The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has on Friday said that his administration will not be deterred in its resolve to take education in the state to a greater height.
The  governor stated this ‎in Ede during the second phase of flag-off and distribution of tablets of knowledge across the public secondary schools in the state.
‎Aregbesola who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran described the intervention of the E-stand-alone tablet of knowledge as a fundamental breakthrough in education in the state.‎
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He said “Opon Imo” is a serious achievement by his administration in education intervention and innovation that has received various commendations globally.
The Governor added that his government came up with this innovation to ensure better improvement in both internal and external examinations which he said had suffered a serious setback before his assumption in office.
Aregbesola disclosed that the distribution of the computer device will cut across the SSS 3 students in all the public schools in the state.
“We are here at Adventist High School, Ede to kick off the distribution of Tablets of Knowledge known as “Opon Imo” to all the high school students across the state of Osun.
“The tablets of knowledge which is acknowledged both nationally and internationally is a tablet that makes teaching and learning easier in our state.
“We request our students to make good and judicious use of it because it is a great opportunity for them to have a computer based tablets of knowledge to assist their learning technique.
“Aside from that, both principal and subject teachers should be enjoined to ensure that they give the desired guidance to the students on the proper use of Opon Imo in the sense that whoever for any reason among the beneficiaries (students) misapply its uses, it will attract N50,000 fine and this is backup by legislation of the Osun State House of Assembly.
“The distribution will go round the entire three senatorial districts of Osun State”, he said.
Commenting on why the first distributed Tablets of Knowledge were retrieved from the students, he said it was done to upgrade, repackage and give those students who have been promoted to SSS 3 class the equal opportunity to use the e-learning device.
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“After a session, we retrieved those materials for upgrading, re packaging and repair because it was obvious that some of these materials might have been damaged by the beneficiaries since they are not meant for keep by the students.
“In as much as it is a tablet that is meant for generation yet unborn, there is need for both government and the students to see it as a valuable assets need to be carefully preserved and protected.
“Its use is mainly for students who are successfully promoted to SSS 3 class and these electronic device would be used for West African Senior School Certificate Examination(WASSCE), National Examination Council Examination (NECO), and Unified Tertiary
Matriculation Examination (UTME).
On the significant impact of Opon Imo since its introduction, Governor Aregbesola said since the advent of the electronic gadgets which serve as crucial educational intervention, the performance of students across the state has tremendously improved in terms of results and academic prizes.
He said, “When you look at the status of our education in terms of our students WAEC results, Academic accolades and performances in the past before the advent of ‘Opon Imo’ by juxtaposing it with the current situation in the education sector, there is no doubt in the fact that we have improved geometrically and purposefully.
“Our landmark achievents on education has been manifested in the quality of public school products.
“Spontaneous development has been recorded since the intervention of this technological initiative of our administration as our students results have improved through the academic tools being given to them, while their performance has been on the increase.
He charged the school principals of all the public schools in the state to convene meetings and interactive sections with parents of their students on the need to assist their wards on proper protection and preservation of the device given to them.
Aregbesola said, “There is need for the parents of our students to be properly oriented and enlightened on the carefully use of the Opon Imo because some students are very careless to the extent that they may misapply or misuse the device outside what it was meant for.
“The era whereby students can just misapply the opportunity given to them through tablets of knowledge has gone because there is a law being enacted by the State House of Assembly prohibiting such act and whoever breaches it would face the consequences.
“Therefore, our parents must be properly schooled and enlightened on the good maintenance of this device. They must be guided on its better uses as they are expected to take it as an essential commodity, because it is not for students to keep, they will use it and pass it on to those behind them after graduation.‎

Photos showing a Cross section of SSS 3 Students of Adventist High School, Ede displaying theTablets of Knowledge (Opon Imo) given them by the State Government of Osun,  during the second phase flag-off and distribution of Tablets of Knowledge to Senior Secondary School Students across the Public High Schools in the State, at the Adventist High School’s Premises, on Friday 13-11-2015.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran,
presenting Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) to an SSS 3 Student of the
Adventist High School, Ede, Ogundiya Mesefiu; Principal of the school,
Mr. Anthony Ojo (4th right), and a teacher, Mrs. Ogungbaroye Janet,
during the second phase flag-off and distribution of Tablets of
Knowledge to Senior Secondary School Students across the Public High
Schools in the State, at the Adventist High School’s Premises, on
Friday 13-11-2015.

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran
presenting the Tablet of Knowledge (Opon Imo) to Students, during the
second phase flag-off and distribution of Tablets of Knowledge to
Senior Secondary School Students across the Public High Schools in the
State, at the Adventist High School’s Premises, on Friday 13-11-2015.

Cross section of SSS 3 Students of Adventist High School, Ede
displaying theTablets of Knowledge (Opon Imo) given them by the State
Government of Osun, during the second phase flag-off and distribution
of Tablets of Knowledge to Senior Secondary School Students across the
Public High Schools in the State, at the Adventist High School’s
Premises, on Friday 13-11-2015.

Cross section of SSS 3 Students of Adventist High School, Ede
displaying theTablets of Knowledge (Opon Imo) given them by the State
Government of Osun, during the second phase flag-off and distribution
of Tablets of Knowledge to Senior Secondary School Students across the
Public High Schools in the State, at the Adventist High School’s
Premises, on Friday 13-11-2015.

Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education, State of Osun, Mr.Lawrence
Oyeniran (middle); Principal of Adventist High School, Ede, Mr Anthony
Ojo and other teachers with some students, during the second phase
flag-off and distribution of Tablets of Knowledge to Senior Secondary
School Students across the Public High Schools in the State, at the
Adventist High School’s Premises, on Friday 13-11-2015.

Pictures of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and the All Progressive Congress, National Leader, Senator Bola Hamed Tinubu , during the Official Commissioning & Launch of the Mile 12- Ikorodu Road Widening and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Operation at BRT Depot, Majidun, Ikorodu on Thursday 12/11/2015.

From left – Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; All
Progressive Congress, National Leader, Senator Bola Hamed Tinubu,
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and others, during the Official
Commissioning & Launch of the Mile 12- Ikorodu Road Widening and Bus
Rapid Transit (BRT) Operation at BRT Depot, Majidun, Ikorodu on
Thursday 12/11/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Lagos State Governor,
Akinwunmi Ambode and All Progressive Congress, National Leader,
Senator Bola Hamed Tinubu , during the Official Commissioning & Launch
of the Mile 12- Ikorodu Road Widening and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Operation at BRT Depot, Majidun, Ikorodu on Thursday 12/11/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left), Lagos State
Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode (right), All Progressive Congress, National
Leader, Senator Bola Hamed Tinubu (2nd right)and Member House of Rep.
Ikorodu 1&2 lagos State, Hon. Jimi Benson (right) during the Official
Commissioning & Launch of the Mile 12- Ikorodu Road Widening and Bus
Rapid Transit (BRT) Operation at BRT Depot, Majidun, Ikorodu on
Thursday 12/11/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left), Lagos State
Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode (right), and All Progressive Congress,
National Leader, Senator Bola Hamed Tinubu (middle), during the
Official Commissioning & Launch of the Mile 12- Ikorodu Road Widening
and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Operation at BRT Depot, Majidun, Ikorodu
on Thursday 12/11/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left), Lagos State
Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode (right), and All Progressive Congress,
National Leader, Senator Bola Hamed Tinubu (middle), during the
Official Commissioning & Launch of the Mile 12- Ikorodu Road Widening
and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Operation at BRT Depot, Majidun, Ikorodu
on Thursday 12/11/2015.

The management of World Bank has rated the State of Osun as the best among its peers in the implementation, management and maintenance of Rural Access and Mobility Projects (RAMP) being financed by the institution across the states of the federation.
The global financial institution gave this commendation through its team led by Engineer Olatunji Hammed during a second phase project presentation to the state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Addressing the gathering, Engr Hammed disclosed that Osun State has put up an exemplary performance in the quality of its unprecedented developmental projects that centred on the lives of the generality of its populace most especially the rural dwellers.
Engineer Hammed said Osun has been able to maintain its status as the first state that has successfully maintained it roads to enhance productivity and as well as improve the economy of the state through accessible and motor able roads, linking community to community, village to village, town to town as well as city to city.
He said Osun State has always been number one as it remains the pacesetter for its counterparts in terms of rural based road maintenance which according to him, has prompted other states to come to Osun in order to learn rural access roads maintenance skills.
Hammed revealed that in spite of the fact that the state is blessed with multitude of villages, towns and cities, the state has the best roads connectivity in the country.

According to him, “Rural Access and Mobility Project has helped significantly in harnessing and exploring the agricultural potentiality of the rural dwellers in the area of transportation of farm produce to urban cities as roads rural/urban roads are being aggressively linked and exposed for easier accessibility.
“There is no doubt about the fact that many states in the country are jealous of Osun in terms of its rapid developmental projects which aims at improving the general well being of its populace as the state ever remained the best in implementation, management and maintenance of community based roads across the length and breadth of the state.
“This wouldn’t have been impossible if not for the support of Governor Aregbesola towards the Rural Access and Mobility Project which has impacted meaningfully in the teeming lives of the citizenry.
Engineer Hammed said the institution’s findings on the phase1 of the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP1) and general roads construction in the state have shown the accelerated improvement in the general lives of the citizenry most importantly that of the rural dwellers as it has contributed meaningfully and productively in the agricultural activities.
Having assessed the state in terms of socio-infrastructural, political and economic developments, Engineer Hammed disclosed that the roads network in the state have the best linkage which according to him could always stand the test of time.
He extolled Governor Aregbesola’s commitment and dedication towards the well being of his people, saying he has proven himself and distinguished his administration’s uniqueness in his quest for quality and standard construction materials which has resorted to long-last and durable roads being constructed in the state since his administration.
He described Governor Aregbesola as an ardent lover of good governance and political stability, adding that his roles in bringing the dividends of democracy to the door steps of his people could not be forgotten.
He described the RAMP programme as the only alternative mechanism and instrument which government at all levels need for the successful realization of economic diversification as the country is planning to shift face and attention from being over-reliant on crude oil production to full agricultural production.
He however advocated for unwavering support and collaboration with the current government in the country and Osun State in particular in taking the state and nation to the lofty high of prosperous future.
He stressed that the state compassion on the well being and development of rural dwellers had yielded positive results as new life of economic transformation and development has been brought to those communities.

In his address, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, said Osun was the first state to involve the communities in the adoption and management of the roads across the state since the commencement of his administration.

Governor Aregbesola said the project (RAMP) is popular to the people in the state and that consciousness is linked to the need of providing the best his government could in terms of quality facilities and materials for roads construction.
He said his government having identified the needs of its rural dwellers, embarked on the massive roads network across the nooks and crannies of the state in order to break the wide gap between the people at the remote areas and urban residents.

Governor Aregbesola stated that Osun, having been rated best in the implementation of the RAMP project, has no reason to strive further in the actualisation of its comprehensive development agenda.
He pledged that the state under his watch will do everything possible to look for money to make up her counterpart fund for the phase2 of the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP 11) that is set to commence.
Governor Aregbesola stressed that Osun was keen in the project simply because the state has been wrongly tagged “Civil Service State” which in reality, according to him, is a peasant agrarian state.
Why justifying his position, Governor Aregbesola said as a matter of fact the entire resources of the state even at the best of time was N4.6billion which was a period when the state received its highest allocation, saying the last chunk of this statutory allocation amounts to the sum of N3.6billion which was dedicated to payment of civil servants’ salary arrears, gratuity, pensions and other emoluments.

He explained further that the state with the population of 4.5million that received its highest allocation of N4.6billion means that as at then, it had to service the population of 4.5million, which by calculation means that each citizen would receive N1000. He said what a citizen gets cannot even cater for a day old baby for one month.
He noted that a sincere assessment of the state allocation resources and resources from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) show that the state lives on agricultural values.
Governor Aregbesola said the state exists on the sweats and labour of those unsung men and women in rural areas who are struggling and labouring every day to improve the agricultural commodities that are painfully brought to the market.

He lamented over the dwindling allocation to the state, saying since June, 2013, the financial activities of the state had been hugely damaged due to what he described as unjust reduction.
Governor Aregbesola buttressed his point by disclosing that the state got for its September allocation, a paltry sum of N1.8billion. He said such revenue cannot be the basis for the economy of Osun.
According to him, “We engaged in Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) because we know that it is through this provision that we can support the economy of this state by meeting the core needs of rural dwellers, access and support the evacuation of their farm produce to the markets.
“It is because of our genuine commitment to energize the rural dwellers in their onerous duty of producing agricultural commodity that we are passionate and aggressively committed to RAMP.
“Though financially, we are highly constrained but even in spite of that constraint, we are committed to RAMP and I pledge that we will quickly mobilize our counterpart fund to usher in the commencement of the RAMP2.

Governor Aregbesola said the project implementation support programme on Rural Access Mobility Project has gone a long way at ameliorating and transforming the lives of the marginalized, dejected and abandoned people at rural areas.

He expressed gratitude to the management of World Bank for coming up with what he described as people development programme.
He said, “Without any sense of doubt, implementation of approximately 225killometers of rural roads currently being rehabilitated and constructed across the length and breadth of Osun have started yielding fruitful results going by the information reaching me and my visit to all the rural areas and project sites across the state.
“Farm produce as well as human and vehicular movement have improved considerably as farmers can easily evacuate farm produce without stress and this has increased our economy and social activities as developmental projects had speedily sprung up.
“Demand for land acquisition for developmental projects has been on increase and to say the least, it has improved our people livelihood.

“We are the government that holds our people well being and development in high esteem as we are committed to the successful implementation of project and its sustainability.
“It is not an overstatement to say that Osun is leading other participating states and we will continue to lead because we will not rest on our oars in ensuring that all necessary conditions needed for the successful implementation of this project are met.

SPEECH BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OSUN, OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA, AT THE PUBLIC PRESENTATION OF FOOTPRINTS SINCE 1931: THE STORY OF A NIGERIAN TEACHER AND POLITICIAN, THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SENATOR MOJISOLUWA AKINFENWA AT AIRPORT HOTEL, IKEJA, ON THURSDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2015
 
Protocols,
A GIANT’S FOOTPRINT
It gives me great pleasure to be here at the public presentation of Footprints Since 1931: The Story of a Nigerian Teacher and Politician, the autobiography of our revered father and political leader, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa.
As the host governor of Baba Akinfenwa in our Osun homestead, though for an even holding in Lagos, I welcome you all to this event in celebration of our own but a citizen of the world, whom you have all come to honour with your distinguished presence.
Senator Akinfenwa is a great Nigerian, a Yoruba leader and the quintessential Ijesa who has paid his dues and left giant footprints on the sands of time in these 84 past years, and still counting.
Though he has been a teacher and politician (a rare combination in those days), Baba Akinfenwa rocked Ijesaland as the principal of Hope Grammar School, a no-nonsense disciplinarian, who became famous far and near as the embodiment of discipline and a mentor for secondary school pupils and teachers.
He continued on this path of greatness when he was appointed the Commissioner for Education under Chief Bola Ige’s administration in the Second Republic. He became even more famous as he superintended the formulation and successful implementation of the free education programme of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) in the old Oyo State. Under that programme, new schools emerged overnight and teachers were recruited at the speed of light to accommodate the thousands of pupils who were given fresh opportunities to attend secondary school. Many of them were taken off apprenticeship where they were engaged in one vocational training or another. Today by the grace of God, they are professors, engineers, doctors, bankers, teachers and professionals in all walks of life.
In the heady days of the military, he was with the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), a broad coalition of intrepid warriors that fought to protect Yorubaland and the return of democracy. At the return of civil rule in 1999, Baba was one of the founders of Alliance for Democracy (AD) and on which platform he contested and won election into the Nigerian Senate, representing Osun East Senatorial District of Osun.
In the senate, he was a strong voice for the opposition in a house dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with their sulphurous and suffocating grip on the nation, the economy, the opposition and the Nigerian state.
The circumstances that led to the crisis in AD and his not being part of the metamorphosis of our political tendency into the All Progressives Congress (APC) can best be described as unfortunate. But Baba is a progressive at heart and has lived all his life to promote the progressive idea and cause. More importantly, he has been consistent. Though Baba has refused to move with the train, he has held forth at the AD, not swayed by pecuniary gains to hop into the doomed PDP vehicle. This is called integrity.
Indeed, he was one of the leaders of our party and our race I contacted before launching my governorship ambition. He received me most warmly and gave his unfettered blessing. He has also been one of our pillars of support, even in our most trying period.
His biography which has been captured in the book being presented here today, will no doubt be rich and will offer rare insight into the circumstances that shaped his politics; the influences that shaped his character and personality; the environment of his emergence, his habits, inspirations and never before known aspects of his life. It will afford us to see in a new light his strength and weakness as a human being.
All these have been captured and frozen in time for the benefits of scholars of politics, politicians and students of leadership to read and learn from.
It is therefore a great honour and privilege to present this book on a great achiever, a leader and an Ijesa icon who has given his all towards the building of a better Nigerian.
I thank the publishers, the author, his family and friends for the kind invitation to this event and wish us all a safe journey back to our various posts.
I thank you all for your kind attention.

Pictures of the Wife of Osun State Governor and Chief Host, Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola with her counterparts from Oyo, Mrs Florence Ajimobi and Mrs Feyisetan Fayose, at the High-Level Meeting on Female Genital Mutilation, at Aurora Event Center, Osogbo on Tuesday 10-11-2015

From left, Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf
Aregbesola; his wife/Chief Host, Sherifat; Wife of Oyo State
Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; and her Ekiti State counterpart, Mrs
Feyisetan Fayose, at the High-Level Meeting on Female Genital
Mutilation, at Aurora Event Centre, Osogbo on Tuesday 10-11-2015

From left, Wife of Osun State Governor and Chief Host, Mrs Sherifat
Aregbesola; her counterparts from Oyo, Mrs Florence Ajimobi and Mrs
Feyisetan Fayose, at the High-Level Meeting on Female Genital
Mutilation, at Aurora Event Center, Osogbo on Tuesday 10-11-2015

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife and Chief
Host, Sherifat; Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi;
Ekiti State Governor wife, Mrs Feyosetan Fayose and Special Adviser to
Imo State Governor in Charge of Programmes, Mrs Ngozi Adamadualoh.
Presenting gift to them is the United Nations Population Fund
representative, Mrs Ratideai Ndhlovu (right), at the High-Level
Meeting on Female Genital Mutilation, at Aurora Event Centre, Osogbo
on Tuesday 10-11-201

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his wife and Chief
Host, Sherifat; Wife of Oyo State Governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi;
Ekiti State Governor wife, Mrs Feyosetan Fayose and Special Adviser to
Imo State Governor in Charge of Programmes, Mrs Ngozi Adamadualoh.
Presenting gift to them is the United Nations Population Fund
representative, Mrs Ratideai Ndhlovu (right), at the High-Level
Meeting on Female Genital Mutilation, at Aurora Event Centre, Osogbo
on Tuesday 10-11-201

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbe‎sola has commended former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for prohibiting female genital mutilation in Nigeria.

The governor gave this commendation while speaking at a programme organised by‎ United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and Shericare Foundation (SCARF) at the opening of a High-level meeting on female genital mutilation in Osogbo.

Aregbesola stated that if the former President has been alleged of not performing by majority of Nigerians, he must still be lauded for signing into law on 5th May 2015, the Female Genital Mutilation Laws.

He held that it must not go unnoticed that it was under the administration of Jonathan that it became a crime for anybody to mutilate the genital organ of a female in the name of circumcision or any other guise.

The governor described the practice as bad, borne out of primitive idea of the effort to continually dominate females in the society which must be stopped by all well-meaning Nigerians.

Aregbesola averred that government at all levels must ensure that they work towards the eradication of the act which has no advantage whatsoever.

He said, “If I have been saying that the former President has not done any good for the country like most people have been saying, I want to use this opportunity to commend the former President for just one good thing he has done on the female genital mutilation law.

“Former President Goodluck Jonathan did one good thing against Female Genital Mutilation, which makes it a crime for anybody to mutilate the genital organ, there is a law signed by him‎ on the 5th of May this year.

“Everybody must work hard to ensure that the practise is done away with, besides the damage it has done to women, it has create health challenges like acute urinary retention, delvery and child birth is affected, infection and many other complications.

“We have not established any scientific advantage let alone any religion supporting the practise. It is just an human design to suppress the other sex. We must all UNFPA and SCARF to tell our society that an end must be put to Female Genital Mutilation in our society and Nigeria”.

Earlier, the wife of the of the Osun Governor and the President of the Shericare Foundation (SCARF) Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola in her welcome address described female genital mutilation as primitive.

Mrs. Aregbesola stated that it is disturbing that the primitive practice is ‎prevalent in Osun, saying all hands will be on deck at ensuring that the archaic practice is eradicated in a no long distant time.

She chided the procedure of female genital mutilation which involves partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, noting that the procedures intentionally alter and cause injury to the female genital organ.

President of SCARF stated that the country has existing national policies and law banning female genital mutilation, adding that a recent survey conducted by United Nation Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) revealed a prevalence of 27percent for women ages 15-49 and 19.2percent for girls 0-14 years.

She added that if the present trends continue, two million, seven hundred and eighteen thousand girls born between 2010-2015 will be at risk of experiencing female genital mutilation by 2030.

She said, ” I thank you all for honouring the call to this notable and historic meeting on our collective drive to eradicate a practice that bear no good for girls and women.

“Our meeting here today will be the first in the series of high level collective efforts initiated by the UNFPA to eradicate female genital mutilation. Female genital cutting of female in our society is very disturbing”. She told the gathering.

Speaking also, the country representative of the UNFPA, Ms. Ratidzai Ndhlovu, charged Osun to work and ensure the eradication of the practice.

She stressed that‎ Osun has the highest prevalence rate of 7.6percent followed by Oyo state with 7.2percent rate.

The UNFPA boss added that it is important for the wives of governors in the country and other stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with the existing law on female genital mutilation and also the stepping up of advocacy.

‎In attendance was the wife of the Oyo state governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, the wife of the governor of Ekiti State, Mrs Feyi Fayose, representative of the wife of the governor of Lagos, Imo and Ebonyi, Iyaloja of Osun, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade among others.

Government of Osun State has offered fi­nancial relief pack­age of N31 million to the victims of a fire outbreak that engulfed Atakumosa Market, Ilesa.
The market, which is the biggest in Ilesa town, was caught by fire on Sun­day, August 9, 2015, leaving shops and goods worth millions of naira destroyed.
Presenting cheques to some of the victims running to hundreds last Thursday, the Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said the relieve package was aimed at cush­ioning the effect of the in­ferno on the victims and the economy.
Represented by the Chair­man, Ilesa West Local Gov­ernment, Alhaji Azeez Ad­esiji, the governor said the market would be rebuilt to meet international standard.
According to him, the relieve package was offered to the victims due to the concern of his administra­tion to the plight of the citi­zenry and in line with its commitment to see to the peoples’ welfare.
He said: “In spite of the economic situation in Osun, we still consider it necessary to support the traders who were the vic­tims of the inferno.
“This government will continue to do everything possible to make lives meaningful to the people, no matter the distraction”, he said.
The Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon­ourable Timothy Owoeye who represents Ilesa East constituency commended the governor for showing concern to the welfare of the people in spite of the economic situation.
NATIONAL MIRROR

Pictures of the newly installed Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi acknowledging cheers from the people of Iwo  during his Turbaning/Installation, at Oluwo Palace, Iwo, State of Osun, on Monday 9/11/2015.

Newly installed Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi being installed
by Sobaloju of Iwoland, Chief Safiriyu Aremu, during the
Turbaning/Installation of the new Oluwo of Iwo, at Oluwo Palace, Iwo,
State of Osun on Monday 9/11/2015.

Newly installed Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi atop vehicle
acknowledging cheers from the people of Iwo during his
Turbaning/Installation, at Oluwo Palace, Iwo, State of Osun, on Monday
9/11/2015.

Newly installed Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi (2nd left);
Secretary to Osun Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti (3rd left);
Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy Office of the
Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon ( left); Former House of Assembly
Member, Hon Esikiel Adedibu (2nd right) and others, during the
Turbaning/Installation of the new Oluwo of Iwo, at Oluwo Palace, Iwo,
State of Osun on Monday 9/11/2015.

The ancient city of Iwo stood still on Monday when the Oluwo-elect, Prince Abdul-rasheed Adewale Akanbi entered triumphantly in to the town for the installation process.

Major streets in the city, witnessed heavy traffic jam as the convoy of the Oluwo snaked through Ori-eru, Odo-ori, Ile-omosan and Ojaba axis of the city where people lined up the streets to welcome the new Monarch.

‎The installation ceremony followed the approval of the appointment of the new monarch by Osun Government after the completion of due process by the king makers.

The Oluwo-elect in an Open roof Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle raising his clutched fists to acknowledge cheers from people after about  three hours ‎drive to get to the palace was turbaned by League of Imam and Alfas led by sheik Imran Adio.

The turbaning ceremony ‎was followed by the symbolic traditional decoration of the Monarch with “Akoko” leaf by the Oosa of Iwo Kingdom, Chief Bello Orobimpe.

Traditional gunshots rented the air by Iwo traditionalists heralding the reign of ‎the new Oluwo of Iwo thus signalling the completion of first phase of the Monarch traditional rights.

The Oluwo-elect after the turbaning ceremony was led by traditionalists and chiefs to the “Ile Onto” to continue further installation rights before the crowning of‎ Prince Abdul-rasheed Adewale Akanbi.

Speaking after the installation ceremony, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti stated that the day is an historical day in the ancient town.

He held that the recent happening in Iwo is another indication of the commitment of the Aregbesola administration to one of his six-point integral plans of promotion of communal peace and progress.

‎Adeoti said, “I salute the courage and understanding of all, this day is historic in the sense that Iwo in about three years ago was without a king, but we are happy that this day of a new king has come.

“We need the cooperation of all and sundry, I call on everybody to join hands with the new monarch in the task to build the town. Iwo can not afford to stand still, we must strive as we enter a new era to develop our Land.

“I call on the people of Iwo most especially youths ‎to rally round the new monarch and the state government for the development of Iwoland, the state and the country at large”. The SSG emphasised.

Dignitaries at the installation ceremony included, the Asiwaju of Iwoland and former Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Gbadegesin Adedeji, Former Commissioner for Agriculture, old Oyo state, Alhaji Bola Asafa, Octogenarian and Ekerin Oluwo, Otunba Ganiyu Aremu, Former Special Adviser to Governor Aregbesola on Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, among others.