Photos of the Former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade during the handing over ceremony of displaced people to their families after being rehabilitated by the Aregbesola’s administration, at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend

Former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade {right}, handing over a woman, Mrs. Kafayat azeez, after she has been rehabilitated by the State Government; her husband, Mr. Azeez Jimoh {center}; Kafaya’s family, Mrs Baliqees Ayobami {2nd left}; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Dr Akinyinka Eso {2nd right}; Director of Special Needs in the Ministry, Mrs Taiwo Oladunjoye, during the handing over ceremony of displaced people to their families after been rehabilitated by Aregbesola’s administration, at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend

Former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade, presenting gifts to Mrs. Kafayat Azeez, who has just been rehabilitated by the State Government; her husband, Mr. Azeez Jimoh {left}; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Dr Akinyinka Eso and Director of Special Needs in the Ministry, Mrs Taiwo Oladunjoye,during the handing over ceremony of displaced people to their families after been rehabilitated by Aregbesola’s administration, at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend

Former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade {3 right}, One of displaced person, Mrs. Kafayat azeez [centre], after she has been rehabilitated by the State Government; her husband, Mr. Azeez Jimoh {right}; Kafaya’s family, Mrs Baliqees Ayobami {2nd left}; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Dr Akinyinka Eso {4th left}; Director of Special Needs in the Ministry, Mrs Taiwo Oladunjoye [4th right], others are Kafaya’s families, during the handing over ceremony of displaced people to their families after been rehabilitated by Aregbesola’s administration, at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend

Osun State House of Assembly has assured that the relief package given to the state would be judiciously administered, saying genuine workers would soon have their outstanding salaries defrayed, while the work-in-progress of public infrastructure would not be left unattended to.
It also vowed to drive the anti-corruption crusade with its oversight functions, promising to break bureaucratic bottlenecks and red-tapism, which are capable of dragging development at snail speed and reducing institutions to redundancy.
The speaker, Hon. Najeem Salaam, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Goke Butikakuro, stressed that the parliament under his watch was more than ready to bring all ministries, departments and agencies to account on how budgetary funds appropriated to them were managed with a view to getting them to be on their toes and be accountable to the public.
Salaam reiterated that the state parliament has taken the first leg of its anti-corruption crusade through the passage of the procurement bill into law, stating that the law when signed by Governor Rauf Aregbesola would drive the processes of contract award, purchases of the government and other state transactions; noting that punitive measures were well spelt out for the transgressors.
The Speaker also disclosed that the parliament would obtain the report of ongoing workers’ audit and frisk it in order to be updated on the actual numerical strength of the work force of the state with a view to giving rough tackles to the would-be manipulators of the process.
He expressed the support of assembly to Gov. Aregbesola in plugging all the financial leakages and cutting of cost of governance, while corrupt officials would denied the benefit of the corruption proceeds in the state.
– See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/outstanding-salariesll-be-paid-soon-osun-assembly-assures-workers/#sthash.Z21f23GO.dpuf

• 45 candidates from four ruling houses warming up
• Giesis  ruling house vows not to  allow others to out-smart them.

The Osun State Government will this week commence the processes of filling the vacant stool of the Ooni of Ife,  a government source  yesterday informed THISDAY.
Also, no  fewer than 45 princes from the four ruling houses recognised by government are already warming  up for the vacant stool of Ooni of Ife.
However the Giesi  ruling house has pointed out that it would not allow any other ruling house to outsmart it in the kingship succession, saying it is the turn of the house to produce the next Ooni.
Meanwhile, the state Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs which is  mandated to handle chieftaincy matters has put up a memorandum which has been sent to the Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, but the governor is yet to give  the go ahead to the ministry to commence the process of filling the stool, a source added.
It was gathered that the chieftaincy edict stipulates that the government should commence the process of filling the stool by writing the ruling houses to produce candidate for the stool after 14 days that the stool has been vacant.
The stool of the Ooni of Ife became  vacant following the transition of Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II which was announced by the Osun State Government on August 12, 2015, while the traditional rites was completed on  August 22, 2015.
The four ruling houses are Ogboru, Giesi,  Lafogido and Osinkola.
The Giesi house which has repeatedly said it is its turn to present the Ooni has the highest number of contestants and has designed a form for all contestants which the Chairman of the ruling house, Prince Ropo Ogunwusi, said is being given out freely to any  member of the family who wants to vie for the exalted position.
However, some of the candidates are Prince Isaac Soji Fadehan, the current Director General, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation’, Dr Taiwo Ogunleye, Dr. Abayomi Adegboyega and Dr. Rahman Adedoyin, the Founder of Oduduwa University and The Polytechnic, Ile-Ife.
Osikola house has six candidates from the five branches of the ruling house.
They include Prince Adedamola Aderemi, great grandson of Oba Adesoji Aderemi, the 49th Ooni of Ife who ruled between 1930 and 1980, Prince Ademola Ademiluyi, Prince Yinka Ademiluyi, Dr. Gboyega Ademiluyi, Prince Kanmi Ademiluyi and Prince Adebambo Ademiluyi.
From Ogboru house is Prince Adeagbo Adefemi Adefarakan, a United Kingdom-based oil merchant who is the great grand son of Ooni Olubuse 1.
THISDAY gathered that since the race for the Ooni stool began, many of the princes have begun frequent visits to Ile-Ife, their ancestral homes holding meetings with elders in their families to gain their consents.
Others not named from Lafogido, it was gathered, have embarked on paying visits to former heads of states and highly placed men in the society as well as traditional rulers across the country to solicit their support .
Also, a source reported that some of the candidates have started construction of beautiful edifices in the ancient town as this has been a condition for consideration for the stool.
One of the princes not mentioned, it was  gathered, recently donated four transformers to boost electricity supply in some areas in the ancient city.
THISDAY  equally gathered that the occupation of the exalted  stool of Ooni of Ife has become a battle among the ruling houses as elders of the ruling houses are now at logger head over which ruling house is the next to produce the Ooni.
The vacant stool is already placing these ruling houses on war path by causing ripples among them as they have vowed not to consent to wrong choice from an unacceptable ruling house to occupy the throne.
One of the ruling houses, contesting for the position, Giesi yesterday affirmed that it is its turn to produce the next ruler of the town, contending that the ruling house will do its best to claim what  belongs to it at all cost.
However, when asked on the procedure to be followed, a source said the whole process must be followed in line with tradition and custom, while any thing out of that may not be acceptable to the ruling houses.
THISDAY NEWSPAPER

Cash-strapped workers who are being owed salaries are set to smile again, with the disbursement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) – backed bailout loans for states.
Fourteen banks are disbursing N338 billion “to stimulate the economy”.
Kwara and Zamfara have received their loans and have begun the payment of salary arrears to workers.
A CBN source confirmed that the other states will get the cash this week.
A breakdown of the loans repayable at an interest rate of nine per cent over 20 years is as follows:
Abia- N14.152b; Adamawa- N2.378b; Bauchi- N8.60b; Bayelsa – N1.285b; Benue – N28.013b;
Borno – N7.680b; Cross River – N7.856b; Delta – N10.036b; Ebonyi – N4.063b; Edo – N3.167b; Ekiti – N9.604b; Enugu – 4.207b; Gombe – N16.459b; Imo – N26.806b; Katsina – N3.304b; Kebbi – N0.690b; Kogi – N50.842b; Kwara – N4.320b; Nasarawa – N8.317b; Niger – N4.306b; Ogun – N20.00b; Ondo – N14.686b; Osun – N34.988b; Oyo – N26.606b; Plateau – N5.357b; Sokoto – N10.093b and Zamfara – N10.020b.
The CBN last week announced that it had approved that Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) lend money to requesting states to pay salary arrears owed their workers.
Some of the conditions for accessing the loan include:

• resolutions of the State Executive Council authorising the borrowing;
• State House of Assembly consenting to the loan package; and
• issuance of Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) to ensure timely repayment.

With the signing of the ISPO, “it is clear that the facility is not free as the states’ financial exposure to the banks becomes first line charges deducted from their monthly allocation”.
The CBN official explained that specific figures were attached to the facilities to be disbursed to the states is because “every state is to come up with its specific needs in order to access the facility from the commercial banks. They’re (states) working out what they need from the banks according to the conditions they reached with the banks”.
The decision to borrow money from commercial banks is sequel to the decision by the National Executive Council (NEC) at its June 29 meeting, requesting the CBN “in collaboration with other stakeholders to appraise and consider ways of liquidating the outstanding staff salaries owed by state and local governments.”
The Buhari administration announced a bailout package for states to take care of the backlog of workers’ salaries and access funds for development through the rescheduling of their debts by banks with the CBN’s guarantee.
Eleven states have had their commercial debts to DMBs restructured with a proviso to pay 14.83 per cent of the value of their bonds which their commercial debts were converted to. Eleven others are also to have theirs restructured.
Debt Management Office (DMO) Director-General Abraham Nwankwo said “the restructuring was effected using a re-opening of the FGN-Bond issued on July 18, 2015 and maturing on July 18, 2034. The pricing was based on the yield to date of the bond at a 30-day average, resulting in a transaction yield of 14.83 per cent.”The impact of the restructured states’ commercial debts to domestic bonds, he said, is that “management operations will include: monthly debt service burden will drop by a minimum of 55 per cent and a maximum of 97 per cent, among the 11; and interest rate savings for the 11 states ranging from 3 per cent to 9 per cent per annum.”
THE NATION

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, yesterday acknowledged the Republic of Cuba as a nation that has demonstrated high capacity for international human compassion based on humanitarian commitment to the development of mankind. The governor made this disclosure when the Ambassador of The Republic of Cuba to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Trejo Soza paid a condolence visit  to the governor on the demise of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade  at the Government House in Osogbo.
Others according to him are; Council of Elders, Babalochas, Priests of Cuba, Council of Elder Arará Priests of Cuba and  Council of Priests Chiefs of Cabildos of the Republic of Cuba.Aregbesola commended the Cuban government for its prompt response on the fight against the deadly epidemic of Ebola virus in West Africa. He noted that the government of Osun was elated when all the religious associations in Cuba wrote to commiserate with the state on the demise of the monarch which included; Council of Elder Priests of Ifa of the Republic of Cuba, Council of Elder Priests Oba – Oriaye of Cuba and Council of Elder Iyalochas Priestesses of the Republic of Cuba.
Aregbesola stated that he shared in the ideologies of the Republic of Cuba, saying, in his political consciousness, Cuba is the focus of his activism. Speaking earlier, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos  Soza noted that he is in Osun to pay tribute over the demise of the late Ooni of Ife, who he described as a father of the world.
The Cuban Ambassador was accompanied by the Deputy head of Cuban Commission to Nigeria, Mrs. Miriam Morales Palmero and the wife of the Ambassador, Mrs. Nelba Peirg Morales.
 

Osun State House of Assembly, yesterday harped on the need to block all avenues through which resources are wasted to ensure  steady growth for the state. The lawmakers disclosed this while reviewing the last 24 years of the state’s existence at a special session held to mark 24th anniversary of its creation.
They urged parastatals of government in the state to work out ways of eliminating wastages. The lawmakers also called for re-orientation and attitude of civil servants over the rate of partisanship, expressing worry that the level of partisanship has negated the principle of the ethics of their job.
Commenting, the Speaker, Najeem Salaam said, “The waste of government must be reduced , so that we will focus on things that would improve the social benefit for our people. “Political functionaries and technocrats must be called upon to look into this and be ready to develop the state together. It is a collective responsibility that we must all join hands to achieve.
“Also, the attitude of our workforce and the orientation has to be changed. The rate of partisanship of workers has become a thing of worry. “The ethics of civil service that they should not be partisan seems to have faded out.
VANGUARD

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and others, during an Inspection Tour to the ongoing  school building site at Seventh Day Adventist  high School Ede on Saturday 29/08/2015.

From Right – Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Site Engineer, Mr. Ogundele Adedamola, during an Inspection Tour to the ongoing school building site at Osogbo High School on Saturday 29/08/2015.

From Right – Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Site Engineer, Mr. Ogundele Adedamola, during an Inspection Tour to the ongoing school building site at Osogbo High School on Saturday 29/08/2015.

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right), Site Engineer, Ogundele Adedamola (3rd left),Chief Rotimi Obeisun (2nd right),Surveyor, Mr. Muray Yilmat (2nd left) and Foreman, Bektas Kocut (left), viewing the building prototype of Osogbo Grammar School, during an Inspection Tour to the ongoing school building site at Osogbo high School on Saturday 29/08/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Rotimi Obeisun, during an Inspection Tour to the ongoing school building site at Seventh Day Adventist high School Ede on Saturday 29/08/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola(middle); Chief Rotimi Obeisun(left) and Site Engineer, Mr. Gboyega Adeeyo (right). during an Inspection Tour to the ongoing school building site at Ejigbo high School on Saturday 29/08/2015.

The Forum of Patriotic Members of All Progressives Congress (FOPAMEC) has charged the National Assembly to consider the level of development embark on by government in each state as a yardstick for allocation sharing formula.
National Chairman of the group, Alhaji Garba Lawal spoke in Osogbo at the weekend during a visit to the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the executive of the party in the state.
He said that the various ongoing developmental projects being carried out in Osun are worthy of giving the state more fund from the federation account.
“We have seen that Governor Aregbesola does everything he says, but it is surprising that, with the little resources available to government in this state, you have been able to achieved so much.
“Osun deserve to be reconsidered in giving more fund from allocation, so that there will be more resources for the government to carry out more developmental projects.
“I think it will be appropriate for the National Assembly to consider development in states as a yardstick to give more fund to such state, like Osun”, Lawal said.
The group chairman in another hand called on members, especially in the state to continue to mobilise support for the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in achieving the developmental goal for the country.
Recalling how members of the group mobilised support for President Buhari prior to the 2015 election, he urged members to sustain the tempo and improve on it, with a view to achieving the desired goal.
While welcoming the group on behalf of the governor, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti commended members of the forum for the roles they played at ensuring the emergence of President Buhari.
According to him, the efforts of the group had brought about the desired change that Nigerian yearned for.
He said the Buhari’s statements, utterances, body language and some of his activities have shown that the change the people voted for has started yielding positive result, especialy in the area of anti corruption war.
The SSG lauded President Buhari for the steps taken to bailout states in the federation that are battling with economic challenge, in order to meet up with their financial responsibility.
Also, the APC state chairman, Prince Gbooyega Famoodun attributed the financial challenges faced by Osun governmnet as a paid back from the ousted Dr Goodluck Jonathan administration for spearheading the enthronment of Buhari.
Noting that Nigeria was lacking in so many areas, where the country is facing challenges, he urged the people to always be ready to make sacrifice to ensure Buhari success.
He also commended the president for fortrightness and the committment he has brought into fighting corruption, saying, “this is a battled that has been required for long”.
“We all need to support President Buhari in our own way to succeed in his programmes”, he said.
The FOPAMEC state chairman, Mr Ajasegun Aluko said the APC has been able to succeed in successive elections in the state, because the people of Osun believe in the course of progressive and showed commitment towards it.
He then commended the national executive of the group for encouraging members to play the roles, charging President Buhari to be focus in order to justify the confidence reposed in him.
WORLDSTAGE

Pictures of the Former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade, presenting gifts to Mrs. Kafayat Azeez, who has just been rehabilitated by the State Government and others during the handing over ceremony of displaced people to their families after being rehabilitated by Aregbesola’s administration, at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend

Former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade {right}, handing over a woman, Mrs. Kafayat azeez, after she has been rehabilitated by the State Government; her husband, Mr. Azeez Jimoh {center}; Kafaya’s family, Mrs Baliqees Ayobami {2nd left}; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Dr Akinyinka Eso {2nd right}; Director of Special Needs in the Ministry, Mrs Taiwo Oladunjoye, during the handing over ceremony of displaced people to their families after been rehabilitated by Aregbesola’s administration, at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend

Former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade, presenting gifts to Mrs. Kafayat Azeez, who has just been rehabilitated by the State Government; her husband, Mr. Azeez Jimoh {left}; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Dr Akinyinka Eso and Director of Special Needs in the Ministry, Mrs Taiwo Oladunjoye,during the handing over ceremony of displaced people to their families after been rehabilitated by Aregbesola’s administration, at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend

Former Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Comrade Biyi Odunlade {3 right}, One of displaced person, Mrs. Kafayat azeez [centre], after she has been rehabilitated by the State Government; her husband, Mr. Azeez Jimoh {right}; Kafaya’s family, Mrs Baliqees Ayobami {2nd left}; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths, Sports and Special Needs, Dr Akinyinka Eso {4th left}; Director of Special Needs in the Ministry, Mrs Taiwo Oladunjoye [4th right], others are Kafaya’s families, during the handing over ceremony of displaced people to their families after been rehabilitated by Aregbesola’s administration, at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, at the weekend

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Thursday said in about four years under his watch, Osun has inched closer to the dreams of those who laboured for the creation of the state 24 years ago.

Congratulating the people of the state for what he described as their genuine efforts to build an independent, virile, virtuous and productive Yoruba state, Aregbesola pledged his government’s irrevocable commitment to the cause of ensuring the realisation of the very dreams for the creation of the state.

The governor in a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, in commemoration of the 24^th anniversary of the creation of the state said that the Aregbesola administration is committed to bringing government closer to the people and igniting a revolutionary development paradigm that sets the state on an enduring pedestal.

The statement added, “We are irrevocably committed to a development paradigm that will lift our state to compete with any proud human habitation anywhere in the world.

“We appreciate the fact that the masses, who are the focus of our development strategies, identify the reasons behind our many efforts. For example, our ambitious urban renewal project is aimed at transforming to the 21 century modern cities with life changing infrastructure in place. Projects such as the Oranmiyan New Town, a Central Business District, organised transportation system aided by road networks for the purpose, a functional emergency response scheme in health, security and transportation sectors, modern recreation parks and gardens are all geared towards creating modern environments that our people can call their own.”