Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun has called on religious leaders to pray fervently for the sustenance of peace and progress in the state as it enters a gubernatorial election year.
Aregbesola made the call on Thursday January 2, 2014, at the interdenominational service organized by the State Government to usher in new year 2014 held at office of the Governor, State Secretariat, Bola-Ige House, Osogbo.
The governor who expressed his believe in the efficacy of prayers warned against violence and other criminal acts that could cause chaos and disrupt the existing peace being enjoyed in the state.
The state helmsman acknowledged the support and cooperation of residents of the state for his government since inception in 2011, promised to complete all ongoing projects before the year runs out.
While urging parents and guardians to ensure proper care of their children and wards, Aregbesola enjoined teachers to keep close watch on the pupils they teach so that government’s objectives of molding them as leaders of tomorrow would not be a mirage.
In their separate preachings, the Chief Imam of the Federal Polytechnic Ede, Alhaji Taofeeq Abdulhameed and the State Chairman of the Christian association of Nigeria, Reverend Elisha Ogundiya enjoined people to see their leaders as God’s representatives on earth who should be assisted morally and spiritually.
Alhaji Abdulhameed and Reverend Ogundiya told the leaders to always seek the face of God in all they do and also appealed to people to shun sycophancy.
Highlights of the programme were several prayers offered by the President, League of Imams and Alfa in the Southwest, Edo and Delta, Sheikh Mustapha Ajisafe, Chairman of the State Muslim Community, Sheikh Salaudeen, Imam Lere Yusuf, Chairman, United Imams and Alfas, State of Osun,
Others were; Sheik Muhammed Jamiu Idris, Chief Imam of Ilesa Land, Olayiwola, Bishop Leke Abegunrin, Prophet Gabriel Fakeye and the Araba awo of Osogbo Land, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, Chief Esuleke, among others.
The programme had in attendance members of the State Executive Council, Traditional Rulers, the State Security Chiefs, Market men and women, members of NURTW, RTEAN, LNC, NATA among others.
BIOREPORTS

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Wife of the Governor, State of Osun, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola during her donation of gifts to the First Baby of the Year born at 12.01am, at Primary Health Care Centre, Iwo, State of Osun on Wednesday 01-01-2014

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Osun government yesterday held special prayers at the Bola Ige House Governor’s Office, Osogbo, to kick start official activities in 2014.
In his sermon, Bishop James Popoola, the Anglican Bishop of Osun Diocese, called on all government officials and civil servants to be diligent and forthright in carrying out their assignments.
According to the clergyman, people should fear God in whatever they do, stressing that there was reward for those committed to their duties, diligent and truthful in all their activities.
He also urged residents of the state to love one another and co-exist peacefully and prayed for a hitch-free conduct of the forthcoming 2014 governorship election in the state.
The Christian Association of Nigeria Chairman, Rev. Elisha Ogundiya, urged Gov. Rauf Aregbesola to continue to fulfil his campaign promises and also called on political office holders to fear God and be fair to the people of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. Aregbesola, his deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, and members of the State Executive Council attended the session.
(NAN)

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The State Government of Osun’s plan to build a church auditorium somehow weakens the argument by critics of Governor Rauf Aregbesola that he was Islamising the state.
The State Government of Osun has acquired parcels of farmlands in Atakumosa West local council of the state for the construction of an auditorium.
The interdenominational worship centre, to be named ‘Open Heaven Worship Centre,’ would be sited at both Odo Iju and Ibodi communities.
The state government’s plan to build the auditorium somehow weakens the argument by critics of Governor Rauf Aregbesola that he was islamising the state.
The state government said, Tuesday, that it had paid N51 million as compensation to farmers whose lands would be used for the project.
While presenting cheques to farmers, Muyiwa Ige, the state’s Commissioner for Lands, Physical Planning and Urban Development, said that compensation was done on humanitarian grounds and the government’s commitment to the welfare of the people.
Another N11 million was paid to 243 farmers whose lands were affected by the ongoing construction of the MKO Abiola International Airport, Ido-Osun, Egbedore Local council.
Mr. Ige said that the government’s acquisition of the lands was for the development of the state in order to attract foreign investors.
While assuring that the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led government would not hesitate in compensating those with genuine land papers, Mr. Ige called for the people’s support in developing the state.
BIOREPORTS

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Some workers in Osun have promised to improve on service delivery for better productivity in 2014 as they resumed work on Thursday after the New Year holiday.
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Osogbo, some civil servants in the state expressed their determination to work hard in 2014.
Mrs Antonia Olalekan, a civil servant, said she had resumed work with a determination to render better services to the state government and the people of the state.
“I have made up my mind to be productive this year and to make a huge difference at my work place and the community.
“My intention is to acquire more knowledge so that I can improve on what I give to humanity because my service is to humanity through the state and Nigeria in general”, she said.
Mr Moshood Alao, also a civil servant, expressed the hope that the government would help workers by training and retraining them in capacity building to improve efficiency at work.
“I intend doing all that I can to improve on my job, I am going to upgrade myself by reading, as you know, reading is leading”, he said.
“I hope that the government will train and retrain civil servants through seminars and workshops which will be beneficial to our service delivery and productivity in the state.
“I want to urge all civil servants to perform their duties with the fear of God and to do all they can to make a difference this year”.
PUNCH 

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After careful deliberation of parameters necessary for our choice of the Oodua Person of the Year, the Editorial board of “ooduapathfinder” resolved on Adesoji Rauf Aregbesola, the Governor of the State of Osun, Nigeria. All of the others considered actually merited it but Adesoji Rauf Aregbesola came out tops. The main consideration was on his dogged pursuit of the quest for Yoruba Self-Determination that propelled him to embark and project certain ideas which we feel are necessary ingredients for that quest.
The State of Underdevelopment foisted on Yorubaland from 2003 by the ousted PDP governments was inherited by the then ACN(nowAPC) governments which meant virtually starting from scratch, an undertaking well-handled by each of the governments under that political party.
Three issues stood out in the course of the year 2013 that was promoted by the Aregbesola administration. The first is the celebration of “World Oodua Day”, where youths and children of Yoruba extraction, both at home and in the Diaspora gathered in Osogbo for the celebration which was held to mark the Nigerian-orchestrated “Children’s Day”. The second is the advocacy of using Yoruba Language as the language of instruction in schools while the third is the introduction of the Parliamentary System in the Local Governments being created.
We avoided comparison of development programs or projects because all of the governments in Yorubaland have things to show in that direction and when such development efforts are viewed against the backdrop of the previously imposed underdevelopment, when what ought to have been ordinarily available become much sought-after, we cannot but lament the impact, both of the current developments as well as the previous underdevelopment, would have on our society.
Thus when actions are directed at challenging us to critically examine issues within the context of that underdevelopment, we cannot but promote and acknowledge such efforts.
The consciousness generated by the celebration of “World Oodua Day” broke and will continue to break the barriers imposed by colonialism on the Yoruba Nation and encourage the growth of our minds to further challenge ourselves in the pursuit of our Autonomy and Self-Determination. The use of Yoruba language as a medium of instruction will also demolish such colonially-induced barriers. Yorubaland had always advocated the Parliamentary System as the best form of government both within the Yoruba nation as well as in Nigeria, hence that the State of Osun will put it into practice is a development that will reinforce those demands and maintain, now, officially, the momentum towards its eventual application throughout Yorubaland. These constitute fundamental issues in the continuous decolonization of Africa.
OODUATV

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Governor, State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola, says the state will soon begin expansion of the Nelson Mandela Park in Osogbo.
According to a statement made on Thursday, the governor said this during pyrotechnic display to usher in the New Year.
The event was said to be organised by the Ministry of Special Duty and Regional Integration.
The event had in attendance top government officials, Muslim and Christian leaders, as well as traditionalists.
Aregbesola promised to sustain a strong bond with people of the state by giving them a sense of belonging through promotion of peace and harmony among the people.
He said, “We are committed to human and infrastructural development. We will continue in this line this New Year.  The Nelson Mandela Freedom Park would be expanded so that the facility can serve Osun people better.”
He urged the people of the state to continue to support the administration, saying the state government would not relent in making life better for the people.
The Commissioner for Special Duty and Regional Integration, Mr. Basiru Ajibola, explained that the pyrotechnics display signified the bond between the state government and Osun people in line with established practices in the civilised world.
He also called on all religious groups in the state to come together and work in harmony for the benefit of all.

PUNCH

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Osun State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has congratulated the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, for emerging the Man of the Year of the Independent Newspapers Limited (INL).
The party in a congratulatory message believes that Aregbesola not only deserves the honour “but actually worked for it and merited it as well”.
A statement by Acting Chairman of the party, Adebiyi Adelowo, said the honour was not a surprise to it (party), adding that “Aregbesola is a pride of all members of the APC in the state”.
The statement was signed by party’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Kunle Oyatomi. It described the award bestowed on the Governor as worthy.
It said the Governor deserves the award having done so much within the short period of his administration in the state, stressing that the achievements of Aregbesola spoke volume of his choice for the honour.
The INL had named Aregbesola as its man of the year for 2013 based on the significant achievements of his administration and his contributions to the socio-economic development of the state.
Osun APC chairman, who highlighted the numerous achievements of the Aregbesola-led administration in 2013 to include rapid road construction, education transformation, welfare of citizenry, urban renewal, health care delivery, provision of jobs and agricultural development among many others, said “considering these numerous achievements, no one else could have been fit for the honour except Aregbesola”.
He also commended the management and staff of the INL for acknowledging the good works of Aregbesola and for identifying with the progressive government in Osun State.
Adebiyi, who urged the Governor to continue with his service above self style of life, also stressed that posterity would not forget Aregbesola for the good works he has done for the state.
He noted that the Governor has successfully written his name with marble in the minds of the masses of the state.
DAILY INDEPENDENT 

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