Today, the 27th of August, 2016, marks the 25th Year Anniversary of Osun State. Osun was created on the 8th of August, 1991 from part of the old Oyo State. Here is a list of administrators and governors that has molded and shaped the destiny of the State to what it is today.

Leo Segun Ajiborisha (27 August 1991 – 1 January 1992)
Major General (retired) Leo Segun Ajiborisha served as the first Administrator of Osun State, Nigeria after it was created from part of Oyo State in August 1991 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.
Highlights
1. Establish the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation 25 November 1991
2. Inaugurated the Osun State Civil Service Commission on 30 September 1991.
3. He handed over to the 1st elected civilian Governor Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke in January 1992 at the start of the Nigerian Third Republic.

Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke (January 1992 – November 1993)
Isiaka Adeleke ran for governor of the newly created Osun State which was carved out from Oyo State. He was a member of the SDP, the dominant party in the state, but he was not initially favored to win. The front runner was a lawyer, Oladipo Oladosu but after a close primary in which Adeleke came second, Adeleke was able to win a runoff. He was then elected the first civilian governor of Osun State in 1992.
Highlights
1. Establishment of a Polytechnic at Iree.
2. Establishment of College of Technology at Esa-Oke
3. The completion of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation.

Anthony Udofia (9 December 1993 – 22 August 1996)
Navy Captain (retired) Anthony Udofia served as Administrator of Osun State, Nigeria from December 1993 to August 1996 during the military regime of General Sani Abacha. He was reported to have harassed his predecessor, Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke, stalling his business plans and bugging his telephones.
Highlights
1. He set up a four-man judicial panel of inquiry, convened on 18 April 1994, to investigate allegations that Adeleke had ordered materials bought for water projects to be sold off to contractors
2. A severe rainstorm in September 1994 destroyed 400 school buildings across the state. Udofia said that N1 billion would be needed to rehabilitate the schools

Anthony Obi (22 August 1996 – August 1998)
Anthony Obi was a Nigerian Lt. Colonel who served as Military Administrator of Osun State during the military regime of General Sani Abacha. He inherited problems in Osun State with conflict between the Ife and Modakeke people, which periodically erupted into violence. A crisis was triggered when his administration decided to move the local council headquarters from one town to the other.
Highlights
1. Anthony Obi set up a Royal Committee to make recommendations on resolving the crisis, and declared a seven-day fasting and prayer program in March 1998 concentrating on peace in Ile-Ife.
2. He commissioned a water corporation office in Ifetedo, but did not provide adequate water supplies.

Theophilus O. Bamigboye (22 August 1996 – August 1998)
Theophilus O Bamigboye (born 1951) is a retired Nigerian Colonel who served as Military Administrator of Bauchi State and then Osun State before the return to democracy in May 1999. He was appointed Military Administrator of Osun State in August 1998, handing over power to the Civilian Governor, Adebisi Akande in May 1999.
Highlights
1. He laid the foundation for the peace process in the Ife-Modakeke communal disturbances.
2. He tackled the problem of sanitation and filth and went on to utilize a campaign strategy for the beautification of the state starting with Osogbo, the state capital
3. He constructed the legislators quarters and a few roads.

Abdukareem Adebisi Bamidele Akande (May 1999 – May 2003)
Adebisi Akande was elected governor of Osun State in April 1999, running for the Alliance for Democracy (AD) party, which had recently formed as a political arm of the Yoruba socio-cultural organization Afenifere.
Highlights
1. Akande implemented his party's programs for providing free education and free medical care, and improved water supplies.
2. He also built the State Government Secretariat at Abeere, Osogbo.
3. In January 2000, the Osun State government sacked 143 staff of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, following the governor’s earlier vow to trim the state’s work force.

Ọlagunsoye Oyinlọla (May 2003 – 26 November 2010)
Ọlagunsoye Oyinlọla, alias Omoba, (born February 3, 1951) became governor of Osun State in Nigeria in May 2003, and was reelected in 2007. He was a member of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). On 26 November 2010 a court of appeals nullified his election.
Highlights
1. He reinstated the workers sacked by Akande, and cleared the backlog of Salaries and pension.
2. Governor Oyinlola launched and laid the foundation for the groundbreaking of Osun State University with six campuses (Osogbo, Okuku, Ikire, Ejigbo, Ifetedo, and Ipetu-Ijesha) strategically located across the state.
3. Facilitated the listing of Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove as UNESCO World Heritage Centre.

Rauf Aregbesola (27 November 2010 – Till Date)
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (born 25 May 1957) is a Nigerian politician who ran for governor of The State of Osun in the 2007 elections. Although the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Olagunsoye Oyinlola was declared the winner, Aregbesola appealed the decision and on 26 November 2010 was declared the winner. He was to seek reelection for a second term on the platform of the All Progressives Congress on the 9th of August,2014, contesting against Sen. Iyiola Omisore of the People's Democratic Party and Akinbade of the Labour Party. Having satisfied the requirement of the Law and scored the highest number of votes. He was declared the winner of the August 9th,2014 election and returned elected for another term of 4 years.
Highlights
1. The government of Mr. Rauf Aregbesola changed the name from OSUN STATE to THE STATE OF OSUN)
2. Urban renewal projects such as the Oranmiyan New Town, a Central Business District, organised transportation system aided by road networks for the purpose, a functional emergency response scheme in health, security and transportation sectors, modern recreation parks and gardens are all geared towards creating modern environments that our people can call their own.
http://www.osun.info/post-164-osun-silver-jubilee-anniversary-the-chroniles-of-past-present-leaders.html

The Osun State government has debunked the rumur that it has earmarked N140 million to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its creation coming up on Saturday. At a press conference in Osogbo, the state capital, yesterday evening the former Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties who is a member of the committee for the anniversary, Hon Ajibola Basiru, described the allegation as “a blatant lie.”

An Osun state based group, Civil Societies Coalition for Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS) recently alleged that the state government has set aside N140 million for the state 25th anniversary. Basiru, who advised the people to disregard the statement credited to CSCEOS, said the allegation does not come from a credible source. He also urged the public to see the rumour as “mere politics.”

Earlier, the Chairman, Organizing Committee, Dr. Charles Akinola, had stated that this year celebration would focus on the youths. According to him, the display of calisthenics by students would be the main activity of the programme with commissioning of some completed projects by the state government. He said the president, Muhammadu Buhari, who was expected to witness the calisthenics display and commission the projects would be unavoidably absent due to some important assignment.

However, he assured that the president would visit the state on September 1st where he would be led to commission the projects. He maintained that the display of calisthenics goes beyond entertainment. He said the display was to inculcate the spirit of group work and make the students happy being the main focus of the celebration. He challenged the opposition to come up with substantial alternative to Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s policies instead of engaging in criticism.
http://www.osun.info/post-162-osun-govt-denies-proposing-n140-million-for-celebration.html

The Federal Government deducted a total sum of N32bn from the allocations of states from the Federation Account in the month of April 2016 for different loans they incurred.

In a report by the Economic Confidential, the economic intelligence magazine, it appears Osun state is worse hit by the development and ranks number one, as its allocation for the month of April 2016 totaling N2.030 billion was wiped away by a deduction of N2.391 billion leaving a deficit of N361 million to be paid in the subsequent month by the state, and this represents a whopping 117.8 percent of the total allocation due the state from the federation account.

This mean that Osun state had nothing to take home for the month of April, 2016, as other means of survival had to be adopted to keep the ship sailing for the people of Osun State.

Source: https://economicconfidential.com/2016/08/indebted-states-nigeria-april2016/
Visit www.osun.info for more about Osun

Ain't no party like a Lagos party. Yeah, true talk. But if there is a thing Osogbo people can do better, maybe it's to improvise. Watch Wizkid and Oritsefemi wannabe as he performs 'Ojuelegba' and 'Double Wahala' at Freedom Park in Osogbo. The event was sponsored by "Honorable", Trophy. Enjoy. A similar event was by Goldberg at Ladsol Area in the State Capital. The fun will continue for next few weeks. What's more, the State Government has already declared Monday a Public Holiday. Osun people, enjoy what you have. Shikenah!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDEUXZPmeiQ
http://www.osun.info/post-157-wizkid-oritsefemi-wannabe-lightens-up-osun-osogbo-festival.html

The Osun Government has declared Monday Aug. 22 a public holiday to mark the annual Isese Day. The Isese Day, or Traditional Worshipers’ Day, is the celebration of the peak of festivities among adherents of traditional religion, which is also known as, “Odun Nla’’.

A statement by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, the Director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy, Governor’s Office, Osogbo, said, “The Osun Government wishes to announce that Monday, Aug. 22 is hereby declared a public holiday.The holiday is in recognition of the annual Isese Day, which allows the adherents of traditional religion to come together for the annual celebration.”

http://punchng.com/isese-day-osun-declares-monday-public-holiday/

1. The Centre was officially commissioned on Tuesday, 16th of August, 2016 by the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

2. It is also known as O-JOBS.

3. O-JOBS does not create Jobs neither does it find jobs for users of its facilities.

4. Its principal function is to provide the private sector companies with a bespoke online job recruiting forum to access Osun indigenes and residents.

5. It will also conduct Job fairs to connect job seekers to employers, and provide Career Counselling and Employability Skills training.

6. It is funded by the State Government of Osun, and its services are provided at no cost to the users of its facilities.

7. The Centre is coordinated by the former Commissioner for Human Resources and Capacity-building, Ms Mobolaji Akande.

8. It has 31 Desk Offices located at each of the 30 Local Government Secretariats and Ife North East Office.

9. It is for the Osun indigenes.

10. Log on to www.osunjobcenter.org to register as a Jobseeker or an Employer.

Get these and more on www.osun.info

Osun Job Centre, a free employment support services programme, is established to address the lack of employability skills among job seekers, who are indigenous of the state. The Lead Consultant of Osun Job Centre and former Commissioner for Human Resources and Capacity-building, Ms Mobolaji Akande, said the creation of the centre was born out of the need to change the perception of job seekers that there were no jobs in the country.

The Job Center is established as a State Government of Osun-funded one-stop employment agency with desk offices located at each of the 30 Local Government Areas of the State and the Area Office. The Center will act as a facilitator between job seekers and employers by providing employment information and services to a wide range of people, from the unemployed looking for employment, the underemployed looking for a better job, to employers advertising job openings. It is aimed at eradicating barriers to employment by promoting education, training and business enterprise. It will contribute to the personal development of the labour force through the creation of opportunities for their productive engagement and utilization.

The Center provides employment service tools such as:
• Infrastructure for the business community to post its skills needs
• In-house computers with free access to the internet

These are situated at the Center’s Head Office in Osogbo, the desk offices at all the 30 Local Government Secretariats and the Area Office for registration purposes only.
• Career Counselling:
• Career Exploration of available opportunities to help make informed employment and educational choices
• Personal Career Development
• Other Career related issues
• Employability Skills Training:
• Seminars to enhance the employability and entrepreneurship of participants
• Effective CV & Cover letter Preparation
• Interviewing Skills & Technique Coaching
• Personal Branding Skills & Communication Skills
• Presentation Skills
• Verification of Qualifications and Employers
• Verification of Academic qualifications, (Degree, WAEC, NECO, GCSE etc)
• Verification of Professional Certifications
• Verification of NYSC certificates
• Verification of Past and Current Employments
• Reference checks
• Verification of the Physical address of companies
• Annual Job Fairs:
• To provide a venue where job seekers can meet and network with representatives of prospective employers from diverse sectors of the economy with the possibility of securing employment.

The Desk Office's operations:
• Desk Officers will be stationed at each Local Government Area to provide information to job seekers and employers on the employment related services provided by the Job Center
• In-house Computers with free access to the internet will be available for registration purpose only, (assistant available to those not proficient in usage of the internet)
• Platform will be provided for businesses at each Local Government Area to physically post job openings.
The center’s Head Office is located beside Adolak Petro Station, opposite the Old Governor’s Office in Osogbo.
http://www.osun.info/post-153-osun-job-center.html

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday commissioned a private Radio Station, Rave FM. Rave FM is a regional commercial radio station committed to deepening the culture of public discourse through refreshing and objective debates on topical issues. The newly licensed radio station, situated around Agunbelewo Area in Osogbo, is a youth-oriented and urban centric, digital equipped station. It operates on frequency 91.7 FM. The station will broadcast 24/7 and offer the best of amazing music and quality talks.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Rave FM, Mr. Femi Adefila, the station will target young creative class who are seeking new music, emerging artists and alternative sounds while also stressing that youth culture is not defined by age but rather by an interest in new and innovative cultural expression. He stated further that "Our listeners will enjoy the best of up-to-date news, business, entertainment, traffic, sports, weather and much more through our programmes. We will serve the needs of listeners across the Southwest, as well as listeners around the world via our online streaming portal www.rave917.fm and other platforms, such as our IOS App, Android App, Blackberry App and Tune in Radio.”

This brings the number of Radio Stations in Osun State to a total of 10. The stations are:

89.5 - Orisun FM, Ile Ife
91.7- Rave FM, Osogbo
94.5 - Great FM, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife
95.1 - Raypower FM, Osogbo
95.5 - Gold FM (Radio Nigeria), Ilesa -
96.3 - Radio 96.3 FM, Sky Limit area, Iwo.
99.75 - Oodua FM, Toll Gate, Ile-Ife (Ready for Transmission)
101.5 - Crown FM, Eleyele, Ile Ife
103.1 - Uniq FM (Ara Station), Okesa, Ilesa
104.5 - Living Spring FM (Ile-Awiye), Oke Baale, Osogbo.

http://www.osun.info/post-142-a-new-radio-station-is-in-town-rave-fm-91-7.html

Facebook is tweaking a feature which shows old posts on anniversary dates. The change is designed to let users filter out unwanted or uncomfortable memories. The feature concerned is known as "On This Day" and involves an entry appearing in the user's news feed. The entry won't appear for anyone else, unless the user actively decides to share it. It's also possible to access the page directly using a bookmark on the Facebook site or via a dedicated page at facebook.com/onthisday. Users can also sign up so that several such memories are guaranteed to show up in their news feed each day.

The 'On This Day' entry will be a re-post of something that happened on the same day in a previous year. This could simply be an old status update or photograph post, but may also include some kind of change to the user's Facebook presence, such as when they became Facebook friends or changed their relationship status. The problem is that the feature isn't sophisticated enough to figure out which posts - and the associated memories they evoke - will be of a positive nature. That means it sometimes throws up unwanted reminders such as when a user got engaged or married (to somebody they've now split up from) or even the anniversary of a friend's death.

In response to complaints about this problem, Facebook has now added a preferences menu for users that want to restrict certain memories from appearing on the feature. The menu is accessible at facebook.com/onthisday and a button marked "Preferences" with a gear logo. The menu offers two options for filtering out posts. One is to block any posts that mention or involve a particular person. The other is any posts that relate to a specified time period, for example the time before and soon after somebody died. (Source: businessinder.com)

It's not the first time Facebook has had to make changes to an automated feature after inadvertently upsetting users. Last year it put together a "Year In Review" feature which showed photographs which earned the most "likes" from friends. Unfortunately in several cases these were photographs of recently deceased friends or family members where the "likes" were expressions of sympathy and, to say the least, the user concerned did not consider the event one of the highlights of their year. (Source: time.com)

What's Your Opinion?

Is Facebook right to add in these filters? Should users be bothered by automated reminders of events they'd prefer to forget? Should Facebook put more thought into how to detect if a past post might now be seen in a negative context?

https://www.infopackets.com/news/9697/facebook-day-backfires-bad-memories
www.osun.info

Students protesting in Osogbo...
https://www.facebook.com/osuninfo

World Teachers’ Day on October 5 highlights the fact that teachers must be empowered as a critical step towards quality education and sustainable societies. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimates that to achieve the goal of universal primary education by 2020 countries will need to recruit a total of 12.6 million primary teachers. It is recognized that teachers are not only a means to implementing education goals; they are the key to sustainability and national capacity in achieving learning and creating societies based on knowledge, values and ethics. However, they continue to face challenges brought about by staff shortages, poor training and low status.

The Incheon Declaration at the World Education Forum (WEF) in May 2015 clearly recognized the importance of empowerment. At the forum 1600 participants from 160 countries committed to “ensure that teachers and educators are empowered, adequately recruited, well-trained, professionally qualified, motivated and supported within well-resourced, efficient and effectively governed systems”. The Oslo Summit, “Education for Development”, held in July 2015, highlighted the need for further investment in teacher education. The proposed Sustainable Development Goals to be adopted at the UN Summit in September 2015, include a specific objective under Goal 4 to by 2030 “substantially increase the supply of qualified teachers, including through international cooperation for teacher training in developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island developing States”.
UNESCO and partners encourage and promote events for World Teachers’ Day.

Please register events at www.worldteachersday.org and take action to empower teachers.
http://www.osun.info/post-109-world-teachers-day-empowering-teachers-building-sustainable-societies.html

Lecturers in four tertiary institutions owned by Osun State Government have frowned at the alleged move by Governor Rauf Aregbesola to merge the institutions due to the financial crisis the state is facing. Reports making the rounds in the state suggest that the governor has ordered the chairmen of the governing councils of the four institutions to work out how the merger would be carried out. The lecturers, who are members of the Council of Academic Staff Unions of Osun State-owned Tertiary Institutions, in a communiqué made available to our correspondent on Friday, said the move would rather create more problems for the state than solve its financial crisis.

The schools in question are: Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke; and Osun State Colleges of Education, Ilesha and Ila-Orangun. The communique was signed by the CASUOSTI Chairman, Lasisi Jimoh and Secretary, Olusegun Lana.

It read, “Council frowns at the clandestine move of the state government to merge the two state polytechnics and the two colleges of education and describes it as an ill-advised, laughable, non-progressive and obnoxious policy that will only complicate the sufferings of the masses. Council hinges this opinion on several premises including the following: the existing institutions are not sufficient to meet the demand for tertiary education in the state. The merger would result in heavier collateral wastage of the ongoing massive physical and human resource development which is at no cost to the state government but fully sponsored by the Federal Government through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.”
http://www.punchng.com/news/osun-lecturers-condemn-planned-merger-of-tertiary-institutions/

Arsene Wenger threatened to walk out of his press conference after becoming tetchy over questions regarding his decision to rest Petr Cech against Olympiakos and comments about Jose Mourinho. The Gunners fell to a 3-2 defeat against the Greek outfit, with Cech’s replacement,David Ospina, responsible for a howler, gifting Arsenal’s opponents their second goal.

Wenger insisted he has “two world-class goalkeepers”, and doesn’t understand the backlash regarding his decision to pick Ospina instead of Cech, who has a Champions League winners medal to his name. “I’m accountable on the results of my team,” he said. And when asked about Jose Mourinho saying there’s only one manager under pressure. “Stop that question or we stop the press conference.”

Here are other main points from Wenger’s press conference:
* Laurent Koscielny is out for three weeks with an injury
* Wenger defended his decision to play “world-class” Ospina
* Arsenal will “learn from defeat” claims Wenger

http://www.osun.info/post-106-wenger-threatens-to-walk-out-.html

A new way to do business is finally here in Osun State. www.osun.biz is launched today, 1st of October, 2015.

Great news!
We're very pleased to announce the launch of our new website, www.osun.biz. Osun.Biz is the Online Exchange platform for Classified Adverts in Osun State. It is the No.1 Online Market Place for Osun people to Buy and Sell products (used or new), offer
services, and do business. It is free, fast, convenient and most importantly, safe and secure.

There are a couple of Classified Advert websites in Nigeria but www.osun.biz is borne out of a genuine need to service a demographic group hugely neglected by others. We believe that narrowing down of focus, instead of broadening, will make it easier for people
to connect and trade better. With 8 Broad categories and 42 subcategories, users can now buy and sell everything from cars to mobile phones, Laptop computers, electronics and lots more for free from the comfort of their homes.

We are counting on your active participation, especially if you work, live, or you’re from Osun State. If you have questions, comments, or
suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@osun.biz. We'd love to hear from you!

Osun.Biz

cc: lalasticalala. Please, we need the push

Osun State House of Assembly has directed that the state Deputy Governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, who doubled as the former Commissioner for Education, and other top government officials in the education sector be summoned for the review of the education system in the state. The Speaker, Hon, Najeem Salaam, gave the directive when the Assembly members met the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Tutor-Generals in the three education districts and principals of some secondary schools in the state.

While regretting the poor implementation of some of the lofty policies of government on education, he said, "There is the need for us to review our activities". He noted that due to the huge investment of the government on education, students still fail in external examination, especially in the West Africa Students Certificate Examinations (WASCE).

http://osun.info/post-104-osun-assembly-to-summon-dep-gov-others-over-education-system.html
http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/osun-assembly-to-summon-dep-gov-others-over-education-system/221561/

Officials of the World Bank have expressed satisfaction with the construction of 224.62 kilometres of rural roads in Osun State by the Rural Access and Mobility Project. The ORAMP, which is a six-year World Bank and French Development Agency assisted project in collaboration with the Osun State Government, is seeking to improve transport conditions and bringing sustained access to the rural dwellers, who derive their livelihood from farming.

The Task Team Leader of the World Bank, Mohammed Essakali, and other members of the team, who inspected the road projects scattered all over Osun State on Friday, expressed satisfaction with the implementation unit in the state. Essakali, who spoke to journalists after the project inspection, said Osun State was the “first to get the project running.

He said, “We are very happy with the implementation of the projects. Osun State was at the forefront in getting the project running. We are also very happy with the physical projects. We are very satisfied with the performance of the implementation unit of the state, especially the quality implementation unit. We are very happy for the support that the project and the unit received from the governor. We are very satisfied with the performance of the government and the implementation unit. We want to provide access to the population that does not have access to rural roads. In Nigeria, we estimate about 40 per cent to 50 per cent of people living in rural areas do not have access to rural roads. That is a very large number.”

The ORAMP Coordinator in the state, Mr. Adelere Oriolowo, said the project had started having positive impacts on the people living in rural areas in the state. Oriolowo maintained that the project’s objective, which is to provide access to the rural areas, was about to be achieved, as the implementation level had reached 48 per cent in terms of road construction. The implementation of the ORAMP, according to him, is taking place in Iwo, Ife I, Ife II and Ilesa regions. He explained that the roads would be made motor-able to ease transportation problems facing the rural dwellers. The roads, which are devoid of asphalt laying, will be maintained by residents along the communities at the road corridors.

Oriolowo said each person would be given a kilometre to maintain and each of them would be paid N20,000 per month. By this, he stated that the youth would be productively engaged and the roads would boost food production in the state. He added that $60m was expected to be spent on the projects out of which the World Bank would provide 66.7 per cent and the French Development Agency would give the balance.

www.osun.info

http://www.punchng.com/business/homes-property/world-bank-hails-osuns-225km-rural-roads/

Justice Olamide Folahanmi Oleyede, a serving judge of Osun State will this morning appear before the investigative panel constituted to probe the petition she wrote accusing Governor Rauf Aregbesola and her deputy, Mrs. Titilaoye Tomori of impropriety. Following her petition, the state House of Assembly had constituted a seven-man panel to look into the allegations and submit its findings within two weeks. Consequently, the panel summoned the petitioner to appear before it today at the House of Assembly complex.

The panel in a letter signed by its chairman who doubles as the Deputy Speaker, Akintunde Adegboye asked Justice Oloyede to appear before the panel with her evidential proofs to substantiate the allegations raised in her petitions. According to a statement signed by the chief press secretary to the speaker, Mr. Goke Butika, the letter reads in part, “You are to appear before the panel constituted by the speaker, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam saddled with the responsibility to investigate the allegations raised in your petition, and you are enjoined to appear with your evidences to substantiate the allegations”.

The panel chairman also disclosed that no form of fanfare, pro or anti protesters would be tolerated within the premises of state parliament, asserting that no trouble makers would be allowed to disrupt the peace of the state. The speaker during the inauguration of the panel had stated that the sittings of the panel would not be conducted in the open but assured that the outcome would be subjected to debate in the House.

http://osun.info/post-84-osun-justice-oloyede-to-appear-before-petition-panel-today.html

Justice Olamide Folahanmi Oloyede of the High Court in Osogbo is currently in the eye of the storm for bring up a petition before the Osun State House of Assembly to investigate and impeach Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola on a number of allegations regarding mismanagement of the state’s economy that has led to non-payment of salaries and pensions for about eight months now. Justice Folahanmi is expected to appear on the floor of the House today to defend her petition.

Now to the question, "who is Justice Folahanmi?", here are 10 things of note about her:

1. The petitioner is a female, which is quite uncommon in Nigeria’s political landscape.

2. She is a serving judge who by the ethics of her engagement should be seen and not heard where opinions are concerned as judges’ opinions are said to be reserved for the bench.

3. She is of same Ijesa stock as the governor she is seeking his removal.

4. She is indirectly in the employment of the state where a conspiracy of executive and legislative arms could pressure the National Judicial Council (NJC) to ease her out of service.

5. The allegations she raised in the controversial petition are not only weighty but range from the civil to outright criminality.

6. If her petition succeeds in getting the governor out, she would be helping in taking her Ijesa people out of political reckoning in the state, where Aregbesola is the first Ijesa to rule.

7. She has a history of activism. As the Chief Registrar of Osun State Judiciary during the administration of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, she fought battles with all judges of the state High Court and at a point, got suspended. She reacted by suing everyone to court over some administrative issues bordering on financial allegations. Prince Oyinlola was said to have waded in and forced a truce that reportedly culminated in the withdrawal of her suit and lifting of the suspension.

8. She was the last judge to be appointed by Oyinlola.

9. The human rights community will remember that court Chief Registrar that stood for and by them one afternoon in July 2008 as they were arrested for protesting on the premises of the state High Court. Olamide offered, in writing, to be their witness against the state and the police.

10. She really did not start on a war scale with Aregbesola. She reportedly supported the governor’s failed move to impose the then Lagos High Court judge and now Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole as Osun State Chief Judge. The failed judicial “coup” is said to have left rough patches in the relations between Oloyede and some of her colleagues.

http://osun.info/post-85-who-is-justice-olamide-folahanmi-oloyede-.html

Culled from: http://www.goldenicons.com/beautiful-bold-justice-oloyede-petitions-for-impeachment-of-osun-state-governor-rauf-aregbesola-over-mismanagement-of-funds-leading-to-non-payment-of-salaries-for-8-months-other-issues/

The immediate past Head of Service in Osun State, Mr. Segun Akinwusi, has said the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola earned a total of N317bn from the federal allocation, internally generated revenue and other accruals from the Federal Government since he became the governor in 2010. The figure, as given by Akinwusi at the summit organised by the Osun Stakeholders at Ile Ife on Thursday, was contrary to the N204bn, which Aregbesola gave as the total accruable to the state at the inauguration of the state House of Assembly on June 2.

Akinwusi, in his speech put the state’s debt profile at over N400bn and not N40bn, saying the future of generations in the state was bleak because of the burden of the debt. He added that Aregbesola lied to the people of the state by telling them that the N11.5bn Islamic loan (Sukuk) raised attracted no interest. According to him, the state will pay 25.5bn to service the loan of N11.5bn. The figure given by the former HOS also formed part of the communiqué issued by the organisers of the summit at the end of the programme. One of the conveners of the summit, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, read the communique.

The Osun Stakeholders also asked the National Assembly to set in motion machinery to restructure the country, saying states did not need the handout given to them in the name of bailout but that they should be allowed to prospect for resources within their territories. They frowned at the use of consultants by the Osun State Government to carry out the duties, which the state civil servants ought to be doing. They said this had constituted a huge waste of state’s resources and should be stopped to save the state of some fund.

The summit had been scheduled to hold at a hotel in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, but one of the conveners, Mr. Niyi Owolade, accused the police of being used by the state government to deny them the opportunity of using the venue. Owolade, who is a former governorship candidate of the Accord Party, quoted Aregbesola as saying that President Muhammadu Buhari said the problem confronting Osun State was beyond his power when the governor paid a visit to the President.

But, the APC in the state has said that the organisers of the summit fled the venue initially scheduled for the meeting on sighting policemen because their intentions were not good. The spokesperson for the APC in the state, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, said this in a reaction to the claim of the conveners of the summit.

He said, “Their claim that the police stopped them from holding it in Osogbo is ridiculous. They came to Leisure Spring Hotel, saw police security and they fled, to one hideout in Ile Ife. If their intentions were good, why did they run away from the police? If their intentions were good, why did the presence of the police scare them? Did the police officially prohibit the summit? Those guys are cowards; they should not be taken seriously. We will look at what they had on offer as solution to the financial and education ‘problems’ in the state before we respond fully.”

Culled from The Punch: www.punchng.com/news/osun-earned-n317bn-in-four-years/
More about Osun State on www.osun.info

Truck loads of food stuff donated to workers and other categories of people in Osun State by the Presiding Bishop of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Dr. David Oyedepo, have arrived in the state for distribution. The bishop donated the food items which included rice, vegetable oil, tomato pastes and others for distribution to church members and other residents of the state who were experiencing lack.

The State Pastor of the LFCW, Olumuyiwa Emmanuel, announced the arrival of the food aid on Wednesday during the mid-week service of the church in Osogbo, the state capital. He stated that the food would be distributed at the church premises on Sunday (tomorrow) after service.

He said, “I am happy to announce to you that trailer load of rice, vegetable oil, tomato and other things sent by the bishop have arrived. The distribution will be done on Sunday. Invite your friends and neighbours, Christians and non Christians; everybody will be taken care of. We are blessed to be a blessing unto others. Bring people who need the food, young and old, all of them will be catered for. We have more than enough for everybody.”
http://www.osun.info/post-75-winners-chapel-to-distribute-food-items-tomorrow.html

Avoid ipage like wildfire, especially if you''re hosting something of worth. You get what you pay for, and ipage is one the cheapest.

Remember the war over acronym between African Peoples Congress and All Progressives Congress? Remember how some politicians approached INEC to register another political party called African Peoples Congress, APC? I thought that was the beginning of the end of the All Progressives Congress. But the African Peoples Congress didn’t have the Lion of Bourdillon leading its charge, so it lost. After winning the acronym war, APC was faced with another battle of selecting interim executives, with the merging political parties (Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party, the Congress for Progressive Change, and a faction of the All Progressive Grand Alliance) insisting on holding the “juicy” leadership positions. Again, the party successfully weathered the storm. A third war soon broke out when some erstwhile leaders of the parties felt they were short-changed as the APC eventually decided to hold its first national convention to elect party executives, with Tom Ikimi, who was one of the forerunners of the merger plan schemed out of becoming the party’s first elected national chairman. Nasir El Rufai, who made it clear that he wanted the position of the national secretary of the party was also shortchanged by the party. Another formidable member of the party, Ismail Ahmed was also schemed out. Again, the Lion of Bourdillon intervened and ensured that the battle within was dealt with. Now the APC and the Lion of Bourdillon have been called to what is being considered in many ranks as the mother of all battles, the Armageddon. The Lion of Bourdillon has been pitched against the tiger of Ilorin. It is said that when two lions are fighting, it is the forest that suffers. Is this the “Change” Nigeria needs at this time?

As a political party, doesn’t APC have a constitution? What does the constitution say about party disloyalty and insubordination? The impression some of us have is that all principal officers of APC would be people without any taint of corruption or scandal surrounding them. In line with change and zero tolerance for corruption manifesto, however, Saraki doesn’t seem to buy into the ideas of the party and has decided to form alliances with opposition parties and got elected as senate president. How does one define anti-party actions? If the number three citizen of the country is disloyal to his party’s wishes and the party fails to take disciplinary action, doesn’t that spell weakness? If strength of character is the primary ingredient we need to turn the fortunes of this country around, then it raises question whether the party leader, President Buhari and the APC can really steer us on the right path. As a political party, APC has too many lions from different parties in its den and as a result stands the risk of having these lions enforce their personal agenda over party interest.

Saraki’s fervent ambition which can be seen as a form of desperation could have been dealt with immediately if APC is serious in curbing future insubordination within the ranks of the party. Could it be that Saraki sees the senate presidency as a necessary step towards achieving his ultimate ambition of becoming the president of Nigeria in 2019, seeing as we have been made to believe, that president Buhari will only be a one term president? With all this, should he still be allowed to use the same party machinery to fulfil that ambition? Won’t it be safe to assume that Senator Saraki has set a precedent for his defection back to the PDP? After all, former Vice President Atiku defected from the PDP twice. How do you punish a soldier that has handed power back to the enemy or opposition? What kind of message do you send to other members of the party with this? I don’t see a way out here that won’t end up in the expulsion of Senator Saraki from the APC, because the bad blood has been set and damage already done. Sometimes, failing to take disciplinary action can be worse than taking a drastic action. Won’t it be better for APC to expel him now and save itself from future embarrassment?

It is becoming clear as the days go by that the only thing that united APC as a political party was the battle against Goodluck Jonathan. And if this son of Otuoke has placed a curse on APC, then this is only the beginning.
http://www.punchng.com/columnists/etcetera/saraki-should-be-expelled-from-apc-with-immediate-effect/

The photo was never meant to fan fears about MERS or scare anyone. The couple had already taken normal group photos without masks when they decided to do something fun. 200 masks were handed out as a message for ‘the couple to live a healthy life’ together,” but the photo’s intended message was quickly lost as it was shared and reposted online. When the couple’s wedding photo hit South Korean social media, it became a statement about how MERS is plaguing the country.

Widespread fear about South Korea's Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak has caused face mask sales to surge as people panic-buy surgical masks, triggering shortages.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/06/10/how-one-joke-photo-has-become-a-symbol-of-south-koreas-fears-about-mers/
http://www.osun.info/post-43-south-korea-mers-outbreak-pic-speaks.html

Abuja, June 10, 2015 (NAN) The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is set to launch a national campaign on value re-orientation and societal rejuvenation reminiscent of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) of 1984. The programme, aimed at promoting core values and patriotism among citizens, would be jointly anchored by the NYSC, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) and supported by other collaborating partners.
The Director-General, NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, disclosed this when his NOA counterpart, Mr Mike Omeri, visited him at the Headquarters of the NYSC in Abuja on Tuesday.

Olawumi said the campaign would be geared towards supporting the Buhari administration’s change agenda which would be anchored on discipline and order in all facets of societal endeavour. He said the NYSC and NOA would leverage on its national spread and network within and outside Nigeria to carry the message of `doing the right thing’ to all parts of the country.

"This campaign is aimed at re-enacting the key agenda that the Buhari regime was identified with in 1984. All the things that administration did using soldiers would now be executed using corps members and NOA officers across the country. I have no doubt in my mind that this campaign will be a success given the spread of the NYSC and NOA, we feel we are in the best position to carry out this campaign,’’ he said."

Olawumi said the organisers would employ robust public sensitisation drive and an attractive reward system to actualise the new government’s agenda through the campaign. He said the government would not be required to use its funds to support the campaign as key private sector players would be encouraged to fund the campaign. He said the campaign would soon be given the right nomenclature but that the areas of interest would include good public and private conduct as well as patriotism, among other values.

Earlier, Omeri said the planned national campaign would help restore Nigeria’s values and the fast fading sense of patriotism among Nigerians. He said the planned national campaign might not be the exact replica of the War Against Indiscipline of 1984.
Omeri explained the campaign would focus on promoting the study of civic education in schools using corps members and NOA community brigades, among other targets. While commending the NYSC for its support for the successful conduct of the 2015 general elections, Omeri urged the scheme to exhibit the same vigour in the planned value reorientation campaign. He solicited the support of all Nigerians in helping to revive the culture of order, discipline and patriotism among Nigerians.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a committee was set up to harmonise the submissions by the NYSC and NOA on the proposed campaign. (NAN)

http://nannewsnigeria.com/nysc-noa-launch-campaign-reminiscent-wai

Nigerian Democracy Is A Time Bomb And Bukola Saraki Is The Judas Iscariot Of Nigeria By Dr. Wumi Akintide

President Buhari‘s insistence that he was not going to interfere on the affairs of the Parliament is a major gaffe any way you slice it. The Parliament, as stipulated in the Nigerian Constitution, would determine whether or not his change agenda would fail or succeed in Nigeria. As a Political Science major with a deep passion for politics, I can tell you that.

The PDP began to irredeemably fall apart the day their own Speaker of the House, Tambuwal began to show more loyalty and favoritism for the opposition party, and there was nothing the PDP could do to bring him to order before the situation got out of control. Only in Nigeria is that kind of disloyalty tolerated in a party official. It is true that the Speaker of the House must be neutral in his dealings with members as much as humanly possible, but the ‘river that forgets its source or origin’ as reminded us by Elemure Ogunyemi, the Ekiti country music idol, is bound to dry up sooner than later.

Tambuwal got away with his disloyalty because he figured out that he could only be removed as Speaker by a majority of members in his Chamber, and nobody else, as stipulated by the obnoxious Nigerian Constitution. Unwritten ‘laws of decency’ should have required the Speaker to do the right thing without being told, but because politics in Nigeria is all about self rather than the ultimate interest of the Nation and the institution, Tambuwal got away with his perfidy. Not only that, he went on to be called a hero and a consummate politician in a country where corruption has become a virtue and a way of life.

Everybody in the PDP knew he was to all intent and purposes an APC member, but the PDP and President Jonathan were in total denial. Tambuwal kept that advantage until the very last moment when he publicly admitted he was going to be the APC Governorship candidate in Sokoto since he could not run for President. He won the governorship election by a landslide. That could only mean he had been rooting for the APC long before he made it official.

Even though Goodluck Jonathan tried to shake Tambuwal up by using the Inspector General of Police, Abubakar Abba by withdrawing his security details and the official cars and drivers assigned to him as Speaker. Tambuwal went to Court to challenge the move and won on legal technicalities. The PDP went into the last elections totally embarrassed and humiliated by their own Speaker, legislators like Bukola Saraki and Governors like Kwankwanso and Amaechi who openly decamped into the opposition APC. In his own case, Tambuwal only stopped short of openly crossing carpet into the APC. He was widely known to have been holding nocturnal meetings with the APC Caucus while still claiming allegiance to the PDP.

The House of Assembly in Abuja under the PDP was a House of Commotion, Intrigues, Horse-trading and Bribery if you get my point. Even though Nigerians massively voted for change on March 28 and April 11, I can assure you that nothing has changed and nothing is going to change in Nigeria for two important reasons.

First, neither of the two major political parties in Nigeria today have any verifiable ideology that explains their value system and political leanings. Neither of them operates the kind of party supremacy that is so critical in every Democracy. Once the Party takes a decision, no member, however powerful or rich can change it, whether on the floor of the Parliament or anywhere else in Nigeria

The Action Group under Obafemi Awolowo became the powerhouse that made the Western Region the pace setter in Nigeria among its peers like the NPC and the NCNC. Rich individuals like Pa Alfred Rewani, late Pa Ajao and Pa Shonibare of Lagos were moneybags in the same Action Group, but they all had to abide by what the Party says. Even Awolowo, arguably the most conscientious politician and strategist among our leaders, knew he could not achieve anything as party leader without party discipline and supremacy.

Awolowo initially wanted to make free education in the Old Western region both ‘universal’ and ‘compulsory’ but the party settled for universal only. Awolowo had no other choice because the party was supreme. If Awolowo, the party leader, could do that, no other member could challenge the party and remain in the Action Group. Awolowo was that strict. It was not like the “animal farm” of today where a deserter from the PDP like Bukola Saraki would not take no for an answer because he is hell bent on becoming Senate President to gain immunity from public prosecution for atrocities he committed with “Societe-Generale Bank“ a public institution he plundered.

I don’t blame the APC for accepting “leprous” Saraki into their fold. The APC was like a drowning man that would cling to a snake at the time it accepted Saraki, and the gamble paid off big time in Kwara State, if not the whole of Nigeria. They must now deal with and tame the monster or suffer the same fate as the PDP suffered in Kwara. Saraki is a true son of his father. He is in politics not to help humanity but to laugh all the way to the Bank for his own benefit. As Saraki has become Senate President, forget it. That is the end of Buhari’s anti-corruption agenda.

I have cited the above examples to show that neither the PDP, nor the APC that dethroned the PDP for the first time in more than 55 years in Nigeria has anything other than selfish interest at heart. It is a complete outrage that Bukola Saraki, who destroyed the PDP for his own selfish gain is attempting the same thing in the APC. Saraki is just like his twin brother in crime, Ayo Fayose, the current Governor of Ekiti. He is the Judas Iscariot of Nigerian Politics.

Ayo Fayose, the outlaw Governor has got away with murder in Nigeria, so to speak, because Goodluck Jonathan’s policy was to join the rotten eggs of Nigerian Politics rather than beat them. Fayose openly encouraged the PDP members in the new Senate and the House of Representatives to muddy the waters for the APC and cause confusion by voting en masse for Sola Saraki as Senate President.

He has the effrontery to do that because, under the Jonathan government, he completely outmaneuvered the 19 APC legislators he drove out of Ekiti so that the 7 PDP legislators could continue to do as they liked with him as the overall boss. One would have expected the new APC Government to have paid more attention to Fayose and what he was doing in Ekiti prior to the APC’s victory in the last election. The APC dropped the ball on Fayose, who took advantage of the APC’s silence and ineptitude to wait out the 19 legislators till June 6th when his new set of PDP legislators took over the Ekiti House of Assembly.

I have completely lost confidence in the APC and President Buhari for being so sluggish and slow at doing what was expected of them. I could not understand the strategy of the APC to put Ayo Fayose on notice that his antics in Ekiti would no longer be tolerated by Buhari. They were supposed to hit the ground running, but grew so careless that Ayo Fayose treated them like amateurs in Politics. The man beat the APC arms down in Ekiti, if the truth must be told. He definitely put “Okaraba Baba Edi“ on the APC and juggernauts like Ahmed Tinubu. The wizardry of Ahmed Tinubu has been rubbished by Ayo Fayose.

I agree that it is true that there are more urgent problems to tackle than facing Ayo Fayose, but I condemn the APC, President Buhari and Vice-President Osinbajo for completely taking their eye off the ball in reference to Ayo Fayose and the ugly developments in Ekiti.

I am also amazed, if not totally shocked, that one week after Buhari’s inauguration he still has not found the time to issue a statement on the 60 Nigerian officers and soldiers awaiting execution for not fighting Boko Haram with their “bare hands”. Boko Haram was fighting Nigeria with tanks, armored vehicles, AK-47 rifles and other deadly improvised bombs like what Biafrans call “Ugbunigwe” during the 1967 to 1970 civil war. These soldiers were expected to face this people with prayer and fasting. That is just wicked.

It is unconscionable that Buhari, a retired 4-star General has not seen the need to issue a statement on the fate of those brave soldiers within a week of his inauguration. The cowardly Chief of Defense Staff and the other heads of the Army, the Navy, and the Air Force who worked with Goodluck Jonathan are still there, enjoying their loot from Jonathan. Buhari looks insane to me right now to keep quiet and not say a word. Many, if not all, of those officers should have been let go immediately.

It also beats my imagination that the same Buhari, up till now, has not said a word on the fate of Captain Sagir Koli, who blew the whistle on the covert operations that helped Fayose rig the election in Ekiti on June 21. Brigadier-General Aliyu Momoh, the commanding officer of the operation is still in the Military, while Sagir Koli has had to runaway from Nigeria to avoid assassination or victimization by his commanding officer. Yet, Buhari still wants Nigeria to believe he is the Messiah, coming to save Nigeria. If you believe that crap, I have an island to sell to you in the Pacific. Time is of the essence. Buhari is damaging himself irredeemably in the court of public opinion for all of the above.

I was one of the strongest supporters of General Buhari during the election and I still support him, but disillusionment has set in for many of his supporters across Nigeria and for me. I am not so sure any more from what he has done in his first two weeks in office. I am more worried today about his silence than anything else. I know there is a limit to how much he could have done in 2 weeks but he should at least have issued some statements to assure Nigerians that he is not totally lost or overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of the problems he has to confront.

I suggested to him more than a year ago, that he needed to set up a Rapid Response Team to draw attention to many of these lapses, since he was not avid reader of briefs sent to him. He should have had somebody looking into social media to compile information and advice he needs. The Sahara Reporters of New York is a major resource that he cannot afford to ignore. If he is in any doubt, he should talk to his friend, Pastor Tunde Bakare, who visits the website every day before breakfast. Buhari is losing momentum and I deeply regret that.

Buhari has told us enough about Nigerian problems. What Nigerians want to hear now are his solutions to these problems. I am not talking of solutions that would require the involvement of the Senate or the House of Representative or the Judiciary. I am talking of solutions that he is able to do with executive orders. He should make himself and his Vice President a shining example of the change he wants to see in Nigeria just like El Rufai and his Deputy Governor have done in Kaduna State. They both declared in their inaugural address that they would both accept a 50 percent salary cut until further notice.

That Buhari is yet to name a single member of his cabinet and principal officers close to 2 weeks after inauguration is proof that the man is not ready for prime time. I am saying it out loud because I want the man to succeed. I can tell you right now that what Buhari has promised to do in Nigeria cannot be achieved with the level of sloppiness and lethargy he has shown in his first two weeks in office.

He offered Nigerians a sartorial list of the problems he wants to tackle but he has not articulated the ends, the ways and the means for solving those problems with any comprehensive strategy. What he is trying to do cannot be done with his current level of commitment and drive. It is sad to say but it is the truth.

I fully understand that Buhari is trying to convince his critics he is no longer the maximum dictator he used to be as a military ruler but he is doing it the wrong way by looking weak and incompetent. By openly telling Nigerian he would not interfere in what is going on in the Parliament, he became spineless.

I would not be complaining this much if I saw some convincing evidence he really wants to strengthen the supremacy of the APC. I see no evidence of a guiding ideology that should influence all of Buhari’s decisions. I see none of that and I think the observation should be of concern to all Nigerians like me who voted for change on March 28 and April 11.

The APC won 59 seats in the Senate and the PDP won 49 in the new Parliament. The APC won 213 out of the 360 seats in the House of Representatives leaving the remaining 147 to the PDP, the APGA and the other parties in Nigeria. If you compare that margin of victory with what normally obtains in stable Democracies like the United States, Britain and the State of Israel, you will all see that the APC has a majority that is comfortable enough to be able to effectively and successfully govern Nigeria. What if the margin of victory for the APC was much smaller? The APC has no excuse to give right now. If it fails it will have nobody but itself to blame.

I don’t care about the horse-trading currently going on in the Parliament. The bottom line is that the legislators sponsored by the majority party must be seen to have won. That it did not happen is a bad omen for Nigeria’s nascent Democracy under the APC.

I don’t care how the APC and Buhari do it, the duo of Saraki and Ekweremadu as Senate President and Deputy President is as a major humiliation and defeat for the APC, and more so for Buhari and Osinbajo, and a bad omen for the interest and future of Nigeria.

I rest my case.
http://saharareporters.com/2015/06/09/nigerian-democracy-time-bomb-and-bukola-saraki-judas-iscariot-nigeria-dr-wumi-akintide

Let us agree that we messed up, big time, in Osun: that like the prodigal son, we collected our lot and squandered it; that we ate with both hands, with 10 fingers; that we did not save for a rainy day. Let us also assume that we meant well, but it boomerang; that our intentions were right, but our actions backfired; that we can’t seem to get anything right again.

You have earned the right to blame us, but we should all bear the full brunt of the blame: the government, the people and even Osun indigenes in diaspora. Our actions and inactions have brought us into this mess. Put the blame on us… but don’t stop at that. You cannot stop at that. You must do something to help us. Even though we brought this problem on ourselves, you cannot just leave us to face it on our own. If any part of the body is sick, the whole body is sick, and every part of the body is in one way or the other partly responsible for the sickness. Allow me to explain: Say for instance you hit your leg against the wall, then the eye cannot claim innocence, neither can the mind and the brain. Yes, the leg will suffer the most but the ‘hand’ must lend a hand, same with every other part, if the whole body will not die of infection.

You cannot isolate Osun State from Nigeria, that’s why we are a nation. It is therefore our collective responsibility to find a solution to the peculiar mess of Osun. And thank God, we now have a ‘messiah’. In fact, we were in this same mess when he came to our state, campaigning. Did he not rebuke us? No. We danced and sang together, and he promised us heaven on earth. Our Governor led the campaign team for the APC Presidential Quest in the South-West, and he delivered. That cannot be ignored. Now is the time for the Presidency to deliver Osun from the pit. It cannot be for nothing that our governor left all else to ensure that APC was enthroned at the centre. The onus in now on the President to do something, if not because he is the President of Nigeria of which Osun State is a part, then because he is a benefactor of our Governor and the machinery he deployed to ensure his victory.

Before the governorship election that gave Ogbeni a second term in office, the PDP while campaigning urged the people of Osun to vote for its candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore, so as to connect with the government at the centre. PDP would not make such a claim if there wasn’t a real benefit to gain. Osun people did not vote to connect the centre then, but now, either by providence or sheer luck, we are glued to it by the bond of APC. There must be an advantage.

APC as a party cannot turn a blind eye to Osun. The Presidency cannot make a stern face either. Osun is their collective mess. They have all shared in its glory; they must now bear in its pain. You cannot leave us alone, on our own, to face our problems. Even a country like Greece was bailed out of its misfortune by their European counterparts. That is why we are a nation, united in fortune and misfortune. If the insecurity on-going in the North is a National problem, then the present situation is Osun should be a National headache.

Recently, torrential rainfall and fuel explosion disaster befell Ghana but their President swiftly responded by approving funds to ameliorate the situation. We call that an ‘act of God’ but something must be done about this ‘act of man’. FG must not wait till the spark in Osun turn into flame before intervening in the affairs of the state. A man who cannot cater for his family is dead inside. Parents are running out of excuses to their children, or what excuse can you give a child you can’t send to school, and still can’t feed? Blame Aregbesola all you can, it will not change a thing. It is highly unlikely that things will get so bad for Ogbeni that he would not be able to feed, get medical care and cater for his family. The best he can suffer for now is heartbreak, and heartbreak is less felt with breakfast.

In the main time, the call by a particular church for its members to bring support items for the needy is highly welcome. Most religious groups have done this already but I appeal to those who haven’t started to please do. If you have extra, give; if you have little, share. Help your neighbour so that your neighbourhood will not degenerate into a crime haven, just because ‘man wan chop’.
Blame us, but bail us also. The FG must do something. APC must do something. You also can do something. The help we need is not first financial. We need a plan, a master plan to take us out of this mess. Strategist and financial experts should please come to our aid.

“Dugbe dugbe to n mi loke yii ko gbodo ja bo. To ba ja bo, a ta ba ara ile, ata ba ara oko”

I am not a politician, neither am I a government worker. Just a concerned citizen.
Written by 'Wale Ajibola
http://osun.info/post-37-osun-s-mess-blame-us-but-bail-us-out-.html

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) in Osun State has suspended its 5-month old strike, following an agreement reached with the state government. The chairman of Osun State JUSUN, Dapo Oseni, explained that the state government had signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with the union to Uphold the judgment of the court. In view of the agreement, the national leadership of the union asked that the five month old strike be suspended.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Umbrella body which JUSUN belongs to, is presently on strike in the state for non-payment of seven months Salaries. The Osun State Chairman of the NLC, Jacob Adekomi, declared that the strike would continue, but assured workers in the state that talks were on with the government to find a solution to the crisis.

Source: http://www.channelstv.com/2015/06/08/osun-judicial-workers-suspend-strike/
http://osun.info/post-32-osun-judiciary-suspends-5-months-old-strike.html

This report brings you insights into the dreary world of workers and business owners and how they are chaffing under the cruel economic conditions, as revealed by recent investigations conducted by The Sun Newspaper in Osun.

“It has really been tough. It has come to a stage where we can no longer feed our families, let alone pay our rents. There is a rumour that people, especially the pensioners, have been dying as there is no money for them to survive. I can no longer do the little PP (private practice) that I have been doing to survive the hard times because people don’t have money for patronage, except when they are at the point of death and there are no such cases now and we don’t pray for that.” - Dr. Daramola Olusegun, Vice President of Resident Doctors Association, LAUTECH.

“Recently, I ordered that those who have not paid their school fees should not be allowed into the school premises and classrooms any more. The following day, my school was empty because only a few have been able to pay. Since I don’t want my school to close down, I started begging the parents to bring their children back to school pending when they will pay.” – Private School Owner.

Dr. Oshola Ahmed said it was lamentable that a high profile professional like him would now depend on his parents and friends for survival. “I can’t even pay my children’s school fees anymore. It is that terrible,” he said.
“People are not buying papers like before because there is no money. What they do mostly now is to come to the newsstands to glance through the headlines.” - Bayo Olaniyi, Newspaper Vendor.

“Some of us can no longer pay our rents. It has become so bad that some of us can no longer buy diapers for our babies. We can no longer cater for our aged parents. Instead, we are even depending on them for survival now.” - Dr. Femi, Department of Surgery.
“People don’t have money to feed their families at home. So, there is no way they can take them out at a time like this. To be frank, it’s no longer business as usual.” - Dupe Ajayi , Manager of an Eatery in Osogbo.

“As I speak with you, I have not yet taken my breakfast and this is already noon and it is not as if I have lost my appetite. But it is because I don’t have anything to eat. So, I have to go on 0-1-0. For long, I have been on 0-0-1 and sometimes I go on 1-0-1 meal every day since I can no longer afford three square meals.” - Dr. Owolabi Adeyinka, General Secretary of Resident Doctors Association LAUTECH.

“People are no longer buying recharge cards like before because there is no money. I used to make close to N7,200 gain on a daily basis before, but now, I make only N300 - Bimpe Omole, Recharge Card seller.

Taiwo Olojo, a motor mechanic, said his regular customers who used to service their vehicles have not been forthcoming. According to him, some of them have resorted to the use of commercial vehicles. “Last week, I was so broke that I had to call on one of my customers to come and service his car so that I could raise some money, but he said that though his car was actually due for service, he didn’t have money to do that now,” he said.

Some private school proprietors and proprietresses who also spoke to Daily Sun on condition of anonymity lamented that most parents owed school fees so much so that they, too, were beginning to find it difficult to pay the salaries of their teaching and non-teaching staff members.

Also, foodstuff sellers in Osogbo lamented that most of their perishable goods such as tomatoes, pepper, okra, mangoes, water melons, cucumbers and carrots in the local markets now rot and waste away due to poor patronage.

Culled from The Sun News Online
http://osun.info/post-17-cash-crunch-shocking-revelations-about-the-present-economic-situation-in-osun.html

A legion of United legends will return to old Trafford on Sunday 14th June for a clash with Bayern Munich All Stars, in a Charity fixture. The 22-man squad, made up of 4 strikers, 9 midfielders, 7 defenders and 2 goalkeepers are profiled below.

GOALKEEPERS

Edwin van der Sar (Goalkeeper. Age: 44. Apps/Gls: 266/0): One of the greatest goalkeepers ever to play for the club, he joined from Fulham in 2005 and broke the world clean-sheet record in 2008/09 by not conceding a goal for 1,311 minutes.

Raimond van der Gouw (Goalkeeper. Age: 52. Apps/Gls: 48(12)/0): United's oldest player since the War during his final season. Best moment: Performing superbly in a 2-1 victory at Highbury in 1999, making a couple of startling saves.

DEFENDERS

Denis Irwin (Defender. Age: 49. Apps/Gls: 511(18)/33): A model of consistency at full-back for United and eighth on the overall list of United appearance-makers.

Jaap Stam (Defender. Age: 42. Apps/Gls: 125(2)/1): A formidable centre-back who swiftly became a fans' favourite and one of the top defenders in the world.

Mikael Silvestre (Defender. Age: 37. Apps/Gls: 326(35)/10): A natural athlete who could perform at centre-back or left-back, he won five Premier League titles before switching to Arsenal in 2008.

Dion Dublin (Defender. Age: 46. Apps/Gls: 6(11)/3): The first man to score a winning goal for the club in the Premier League

Clayton Blackmore (Defender. Age: 50. Apps/Gls: 201(44)/26

Ronny Johnsen (Defender. Age: 45. Apps/Gls: 131(19)/9):

Lee Martin (Defender. Age: 47. Apps/Gls: 84(25)/2):

MIDFIELDERS

Paul Scholes (Midfielder. Age: 40 Apps/Gls: 577(141)/155): A majestic midfielder who will captain the side and parade his considerable talents at Old Trafford again. Only Sir Bobby Charlton and Ryan Giggs have played more times for the Reds after he came out of retirement to add to his tally of appearances.

Bryan Robson (Midfielder. Age: 58. Apps/Gls: 437(24)/99): A world-class midfield warrior and much-revered captain of United and England. The oldest member of the squad will manage the side but is certain to allow himself a run-out.

Ji-sung Park (Midfielder. Age: 34. Apps/Gls: 146(59)/27): The most-decorated Asian footballer of all time was a reliable member of Sir Alex's successful squad and was always relied upon to perform a variety of roles.

Quinton Fortune (Midfielder. Age: 38. Apps/Gls: 88(38)/11): A South Africa international who competed at two different World Cups for his country.

Phil Neville (Midfielder. Age: 38. Apps/Gls: 301(85)/:

Karel Poborsky (Midfielder. Age: 43. Apps/Gls: 28(20)/6):

Ben Thornley (Midfielder. Age: 40. Apps/Gls: 6(/0):

Russell Beardsmore (Midfielder. Age: 46. Apps/Gls: 39(34)/4):

Jesper Blomqvist (Midfielder. Age: 41. Apps/Gls: 29(9)/1):

STRIKERS

Dwight Yorke (Striker. Age: 43. Apps/Gls: 120(32)/66): The Treble-winner was leading scorer in his first season at the club after signing from Aston Villa.

Andy Cole (Striker. Age: 43. Apps/Gls: 231 (44)/121): A stunning signing from Newcastle United in 1995, he was capable of finding the net from all angles and formed a lethal partnership with pal Dwight Yorke.

Louis Saha (Striker. Age: 36. Apps/Gls: 76(48)/42)

Andy Ritchie (Striker. Age: 54. Apps/Gls: 32(10)/13)
http://osun.info/post-27-manchester-united-legends-to-play-bayern-munich-all-stars-on-june-14.html

This report brings you insights into the dreary world of workers and business owners and how they are chaffing under the cruel economic conditions, as revealed by recent investigations conducted by The Sun Newspaper in Osun.

“It has really been tough. It has come to a stage where we can no longer feed our families, let alone pay our rents. There is a rumour that people, especially the pensioners, have been dying as there is no money for them to survive. I can no longer do the little PP (private practice) that I have been doing to survive the hard times because people don’t have money for patronage, except when they are at the point of death and there are no such cases now and we don’t pray for that.” - Dr. Daramola Olusegun, Vice President of Resident Doctors Association, LAUTECH.
“Recently, I ordered that those who have not paid their school fees should not be allowed into the school premises and classrooms any more. The following day, my school was empty because only a few have been able to pay. Since I don’t want my school to close down, I started begging the parents to bring their children back to school pending when they will pay.” – Private School Owner.
Dr. Oshola Ahmed said it was lamentable that a high profile professional like him would now depend on his parents and friends for survival. “I can’t even pay my children’s school fees anymore. It is that terrible,” he said.
“People are not buying papers like before because there is no money. What they do mostly now is to come to the newsstands to glance through the headlines.” - Bayo Olaniyi, Newspaper Vendor.
“Some of us can no longer pay our rents. It has become so bad that some of us can no longer buy diapers for our babies. We can no longer cater for our aged parents. Instead, we are even depending on them for survival now.” - Dr. Femi, Department of Surgery.
“People don’t have money to feed their families at home. So, there is no way they can take them out at a time like this. To be frank, it’s no longer business as usual.” - Dupe Ajayi , Manager of an Eatery in Osogbo.
“As I speak with you, I have not yet taken my breakfast and this is already noon and it is not as if I have lost my appetite. But it is because I don’t have anything to eat. So, I have to go on 0-1-0. For long, I have been on 0-0-1 and sometimes I go on 1-0-1 meal every day since I can no longer afford three square meals.” - Dr. Owolabi Adeyinka, General Secretary of Resident Doctors Association LAUTECH.
“People are no longer buying recharge cards like before because there is no money. I used to make close to N7,200 gain on a daily basis before, but now, I make only N300 - Bimpe Omole, Recharge Card seller.
Taiwo Olojo, a motor mechanic, said his regular customers who used to service their vehicles have not been forthcoming. According to him, some of them have resorted to the use of commercial vehicles. “Last week, I was so broke that I had to call on one of my customers to come and service his car so that I could raise some money, but he said that though his car was actually due for service, he didn’t have money to do that now,” he said.
Some private school proprietors and proprietresses who also spoke to Daily Sun on condition of anonymity lamented that most parents owed school fees so much so that they, too, were beginning to find it difficult to pay the salaries of their teaching and non-teaching staff members.
Also, foodstuff sellers in Osogbo lamented that most of their perishable goods such as tomatoes, pepper, okra, mangoes, water melons, cucumbers and carrots in the local markets now rot and waste away due to poor patronage.
http://osun.info/post-17-cash-crunch-shocking-revelations-about-the-present-economic-situation-in-osun.html

Solar Impulse 2 is powered by more than 17,000 solar cells built into wings that, at 72 metres, are longer than those of a Boeing 747 and approaching those of an Airbus A380 superjumbo. The airplane can do fly day and night with no fuel.

The pilot, Andre Borschberg, who left the ground in Nanjing in eastern China at about 2.40am, will have to survive on little sleep and with only a parachute for backup.

The Solar Impulse 2 plane took off early on Sunday for a six-day, six-night flight over the Pacific Ocean, the most ambitious leg of its quest to circumnavigate the globe powered only by the sun. The 5,270-mile (8,500km) flight could set a record for duration by a single pilot, organisers said. This is the seventh and longest section of the maiden solar global circumnavigation, an attempt to promote green energy.
http://osun.info/post-13-solar-impulse-the-airplane-that-can-fly-with-no-fuel.html
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/31/solar-impulse-plane-starts-six-day-pacific-ocean-crossing-powered-only-by-the-sun