All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State has debunked the rumour making the rounds that the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, was planning a massive retrenchment of senior civil servants on grade level 12 and above, including other workers above the age of 50 from the state’s employment after the general elections.
A statement by the party’s Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the APC described the rumour as, “The usual silly spin of falsehood characteristic of PDP’s evil genius for manufacturing and propagating wicked lies especially in Osun state.”
According to the APC, “At no time did Aregbesola contemplate to retrench any staff of any grade or age, and no such thing will be allowed to happen any time soon or in the future.
The statement read in part: “From day one, the policy of gainful employment of the APC governor, Rauf Aregbesola, had been, continues to remain and will be the intensified mantra of the party in the months and years ahead. The only monstrous obstacle to this policy is the evil construct of the PDP-led Federal Government in starving Osun State of its legitimate statutory funding.
“Not many people knew, until Governor Fashola of Lagos State revealed recently, that to further starve APC states in particular of funding assistance, the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, ordered the banks not to help fund state government projects.
“This kind of frustrating impediment is what the PDP is using to force states of the opposition to look for ways to overcome deliberate strangulation, through forced retirement of workers.
“But the APC government is more innovative and constructive than the PDP had imagined.
“Rather than contemplate retrenchment as being schemed, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is planning the creation of more jobs for the people; and one of the ways, indeed the most effective way to achieve this for Nigerians, is to defeat the PDP on March 28 and April 11 presidential and general elections.”
VANGUARD

11 days to presidential elections. If you’re voting remember these factors:

1. The Chibok Girls;

2. NNPC Scam;

3. Police pension fund;

4. Missing N20Billion;

5. $9million Arms deal;

6. Bomb Blasts;

7. Immigration job Scam;

8. Petroleum pump price.

9. Devaluation of Naira;

10. Oil Theft;

11. Power Outage;

12. Selling of NEPA;.

13. Selling of Refineries;

14. Skyrocketed NEPA Bills;

15. ASUU and Polytecnic Strike;

16. Healthworkers Strike;

17. National Assembly Tragedy;

18. Stella’s Oduah Aviation Scam; and

20. Kerosene Subsidy————–

They Didn’t Raise N21Billion for Ebola; They Didn’t Raise N21Billion for dilapidated hospitals; They didn’t raise N21Billion for Military Weapons against Boko Haram; They Didn’t raise N21Billion for Flood Victims; They Didn’t raise N21Billion for Children dying of Vaccine preventable diseases; They didn’t raise N21Billion for the homeless>:O  BUT they all gathered to raise N21Billion for another 4Years of INEPTITUDE AND BAD GOVERNANCE.

We must vote Jonathan out of Aso Rock. So if you are not part of them, forward it to many and God will bless you as you do so!

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has reminded the people of the state of the urgent need for change as the only necessary antidote to the nation’s political and socio-economic hardship.

In a statement by the Director Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, the Governor was quoted as speaking in a round-off campaign for the All Progressive Congress candidates from presidential to the State House of Assembly positions.

He was quoted as tasking people to vote APC candidates all through.

The governor in company with the former Governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, on Tuesday traversed several towns and local governments in Osun Central Senatorial districts flanked by three senatorial candidates in the state, nine Federal House of Representatives and 28 House of Assembly candidates.

Some of the towns the campaign train visited include Oba-Ile, Oba-Oke in Olorunda Local Government; Eko-Ende, Eko-Ajala in Ifelodun Local Government and Ore, Agbeye, Ekosin in Odo-Otin Local Government.

Aregbesola reminded the crowd at every campaign ground of the need for them to be resolute on how to return the nation to path of progress and development by voting General Muhammadu Buhari on March 28 to rescue the nation from its present doldrums.

He averred that what the country yearns for now is a brave, patriotic and committed leader like Buhari for its dwindling fortunes to stop.

He said that with Buhari as President, the nation will witness tremendous turn around because APC’s programmes are targeted at the mass of Nigerian people.

“I can assure you that the March 28 election is a crucial one for us. It is an election we in APC intend to use to free the nation from the clutches of politically fickle leaders.

“Buhari had been tested before. We knew how he once rescued the country from the precipice during the Second Republic.

“Given this antecedent, Buhari is ready again to lead the country out of the woods the sixteen years of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has led it into.

“Therefore, vote for APC at all levels of government so that we can all rescue our country from PDP’s endless years of hunger, hardship and servitude,” Aregbesola said.

He also educated the people on the best ways to go about voting during the elections, during which he also presented the party’s candidates to them one after another.

For Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the best thing that could happen to Nigeria is the Buhari Presidency.

He told the people to troop out in large number to cast their votes for APC if they actually want the nationwide insecurity, unemployment and hardship to a thing of the past.

“All I can tell you, our dear people and supporters, is to let us all come together and end these years of misrule.

“We can only effect this change by closing rank jointly and firmly resolve to go in one direction. This resolution to vote no other party than APC is a task that must be performed,” Oyinlola said

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Osun State, Dr. Adekunle Ladipo Ogunmola, has handed over transcribed voter education materials to People with Disabilities (PWD) in the state to acquit them with the materials ahead of the March 28 and April 11 elections.
The materials were handed over to their representatives at a meeting held with zonal representatives of People with Disabilities (PWDs).
Braille voter education materials for the visually impaired frequently asked questions on electoral process, posters, correct thumb printing pad, general election dates and types, election offences and penalties, fliers and voting procedures and card readers were parts of the materials handed over to them.

According to him, INEC under the chairmanship of Professor Attahiru Jega was determined to empower disadvantaged citizens through innovative programmes such as Braille materials for the visually impaired group.
DAILY INDEPENDENT

The All Progressive Congress (APC), Ijesa North Federal Constituency, has expressed displeasure over the alleged attacks on its members. The Chairman, Campaign committee of Ijesa North Federal Constituency, Wale Bolorunduro, spoke at a press conference on Tuesday, in Osogbo.‎
Displaying photographs of brutalized victims, Bolorunduro said the APC has asked its loyalists not to reprise any attack. Bolorunduro lamented that security agencies in the state had refused to act on petition and reports sent to them on the activities of the hoodlums. He said, “The police have failed to make any arrest, as the perpetrators of the dastardly acts are moving freely in the communities. All of these attacks, were reported to the police in the local governments where they occurred. It is on record that none of the individuals mentioned at the police stations have been arrested for questioning.”
He called on the Police, Department of State Security Services (SSS), to intervene as a means to ensure the protection of its members. While lamenting that majority of schools in Ilase had been closed by the state government because of the terror activities, he noted that the hoodlums had engaged in consistent sporadic shootings.
He added, “We are not satisfied with the physical attacks on the APC members and supporter, the opposition also went ahead to set the shop of Ade, popularly called Gereko on fire in Ilase and destroyed many properties. “On Friday, March 13th, the APC had a rally in Ilase, Obokun Local Government and ‎we discovered that the banner around the rostrum had been purportedly torn by Fadahunsi’s thugs.”
Responding to the allegations, the spokesperson for Fadahushi Campaign Organisation, Mr. Sola Olowoye, alleged that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members, were also attacked in the area. He said, “The truth is that, Mr. Jumoke Ogunkeyede, an indigene of Ilase, with about 10 men working for APC, descended on one of the drivers working with Fadahunshi campaign organisation, who was pasting posters and beat him up.
“The allegations that Fadahunshi’s men are attacking APC in Ilase is unfounded and can only emanate from the domain of a party that has lost touch with the grass roots.”
DAILY TIMES

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Saturday tasked the new President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to bring back the old days of agenda-setting labour unionism in the country.

Aregbesola regretted that critical institutions of democracy are being demolished by the sheer desperation of those who fail to understand the meaning of power adding that a truly unfettered labour union with positive dispositions towards economic growth and not in unholy alliance for the perpetuation of misrule is what is required.

The governor in a congratulatory message through the Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola said the new NLC boss, Dr. Ayuba Wabba, must seek to attain such goals under his tenure.

The Governor described the emergence of a new executive of the NLC as timely and a good omen for the nation’s democracy.

He advised the union to be objective, focused and non-partisan in carrying on its labour activities.

He enjoined the NLC to infuse the union with fresh blood and fresh ideas so as to return it to its old vibrant, informed and policy-setting organisation.

“The emergence of Dr. Ayuba Wabba as new NLC President is coming at a time the country is facing a critical elections.

“While I congratulate the new President of NLC, Labour union is one of the critical sectors in a nation’s body polity. I therefore enjoin the new workers’ executive to work with all tiers of government so as to return the nation’s economy back to the right track.

“With two weeks to the general elections, NLC should work assiduously to ensure that the nation transits peacefully and successfully, and decline to allow itself to be used against the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.

“In the past, NLC has put government on its toes and set agenda for government on programmes and policies best suited for the generality of the people.

“I therefore call on the new NLC President to bring back this old days of vibrancy of workers’ union for the development, growth and progress of Nigeria. It is disheartening that today, institutions of state are being demolished for private political agenda of individuals,” Aregbesola said.

He added that, his government is one of the best in terms of government-labour relation, urging the NLC to adopt dialogue as the best method of resolving any  government and labour disagreement.

Pictures of the South West Coordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Presidential Campaign, Governor Rauf Aregbesola addressing the ecstatic supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the a Door to Door/Grassroot campaign Rally for Presidential/National and State House of Assemblies, at Ilase-Ijesa, Obokun Local Government Area.

South West Coordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Presidential Campaign, Governor
Rauf Aregbesola addressing the ecstatic supporters of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) during the a Door to Door/Grassroot
campaign Rally for Presidential/National and State House of
Assemblies, at Ilase-Ijesa, Obokun Local Government Area

From right- All Progressives Congress APC Candidate for Oriade/Obokun
Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon.
Nathaniel Agunbiade; South west Coordinator,
Buhari/OsibajoPresidential.Campaign, Governor Rauf Aregbesola; his
deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori, APC State Chairman, Prince Gboyega
Famodun and Candidate for Obokun State Constituency in the State House
of Assembly, Mrs. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye addressing the ecstatic
supporters, during a Door to Door/Grassroot campaign Rally for
Presidential/National and State House of Assemblies, at Ilase-Ijesa,
Obokun Local Government Area

South west Coordinator, Buhari/Osibajo Campaign, Governor Rauf
Aregbesola (3rd right); his deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori (middle);
Chairman Osun APC, Prince Gboyega Famodun (3rd left)and others
addressing supporters, during a Door to Door/Grassroot campaign Rally
for Presidential/National and State House of Assemblies, at
Ilase-Ijesa, Obokun Local Government Area

The Elders’ Council (Igbimo Agba) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun has described last minute efforts by President Goodluck Jonathan to influence Yoruba people’s support for his re-election efforts through monetary inducement as too little to late.

In a statement signed by Chairman of the Council, Engineer Sola Akinwumi and made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Monday, the Elders’ Council maintained that Yoruba people are not articles that could be purchased by the highest bidder.

Decrying the last minute visit to palaces of traditional rulers where heaps of United States Dollars allegedly changed hands, the party leaders drawn across the 30 Local Governments opined that “the Dollar Rain, if it is true, is a gratuitous insult to the dignity and integrity of Yoruba culture and tradition as it presents our people as purchasable items for any moneybag with deep purse”.

According to them, the eleventh hour visitation embarked upon by the president in the past weeks was not surprising as it reflected the antics of an unprepared student that usually adopts panicky measures when a promotion examination is approaching.

“The Eleventh Hour visitation by President Jonathan did not come to us as a surprise because he, like a poor student of history, realised too late that Yoruba people are worth more than passing attention in the past six years of his presidency”, the Council observed.

A careful look at Yoruba States, according to the party elders showed evidence of neglect by the Federal Government typical of the years when President Jonathan occupied Aso Rock as Nigerian leader.

The council noted further that what is visible to all observers are “apparent and deliberate economic strangulation, vast graduate unemployment, distressed industries, neglected productive sectors, and discouraging agricultural policies that have bedevilled the daily economic activities of our people in the Jonathan years”.

The Jonathan administration, according to the Elders’ Council, has nothing to show for the massive votes given by Yoruba people in 2011 stressing that this apparent failure forced the president resort to underhand dealings to win a second term.

The council stated further that “President Jonathan must know that Yoruba Obas, as custodian of our culture of hospitality, good neighbourliness, diplomatic finesse, and virtuous living in the Omoluabi ethos would not have turned down his request to visit their palaces”.

The politicians warned President Jonathan to note that “no Yoruba traditional ruler worth his crown will allow an armada of dollars to drag his royal regalia in political mud as the proponents of Dollar Rains planned through their recent actions”.

They supported their position with a Yoruba adage says “Enikan kii bo gende lojo kan, ko so pe o ri fakia-fakia” (no one gives food to an adult in one day and claims that he was responsible for his hefty size).

The Igbimo Agba added that “those who invaded Yoruba land with dollars as if the people were damned with poverty would soon find out that we have our eyes on our proud heritage that money cannot subvert”.

The Council also noted an alleged plan by those they described as “unpatriotic elements to instigate our Armed Forces to rig the coming General Elections by harassing the electorate before and during the polls. This is, to say the least, an unpatriotic step at undermining the nation’s democratic process”.

The party elders then declared that Yoruba people have decided to vote out President Goodluck Jonathan and his party insisting that “no amount of Dollar Rain that can stop Yoruba people from proving their worth one more time as they have done in the past even under the most unpleasant clampdown”.

Pictures of the crowd of All Peoples Congress,(APC), during the Grassroot Campaign Rally for Presidential, National/State House of Assemblies,at Idominasi, Obokun Local Government Area. Also is the Governor Rauf Aregbesola; the Oludo of Idominasi, Oba Folorunso Ademiju Obasanya and Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori.

From left – South West Coordinator,Buhari/Osibajo Presidential
Campaign, Governor Rauf Aregbesola addressing the Oludo of Idominasi,
Oba Folorunso Ademiju Obasanya and the Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi
Laoye-Tomori, during the Grassroot Campaign Rally for Presidential,
National/State House of Assemblies, at Idominasi, Obokun Local
Government Area.

Crowd of All Peoples Congress,(APC), during the Grassroot Campaign
Rally for Presidential, National/State House of Assemblies,at
Idominasi, Obokun Local Government Area.Insert:Governor Rauf
Aregbesola; the Oludo of Idominasi, Oba Folorunso Ademiju Obasanya and
Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori.

The governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has condemned what he described as dastardly and barbaric attacks on members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ilase and Ibokun in Obokun Local Government of the state on Friday by the Peoples Democratic Party members.

Several APC members were injured, posters of contestants, APC flags and the podium on which the governor was to address the gathering were seriously damaged.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Governor by his Director Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Semiu Okanlawon, also alleged that an APC woman member’s ear was slashed with matchet and was quickly rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

It was gathered that the governor had gone to Obokun Local Government to campaign for his party and its contestants for various positions when the PDP members attacked the APC members.

An eye witness account revealed that Aregbesola and his entourage had gone to pay homage to the Ilase monarch when the crisis started.

PDP members suspected to have been sponsored by Ade Fadahunsi, the senatorial candidate of the PDP in Osun East senatorial district.

The hoodlums were said to have shot into the air sporadically to scare the waiting APC crowd before freely destroying the flags, posters and the campaign podium.

People had to scamper for safety as the PDP thugs had a field day unleashing mayhem on innocent people.

The governor on his return to the campaign ground, said he was shocked with what he saw, describing it “callous and condemnable.”

Aregbesola therefore called on security agencies to investigate the unprovoked attack against APC in the area and call on PDP to desist from this ignoble act.

Aregbesola was quoted as saying, “We, as a party, are responsible and peace-loving. We are loved by the people.

“It is those who do not have electoral value that will attack the same people they ought to patronise for votes.

“We are popular and we are on ground. This people resort to violence because they know that they don’t have the support of the people.

“We however remain undaunted. We will not the cowed by anybody in the state. In the last four years, my government has restored peace to the state. We call on security agencies to be proactive and deal with anyone, whose sole agenda is to cause violence in the state,” Aregbesola said.

He however called on APC members to remain calm and law abiding, saying they should refrain from returning violence for violence.