Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s commitment to create more local government has been described as a giant step towards grassroots development.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidate for Obokun constituency of the state, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, disclosed this Monday after participating in the referendum conducted by the state Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) for the creation of new councils at his Isale-Alfa Unit 9, Ward 1, Obokun Local Government Area.
Oyintiloye, who commended the initiative of the governor as well as the exercise, noted that the local government creation initiative would deepen good governance.
The governor had presented a bill to the state House of Assembly for the creation of additional 27 local government areas.
He also lauded the state legislature for supporting the governor to achieve his course by directing the commission to conduct the referendum in compliance with the constitution.
According to him, the referendum conducted by OSSIEC has shown that the government is actually serious about the creation of new councils, and committed to meet all legal, technical and constitutional procedure for the exercise.
Describing local government as the closest government to the people at the grassroots, he said the creation of new councils would further bring development closer to the people.
“The move by Ogbeni Aregbesola administration to create more councils has clearly shown that he is indeed a governor of the people that would do everything necessary to ensure the development of the state.
“Eventhough the governor has been doing this since the inception of his administration, he has not relented in his efforts, inspite the dwindling resources of the state.
“The state House of Assembly also deserved commendation for supporting the governor to achieve the milestone of creating new councils that no democratic government has been able to achieved since the creation of the state”, he added.
Noting that the referendum was aimed at feeling the impulse of the people on the exercise, he added that the massive participation of the people in the referendum has shown that the government shared their views.
He urged the OSSIEC to fast-track the submission of his report on the referendum to the legislature for the Assembly to work on it, with a view to ensure that the motive of the exercise is actualised.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

OSUN State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, at the weekend, affirmed that the postponement of the general election by six weeks would never change Nigerians’ resolve to have new leadership at the federal level on May 29.
He said the will of God and peoples’ desire for a positive change would bring about responsive and good governance, through the All Progressives Congress (APC), during the March 28 presidential poll.
Aregbesola, who made this disclosure on Saturday, during a prayer session organised for the presidential candidate of the APC and his running mate, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo, respectively, in Osogbo, urged eligible voters to use their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to chart a new and prosperous course for the nation.
He maintained that apart from Nigerians, who were tired of alleged PDP’s misrule in the last 16 years, the global community was also anxious over the emergence of better managers of the nation human and capital resources.
According to Aregbesola, “the postponement of the general election from February to March and April was an unwarranted development in the country’s democratic experience. It is shocking and the reasons advanced for the postponement were not genuine.
“The presidential election had been fixed for over a year, so why the sudden rescheduling of the date over flimsy excuses. INEC did not contemplate shifting Ekiti and Osun governorship polls for poor PVC collection.”
In his address, former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Honourable Sunday Akere said the prayer session was to remind the people of the state that on Saturday, February 14, Nigerians should have gone to poll to elect the president for the country.
He explained that the postponement will not change the resolve of Nigerians to vote for Buhari and Osinbajo adding that the federal government only delayed the obvious victory of Buhari.
TRIBUNE

Pictures of the Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Former Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Wale Afolabi, Former Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Sunday Akere and Former Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports, Youths and Special Needs, Hon. Biyi Odunlade during an Inter-Religious Prayers Service on the Victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28th Presidential Election, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, on Saturday 14/02/2015.

Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd left); Former
Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Wale Afolabi (left); Former
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Sunday Akere and
Former Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports, Youths and Special
Needs, Hon. Biyi Odunlade during an Inter-Religious Prayers Service on
the Victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential
Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28th Presidential
Election, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, on Saturday
14/02/2015.

From right- Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem
Salam; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Chairman,
Lagos State Mandate Group, Alhaji Abdul- Ganiy Abayomi Badmus and
Senator Representing Osun West Senatorial District, Senator Mudasiru
Hussain during an Inter-Religious Prayers Service on the Victory of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, General
Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28th Presidential Election, at Nelson
Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, on Saturday 14/02/2015.

From right- Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Najeem
Salam; Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Chairman,
Lagos State Mandate Group, Alhaji Abdul- Ganiy Abayomi Badmus and
Senator Representing Osun West Senatorial District, Senator Mudasiru
Hussain during an Inter-Religious Prayers Service on the Victory of
the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate, General
Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28th Presidential Election, at Nelson
Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, on Saturday 14/02/2015.

In her quest to promote Islam as a non-violent religion and find enduring solutions to terrorism, the Muslim World League has invited the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to speak at a discussion in Saudi Arabia.
According to a statement by the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola will be in Saudi Arabia to discuss how to correct the erroneous impression of Jihad and terrorism and proffer lasting solutions to the worsening scourge.

Governor Aregbesola has been very vociferous in his condemnations of the activities of insurgents in parts of Nigeria and other places around the world where terrorism has caused untold carnage.
The meeting will come up at the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz AlSaud in Mecca between the 22nd and 24th of February this year.
‎
The Muslim World League is interested in ending the danger of terrorism and the impact of its propaganda on the Muslim community across the world.
According to the invitation letter addressed to Aregbesola, “We are planning to convene a conference on ‘COMBATING TERRORISM’ under the leadership of the custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Alsaud. It will by the grace of Allah hold in Makkah between 3rd and 5th/5/1436 -22nd to 24th February2015.

“Muslim World League is inviting you to a partnership in this regard to, together, stimulate discussion on the causes of this conflict”.

Governor Aregbesola has been very consistent and persistent in using every medium he has to condemn acts that have continued to paint Muslims in bad light.

As late as January 15^th 2015 on the occasion of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day, Aregbesola had restated his position on the need for a dogged war against insurgents.

Specifically, the governor had in the past also identified acute poverty as a major source of strength for the insurgents arguing that terrorists would run out of suicide bombers if all governments address the problem of poverty.

He had cited various authorities to strengthen his position that issues of faith are personal and that it is not Islamic to compel anyone to follow one’s own faith.

Ahead of the general elections in the country, candidates contesting state and National Assembly posts in Osun State, yesterday, signed a peace accord pledging to abide by rules and regulations laid down by the legal framework for elections in Nigeria.
They did this as the Assistant Controller of Prison, ACP Adelakun Kayode, warned political parties and their supporters to maintain peace, saying prison yards are wide open for any one that causes political trouble before, during and after the elections.
“Tell your supporters to be mindful of their utterances and if they fail to heed advice, prison yards are wide open and are expecting people,” he warned.
Representatives of political parties and some candidates at the state police command pledged to avoid any conduct or behaviour that may endanger the political stability and security of the state.
They also pledged to refrain from campaign of calumny, hate, religious sentiments, ethnic or tribal profiling.
Speaking at the accord meeting, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, assured that the police will ensure protection of lives and property without bias or prejudice.
Okoye however warned that any candidate or supporters caught fomenting trouble would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
State Chairman of All Progressives Congress, Prince Gboyega Famodun, promised that his party will not go contrary to the pledge, urging the police to remain apolitical and fair to all parties.
Also, the State Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Prince Bola Ajao, said that the party will continue to promote peace despite its loss of the governorship petition at the tribunal.
Director of State Security Service, Andrew Iyokia, State Director of National Orientation Agency NOA, Dr Martins Lawrence, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, and other security agency leaders, urged political parties to keep to their promise and take the nation’s interest above personal and partisan concerns.
VANGUARD

In a bid to find a lasting solution to the lingering leadership crises at the Osun State University, the governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday evening set up a five-man visitation panel to the university.

The governor during the setting up of the committee at ‎the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office in Osogbo, admonished universities in Nigeria to be problem solvers rather than creating it.

‎The visitation panel is to be headed by Prof. Adebiyi  Daramola, while Prof. Jacob Ladipo, Prof Omotoye Olorode and Mr. Babatunde Adebayo are members with Mrs. Oluwakemi Kolawole, secretary.

The governor pointed out that the panel shall investigate the basis of the simmering crisis and the misunderstanding between the Management and the Council in the university with a view to finding a lasting solution.

He also charged the panel to determine the roles of individuals and groups in the crisis, with a view to ‎recommending appropriate steps to arrest the ugly situation and prevent a reoccurrence in the future.

The panel, according to Aregbesola, will also ‎proffer solutions to address the issue of disintegration in relationship between students in the institution with special reference to the Ikire Campus.

He urged the visitation panel‎ to complete its assignment and submit their report within four weeks‎ after the inauguration.

‎The governor said, “As you are aware of late there has been some disquieting dust being raised in the institution. The Ikire campus was shut until recently. Now, the management and Council are at loggerheads.

“When a university is thrown into crisis, the non-curricular teaching the students freely take away is the fighting, disorder and disorganisation. Whereas, the ultimate learning they should take away from the university is problem solving skills, and not crisis generating capability.

“Worse still, the energy of the combatants will be dissipated in writing petitions, counter-petitions and fighting, instead of positively deploying it to teaching, mentoring young and impressionable minds and conducting researches.

“This unintended consequence of the university system regrettably has been a reoccurring feature in Nigeria,” Aregbesola pointed out.

He held that universities should direct their research into existential challenges faced by the society, by first solving its own problems, which he described as being similar to those of society.

Aregbesola noted that university can make its environment beautiful, clean, and run it with sustainable resources, which it can easily transfer to the society.

“I find it troubling therefore that our universities are not problem solver but crisis generators. We want to end this and return UNIOSUN on the path of its founding mission”. The governor stressed.

Aregbesola admonished the committee to be fair and listen to all the sides, noting that they should leave no stone unturned by following the truth and care less about stepping on toes.

Speaking, the Chairman of the visitation panel, ‎Prof. Adebiyi  Daramola‎ thanked the governor for giving them the opportunity to serve.

He noted that the committee will try his best to bring out the truth without any fair or favour and that members of the panel will not be short of courage in the discharge of its duties.

He said, “I want to use this opportunity to thank the governor for having confidence in the panel. We will not be short of courage in getting to know the truth of what is happening in UNIOSUN.

“There is something fundamentally wrong with governance in the country. What is happening in the university is a reflection of what is going on in the country. The problem in UNIOSUN is that of governance problem,” The chairman averred.
“The commission hereby assures Mr. Governor that we shall do our work to the best of our ability within the set time frame,’’

The Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori were visited by the Assistant Controller General of Prisons (ACG) Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘F’, Ibadan, Mr Emmanuel Ogundele and Controller of Prisons, Osun Command, Deacon Babalola Kunle on Thursday 12-02-2015 and we have the pictures.

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) with Assistant
Controller General of Prisons (ACG) Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘F’,
Ibadan, Mr Emmanuel Ogundele, during a Courtesy call on the Governor
at Government house, Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 12-02-2015

From right, Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori;
Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Assistant Controller General of Prisons
(ACG) Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘F’, Ibadan, Mr Emmanuel Ogundele,
during a Courtesy call on the Governor at Government house, Osogbo,
State of Osun on Thursday 12-02-2015

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right); his
Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left); Assistant Controller General
of Prisons (ACG) Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘F’, Ibadan, Mr Emmanuel
Ogundele (right) and Controller of Prisons, Osun Command, Deacon
Babalola Kunle (left), during a Courtesy call on the Governor at
Government house, Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 12-02-2015

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd right); his
Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (3rd left); Assistant Controller General
of Prisons (ACG) Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘F’, Ibadan, Mr Emmanuel
Ogundele (2nd right); Controller of Prisons, Osun Command, Deacon
Babalola Kunle (2nd left); Deputy Controller of Prisons, Mrs Gladys
Boluro-Ajayi (right) and Assistant Controller of Prisons, Danmairomu
Shuaibu (left), during a Courtesy call on the Governor at Government
house, Osogbo, State of Osun on Thursday 12-02-2015

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun is seeking an amendment to the law establishing the state’s Debt Management Office (DMO).
A letter to this effect, which was sent to the state House of Assembly by the governor, was read at Wednesday’s plenary by the Speaker, Mr Najeem Salaam.
The letter dated Jan. 6, according to the speaker, contained a request from the governor asking for a reduction in the years of experience of a substantive Director General for the DMO.
The governor requested a reduction in years of professional experience of the Director General from 20 years to 15 years, inaddition to other conditions.
Salaam said the letter made it clear that it had become almost impracticable for the law passed in 2012 to be effective due to the stringent requirements attached to the position.
Also at the plenary, the Osun Water Sector Bill 2015 passed through the first reading.
The Assembly also opposed the postponement of the general elections, saying the action was unnecessary.
(NAN)