THE announcement last week by Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun that plans are afoot to create 27 more local councils in the state adds some more momentum to the revolutionary strides we are already witnessing under this administration. The state will then have 57 local governments across its 3,572 square miles with its 4,137, 627 (2005 estimates) citizens enjoying what 21st political economists call real-time (or first-hand) development and governance.
I’m not here suggesting that the existing 30 councils and Area Office have not been savouring the magic of Ogbeni Aregbesola since he secured the people’s mandate in 2010. No, God forbid! What I’m saying is that 27 more councils will bring the dividends of democracy closer to our people at the grassroots scene. It is simply deepening the essence of the universally acceptable concept of modern democracy as aptly captured by Abraham Lincoln: government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Aregbesola was unequivocal about this strong consideration of the interest of the people in influencing the decision the government has taken. He declared: “The basis for the exercise (creation of new LGs) was the genuine desire and consent of the people of Osun.” The Governor invoked the constitutionality of his administration’s action and asserted the supremacy of the will of those who put him in power when he declared: “We are simply not ready to confront anybody or the Federal Government but we are working on a constitution to grant the wishes of our people. Osun will be the first to constitutionally create local governments … . The difference between what we are seeking to do from others is that we have not in any way influenced this. It is the genuine desire of the people for self-government or expression of having control of their own affairs.”
And taking a cue from the Supreme Court ruling on the matter of council creation in Lagos State years back, Osun is setting up development areas and not local government councils. This is a radical stroke in line with the apex court’s verdict that such development areas “have come into legal existence once a bill to such effect is passed by the State’s House of Assembly and assented to by the Governor.” With the fulfillment of two key conditions for the new councils to come into being, the stage is set for a more rapid transformation of the state of Osun. Indeed getting government and its goodies closer to the people is the main objective of the devolution of the paraphernalia of administration.
If all the world hailed the APC administration of Aregbesola for his massive achievements in 30 local councils, it is certain that the decibel of applause will reach more thunderous levels where such achievements touch citizens of 57 local governments.
I’m referring to such sterling performance as the unprecedented O’YES scheme. Through it, Aregbesola employed 20,000 youths at a go during his first 100 days in office, thus enabling the Osun economy to receive hundreds of millions of naira every month through the stipends he gives to the young boys and girls. This bold initiative takes the youths from the streets and reduces crime while also taming hunger and creating wealth and work. The number is now 40,000 youths with the second batch on.
How about the Ogbeni’s Midas’s touch in education? In the preceding regime of PDP, school enrolment was depressingly low, portending a bleak future of illiterate citizens of Osun. Aregbesola has reversed the situation so significantly that today the National Bureau of Statistics (a Federal agency) rates Osun as the leader in Primary School enrolment for pupils. How did it happen? A condusive atmosphere for learning is in phase, modern structures, grants, free daily nutritious meals, and revolutionary learning methods such as the free provision of Opon Imo (tablet of knowledge), culturalisation of school uniforms (adire) etc. etc. The school system killed by PDP in Osun is back from the grave, thanks to Aregbesola’s APC.
How about infrastructure? Dualised highways and roads have been expanded and modernised in each of the 30 council areas of Osun to improve the transportation of goods and services for the emerging development envisaged by the government with an unprecedented rail project at Dagbolu. Similarly, hospitals, agricultural markets, water works and cottage industries are dotting the landscape of Osun to givethe state the reputable tag of one “huge construction site”, as one keen observer puts it. In pushing for 27 more local governments therefore Ogbeni Aregbesola is championing the pristine cause of democracy, namely taking government and all its good deliveries his administration is offering good health, sound education, empowerment, employment, welfare, security, in a word, the good life, to the doorstep of the grassroots.
In addition, 0sun’s LG system will run a parliamentary mechanism,never before operated in Nigeria. It will reduce the cost of governance by 25 percent. These are the issues that should influence the citizens, the electorate and observers as the 2014 gubernatorial ballot draws close. The discerning public should not be hoodwinked by deceit and propaganda of the enemies of Osun that the creation of more local councils is to make way for jobs-for-the-boys syndrome as it was with the previous regime.
VANGUARD

Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Aromolaran share moments at the 2013 Iwude-Ijesha Festival, in Ereja Square, Ilesa, State of Osun on Saturday 28-12-2013. Photos below

Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Aromolaran, during the 2013 Iwude-Ijesha Festival, at Ereja Square, Ilesa, State of Osun on Saturday 28-12-2013

Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Aromolaran, during the 2013 Iwude-Ijesha Festival, at Ereja Square, Ilesa, State of Osun on Saturday 28-12-2013

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from supporters, at the 2013 Iwude-Ijesha Festival in Ilesa, State of Osun on Saturday 28-12-2013

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from supporters, at the 2013 Iwude-Ijesha Festival in Ilesa, State of Osun on Saturday 28-12-2013

Something interesting is happening in Osun State, and its is in the education sector.  As someone from outside this state I recently took time to follow developments in that state and I encourage others who are so interesting to follow my cue.
Based on basic research and direct visitation, I can say with confidence that, in all ramifications, the state towers well above all other states of the Federal in addressing the educational needs of their citizens.
This is in spite the fact that Osun ranks 34th among the 36th states of the Federation on the revenue allocation chart table. I understand that the governors reasoning is erected on the claims that “the only way to conquer and banish abject poverty from humanity is through conscious education of the mind towards productive engagement, which in turn will trigger creativity and productivity that will meet the basic needs of man”. This Awoist proposition is poking a finger at the recent UNESCO report which says 10.5 million Nigerian children have no access to basic education.
To reinforce a believe that paving access to education for all kids regardless of their social status, Mr. Aregbesola is quoted as saying that a nation perishes that deadened her resource to the growth of basic, accessible and affordable education. “Nation being is first and foremost her educational being and every other thing revolves around it, without which the nation perishes or hangs in the precipice of under develop cliff.”
Interestingly, his efforts have yielded tremendous result with the renovation of dilapidated schools structures and building of model schools to replace the decrepit ones that previously dignified places where pigs and other animals are reared. When I visited the state, it made sense to me that when pupils and parents are applauding the governor; some purchased crowd of propagandist did not make this up. They are compelling him to do more.
The governor has committed whopping billions of Naira into the Elementary and Middle School levels’ buildings that will each accommodate 900 pupils. The High School buildings will have capacity for 3,000 students. The state has almost delivers a 100 of such buildings at the Elementary, 50 at the Middle, and 20 at the High school levels; making a total of 170 in all, in his first term in office.
Even the most enthusiastic among us has given up that, on a national level, the country can meet the UNESCO set standard for compulsory education by 2030 to eliminate excruciating and crushing poverty. My journey to Osun encourages me to believe that with a visionary leader and the right political will, even this tall goal is achievable.
The Middle Level is from Primary 4 to Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS 111) for pupils aged between 10 to 14, now classified as Grades 5 to 9. At the High School Level, the age range is between 15 and 17 years, corresponding with Senior Secondary School (SSS III), to be known as Grades 10-12. The schools design is so perfect that no residents, group, organisation, individual, religious or interest would suffer as a result of the school reform.
It is impressive for me how this social sector becomes another engine for job creation. The state has, now employed some 3,000 women who have been cocking for the Elementary feeding programme, in addition to the gains agricultural schemes of his administration that has brought the production capacities of farmer-suppliers of farm produce, as well as the poultry and beef inputs for the food menu. The pupils feed on eggs, chickens, fish and red meat to enable them meet nutritional requirements for mental development.
In addition to the free education policy of the state government where the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) are paid for, Governor Aregbesola has established Omoluabi Garment Factory in the state that caters for school uniform needs of the students across the state. With this, parents who would have otherwise bothered themselves about school uniforms for their wards have swiftly enrolled them in schools across the state without buying uniform for them since it has been provided for by government.
When, two months ago, Mr. Aregbesola was honoured by the Yoruba Education Trust Fund, YETFUND, as the best governor of the year in the South West, this made sense. Here, in true measure, was a man who has dedicated the largest chunks of his budgetary allocation, proportionately to the promotion and development of education for actual growth of the Yoruba people in particular, in so short a time.
The group singled out the award winning Opon Imo (Tablet of Knowledge) as the basics for the education excellent award bestowed on the governor. The technology wonder is in a class of its own! The tablet is preloaded with seventeen (17) subjects offered by students in the West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (WASSCE). The subjects have been designed in forms of lesson notes, textbooks, mostly provided by publishers and master teachers’ inputs. Content verifiers, who happened to be some of the local teachers, were also made to verify lesson notes on each subject. Besides, seven extra-curricular subjects, such as Sexuality Education, Civic Education, Yoruba History, Ifa Traditional Religion, Computer Education and Entrepreneurship Education, and Twelve Thousand Yoruba Proverbs were also included.
Test platform for students’ self assessment to monitor their own comprehension and mastery of the subject, including 10 years past questions and answers provided by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), as well as questions and answers in 17 (Seventeen) ordinary level subjects .The subject are English Language, Mathematics, Agricultural Science, Economics, Principles of Accounts, Literature in English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Yoruba, Commerce, Further Mathematics, History, Geography, Government, IRK and CRK. Audio tutorials were also embedded in the Opon-Imo to further aid students through virtual study plan.
The state, therefore has saved a whopping N8.4 billion from live textbook purchases and instead, just a sum N200 million was spent by the state government for the purchase of the 56 e-books on Opon-Imo with 150,000 user licenses from a major educational publishing company from the country. As it is structured, Opon-Imo ensures that each student has an e-textbook, not only in all the subjects he is taking, but also on every subject offered at secondary level. This, in itself is legendary and revolutionary!
A report released in October by the African Health, Human and Social Development Information Service, Africa Coalition on Maternal Newborn and Child Health and Pan African Campaign against Forced Marriage of Under-age Children gives credence to that fact. “Among the 36 states in Nigeria four states — Osun, Lagos, Imo, Enugu — feature in the all-best categories for all indicators: highest girl-child education, highest female literacy, lowest adolescent girl ‘marriages’ and lowest underage birth rates”.
In the same report,  “Between 67 per cent  and 87.1 per cent of girls are not in secondary school in the following: Five states from the North West (Kebbi, 87.1 per cent; Sokoto, 87 per cent; Jigawa, 80.7 per cent; Zamfara 76.8 per cent; and Katsina, 72.1 per cent). The four states  from the North East are  Bauchi, 86.7 per cent; Yobe, 77.4 per cent; Borno, 70.9 per cent; and Gombe, 67.8 per cent;  while the one from the North Central is Niger with 73.8 per cent.
“There are scores worse than the North Central, North East and North West states such as Nasarawa (56.7 per cent); Benue (56.4 per cent); Adamawa (53.1 per cent); Kaduna (45.3 per cent); Plateau (45.3 per cent); Kogi (36.4 per cent) and Kwara (35.4 per cent),” the report says. Ebonyi State is closely followed by Bayelsa State, which occupies the 13th position.
The report also has it that: “Bayelsa State also habours the highest number of females (aged 20 to 24 years) that have had at least a live birth before attaining the age of 18 years with 31.7 percent, compared to Adamawa, 30.5 percent; Taraba, 29.3 percent; and Niger ,24.9 percent. The three Northern states in turn score better than Delta, 22 percent; Rivers, 19.9 percent and Anambra, 18.9 percent.
There is no gain saying that it is on the basis of Governor Aregbesola’s grand commitment to educational development that led to the spiral increases in school enrolment and students improved performance in both WAEC and JAMB as the overall best state across the country. However, it is clear that there is a lot more to be done with the poor WAEC results released a few days ago that falls short of UNESCO standard.
The council withheld results of 38,260 candidates, representing 12.88 per cent, over alleged examination malpractice and sundry issues. Yet, for anyone to gain admission into the tertiary institution in the country, you must obtain at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics in WASSCE or Senior Secondary Certificate Examination conducted by the examination body.
At a time we are all agreed that the situation in the nation’s basic education system, as well as tertiary institutions, call for national emergency, I will say it is also a time to emulate Mr. Aregbesola who has devoted a huge chunk of the state’s resource for educational development of Osun people.
I cannot imagine just how lucky citizens of this state are, I see concrete evidence here of what we generally describe as dividends of democracy beyond the platitudes and propaganda in other states.
PREMIUM TIMES

The Assistant Inspector General, AIG, in charge of zone 11 with the headquarters in Osogbo, Mr. David Olufemi Omojola, yesterday assured that the governorship election holding in 2014 in Osun State of Osun, one of the states under his command would be peaceful and hitch-free.

Reiterating the ever-preparedness of his boss in Abuja, the IG, Mohammed Abubakar, the zone 11 AIG told He gave the assurance while speaking with journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, during his routine visit to the state Command.
While reiterating the ever-preparedness of the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, he said the force will do everything humanly possible to ensure that the election in Osun State turns out peaceful.
He assessed the outgoing year in the entire zone, describing the year as a peaceful one generally, stressing that they did all they could at the level to key into the agenda of the IG for effective policing and everything went peacefully well.
Speaking on his visit to the Oyo State Command, he described it as a necessity for the ‘commander to keep in touch with his men on the field’ and commended the officers and men of the command for giving a good account of themselves.
NATIONAL MIRROR

Dr. Wale Bolorunduro, is the Osun State Commissioner for Finance and is also the Chairman, Board of Directors of Omoluabi Savings and Loans.

In a group interview with newsmen in Osogbo shortly after the Completion Board Meeting of the company, he spoke on the offer targeted at increasing the company’s share capital by N1.65 billion.

Here are excerpts.

 
As the chairman of Omoluabi Savings and Loans limited, the Public Offering is opening today and closes today why?
The offer is not opening today but opening on 27th of December and closes the same day. The reason why we have to do that is that the Central Bank of (CBN) Nigeria requires Omoluabi Savings and Loans limited to have completed its capital raising above one billion naira to take it to N2.5 billion.
So, by doing this offering, we would be able to raise N1.6 billion, Omoluabi Savings and Loans will be above minimum capital requirement of any mortgage banks to continue to operate under Central Bank of Nigeria.
We believe that Omoluabi Savings and Loans is the asset and inheritance of the people of Osun and that is why we are opening this opportunity to Osun indigene to be co-owner of Omoluabi Savings and Loan.
Before the completion of the board meeting of today, the share of the company is purely owned by the state government and the local government, but now, the state and the local government will continue to own their share while the indigenes of the State will from henceforth own their share because there is an opportunity for all. By law, current Directors of the company are not allowed. It is basically for the workers of Osun State and government is trying to help the workers to buy part of the shares. What will happen now is that, the shares are going to be exposed to market discipline.
We believe this is another landmark achievement for the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and to also show to the world that Ogbeni is not just a Governor but a Governor of the people and a Governor that thinks of opportunity for his people. So, the people of the state are to own shares of Omoluabi Savings and Loan and on a yearly basis collect dividends. So, it is also an investment opportunity created by Aregbesola, for us and for the country.
The offer is significant because for some time, there has not been any Public Offering in Nigeria. So, this is the first in five years. The capital market we could say was sleeping and Osun has set to wake it up and we believe that come 27th December, Omoluabi Savings and Loans Limited would have been able to raise that 1.65billion share and the share would be public, The law of the country does not allow us to restrict it to only Osun citizens but if we have preference of allotment, we will give it to Osun indigenes and residents.
What is the advantage of the offer to the people of the state?
It would be promising, I am not supposed to give futuristic performance but I know that there would be opportunity for the holders to trade and there would be opportunity for the performances to gain and honestly judging by the performance of Osun, anything Osun steps in, God prospers it. So, it is going to benefit the people of the state.
With the problems that befall the capital market in the past, is there any hope for the offer in the state?
One thing with the performance of shares is fundamentals. There is no doubt about it that there was a bubble period in capital market when people were not looking at the performance of the company they want to buy. That era has gone. The Security Exchange Commission and Nigerian Stock Exchange have put rules to prevent sharp practices. We believe that is rebounding. If you look at the capital market since the beginning of this year, it has being gaining. If you are holding Guinness share and that of International Breweries Plc, you would have made money. We believe in fundamentals of Omoluabi Savings and Loans, we will strive hard to sustain our performance.
With the increase in Omoluabi Savings and Loans capital, what would be the faith of Housing Mortgage?
The faith of Housing Mortgage is that Omoluabi Savings and Loans will now have more capital to trade and to lend to Housing Mortgagees, who are the recipient of mortgage services. People that want 10, 20 years mortgage to buy a house from four to ten million naira, Omoluabi will now have the capacity to do that. So, think of a multiplier effect of increasing the shareholders’ fund, which enables you to do more business in terms of capacity as a bank; it will also enable you to attract more deposits because there is always be a deposit ratio between your shareholders fund and your deposit. Now, it can take more deposit and it can also do more business.
What is your take on what the Federal Government want to do by selling our refineries?
Well, when you want to sell your asset you must ask yourself what is the worth of that asset? Just as the company has its net worth, I gave you an example of Omoluabi Savings and Loans that it has over 1billion net worth it is known to be a mortgage company with non performing asset. So, if the Federal Government wants to sell its refineries, there is a way to do it because the prospective buyer would want to know what the asset is worth. The consequence on the nation is that if the refineries are sold and made operational and functional, the
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) are international commodity; the prices would be affected by the international prices. If it is made functional whether you have absorbed operation, government can still own it and absorb operation with a very strong performance agreement. Government can retain the ownership and source for a credible operator, that is another option but when you take it out of the government’s budgetary system it would be much more efficient.
DAILY NEWSWATCH

Mr Najeem Salaam, the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, on Monday, urged traditional rulers in the state to ensure peaceful co-existence in their communities.
Salaam made the call when he received traditional rulers from Ejigbo Local Government Area of the state who paid him a courtesy visit in Osogbo. He urged the monarchs to be security-conscious as the governorship election in the state approaches.
The speaker, who commended the traditional rulers for their cooperation with the government, said their role in ensuring peace was paramount to the development of the state. He also urged the royal fathers to give useful information to the police on happenings in their communities.
He said “the gubernatorial election is nearer and hence there is need for you to be security-conscious in your communities. You know the communities better than anyone and that is why you must cooperate with government in ensuring peace in the state. I also want to urge you to always give useful information to the police whenever you suspect any strange things in your communities.”
Oba Kamil Ajadi, who responded on behalf of the monarchs, assured the speaker of their support. Ajadi said the traditional rulers would continue to ensure peaceful co-existence in their domains.
NAN

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun on Saturday pledged to restore the lost glory of Modakeke in 2014.
Aregbesola made the promise in a message to the 28th Modakeke Ako-ri-aaye Day Celebration and Launch of N500million Community Development Fund. The governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Fatai Kolawole, said more local governments would be created.
He said this issue, which had been before the Osun Assembly, would be actualised and would surely favour the people of Modakeke.
“t is my fervent hope and prayer that the actualisation of this long-standing aspiration of the community will usher in total peace and progress in Osun and Ife land in particular’’, he said.
Aregbesola added that Modakeke had not been left behind in the state development projects. He said that projects undertaken in Modakeke included the construction of 900-capacity middle school and provision of transformers to new areas in the town.
The governor urged individuals and corporate bodies to complement these gestures through donations to the Community Development Fund. Earlier, the Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Francis Adedoyin, called on parents to educate their children and lay good foundation for them so as to have a brighter future.
Adedoyin described education as the best legacy parents could give their children. He urged parents to pay their children’s school fees and monitor them regularly. The traditional ruler said that community development should be a joint responsibility and encouraged all sons and daughters of Modakeke living abroad to come home to lend support.
The National President of Modakeke Progress Union, Mr Tajudeen Oke, said the indigenes had realised that government alone could not provide all their needs. Oke said that this prompted them to raise funds for the development of the community.
He appealed to everyone to donate generously to the development fund to complete the Events Centre Complex. Oke said the donations would be wisely used for the development of Modakeke.
(NAN)