Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has felicitated with the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila on his birthday anniversary, describing the former House Speaker as “a patriot and friend from our days at Atlanta, Georgia”
The Governor also used the occasion to congratulate the Chief of Staff on his appointment , describing the new position as “well deserved”
In a birthday message personally signed by him, the State Governor applauded Hon Gbajabiamila’s brilliance and insightful contributions to national development as an innovative member of the House of Representatives and later as a Speaker of the green Chamber.
“The National Assembly is a breeding ground for true leaders of the people. One of us is Hon Gbajabiamila, a philosopher and a politician who has distinguished himself in the deployment of legislative tools for the advancement of democracy, good governance and rule of law. From the People’s Chamber to the executive arm of government is a worthy transition for an old colleague from Atlanta Georgia to the National Assembly”.
“I remembered with nostalgia those days in the United States of America and later our reunion at the National Assembly with him as a member of the House of Representatives and myself as a Senator of the Federal Republic. This is therefore a prime occasion to wish a friend double congratulations, first on his birthday and second on his appointment as a Chief of Staff to the President”.
” Because we know your capacity and antecedents, I am convinced that your sterling performance will manifest at the Presidency as it was witnessed throughout your days as a member and Speaker of the House of Representatives. You remain a positive agent of change and we join thousands of your admirers to celebrate you”.
“Happy blessed birthday brother as I wish you successful tenure in your new appointment at the heart of the Presidency”, the Governor concluded.
Signed HE, Senator Ademola Adeleke, Executive Governor of Osun State
A peep into Adeleke’s infrastructural strides in Osun
By Sarafa Ibrahim
On the day of his inauguration, Governor Ademola Adeleke made some chilling promises. Recognizing the deplorable conditions of public infrastructure in the state, Governor Adeleke declared that it will “no longer going to be business as usual. And I repeat, it is no longer business as usual.”
It was daring, just as it sounded too good to be true, that many were skeptical about the realization of that pledge. And you can’t really blame them, knowing well the uninspiring outlook of things that the governor inherited from the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government. The reality of a strained treasury was enough reason for the doubts that trailed the governor’s pledge. It was really a mess.
Seven months in office, it was clear to all, even to his most ardent critics, that Governor Adeleke indeed meant business. Of course, the purse of the state is lean as a result of the gross mismanagement of the past, nevertheless, Governor Adeleke has been able to show to the people what genuine leadership can deliver for them in just a short time in office.
Take it from the Osogbo-Ikirun-Ila Odo dual carriage road, and you will definitely be marveled at the exceptional changes that Governor Adeleke has brought to the state. The 10.5km road was the second phase of the East bypass road started by the Rauf Aregbesola administration in 2013 but was neglected by his successor, Gboyega Oyetola, owing to the bitter politics that defined his four years in office.
Although Governor Adeleke and Aregbesola didn’t share the same party yet he mobilized contractors back to site and delivered the road for the use of the people within his first 100 days in office. It was so unprecedented that the then Minister for Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who was represented at the road commissioning by the Federal Controller of Works for Osun State, Engr. Orisaleye Ayodeji, stressed the importance of the road, which according to him, connects “Osun and other States to the Northern part of the country. That is why we are delighted that Governor Adeleke continued the projects.”
Sammy Adigun, the Chairman/CEO of Sammya Nigeria Ltd, the construction company that handles the road project, helped made so much sense on the impact that the completion of that road will have on Osun, pointing out how it will shore up the standard of living of the people. This is because the road solves the agonizing pains that motorists and travellers have endured on that road over the years, bolstering the prospect of trade and economic activities between the state and the Northern part of Nigeria.
The story is not so different for the 51km Iwo-Osogbo road. This road links at least six local governments in the state and serves as an important gateway for Osun state with the most populous city in Africa, Ibadan. At completion, the road will not just facilitate ease of movements, but contribute significantly to the economic renaissance of the state.
Internal road networks are getting the needed facelifts, bringing development closer to the people at the grassroots and even more appealing, stretch the development projects across the state. Between November 27, 2022 and now, Governor Adeleke has delivered 31km of road in the state and no fewer than 47km are at various stages of completion.
The relief that the construction of the 1.2km Oja Oba (Iso Ata/Iso Isu/Iso Eran/Iso Ewe) First Baptist Model Academy with Spur to Oba Oyetona Street in Osogbo has brought to the people can not be overstated just as the construction of the 1km John Mackay (Oke Ayepe)-Constain road has opened up Osogbo to Obokun.
In Ikirun, Ifelodun local government, the story is not any different as Governor Adeleke’s administration has delivered the 1.2km Monday Market-Station road, providing easy access for goods and services to reach that important economic hub. In the same Ikirun, the construction of the 1.5km Iyana Saturday-General Hospital-NUD2-Lawyer Bolade road is ongoing and will soon be delivered for the use of the people.
Also delivered by Governor Adeleke in the seven month he has been in office is the 3km Iresi Township road. The road that was practically impassable for so decades is now motorable, and facilitates easy access between four towns– Iresi, Ajaba, Edemosi, and Imesi– all in Boluwaduro local government. In Ikire, the 1.16km Ibadan/Ife Expressway Junction-Islamiyyah-Okiti Junction that was abandoned for over 35 years wears a new look and added to the road network of the state.
Similarly, in Iwo, the 1.5km Ansarudeen Central Mosque Junction-Kuti Junction- Hospital road has been constructed and delivered, resolving a 41 years agonizing pains of motorists, and in turn, open up Molete and Isale-Oba quarters. In that same range, the construction of the 1.23km Enuwa-Oniyangi-Ita Osun-Oke Atan with Spur to Egbedu-Ilode Junction in Ile Ife was delivered.
The 0.8km Ita-Ofa-Oromu-Araromi (Market gate) and the 0.4km Atakunmosa Market road; Obiteni-Omo Ofe roads in Ilesa are done and dusted while the 1.3km Oke Oye- Oke Ita with Spur to Ogodogbo and Temidire road fixed and open for public usage. In Ede, important roads like the 1.9km Akankan-Obada Junction and the 0.9km Anu Olu Hospital-Powerline-Hammadiya Junction Ede with Spur have been constructed by the Adeleke administration.
Other roads that has received the intervention of the Adeleke administration is the 2.1km Anu Olu-Obada-Alusekere-YTD Primary School Ojoro in Ede and the Oloruntedo Community (Costain)– Osogbo East Bypass road that has been rehabilitated and put in good use. This is in addition to the 2.1km Ogberin Junction-Akala Street-Oloki Junction-Olobim (Iso Ege) in Ede that now wears new look, all thanks to Governor Adeleke.
Also in the infrastructural strides of Governor Adeleke are the construction of the 1.5m x 1.5m Box culvert at Professor Abass road; the construction of 3.0 x 2.0m Box culvert Owoope/Okeola at Ajegunle in Gbongan; the construction of 3.0 x 2.5m box culvert at Adeeke in Iwo; the construction of eroded surface on Oke Onitea box culvert and Anaye Market in Osogbo; the construction of failed culverts at sasha (Uniosun Road), Osogbo; the spot Patching & Repair of Zone XI-Baba Eleyin U-Turn, Owode; the spot patching and spot rehabilitation of Olaiya Interchange-Abere Junction; the repair of Oke Onitea failed section, Osogbo; and the improvement of Oke-Fia road and failed section to Dele Yes Sir.
And this is just the beginning. Because at the moment, there are dozens of road projects initiated in different parts of Osun state. Even more inspiring, is the fact that a fresh 1.5km road is constructed in all the 30 local government areas and the area office, and in addition to this is one major road projects in the nine federal constituencies that made up the state.
The Adeleke administration has also taken step to complete the Ona Baba Ona road, and already mobilized contractors to the site. The project, which began under Aregbesola government, but was abandoned by the previous administration, denying the state capital the immense economic potential that the road offers to the state.
Also in Ede is the 23km dual carriage road from Akoda-Ido Osun, which construction has began, and when completed, will contribute significantly to the economy of Ede and Egbedore local governments. The road will also facilitate easy access to the Osun airport, which is under construction.
Going by the attention that Governor Adeleke has given to infrastructural developments in the state, the clear impression with the people is that by the time he exhaust his first term in office, most of the important roads in the state would have been fixed, and turn Osun into a place of choice for investors.
Sarafa Ibrahim is the Special Assistant to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Print Media and writes from Osogbo, Osun State.
Governor Ademola Adeleke has flagged off staff audits across the state public service with a plan to fill up existing vacancies within the education, health and other sub-sectors in the state.
The exercise started with the biometric capture of the Governor, the Deputy Governor and the Speaker of the House of Assembly at the Governor’s office on Friday.
The data capturing was preceded by a close door meeting with the state labour leadership where processes and procedures were firmed up to ensure protection and fulfillment of the interest of all stakeholders.
Governor Adeleke who restated that the exercise is not a witch-hunt assured the state workforce that the audit will strengthen the capacity of the state government to satisfy the needs of the workers, the members of the public and the state leadership.
“I want to assure workers and other stakeholders that the staff audit is not a witch-hunt. Our administration has workers’ welfare as number one on our governance agenda. So we will not take any action that will negatively affect formal and informal workers”.
“The audit is to achieve several goals namely cleaning up the payroll system, validating the actual number of state workforce and establishing areas of vacancies across various sectors of the public service. We need to authenticate the data of our workforce”.
“We also need to confirm existing vacancies within the public service. I have earlier issued a directive for the collation of vacancies for teachers and health workers. The compilation is almost completed. The outcome will then provide what we call data driven management of our public service”.
“We are ascertaining the number of teachers we need in our schools. Our team is checking out the number of science, English, mathematics, social science and other teachers as well as which schools need what type of teachers”.
“I assure the public that we are aware of the existing vacancies in our schools and health facilities.The audit report will provide a strong foundation for the recruitment of new teachers and health workers which our administration will embark upon after the ongoing exercise”, Governor Adeleke posited.
Signed: Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Governor.
The Government of Osun State has intervened in the ongoing crisis between the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, and some communities in Osogbo, calling for an urgent stakeholders’ meeting on the disconnection of parts of the state capital from power supply.
“The State Government hereby calls on the two parties to consider an alternative dispute resolution method, as the blackout might also lead to increase in insecurity among the affected communities and shutdown of business activities.
Such blackouts might also have a negative impact on the upcoming celebration of Eid El Kabir.
The IBEDC is encouraged to reconnect the communities to power supply while an immediate solution is found to the question of huge debt owed by the affected communities.
The State Government is also concerned about the likely breakdown of law and order, as there are pockets of protests from the affected communities. Immediate resolution of the issue will put an end to the ongoing protests. We cannot afford to allow such protests to be hijacked by unscrupulous elements in pursuance of their nefarious activities.
We are committed to brokering a peaceful negotiation between the Management of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company, IBEDC, and the Stakeholders from the affected communities.
signed Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Governor.
The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has hailed the appointments of Major T. A Lagbaja as the Chief of Army Staff and Bashir Adewale Adeniyi as the acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service as recognition of capacity and outstanding track records.
The governor who welcomed the elevation of the two indigenes of Osun state as a great honour, appreciated President Bola Tinubu for trusting the duo with those important roles.
In a congratulatory message signed by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke said Major Lagbaja and CG Adeniyi are pride of the state, expressing strong belief in their capacity to deliver on their assigned mandates.
Eulogizing the two agency heads as men of thoroughbred professionals, Governor Adeleke said the records of General Lagbaja and Mr Adeniyi in their respective services are assuring that they will take their organizations to greater levels of efficiency and optimal performance in the discharge of their constitutional duties.
“I heartily congratulate Major T. A Lagbaja and CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi on their appointments as the Chief of Army Staff and the acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service by President Bola Tinubu,” the statement noted.
“Their elevation is by every means a great feat for us in Osun state, and on behalf of the good people of this state, I want to sincerely appreciate President Tinubu for counting these two indigenes worthy for the positions. It is a proud moment for us, and I recognize this huge honour done to us as a state.
“Looking at the impressive service records of General Lagbaja and CG Adeniyi, I share the overwhelming expectations that counted for their elevations and believe they will excel in their new roles.”
The Governor assured the two agency heads of his government’s support and cooperation, noting that his prayer is to see Osun indigenes excel in their respective endeavors.
Signed: Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Executive Governor
The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has completed a total of 31 kilometers of roads from November 28th, 2022 to date.
A total of 17 kilometers of roads are currently ongoing at various stages of completion across the state.
Additionally, a total of 30 kilometers of roads have been listed for construction and reconstruction with actual work slated to start any moment from now.
Governor Ademola Adeleke made the disclosure on arrival at Osogbo after attending the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja.
According to the Governor, “Our administration is paying close attention to the upgrade of Osun roads as a way of jumpstart the state economy.
” Osun suffers badly due to bad roads, failing bridges and culvets. Our township roads are in bad state across the thread senatorial districts. Business cannot boom if road network are in such terrible state.
” So from day one, my focus among others has been on infrastructure upgrade. I am happy to report that 31 kilometers are done already. But the target is about 100 kilometers before the end of the year”, the Governor noted.
Also corroborating the Governor, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Transport, Engr Bashir Bello said “the 31 kilometers of roads are spread across the 30 local governments and the Area office. The choice of the reconstructed roads are based on local consultation and utility values of such roads to the local economy.
” I can confirm to you that we have indeed completed 31 kilometers in the last seven or so months. This can be verified.
” 17 kilometers of roads are also ongoing. These are in various stages of completion. We are speeding up work on those new roads to increase our completed kilometers before long.
“Aside the 17km, we have also listed out another 30 kilometers. The selection and survey process have been completed and we hope to start work as soon as soon as possible.
” You may also want to note that massive work is ongoing on bridge reconstruction, culvert upgrades and channelisatiom work across the state
“Beside the road construction, the government is given quick intervention to some bad section of roads that require urgent attention. Construction of large drainage that can contain flooding of ogo Oluwa mainroad are under construction”, the Permanent Secretary stated.
Signed: Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Executive Governor.
Governor Adeleke Restates Commitment to Improved Performance of Osun at National Examinations, Visits UBEC Executive Secretary
ABUJA-14/06/2023- Osunstate.gov.ng:
The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has reiterated the commitment of his administration to improving Osun state performance at national examinations through strengthening the basic education foundation of the state.
The Governor who solicited the support and cooperation of the Univêrsal Basic Education Commission for the development of basic education in Osun state also disclosed the readiness of the state to fulfill requirements for accessing further UBEC grants.
Speaking while paying a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Hamid Bobboyi today in Abuja, Governor Adeleke said his government is fixated on improving the examination rating of the state by addressing the basic challenges facing education at primary and junior secondary levels.
The Governor noted that enhancing the learning environment through upgraded school facilities are key areas of his focus , hence his visit to the UBEC Executive Secretary.
While commending the contributions of UBEC to the development of education in Nigeria, Governor Adeleke assured the UBEC boss that Osun will ramp up its fulfillment of conditionalities for assessing further grants from the commission.
According to him, his administration is aware of the importance of counterpart funding from the state government, assuring that he has reorganised the state’s SUBEB to ensure accelerated partnership between the state and UBEC.
Accompanied by the new SUBEB Chairman for Osun state, Hon Ibukun Fadipe and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Kazeem Akinleye, Governor Adeleke said Osun is poised for a new era of educational arrangement, submitting a list of areas of partnership to the UBEC boss.
Responding, the UBEC Executive expressed his delight at the visit and the assurance on counterpart funding, promising to work with the state body as requested by the Governor.
The UBEC boss who called on the state governments to embrace counterpart requirements for UBEC funding commend the Governor for his assurance, noting that billions of naira are waiting to be accessed by States which fulfilled the requirements.
Signed Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Executive Governor
No Rift between the Executive and the Judiciary in Osun State-OSSG
OSOGBO-12/06/2023- Osunstate.gov.ng: The attention of the Osun State Government has been drawn to a false alarm by an agent of the All Progressive Congress(APC) in person of Mr. Yomi Aliu, SAN, who has turned himself into an unsolicited trumpet and a puppet of the Osun state Chief Judge.
It is not surprising of Mr. Aliu to have cooked up a false story. It is customary of him the same way he did during the Osun governorship election petition. He had raised a fake alarm and unjustifiable insinuation that there was a serious security threat in the State. This nonetheless turned out to be unfounded.
It is unfortunate that a supposed learned senior Lawyer can go that low on the path of propaganda and unnecessary sensation without exercising any iota of decorum and dignity.
For the sake of clarity, the present administration enjoys a very warm and harmonious relationship with the Judiciary as against the pseudo acrimony being peddled by Mr Aliu.
Governor Adeleke is paying special attention to the welfare of judicial officers in the state as against the ridicule to which the past administration unleashed on the judges by irregular not payment of their arrears of allowances and by not attending to the pecuniary benefits of the retired judges.
Members of the public need to be informed that there is no controversy on the processes of disengagement or otherwise even with respect to the old and new law on the retirement age for judges of superior courts. All insinuations in the hatchet job are false and figments of imagination of the propagandist.
Governor Adeleke as a due process leader is committed to full observance of the law without fear or favour and with due reference to impartial application for retirement or extension of tenure of public officials.
Mr Aliu is cautioned on his constant false alarm and his phantom claim of constitutional crisis in Osun when there is none at all. The Judicial Service Commission is an executive body and its staff are appointees and employees of the executive. Therefore, it is indecent of Mr Aliu to unduly meddle in the running of affairs of the government.
The controversial senior Lawyer is known for propaganda and undue sensation as a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC). He is therefore to be ignored and not given any serious attention.
He is also warned not to drag our noble Chief Judge into his infamous political agenda. In Osun state, all arms of government are in deep harmony for the good of the state.
Signed: Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Executive Governor
Osun Commences Work on State Electricity Market Policy and Bill
OSOGBO-12/06/2023- Osunstate.gov.ng: The Executive Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has disclosed plans by his administration to develop a plan of action for the making of Osun State Electricity Market policy and legislation.
Speaking on recent signing into law of a constitutional amendment empowering state governments to regulate electricity market within their boundaries, Governor Adeleke in a statement on Monday directed the setting up of a technical committee to prepare the state policy plan on the management of state power sector.
The Governor noted that the committee is to come up with a detailed plan to create Osun State Electricity Market Policy and a draft Executive bill to be named Osun Electricity Act.
The new policy will also include creation of Osun State Electricity Regulatory Commission to issue licences to private firms ready to engage in power production and regulate interface among operators within the power sector from the power generators, distributors and the consumers.
The planned policy will also facilitate private sector investment in the state electricity sector, encourage alternative energy sources from renewable to other green power sources, the statement noted.
Other part of the plan is to electrify Osun programmes to ensure all towns and villages in Osun are provided with power supply from mini-dams to other sources of energy.
Governor Adeleke who promised to inaugurate the committee soon also expressed the intention of his administration to seek the support of the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on the state electricity market plans.
The Chief Executive informed the state that the Executive bills he will soon be submitting to the legislature include the Osun State Startup bill, the Osun State Climate Action Bill and the State Electricity Market Bill.
Signed: Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Executive Governor
Democracy Day: How Economic Hardship Weakens Democracy-Governor Adeleke
OSOGBO-12/06/2023- Osunstate.gov.ng: Resolving national economic challenges is a condition for strengthening democratic culture and enhancing productive participation of the citizenry, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has declared.
Speaking at the 2023 Democracy Day Lecture organised by Coalition of Civil Society Coalition in the State, the state Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon Teslim Igbalaye, posited that an economically satisfied citizenry is a strong insurance for thriving democracy and good governance.
“A foundation we cannot leave out is the economic platform of the society practicing democracy. An hungry citizenry is likely to pose a serious threat to a credible electoral democratic process. Efforts to stabilise the economic life of the nation are also strong preconditions for an empowered citizenry. Addressing poverty and catering for citizens’ economic requirements will go a long way to enhance the potency of the population”, the Governor affirmed.
Other issues the Governor identified as important for strengthening democratic culture include a fair electoral umpire and security agencies committed to rule of law.
“Conditionalities such as a truly fair electoral umpire and impartial security agencies are strong complements to an active citizenry. We must add that voters must also eschew vote selling to ensure the manifestation of their will not only at the ballot but during the governance process.
“In the last elections, we saw a hyper level of citizen mobilisation across the electoral cycle. Even when low turnout is still a nagging question, we must accept that citizen’s electoral militancy was the hottest in Nigeria’s political history. We can then arguably posit that the citizenry has woken up from their slumber and are prepared to enforce a functional, people- based electoral process”, the Governor noted.
Governor Adeleke said Nigeria must uphold certain basic democratic norms for citizens’ participation to yield needed results, adding that “the democratic culture grows and flourishes when all the electoral and governance sub-sectors play their parts within the context of due process and rule of law.
Describing Osun as a litmus test for Nigeria’s democracy, Governor Adeleke narrated how his administration is straightening citizens’ participation and responsiveness in the delivery of public service.
“To strengthen citizens’ role in democracy and governance, our administration introduced a truly people -based style built on open governance principles and people first practices. Our Government is addressing workers’ needs in ways that ensure both formal and informal workers are revived from years of neglect. We are upgrading the state of our infrastructure to boost local economy, enhance inter and intra town connectivity and fight poverty of social amenities.
“On the issue of accountability and transparency, we are working to host the first elaborate public accountability forum named IPADE IMOLE later this month. At the open forum , we will present our scorecards and provide a productive citizen participation opportunity in the governance process”, the Number One Citizen informed.
The Governor however cautioned Nigerians on any expectation of perfection in democratic practice, adding that “No democracy is perfect. From Europe to North America, democracy is still a work in progress. In Africa, we are in a state of convulsion within the democratic space.
“We however have no option than to continue the experimentation until we reach close to perfection”, the Governor concluded.
Signed: Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Spokesperson to the Executive Governor
