The Chairman of Committee on Resolution of Crisis Between farmers and herdsmen in Osun, Hon. Mudashir Toogun, has said his committee had handled and settled over 5,000 cases involving farmers and Fulani cattle rearers across the state in the last three years.
 

 
He disclosed this at a farmers meeting in Onilapa farm, Olaoluwa Local Government Area of the state, where some rice farmers met, and rice farms inspected.
Toogun noted that the incessant clash between Fulani herdsmen and farmers became the most threatening crisis after Boko Haram insurgency in all the federating units.
He commended the governor for setting up a committee to interface with these two groups and ensured sustainable peace, making farming more easier and profitable in the state.
He explained that the pro-activeness of the governor in setting up the committee prior to the outbreak of the farmer-herdsmen crisis in the state helped in no small way to forestall any crisis and ensure that both farmers and herdsmen live harmoniously without blemish.
“We are able to be on top of the situation in the state because of the pro-activeness of government in providing a platform for all actors to meet and dialogue among themselves.
“This has helped us a great deal and with this intercession, we have settled not less than 5,000 cases between 2014 and now.
“This is why Osun State is the most peaceful today when you think of farmers-herdsmen crises ravaging the country,” Toogun said.
However, rice farming and livestock expert, Mr. Olafare Richard has identified the potentials of Osun in rice production, saying that with available resources and necessary equipment, coupled with enabling environment, Osun can produce enough rice for South-West consumption.
He revealed that Osun State has about 60 percent of the most productive rice seedlings that can be found in the whole country, lamenting that the best of the opportunities of this seed have not been realised.
He called on the government to further support rice farmers so as to improve their productivity.

The governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola visited the Onilapa Rice Farm Ogbaagba on Tuesday to meet with the farmers. While there, he reiterated his government’s effort at ensuring adequate food production for self sustenance of Osun state, saying Nigerians must feed themselves.
 
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Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun was on Tuesday told that his state has the capacity to grow enough rice to feed the entire South-West region of the country.
 

 
 
This was the submission of rice farming and livestock expert and Managing Director of Savanna Seeds and Livestock Limited, Mr. Olafare Richard, at a farmers’ meeting at Onilapa Farm in Ola-Oluwa Local Government Area in Osun.
This was just as the Chairman of Committee on Resolution of Crisis Between Farmers and Herdsmen, Hon Mudathir Toogun, said his committee has handled and settled over 5,000 cases involving farmers and Fulani cattle rearers across the state in the last three years.
Olafare said with the available resources, the necessary equipment, the most yielding and quality seedling and the enabling environment, Osun can produce rice need of the whole South-West.
He revealed that Osun State has about 60 percent of the most productive rice seedlings that can be found in the whole country, lamenting that the best of the opportunities of this seed have not been realised.
Olafare therefore canvassed for a complete value-chain to improve rice production, saying with the growing trend of rice production in Osun, the state is capable to take of the rice of the geo-political zone.
He called on the government to further support rice farmers so as to improve their productivity.
“We need effective rice management in the state. At present, we have resource farmers.
Our framers need to be supported and once this is done, Osun can boast of mass rice production.
“We also need the support of the government to build the capacity of farmers because with government support, we are going to produce Osun rice,” Olafare said.
Toogun said after the Boko Haram insurgency, the next most volatile crisis in the country is the constant break in relationship between farmers and Hausa-Fulani herdsmen in all regions of the nation.
He commended the governor for sitting up a committee to interface with these two principal actors, making Osun the safest place in terms of security.
He stated that the foresight of the governor in setting of the committee prior to the outbreak of the farmer-herdsmen crisis in the state helped in no small measure to combat the crisis and ensure that both farmers and herdsmen live harmoniously and resolve any crisis that arises as quickly as possible.
“We are able to be on top of the situation in the state because of the pro-activeness of government in providing a platform for all actors to meet and dialogue among themselves.
“This has helped us a great deal and with this intercession, we have settled not less than 5,000 cases between 2014 and now.
“This is why Osun State is the most peaceful today when you think of farmers-herdsmen crises ravaging the country,” Togun said.
In his remarks, the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola called for mass participation in agriculture as the only way to rescue the nation from her present socio-economic challenges.
He said the economic situation in the country has called for the need to improve on the nation’s agricultural capacity, saying all hands must be on deck to promote farming.
Lamenting on the state of the nation’s economy, Governor Aregbesola said it has become imperative for all to do the needful in promoting agriculture.
Aregbesola said his government was ready to support and collaborate with any individual or group that shows interest in farming.
According to him, with the present economic reality, it has become imperative to produce what we consume because failure to do so, we will remain dependent.
“Any nation that cannot feed itself will continue to be enslaved. It is time to embrace agriculture and take our minds from the money coming from the crude oil as the commodity can no longer sustain our economy”, he added.
Expressing the readiness of his administration towards the realisation of an improved farming practices in the state, Governor Aregbesola said efforts continue to be geared up in meeting the state objectives on agriculture sector.
He called on the rice farmers to double efforts at increasing their productivity, saying “Osun has the capacity to produce 20 tones of rice per hectare”.
Governor Aregbesola therefore called on the residents in the state to support his government with prompt tax payment.

The governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday attended an economic summit of the governors of the South-West in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital.
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Muslims all over the country led by the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, gathered in Osogbo, Osun capital on Sunday to organize a special prayer for the nation.
They also extended the prayers to President Muhammadu Buhari.
This was as the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, observed that economy and abject poverty, rather than religion is the major springboard of the Boko Haram terrorism.
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Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme-Technology is a 6-month rolling programme inaugurated on the 24^th day of April, 2011 by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the State of Osun Nigeria. This training programme in collaboration with a private organization is designed to train 5,000 participants (OYES cadets) in various aspect of applied technology. The government hopes to train and empower 20,000 participants in 2 years.
The programme has 10 training centres evenly spread across the state and covers intensive training on areas such as; Basics of Computer system , Computer Software Application, Computer Hardware, Computer Networking, Mobile Phone Software, Basic Electronics, Mobile Phone Hardware, and Entrepreneurship Studies.
At the completion of this training, successful trainees have various engagement opportunities such as; direct employment in private organizations (including the training partner), employment into a various governmental initiatives as well as opportunities to be self-employed through the provision of initial start-up capital by the government.

President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has commended governor of the state of Osun towards his commitment to religious tolerance in the state.
 

 
The Sultan gave the commendation while on a courtesy visit to the governor at the State House, Osogbo shortly before leading a national prayer for our Nation for peace, security, Stability and development, organized in honour of Deputy President General (South) Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola.
The leader of the Muslims also enjoined various religious groups across the country to make prayer a daily routine as the country needs spiritual solutions to its peculiar challenges.
This was as the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, observed that economy and abject poverty, rather than religion is the major springboard of the Boko Haram terrorism.
During the Sultan’s courtesy call on the Governor, the Sultan commended Aregbesola for his commitment to the development of humanity regardless of socio-economic, political and religious differences. He said the state under the leadership Aregbesola has demonstrated high sense of fairness to religious organisations in the state.
He noted that the Governor has extremely demonstrated to the world the sterling quality expected from whoever holds the office of the Governor. The Sultan said, “I must acknowledge your commitment in promoting unity among the various religious organisations in the state as this is in line with our cardinal objective of ensuring a peaceful nation.
The Sultan stated that his visit makes the 6th time of being in Osun and we are here in large number as one family under the umbrella of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs which is the apex body for muslims in Nigeria to further register our determination to unity, peace and tranquillity of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Meanwhile Governor Aregbesola averred that it must sadden every Muslim to hear that a Muslim can kill himself or herself or accept a suicide mission for the paltry some of N200.
He argued that economy rather than religion is at the heart of insurgency in the northern part of the country.
He therefore called on muslim leaders to undertake the task of how to eradicate poverty in the land in other that terrorism could be uprooted once and for all.