancient counsel remains, that no matter how far one has gone on a wrong path, the right thing to do is to turn back, if one is to get to the destination. No one can get out of a pit by continuing to dig deeper. One must stop digging”. Aregbesola emphasised.
He maintained that the time has come for government at all levels to come up with value-adding agriculture to re-engineer the socio-political and economic structures of Nigeria.
Governor Ajimobi who was the Guest Speaker spoke on a topic titled “State Financing and Over-dependence on Oil: Issues and challenges”  identified a number of factors responsible for the on-going financial crisis in the country.
He called for true federalism as being practiced in advanced countries of the world, saying it is abnormal in any true federalism for any tier to be financially incapacitated as being experienced in the country.
Ajimobi stated that out of the 36 states in the federal structure, not as many as five could survive without federal allocation, saying apart from Rivers, Lagos, Enugu, Delta, Katsina, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Bayelsa State, which have tried to balance their budgets since creation, all the other States have had to depend more on Federal Government for survival.
He said, “Ordinarily, states are supposed to make use of their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for recurrent expenditure while statutory allocations are to take care of capital expenditure; but the reverse is pathetically the case currently.
“The current scenario whereby IGR and statutory allocation combined are not sufficiently for states to meet their financial obligations is indeed unfortunate. This has resorted to a situation whereby most states cannot generate the required funds needed to pay workers’ salaries.
“Government at the centre is currently assigned 52.68 percent of Federation Account revenues, including 7.5 percent of the account originally earmarked for “Special” projects like the development of the Federal Capital Territory and the amelioration of national ecological emergencies.
“The state and the localities, on the other hand, respectively get 26.72 and 20.60 percent of Federation Account revenues. Nonetheless, over-dependence on oil has made nonsense of this Allocation Formula and what is allocated to each tier except the Federal Government.
“The problem of this heavy dependence on the oil sector, started as far back as 1992 when global crude oil prices started fluctuating from $18.4 to $61 per barrel in 2006 and reached $115.05 per barrel by June 2014. Beyond these latent facts, bureaucratic and political corruption combined have crippled a number of states financially”. He lamented.
Ajimobi said the agricultural sector that has been neglected for long on what he described as “black gold” should be revamped to enhance food security, reduce importation of food items and engage able-bodied citizens who are presently either out rightly unemployed or under-employed.
He implored the students to imbibe the spirit of positive leadership qualities by joining the train of development as they explore technology positively to advance in the current and future world.

Following dwindling resources from the federation account to Osun State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola has sought the approval of the state House of Assembly to withdraw N1.25 billion from the Omoluabi Conservation Fund to assist government in the provision of infrastructure in the state.
He sought the approval through a letter to the Assembly, dated November 27, 2015, which was read by the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam, at the plenary,  yesterday.
Omoluabi Conservation Fund Law 2012, sponsored by the executive, was passed by the Assembly as a way of bailing the state out of emergency whenever such occured.
According to the Speaker, the letter read: “The law stipulates that an amount not exceeding 50 per cent of the outstanding balance in the fund can be withdrawn upon the approval of the Assembly to address such emergency.
“You are quite aware that for some months now, the state government has been having serious financial challenges which have been preventing it from meeting some of its basic functions.
“This development is largely attributable to the national economic downturn aggravated by the continuous decline in revenue accrueable to the state from the Federation Account in the last two years.
“The insufficient fund has made it difficult for government to meet the basic needs of the people, especially the provision of infrastructure to enhance physical development of the state which is certainly an emergency that is not palatable.
“It is against this background that I seek the approval of the Honourable House of Assembly to withdraw the sum of N1.25 billion being 50 per cent of the N2.5 billion in the Osun Omoluabi Conservation Fund to assist government in the provision of infrastructure in the state.”
Subsequently, the Speaker directed that the letter be forwarded to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation for proper consideration.
He directed that the committee should refer to the law, ascertain whether the request was in compliance with the law and report back to the house within one week, with a view to giving the request the appropriate attention it deserves.
Meanwhile, the Assembly concluded the consideration of the Land Use Charge Bill at the committee of the whole, as the Speaker directed the Clerk at Table to produce the clean copy of the bill by next week Tuesday for the final passage.
VANGUARD

Photos of  Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, the Host Governor, State of Osun,Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Guest  Lecturer/Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the Chairman of the Occasion, former Vice Chancellor University of Uyo, Prof. Fola Lasisi during the Seventh Annual Public Lecture of Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students, Obafemi Awolowo University Chapter in Honour of Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, at the University Conference Centre, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, on Tuesday 01-12-2015.

Host Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle), Alhaji
Lateef Femi Okunnu (left) and Guest Lecturer/Oyo State Governor,
Senator Abiola Ajimobi during the Seventh Annual Public Lecture of
Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students, Obafemi Awolowo University
Chapter in Honour of Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, at the University
Conference Centre, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, on Tuesday 01-12-2015.

From left – Guest Lecturer/Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola
Ajimobi, Host Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Alhaji
Lateef Femi Okunnu and Oyo State Chairman All Progressive Congress
(APC), Chief Akin Oke during the Seventh Annual Public Lecture of
Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students, Obafemi Awolowo University
Chapter in Honour of Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, at the University
Conference Centre, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, on Tuesday 01-12-2015.

From right – Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, Host Governor, State of Osun,
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Guest Lecturer/Oyo State Governor, Senator
Abiola Ajimobi and Chairman of the Occasion, former Vice Chancellor
University of Uyo, Prof. Fola Lasisi during the Seventh Annual Public
Lecture of Nigeria Association of Muslim Law Students, Obafemi Awolowo
University Chapter in Honour of Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu, at the
University Conference Centre, Ile-Ife, State of Osun, on Tuesday
01-12-2015.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has charged Nigerians to call on God for the sustainability and revival of the ailing economy of the country.

The Governor stated this while addressing Christian faithful at a two-day crusade organised by The Deeper Life Christian Ministry in Osogbo.

Aregbesola noted that the only way out of the current sociopolitical, economic and religious crises in the country is for Nigerians and all religious leaders, irrespective of religion and background to continuously seek the face of God for the good of the country.
He held that one of the ways to ameliorate the current economic situation of the country is for all to remain united and in fervent in prayers in order to liberate Nigeria from its present cash crunch.
The Governor also tasked religious leaders to put before God various challenges facing the country, saying without their quick intervention, the nation’s economy may be heading for the worst.
He described the visit of the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor Williams Folorunso Kumuyi as timely, saying his evangelical mission to Osun State would go a long way in helping his administration and the good people of the state.
According to Aregbesola, “Without mincing words, our highly revered man of God has come to our state at the right time because Nigeria as a whole needs spiritual deliverance.
“We cannot but plead to our religious leaders to help this country in prayers, fasting and counseling for total delivery and liberation”.
The Governor lamented the sharp drop in the global prices of crude oil, saying the nation has reached a stage where government at all levels must rise to the occasion and shift attention from the dwindling fortunes of crude oil to agriculture.
Aregbesola called for a real economic diversification, adding that, not until the country’s economy is diversified and sustained, the dwindling federal allocation to the states will continue.

In his sermon, the General Superintendent, Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor Williams Folorunso Kumuyi charged Nigerians to move closer to God and always seek for His divine intervention in whatever they do.
Kumuyi attributed the challenges facing Nigeria to “lack of dedication to the will of God” among people, saying time has come for everyone to hold on to God and seek His mercy, favour and blessings.
He said, “We shall not relent on our efforts as men of God to achieve total liberation for all and sundry. This is also the time for us to move closer to our creator and devote ourselves to Him to lead us through and save us from this artificial bondage”, Pastor Kumuyi stated.

Pictures of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun, kick starts the final of the football competition tagged: Governors Cup in commemoration of the first anniversary of his second term in office, at the Osogbo City Stadium last weekend.

Photos of the Chief Executive Officer Rave FM 91.7, Mr. Femi Adefila, the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and the Chairman of Occasion, Dr.Yemi Farounbi, during the Official Commissioning of Rave F.M Radio, at Agunbelewo, Area Osogbo, State of Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

From left- Chief Executive Officer Rave FM 91.7, Mr. Femi Adefila,
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman of Occasion,
Dr.Yemi Farounbi and King Dr. Sunny Ade, during the Official
Commissioning of Rave F.M Radio at Agunbelewo,Area Osogbo, State of
Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

Chief Executive Officer Rave FM 91.7, Mr. Femi Adefila (left),
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (middle), and Chairman
of Occasion, Dr.Yemi Farounbi (right), during the Official
Commissioning of Rave F.M Radio, at Agunbelewo, Area Osogbo, State of
Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

From right- Chairman of Occasion, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, Governor State of
Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chief Executive Officer Rave FM 91.7,
Mr. Femi Adefila, and his Wife Dr. Bimbola Adefila during the Official
Commissioning of Rav F.M Radio at Agunbelewo,Area Osogbo, State of
Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

From right- Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chief
Ebenezer Babatope, Former Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Erelu
Olusola Obada and King Dr. Sunny Ade during the Official
Commissioning of Rav F.M Radio at Agunbelewo,Area Osogbo, State of
Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

Chief Executive Officer Rave FM 91.7, Mr. Femi Adefila and Governor
State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola during the Official
Commissioning of Rav e F.M Radio at Agunbelewo,Area Osogbo, State of
Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

From left- Chief Executive Officer Rave FM 91.7, Mr. Femi Adefila,
Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman of Occasion,
Dr. Yemi Farounbi, King Dr. Sunny Ade, Managing Director De Rauf,
Comrade Amitolu Shittu, and Chairman All Progressive Congress (APC),
State of Osun, Prince Adegboyega Famodun during the Official
Commissioning of Rav e F.M Radio at Agunbelewo,Area Osogbo, State of
Osun, on Thursday 26/11/2015.

From left- Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman
of Occasion, Dr. Yemi Farounbi and Chief Executive Officer Rave FM
91.7, Mr. Femi Adefila during the Official Commissioning of Rav e F.M
Radio at Agunbelewo,Area Osogbo, State of Osun, on Thursday
26/11/2015.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola has said all projects embarked on by his administration will be completed before the end of his tenure.
Aregbesola said that he was not bothered by politicians “fabricating lies over the state of finance of Osun State.”
The governor spoke in Osogbo, Osun State capital at the opening of a new privately-owned radio station, Rave FM, Dr. Yemi Farounbi.
Farounbi is a veteran journalist turned politician.
At the event, Aregbesola said all “detractors and opposition will soon come to appreciate my administration when all projects embarked on are completed before the end of my tenure in office.”
Though he acknowledged that things were financially tough for the state, he said help was on the way for the state.
He said the Gbongan-Akoda Road project and others in the state would commence before the first quarter of 2016 and that no project would be abandoned by his administration at the end of its tenure.
He said, “I will not be disturbed by bad comments from some people about my policies because I believe in God who sent me to Osun and supports me.
“What we are doing in Osun may not be appreciated now, but it will become what people will praise later; we came here and all we have been doing has been inspired by God.”
Aregbesola described as shameful the exaggeration of the debt profile of the state by some parties.
He said, “If we borrowed N800bn, like some (people) said, how could we have been able to pay the loan interest? How could we have survived? Though we took loan, and that is the only way we could have brought development to the state; as tough as it is, God and His help is on the way and Osun shall overcome.”
Farounbi thanked the governor for his support even though they belonged to different parties.
He said, “I remember when I was nominated as an ambassador and I needed the support of two senators from my state. I went to Senator Adeyeye, who is my brother, and all the senators in my state were from the Action Congress of Nigeria.
“It was Adeyeye who told me that I needed not to be bothered as the governor (Aregbesola) had instructed all the senators from the state to support me. Without meeting you (Aregbesola), you made me proud. I am grateful for all you have done, even though, I did not see you and despite the fact that we are not from the same political background.”
Meanwhile, the governor on Friday also inaugurated the reconstruction of Olaiya-Junction-Asubiaro-Ita Olokan Road in Osogbo, the state capital.
PUNCH