Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, has reaffirmed that total transformation of the State of Osun remains his priority.

Aregbesola made the statement while giving account of his stewardship during a programme organised by All Christian Leaders and Ministers Forum (ACLMF) at the auditorium of Olorunda Local Government Secretariat, Oshogbo, Osun State.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Chief (Mrs) Laoye Tomori, declared his administration is greatly determined and focused at total transformation of the state to another mega one.

He maintained that in its resolve at actualizing the desired objective, the governor of the culturally endowed Osun State in South-West Nigeria has brought real transformation to governance in the state and gave democracy its real meaning as the government of the people.

Besides, he said Osun has been transformed from one that could barely meet its obligations, to a solvent state and viable economy.

A record 20,000 youth were employed by the state within his first month in office through the Osun State Youth Empowerment Scheme (O’YES) as a result of his devotion to constructive engagement of the youth, he said.

He added that his administration has showed a lot of commitment to education with the on-going overhaul of the school infrastructure in the state, training and development of teachers, encouraging basic school enrolment through the introduction of free meals and uniforms, and lately the launch of the “Opon Imo” or “Tablet of Knowledge” -mini computers consisting over 65 text books covering various subjects to be distributed free to all secondary school students in the state.

PMNEWS

IN a keenly contested race, which paraded enterprising ICT state governors in the country, the Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has emerged winner of the Centennial ICT Governor of the Year Award at the 2014 Titans of Tech Awards organised by Technology Africa.

The report from the Intelligence Unit of Technology Africa, which resulted to the Governor’s nomination indicated that Osun State under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has undertaken a major upgrade of the State’s ICT infrastructure including the setup of a brand new and modern Government Data Center, as well as data communications links between all the Government Offices.

The report further revealed that Governor Aregbesola is a pioneer with a history of consistency, Innovation and passion for the development of ICT in the state of Osun.

He has demonstrated a peculiar interest in improving ICT literacy in the state of Osun through the introduction of the OPON IMO – Tablet of Knowledge (e-Learning & Science category). The Governor has also commissioned the $50 million ICT Factory in Osun first of its kind in the state.

The 2014 Titans of Tech Awards, which was dedicated to Nigeria Centenary celebration was chaired by former Director, Computer center at ECOWAS Dr. Sola Afolabi and had in attendance stakeholders from the Nigerian ICT Industry, top government functionaries, captains of industry and business moguls.

BIOREPORT

Less than sixteen days to the August 9, governorship election in the State of Osun, the candidacy of Governor Rauf Aregbesola received another boost as students in the four tertiary institutions owned by the state trooped to the street on Thursday to canvass for his re-election in office.

The Students under the aegis of Osun Youths and Students Coalition (OYSC), converged at the popular Nelson Mandela Freedom Park before they took to the major streets across the State Capital.

The students who cut across the four tertiary institutions, such as; Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, College of Technology, Esa-Oke, College of Education, Ila-Orangun and College of Education Ilesa unanimously endorsed Governor Aregbesola for second term in office over what they described as unprecedented achievements in education sector.

According to the students, Aregbesola deserves victory in the coming election, considering his support to student movement, which had turned the educational sector around from its comatose state.

The President of OYSC, Comrade Abiola Oyedele, while fielding questions from reporters on why they approved Aregbesola’s candidature among other contenders said with the great achievements recorded, which had ranked Osun high among other states, there is the need for the status-quo to be maintained.’’

Oyedele said,”Ever since the inception of the present administration, Aregbesola’s six point integral plans, had really revamped the educational sector, which was in a serious jeopardy, and corruption was customized.’’

‘’ We can see what the governor had done in the sector, providing new schools, buses, with excellent and conducive learning environment.

‘’ Balance diet was given to students, while innovative tablet of knowledge (Opon-Imo) was distributed to schools in the state.’’ Oyedele said.

Describing Aregbesola as true democrat, the President said Aregbesola has been so friendly to the agitations and demand of the Nigerian students unlike the previous administration which did not give students any platform to agitate for their rights.

Oyedele further explained that, attempts to exercise the right to freedom of speech through protests, by the youths and students during the PDP administration were met with barbaric attacks and victimization.

Oyedele recalled that, over 15 students were arrested and expelled at OSCOED Ilesa during the regime of PDP, and in Iree Poly, not less than 5 students union leaders were suspended, just as SUG was also banned, adding the same also happen in Ila, Esa-Oke and OAU.

He appealed to all voters to listen only to the voice of reason, saying that Aregbesola was still the answer; no room for usurpers and rogues”, he added

He said, ‘’ Students must not allow any desperate political desperado, who are power drunk, to lure them into taken up arms, against their wish in the coming election in Osun.’’

Oyedele, however, urged the people of the state, to support educational policies of the present administration, which was aimed at providing qualitative education for students.

BIOREPORTS

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Come August 9, this year, the people of Osun State will go to the poll to either renew the mandate of incumbent governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for another four years or vote in a new governor in the person of Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the hottest challenger to the coveted post. The election coming after the defeat of APC incumbent governor in Ekiti State, some weeks ago, has great implication for the APC generally.

Without prejudice to other political parties that fielded candidates for the poll, the Osun contest is clearly between the PDP and APC candidates. It is, indeed, going to be a battle of wits and supremacy between the duo. The coming epic political battle is going to show those really in charge of Osun politics between PDP and APC chieftains and supporters, whether it is politics of “development infrastructure” or that of “stomach infrastructure.” Both are important new paradigms in evolving Nigerian party politics. Any politician that ignores any aspect of new political vote-catching mantras is doing so at his own peril.

What happened in Ekiti poll is an eye-opener of sorts and students of political science will do some research on it. It is a surprise that in an election that Governor Kayode Fayemi readily conceded defeat and congratulated the winner, Ayodele Fayose, the APC has cried blue murder and challenge the result, which Ekiti people and, indeed, Nigerians, local and foreign observers hailed was free, fair and credible. I am very sure that the APC has not recovered from the shock of Ekiti defeat and it is going to haunt the party for months or years to come depending on the outcome at the tribunal and also the result of Osun poll.

Since the Ekiti landslide, the PDP has gone with the notion that, the Ekiti episode has signalled what to expect in Osun next month and other South-West APC states in 2015 and even Nigeria. But the truth of the matter is that elections don’t normally follow such predictive patterns in a heterogeneous entity as Nigeria where many factors account for how elections are won if all things are equal. So many reasons have been advanced why the APC lost in Ekiti and they range from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Most outstanding among the numerous reasons for APC defeat is that Fayemi concentrated on development infrastructure and neglected stomach infrastructure. And the latter, is where his opponent, Fayose, reportedly capitalized and gave him an edge. As sweet as this theory may sound, I do not believe in its entirety that Fayemi lost simply because of neglect of stomach infrastructure. There must be other cogent reasons why he lost outside the puerile argument of neglecting mere stomach infrastructure.

After all, it was reported that bags of rice and other edible items were used as campaign mementos by all the political parties before the election. Fayemi is not the first incumbent governor that has lost an election in Nigeria. The factors responsible for his defeat will not be isolated from those of other incumbents that have lost elections in the country. Ekiti own is not different or special.

I believe that Fayemi lost because Ekiti people, like the people of Imo State in 2011, want regime change and that is exactly what they did and not necessarily that they voted for stomach infrastructure. Anyway, the voters have the right to make a choice of who governs them and nobody should query their conscience or their choice.

Therefore, it will be wrong on the part of the PDP in Osun to think that because Fayose won Ekiti State for them that the same will be replicated in Osun. That would be delusion of grandeur. They should remember that the sociology of Ekiti politics is poles apart from that of Osun. They should also remember that Fayose had ruled that state before he was removed through unpopular impeachment by those in charge of central authority then.

There were certain things that Fayose did that still endeared him to the hearts of Ekiti electorate that made them gave him massive votes at the recent gubernatorial poll in the state. They should not forget that Fayose’s victory was foretold prophetically. Such scenarios do not exist in Osun. Governor Aregbosola is never confronted with the same dilemma that Fayemi faced in Ekiti State where some of his unpopular policies were said to have contributed to his being defeated at the poll.

Watching Aregbesola from a distance, I think that the Ogbeni has done creditably well in providing both physical infrastructure, in terms of well-paved roads, schools, hospitals and others. He has empowered Osun youths through his youth empowerment programmes. When he saw that some politicians want to use religion to foment trouble in the state, he quickly arrested the situation and demonstrated that the government is for all religions in the state and treated them equally.

Besides these, Ogbeni is a grassroots politician and committed hard fighter. He knows how to reach the electorate effortlessly. He has large support base and mass following in Osun and they would surely root for him for a second term in office, all things considered. He is well at home with populist programmes that can win votes to his side. Ogbeni Aregbesola must also have learnt from the mistakes of his colleague in Ekiti.

It is my belief that he learnt very well. In fact, any APC governor that has not learnt from the mistakes in Ekiti is not telling the truth. It is not only APC governors, any governor hoping to win a reelection must have learnt some intrinsic lessons on voter psychology from Ekiti that will make him survive politically.

This can explain why Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is sounding so convincing and optimistic that his people will surely return him to office soon. He has said it openly that what happened in Ekiti will not repeat itself in Osun and I do not think that it is an empty boast coming from such sophisticated political warrior as the Ogbeni himself. But the incumbent governor should expect a hard fight from the PDP candidate, Omisore. It is indeed going to be a titanic political battle.

Who becomes the next governor of Osun State will be solely at the discretion of Osun voters if the electoral umpire and others involved in the poll do the needful to ensure its transparency and fairness. Nevertheless, from the look of things, it appears the incumbent governor would have the upper hand.

SUNNEWS

The Government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has again reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of its people as it again on Thursday announced its free train ride for this year’s Eid el-Fitri celebration.

In a statement by the Commissioner of Commerce, Cooperatives and Empowerment, Mr. Ismail Adekunle Jayeoba-Alagbada, the free train ride would convey people coming for the festival from Lagos to Osogbo on Saturday 26th by 10 am.

A return train from Osogbo to Lagos is slated for Tuesday 29th and will take off by 11 am.

The statement noted that government did this to ease movement of the people during rush period of the festivity.

Alagbada enjoined indigenes of the state to maximise the advantage the free train ride offered them to visit home and enjoy the Islamic celebration.

He stated further: “This tradition of free train ride as introduced by the Aregbesola government is aimed at facilitating the easy movements of the citizens to join their families and other loved ones to enjoy the celebration.

“And this programme takes care of both Islamic and Christian festivities and also one that is introduced to boost the economy of the state.

“Therefore, it is the wish of government that our people from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States would seize this opportunity by Aregbesola’s government to visit home and celebrate with their relatives.”

Governor Rauf Aregbesola,  Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Falabi, Member, National Assembly representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency, Honourable Ayo Omidiran and many others, at the commissioning of NUD Middle School Ikire on Monday 21-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (left) acknowledging
cheers from his admirers and Pupils of Nawirudeen (NUD) Middle School,
during the Official Commissioning of the School in Ikire. Insert: From
left, Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor Rauf
Aregbesola; Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Falabi; Member, National
Assembly representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal Constituency,
Honourable Ayo Omidiran and others, on Monday 21-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers
from his supporters, during the Official Commissioning of Nawirudeen
(NUD) Middle School, Ikire on Monday 21-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers
from his supporters, during the Official Commissioning of Nawirudeen
(NUD) Middle School, Ikire on Monday 21-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers
from his supporters, during the Official Commissioning of Nawirudeen
(NUD) Middle School, Ikire on Monday 21-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers
from his supporters, during the Official Commissioning of Nawirudeen
(NUD) Middle School, Ikire on Monday 21-07-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (arrowed) acknowledging
cheers from his admirers and Pupils of Nawirudeen (NUD) Middle School,
during the Official Commissioning of the School in Ikire on Monday
21-07-2014

From left, Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori;
Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Akire of Ikire, Oba Olatunde Falabi;
Member, National Assembly representing Irewole/Ayedaade/Isokan Federal
Constituency, Honourable Ayo Omidiran and others, during the Official
Commissioning of Nawirudeen (NUD) Middle School, Ikire on Monday
21-07-2014

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“If anything, his efforts deserve to be applauded, and if Nigeria must develop quickly, men of ability and substance must never shy away from throwing their hats into the political ring just like what Ogbeni Aregbesola has done” – Quoted in Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (In the footsteps of Chief Obafemi Awolowo) Page. 105.

It has been said in several quarters that Ogbeni Rauf  Adesoji Aregbesola is the greatest positive thing that has happened to the people of Osun State, since he was sworn in as the Executive Governor on November 27th, 2010.

This fact above manifested clearly again when I visited the State recently. It has been said correctly too that, no one leader or sitting Governor of the State of Osun has won the hearts of the masses overwhelmingly like Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, since Osun State was created out of Oyo State on August 27th, 1991.

Fact is sacred! When Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola invited me to join his campaign team to Ede, perhaps for me to see things for myself, I was excited to make the trip with him. What I saw as we made our way to Ede and when we got to Ede proper exceedingly warmed my hearts. It warmed my hearts because my more than two years research into the activities of Ogbeni Aregbesola which has manifested into a recent book on him, has turned out to be a worthy and well deserved venture.

What I saw in Ede has equally complimented the fact that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s idealism and fiery temperament has given hope to many who has hastily flocked to his train of political redemption. This man is absolutely sincere with power and what he has done and what he still hopes to do is visible for any one that visits Osun State to X-ray.

Indeed, what I saw on our way to Ede clearly displayed that Ogbeni Aregbesola has attracted the attention of the lowly, the humble and the multitudes that have seen hope in his political proclamations. As we made our way to Ede, school children of all grades ran out of their school compound to shout and cheer Ogbeni; on their faces one could see exceeding joy and satisfaction.

After all, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is feeding them with hygienic food and clothing them as they go to school every day, using his popular programme of O’MEAL (reserved for pupil of between primary one-four). Women and men of all shades and the elderly people trooped out to dance and sing the praise of Mr. Governor of Osun State and waved the flags and broom of the All Progressive Congress (APC), as the Governor’s convoy drove slowly towards Ede.

As we moved closer to Ede, the entire town suddenly rose up to welcome Ogbeni Aregbesola’s campaign train. I will never forget the experience. People were recklessly cheering, dancing and singing on the streets. What awaited us at the palace of Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Lawal was quite unique. The mood at the palace was indeed emotionally irresistible as the orgy of celebration was total. The crowd that had gathered within the palace listened attentively and enthusiastically as Ogbeni Aregbesola addressed them on why they should return him to power on August 9th 2014.

The mood at the Seventh Day Adventist High School, Ede, venue of the Ogbeni Aregbesola’s re-election campaign rally was ecstatic, as people of all colours, the aged and the young, poor and the rich danced uncontrollably as Governor Aregbesola rode in .The spontaneous emotional outburst that gripped the venue of the campaign rally reached crescendo as Ogbeni Aregbesola made his way to the podium.

When Governor Rauf Aregbesola said  “Our administration has treated the various political districts equally without sentiment…What we have done in less than 40 months, surpassed what they did in seven years both in quantity and quality”, he was saying nothing but the truth.

I indeed saw completed township roads in Ede and the inhabitants were happy with Ogbeni. It is clear without any shadow of doubt that Ogbeni Aregbesola came and prepared to lead the people of Osun to the glorious next level. 10 kilometer of roads are being constructed in every Local Government Areas of the State of Osun. The crowds in Ede were simply very large. The man is popular!

On Monday July 7th, 2014, a day before the mega rally at Ede, Ogbeni Aregbesola commissioned the Ayegbaju Modern International Market in Oshogbo. I have reliably gathered that a replica of this gigantic market will soon appear in all the senatorial districts of the State. There is something about the Ayegbaju Modern International Market, that I have not seen anywhere in this country before.

The Ayegbaju market, apart from the massive size of land it occupies in Station road Oshogbo, has facilities like Hotels, Medical Centre, Banks, a Mosque, Church, Filling Station, Police Station, and Car Park etc. It will be a miracle of the century if Senator Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Osun 2014 Governorship election wins the race on August 9th 2014? The phase two of the market is presently being constructed.

With what I witnessed on Tuesday July 7th, 2014, in Ede, and what I have seen on the ground in terms of honest pragmatic implementation of formulated policies like OPON IMO (Tablet of knowledge) O’MEAL, O’Schools, O’TOURS, O’AMBULANCE, re-classification of schools, Agba Osun (scheme for the elderly), O’YES (Youth Employment Scheme), O’REAP etc, Ogbeni Aregbesola will clinch the baton of re-election on August 9th, 2014, in the State of Osun.

Apart from Ede, the tumultuous crowds that normally trooped out to welcome Ogbeni wherever he goes on a campaign tour, is an indication that the man is the tribune of the silent majority in the state of Osun.

Nowinta, Wrote OGBENI RAUF AREGBESOLA

(In The Footsteps Of Obafemi Awolowo)

Photos of the Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola the Governor’s Endorsement for Second Term in office and Inauguration of Public Schools PTA Executives at Technical College, Osogbo, State of Osun