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Senator Adeleke felicitates with Senator Ajagunla Olubiyi on his birthday | GENDER BASED VIOLENCE: OSUN STATE GOVERNMENT SET TO ESTABLISH MOBILE COURTS  | Governor Adeleke, Women Affairs Minister Strike Deals on Women Development | Osun: Environment Commissioner, Adejoorin Counsels Residents On Indiscriminate Dumping of Refuse | Birthday: Governor Adeleke Felicitates with Elerinmo of Erinmo | Governor Adeleke Approves Construction of Hajj Camp for Osun State | Governor Adeleke Approves Construction of Hajj Camp for Osun State | Fake News: Osun Government Sets up Action Committee On Cyber Crimes, Cyber Bullying | His Excellency Gov. Ademola Adeleke observed Iftar with Royal Fathers in Osun | For Ramadan /Easter Needs, Governor Adeleke Approves March Salaries, Pensions, Palliatives | Governor Adeleke Approves Promotions within Civil Service | Governor Adeleke Sets up Implementation Panel on the White Paper on Contract Review Committee | Courtesy visit by Minaret International University Foundation | It”s our collective interest for Mr President to succeed – Gov Adeleke | GOVERNOR ADELEKE CONGRATULATES NEW NACA DIRECTOR–GENERAL, DR. TEMITOPE ILORI | OSUN APC IS A LYING MACHINE- GOVERNOR ADELEKE DID NOT TAKE ANY LOAN | Governor Adeleke Salutes Barr Owolade at 70 | Governor Adeleke Opens Rehabilitated Government House, Says Upgrading State Assets is a Policy | Olubadan’s Exit: Gov Adeleke Commiserates with Gov Makinde, Ibadan people | The management of the Federal College of Education, Iwo paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Ademola Adeleke

Breaking News

Senator Adeleke felicitates with Senator Ajagunla Olubiyi on his birthday | GENDER BASED VIOLENCE: OSUN STATE GOVERNMENT SET TO ESTABLISH MOBILE COURTS  | Governor Adeleke, Women Affairs Minister Strike Deals on Women Development | Osun: Environment Commissioner, Adejoorin Counsels Residents On Indiscriminate Dumping of Refuse | Birthday: Governor Adeleke Felicitates with Elerinmo of Erinmo | Governor Adeleke Approves Construction of Hajj Camp for Osun State | Governor Adeleke Approves Construction of Hajj Camp for Osun State | Fake News: Osun Government Sets up Action Committee On Cyber Crimes, Cyber Bullying | His Excellency Gov. Ademola Adeleke observed Iftar with Royal Fathers in Osun | For Ramadan /Easter Needs, Governor Adeleke Approves March Salaries, Pensions, Palliatives | Governor Adeleke Approves Promotions within Civil Service | Governor Adeleke Sets up Implementation Panel on the White Paper on Contract Review Committee | Courtesy visit by Minaret International University Foundation | It”s our collective interest for Mr President to succeed – Gov Adeleke | GOVERNOR ADELEKE CONGRATULATES NEW NACA DIRECTOR–GENERAL, DR. TEMITOPE ILORI | OSUN APC IS A LYING MACHINE- GOVERNOR ADELEKE DID NOT TAKE ANY LOAN | Governor Adeleke Salutes Barr Owolade at 70 | Governor Adeleke Opens Rehabilitated Government House, Says Upgrading State Assets is a Policy | Olubadan’s Exit: Gov Adeleke Commiserates with Gov Makinde, Ibadan people | The management of the Federal College of Education, Iwo paid a courtesy visit to Gov. Ademola Adeleke

The Osun House of Assembly is not a  ‘rubber stamp’  of the state government, Mr Ajibola Akinloye, the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, has said.
Akinloye said this in Osogbo on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of  Nigeria.
He explained that the cordial relationship between the executive and lawmakers  had made some people to believe in such speculation.
NAN reports that the 26 lawmakers in the assembly belong to the All Progressives Party.
He said, “Whenever we notice  lapses, we call the governor to make amends and he responds immediately.
”Those who say we are rubber stamp are far from the truth and their opinion is myopic in nature.
”Without the existing good relationship between the executive and the members of the assembly, the development and transformation we are experiencing in the state will not have been possible.”
Akinloye added that there was  no bill presented to the Assembly and passed into law that was not in the best interest of the people.
He said the Assembly would continue to work with the executive in the best interest of the state.
The Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Mr Kamil Oyedele, said the Assembly was not a rubber stamp.
THE PUNCH

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Aregbesola Cautions Osun People Against Double Voter’s Registration

Governor, State of Osun,  Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has advised people of the state against double registration when The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) begins the registration of voters so as not to be disenfranchised.
Speaking in Ilobu near Osogbo, the state capital, Aregbesola described 2014 as a crucial year for the state because of the election and explained that the state cannot afford the decay and lack of infrastructure it has witnessed before the advent of his administration.
He also charged the people of the state not allow desperate politicians to manipulate or deceive them by trying to buy their voters card from them. According to him, “the year 2014 is a crucial year for our state as we cannot afford to go back to the Dark Age in the state where there was no infrastructural development”. “I will like to call on those of us who will be registering for the first time to avoid double registration when INEC begins the registration of voters so as not to be disenfranchised.”
 
The governor reiterated the commitment of his administration to the development of infrastructures, He added that the sole aim of the administration is to make the state an envy of other states in the country in terms of infrastructures.
DAILY TRUST

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Tree Planting Not A Political Affair In Osun – Ilori

igi iyeSpecial Adviser to Governor on Environment and Sanitation in the State of Osun, Hon. Bola Ilori, has stated that the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s government has never handled any issue relating to tree planting, as a political party programme.
Hon. Ilori made this disclosure in Osogbo during a press interview.
According to him, although the current tree planting programme in Osun enjoys tremendous motivation from Ogbeni Aregbesola’s experiences as former Commissioner for Works in Lagos State, yet the programme in the State has never been handled on political party basis.
He added that in particular, tree planting is not new in Africa as it pre-dated our colonial experiences when our forefathers planted trees to demarcate boundaries, to commemorate enthronement of a new King, to provide shades in palaces, Markets or Town squares, where meetings, festivals and other events are held.
Hon Ilori disclosed by the time Ogbeni Aregbesola resumed as Governor in the State in 2010, the worldwide campaign on climate change had reached a level that made the State to send delegates to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Durban, South Africa and Rio de-Janeiro, Brazil in 2011 and 2012 respectively, where the State of Osun signed pacts with International Development Agencies on Climate Change.
The Governor’s aide further added during the past eighteen months, the State Government must have distributed more than one million seedlings exotic and other trees to indigenes of the State, free of charge without regard to Political Party affiliations or other similar factors.
Hon. Ilori also disclosed that the recent directive that the State indigene should obtain permission from the State’s Ministry of Environment and Sanitation is to discourage unprofessional and mindless practice by certain people who cut down trees to defoliate and disfigure the environment.
OSUN DEFENDER

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SPORTS: Adio Tasks Osun Babes On WPL

Akin Adio
The General Manager,  Osun State Sports Council, Akin Adio has urged players of Osun Babes to put in their very best in the quest to make a statement in the 2014 Nigeria Women Premier League (NWPL).
The State of Osun  sponsored girls finished in the top six in the Pool A division of the Abridged League last season.
In a meeting with the management, technical crew and players of Osun Babes were urged to work hard to improve the standard of the team.
Adio, believes the team has the quality to challenge other clubs in the elite division.
Addressing the girls in Oshogbo, the administrator promised the team of improved support in terms of welfare and renumeration package in the new season.
Osun Babes will play 11 other teams in the Maiden edition of the Nigeria Women Premier League billed to kick off on February 15, 2014
FC NAIJA

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coat of armsTo attract more industries, Osun State government has concluded plans to build N2billion power sub-stations.
The power clusters which are to be located in Dagbolu, in Osogbo will guarantee industries 12 hours uninterrupted power supply.
This was disclosed by Osun Commissioner for Finance Wale Bolorunduro who was the guest of the month of the Oyo State Correspondent Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
In a paper entitled “Improving Public Finance for Better Governance: The Example of the State of Osun” Bolorunduro maintained that the government will drive employment of Osun people through local content policies by impressing it on foreign companies to employ Nigerians to work in their companies.
In education, the finance commissioner stated that the government spent N900million to produce 70,000 school uniforms for schools during which 3,000 indigenous tailors were employed.
The finance commissioner stated that the through ‘Opon-Imo’ (Tablet of Knowledge), the state has saved over N8 billion in buying text and note books for schools pupils.
While saying the Opon Imo cost close to N3billion, he added that efforts are on the way to improve the tablet to check its misuse among pupils.
He disclosed that government will renovate and rehabilitate nine state hospitals at the cost of N1.7 billion.
The Commissioner explained further that instead of going to the banks,” we went to the capital market and register a programme and before you know it, we have raised enough money needed for the development of our state”.
While acknowledging greater feats in terms of infrastructure, education and other sectors, the Commissioner for Finance said the administration of Ogbeni Aregbesola has succeeded in creating 45,000 employments, through the Youths Empowerment Programme and 5,000 teachers for primary and secondary schools in the state.
He said “We have achieved in terms of better governance, I wish to reiterate our commitments and resolution not to rest on our oars until ours become the best governance which governments at Federal level and other states will continue to mirror.
BUSINESS DAY

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coat of armsOsun State government has commenced moves to take up a housing development loan facility of N1.5 billion offered by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN)
To this end, Gov. Rauf Aregbesola recently wrote a letter to the State House of Assembly seeking approval to access the loan. In the letter, the governor said if approved, the loan would be used to build 342 housing units by the State Property Development Corporation. He said the houses would be sold to the contributors to the National Housing Fund in the state public service.
Aregbesola said his administration had deemed it worthwhile to accept the loan offer because of its benefits, noting that the move to build the houses is part of efforts at realizing the objectives of the Urban Renewal Programme of his administration.
The letter read in part: “FMBN offered the state in principle, loan facilities of N1.5 billion on April 8, 2011, the opportunity which the last administration missed in May, 2010. OSPDC has been directed to access the loan, as all requirements have been met towards gaining access to the loan facility, except forwarding the loan application to the State House of Assembly for ratification.
“This administration has deemed it worthwhile to accept the offer taking cognizance of the numerous advantages deliverable from it, if adequately administered. The physical growth and development of our urban centres which is a clear testimony of the Urban Renewal Programme this administration is intending to achieve can become realizable. Land affordability, job creation, our doggedness towards revenue generation, among other things, are consequences of this venture. This is a rare opportunity that should be embraced with open hands by a state that has not experienced such.”
The letter also indicated that Ajaka Estate, Ilesa; Moremi Estate, Ile-Ife; Owamiran Estate, Esa-Oke; Olufi Estate, Gbongan; Akoda Estate, Ede; Oluwo Estate, Iwo; Okinni Estate, Okinni; Okuku Estate, Okuku, and Agunbe Estate, Ikirun, would benefit from physical development through the loan facility.
VANGUARD

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H.E. Rauf Agrebesola at a previous APPG meeting on HGSF

Following the outstanding success of the Osun State Government’s school feeding programme, “O Meals”, Osun State Governor, H.E Rauf Aregbesola has been invited to address the United Kingdom’s House of Commons on the impact of the programme on child health and education.
The Osun State Government, through its “O’Meals” elementary school feeding programme provides free nourishing mid-day meals for pupils in Grade 1 to 4 throughout the state – an action that has resulted in an increase in pupil enrolment in the state. H.E. Aregbesola is expected to provide an overview of the impact of the school feeding programme on pupil enrolment, retention of pupils in schools and how small scale farmer livelihoods have been increased and improved through the programme.
The meeting, organised by the Partnership for Child Development, Imperial College London and the All-Party Parliamentary Group and Agriculture and Food for Development will focus on the evolution of Home Grown School Feeding.
Other speakers expected at the gathering include Prof. Donald Bundy, Lead Health and Education Specialist, the World Bank, Ms. Boitshepo Bibi Giyose – Senior Food & Nutrition Security Advisor, New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), African Union and Professor Josephine Kiamba – HGSF Senior Technical Adviser (Southern Africa), Partnership for Child Development, Imperial College London
Read more in the original article from our news page….. Click here for more
 
HSGF

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‘Walk to Live has reduced ill-health’
The 14th edition of the monthly health programme of the Osun State government, Walk to Live, was held at the weekend in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area.
The programme, which was the first this year, witnessed a large turnout of people.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola urged the people to be wary of desperate politicians, who may want to buy their voter cards, as the governorship poll approaches.
He urged them to come out en masse to vote for him on the Election Day.
Aregbesola described 2014 as a crucial year for the state because of the election, adding that Osun cannot afford the decay it witnessed before the advent of his administration.
He urged All Progressives Congress (APC) members to participate in the party registration scheduled to start at month end.
Aregbesola warned the people against registering more than once when the registration of voters begins to avoid being disenfranchised.
He said: “I urge you to troop out en masse to vote during the governorship election. 2014 is a crucial year for our state, as we cannot afford to go back to the Dark Age, when there was no infrastructure. We should all come out to vote, so that you can show them that our party’s victory in the last election was not a fluke.
“We must ensure that our names are in the voter register. I advise those who would be registering for the first time to avoid double registration, so as not to be disenfranchised.”
The governor reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving the state and making life easier for the people.
He said the reports of health managers showed that the programme has led to reduced cases of ill-health in hospitals.
Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Special Needs Stephen Kola-Balogun said the programme sensitises the people on healthy living; provides an avenue for the governor and the people to interact and discuss the government’s programmes; as well as allow the people to make new demands.
He said rather than look at the programme from a political perspective, its advantages should be emphasised.
Kola-Balogun said: “Just like many other initiatives of this administration, including Gbangba Dekun, which have become large media events, the Walk to Live would continue to enjoy public support because of its uniqueness.
“There is no way people would not celebrate the governor for his visionary and courageous leadership, as well as make new demands during the programme. The governor in return would make remarks that, no doub, would sound political. This, I think, is where elements of politicking come in. It was not part of the initial plan for the programme, but it became unavoidable at a point.”
The three prominent monarchs in the area, the Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Ashiru Olaniyan; the Elerin of Erin-Osun, Oba Yusuf Oyagbodun; and the Olufon of Ifon-Osun, Oba Almaruf Magbagbeola, prayed for the administration’s success.
The Olobu urged the people to reelect Aregbesola, describing the governor as “the voice of the people, particularly the vulnerable”.
Alfa Ganiyu Abisoye, the state coordinator of the Oranmiyan Group, said the walk has improved his health.
Kazeem Lawal, a youth leader, said apart from playing football, the walk has made him cultivate the habit of trekking short distances.
Folasade Bello said she has realised that walking is good for the health.
Taofeek Shittu said the benefits of the exercise are “indescribable”.
Commissioner for Health Temitope Ilori said her ministry provides ambulances for the programme and the sports ministry gives health tips.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy Sunday Akere said the programme has put all commissioners, heads of parastals and ministries on their toes because the governor can easily see what is going on in communities during the walk.
Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget Wale Bolorunduro said it is always exciting for the governor, top government officials and the ordinary folks to walk together as a people.
The Dean, Faculty of Education, Osun State University, Prof. Joseph Fawole, said regular physical exercise is the most effective means of staying healthy.
He said: “I am happy with the large turnout of people for this event. This shows that the people have realised the importance of the monthly physical exercise introduced by the present administration.”
THE NATION

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Photos from the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from the crowd, during the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola acknowledging cheers from the crowd, during the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd left, front row); his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left, front row); Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo (left, front row) and other members of the State Executive, during the14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd left, front row); his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (2nd left, front row); Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo (left, front row) and other members of the State Executive, during the14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; Deputy Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye leading the crowd, during the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; Deputy Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye leading the crowd, during the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

From right, Deputy Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye and others, during the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

From right, Deputy Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Honourable Akintunde Adegboye; Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye and others, during the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Crowd that participated in the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State of Osun Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Crowd that participated in the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State of Osun Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (5th right first row) and other State Executives leading the crowd, during the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (5th right first row) and other State Executives leading the crowd, during the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Crowd that participated in the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State of Osun Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Crowd that participated in the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State of Osun Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Crowd that participated in the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State of Osun Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Crowd that participated in the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State of Osun Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd row, raising hand up); beside him is his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; beside Deputy Governor is the Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo and other Executives, leading the crowd, during the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (3rd row, raising hand up); beside him is his Deputy, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; beside Deputy Governor is the Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo and other Executives, leading the crowd, during the 14th Edition of the Walk to live for Healthy Living Exercise in Ilobu, Irepodun/Orolu State Constituency on Saturday 18-01-2014

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Aregbesola: Redefining governance in Osun

Aregbesola: Redefining governance in Osun

HISTORY tells us that in every age, there comes a time when leaders must come forth to meet the needs of the hour. Therefore, there is no potential leader who does not have an opportunity to better mankind. Henry Ford asserted: “The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what it is one’s destiny to do, and then do it.“ Ford, like Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, was an engineer. Ford’s dream grew out of his interest in anything mechanical. He taught himself about steam engines, clocks and combustion engines. Ford aimed to create an inexpensive mass-produced automobile. Until then, the new horseless carriage had been an expensive luxury item, available to only the rich. But Ford was determined to put the automobile within the reach of the common person. Ford had a lot of challenges that made him to part ways with some individuals in order to establish his own company, the Ford Motor Company, through which he produced the Model T that made motor a product for the rich and the poor. Ford became a man of history in 1903 when his dream became a reality and was called a genius.
Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, as a commissioner for Works in Lagos, left his foot prints indelible till date. His political associates cut across many boundaries. That explains why his political influence continues to magnetize politicians who share his political philosophy that sees governance as service for the betterment of humanity. Democratic leadership sees governance as a social contract where greater goods are delivered to greater numbers of people. That is why world leaders share Henry Ford’s ideal that poverty should not be a barrier to anyone who aspires to acquire education in the 21st Century.
The choice of Aregbesola as the Man of the Year 2013 by the Daily Independent Newspapers may not be a surprise to many Nigerians who have been bothered by the scarcity of leaders since the demise of great Nigerian leaders such as Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Ahmadu Bello. These leaders that effected positive changes in the lives of their people. It was the great Azikiwe that stated “there is plenty of room at the top because very few people care to travel beyond the average route. And so, most of us seem satisfied to remain within the confines of mediocrity.” Aregbesola did not seek for an elective office for the fun of it; he saw the lacuna that was prevailing in his home state. He left the comfort of Lagos and the opportunities that he had and took on the bull, the PDP strongholds and militaristic establishment which almost cost him his life. The battle to recover his mandate was a herculean task that lasted for three years.
Aregbesola’s inventive genius of Opon Imo (Tablet of knowledge) has made his name to be written in gold as an African leader who, through electronic devices, has revolutionized education not only in Osun State, but in the world as a whole. By this singular invention, it has provided equal access to every child, irrespective of his or her background. This device will henceforth provide a robust learning system and offer a feedback mechanism for monitoring individual performance through the use of the device. It is a walking, sitting or lying companion for learners; it is indeed a revolution that will individualize learning and brings school to the child. His educational policy centred on the total man – complete child, complete youth, complete citizen. The governor’s aim is to prepare the youths for generational change that will be technically competent and economically motivated to be ready made entrepreneurs that will not need to roam the streets for jobs that are not available.
Those that misunderstood the educational policy now will sooner or later realize that Aregbesola meant well for the people. More than ever before, people are looking for leaders. Unfortunately, what we commonly come across in our nation are office seekers which will stop at nothing to secure political office only to turn against the very people that voted them into office, maiming, killing and ostracizing those who dare to demand for the dividends of democracy and by such ugly development, made good men to avoid politics and creating wrong signals which made many people to believe that politics should only be left in the hands of the charlatans. Our politicians have no sense of history. If they do, they would have remembered what that young statesman, President John F. Kennedy, said on May 25, 1961 that: “I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal before the decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth”. That dream became a reality on July 16, 1969, when Apolo11 made a journey of 244,930 miles to the moon. Four days later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin Jr. landed the Luna module Eagle on the surface of the moon and offered his famous line: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”. We had done it. We had achieved the impossible. The same dream, the same principle that made the Americans to land on the moon has made the first African leader to invent Opon Imo that will revolutionize education globally in this century.
The world is watching the government of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Nigerians are enormously wondering how he made the feat despite the poisonous tongues that daily criticize this legend, liberator, sage and democrathumanist. According to Olatunji Dare who asserted: “In a world of brute empiricism and economism, it is easy to lose sight of the question that really matters when performance of any government is being assessed. That question is this: To what extent has public policy improved the human condition?”
I leave the question to all, including office seekers, to answer and to realize that the Bola Ige House may not be easily accessible for any one whose performance and antecedents fall below that of Rauf Aregbesola. A man people know to have conquered poverty since he came on board that even the federal government agency accredited for reducing poverty level in the state. Unemployment rate has virtually and drastically reduced in the state than any other state in the federation. His Youth Employment Scheme (OYES) has received the applause of the World Bank and the recommendation of the same international financial body is now being emulated by the Federal Government.
Inequality is no more in the state, and this is evident in the free education programme of the state. Ogbeni Aregbesola has soundly answered the British economist, Dudley Seer’s question about how to evaluate country’s development. Osun has witnessed all-round development and even our critics are now wary of our secret and capability of completion, despite the limited resources and they have forgotten that creativity is the secret of mass development. As we match towards the 2014 gubernatorial election in Osun State, the numerous achievements of the Aregbesola administration in the six integral plans: aiming at eradication of poverty, abundance of food, job creation, good health, infrastructural development, free and qualitative education and peace and security of lives and properties will speak for the governor.
The electorate will surely prefer the government that makes a difference in their lives within three years. They will once again do what they did at the 2011 general election when they voted out political Macavalians.
THE NATION

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