Historic As Osinbajo launched MSME Clinic in Osun, Commends Aregbesola

Posted by Yemi Adepoju

It was historic and full of life in Osogbo, the capital city of the State of Osun as government and the good people of the state hosted Vice President - Professor Yemi Osinbajo on a one day official visit to flag off MSME clinic (a flagship programme of federal government to ease ways of doing business in Nigeria) and give out cheques to all the beneficiaries of MarketMoni of Bank of Industry on Thursday 30th November 2017.

As early as 6am, the venue of the programme - Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo started receiving guests from all the nooks and crannies of the state; artisans, traders, community leaders, market women, drummers, entertainers, traditional rulers, heads of government ministries, departments and agencies wore both good clothes and good look to receive the august visitor.

It seems both nature and climate conspired to give the occasion a perfect weather condition that is neither too hot nor too dull. At exactly 3:44 pm, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and his Chief Host, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola among other government officials touched the venue of the programme with glitz, glamour and standing ovation.

Professor Yemi Osinbajo in his remark said he was in Osun with Director Generals of Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Bank of Industry (BOI) among others in order to familiarize with Osun on how they can grow their businesses maximally and efficiently. He said MSME Clinic utmost objective is to ensure a conducive environment and sustainable operational support by the government to small-scale enterprises for visible growth and development.

Vice President Osinbajo admirably commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for all his lofty programmes that are beauty and masterpiece to behold. He specifically mentioned good roads, world-class bridges, magnificent new schools and empowerment programmes as both legendary and everlasting. He urged the people of the state to keep supporting the government in all her efforts to transform the state into enviable height and thanked everyone for the rousing welcome accorded to him.

Signed
Editor.
Progressives e-Group
...Truly in support of good governance!

BULK FUND USED FOR 10KM LOCAL GOVERNMENT ROADS UNDER AREGBESOLA WERE SIPHONED UNDER PDP - KOLAPO ALIMI TELLS CRITICS.

Posted by Yemi Adepoju

Reacting to criticism by the opposition on social media yesterday, Barrister. Kola Alimi, The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs said, the bulk of funds used in financing all 10kilometers of roads supervised by the state government of Osun were from excess crude oil fund, popularly known as eco-fund, which the previous administration siphoned without anything to show for it.

A comment by one Facebook user, Prince Ade that the 10km roads per local government have claimed all allocation meant for local governments for over 7years. Barrister Kolapo Alimi Replied that "PDP can never see anything wrong in the failed Honeycomb road project through which Billions of naira was siphoned but they could condemn a road project that was successful. What a shameless set of people.

He further explained, "For your information, the bulk of the fund used for the construction of the roads were from excess crude oil fund, popularly known as eco-fund, which the previous administration siphoned without anything to show for it. So, your blackmail was only borne out of ignorance. If I Kolapo Alimi that was part of successful completion of an unprecedented road project should be ashamed, what will you now tell those that were part of the administration that failed on honeycomb? Why should I be ashamed, I am proud to be associated with a successful project. Sentiment apart, removing the 10km roads constructed under Aregbesola from each LG, there will be no good road again.

Kolapo Alimi was also asked by another Facebook user, Hardeywuyi Burlarnley 

"Aside from that for you not to mention or list another success of your administration at the local level for the past 7yrs, that shows that you have not achieved anything. Don't forget that in 2007, the governor targeted his campaign on 6points integral action. Can you enlighten us if he is able to stand on his earlier promises?"

He replied,"Thank you, my brother, for that question, for your information local Government is responsible for the payment of 5% traditional allowances, primary school Teachers and Local Government staff salaries, primary school, and Local Government pensioners. After all these payments whatever that remains is spent by each LG base on the peculiarity and need of their people.
Apart from the 10km roads which were centrally supervised, some LGs also embarked on rehabilitation of roads in their respective LGs, some embarked on the grading of roads, some for the digging of boreholes, some on transformers etc.

"What we have not embarked upon is another centrally supervised project. Each LG is doing its own bit in its area and for your information after the creation of new Local councils, most of the new Councils have embarked on the construction of their secretariat, all these are being done despite the paucity of fund ravaging all the tiers of Government."

He concluded, " I'm not stating the facts because of you people that are PROFESSIONAL CRITICS, I'm stating the facts because of innocent readers who might take what you people are posting as facts, having put the facts to the public galore for the consumption reasonable members of the society, I'm done on that. However, since we are in a democracy where talk is free and where everyone is free to hold the opinion best suited him/her, you are free to hold the opinion that best suited you. Meanwhile, I appreciate you people for your engagement so far, thank you."

FIFA Approved Nigeria and Argentina Prestige International Friendly Match Slated fo Nov. 14

Content of the letter below


The General Secretary, 
Aleksandr Alaev,
The Football Union of Russia


"FIFA would like to thank you for complying with the Regulations Governing International Matches by submitting the relevant information and authorizations for the following tier 1 international match: Argentina Vs Nigeria, Krasnodar Stadium, Krasnodar, 14 November 2017.


In accordance with article 7 of the regulations, FIFA is happy to provide official authorization for this men’s tier 1 international match.


Please note that this authorization is conditional upon FIFA receiving details of the referees who will officiate in the stated match. We will confirm authorization once the referee details have been received and checked. We would like to remind you that only referees included in the 2017 FIFA Refereeing Lists can officiate in an international ‘A’ match.

We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that in accordance with article 12 of the Regulations Governing International Matches, your association is required to ensure that a completed association report, list of players for both teams and the referee report are submitted to FIFA within 48 hours of each international ‘A’ match."

signed by;
Christian Unger
 FIFA’s Director of Competitions.

Aregbesola: Jide's death is a blow to many of his family

Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described as shocking, the death of Jide Tinubu, son of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Aregbesola said the deceased was a young man with promising future, who, sadly, was snatched away by the icy hands of death at his prime.

The statement added by his Media Adviser, Mr. Sola Fasure, Aregbesola said he received the news of Jide's death with great shock and grief.

He noted that in the African belief system, it is a very sad occurrence for a child to predecease his or her parent, saying Jide's sudden demise is very painful.

The statement reads: “I received the sad news of the death of Jide Tinubu, the son of the former governor of Lagos State and the Party’s National Leader, Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with great shock and grief.

“It is very sad to lose a child or any loved one for that matter at his or her prime. Jide's death is a blow to  many of his family, both extended and immediate.

“This indeed, is a very sad moment we all share with our great leader. My heartfelt condolence goes to the entire Tinubu family.
"On behalf of myself, the government and the good people of Osun, I offer our heartfelt condolences to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu at this moment of trial.

"We pray Almighty Allah (SWT) bestow on the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable lose and May Allah grant the late Jide eternal rest.”

Progressives e-Group Mourn Tinubu's son.

The Progressives e-Group commiserate with the Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday as received the shocking news of the death of Barrister Jide Tinubu, the son of the former Governor of Lagos State and National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Through the coordinator of the social media group and, Mr. Wale Alabi on his social media page said,"May Almighty Allah console our leader, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the death of his son. Our prayers are with you and family sir."

Mr. Jide Tinubu was a Law graduate of the University of Liverpool, England. He obtained his Master's degree in Maritime Law from the University. He has worked in the Legal Department of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited.

Sunday Akere on Transit of a Needless Political Journey

When Hon Akere Sunday was inventing the cyclone that relegated him to Osun APC reserved bench, I wrote few lines on Facebook so he could do the needful before things fell apart (though not too late).

I wanted Hon Sunday Akere to realign with the mainstream. As his lover, I knew he had nothing to gain romancing political hustlers. I was afraid he may lose the social capital our leaders invested in him and the premium the youths also placed on his person.

As a good leader, Hon Akere called when he saw my post. He knew what I was talking about but chosen to ignore the valid point in my message. He threatened to sue me if I'm adamant on retaining that particular write-up. I politely opted for the litigation challenge and our conversation ends there.

Today, where is Hon Akere standing? What value have those desperate minds he has been romancing added to his political profile? Does it change the leadership system in Osun APC? Is he still thinking his new allies possessed what it takes to dislodge the 'mainstream' from Osun politics?

When I read his message on Facebook last night, I was confused and wanted to be sure his Facebook account hadn't been hacked. As a party member, I knew Hon Akere to be a fighter who always stand on his feet till his ambition is realized. It was so strange to see him denying his involvement in the scheming of Demola Adeleke ambition to become APC senator.

I didn't know how to accurately decode his expression and still don't know till now. Was that message a retreat or a surrender note? Was it a step to come back? Was it another political strategy? Or did somebody cloned his Facebook??

It's quite unfortunate that Hon Akere drove himself to this needless political wilderness. He is a man of good aura. A man of Governor Aregbesola's heart. Mr. Governor loves him, everybody loves him. He is one of the leaders I would vouch for when loyalty and determination are questioned.

I still don't believe the love of money influenced his decision to join the rebel group, I believe he was played into it. He is surrounded by pessimists and confused minds. Though there may be an element of truth in the rumour of him nursing political ambition, could that be his reason to align with enemies of a man God used for his elevation?

Rather than denying his involvement in the recently 'failed political coup' he should just come back to his boss with his hands down in a sober mode like the prodigal son in the scripture. I know Aregbesola will find a way to reunite him with the family.

He should pick his phone and congratulate Mr. Governor for dismantling their plans, accepts defeat, concedes to the reality that Aregbesola is the grandmaster of Osun politics and return back to his root before the bigger political tsunami of the mainstream finally consume him.

This is my 10 kobo advice.

Wale ALABI of the Progressives e-Group

Rauf Aregbesola, His Cabinet, and Lessons in Governance

Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s refusal to constitute a cabinet for a long time in his state of Osun may have been quite controversial but the lessons for democracy and governance should not be missed now that the cabinet has been constituted.

Consistently, the motive of the governor had been that the state’s finances could not cope with payment of salaries of commissioners and other political appointees. The governor was even dragged to court by the opposition elements and civil society organisations. And even not too long ago, a court summoned the state chief executive officer for explanation on why he had been adamant about the composition of the state executive council, a constitutional provision in Sections 192 & 193 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

In the absence of an executive council, the governor appointed some individuals called coordinating directors, without recourse to the state assembly. The coordinating directors played some roles similar to those of commissioners, and worked with permanent secretaries.

And consequent upon this unusual political action, an Osun State High Court in Osogbo had in October last year ordered Aregbesola to defend himself on why he failed to constitute his cabinet since his inauguration on November 27, 2014, following a case filed by one Kanmi Ajibola.

Besides, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state had described Aregbesola’s refusal to appoint commissioners more than two years into his administration as “barbaric, illegal, unacceptable and democratically faulty.”

The opposition party even faulted the Federal Government, which it accused of granting Osun bailout funds without state executive council resolution on the matter as a necessary condition for the release of such funds.

Aregbesola had, of course, responded that his government had instituted the most transparent financial system in the allocation of resources that accrued to the state, insisting that he could not pay salaries of commissioners and other political office holders and that was why he chose not to constitute the cabinet.

He said Osun pioneered the constitution of a committee saddled with the responsibility of assisting the state government in the allocation of state revenue to ensure prompt payment of salaries as well as adequate running of government.

That committee, in truth, is headed by a veteran Labour leader, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu.Other members include the chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress in Osun; Chairman of Joint Negotiating Council, Chairman of Osun’s Nigerian Union of Teachers and government representatives, who are not political appointees.

Certainly, the world and indeed the people of Nigeria, now in need of purposeful leadership, should note that the development in Osun State should not be trivialised.

There is no doubt that allowing a state to be run without a state executive council for 33 months was unusual. But were Aregbesola’s decision to fit into the mould of an error, then he would have erred in the direction of prudence. Interestingly, he did not even act in error.

There is a marked difference between the federal and state governments. It is curious that political leaders have not taken note, and even Aregbesola might not have taken note but for financial adversity that has led to its discovery – that while it is compulsory for the president to constitute a cabinet and appoint ministers from each of the 36 states of the federation, it is, in fact, not mandatory for the states, according to the constitution as amended.

Also, Section 14 (3) and 147 of the 1999 Constitution provides that the President shall “appoint at least one minister from each state, who shall be an indigene of such state,” a principle which may also be applied in part to the states, but the law did not specify a time frame for such appointment.

While the president and the governors exercise the executive powers vested in them in Section 5 of Constitution through delegation to the ministers and other appointees, a governor has not breached any law by not appointing commissioners as members of the state executive Council. This is the evidence: Section 192 (1) provides:

There shall be such offices of Commissioners of the Government of a State as may be established by the Governor of the State. Section 193 91) provides too: The Governor of a state, may in his discretion, assign to the Deputy Governor or any Commissioner of the Government of the State responsibility for any business of the Government of that State, including the administration of any department of Government.

There is ample evidence in the circumstances that while the state required a whopping N1.7 billion for just monthly salaries, not to talk of other duties to the people, it often received much less than that from the federation account. This means that paying even the civil servants became an uphill task, let alone political office holders who are often parasites and could constitute political risks if they were owed.

What is more, the executive council cannot be more important than the people’s council. Office holders cannot be more important than the people whose votes and sweat sent them into such offices and for whom the offices are held in trust. The people in civil-service states like Osun especially need to be taken care of with regular payment of civil servants’ salaries. Traders and other service providers in such states depend on regular payment of salaries of their regular customers. That is how the state economy works. And that, appropriately, was Aregbesola’s priority.

So, at this critical time when most citizens are worried about prudence in the context of dwindling revenues at all levels, it is quite important for political leaders at all levels to learn from Osun and consider cutting the cost of governance as a fundamental objective in a state’s policy thrust. This is one relevant take-away from the Aregbesola example. Indeed, the courage to refuse to dispense political patronage, something of a political suicide by a politician should be commended. Nigerians cannot in one breath seek prudence in governance and turn around to oppose or blame those who practise it.

Now, it has been established that state governors can actually begin the practice of allocating resources according to available means and contributions to the purse. It has also been established here that giving political appointments to political jobbers and campaigners in the state is not synonymous with jobs creation for the people. It is also clear from what can be termed the Aregbesola School of Governance that governors are not under compulsion to constitute the state executive councils. Or, better still, governors can establish a manageable cabinet that will still be representative as long as service delivery to the people is the ultimate goal.

While the gesture of the former state officers who worked quietly as volunteers to keep Osun government running in the absence of the cabinet is commendable, it is important to state too that Nigeria’s democracy will be further enriched in this regard, in the true spirit of service, if the nation wakes up to hear that the commissioners and advisers just appointed are working sacrificially (as volunteers) in the interest of the state.

The objective of political appointments, in the main, is to enable the head of the executive branch of government appoint some citizens to assist him in the onerous task of governance. And so it is otiose and wasteful for governors to appoint commissioners and advisers that the states’ revenue profile cannot sustain. This is a great lesson from Osun. Clothes must of necessity be cut according to available cloth, lest a regime of debt, to lenders, to the state’s workers and political office holders and, indeed, to the people that constitute the sovereignty, is installed.

Aregbesola may not have intended it but with his creativity occasioned by economic adversity, he has opened all eyes further to a fact: Service to the people must take precedence over political correctness. That, certainly, is not a bad thing.

Culled from Guardian Newspaper’s Editorial, June 14, 2017.