THE  Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, has appealed to workers to resume so that Governor Rauf Aregbesola can kick start the recovery of the economy.
Speaking with reporters in his palace in Osogbo yesterday, the traditional ruler, who praised workers for their patience, urged labour leaders to show understanding.
Oba Olanipekun decried the propaganda about the Aregbesola administration.
“We have been reading on the Internet and newspapers that some people are trying to jeopardise the good effort of the government.
“And we have to enlighten the public. Aregbesola should be praised for his numerous achievements.
“Despite the fact that Osun is the least paid in terms of federal allocation, Aregbesola has achieved far more than his predecessors.
“He has changed the face of the state, particularly Osogbo. He has repaired many roads in the state.
“Aregbesola has recorded several achievements. I beg the workers to rally round him to make the state bounce back.
“I’m appealing to workers to show understanding. Some of the roads he built and rehabilitated have attracted development to the state. We, the people of Osogbo, have no regret in supporting Aregbesola.”
THE NATION
 

Pictures showing a Cross section of Passengers boarding Free Train Services provided by Osun State Government from Osogbo to Lagos in Commemoration of 2015 Eid-el-fitri Celebration, at Osogbo Terminus of Nigerian Railway Corporation, on Monday 20/07/2015.

Here is an infograpic that elucidates the true state of Osun’s Salary Burden, stating How We Got Here.

Please read, and share with family and friends. Let’s educate the world on the true state of our state.

Other facts will follow in the following days.

Hundreds of Osun Muslims fateful that came to celebrate their Eid-El-Fitri celebration from Lagos and other states went back to their different locations through free rail services provided by the Osun State Government.
The last batch of the people left Osogbo Terminus of Nigeria Railway around 11am where former Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismail Alagbada, accompanied by the former Special Adviser in the ministry, Dr. Olalekan Yinusa, Director of Commerce, Mrs. Mary Asaolu, bided them farewell to their destinations.
The state government had provided free rail service for the indigenes of the state from Lagos and other states that want to celebrate the festival in the state.
Former State Commissioner for Commerce, Mr. Ismail Alagbada, said that Osun State was unique, adding that there was no state in the federation that was doing such project.
He enjoined the people to continue to support the administration of Rauf Aregebsola for more dividends of democracy.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has said the surveillance helicopter purchased by his administration would soon be given the necessary assistance it requires by the Federal Government.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the media aide to the governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the governor gave the assurance when the Police Community Relations Committee paid him a courtesy visit.
The statement confirms earlier claims by the state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Gboyega Famodun, who last month accused the Goodluck Jonathan/PDP-led administration of frustrating Mr. Aregbesola’s plan to put the chopper into use to assist security agencies in surveillance.
Famodun said the FG-controlled Nigerian Communications Commission refused to provide the special code for the helicopter to be linked with ground equipment provided by the state government for surveillance.
But Aregbesola said, “With the recent government at the centre, the helicopter we purchased for aerial surveillance will be in full operation with the issuance of the sort code needed for its operation”.
Aregbesola also called on the police committee to treat the issue of cultism with seriousness, noting that the menace must not be allowed to have a firm footing in the state.
He said, “I want all hands to be on the deck to make our state a no-go area for people with criminal intent. Despite our ranking as one of the least state with crime in the country, much still needs be done to get rid of the little criminals still hanging around the state.
“We are among one of the states with the purchase of high numbers of equipment, we have armoured personnel carrier that can convey 20 armed policemen with surveillance camera and other security gadgets mounted on it.
“We are conscious of the fact that without security, there can’t be a state, that’s why our administration is handling security with utmost importance”.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Abubakar Marafa, commended Gov. Aregbesola for providing operational vehicles and other equipment for the police in the state.
The CP, who was represented by Mr. Tunde Showole, said with the numbers of vehicles and other equipment provided by the state government, the police does not have any excuse regarding operation vehicles.
INFORMATION NIGERIA

The Osun State government has said it has no plan of sacking 10,000 workers.
It said the “so-called plan to sack workers” was in the imagination of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The governor’s media aide, Semiu Okanlawon, in a statement, advised the people to dismiss the allegation.
The statement reads: “Discerning and decent people have come to the conclusion that when the PDP makes any allegation it must be quickly dismissed because it is in its character to fabricate falsehood to confuse the public.
“But the relevant question that must be asked is has PDP’s notoriety in lying helped it achieve anything in Osun?
“The answer is no. And that is because the people who understand the positive impacts of the Aregbesola administration have left the PDP behind in its lying act.”
The PDP raised the alarm that the All Progressives Congress (APC)- led government has concluded plans to retrench 10,000 workers.
A statement by its spokesperson, Diran Odeyemi, said: “The modalities to be adopted to downsize is being handled by an APC stalwart, who allegedly did a similar “job” during the tenure of Chief Bisi Akande, when workers were unceremoniously eased out of service.”
Describing the allegation as false, Okanlawon said: “This latest falsehood is part of its calculated move to misinform workers, confuse them and demoralise them. Nowhere has the Aregbesola administration signified any intention to sack workers.
“The party failed woefully in its plot to capitalise on  workers’ delayed salaries to instigate them against the government by sponsoring protests.
“We are aware it is plotting another crisis just to advance the dubious plan to cause mayhem.
“As for its other allegations, such as the issue of 50 per cent of salaries paid to workers on Grade Level 8 and above, the PDP dubiously remained silent on the fact that other categories of workers got their full salaries.
“On the allegation that Aregbesola refused to sell the helicopter being used for Surveillance, it is important to note that the PDP and its leaders have run out of fresh ideas with which to blackmail this government.
“Aregbesola’s family does not use the helicopter. The helicopter procured on lease agreement in 2012 as part of the Osun Swift Action Squad  cannot be the reason for the delay in salaries.
“In its warped understanding, its governorship candidate, Iyiola Omisore, accused this government of buying a helicopter at N8 billion.
“We are sure it has been embarrassed when it found out what a helicopter costs.”

Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Nasim Salaam spoke with reporters in Osogbo, the state capital, on the wage crisis and allegations of financial recklessness by Justice Olamide Oloyode against Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
THERE appears to have been at a standstill now for lack of fund to pay workers’ salaries and complete the abandoned projects, what is your take on this?
Osun, is passing through a phase, not standstill, and it is so, because Osun just like others, is a constituent unit of a troubled nation which was raped badly by the ousted Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) regime. And if President Muhammadu Buhari could describe the country as at present as Augean stable that must be cleaned up for forward march, what do you expect Osun as an integral part to do?
Look, let us face the reality, the predicament we are in is not about the making of an individual, governor or poor economic planning; it is a structural problem and not until the top gets it right, the federating units would still be contending with epileptic mode of economy and financial topsy-turvy. Because the kind of federalism we practise is what I call ‘feeding bottle’ federalism. For no state could access her resources to surge up her finance. Everything belongs to the Federal Government, and the federal government may not be ready to tap your own resources now, because there is one laying the golden eggs already.
For instance, the entire Ilesa township is sitting on gold of South Africa quantity according to experts  who came visiting of recently. Yet we, as a state cannot mine it, because it is considered a national asset, just the way Ondo State could not tap its bitumen anyhow. So, each state of the federation must defer to the centre for ecological fund, education tax fund and so on and so forth. So, we you are not a friend f the centre and the sitting President is vindictive, then you are in for a big trouble.
As for Osun, we are one of the least paid in the federal allocation and now that our allocation has fallen short of what can be used to defray salaries of workers alone, what can we do. Strategise on how to wriggle out and that is what is going on now. Yes, it takes time, but we have to do it.
However, some people believe that the governor has bitten more than he could chew in terms of capital projects and that the state has been dragged to heavy debts in the process, that is why no amount of allocation could solve the problem at hand, what can you say to this?
People outside the government have the right to their own opinions, but it would be unfair to hold the position of the bitter opposition as statement of facts, because their insinuations are full of fallacies and innuendoes. One, let it be known that executive could not do anything without the knowledge of the legislature. Two, we have to endorse any borrowing; three, we have the power to oversight the projects captured in the budget. So, when some people say the governor has don this, has done that, the impression is that the governor has the power of death and life without being questioned. No, democracy does not work like that.
The true picture is, Governor Rauf Aregbesola came to Osun and was dissatisfied with the state of under-development he inherited and he vowed to remove the state from a sleeping mode, change the sedentary life of the people and reawakening its commerce and position the state among the comity of performing states. Do not forget that Osun used to be a civil service state before the emergence of Aregbesola and that made the civil servants to dictate everything then, ranging from who should be the governor; how should the economy of the state be run and so on, making Osun to be revolving with  funds that is less than what obtained in a branch of a commercial bank in Lagos.
So, he began with infrastructure, education, agriculture and youth engagement. Look, we should be careful not to make crime out of the zeal to serve the people, because it is convenient for Aregbesola to pay salaries and flashes some substandard projects, and introduce the media the media blitz to them and keep the rest of the accruals to himself, but he chose to work and the lazy opposition are talking. Unfortunately, the media that ought to be investigative and place proper judgment in the court of public opinion seem to be  playing along.
On the debt issue. Tell me of any atomic individual moral agent who intends to be great that would not incur debt. When I wanted to build my house, I took a loan from  the bank. That is debt and I suffered to pay back. When an industrialist wants to inaugurate an industry, he approaches bank or a consortium of banks for fund; when an investor is ready to invest, he approaches banks. Then, what is the fuss in approaching financial institutions  for funds to finance public infrastructure. America with its might has a debt ceiling of over $17 trillion and it is a country the same critics want to go and access health, education, and holiday. We have to be fair to ourselves while criticising a government. Of course, it could have been a different ball game if the those monies were borrowed to finance consumption.
See, it saddened me that these days we have to resort to borrowing to offset pension and pay salaries. But for the fact that the banks  could not lend us for now as a result of vindictive directive given to the banks by the ousted Dr Goodluck Jonathan administration. The noise is everywhere that the state could not pay salaries. Yes, it is painful that we have to find ourselves in this situation and it is disturbing to see our workers suffering, but what can an individual do when the entire country with the same connective rod is in trouble?
Besides, what you called abandoned projects are not abandoned, they are only on a halt for want of funds. Immediately the state rebound, the contractors will be back o the sites and the work will be done.
A serving judge in the state judiciary has just petitioned the legislature to investigate financial recklessness of Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy, urging  the parliament to begin impeachment process against them. How far?
We have more than one petition for and against the governor and we have inaugurated an investigative panel headed by my deputy, who is a lawyer, an engineer with journalistic background to work on the petitions. So, wait for the report.
But the minority leader has expressed his opposition to the composition of the committee, protesting the exclusion of an opposition member from it, would that not question the credibility of the report?
Those who wrote the petitions knew the House of Assembly under my watch is credible and they have faith in the process. Besides, it is my prerogative to constitute a panel that could do the job as the Speaker. As the Speaker, I see all, members as honourable men, but all of them could not be appointed into a seven man committee. Moreso, ranking and experience count in the legislative business. The chairman is in the House for more than six years now, and he is a lawyer and journalist. There are accountants, administrator economist and individual with security background among them. So, it is a committee that is carefully woven to search everywhere to serve the interest of the  people. As for the minority leader, he is playing his role and he does not have to agree with us on everything. And I appreciate that, but at least he must have his say not necessarily his way.
Meanwhile, the report will be submitted to the House for debate and the minority leader will have his say on it, but if he is part of the committee, he would be barred as a matter of rule, to speak on it when the report is presented. So, he must know that we have done him a favour by reserving a room for him on the floor when the report is ready. I chose to toe that part to starve off the tyranny of the majority.
When do we expect the report?
When the committee is ready. But not less than two weeks.
There is a feeling out there that this parliament is in the armpit of the governor, how true is this?
I am glad you said a feeling”. Look, if there is any mindset like that, I think anarchy is attributed to it. I was the Speaker for four  years and we engaged the executive without rancour. I don’t believe in negotiating a course with violence, I believe in constructive engagement and in fairness to Aregbesola, he has never disrespected us as a parliament. Even, while his deputy, Mrs. Titi-Laoye Tomori was supervising education ministry, she had appeared before the education committee for explanation. So, why do we need to take a fight to the pages of newspapers in order to assert independence? That was the culture when we were evolving, but the world has moved on.
Are you going to be part of the stakeholders’ summit that is being packaged by Yinka Odumakin and Muyiwa Oladimeji group, for you have been advocating for it?
Smile. I can’t be part of a summit whose report is predetermined to smear the personality of an individual who the promoters believe would forever constitute a clog to their plan to hijack power in the state for their selfish interest. I think the profiles of those who are calling the summit suggests the coming together of renegades who hate Rauf Aregbesola’s gut, and right here I can tell you their three cardinal objectives: one, to hijack power in 2018 having lost out disgracefully in 2014; two, to wage a campaign of calumny against the person of the governor; three, to sex up fictitious figures as our debt profile, expenditure and income arbitrarily. So, you need to place the objective of Odumakins in proper perspective.
If you care to know the grouse of Odumakins, read what Chief Ayo Opadokun said about him. For Muyiwa Oladimeji, I think some of my friends in Osogbo have given me the graphic of his person, and what do you expect from a man who chose to be an incurable reactionary? And I can’t belabour the obvious about their friends, who were given a bloody nose by Aregbesola at the last governorship election. Simply call it a summit of the renegades. Meanwhile, Osun is not ready for the summit of renegades.
A stakeholders’ summit will be called when the governor is ready, because he is the one to implement the resolutions, but the parliament desires to spearhead it because we are to back it up with a piece of legislation.
Can we then say that Osun is bankrupt now?
Bankruptcy is declared when a state or an institution has gone under, and Osun has not gone under. Yes, we have financial challenges and as I said earlier, the challenges are meant for temporary phase. We are working around it and we are progressing gradually. I must acknowledge the unalloyed support of the people and a section of the workers who could think beyond the box.
What can you say is the mood of the state now?
Mixed feelings- mixed feelings because majority of the people were unhappy that a governor with uncommon courage and zeal to serve is being hampered by financial constraint. Some are happy that workers are not paid, because they think that will relaunch themselves back to power in 2018. The workers felt bad because they could not meet their obligations and we on the corridor of power feel the pain the more that we are compelled by extenuating circumstances to meet our obligations. But, I have once said we are tough contenders of  time now. And tough time never last, but tough people do. We shall soon put the situation behind us.
If the report of the committee indicts the governor, would it be impeached?  That is subjudice,  let the report be ready first?
If the governor is exonerated, would the serving judge be sanctioned?
Again, I would not be dragged into preempting the outcome of the investigation. If the report is ready and the debate is conducted, then the resolution of the house will be made public.
Does the parliament under your watch has the tooth to bite the governor?
You seem to have locked your mind up about us. Look, only a governor without emotional intelligence will try to toy with any parliament. However, a tiger will not profess its tigritude, you and I know that an average viper has its venom.
What can you say about the bailout packaged by the Federal Government for the states that are broke?
What obtained with the restructure of indebted states by the Debt Management Office and N250 billion facility that can be tapped is a relief package not a bailout, because the obligations would still be met in the future. But, the immediate result is to liquidate outstanding salaries and other obligations. So, the media should help us to educate the masses better. You see, I suspect a big conspiracy against Osun in the media, because no fewer than 18 states owed salaries of their workers and pensioners and more than 10 states have worst case scenario, but only Osun is made to be the face of defaulting states. But, I take consolation from the submission of Simeon Kolawole in one of his write-up in Thidsay newspaper that when we were bubbling with inauguration of one projects or the other, when Aregbesola was being celebrated around the world for his feat in education and O’ meal, we enjoyed positive media limelight, and what we are witnessing now is a bye product of limelight as well.

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from Muslim faithfuls, during the Post-Ramadan Prayers/Lecture organized by the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Osogbo Branch, on Sunday 19/07/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on the top of vehicle
acknowledging cheers from the Muslim faithful, during the Post-Ramadan
Prayers/Lecture organized by the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT),
Osogbo Branch, on Sunday 19/07/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on the top of vehicle
acknowledging cheers from the Muslim faithful, during the Post-Ramadan
Prayers/Lecture organized by the Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT),
Osogbo Branch, on Sunday 19/07/2015.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola standing while
acknowledging prayers from the members of Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society
(NASFAT), during the Post-2015 Ramadan Prayers/Lecture organized by
(NASFAT), Osogbo Branch, on Sunday 19/07/2015.

From left- Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Chairman,
Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT),Osogbo Branch, Alhaji Rasheed
Adeyemo, Osogbo NASFAT Former Chairmen, Alhaji Biliaminu Ishola and
Alhaji Aliu Kayode Afolabi, during the Post-2015 Ramadan
Prayers/Lecture organized by NASFAT, Osogbo Branch, on Sunday
19/07/2015.

The attention of the Osun chapter of the All Progressives Congress has been drawn to the surreptitious activities of a group by the name Osun Stakeholders which is planning what it calls a summit on Osun education and financial status.

This party is aware of the treasonable intent of the summit and we make bold to say that this is in furtherance of the activities of the same politicians whose agenda have been to destabilise the state.

 After its press conference held in Osogbo to announce its intention, we have been left with no doubt that the summit is another phase of the grand plot of the opposition elements to sustain their campaigns of calumny against the government of APC in Osun.

Or how do we explain various statements credited to the conveners to the effect that “it appears there is no one on top of the situation at the moment” or that “our State of the Living Spring has been in the news…over its near bankruptcy…” and other such inciting statements to the people.

We hereby state categorically that behind this latest plot is the humiliated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the August 9, 2014 election, Iyiola Omisore and his allies.

It is germane to inform all well-meaning, decent individuals who may have been invited by the mischief-makers to this ill-motivated summit but are unaware of the real intention to see through the selfish political aggrandisement that lurks behind it.

The people of Osun in the August 9 2014 election totally rejected Omisore through the ballot. We are aware that after that humiliating defeat and the eventual dismissal of his petition as frivolous by the tribunal, Appeal Tribunal and the Supreme Court, he has been running from pillar to posts to ochestrate all manners of destabilisation plots to bring down the APC government.

The last of these dubious antics was the failed attempt to capitalise on the strike embarked upon by workers in Osun over the delay in payment of salaries.

Last week, the attempt to unleash mayhem on the state through a sponsored protest was foiled by the combined efforts of eagle-eyed security agencies and the vigilant residents of this state who have insisted Omisore cannot get what he lost from the ballot through sponsored violence.

The State of Osun is very much on course. There is peace, there is stability, there is development. The ‘failure’ being highlighted is in the warped minds of the wicked and very few disgruntled individuals who are desperate for power without responsibility.

It is true workers were on strike for six weeks. This is not strange in a democracy? As expected, the basis for that industrial dispute is being resolved through the commitment of the government and the understanding of the workers.

The APC Osun chapter therefore wishes to call the attention of security agencies to this latest plot to destabilise the state.

Signed:

Barr. Kunle Oyatomi,

Director, Media & Strategy,

All Progressive Congress,
State of Osun

The government of Osun State and Margaret Bolanle Fabiyi, a private tourism investor, are to partner on the development of a world-class tourism resort in Ikirun. When completed, the project which is expected to gulp billions of naira, will serve as one-stop-shop for leisure, hospitality, entertainment, shopping, conference business and tours.
The resort, second to none in Nigeria, will also have agricultural component to grow agric tourism and residential houses in addition to creating room for service providers, a hospital, school, jetty, helipad and filling station among other facilities.
While unveiling the project plan to travel writers in Lagos recently, Fabiyi, popularly called Webisco, said the project is huge and would certainly address the problem of unemployment as it would create jobs and also generate revenue for the state in the face of stifling economic condition caused by the fall of crude oil price at the world market.
She disclosed that efforts were being made to complete the land acquisition and documentation, adding that the state government should do the needful by showing above average commitment financially and otherwise to realise the resort.
‘We have acquired a 25 square kilometer land in Ikirun, Osun State for the development of a one-stop tourism resort that would be second to none in Nigeria. The land was facilitated by, Oba Rauf Olawale, the Akirun of Ikirun.
“We are working out the modalities and would make an appropriate comment on its update when we have sorted out the grey arrears”, Fabiyi said.
Fabiyi, who is an active member of most tourism and travel organisations in Nigeria, including Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) is a leading member and country liaising officer for Africa Travel Association (ATA) with headquarters in New York, U.S.A.
“As we continue to invest our individual efforts in promoting and marketing tourism in our country we hope that very soon we will begin to reap the dividends. A trip by President Barack Obama, for instance, would drive heavy traffic to this country. Although we will not bank on that, given that his tenure is running fast, we are committed to continuously promoting our country as the home of hospitality in West Africa”.  Also, as part of her effort to open up the country to influx of tourists, a team of travel writers from the United States of America is expected in the country for the second familiarization tour organised by her in collaboration with the Federal Government to promote tourism in Nigeria.
For the Familiarization Trip, we would get in touch with the facilitators so that we would not be taken unawares when ministers, yet to be appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, assume duty. She hoped to use WIFWETN her NGO, to do the needful by liaising with the authorities to ensure that the trip is fruitful.
Commenting on the security challenges in the country, she remarked that there is no country in the world without security challenges. She however pledged to ensure that the guests are protected during their visit and exposed only to our tourism wealth, to supply them with limitless information of our potentials, because there is the need to move from tourism potential to prosperity now that oil price has become something else.”
“I see our stabilizing democracy as a reason for organizing the familiarization trip. This time, about 10 travel writers from the US are coming as soon as we are ready.  They will spend 12 days. It is in partnership with VALinc PR to compliment what Nigeria tourism writers have been doing. The trip is a deliberate effort to expose top media outlets to travel, vacation and cultural opportunities here and to create a rich itinerary and present to the Americans a balanced package of our endowments. They will experience the traditional Nigeria, visit local producers of food, art, fashion, culinary, nightlife, entertainment, tourist sites, beaches and historical monuments. The trip will be reciprocated, and would also involve a US road show, meetings with appropriate media and business leaders in target areas such as Harlem, and Brooklyn in New York, Atlanta Georgia, Washington DC, Chicago, Illinois among others”, she said.
Top among the visitors are; Fathom Away, Travel and Leisure, Conde Nast Traveller, GQ, Time, New York Daily News, The Chicago Tribune and Cuisine Noir. As much as the country would benefit from the trip, Fabiyi noted that the cost implication is great and so WIFTWEN cannot carry the burden alone, and seeks partnerships of the federal and state governments to execute this project in the coming months.
“As we wait for President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint his ministers, we hope that our minister will have the industry at heart and create more than the enabling environment for tourism to thrive in Nigeria. Our endorsement will be updated and necessary contacts made with governments of Lagos, Osun, FCT, Kogi, Edo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa and Cross River to create a soft landing for this project”.
To access the preparedness of their would-be host, Elizabeth Scott, a delegate from the US was in the country and also expressed her willingness to the media to visit and see things for themselves.
BUSINESS DAY