The calisthenic, which was colourfully displayed by the pupils, was watched by Prof. Isaac Adewole, the Minister of Health; Gov Rauf Aregbesola and his cabinet members, school children, teachers, traditional rulers and market men and women, among others.
Addressing the children, Aregbesola said that the state government would continue to give priority to education.
The governor, who described children as leaders of tomorrow, said government had been providing enabling environment for them to excel in their academic pursuits.
Aregbesola said that his administration had made extra ordinary efforts in building new schools with school feeding programme.
The governor said that his administration was doing all these to lay good foundation for the children, noting that they needed to move with technology advancement.
Aregbesola also urged parents to give their children proper upbringing, saying proper education should start from home.
The governor thanked teachers for their efforts in giving their best to the pupils.
While congratulating the children for the celebration, Aregbesola said that his administration would continue to make them happy.
Osun School Children In Calisthenics Display To Celebrate Children’s Day
The programme holding at the Osogbo Township Stadium will be live on TVC and OSBC for 3 hours.
The live stream is on and can be watched here https://youtu.be/FYxy3b1Igv4
Here are pictures from the event.
Governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola has said that he would not leave Osun after his regime and that he would assist his successor to run the state.
The Governor said this during his all night interactive session tagged ‘Ogbeni Till Day Break’ in Osogbo, the state capital Sunady and assured the people of the state that his successor will sustain his legacy.
He said that when he completes his tenure and handover to another democratically elected governor on November 27, 2018, make himself available to the next Governor and assist him.
Aregbesola said despite the fact that he has just 200 days more to spend as the chief executive of the state, concerted efforts will be put in place to put finishing touches on his legacy projects.
“I’m not leaving this state after the expiration of my tenure. My successor will be better than I am. I won’t leave him, I will be behind the scenes offering him supports.”
“We have 200 days left in office and we intend to make the best use of the time to further better the lot of the Osun people. We are not done with our plan to further develop Osun. There is still a lot more we want to do.”
While justifying that the current debt profile of the state was as a result of the massive infrastructural facilities provided by his administration, Aregbesola assured that he would not leave the state with debt burden. He insisted that none of his programmes failed.
The Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Dr Najeem Salaam has warned elected councilors against unhealthy rivalry that is inimical to smooth operation of parliamentary system across local government in the state.
Dr Salaam gave the warning in his address while declaring open, a two-day workshop on legislative practice and procedure for elected councilors and support staff in all the local governments, local council development areas, area councils and administrative offices in the sate held at the House of Assembly complex, Osogbo
The speaker appreciated the state Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for his wisdom and unparalleled sense of reasoning at all times for putting the state on a sound footing towards economic development.
He declared that the state has attained greater heights among the comity of states in Nigeria
According to him, “The introduction of the parliamentary system at the local governments by the governor and its subsequent endorsement by the House of Assembly will certainly make our state to be a model for other states in the federation to emulate.
“An effective local government system will ensure that both the human and material resources are effectively mobilized and harnessed to ensure that an unbroken chain of communication is maintained between the rulers and the ruled”, he added.
He made it known that the relationship between the executive and the legislature in a parliamentary system is called responsible government.
Salaam noted that Osun adopts a parliamentary system of government at the local level to foster better governance and efficient delivery of dividends of democracy at the grassroots.
He urged all stakeholders in the new system of administration to play the game according to the rules and avoid unnecessary friction.
He said, “There is the need for harmonious relationship among the various actors to make the new system attractive and become a model to other states of the federation”.
Salaam who reiterated the effectiveness of party discipline and supremacy under parliamentary system, urged them to be moderate in the exercise of power.
He also warned against any act that could truncate the operation of the system at the local government level.
In a similar vein, chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Prince Gboyega Famodun observed that the grassroot is the starting point for anybody that want to take politics as career.
He urged them to concentrate more on service to the people and stressed the needs for tolerance among the elected councilors for the system to work.
He also admonished on the need to strengthen the bond of relationship between them, the party leaders as well as members at the grass roots.
In their separate lectures, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Kolapo Alimi and the Special Adviser on Legislative Matter to the Governor, Hon. Ipoola Binuyo emphasized the principle of collective responsibility in the parliamentary system.
They stressed the need for compliance with due process and to ensure proper monitoring of projects.
Other resource persons including Dr Wale Olaopa, Dr Solomon Ayegba and Dr Solomon Ojo in their separate lectures highlighted the merits of parliamentary democracy as they cited example of countries where it is being practiced.
The lecturers who noted that the success of any system depend on the operators, charged elected councilors on good performance, which according to them would launch them to further politicking in the future.
In their various responses, Leader of Odo-Otin South LCDA, Hon Adeyemi Adelani; Chairman, Odo-Otin North LCDA, Hon Hakeem Seriki and Deputy Leader, Osogbo West LCDA, Hon Moses Jasuyi appreciated the House for organizing the workshop to sensitise all the elected councilors in Osun.
They urged the state government not to relent on its duties in organizing such workshops periodically.
They all commended the state Assembly for organizing such workshop that would orientate elected councilors at the local levels.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Wasiu Adebayo stated that the workshop was coming at the right time as there was the need to acquaint the elected officials with the rudiment of parliamentary system.
The Government of Osun has described as false, baseless and unfounded the allegation of financial malfeasance levelled against the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola by the state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A statement by the Media Adviser to the Governor, Mr Sola Fasure, said PDP had once against demonstrated its skill at deception and uncanny ability to turn white into blue in a bid to discredit the people-oriented government of Aregbesola.
He stated further that the opposition PDP in Osun in company with the party’s governorship aspirants dished out concocted figures that were a mix-bag of lies and half truths containing wildly flawed and incorrect statistics about spending in the Office of the Governor.
According to Fasure, Osun PDP has demonstrated for too long its inherent ability for untruth and deception and so the recent information it purported to disclose to the public was nothing unusual as it is the party’s stock in trade.
PDP had claimed that the Office of the Governor spent N6.3 billion in 2016, among other sundry financial improprieties. Fasure described this alleged financial information as a display of monumental fiscal ignorance to ascribe the Office of the Governor to the person of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
According to Fasure, the dubious press conference by the PDP was therefore a desperate attempt to change the narrative on the soaring popularity of Governor Aregbesola and the APC in contrast to the dwindling fortunes of the PDP in the state and all over the country.
The statement read in part: “We therefore have the following to say on the cacophonic baloney concocted by the PDP on the account of the state.
“The primary source of the information relied upon was the state audited account for 2015 and 2016 that had been publicly presented with fanfare on April 4 this year.
“It is therefore curious how the state’s account transparently presented to the public could be a source from which the opposition will draw allegations of financial impropriety.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Osun is the only state among the six participating states in the State and Local Governance Reform (SLOGOR) Project that publicly presented its account for three years running. Others are Anambra, Cross River, Jigawa, Kano and Yobe.
“The PDP got its facts wrong by claiming that the Office of the Governor spent N6.3 billion in 2016. It was actually N9.7 billion. N4.8 billion was also expended in 2015, as against N1.2 billion falsely claimed by PDP. But it is a display of monumental fiscal ignorance to ascribe the Office of the Governor to the person of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
“There are 28 agencies under the Office of the Governor. These are: Osun Park and Gardens; Wife of the Governor; Office of Regional Integration; Bureau of Government House and Protocols; Christian Welfare Board; Muslim Welfare Board; Public Procurement Agency; Osun State Sports Council; Office of the Deputy Governor; Public Service Office; Special Project Office; Sustainable Development Goals; O’Jobs; Office of Human Resources; Bureau of Public Service Pension; Office of Economic Development and Partnership; Policy and Economic Team; Office of Forestry, Natural and Mineral Resources; Office of Policy Coordination; Bureau of General Services; Osun State Emergency Management Agency; Bureau of Lands; O’Honey; United Nations Development Programme; Osun State Agency for the Control of AIDS; Sustainable Development Goals; and Bureau of Communications and Strategy. These are the agencies which received the budgetary allocation under reference, not the person of the governor.
“A breakdown of the 2016 sum reveals that N648 million was spent on personnel, N2.5 billion on overhead while N4.99 billion was spent on pension, making a total N8.1billion. The balance of N1.56 billion was expended on capital acquisition and other critical expenditures.
“It is ridiculous and the height of mischief to claim that the state government spent N1.8 million on health in 2016. Capital project and project funded on health alone was to the tune of a total sum of N498 million in 2016. Hospital Management Board in 2016 also got N1.5 billion. Capital projects in health were also carried out under Sustainable Development Goals and the Ministry of Health.
“PDP also claimed that the Office of the Governor spent N276 million on ‘infrastructure maintenance’. This is false. The sum was expended on ‘infrastructure acquisition’. There is a world of difference between ‘acquisition’ and ‘maintenance’.
“The state government has had to use huge sums to repay debts. These debts date back to the old Oyo State. Aregbesola’s administration inherited a total of N19.9 billion debt incurred by the previous PDP administration. These debts were owed UBA, Zenith Bank and Sterling Bank. As it is evident to all, the bonds were used efficiently for infrastructure development.
“The state government also took more than N25 billion loan to pay workers salaries and it was in order to avoid cumulating more debts to pay workers salaries that the government adopted the modulated salary structure arrangement.”
Fasure averred that it is sad to behold the display of intellectual ineptitude of PDP which made a mountain out of the molehill and in the process expose itself to ridicule and public opprobrium with the expression of monumental ignorance on simple fiscal matters.
He stated that the PDP leadership, with its governorship aspirants including a professor and a Senator of the Federal Republic, shamefully displayed crass ignorance in its failure to know and distinguish the difference between the Office of the Governor and the person of the governor.
According to Fasure, this faux pas has morally disqualified PDP and its aspirants from occupying any leadership position, having demonstrated their unsuitability to govern the state.
He therefore, alerted the media and the public to be wary of the diabolic intentions of the PDP leadership who are ‘certified confusionists that have perfected the art of lying and public deception.’
The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, has described the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as the architect of modern Osun with the level of development he has brought to the state.
The monarch said Aregbesola has taken the lead among his peers in the area of infrastructure as manifested in the spate of developments the state has recorded in the last seven and a half years of his government.
Akanbi contented that no governor has matched Aregbesola’s achievement in the history Osun as evident in the giant strides recorded in the state.
Oluwo stated this on Friday in his palace in Iwo while playing host to the Governor and his entourage who were on a goodwill visit to Iwo Federal Constituency as part of activities marking the All Progressives Congress (APC) visitation tours to the nine Federal Constituencies in the state.
He stated that it is evident that the present administration has brought dividends of democracy to every household in the state, a bid he said no governor has achieved since the creation of the state.
Akanbi emphasised that without mincing words or being sentimental, the present government under Aregbesola has been able to change the perception of the people about government as some individuals being in office to flex power, explaining that the present administration has shown to all that the business of government is to make life better for the people.
The royal father while commending the fight against corruption by the APC led Federal Government, eulogised Aregbesola for using the available funds at his disposal for the development of the state, saying if he had chosen otherwise, the state would have remained stagnant.
Recounting some of Aregbesola’s infrastructural projects in the state, Oba Akanbi stressed that he is particularly pleased with the bridges constructed by the government just as he noted that the beautiful school structures put up by the Aregbesola administration will go a long way in encouraging pupils to want to attend school.
According to the monarch, “I am not a politician and I am not being sentimental with what I am about to say, among all the governors and leaders in Nigeria, Aregbesola has redefined governance, he has brought a paradigm shift to governance in the country and he has brought a change to leadership in our land.
“He has shown us the way it should be done and I strongly think others should take a cue from this; I so much love Aregbesola and the All Progressives Congress because they hate what I hate and they love what I love.
“I detest corruption and I am happy that the APC too are seriously fighting corruption because it is destructive. On the other hand I love development and Aregbesola and the APC love development as demonstrated through the various developmental projects we are seeing in Osun.
“I am happy Aregbesola is using government resources to develop the state and not embezzling the funds. I am not a sycophant and also not a praise singer, if Aregbesola has not done well, I will say it but the achievements of this administration is out there for all to see and this is the way it should be done.
“We have never seen an overhead bridge in Osun but now we have several of them to the pride of everybody in the state. I am proud of those bridges because they are a landmark for us in the state”. The Oluwo stated.
In his remarks, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, described the visit as a necessity to pay the monarch a special homage and as well receive royal blessings as next governorship election draws nearer.
The Governor asked APC loyalists in Iwo quoting the Secretary to the State Government that what happened in the last Osun West Senatorial bye-election which the APC lost will never happen again.
“We are here to inform you on the need to buckle up and sit tight by forming a formidable frontier that will help to take our party to victory in all elections, particularly in forthcoming governorship polls.
“As we all know, the result of the last Osun West Senatorial Bye-Election in the state was not too palatable for our party and we don’t want this to repeat itself, hence the need to remind our people to be more dedicated to the party’s course so as to our party to victory.
“We must also see this visit as a warning signal not to allow the PDP to come back to government as we all know that PDP has nothing good to offer Nigerians”, Aregbesola added.
Residents of Ijebu-Jesa in Ijesa North Federal constituency, have assured the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, of their unalloyed support and loyalty.
They made the pledge while hosting the Governor on his tour to the Federal constituency on Monday.
The people who trooped out to welcome the Governor, described him as an exceptional Governor who has worked in the general interest of the State.
From the representative of the Elder’s council to the local government party leader, representative of the woman leader and youth leader, Ogbeni Aregbesola was commended for his people oriented and life changing developmental projects.
The representatives in their separate addresses, also lauded and appreciated Aregbesola for being a peoples’ Governor, adding that he was the first Governor to take care of all party members.
In his speech, Aregbesola urged the party members to start working towards the Governorship election to be held on September 22.
He also implored the party members to be united and work collectively towards retaining the party in power.
According to him, ” This meeting is to sensitize ourselves in readiness for the fast approaching governorship election. Let’s start holding ward meetings, the party starts from the wards and the time has come for us to start mobilising people, we must work towards the party’s continuity.”
Earlier in his speech, the party Chairman in the State, Prince Gboyega Famodun, also emphasized the need for the party members to work towards retaining the party in power, adding that the APC is the only political party which has successfully tendered to the needs of the people through various developmental programmes, both physical and non-physical.
- Commits Over N2bn to Healthcare
The Restoration of Healthy Living part of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s Six-Point Integral Action Plan in the State of Osun has since 2010 saved over 12,000 lives.
The initiative which revolved round all strata of improvement, development and upgrade of the health sector of the state has its legacies in all segments.
Efforts to restructure the health sector of the state started with the upgrade of 18 health facilities across the state with the three of the state General Hospitals in Asubiaro Osogbo, Ile-Ife and Ijebu-Ijesa being upgraded to the state-of-the-art Specialist Hospitals.
Aside this, 50 ambulances were procured to provide emergency services to residents of the state in distress during accidents or other emergency needs with 404 paramedics employed, trained and allocated dedicated phone lines to aid their operations in every nook and cranny of the state.
Also, about 53 health projects ranging from Primary Health Care centres to important health initiatives were initiated and completed during the time frame with support from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The government in the last seven and a half years has also spent over 290 million naira on the procurement of equipment and basic amenities with half a billion naira expended on drugs that are provided free for patients across the state.
A patient who spoke to newsmen at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo expressed her gratitude to the State Government of Osun for its support towards catering for the health conditions of its citizenry.
She said with the mechanisms put in place, adequate care and attention is given to patients for their quick recovery and wellness which she is also a beneficiary.
Her words “I want to thank the government for taking care of me despite how critical my condition was. I am also grateful to them for the grant they have given me to take care of myself when I leave here. If not for their efforts, I may not have been alive today but I’m grateful to God that through their support, I am alive today.”
The Oba of Benin, Omo N’oba N’edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II has urged the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to work with his colleagues in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum on to stop the incessant killings by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the country.
The monarch challenged the Presidency to surmount the national security challenges confronting the country by taking the necessary steps that would strengthen security in every part of the country.
Oba of Benin made the call on Saturday during a courtesy visit to Governor Aregbesola at Government House, Osogbo. He said it is necessary to promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians and as well rescue the country from the shackles of insecurity that has daily become the lot of the citizenry.
The revered monarch lamented the level of insecurity in the country which he said has painted Nigeria in bad light in the comity of nations, hence the need for government at all levels to do the needful to end the menace.
According to him, “I want you to mobilise your colleagues in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum to address the issue of insecurity in the country and do something to stop the unwarranted killings by Fulani herdsmen in Benue, Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Edo and other parts of the country.
“It is unfortunate that this is going on in our land, we want something to be quickly done as soon as possible so that Nigerians can know peace because people are being swallowed by cattle in the land.
“We even learnt that there might be some international connections to it, we don’t know anything about that, all we want is for it to stop so that our people can know peace again.
“Nigerians cherish their comfort and a peaceful environment so much; so we are charging those of you at the helms of affairs in the country to do everything humanly possible to guarantee peace for Nigerians.
“The bloodletting is too much in the land and the nation is bleeding, we want a stop to this. The killing of innocent citizens has to stop in every part of this country. It is worrisome that the trending news in the country today is killing here and there, no day you will not hear the news that people have been butchered by herdsmen. Mr Governor, something urgent needs to be done about it.
“I want to use this opportunity to implore Nigerians on the need for them to be vigilant and security conscious more than ever before in our society, it is important for us all to know our neighbours for our own safety’, the monarch stressed.
The traditional ruler also condemned in its totality the prevalence of human trafficking in the country particularly in Edo State, describing the menace as modern day slavery that must be urgently confronted.
Oba Ewuare II said it is time for Nigerian government to be on top of its responsibilities, emphasizing that all hands must be on deck to put a stop to the ugly trend.
Describing human trafficking as crime against fellow human beings, the traditional ruler admonished Nigerians not to see it as an Edo State problem but a national challenge which everybody must rise against for the good of the nation.
Oba Ewuare II commended the British government and other members of the international community for being sensitive to Nigeria’s plights, saying their impacts at recognizing the efforts of the royal stool in a bid to put an end to the scourge had yielded positive results.
The monarch called on Nigerians to support the campaign against corruption in the country, noting that for a nation to grow, her citizen must detest any form of corrupt practices.
According the Oba, “The modern slavery in our land today is that of human trafficking and unfortunately many people see it as an Edo State problem, but I tell you it is far from it. We all need to come together and fight this menace that is staring us in the face or else we will all suffer for it.
“On our part we are doing all that is humanly possible to put an end to human trafficking in our land because it is a crime against a fellow human being, other parts of the country don’t need to stigmatize Edo State, we need to see it as a national issue.
“It now a national and international issue and I am happy to inform you that the British government has recognized our effort in trying to curb the menace and it is gratifying to note that the Ife and Benin kingdoms have agreed to work together on solving the problem”, he added.
In his remarks, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed that efforts are in top gear to eliminate all forms of insecurity in the country,
He described the spate of gruesome killings in some parts of the country as criminal and an act of lawlessness which is beyond the issue of farmers, herdsmen clash alone.
Arebesola held that the issue of Fulani/herdsmen killings have been extensively discussed at the last National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja, assured Nigerians that the unfortunate killings by the Fulani herdsmen will soon be a thing of the past.
He said the killings became worrisome for the government to the extent that last National Executive Council meeting was devoted to the discussion on how to tackle the menace, stressing that an end to the lawlessness is already in sight.
The governor who assured Nigerians that government is not folding its arms on threat to national security, charged Nigerians to always go about their lawful duties without fear as the government at the centre is doing everything possible to ensure that Nigeria continues to be peaceful.
“I want to assure that government is not folding its arms as to the security situation in the country, we are pained about what is going on and I want you to know that the last National Executive Council meeting was devoted to discussing a way out of the current security challenge in the country.
“The act is criminal and lawless and we condemn it entirety. I want us to begin to see it beyond just farmers and Fulani herdsmen clash but a monster that shouldn’t be allowed to grow.
“The cheering news is that I want Nigerians to know that we will be over this crisis in the next few weeks by God’s grace”. Aregbesola stated.
Aregbesola also assured the visiting monarch that all efforts will be put in place to mobilize the state’s traditional institution on the need to champion the campaign to completely eradicate human trafficking in Nigeria.
He therefore described the visit as the re-enactment of Yoruba heritage.
Earlier, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi expressed delight on the visit of Oba Ewuare II, saying it is an affirmation to the fact that Yoruba people remain united.
Oba Ogunwusi said the visit has demonstrated the huge love, unity and cohesion between the people of Benin and the whole Yoruba speaking States in Nigeria.
He called on Yoruba people to continue to love one another and always uphold the culture, heritage and values that the race is known for.
“Today, it is evident that we have made another history by our common ancestry and cultural heritage through this visit.
“It shows that Yorubas are one and united, irrespective of place and location because there is no joy as joy of one’s origin, which we have felt through this visit”, Ooni stated