Osun inaugurates c’ttee on revenue allocation

Aregbesola exchanging pleasantry with Summonu 

Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola has inaugurated a committee to help manage the revenue accruing to the state from the Federation Account and other internally generated revenue.

Governor Aregbesola appointed a veteran Labour leader and one time Secretary General of the Organisation of African Trade Unions (OATU), Comrade Hassan Sunmonu as chairman of the committee.

The committee is also saddled with the responsibility of assisting the state government in the allocation of state’s revenue to ensure prompt payment of salaries as well as adequate running of government.

Speaking during the inauguration at the Governor's Office, Aregbesola stated that the Committee will apportion all funds accruing ‎to the State Government to take care of salaries, pensions and other critical expenditure of government.

Police lose 435 men in six months -IGP

Chief Amitolu, IGP Arase and Oba Aromolaran on the occasion 

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase Monday disclosed that 435 policemen and officers lost their lives in the last six months while performing their lawful duties.

Arase said this in Osogbo during a meeting with Osun State Chapter of Police Community Relation Committee (PCRC) and urged people at community level to support the Nigeria police in fighting crime.

Two kids die in Osogbo fuel station inferno

The burnt BOVAS filling station 

Two children of the same parents on Wednesday lost their lives in a fire incident that razed a supermarket located within BOVAS filling station in Osogbo while their mother also sustained serious injuries.‎

According to a witness, there were three children inside the supermarket when the fire started and two of them died in the inferno.

The deceased were said to be children of the owner of the filling station and they were brought home from their boarding school for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

A witness Ojo Williams said “we suddenly saw the woman with fire on her body but things had gone worse before the fire fighters arrived and their water was not even enough to suppress the fire.”

The mother of the children could only rescue one of the three children and the remaining two got trapped and burnt to death inside the supermarket before the arrival of the fire service. A black Toyota Corolla belonging to the woman was also burnt.

Students protest non-payment of lecturers’ salary in Osun

Osun tertiary institution students protesting in Osogbo 

Students of Osun State owned tertiary institutions yesterday staged a protest over continued strike by their lecturers owing to non-payment of salary by the state government.

The protest grounded activities at the state secretariat and office of the governor for several hours. The students called on the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, to pay lecturers salary so that they could go back to school.

The protesters include students of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke, Osun State College of Education, Ilesha and Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun.

The leaders of Osun Axis of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS Joint Campus Council), Awowole Samuel and Adekitan Lukman said they embarked on the protest, because the situation was affecting their education.

A TU WA LARA O

LOLz

Aregbesola mourns HID Awolowo

Chief HID Awolowo

Osun State Governor Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has described the death of Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s wife, Mrs Hannah Idowu Dideola Awolowo as end of an era.

The governor who spoke through the Director of Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon described Mama Awolowo as a solid pillar beside the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo when he was alive.

According to him, the deceased stood by her husband during his lifetime and even after his demised worked tirelessly to ensure the Awolowo political dynasty remains united.

His words "we join the entire progressive family, Awo political movement as well as the whole Yoruba race in mourning as well as celebrating the glorious translation. They set examples for politicians when they were here with us. The couple typified the best of what politicians should strive to be in their families in our society. We believe there will be a celestial celebration of reunion of a couple that exemplified harmony and true wedlock”

Osun deputy governor appears in public

Osun deputy Governor, Mrs Tomoro 

Osun State deputy governor, Mrs. Grace Titilayo Tomori on Friday appeared in public for the first time since her rumoured death last Wednesday, describing the rumour as "the handiwork of enemies."

She said she was hale and hearty, and there should not have been any anxiety over her health.

Tomori represented Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the closing ceremony of the 2015 National Women Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos. 

"I thank God that I am alive. The rumour of my death is from people of the other side. I thank God for the opportunity given me to be among you today. It is my privilege and honour to deliver the closing speech of this conference,” she said.

 When she first took the microphone to deliver Aregbeshola's speech titled: "Ode to Womanhood", Tomori praised God for about five minutes and she was supported by the teeming population of women in the hall.

Confusion over whereabouts of Osun Deputy Governor

Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs Tomori

There was anxiety in Osun State on Wednesday as rumour spread that the state's Deputy Governor, Mrs Titiulayo Laoye Tomori had died after an undisclosed ailment.

Even before the rumour, her whereabouts had been generating controversy as she had not been sighted in the state in the last couple of months.

 While many people said Tomori was ill and that she was flown abroad for medical treatment, the state government kept sealed lips on her whereabouts until on Wednesday when the death rumour started making the round.

Special Assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media and Public Relations, Mr. Gboyega Labiran on Wednesday dismissed the rumour, saying Tomori was alive in sound heath, hale and hearty.

“Contrary to rumours making the rounds about the state of health of Osun Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye Tomori, it has been officially confirmed that she is as fit as a fiddle and presently enjoying a very sound health.”

Our parents can’t pay school fees, OAU students tell Aregbesola

Students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, (OAU), Ile-Ife staged a peaceful protest in Osogbo, Osun State, on Monday, appealing to the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, to pay workers their salaries so that they can pay school fees.

OAU students during the protest in Osogbo 

President of OAU Students’ Union, Omotayo Akande, who led the protest, told HAMEED OYEGBADE that examination commenced on Monday, but students whose parents were civil servants in Osun, were not allowed to write the examination because they had not paid their school fees.

He said majority of OAU students were indigenes of Osun State and that the Student’ Union had already spent N1.6 million on the fees of 85 students. He maintained that the union could not go beyond its limit. 

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as, “Aregbesola should stop starving Osun workers,” “Aregbesola’s attack on workers is Boko-Haram,” “Buhari! Where Is the positive change,” among others. 

Aggrieved workers beat journalists as protests rock Osun

Aggrieved Osun State workers yesterday attacked two journalists, Abass Okandeji of Muri International Television (MiTV) and Adeniyi Folorunsho of ONTV in Osogbo during a protest by the workers over non-payment of the arrears of their salary by the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola.

The students at Fakunle area during the protest 

 While the journalists were trying to cover the procession, the protesting workers transferred their aggression to the reporters and vented their anger on the harmless newsmen and beat them mercilessly.

New Ooni to emerge in 42 days - Kingmakers

The Ile-Ife kingmakers on Monday declared that a new Ooni of Ife will emerge in less than six weeks as they confirmed that it is the turn of the Giesi Ruling House to ascend the throne.

                                                   Late Ooni, Oba Sijuwade 

 

Addressing a press conference at the Ooni’s palace in Ife on Monday, the head of the kingmakers who is also the Obalufe of Ife, Oba Folorunso Omisakin said with the commencement of necessary rites that would culminate into the installation of the next Ooni, the would-be Oba shall be announced within 42 days.

PDP accuses Aregbesola of using bailout to pay contractors

*Accusation illogical –Aregbesola

The Peoples’ Democratic Party in Osun State has accused the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola of paying N20 billion to a construction company out of the N35billion bailout funds released to Osun by the Central Bank of Nigeria to pay workers’ salary arrears.

                                                     Aregbesola 

In a statement by PDP, signed by its Director of Media and Strategy, Prince Diran Odeyem, the party accused Aregbesola of using the bailout to pay the construction company, Slava Yeditepe, which is handling the Oba Adesoji Aderemi Second By-Pass Road project in the state.

New Ooni: Osun govt, kingmakers settle for Giesi ruling house

Osun State Government and the Ile-Ife kingmakers have resolved that the Giesi Ruling House would produce the next Ooni of Ife and the screening of the would-be Ooni is under way.

                                                    The late Ooni, Oba Sijuwade

It was learnt that the state government would formerly write Giesi Ruling House to present suitable candidates for the Ooni stool to the kingmakers out of whom the government would pick the person that would ascend the throne.

Salary arrears: Osun workers reject mode of payment

Workers in Osun State have rejected the mode of payment proposed by the state government to pay the arrears of their salary and threatened to re-embark on industrial action if the government insists on its plan. 

                                                                         Aregbseola 

The labour unions in the state including the Joint Public Service Negotiating Council (JNC), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and others said workers in the state will not accept payment of half salary for the month of March as proposed by state government

‘Buhari has made significant progress’

A Political Science lecturer at Bayero University, Kano, Dr. Sa’idu Ahmad Dukawa, has observed that significant progress was noticeable in the first 100 days of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration with indications of a brighter future of the nation.

                                                    MSSN members at the symposium 

Delivering a paper at the 4th annual symposium of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), B-Zone at the Osun State University, Osogbo, Dukawa noted that Buhari was on the right path with the moves he had made so far.

I will pay salary of Osun workers before Eid-el-Kabir Salah - Aregbesola

Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday assured that he would ensure the payment of Osun workers' salary arrears before the Muslims festival Eid-El-Kabir which is 24th of September, 2015.

                                                                       Aregbesola 

Aregbesola who gave the assurance while addressing stakeholders including workers in Osogbo, the state capital described the state workforce as cooperative.

ICT: Fountain University students to study in Malaysia

Fountain University Osogbo (FUO), Osun State, has sent seven students from the Department of Computer Science to International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) to study software writing and utilisation.

Addressing the beneficiaries before they left, Professor Bashir Ademola Raji, the vice-chancellor of the institution, said Nigeria was lagging in the area of software development, adding that informed the decision of FUO to send its final year students to IIUM to acquire the knowledge. He urged them to be of good conduct during their stay in Malaysia.

NJC queries Osun judge over petition against gov.

The National Judicial Council has queried Justice Oloyede Olamide Falahanmi of the Osun State Judicial Commission over her petition to the state House of Assembly in which she raised allegations of misappropriation of state resources against Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Daily Trust gathered yesterday.

The query signed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed asked the judge to answer it within 14 days. The NJC said the query became necessary because of a petition written to the council by a coalition of civil society organisations in the state.

Osun‎ group begs Nigerians to be patient with Buhari

A socio-political group, Osun Positive Force, (OPF) has said it was too early to start judging the performance of President Muhammadu Buhari and urged Nigerians to be patient with the President.

                                                         PMB

A statement by the group's Director of Media Mr Yinka Diamond, it said Buhari’s performance cannot be decided within 100 days of his administration and cautioned people against putting unnecessary pressure on the President.

Court jails man for wearing T-shirt resembling DSS uniform

A Magistrate court in Osogbo, Osun State has sentenced a 22-year old man, Victor Aladegolu to four years and one month imprisonment over offence bothering on impersonation.

Victor was accused of impersonation for wearing T-shirt resembling those of the Department of State Security (DSS) during the Osun governorship election of August 9, 2014.

‘Susanne Wenger begged us to preserve Osun-Osogbo grove’

Late Austrian artist and Yoruba-culture champion, Susanne Wenger, fondly called ‘Mama Adunni Olorisha,’ devoted her life to serving nature, people and culture. She championed the beautification, preservation, adoration, conservation and unification of nature and culture in the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove. The impact she made remains indelible.

                                                       Late Wenger and Doyin

From a very early age, she had been strongly attracted to nature and specifically to trees from where she was said to have recognised ‘the images of sacredness.’ As a young Austrian girl, Wenger began her sojourn in Nigeria in the 1950s during a chance visit to the famous Osun-Osogbo grove and that became a defining point in her life.

PDP accuses Aregbesola of using bailout fund for interest accumulation

The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Osun State chapter has accused the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola of keeping the bailout fund released to the state in another bank for another 2 months to accumulate interests.

Aregbesola

The Director of Media and Strategy for Osun PDP, Prince Diran Odeyemi in a statement in Osogbo on Monday said  the governor wants to make huge gain from the interest rate that the money will yield during the 2 months period it will be lodged in the bank

Ooni stool: Adedoyin urges Giesi family to unite

A contender for the throne of Ooni of Ife, Prince Ramon Adedoyin, has urged members of the Giesi Ruling House to unite and present a credible and acceptable candidate for the Ooni stool.

                                                                                                 Prince Adedoyin

Adedoyin, who is contesting Giesi Ruling House, advised contestants within his royal family not to see the contest as a do-or-die affair, saying that the position has been eluding the Giesi Ruling House since 1894.

PDP urges Aregbesola to conduct LG polls

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State has advised the state governor, Engr. Rauf Aregbesola to conduct local government elections without further delay.

                                                                                      Aregbesola 

The party’s spokesman, Prince Diran Odeyemi, noted that the last local government poll in the state was conducted by a PDP-led government in 2007.

Court adjourns hearing on suit against Osun lawmakers to Sept 3

An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has fixed hearing on the suit filed by Justice Folahanmi Oloyede against the state House of Assembly for Thursday, September 3, 2015.

                                                                        Aregbesola

Justice Oloyede had filed a motion ex-parte asking the court to grant her permission to institute a legal action against the state lawmakers over their recommendation calling for her sanction by the National Judicial Commission (NJC).

Sultan, others condole Aregbesola over Ooni

Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has condoled Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, on the death of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

                                                              Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar

The sultan was represented by the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, who led other prominent traditional rulers in the country to Osogbo, the state capital on a condolence visit Wednesday.

Osun Osogbo: Beyond the ritual rites

Over 400 years on, the Osun Osogbo Festival, to a large extent has contributed immensely to promoting the culture, tradition, art and identity of Yoruba race. As this year edition of the festival started on Monday, 10th of August and the grand finale held on Friday, 21st of August, this piece by HAMEED OYEGBADE explores the origin, significance and the socio-economic benefits of Osun Osogbo festival to the people of the ancient city.

     procession by traditionalists during Osun festival  

The Osun grove is a sacred forest sitting on 75 hectares of land along the banks of the Osun River, which is located on the outskirt of Osogbo, capital of Osun State. In the 17th Century, human beings came to populate Osogbo and moved the emerging geographical landmass away from the predominance of spirits and fairies when Oba Larooye came from Ipole-Omu to settle along the bank of River Osun. 

Ife deserted as Ooni’s burial holds today

Traditional rulers in Ife, Osun State, yesterday ordered the closure of all markets in the town in honour of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. 

                                            Lagere area in Ife deserted 

Ahead of the burial of the late monarch today, town criers announced the closure in various markets and other strategic locations in the town, warning that violators should be ready to bear the consequences.

Residents who came out after observing the curfew for the Oro ritual rites quickly returned home after the announcement. Banks were also shut. Palace servants and messengers were advised to leave the premises for only members of the Isoro cult.

NLC urges Aregbesola to fish out ghost workers

The Nigeria Labour Congress, Osun chapter has urged the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola to strive to fish out the ghost workers in the state as part of ways to overcome the financial crisis in the state.

R-L: Governor Rauf Aregbesola; Former Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; Former Deputy Governor, Chief Sooko Adewoyin; Osun Speaker, Hon. Najeem Salaam and others, during Osun Stakeholders' Conference in Osogbo.

The NLC Chairman in the state, Comrade Jacob Adekomi said this while making presentation on behalf of the labour unions at a stakeholders’ conference by Osun Legislators Forum comprising federal lawmakers from Osun and members of the state House of Assembly.

Ife residents warned to stay in-door over Ooni’s final burial rites

Residents of Ile-Ife, Osun State have been warned to stay in-door between the hours of 9am and 4pm on Wednesday as the final burial rites for the late Oobi of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade takes place. 

                                           The late Oba Sijuwade

A traditional ruler in Ife, the Awara of Iwara-Ife, Oba Layi Adereti who is also the head of Oro Cult in Ife gave the warning on Monday.  

10,293 candidates fail OAU post-UTME test

No fewer than 10, 293 candidates failed to score 200 marks and above in the post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

                                                          OAU, ILE-IFE

This was contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, on Sunday.The university, according to Olarewaju, released the result of the Saturday screening barely six hours after  the conduct of its post-UTME  exercise on the website of the institution.

Unpaid salary: Aregbesola refuses to dance at Speaker’s birthday party

Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola refused to dance on Saturday evening when his favourite songs were sang at the 50th birthday party of the Speaker of Osun State House of Assembly, Hon Najeem Salam as the governor told the gathering that a debtor doesn’t dance.

                                                         Salam

The governor who was fond of dancing to his favourite songs in such joyous occasion however disappointed his fans who had waited very patiently to watch him dance at the party held with the premises of the House of Assembly.

Anxiety in Ife as burial rites for Ooni gather momentum

Thirty-six years ago, when the previous Ooni of Ife, Sir Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi died, the burial ceremony was shrouded in secrecy. Rites were performed to appease the gods for peace in the land. In Yoruba land, the death of a traditional ruler of Ooni’s status is a very sensitive matter which, if not well handled, could cause chaos.

For this reason, it is believed that a king does not die but can only magically transit to the other side, considered as a bridge between the living and the dead. When the royal transition is managed well by the custodians of tradition, it would be a painless transition.

                                    Ooni's beautiful white and black Rolls Royce

Therefore, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, could not have died just like that as tradition must be respected. But unfortunately, the forces of globalisation have taken firm roots now with internet and GSM. Thus, the world has since become one vast cyber Kibbutz, most especially with Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Blackberry Messenger to the extent that one pin drop from one end of the globe instantly registers in another part, thousands of miles away.

Oba Sijuwade was flown abroad, a couple of weeks ago, as a result of sickness. Only family members knew about the airlift of the revered monarch abroad as some of the palace chiefs were even kept out of the loop.

However, it is believed that the Iroko tree fell as Kaabiesi gave up the ghost in a London hospital. One of his children was said to have informed the state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola about the demise of the monarch but he told the governor not to tell anyone.

Aregbesola congratulates Osun Speaker on 50th birthday

Osun state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola has congratulated the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam on his golden jubilee birthday Anniversary.

                                             Aregbesola congratulating Salam 

The governor in statement by the Director, Bureau of Communications and strategy, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon felicitates with the speaker who turns 50. 

Aregbesola: Ooni's last message to me was touching

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has broken his silence on the death of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade as he finally commented on the matter in public for the first time since the monarch died in London hospital about two weeks ago.

Aregbesola and the Ife Royal Traditional Council 

 The governor disclosed that the last short text message he received from Oba Sijuwade was touching and promised to share the content of the message with the people of the state when the situation becomes ripe to do so.

Legislators convene confab on Osun economic hardship

Lawmakers representing Osun State in the National Assembly and their colleagues in the state House of Assembly have acknowledged that workers and pensioners in the state are facing hard times after being owed salaries of several months.

 R-L Oyintiloye, Omidiran, Famurewa and Alabi briefing journalists on the confab 

As a result, the legislators under the aegis of Osun Legislators Forum would hold a stakeholders’ conference in a bid to address the economic woes of the state.

Aregbesola breaks silence on Ooni’s death

Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has spoken on the death of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, in public for the first time since the monarch died in a London hospital recently.

                                        late Oba Sijuwade

The governor disclosed that the last short text message he received from Oba Sijuwade was touching and promised to share the content of the message with the people of the state when the situation becomes ripe to do so.

EID FITR: New Moon to Be Sighted Thursday – Agency

The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) has said that the moon (Shawwal) will be seen on Thursday in major cities in Nigeria to signal the end of Ramadan and Eid el-Fitri celebrations.

In a statement by the Head of Media and Corporate Communications of the Agency, Dr Felix Ale, the new moon is expected to be seen across the Nation as follows: In Abuja, appearance of first crescent will be from 6:06pm to 6:36pm, Sunrise – 6:19am, sunset – 6:25pm.

Buhari appoints new NSA, Service Chiefs

President Muhammadu Buhari today appointed Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) as new National Security Adviser and also named new service chiefs after sacking those he inherited from the last administration. 

                                          PMB

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina Maj.-Gen. Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin is the new Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. T.Y. Buratai is the new Chief of Army Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas is the new Chief of Naval Staff, Air Vice Marshal Monday Riku Morgan is the new Chief of Defence Intelligence while Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar was appointed Chief of Air Staff.

CNPP, CHRSJ stage rally to commemorate annulment of June 12 election

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, (CNPP), Osun State chapter and Centre for Human Right and Social Justice (CHRSJ) yesterday staged a rally in Osogbo, capital of Osun State to commemorate the annulment of the June 12, 1993 election.

The leaders of the two bodies addressed the rally at Olaiya junction where other interest groups and civil servants joined them to mark this year anniversary of June12.