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Category: Politics

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_DSC0629Osun State Commissioner for Youths, Sport and Special Needs,  Stephen Kola-Balogun, has raised alarm over the sale of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) in exchange for money saying it is new approach to rig the forthcoming August 9 gubernatorial election in the state by some unscrupulous politicians.

Addressing newsmen in Osogbo over the senario, Kola-Balogun said the new approach adopted by the politicians is undemocratic, criminal and wicked.

While expressing concern over the alleged dubious act explained that collection of voter cards from youths and the elderly people by some politicians across the state should be discouraged.

He warned politicians to desist from such action or be ready to face the wrath of the law.

“It has come to his notice that some people are currently collecting voters cards of youths in exchanged for N10,000 while the elderly ones are being tricked to submit their voters card for peanut.

Kola-Balogun posited that selling and buying of voter cards is a new approach to rigging and must be discouraged for democracy to thrive.?

While calling on youths not to sell their future, Kola-Balogun called on law enforcement agents to investigate the matter and bring to book those found culpable.

DAILY INDEPENDENT

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People gather at the Osun sacred river to collect water during the annual worship festival of a river goddess in Osogbo

People gather at the Osun sacred river to collect water during the annual worship festival of a river goddess in OsogboAS the activities marking this year’s celebration of Osun Osogbo Cultural Festival formally begins, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola and the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun Larooye 11, have called on Nigerians to take advantage of the tourism potential of the cultural fiesta even as the state government targets its share of $4 billion tourism domestic market.

Speaking at the Festival Corporate Forum held in Lagos yesterday, the traditional ruler of Osogbo, who is the custodian and chief celebrant of the yearly festival, said the celebration has gone beyond a religious or cultural affair to that of tourism with the potential to bring about the economic development of the people.

It is for this reason, said the monarch, who spoke through Chief Jimoh Buraimoh, that the festival has continued to attract support with many activities built round it. ‘‘Essentially, these activities with other associated ones, are to springboard cultural tourism development in Osun State and generally in Nigeria,’’ he said.

Also speaking in the same vein, Aregbesola, who was represented at the occasion by his Senior Assistant on Tourism and Culture, Mr. Ladi Soyede, pointed out that it was because of the importance that the state government attached to tourism development that prompted its promotion of cultural events and other related activities in the state, Osun Osogbo Cultural Festival inclusive.

According to him, the huge investment and progress made by the government in the cultural sector in the last three years has impacted on the fortune of the festival as it has become the biggest festival in the country.

Soyede revealed that the festival last year recorded 21, 713 domestic visitors and 123 foreign tourists while the Abuja Carnival, the closet to it recorded 19, 015 domestic tourists and 113 foreign tourists.

He said that the target of the state government is to get its fair share of the estimated $4 billion domestic market and the $3 billion Diaspora market. To this end, he said that the government would double its effort at developing and promoting its cultural and tourism activities

TELEGRAPH

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Mini-Buses – 1a

In the pursuit of the developmental agenda of the Aregbesola administration, various programmes and projects have been rolled out, such as support to farmers under which more than twelve thousand cooperative farmers have been supported to the tune of N753,260,000 and empowerment of over two thousand textile dealers  and three hundred and thirty-two textile dealers and 332 cocoyam off-takers with a combined sum of over. N233,000,000

Some of the Mini-Buses distributed to Members of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria  (RTEAN) and Cooperative Transporters of Nigeria, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun. Insert: From left, Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his Wife, Sherifat; Member, House of Representatives representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency, Honourable Ayo Omidiran and Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr Ismaila Alagbada on Wednesday 09-07-2014

Some of the Mini-Buses distributed to Members of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Cooperative Transporters of Nigeria, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun. Insert: From left, Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his Wife, Sherifat; Member, House of Representatives representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency, Honourable Ayo Omidiran and Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr Ismaila Alagbada on Wednesday 09-07-2014

Some of the Mini-Buses distributed to Members of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria  (RTEAN) and Cooperative Transporters of Nigeria, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun. Insert: From left, Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his Wife, Sherifat; Member, House of Representatives representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency, Honourable Ayo Omidiran and Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr Ismaila Alagbada on Wednesday 09-07-2014

Some of the Mini-Buses distributed to Members of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and Cooperative Transporters of Nigeria, at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun. Insert: From left, Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his Wife, Sherifat; Member, House of Representatives representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency, Honourable Ayo Omidiran and Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr Ismaila Alagbada on Wednesday 09-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right) handing-over key to one of the Mini-Buses to Zonal Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu Local governments, Alhaji Rauf Agboola (2nd left), during the distribution and Launching of Micro Credit Agency at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun. With them are, Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr Ismaila Alagbada (right) and President, Cooperative Transporters, Alhaji Asimiyu Oladejo (left) on Wednesday 09-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (2nd right) handing-over key to one of the Mini-Buses to Zonal Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu Local governments, Alhaji Rauf Agboola (2nd left), during the distribution and Launching of Micro Credit Agency at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun. With them are, Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr Ismaila Alagbada (right) and President, Cooperative Transporters, Alhaji Asimiyu Oladejo (left) on Wednesday 09-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) addressing the crowd, during the Launching of Micro Credit Agency and distribution of Mini-Buses to Cooperative Transporters and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria  (RTEAN) at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 09-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (right) addressing the crowd, during the Launching of Micro Credit Agency and distribution of Mini-Buses to Cooperative Transporters and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 09-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) addressing the crowd, during the Launching of Micro Credit Agency and distribution of Mini-Buses to Cooperative Transporters and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria  (RTEAN) at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 09-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) addressing the crowd, during the Launching of Micro Credit Agency and distribution of Mini-Buses to Cooperative Transporters and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 09-07-2014

From left, Deputy Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye; Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his Wife, Sherifat; Member, House of Representatives representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency, Honourable Ayo Omidiran and Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr Ismaila Alagbada, during the Launching of Micro Credit Agency and distribution of Mini-Buses to Cooperative Transporters and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria  (RTEAN) at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 09-07-2014

From left, Deputy Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye; Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his Wife, Sherifat; Member, House of Representatives representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency, Honourable Ayo Omidiran and Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr Ismaila Alagbada, during the Launching of Micro Credit Agency and distribution of Mini-Buses to Cooperative Transporters and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) at Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo, State of Osun on Wednesday 09-07-2014

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Reactions in Ede –  (20)

Reactions in Ede -  (20)Osun State Governor and candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state governorship election slated for August 9, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday, 8th July, 2014, reaffirmed his warning to the security operatives against bullying or intimidating electorate during the poll saying they will regret such act.

The governor while addressing the party’s supporters who thronged the ancient town of Ede for his re-election campaign rally for Ede/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency advised security agents that would be dispatched to the state during the poll to do what is right or be ready to be dealt with traditional powers.

According to the governor who spoke in Yoruba language, “any security operative that tries to intimidate or bully us will regret it. They should do their job justly or we show them that we are people with tradition and we shall deal with anyone such person ruthlessly.”

While enumerating his numerous achievements in the last three and half years in office which cut across road construction, building of modern schools, empowerment of over 2,000 youths among others, Governor Aregbesola urged electorate to guide their voters cards jealously and desist from selling them to any politician.

Governor Aregbesola explained the dangers in selling their voters cards saying it would hinder progress in the state.

“Don’t sell your voter’s cards for any amount. Don’t even think of it, because it would only tell on generations yet unborn negatively.Your voters cards are your power that would redeem and transform the state the more,” Aregbesola counselled.

Governor Aregbesola who raised alarm of a purported group christened “Omo Ilu Foundation” which forms are being allegedly distributed to the people of the state by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked the people of the state to shun it saying the group is evil.

He specifically told the people of the state of the danger inherent in the form saying the PDP uses it to lure unsuspecting members of the public to a secret cult in order to be victorious at the poll.

The governor however promised that his administration would ensure that the people of the state continued to benefit from his people-oriented policies and programmes adding that he would better the condition of the citizenry if elected for second term in office.

Speaking earlier, the first executive Governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke warned members of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that would serve as ad-hoc officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the election against rigging saying they should not extend their antics in Ekiti to Osun state.

He said: “I want to sound a note of warning to NYCS members, if you have been rigging elections, don’t take it to Osun. We are different, this is not Ekiti. Count and record the votes you see, else, it will boomerang on you.”

Also speaking, the acting state Chairman of APC, Elder Lowo Adebiyi, accused the PDP’s gubernatorial candidate of causing crisis in the state alleging that the latter has been moving round the state with masked security agents.

Adebiyi implored security agencies to investigate Omisore alongside his alleged masked security agents saying they are Boko Haram members disguising as security operatives.

GAZELLE NEWS

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High School Ejigbo pic 3

High School Ejigbo pic 3The Government of the State of Osun regrets to inform members of the public the suspect incidence of the collapse of the Main Hall of the newly completed ultra-modern High School, Ejigbo State of Osun.

Information at the disposal of the government indicates that the Main Hall which had been completed along with other classrooms of the school came down at about 6am Wednesday after a loud bang was heard by those who were within the hall and others within the vicinity of the project.

As a responsible government, it is too early for us to say what the exact cause of the collapse is until we have full investigations and advice of professionals.

However, it must be stated here that all necessary quality assurance tests were carried out to ensure structural durability and integrity of the project just as in all other projects under this administration.

Engineers from the Osun Ministry of Works and engineers from the Structural Engineering section of the Nigerian Society of Engineers have been dispatched to the site to establish the real cause of this unfortunate incident.

Signed:

Semiu Okanlawon

Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy

Office of the Governor

Osogbo

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Reactions in Ede –  (20)

Reactions in Ede -  (20)Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola says the height of urbanisation in any society is the development of modern markets which has the ability to develop the economy of such a society.

Governor Aregbesola made the assertion at the official commissioning of the first and second phases of the Ayegbaju international modern market, in Osogbo, the state capital.

Aregbesola who opined that the market will be the first centre of commerce in the state, described its commissioning as a celebration of wealth, commercialisation and the market women whom he described as the major stakeholders.

> He added that the Ayegbaju International market will be followed by other equally big markets in all the nine major cities that have been listed for the urban renewal programme of the present administration.

> He explained that his administration has continued to embark on people oriented projects aimed at improving the economic status of the state, and impact,positively on the lives of its people.
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Expressing the optimism that the market will definitely enhance the economy of the state, the number one citizen in the state assured the people of the state that his administration will continue to strive for the growth of the state saying it is the main reason he is in government.

In an address, the state Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Mr Bashir Ajibola explained that the market has three phases and that only two phases have been completed, saying that the remaining phase will be ready for commissioning soon.

Hon Ajibola disclosed that the government has also approved the construction two ultra modern markets in Ilesa and Ife(Atakumosa and Oranmiyan modern markets) respectively.

Also speaking, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun expressed appreciation to the Governor for the wonderful feat.

He held that the people of Osogbo will forever be grateful to the administration of Aregbesola for turning Osogbo the state capital into what he described as a mega-city through various infrastructural developments.

In her own remark, the Iyaloja General ,Alhaja Awawu Asindemade appreciated the governor for his genuine interest in the affairs of the market women and the people of the state at large.

Alhaja Asindemade  said the market will not only boost the economy of the state but also affect the lives of the entire citizenry positively

The Ayegbaju International market which has been built on a Public Private Partnership in collaboration with Unity Bank and handled by Edward Property Consult has facilities such as: Mini stalls, Open stalls, Ware house, Lock- up shops, Exclusive shops, Police station, Bank, Medical center, Church, Bukateria, Meat and fish stalls, Wash bay, Cold rooms.

Others facilities in the market also include Mosque, CCTV cameras, Administrative and Maintenance Offices, Administrative lodge among others.

The third phase of the market when completed will have a Petrol station, Mega shopping mall to accommodate cinema and multi-purpose event hall and a three star hotel.

Major roads within were named after prominent sons and daughters of Osogbo as well as names of some families in the town.

The commissioning brought together dignitaries from within and outside the state, among whom is the first lady, Alhaja Serifat Aregbesola, the Deputy Governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye Tomori as well as members of the state executive council.

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_DSC0935Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has urged people of the state to shun religious sentiment and vote for merit in the August 9 governorship election in the state.
The governor, who is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), charged the electorate in the state to see themselves as one irrespective of their religious inclinations.
Aregbesola, who gave the advice at a campaign rally held at Ibokun, Ijesha North Federal constituency, urged Christians, Muslims and traditional worshippers in the state to be united and tolerate one another in order to foster peace and unity in the state.
He said members of the opposition parties are liars who want to use religious difference to discredit him, however, he said their plans won’t work.
The governor, who said his administration has commenced payment of June salary despite the shortage in the federal government’s allocation to the state, said he would not relent in making life better for ordinary citizens of the state.
Aregbesola expressed optimism that come August 9, the APC in the state will emerge victorious and would continue the developmental projects his administration has already embarked upon in the state.
“Let’s be ready to vote with all that we have during the August 9 election. Let’s put in everything that we have; no matter what the opposition does, we shall stand and vote. I thank you for your support and by the grace of God, come August 10, we shall triumph”, he said.
INFORMATION NIGERIA

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_DSC0855Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has stated that he was a product of the people of Osun State, enthusing that “they will still return me for a second term in office to continue our administration’s good work.”

Aregbesola, while speaking with Daily Sun in Osogbo at the weekend said with confidence said, “the people, who produced me to serve them will not desert me on Saturday, August 9,” adding: “They elected me to do what I am doing now and will want me to continue.” Speaking further, the Ilesha-born APC candidate, in retrospective, took a critical look at his performance over three years in office and declared authoritatively that, “there is no household in this community that our programmes have not affected positively.”

Citing an example, the governor mentioned free feeding of primary school pupils, saying “it is one of our programmes that do not discriminate, whether you are Muslim, Christian, pagan, APC, PDP and SDP to mention but just a few.” He reminded that his administration had a periodic programme tagged “walk for life,” saying, it was one of the avenue for a servant to test his acceptability and popularity amongst the people. Aregbesola explained that a lot of people partook in the exercise, with the sole aim to interact with their governor.

He added that the way they trooped out to be with their elected governor was an indication that they still loved him and would continue to love him. Against this backdrop, Aregbesola said he never dreamt that what happened in Ekiti State on June 21 would ever happen in Osun State, exuding confidence that, “by the grace of God, we will win and win well.

OSUN DEFENDER

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Photos showing the people’s reaction towards Governor Rauf Aregbesola in Ede North/Ede South/Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Constituency
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_DSC0600The Hausa community in Osogbo is a very old one, and its members speak fondly of golden ties linking them with their Yoruba hosts.

Alhaji Yahaya Haruna, Chief Imam of the Hausa community in Osogbo whose father is an indigene of Kano, was born in Osogbo in 1925. The Deputy Chief Imam of the Hausa community in Osogbo, Alhaji Muhammed Awal was also born in Osogbo in 1947. Both Alhaji Yahaya and Alhaji Awal have been living in Osogbo since birth ,and they tell Daily Trust that  they are enjoying living in the city.

The Imam who explained that there is cordial relationship among the Hausa and Yoruba communities  in the State, noted that he now claims to be an indigene of Osogbo. “Most of us don’t see ourselves as non-indigenes here, except for the fact that we cannot forget our origin. My younger brother married a Yoruba woman, and they are living comfortably. We enjoy living in Osun.  There is no discrimination between Yorubas and Hausa here.”

Alhaji Awal, the Deputy Imam, married a Yoruba woman and many other people from his family also married Yoruba, while Yoruba people also married from his immediate family. The Deputy Imam of the Hausa community, believes  he has  equal rights  with the Yoruba, especially as he  contested for the position of councillor in 1976. “I contested because I know I have the  right to vote and be voted for in any part of this country. I came second in the election and I challenged the outcome of the election at the election tribunal.But I was persuaded to withdraw the case and support the winner. I can assure you that the Hausa are partaking actively in politics in Osogbo up till now.

60-year-old retired staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Yunusa Sulaimon who hails from Kano, is entitled to become a king in a Yoruba town which  his mother hails from. “My father is Hausa from Kano, but my mother is Yoruba from Ipaye and I’m qualified to become a king in that town, because my mother was a princess.”

Umoru, Muhammed, Alhaji Awal and Alhaji Yahaya as well as Mr. Yunusa, are some of the few examples of northerners who chose to live in Osogbo, and have no reason to regret their stay in the ancient city.

The Hausa people have been  in Osogbo since time immemorial, and majority of them can speak the original Yoruba language and even make use of Yoruba proverbs to illustrate their points during discussions. Also, their Yoruba accent is not different from the accent of a typical Osogbo indigene.

When the Hausa people first migrated to Osogbo, they settled down among the people of the town in various family compounds. Their desire to have a predominant Hausa community warranted the creation of the Sabo in Osogbo about a hundred years ago.
Alhaji Lawal Gonima, the Seriki Hausa ( leader of the Hausas ) in Osun State told Daily Trust that Sabo in Osogbo was founded in 1921. But he does not know when exactly the Hausa first entered Osogbo, as he explained that he did not see any record in that respect.
“Before they created this Sabo, the Hausas were living in various family compounds including Iya Dudu compound, Layiokun compound and Olu-Ode-Aranin family compound as well as Isale Osun. It was the then Ataoja of Osogboland, Oba Dokun who  released this area to the Hausa people free of charge. That was how our people moved down here and formed this Sabo.” After the reign of that monarch, it was then the reign of Ataoja Adenle, and the Hausa people demanded for expansion because of developments. “When we realised that the land we got from Oba Dokun was not sufficient for us, we demanded for more and Oba Adenle granted our request by expanding the area covered by Sabo.

“That was how all these  areas become Sabo as it was expanded to Dogunmun’s compound. They gave us the land free ,and no one has ever come to us to disturb us. If you see any Yoruba that built a  house in this Sabo,  he must have bought the land from the Hausa dwellers.”

To Alhaji Gomina, intermarriage between the Hausa and Yoruba people, is very rampant in Osogbo. He said two of his wives are Yorubas, and that his daughter is also married to a Yoruba man. “There is intermarriage between Hausas and the Yoruba people in Osun.  I also married Yoruba women, while one of my daughters, Khadijah, married a Yoruba man. All our children understand Yoruba and Hausa language very well. In fact, some Yoruba people understand the Hausa language better than their own Yoruba language, while some of us understand Yoruba better than some Yoruba people. We relate well and we are enjoying our stay here.”

Asked whether the state government takes the Hausa community along, the Seriki said “the state government is carrying us along in terms of distribution of dividends of democracy. One of our people was given appointment in the Aregbesola  administration. Also, some of our children were employed in the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme.”

Alhaji Gomina said the Hausa community is not comfortable with the state of roads within the Sabo area, and called on the state government to repair the roads or construct new ones. “We are begging the government to construct roads that lead to Sabo and other roads within Sabo. Our roads here are not good. The one that enters  Sabo from St. James and the  Ayetoro area  is in a terrible state, while the second one is not even passable.”

The Seriki also noted that the past administration of Oyinlola gave some Hajj slots  to the Hausa community, but the administration of Aregbesola has not given them any Hajj slot in the last three years. “During the regime of Olagunsoye Oyinlola as governor, the state government gave us slots  for Hajj ,and I was the one that went to Mecca on that slot.
The government of Aregbesola has not given us  any Hajj slot, but we are still expecting it this year.”

Speaking on the security situation at Sabo, the Seriki disclosed measures put in place to prevent crime and  contain criminals in the area. “There are various measures put in place to ensure security in Sabo,  so as to ensure safety of lives and properties here. We  hold  meetings with the police and the Department of State Security (DSS) regularly, and we also appointed some people as vigilante to monitor movement in this area.

Whenever there is a new immigrant from the north, such person would be referred to our vigilante group, who will screen them to ensure that they don’t constitute security threats. You know everyone is afraid of Boko Haram, and that is why we always make sure that every vehicle that loads or offloads at Sabo is scrutinized. In fact, we banned loading at night for security purposes,” the Seriki said.

Malam Abdul Basir, an indigene of Katsina state has lived in Osogbo for almost 30 years. He is a preacher and he teaches at the Arabic and Islamic School founded by Jama’at Izalattu Bid’a Waika Matul’ Sunna. Governor Aregbesola appointed Basir as Special Assistant on Ethnic matters. Married to a Yoruba woman, unfortunately, Basir’s wife is late.

“I married a Yoruba woman but she is no more. I have four children from my late wife and some of my children are now living with the family of my late wife at their request. My late wife’s sister, who is a lecturer at the University of Maiduguri, is taking  care of the children. My second born child, Abdul-Rahaman is living with her in Maiduguri. My first daughter Yesirat and my last born are in Kano state, while the third born Fatimah is in Ibadan living with a family friend of my late wife. Three of my children can speak Yoruba and Hausa languages very fluently but the one who lives in Ibadan cannot speak Hausa, but she speaks  Yoruba and English.”

Basir said Governor Aregbesola is doing well with the Arewa community in Osun state, and that his appointment as Special Assistant to the governor on ethnic matters, is to facilitate better relationship with the northerners. “I assist the governor on matters affecting Hausas. He promised to appoint more Hausas into his administration in the second term. When he recruited 20,000 youths as OYES, he told me to bring a  list of 100 Hausas from all parts of Osun State. I went round Hausa communities in the state including Iwo, Ikire, Ifon, Ilobu, Apomun, Ikoyi, Ile-ife, Olode garage, Owena, Ikirun, Inisa, Okuku, Ede and Ejigbo. I collated the names and gave it to the governor, and he  employed all of them. He usually gives rams to  our 28 Serikis in Osun State for the  Eid-El-Kabir celebration. In fact, all our Serikis got cows during the first Ileya of the Aregbesola  administration.

“He promised us a Hajj slot this year, and we are expecting it. Also, we have easy access to the governor and we enter the Government House anytime we need to be there. The governor always makes sure that we are  safe. He always asks after our welfare. We are enjoying the state just like every other indigenes of the state, as there is no discrimination here. The governor is also assisting the fulanis in the state. He promised to give them a borehole and teach them modern cattle rearing practices.”
Basir said the wife of the governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola sometimes ago said she wanted to see the Hausa women, and that about 100 Hausa women were subsequently taken to the first lady at the Government House, and she entertained them. He added that Aregbesola’s wife who was born in Kaduna can speak Hausa very well, even though the governor does not understand the Hausa language. Basir told Daily Trust that the Hausa community in Osun state is planning to honour Governor Aregbesola with an award to appreciate him for his efforts.

For the northerners, it is fun living in Osogbo.It is a city which the Hausa  refer to  as “Oroki Asala” which means ’Heaven for the migrants’.

DAILY INDEPENDENT

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