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Tag: aregbesola

  • Photos: Osinbajo, Amosun, Fayose, others attend 8th-day Fidau prayers for Aregbesola’s mother

    Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo and several other governors stormed Osun state on Tuesday to attend the 8th-day Fidau prayer organised in honour of the deceased mother of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

    Other governors who are present at the occasion are, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State; Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti; Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo; Abdullahi Ganduje among other dignitaries.

    Aregbesola’s mother, Alhaja Saratu, aka, Iya Olobi, died in the early hours of Tuesday, August 1, while the governor was away in Kebbi state for

    the Federal Government-Progressive Governors Forum Parley on Policy Synergy to ensure Development.

  • Buhari calls Aregbesola from London, commiserates with him over mother’s death

    Buhari calls Aregbesola from London, commiserates with him over mother’s death

    The Presidency on Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari called the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, on the telephone to commiserate with him of the death of his mother, Saratu Aregbesola.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja.

    Shehu said Buhari expressed sympathy with the governor, describing his mother “as a great woman who was a pillar of discipline to her children.’’

    He further quoted the President as saying that the matriarch of the Aregbesola family deserved great honour for “the sacrifices she made to bring up her children on the path of sound moral character and commitment to good reputation.’’

    Buhari said the governor’s mother contributed immeasurably to the building of a respectable pedigree for her family by raising disciplined and humble children like the governor.

    He prayed that Allah would bless her soul and reward all her good deeds with paradise, and also comfort the family she left behind.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the octogenarian died in Ilesa, her hometown, in the early hours of Tuesday.

    She has since been buried according to Islamic rites.

  • In-Photos: Governor Aregbesola’s mother laid to rest in Ilesha

    In-Photos: Governor Aregbesola’s mother laid to rest in Ilesha

    Mrs. Saratu Aregbesola, mother of Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has been buried today in Ilesha, Osun State, in accordance with Islamic rites.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the governor’s mother died in the early hours of Tuesday, August 1, 2017, in Ilesha.

    Aregbesola confirmed her death via his Twitter handle, where he wrote, “Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un, “ meaning ‘From Allah we came, to Him we shall return’.

    See photos from the burial below:

     

     

     

  • Omisore commiserates with Aregbesola over his mother’s death

    Former Deputy Governor of Osun State , Senator Iyiola Omisore has condoled with the Governor of Osun state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola over the death of his mother, Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola.

    Senator Omisore, in a condolence message issued by his media office in Lagos, noted that the late Alhaja Saratu Aregbesola popularly known as Iya Olobi, was a devoted Muslim who lived a life worthy of emulation.

    “I commiserate with our state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and his siblings and other family members on the death of their matriarch today. I extend my deepest sympathy and pray that the Almighty Allah grants her Al-jannah Fidau. No matter how old our parents lived, when they die, they leave a sore pain in our hearts. I pray God grants the families the fortitude to bear the loss”, Omisore consoled.

    The former deputy governor while stressing that Late Alhaja Saratu will be greatly missed by her children, grand and great grandchildren and many others, admonished that “mothers are the foundation of all the success we achieve in our lives.

    “The bond we share with our mothers is inexplicable but we are all mortal beings; we come to the world to fulfil God’s purpose for our lives and when we finish, we depart. Alhaja Saratu has fulfilled her purpose in life, the rest is left in the hands of those she left behind”, Omisore emphasised.

  • JUST IN: Osun mourns as Governor Aregbesola loses mother

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s mother, Saratu Aregbesola, is dead.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the octogenarian died in Ilesa, her hometown, in the early hours of Tuesday.

    A close associate of the governor confirmed the death.

    The governor, who is away in Birni Kebbi, Kebbi State for the APC governors’ meeting, appeared to confirm the story when he said on his Twitter handle @raufaregbesola that “inna lillahi wa inna inayhi raji’un.”‎

    The above is an Islamic statement said after a calamity such as death that means ‘from God we come ‎and to him we shall return.’

    Details later.‎..

  • Aregbesola is a liar, workers, pensioners in Osun not yet paid – DSM

    Sequel to a statement credited to the Governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola that his administration has cleared salary arrears of workers and pensioners in the state, the Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) has faulted the claim insisting that the governor is yet to make the payments.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Aregbesola made the comment on Wednesday in Osogbo at a symposium organised by the Osun Command of the Police Community Relations Committee.

    In his words: “Let me make a resounding correction that despite the paucity of funds, it is only a section of workers on grade level 12 and above who receive painfully 50 percent of their gross salaries based on agreement between the government and the labour union.”

    However, in a statement, the DSM said the governor’s claim is unfortunate and aimed at denying workers and retirees arrears of their salaries and pensions owed over twenty-four months.

    The group said: “Nothing exemplifies this than the fact the governor was making the reported statement days after acknowledging the receipt of Paris Club refund to the tune of over N6.3 billion.

    “We ask; if the government owes no worker or pensioner, why did not the government collect the Paris Club refund, which was released basically to offset salaries and pensions? It is either the governor is being economical with the truth or trying to divert the refund to other purposes.

    “If the government does not owe workers and pensioners, why is the government paying arrears of salaries and pensions, albeit of July and August 2015. Moreover, it is condemnable that union leaders who should be fighting for full payment of salaries, pensions and allowances, is cozying up with government to administer the fraudulent half salary and half pension policy.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, the reality on ground is that the government has been paying half salaries and half pensions for workers and retirees above Grade Level 7 since July 2015. This section of workers and retirees include teachers, majority of civil servants and about half of local government workers.

    “Also, medical doctors and health workers, as well as staff (teaching and non-teaching) in the state-owned polytechnics and colleges of education were forced to collect half salaries, even when their leaders were not party to the rotten arrangement.

    “It was few months’ ago that the government increased the salaries and pensions of those between Grade Levels 8 and 12 to three-quarters of their salaries and pensions, while those on Grade Levels 12 to 17 are left out.

    “In fact, the increase was a kind of a scam, as the government was to pay full salaries and pensions after receiving a tranche of bailout from federal government. Rather, the government only paid three-quarter salaries and pensions to selected few workers.

    “However, medical officers, health workers and tertiary institutions’ staff are still being paid the illegal half salaries and half pensions. Therefore, the government of Ogbeni Aregbesola owes majority of workers and retirees arrears of salaries and pensions for twenty-four (24) months.

    “This is aside thousands of retirees who are on contributory pension scheme, whose pension bonds and deductions have not been paid to their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) by the Aregbesola government several months after retirement. Furthermore, the government has not paid gratuity of a single retiree under the government pension scheme.

    “It is left for Aregbesola government to explain to the world how a state that earned over N300 billion as allocations and incurred over N250 billion as debt within five years is still unable to pay salaries and pensions.

    “We call for full probe of the Aregbesola government’s finances by democratic committee comprising representatives of workers, pensioners, communities, professional groups and the government”.

  • I’m not owing workers, pensioners in Osun – Aregbesola

    I’m not owing workers, pensioners in Osun – Aregbesola

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State has said he is not owing civil servants and pensioners in the state salaries.

    Aregbesola said this on Wednesday in Osogbo at a symposium organised by the Osun Command of the Police Community Relations Committee.

    The governor said in spite of the economic challenges confronting the nation and the state in particular, his administration had not failed in paying workers regularly.

    Aregbesola said he was aware of the insinuation being peddled by those he regarded as adversaries to incite the public against his administration.

    He, however, said workers in the state had been paid up to June.

    “Let me make a resounding correction that despite the paucity of funds, it is only a section of workers on grade level 12 and above who receive painfully 50 percent of their gross salaries based on agreement between the government and the labour union.

    “So, outside that category of workers on grade level 12 and above, no other receives half of his or her salaries and the workers in this category are just 20 percent of the state’s workforce.

    “Outside that, officers on levels 8-10 receive 75 percent of their salaries while officers on levels 7 and below receive their full pay.

    “Contrary to what the naysayers claim about us, all workers in the state have received their salaries up to June this year according to the payment scheme and agreement.

    “As we pay active workers, so we pay pensioners.

    “The only outstanding pay to pensioners is the gratuity and this is due to workers who choose not to participate in the Contributory Pension Scheme and therefore left service in 2011/2012,’’ the governor said.

    In his lecture at the symposium, a former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, attributed some of the socio-economic, religious, political and security challenges in the country to absence of sacrificial spirit among Nigerians.

    Arase, who spoke on “Combating Twin Evil of Terrorism and Kidnapping through People’s Policing in Nigeria,’’ condemned the incessant cases of kidnapping, terrorism and insurgency in the country.

    He said it was time for all Nigerians to develop consciousness toward securing the society by reporting any strange activity within and outside their areas.

    NAN

     

  • Pay us from Paris Club refunds, Osun pensioners beg government

    Pay us from Paris Club refunds, Osun pensioners beg government

    A segment of pensioners from Osun on Tuesday said that the state government should pay their outstanding 12 months’ pensions and gratuities from the just released second tranche of the Paris Club refunds.

    The pensioners, who belong to the Forum of 2011/12 Retired Public Servants, made the demand at a press conference in Osogbo.

    They alleged that they had information that Gov. Rauf Aregbesola intended to divert the money to other uses, rather than for payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities as directed by the Federal Government.

    “The governor in a ploy to divert the Paris Club refunds invited the `Iyalojas’ leaders of market women) to a meeting to discuss how the money will be disbursed.

    “He was quoted as saying that he planned to use a part of it to settle those whose houses were demolished.

    “This is contrary to the instruction given by the Federal Government to the state government before it released it.

    “The Federal Government had directed then that the money must be used to settle the arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities of workers and pensioners,’’ the Chairman of the group, Mr Omoniyi Ilesanmi, said.

    However, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Adelani Baderinwa, in his reaction said that the state government had not explained how it would spend the money.

    Baderinwa said that the state government had set up a committee headed by Mr Hassan Sunmonu to advise it on the proper way to disburse monies coming into the purse of the state.

    “The committee is yet to deliberate on how the state will disburse the Paris Club refunds it received from the Federal Government.

    “It would be presumptuous for the retirees to think that the state government wants to divert the money.

    “Though, the Federal Government that released the funds to the states asked them to use certain percentage of it to settle outstanding salaries and entitlements; however, official statements are yet to be made on the money’s use.’’

    The commissioner appealed to the pensioners not to cast the state in bad light.

    He recalled that the pensioners had in June alleged that the state had collected the second tranche of the refunds, an allegation that was later proved to be false.

     

    NAN

  • Photos: Ambode, Ajimobi, others attend 8th-day Fidau prayer for Akande’s wife

    Governors, Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, Abiola Ajimobi o Oyo, Aregbesola of Osun among other eminent politicians, yesterday attended the 8th-day Fidau prayer for Mrs Omowumi, the late wife of the first National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, which was held in Ila Orangun, Osun State.

    From left: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande; Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande; Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; and Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon.Najeem Salaam
    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode; Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande; Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; and Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Hon.Najeem Salaam
    L-R: Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; and former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande

     

     

     

  • Osun by-election: ‘I did not borrow money from Adeleke to pay workers’ salaries’ – Aregbesola

    Osun by-election: ‘I did not borrow money from Adeleke to pay workers’ salaries’ – Aregbesola

    …accuses late politician’s brother of using his death to manipulate the minds of voters

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State on Wednesday said he did not at anytime seek financial assistance from the Adelekes to help bail the state out of its current financial crisis as claimed by the late Senator’s family and supporters.

    The governor noted that the family of the late Senator Isiaka Adeleke has been using his death to manipulate the minds of Ede residents.

    Aregbesola explained that since the death of the former Osun State governor in April, many lies and fabrications had emanated from his family and some of his loyalists.

    He said the younger brother to the late politician, Dr. Deji Adeleke reportedly claimed he lent the Aregbesola administration the money to pay workers’ salaries.

    Aregbesola also said it was unthinkable that the Adeleke family claimed that he begged the late Senator to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The governor spoke in Ede when he led the campaign train of Senator Mudashir Husain to the town ahead of Saturday’s senatorial by-election.

    Ede is the home town of the late Adeleke.

    The governor and the Timi of Ede, Oba Muniru Adesola Lawal, called for peace before, during and after the election.

    They said the poll should not cause a crisis among the people.

    Aregbesola recalled that the APC did its best for the late former governor when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) maltreated him.

    The governor said it was the late Adeleke who voluntarily joined the APC because of the treatment he got in the PDP.

    On the purported claim that the Adeleke family helped his re-election, the governor said he never collected a kobo them.

    In his words: “Deji Adeleke does not have the financial capacity to bail Osun out of its financial challenges, even before now; let alone lending us money to pay workers’ salaries. If anything at all, it is their family that sought and got favours from the Osun State government under my watch. It is to the glory of God that they got the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of their university from our government. Why didn’t those who are their new friends give them C of O of that university?”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that INEC had fixed July 8 for the bye-election following the death of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, representing Osun West, on April 23.