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Kanmi AdemiluyiOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOp-EdPOLITICSReligionUncategorized

OBSERVATION: Making Religion A Positive Force In The Present Firmament

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

By Kanmi Ademiluyi

RECENTLY in a very perspective analysis in his column on the back page of The Nigerian Tribune, the noted columnist, Obadiah Mailafa pointed out that, “our own Yoruba people, Muslims and Christians live together in the same households. We are not enemies; we are brothers”. This in the present firmament should not be dismissed as a statement of the obvious. Mailafa obviously felt he had a compelling reason to emphasise this point in this our season of discontent. And sensibly so, for in a republic enfeebled with crisis on numerous fronts, there is every reason to be fearful about adding Lebanon-type religious fault lines into the mix. Such a reality will be combustible.

In spite of the commercialisation of religion on all fronts, religion still matters. It is an essential ingredient in the human composition. It always will. From this perspective, let us recall a really outstanding dissection of Twentieth Century political economy, which has become a classic, R.H. Tawney’s “Religion And The Rise Of Capitalism”. Tawney was both unusually a Marxist as well as a practising Christian. He seminally addressed the question of how religion has affected social and economic practices largely for the good. The conflict entrepreneurs’ hand- in-glove with the peddlers of Snake oil solutions as ‘religion’ should therefore not put us from looking at the positive effect.

The Interior Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola bears a reflection to Tawney. He is a social democrat who also practises and has a deeply-rooted and abiding faith in Islam. Like Tawney, he has demonstrated in practice that the teachings of a faith can and indeed should be a trigger for progressive change. Last week, the former governor of Osun, who is widely credited with putting social intervention thrusts into the heart of the discourse on political economy was in his element straddling two events in the State of Osun, put together by the Christian and Islamic communities.

At both events, he used the opportunity to explain the interwoven relationship linking faith and a progressive thrust for inclusiveness leading to a better society. Conferred with the “Episcopal Ecumenical Award” by the Diocese of Ijesa North, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, the minister conveyed a clear understanding of the social disconnect and the issues of inequities underpinning the recent #EndSARS protests. He portrayed empathy in pointing out that, “The youths must be commended for organising a protest that awakened the nation from its lethargy and aroused our consciousness to the state where we found ourselves. We must commend the government for its prompt action in addressing the demands of the youths. These are a blessing to any society,….Today’s youths are a peculiar breed, a generation of the social media and hub of ideas and internet; they appear more intelligent and far more enterprising than the previous generation.”. 

A Christian Social Democrat would have used the same adaptation of the key underpinning of the Bible to understand and explain the social disconnect which triggered off the crisis and find solutions. 

Presented with an award of excellence from Ta’ Awunu Islamic Group two days later in Iwo, the minister, who commissioned a Symbolic Mosque built by the group again used the bully pulpit to link the testament of faith as derived in the holy book to burning contemporary issues. The former governor urged Nigerians to adhere to the Holy Prophet’s teachings that state that when there is an outbreak of epidemic in a particular place, nobody should go there and the people in the affected place should also not go out until the epidemic subsides. The position here is within the principles of the Ummah and the ethical intent of the Quran. This is a helpful way in which the position should have been presented from the start in a society in which people wear their religion on their sleeves.

The application of the central thrust of religion should be made more central by the political establishment if they really want to convey a position as Aregbesola is doing: that in spite of the hardships and temporary setbacks, life can still be made more abundant and the purpose of government should be for the benefit of the overwhelming majority and not a few. A good example has been set here. It should be imitated. There is everything to be said for a bully pulpit used as a trajectory to promote positive change.

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FeaturedFestus AdedayoOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOp-EdPOLITICSSola FasureUncategorized

When Festus Adedayo And Others Killed Tolerance

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

By Sola Fasure

Festus Adedayo did not disappoint in his ‘Flickers’ column in the Tribune on Sunday titled ‘The averted bloodshed in Osun’. Dr Adedayo went full blast in his characteristic style – a collection outright lies, inverted logic and seething hatred, brewed and served in the foulest and most intemperate language.

The summary of his argument is that if the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had honoured the invitation to attend a public lecture on the 10th anniversary of his wresting power from the PDP in Osun, there would have been bloodshed; that he rescinded his decision based on the gratuitous counsel of the former governor of the state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, whom he defeated to become the governor on November 27, 2010; and that Oyinlola is being vilified, instead of being commended for this selfless and patriotic act.

He began his piece with a short analysis of the recent godfather-godson imbroglio in the polity. It is a clever sleight of hand to evoke the memory of the recent spat between former APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Godwin Obaseki in Edo in which the former got worsted.

He exploited this sentiment by casting Governor Gboyega Oyetola in the mould of the underdog godson who is under the siege of his overbearing godfather. The idea is to portray Aregbesola as an overbearing godfather and set him up for roasting in the court of public opinion.

This portrayal of Aregbesola as a godfather is deliberately false and misleading. Governor Oyetola is not Aregbesola’s godson by any stretch of the imagination. Indeed, he will feel insulted to be so categorised. The relationship between them in the eight years they served together was of mutual respect, though Aregbesola indisputably was the governor and chief executive.

Any player in the Aregbesola’s administration or even Oyetola’s current administration will attest to this. Though there were members of cabinet that would fit the bill of a godson to Aregbesola then – and now – but certainly Oyetola was (and is) not one of them. If Governor Oyetola has any godfather at all, it should be Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the overall head of their political tendency.

When Dr Adedayo wrote that he has interest in Osun, I was hoping he would mention family members, relations, property or investments. But this ‘interest’ was the fact that he lived in Osun in the 1970s and this makes him more concerned than indigenes and residents of Osun who for seven and a half years, were practically put under siege by his client.

Last week, I noticed the revival of what I called ‘PDP machine’. This machine includes, but not limited to, a coterie of 2012 pensioners in the state, led by Baba Omoniyi Ilesanmi; fictive report by an adversarial section of the local correspondents: and a rash of hack writers circulating the same line of attacks against Aregbesola from a dossier handed to them.

This haunch has now been confirmed with Dr Adedayo’s piece pretending to be backing Governor Oyetola against Ogbeni Aregbesola. This machine used to be deployed anytime there was election in the state or Aregbesola was riding high or being honoured for an achievement. They act as subtle pressure on the electorate by trying to poison their mind against APC or impose a narrative of suffering in the state, for which APC deserves no victory at the polls or that Aregbesola should not be celebrated. Not that they ever succeeded.

But the question now is: since there is no election at present and Aregbesola is no longer the governor, at whose behest are they now acting? But the answer, as Bob Dylan wrote, is blowing in the wind.

Dr Adedayo’s magisterial assertion that the programme was suspended because of Oyinlola’s chastisement is laughable and he will now be held in derision in the circles of those who know the how and why and were instrumental to the suspension.

Oyinlola’s advice, as I wrote earlier, is gratuitous and he could not have meant well. It was not meant to heal or bring peace to the state. Indeed, all the outsiders pretending to be siding with the state governor are doing so for a purpose. They are driving further wedge into the APC because they are waiting to be sure beneficiaries in the hope that APC implodes. So, their support is a Greek gift.

After all, when you want to burn down your father’s house, his enemies will be too glad to provide you with petrol and light the matchstick for you. When you see the circling of the vultures, be sure they are waiting for a carcass to fall to the earth for devouring.

It is interesting to note that Adedayo who had deployed the foulest language to attack the candidature of Oyetola, has had a dramatic encounter on the way to Tarsus, and is now waxing lyrical in his support for him against Aregbesola. Could this have been out of sincerity? It’s what Prof Soyinka calls ‘transparent subterfuge’.

Actually, the strategy is to pretend to be friends with the governor and then alienate him from his strongest allies; and having isolated him, they can have him for lunch. It is pure Machiavellian. These are elements well versed in the art of war and violence, using guile and deception. So, our columnist could only have been a bit part player in a bigger plot.

Dr Adedayo alleges that if Aregbesola had attended the public lecture, there would have been bloodshed in Osun. He didn’t explain how this would happen i.e. people coming to public lecture with guns, machetes, bombs and other weapons of mass destruction, which are assured to be freely used any time before, during and after the lecture. This is the specious logic that informed Oyinlola’s counsel and on which media narrative of the past one week has been built.

This is the narrative some people want to sustain in order to keep Ogbeni Aregbesola from coming to the state. I don’t know for how long this can be sustained, except you literally banish him from the state. Our columnist is so enamoured of this lecture- to-bloodshed nexus that it became the title of his column. I cannot even begin to contemplate how Festus Adedayo, PhD Political Science, became the avatar of the narrative that a public lecture will irreversibly lead to bloodshed, in a democratic milieu and therefore should not hold.

Oh, but I remember that he now plays in the big league of CNN, Amnesty International, DJ Switch and other practitioners of what the cerebral The Nation columnist, Kunle Abimbola, referred to as ‘e-massacre’ in which you establish through repetition a narrative of massacre in which the number of the victims keeps changing. You don’t need real body evidence, names of victims etc., just keep ramming it down their throat and the public will eventually swallow it and will soon be baying for blood, and then unleash anarchy on the streets.

What I even found more perplexing is Festus Adedayo, PhD Political Science, Brig Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former democratic governor and a section of the media foreswearing debate and public lecture organised by a supposed opponent. How democratic is this idea and how does a PhD Political Science got entangled in this totalitarian intolerance of free speech web?

This is naked intolerance being celebrated by those who should ordinarily be alarmed, being guardians of tolerance.

But Karl Popper warned us of the danger of intolerance, that we should be intolerant of the intolerant in order to maintain a tolerant society, or else, tolerance will be destroyed and society along with it.

Fasure is the Media Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

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FeaturedFestus AdedayoOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOp-EdPOLITICSSola FasureUncategorized

When Festus Adedayo And Others Killed Tolerance

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

By Sola Fasure

Festus Adedayo did not disappoint in his ‘Flickers’ column in the Tribune on Sunday titled ‘The averted bloodshed in Osun’. Dr Adedayo went full blast in his characteristic style – a collection outright lies, inverted logic and seething hatred, brewed and served in the foulest and most intemperate language.

The summary of his argument is that if the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had honoured the invitation to attend a public lecture on the 10th anniversary of his wresting power from the PDP in Osun, there would have been bloodshed; that he rescinded his decision based on the gratuitous counsel of the former governor of the state, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, whom he defeated to become the governor on November 27, 2010; and that Oyinlola is being vilified, instead of being commended for this selfless and patriotic act.

He began his piece with a short analysis of the recent godfather-godson imbroglio in the polity. It is a clever sleight of hand to evoke the memory of the recent spat between former APC chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Godwin Obaseki in Edo in which the former got worsted.

He exploited this sentiment by casting Governor Gboyega Oyetola in the mould of the underdog godson who is under the siege of his overbearing godfather. The idea is to portray Aregbesola as an overbearing godfather and set him up for roasting in the court of public opinion.

This portrayal of Aregbesola as a godfather is deliberately false and misleading. Governor Oyetola is not Aregbesola’s godson by any stretch of the imagination. Indeed, he will feel insulted to be so categorised. The relationship between them in the eight years they served together was of mutual respect, though Aregbesola indisputably was the governor and chief executive.

Any player in the Aregbesola’s administration or even Oyetola’s current administration will attest to this. Though there were members of cabinet that would fit the bill of a godson to Aregbesola then – and now – but certainly Oyetola was (and is) not one of them. If Governor Oyetola has any godfather at all, it should be Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the overall head of their political tendency.

When Dr Adedayo wrote that he has interest in Osun, I was hoping he would mention family members, relations, property or investments. But this ‘interest’ was the fact that he lived in Osun in the 1970s and this makes him more concerned than indigenes and residents of Osun who for seven and a half years, were practically put under siege by his client.

Last week, I noticed the revival of what I called ‘PDP machine’. This machine includes, but not limited to, a coterie of 2012 pensioners in the state, led by Baba Omoniyi Ilesanmi; fictive report by an adversarial section of the local correspondents: and a rash of hack writers circulating the same line of attacks against Aregbesola from a dossier handed to them.

This haunch has now been confirmed with Dr Adedayo’s piece pretending to be backing Governor Oyetola against Ogbeni Aregbesola. This machine used to be deployed anytime there was election in the state or Aregbesola was riding high or being honoured for an achievement. They act as subtle pressure on the electorate by trying to poison their mind against APC or impose a narrative of suffering in the state, for which APC deserves no victory at the polls or that Aregbesola should not be celebrated. Not that they ever succeeded.

But the question now is: since there is no election at present and Aregbesola is no longer the governor, at whose behest are they now acting? But the answer, as Bob Dylan wrote, is blowing in the wind.

Dr Adedayo’s magisterial assertion that the programme was suspended because of Oyinlola’s chastisement is laughable and he will now be held in derision in the circles of those who know the how and why and were instrumental to the suspension.

Oyinlola’s advice, as I wrote earlier, is gratuitous and he could not have meant well. It was not meant to heal or bring peace to the state. Indeed, all the outsiders pretending to be siding with the state governor are doing so for a purpose. They are driving further wedge into the APC because they are waiting to be sure beneficiaries in the hope that APC implodes. So, their support is a Greek gift.

After all, when you want to burn down your father’s house, his enemies will be too glad to provide you with petrol and light the matchstick for you. When you see the circling of the vultures, be sure they are waiting for a carcass to fall to the earth for devouring.

It is interesting to note that Adedayo who had deployed the foulest language to attack the candidature of Oyetola, has had a dramatic encounter on the way to Tarsus, and is now waxing lyrical in his support for him against Aregbesola. Could this have been out of sincerity? It’s what Prof Soyinka calls ‘transparent subterfuge’.

Actually, the strategy is to pretend to be friends with the governor and then alienate him from his strongest allies; and having isolated him, they can have him for lunch. It is pure Machiavellian. These are elements well versed in the art of war and violence, using guile and deception. So, our columnist could only have been a bit part player in a bigger plot.

Dr Adedayo alleges that if Aregbesola had attended the public lecture, there would have been bloodshed in Osun. He didn’t explain how this would happen i.e. people coming to public lecture with guns, machetes, bombs and other weapons of mass destruction, which are assured to be freely used any time before, during and after the lecture. This is the specious logic that informed Oyinlola’s counsel and on which media narrative of the past one week has been built.

This is the narrative some people want to sustain in order to keep Ogbeni Aregbesola from coming to the state. I don’t know for how long this can be sustained, except you literally banish him from the state. Our columnist is so enamoured of this lecture- to-bloodshed nexus that it became the title of his column. I cannot even begin to contemplate how Festus Adedayo, PhD Political Science, became the avatar of the narrative that a public lecture will irreversibly lead to bloodshed, in a democratic milieu and therefore should not hold.

Oh, but I remember that he now plays in the big league of CNN, Amnesty International, DJ Switch and other practitioners of what the cerebral The Nation columnist, Kunle Abimbola, referred to as ‘e-massacre’ in which you establish through repetition a narrative of massacre in which the number of the victims keeps changing. You don’t need real body evidence, names of victims etc., just keep ramming it down their throat and the public will eventually swallow it and will soon be baying for blood, and then unleash anarchy on the streets.

What I even found more perplexing is Festus Adedayo, PhD Political Science, Brig Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former democratic governor and a section of the media foreswearing debate and public lecture organised by a supposed opponent. How democratic is this idea and how does a PhD Political Science got entangled in this totalitarian intolerance of free speech web?

This is naked intolerance being celebrated by those who should ordinarily be alarmed, being guardians of tolerance.

But Karl Popper warned us of the danger of intolerance, that we should be intolerant of the intolerant in order to maintain a tolerant society, or else, tolerance will be destroyed and society along with it.

Fasure is the Media Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

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FeaturedNEWSOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorized

Yuletide: Aregbesola Urges Nigerians To Celebrate With Caution Amidst Coronavirus

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has urged Nigerians to go about the festive period with caution, saying that Coronavirus pandemic is still very much on.

Aregbesola said that Nigeria could not afford to return to the peak of the COVID-19, urging Nigerians not lower their guards as index cases are being recorded on daily basis.

He spoke at the commissioning of a Symbolic Mosque built by Ta’Awunu Islamic group in Iwo, today.

The former governor of the state of Osun urged Nigerians to adhere to the Holy Prophet’s teachings that states that when there is an outbreak of epidemic in a particular place, nobody should go there and the people in the affected place should not also go out until the epidemic subsides.

He said: “My reasons for coming to the state is in two folds: #EndSARS and to remind us that Coronavirus is still very much with us. We can’t afford to return to when the virus was at its peak in the country. That is why we must observe social distance and we use our face masks always. Cases are still being recorded everyday.

“During this festive period, we must be cautioned. We should obey the Holy Prophet teachings that says when there is an outbreak of epidemic somewhere, we should not leave there and those outside should not go to the until the epidemic is over. We must take responsibilities for our lives.”

Aregbesola also said the president was aware of the hardship facing the people which was occasioned by the pandemic and #EndSARS protest, assuring the people that life will be more abundant for them in no distant time.

“The president is aware of the hardship facing the citizens of the country. This was caused by the pandemic and the #EndSARS protest which erupted in many states of the federation.The president is doing all his best and I can assure you that very soon all will be well and we will be happy again”, he said.

Aregbesola was also presented with an Award Of Excellence From Ta’Awunu Islamic Group.

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FG Seeks Public Support For National Development

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

The Federal Government has called on Nigerians and the good people of Osun State to continue to support the efforts of Government so as to bring about socio-economic development in the country.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf  Aregbesola made the call today at the Third Session of the Synod and Conferment on him, the Ecumenical and Episcopal Award of the Ijesa North Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, held at St Peter Anglican Church, Ijebu-Ijesa, Osun State.

He said that the development of Nigeria cannot be left in the hands of the government which provides leadership alone, but that, the people would have to take responsibility for their own development to move the nation forward.

In a speech titled “LOVE IS THE FOUNDATION OF FAITH,” Aregbesola said, there was the need for self-examination among citizens with a view to making necessary amendments for the benefit of the country especially as we have gone so long after independence since 1960.

The Minister noted further that as humans, we often do wrong things which strip us of coverings of dignity and honour and embarrassingly expose us to shame and disgrace. Adding that, instead of owning up to our mistakes and make amends, we wrongly think the solution lies in hiding them.

Aregbesola who stated that he would be in Osun State for some days to carry out a Presidential directive on Ministers to engage their constituents on security in the aftermath of the #ENDSARS protests in parts of the country, stated further that, he has brought with him greetings and message of love, appreciation and affection from President Muhammadu Buhari to the Church, the Prelate, Congregation and through them, the people of Osun and the generality of Nigerians.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari and the entire Federal Executive Council acknowledge our challenges. Adding that, as our leader, the President was confident of our collective capacity to surmount these challenges.

The Minister appreciated the Anglican Diocese of Ijesa North and other churches for their support for him through prayers while he was governor of the state for eight years and for their continued prayers even as he stepped into a higher level of national service.

He called for continued dialogue and peaceful means of conflict resolution at all times.

Stressing that conflict prevention and quick resolution through dialogue are prerequisites to stability and security of lives and property as well as development of the country.

He emphasised that, we have regrettably seen after the protests that all the efforts of a century can be wiped out in a day, which will require not less than 50 years to recover from. That he said, “security and how we protest should be well thought out and moderated.”

Aregbesola therefore urged the youth to seek knowledge, dialogue and debate and peaceful means of conflict resolution and interest articulation and pursuit. Saying that they should begin to think of the long-time consequences of their actions and embrace love.

Quoting from the Holy Bible, the Minister said: “I must not fail to add this for effect. Apostle Paul said in 1st Corinthians 13:13 “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Jesus Christ in Mark 12:31 says “The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.

“With these citations it is without a doubt that love is the foundation of faith and hope of salvation. This love is indiscriminatory, let us therefore live this precept of faith in all ramifications. Our nation requires our love, so do the people from our communities, to the states, regions and nation,” he emphasised.

The Minister called on all Nigerians and the good people of Osun State in particular to attune their minds on how to make the state and the nation that haven of habitation, commerce, economic development and the showpiece of our own civilisation and the best that we can offer humanity.

He assured that the Ecumenical and Episcopal Award conferred on him by the Bishop of Ijesa North Anglican Diocese will spur him to continue to seek peace, deepen inter-faith dialogue and accommodation and promote the spirit of ecumenism.

Earlier, the Diocesan Bishop of Ijesa North Anglican Communion and Synod President, Rt. Revd Isaac I. Oluyamo JP, urged the Federal Government to address insecurity and youth’s unemployment in Nigeria, so as to prevent future repeat of the recent #EndSARS protests witnessed in some parts of the country.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the initiative through the engagement of his Cabinet to reach out to the people at the grass root, as a step to finding lasting solution to security challenges in the country.

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Episcopal Ecumenical AwardFeaturedOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOsunPOLITICSUncategorized

Aregbesola Receives Episcopal Ecumenical Award In Anglican Church

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

Former Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has received Episcopal Ecumenical Award from the Ijesa-Noth Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion in the state.

The award was presented to the Nigeria’s Minister of Interior today at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Ijebu-Ijesa.

The award is the first of its kind in the Anglican Communion nationwide, according to Diocesan Bishop of Ijesa North and Synod President, Rev. Dr. Isaac Oluyamo.

Oluyamo said the award was bestowed on Aregbesola as a result of his harmonious leadership style, demonstrated throughout his eight-year two tenures in office as helmsman of the state; and which paves way positively for him in currently discharging sterling duties as Interior Minister.

Aregbesola’s supporters and admirers of stormed the church to celebrate him. The church in spite of its organised setting was filled to capacity.

The event led to obstruction of free flow of traffics as the number of vehicles that conveyed people to the programme was more than what the area could accommodate.

However, security operatives, particularly the local security officers in the areas ensure that the vehicles had a hitch-free movement when the programme ended.

A reception was organized in honour of Aregbesola at Timsed Hotel, Ijebu-Ijesa.

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#endsars-awakened-nigeria-from-her-lethargy,-says-aregbesola
#EndSARSFeaturedheroNEWSOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorized

#EndSARS Awakened Nigeria From Her Lethargy, Says Aregbesola

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

– Calls On Parents To Be More Responsible On Children

Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said that the recent #EndSARS protests, witnessed across the country has awakened the nation from lethargy thereby bringing out consciousness on the state of the country.

Aregbesola, who spoke today, after he was conferred with an award of Episcopal Ecumenical by the Ijesa-North Diocese, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, in Ijebu-Ijesa, commended the youths for the #EndSARS protests, describing them as intelligent and enterprising.

He also commended the Federal Government for its prompt action in addressing the demands of the youths.

The Minister said: “The youths must be commended for organising a protest that awakened the nation from its lethargy and arose out consciousness to the state where we found ourselves. We must commend the government for it prompt action in addressing the demands of the youths.

“These youths are a blessing to any society, just as they can be purveyors of evil if their energy is not properly channelled. Today’s youths are a peculiar breed, a generation of the social media and hub of ideas and intellect; they appear more intelligent and far more enterprising than the previous generation.

“They are very intelligent; which we must all seek to channel for positive modelling, mentoring, retraining and ultimately, gainful employment.”

Aregbesola condemned the violence that engulfed the latter part of the #EndSARS protests, describing it as shameful and embarrassing.

He said: “The report and pictures of assault, killings, looting, arson and bare-faced robbery and even cannibalism should fill us with shame and are very embarrassing. It seems that as parents, we have jettisoned our responsibilities to our children. We must train our youths to be God-fearing and capable of loving one another

“We have regrettably seen that the effort of a century can be wiped out in a day; and it would take time to rebuild. That is why security, coordination and management of protests should be well-thought-out and moderated.

“It is a call to us as a nation for self-examination, since our birth in 1960. How far have we gone on the ladder of development? Government has its own fault because it should provide leadership, but we must take direct responsibility for our own development.”

In his remarks, the Diocesan Bishop of Ijesa-Noth Diocese of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rev. Isaac Oluyamo urged the government to urgently solve problems of corruption, insecurity, unemployment, poor education system, agitations of the #EndSARS, among others.

According to Oluyamo, Nigerians have really experienced a lot of evil in the hands of lawless and ruthless agencies in the country, maintaining that the rights of the people are not respected, even in a democratic system of government.

Oluyamo maintained that the people are enduring the suffering because of the fear of unfair treatment that could lead to imprisonment or death.

He said: “I am really grateful to God and appreciate the protesters against SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad). We hereby advise the Nigerian government to listen to the voice of the masses and do the needful and reform all the country’s security outfits.”

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Harmonious Leadership Earns Aregbesola Anglican Communion Award

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

By Solomon Odeniyi

DIOCESE of Ijesa North, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion will today honour the former governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola with the “EPISCOPAL ECUMENICAL AWARD” in the diocese.

The award, according to a letter signed by Rt. Rev. Dr. Isaac I. Oluyamo, the Bishop of the Diocese Ijesa North, is the first of its kind in the Anglican Communion nationwide and would be bestowed on Aregbesola as a result of his harmonious leadership style.

The event would hold at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Oke’nisa, Ijebu-Ijesa by 10am.

The letter reads in part: “We appreciate God for how He started the journey with you as the Executive Governor of State of Osun for Eight Years. We acknowledge and appreciate your matchless attitude to sponsor Christians and Muslims in the State of Osun on pilgrimages in which our Bishop: THE RT. REV. DR. ISAAC I. OLUYAMO, JP was one of the co-board members.

“Your Appointment as the “Minister of Interior” is a compensation from God to applaud your good works in the State of Osun as former Governor. We also trust that you will serve excellently well, representing God and humanity in this new post. May the Lord continue to lift you high in all ramifications.  Amen.

“On this note, the Lord Bishop of ljesa North Diocese has resolved to crown your elevation with an award: “EPISCOPAL ECUMENICAL AWARD” in the Diocese of ljesa North; the first of its kind in the Anglican Communion nationwide. This is attributed to your harmonious leadership style.”

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aregbesola-visits-osun-for-#endsars-stakeholders-engagement
#EndSARSFeaturedherolOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOsunPOLITICSUncategorized

Aregbesola Visits Osun For #ENDSARS Stakeholders Engagement

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola begins Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting with different stakeholders in the state of Osun as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari. His entourage paid a courtesy visit to Chief Bisi Akande, alongside Governor of the State of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola in Ila Orangun. Akande advised the entourage on #Endsars, insecurity and…”

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola begins Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting with different stakeholders in the state of Osun as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

His entourage paid a courtesy visit to Chief Bisi Akande, alongside Governor of the State of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola in Ila Orangun.

Akande advised the entourage on #Endsars, insecurity and other issues.

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when-aregbesola-is-the-victim
FeaturedheroOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOp-EdPOLITICSUncategorized

When Aregbesola Is The Victim

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

By Sola Fasure

I cannot just begin to imagine the motivation of Zainab Suleiman Okino seeing her vitriol, extreme passion (albeit misplaced) and the bile in her piece in Premium Times titled ‘Aregbesola: A Godfather’s Excesses’. She tried to cast the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, as an overbearing political godfather that will not allow his successor to rest because he still wants to be controlling the affairs of government.

Given the volatile and explosive relationships between former governors and their successors, she is already riding on the crest of favourable public opinion on which to ground her piece which is anything but objective, truthful and factual, but actually totally misleading. That is why she could write so magisterially and self assuredly on a matter which will feed the prejudice of many but regrettably rather conveyed her ignorance. For every line, every notion and impression in the piece amounts to empty vituperation. It is, according to William Shakespeare, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

For the umpteenth time, and let all the mischief-makers, hack writers and the media lynch squad lying in wait for Aregbesola note that he did not organise any 10th anniversary programme. It was the Osun caucus in the National Assembly that organised the programme and invited him. He agreed to attend as it coincided with his visit to Osun on national assignment.

President Muhammadu Buhari had instructed all members of the Federal Executive Council to return to their states and engage their governors, state excos and other critical stakeholders in their states on the pressing matter of security, in the wake of the #ENDSARS protest.

But the bigger question is this: what if he did? He fought a hard-won battle against the most pernicious and insidious federal might to contest and win election in which he contested against a sitting brutal and sadistic state government. He then won his re-election in a contest in which the state was saturated with federal cash and the largest security armada ever assembled in the annals of elections in the country and then capped his political exploit in the state by successfully handing over to a successor, and on the same political platform.

It was an epic story whose echoes still reverberate in the state and beyond, whose anniversary had been celebrated annually since 2011.

But we must continue to interrogate any narrative because when a lie is repeated too often without questioning, it might dangerously pass. We then must ask: how could a minister retuning to his state to perform a presidential task make anyone uncomfortable? How does attending an anniversary lecture constitute a breach of public peace? Again, how does celebrating two anniversaries amount to one running the other out of town, as she disingenuously claims?

Let us even assume without conceding that the lecture was organised to criticise the governor, how is that a crime? The supporters of the governor could have organised 100 other lectures in his support without anyone batting an eyelid. That is the beauty of democracy. No one should deny another in the public space. Karl Popper admonished us to be intolerant of the intolerant.

So, Okino missed the premise completely and therefore anything she builds on it cannot stand.

The reference to Bola Ilori again is completely out of context. Ilori’s statement was a reaction to a threat on Facebook by a sympathiser of the state governor who wrote that “Any parallel anniversary will attract a parallel beating..” Ilori replied him thus: “Ogbeni defeated an army general to become the governor while he was not holding any position. It’s not the fear of ambush that will stop the 10th year anniversary. They (meaning the governor’s loyalists) either join the 10th anniversary in peace and all will be well or they will walk far away from the venue and the event will proceed undisturbed. We come in peace”. While this is a fitting reply to a direct threat, I don’t even see how the statement could have been offensive or misplaced on its own. In advanced countries, the earlier threat made against ‘parallel anniversary’ should have been of interest to law enforcement agencies.

But by the time Okino lunched into regaling us with how Ilori is from Ondo State, how Aregbesola changed ‘Osun State’ to ‘State of Osun’, the so called ‘Osun State debt’ and tenure elongation of the Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), it is clear that Aregbesola is her target and her interest has derailed from godfather-godson relationship.

Let me take it that she doesn’t even know that no minister can sack or replace a para-military agency’s chief. Only the president does that. In the extant case, the CG’s tenure would have ended at a most pressing time in Nigeria, during the COVID-19 pandemic and the president elongated his and several other heads of government agencies that would have ended during the period.

I think Mrs Okino went over her head to dabble into a matter that should be of tangential interest to her and ended bloodying her own nose with mixed up facts, twisted logic and ended presenting herself as an unabashed partisan. She makes no effort at objectivity or even try to look at the matter from both sides, in the best tradition of journalism; but she went straight for the jugular of Aregbesola from the beginning to the end.

In closing, let it be known that Ogbeni Aregbesola is not at war with anyone. He has goodwill towards Governor Oyetola, as can be seen in his congratulatory letter to him on his second anniversary and a full-page advertisement on same in a national newspaper. Mrs Okino is rather advised that she should be building and reconciling people, rather than tearing down and fanning the embers of discord between brothers.

Fasure is the Media Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and writes from Abuja

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FeaturedNEWSOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorized

FG Inaugurates Task Force On Enforcement Of Expatriate Quota And Business Permit

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

The Federal Government has inaugurated a 9-man Special Ministerial Task Force on Monitoring and Enforcement of Nigerian Expatriate Business Permit and Expatriate Quota Administration in the country.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who inaugurated the task force today in his office in Abuja said that, the Task Force became necessary because there has been abuses and gross violations of the expatriate quota policy by foreign investors.

In a speech titled “TOWARDS A NEW ORDER IN EXPATRIATE BUSINESS PERMIT AND QUOTA ADMINISTRATION”, Aregbesola said that the Expatriate Quota policy was aimed at encouraging foreign investors to invest in our economy and also bring with it high level manpower development and ensure technology transfer in the country, if the grooming of Nigerian understudies is done in good faith.

“What we are gathered here to do resonates with the core mandate of this Ministry in two ways. The first is economic development. Expatriate quotas are issued to usually foreign and (in some cases) Nigerian firms to enable them bring in high level skilled manpower that are not readily available in the country. The permit is valid for two years at the first instance and renewable cumulatively for a maximum of 10 years, after which the expatriate returns to his or her country. During this period, at least two Nigerians should be groomed to take over from the expat.

“This policy attracts investments in our economy and also bring with it high level manpower development and ensures technology transfer, if the grooming of Nigerian understudies was done in good faith.

This is in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to provide 100 million jobs for Nigerians.

“The economic boost this will generate will lead to wealth creation, national self-reliance and will provide jobs for the youths. This is a critical factor to the second point – boosting national security. It has been well established in virtually all defence and development studies that a linear relationship exists between economic wellbeing and youth engagement on one side and national security on the other”, he said.

Aregbesola stated further that since he assumed office in the Ministry, he has been conscious of the importance of this seemingly innocuous administrative procedure and has directed the fast-tracking of expatriate quota application and that the Ministry has significantly increased the number of approved business permits and decreased the duration of the process from 10 to seven weeks.

From August 2019 to date, he said, 1,182 companies have received the Minister’s approval with 12,374 expatriate quota positions.

The Minister assured that no hindrance or delay will stand in the way of giving approvals to all genuine and deserving applications.

He regretted however, that there have been abuses and gross violations of this laudable policy. This he said, include but not limited to companies employing expatriates without approval from the Ministry; allegations of companies obtaining fake permits for their expats; companies half-hearted or non-commitment to grooming Nigerian understudies; companies recruiting fewer than required understudies and giving them non-commensurate remunerations; illegal transfers of approvals between and among firms and expatriates; failure to train Nigerian understudies up to the standard of the expats they are being groomed to replace; and expats staying on their jobs for more than 10 years.

All these abuses and violations, the Minister said, have conspired to defeat the purpose of the policy and so deprive the nation of the intended benefits.

“This situation is not sustainable and we should not continue with it. I have therefore directed that a nine-member special taskforce that will monitor and enforce the Nigerian expatriate quota terms and conditions be empanelled with the following terms of reference: Audit all documentary requirements presented by all Expatriate Quota applicants for approval/renewal from 2015 to date; Verify compliance with all statutory returns as stipulated in the Ministry of Interior Regulation 2017; Verify compliance with the mandatory two understudies for each Expatriate Quota position in terms of the qualification of the Nigerian understudy and remuneration; Verify compliance with the mandatory training programmes (local and foreign) for the Nigerian understudies; Calculate all fines and penalties due from non-compliance with the terms and conditions and recommend appropriate remediation, sanction or prosecution; Recommend appropriate structure for sustainable continuous monitoring, evaluation and enforcement of the terms and conditions for the approval of Expatriate Quota: and Embark on such other assignments as may be directed by the Minister of Interior.”

Aregbesola who appealed to foreign companies, nationals and their governments to begin to respect our laws and government emphasized that it will no longer be business as usual. He therefore called on the task force to see their assignment which they are expected to complete in 180 days as a patriotic duty.

Responding, the Chairman of the Special Ministerial Task Force, Honourable Bola Ilori thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for granting them the opportunity to serve Nigeria and promised that the committee will carry out the assignment which is aimed at generating employment for Nigerian youths and to ensure that foreigners respect our laws.

The nine members of the special taskforce inaugurated by the Minister are:

• Chairman, Hon. Bola Ilori

• Vice Chairman, Mr. Olufunso Alabi

• Secretary, Director, Citizenship and Business

• Member, Comrade Williams Akoporeha, Representing the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC)

• Member, Engineer Olawale Olagunju, Representing of Association Professional Body of Nigeria (APBN)

• Member, Engr. Bimbo Daniyan

• Member, Mr Ademola Adeyinka, SSA to HMI, Strategy, Innovation and Delivery

• Member, Mrs Obianuju Ibegbulem, (Chief Superintendent of Immigration)

• Member, Engr. Dr Mrs Olufunmilade Akingbagbohun, Representing the Nigeria Society of Engineers

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feature:-decade-of-worthwhile-democratic-imprints
10th Anniversary of Progressive GovernanceFeaturedNiyi OlasindeOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOp-EdPOLITICSUncategorized

FEATURE: Decade Of Worthwhile Democratic Imprints

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

The last decade in the State of Osun spoke of glorious heights unprecedented. The Rauf Aregbesola movement and administration, which pioneered the enviable progressive movement that birthed the New Order deserve some praise. NIYI OLASINDE recaps the journey, showcasing the many positive impacts of Rauf Revolution in the State of the Virtuous.

IT will forever be impossible, and proving a venture in futility to hide the light of the good deeds of progressive governance in the State of Osun under the bushel. The more detractors make the attempt, the larger the clarity and un-equivocation looms. Central to this claim is the fact that the Rauf Aregbesola administration, which assumed the saddle of service and governance on November 27, 2010, was, aside winning in landslide victory in its second term bid in office in a keenly contested election in 2014, able to hand over to a legacy administration in continuity eight years later.

This feat alone is clear attestation to the good governance, marked with unperishable deeds which the administration gave to the state and its teeming populace.

Perhaps the best way to approach documenting the life and times of the Aregbesola administration and its innumerable good deeds is to account for benefits and laurels accruing to the state since 2018 till date, two years after the sun had eclipsed for the administration.

Glowing tributes could not adequately capture its strides in the education sector, more than feathers that same have clearly added to the cap of the state. The Year 2020 Best Young Scientists Award for secondary school students throughout the federation was won by a Senior Secondary III of Osogbo Government High School, Abdullahi Akanbi Akintade. Akintade adorned the venue of the award presentation where he received the handshake of President Muhammadu Buhari with the self-same unified school uniform that has been so much condemned, criticised and castigated.

Earlier, precisely in 2018, two students of the state’s public school who were candidates in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) took the upper lead in that year’s outing as they made brilliant scores in the external examinations.

Prior to the advent of the Aregbesola administration, the state had had a consistently poor outing in external examinations, with a majority of school leavers, especially from the state’s public secondary schools, not admissible or matriculation-worthy into institutions of higher learning.

The performances of the state’s candidates in the West African Senior Secondary Schools Certificate Examinations (WASSSCE) was so consistently poor yearly that in the 2010 episode, which marked Oyinlola’s last year in office, the state had deteriorated to 12 to 15 per cent passes in five subjects which included English Language and Mathematics.

By 2016, which marked two years to the exit year of Aregbesola from office, the performance has shot up three times, grew up to between 46 and 48 per cent passes. It is certain that improvements witnessed today in the upper swing are leftover effects of Aregbesola’s intervention programmes.

This rapid improvement in performances of the candidates of the state’s extraction was enabled owing to the sterling initiatives introduced by the administration, which included unified school uniforms, schools’ reclassification, introduction of novel e-learning module, called Tablets of Knowledge (Opon Imo), massive recruitment of trained, competent, qualified and experienced teachers and the introduction of schools’ discipline corps, schools calisthenics, among other intervention.

Most gigantic and ambitious of all is the revival and revamping of learning environment in the public schools: 67 elementary, 49 middle and 11 High state-of-the-art ultramodern school complexes were put in place to make public schooling more attractive, thereby bringing them to compete favourably with their counterparts (and even their private contemporaries) anywhere the world over.

During the course of the current year, two feats recorded kept immediate past administration in the state in reverberating glow. The State of Osun was named as one of the beneficiaries of a monetary grant, which accrued to some states of the federation on the basis of performance-based component of the World Bank Assisted State Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability (SFTAS) Programme-for-Results. By this token, the state, alongside 23 other states got its share of the N43,416,000,000.

In similar vein, Osun was recently ranked the state with the third lowest poverty index in the entire nation. This ranking, the Nigerian Poverty Index report for 2019, as conducted and released by the National Bureau of Statistics translates to the fact that Osun is the third richest state in Nigeria, after Lagos and Delta states!

In addition to the foregoing, latter years of the Aregbesola administration saw the state recording its firsts in many respects. So, these feats took root from landmarks reached during the period Aregbesola held sway over the affairs of the state. Within the space of the last decade, the state has been through a lot of innovative programmes, poverty alleviation, capacity building and empowerment. Little wonder that, the state was ranked second less poverty-ridden in year 2016; while it took the first shot in 2017.

In the area of execution of concessioned federal infrastructural projects, Aregbesola’s numerous projects attracted handy refund this year, to the tune of N17billion. These are tips of the iceberg in the line-up of rewards accruing to the state till date, courtesy of the Aregbesola’s administration.

The administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the State of Osun came on board exactly ten (10) years ago, when after a long-drawn legal tussle, spanning three-and-half years, the appellate court situated at Ibadan, Oyo State capital sacked the Peoples Democratic Party’s Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and ordered immediate swearing in of the symbol of the Action Congress (later Action Congress of Nigeria) in the 2007 gubernatorial elections, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Since that historic judgment, things have taken positive turn in Osun, as the people have continued to witness in an unprecedented fashion the goodies of Government Unusual throughout the nooks and crannies of the state.

Aregbesola’sSix-Point Integral Action Plan; through which apogee he delivered most successfully during his eight-year, two-term tenure as helmsman of the State of Osun, is focused on creation of wealth, through active engagement of the abundant human resources available in the state, banishing poverty, massive food production, youth and women empowerment, promotion of healthy living and promotion of conducive environment for the sustainable growth of commerce.

Through his plan as guiding star, his government sought to recreate a socially responsible system of governance with welfare of citizens as a cornerstone. It also sought to recreate the glorious period of Yoruba political era built on Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s social welfare and well-thought-out political strategies and performance; a government of the people, by the people and for the people by the Grace of the Almighty God. And so it was!

Aregbesola can rightly (and most aptly) be described as the Architect of Modern Osun. Having ruled the state meritoriously and handed over successfully to a legacy successor, ours is no longer a matter of frantic efforts which abound in merely outlining the direction of the Aregbesola administration, based on the promises made to the people of Osun before the April 14, 2007 elections; reiterated during the inauguration of the new government on November 27, 2010; and fresh promises made during the 2014 gubernatorial election campaign period.

As things stand today, the nooks and crannies of the state are replete with solid, concrete achievements, with which to rate the administration’s achievements as superlative during its entire period in office.

Generally, Ogbeni Aregbesola never wavered nor refracted from delivering his pact based on his Six-Point Integral Action Plan for the development of the State of Osun. A cardinal objective of government is to create a highly motivated workforce, since the success of government programmes depends to a large extent on how well they perform their duties. It is therefore not surprising that one of the first actions that he took was to approve the payment of 13 month salary to workers in the state public service as end-of-the-year bonus.

This was in addition to approving the payment of N47 million as leave bonus for public officers in the state civil service, including teachers of secondary schools across the 30 local governments of the state, with the inclusion of the Ife East Area Office. Equally, the governor approved the payment of N61 million as leave bonus for local government staff who also got the sum of N18 million as end-of-the-year bonus. More and more of these worker-friendly incentives were rolled out throughout the lifetime of the Aregbesola administration.

Second, and in the area of education, the governor approved the release of N21, 666, 000.00 for the payment of the reaccreditation fees for the National Examinations Council (NECO) to release the results of Ordinary Level Examinations conducted in 2010. NECO had withheld the results of the candidates who sat for the examinations conducted by the body because the previous administration reneged on making payment.

Needless to say, Education in the State of Osun all through the Aregbesola administration was not only free; it was also comprehensive and qualitative. Aside the introduction of timely intervention nuggets, like the State of Osun Schools’ Infrastructure Development Project (O’SCHOOLS), the O’UNIFORM, O’CALISTHENICS and the Opon Imo, which have already been enunciated above, the Free Elementary Schools’ Feeding and Health Programme (O’MEALS), is another key novel and innovative programme in the annals of public education in the state that hugely transformed the state into envy of its counterparts within the comity of states.

In other sectors and sub-sectors, other laudable programmes exist, which have impacted positively on the lives of residents of the state.

In agriculture and environment sub-sectors for instance, we can cite the Osun Rural Enterprise and Agriculture Programme (O’REAP) and the O’CLEAN Project. Other “O” programmes that can be easily underscored include the O’ Honey, O’ Beef, O’ Fish and O’ CLEAN Plus.

In tackling unemployment, the administration started the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) to register unemployed youths and assist them in finding and pursuing a career of their choice. The government has therefore, employed twenty-thousand youths in more than three streams in all; in various sectors in the state. In other words, the administration was able to cater to the employment needs of at least 80, 000 youth in about four streams! This feat has earned widespread applause from observers within and outside the country and has fast become a model for emulation. The OYES initiative developed in line with the objective of government to banish poverty and hunger from the state through job creation and employment opportunities for its teeming youths.

Through a responsible and responsive spasm of leadership and stewardship, Aregbesola demonstrated his rare quality as great leader of unequalled enduring ability through thick and thin. His rare and unfathomable cope of governance through adverse economic climate which characterised the latter parts of Goodluck Jonathan years; stretching to the recession years that climaxed his years in office placed him in the fore as monumental achiever and quintessential trail blazer, especially in putting on ground solid, physical infrastructural projects which are of immense overall benefit to the good life and benefit of his people.

As Nigeria’s Minister of Interior since August 2019, Ogbeni has displayed his rare talents in wielding the Midas’ touch anywhere duty calls for him to serve. The change in nomenclature of custodial centres and correctional institutions, first-ever retreat for officers and men of the various services within the ministry as a way to upscale strategic actions and forestall tragedies of insecurity are part of reforms he has brought to bear on the service. In addition to these, decongestion of correctional facilities; even long before the outbreak of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic and the successful introduction of some modern modalities of visa entries in compliance to global best practices are other reforms that got anchorage through his ingenious and relentless efforts as political head of the ministry.

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progressive-govt:-osun’s-long-walk-to-freedom
10 years of Progressive Governance in OsunAll Progressives Congress APCAsiwaju Bola Ahmed TinubuFeaturedGovernor Adegboyega OyetolaheroOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOp-EdOsunPOLITICSUncategorized

Progressive Govt: Osun’s Long Walk To Freedom

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

By Ismaeel Uthman

Today, November 27, marks 10 years that the then formidable opposition party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, came into power, thereby becoming the ruling party in the State of Osun, following the judgment of the Appeal Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State that declared Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola winner of the April 14, 2007 election. November 27 is a date with history. And history is an event happening now that will be remembered in the future, owing to its importance and significance. The 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt Jr, who ruled from 1901 to 1909, said: “The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.”

The course of history was altered in Osun, a State in the South-Western part of Nigeria, on November 27, 2010. A slender frame of determined, focused, plucky and progressive spirit of Rauf Aregbesola, the former Commissioner for Works in Lagos State, with the tireless, unwavering, undaunted and ever-militant members of the Action Congress (AC), as the party then was, led the movement for the alteration of history in Osun.

Aregbesola and the AC members did not set out to alter history in the real sense of it, rather than taking over government of the state from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007. The intent was to win the April 14, 2007 governorship election as the flag-bearer of the AC and administer the state in line with their manifestoes. Nothing more! Aregbesola was oblivious of the fact that the master of fate wanted more than just a victory for him – He wanted to reshape history for his cause.

Aregbesola was contesting against a retired general, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the PDP candidate who was seeking a second term in office. Earlier before the elections, the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, had on Saturday, February 10, 2007 declared that year’s general election a do-or-die affair. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had a compromised willing political tool as its head. All the state machineries were not in favour of Aregbesola. What the AC candidate had was just ‘the people’ who were more than willing to vote out the PDP government. The people actually voted for Aregbesola on the war-like Election Day, but their votes were not counted, neither did it count, as INEC declared Oyinlola as the winner of the election.

On the Election Day, AC party agent in Igbajo, Ayobami Oni, popularly called Ayo Kemba, was gunned down. Samson Olanrewaju was shot dead in Ile-Ife. Saheed Adebiyi was also killed at Okeroko polling unit in Ikirun, among other people who were killed.

The outcome of the election was rejected by the people: protest engulfed almost every town and city in the state, which then became unsettled for weeks. PDP instigated the police to clamp down on the protesters. Aregbesola was arbitrarily declared wanted by the police. In a secret video recorded by an unknown person, Oyinlola was seen directing the military and police in Ilesa to declare Aregbesola wanted and hold him responsible for the violent protests after the governorship election.

According to the Chairman of Campaign for Democratic and Workers’ Rights (CDWR), Comrade Rufus Olusesan, at a press conference on May 9, 2007, the police charged over 400 persons to court for politically related offences at the instance of the PDP-controlled government within a week.

After the governorship election, Aregbesola approached the Osun Election Petitions Tribunal to prosecute the reclamation of his stolen mandate.

His ground of petition was that the governorship election was rigged in 10 local government areas of the state – Atakunmosa West, Ayedaade, Boluwaduro, Boripe, Ife Central, Ifedayo, Ife East, Ife South, Isokan and Odo-Otin. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had recorded 253,789 votes for Oyinola, in the 10 affected councils, while it recorded 41, 923 votes for Aregbesola. He asked the court to declare him as the validly elected governor of Osun State.

Few months into the legal battle, scandal rocked the election petitions tribunal, led by Justice Thomas Naron. The tribunal was alleged to have been compromised by Oyinlola’s lawyer, Mr. Kunle Kalejaiye, SAN. Both Naron and Kalejaiye were exchanging phone calls and text messages, through which they plotted to ensure victory for Oyinlola at the expense of Aregbesola. The popular ‘call log’ saga and unprofessional conducts of the duo were published by a newsmagazine ‘The News’ in July 2008.

Following the publication of the The News magazine, a group of civil rights activists under the umbrella of Campaign Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) wrote a petition in which they demanded the disbandment of the Justice Thomas Naron tribunal. The activists, led by Comrades Debo Adeniran and Waheed Lawal trooped out in large number to submit the petition to the Registrar of the Osun High Court, Mrs. Oloyede Folaranmi. After submitting the petition, a team of armed policemen, led by Mr. Johnson Moronike, the then Commissioner of Police stormed the court and arrested 24 of the civil rights activists. They were detained for a week at the State Criminal Investigation Department before they were charged to court. Justice Jide Falola of Osun Magistrate’s Court, remanded them in prison for a total of five weeks.

As envisaged (based on the established compromise), the Justice Naron-led tribunal threw out Aregbesola’s petition and controversially affirmed Oyinlola as the winner of the April 14, 2007 governorship election in 2009. The judgment left the entire people of Osun in a very gloomy mode. “It was a miscarriage of justice”, said Aregbesola.

Aregbesola and his party rejected the verdict of the tribunal and approached the Appeal Court for redress. After months of legal battle, the Appeal Court on March 30, 2009 in a unanimous decision, ordered the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Umaru Abdullahi, as then was, to constitute a fresh election petitions panel to re-try Aregbesola’s Petition, just as it chided initial tribunal for not giving Aregbesola fair hearing.

The petition was retried by a five-man panel that included Justices Ali Garba, Benedict E. Agbattah, Ismaila H. Bashir, Muhammad T.M. Aliyu and Abimbola O. Obaseki. The retrial panel in its judgment on May 28, 2010 said it found no merit in the petition and accordingly dismissed it again.

Being dissatisfied and aggrieved, Aregbesola and the AC filed an appeal against the decision of the second tribunal. Their Notice of Appeal dated June 14, 2010 was filed on June 16, 2010. This notice of Appeal is at pages 546-601 of volume 7 of the Record of Appeal. On November 26, 2010, the Appeal Court in a verdict read for about five hours, declared Aregbesola the winner of the April 14, 2007 governorship election and ordered that he should be sworn in immediately.

As directed by the court, Aregbesola was sworn in as the fourth Executive Governor of the state on November 27, 2010 at the Technical School playing ground. The venue was filled to capacity and the air became thicker for breathing.

Aregbesola during his inauguration on November 27, 2010

While fighting to regain his mandate, Aregbesola was incessantly harassed. He was once detained and charged to court on frivolous petition. His supporters were equally hounded, arrested and detained on trumped-up charges, the most remarkable of which was on the fictitious car bomb said to have occurred in a Peugeot 505 car that exploded at the Ministry of Water Resources on June 14, 2007.

The Chairman of the defunct AC, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti; AC Secretary, Prince Gboyega Famodun, AC Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Sunday Akere; Elder Sunday Laoye and the Spokesperson of Oranmiyan, a socio-political group, Mr. Gbenga Fayemiwo, were arrested, arraigned and remanded in prison over the bomb blast.

The protracted legal battle was a long walk to freedom, but it opened a new clean chapter in Osun politics and government. Aregbesola would have been sworn in on May 29, 2007 if the election was not rigged. He would not have had a date to himself in history. Aregbesola made another history by handing over to a successor of the same progressive fold, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, on November 27, 2018.

The Transition: Aregbesola handing over to a worthy successor, Adegboyega Oyetola on November 27, 2018

Governor Oyetola is celebrating his exact second year as the governor of the state with laudable achievements which include construction and rehabilitation of roads and hospitals.

Cumulatively, the progressive government is 10 years old in the State of Osun. The proposed celebration of the 10th anniversary by Osun APC caucus in the National Assembly generated controversies in the state and it was halted after the intention was misconstrued, to allow peace to reign.

However, it is noteworthy to reiterate that the Oyetola administration has its root from the restoration of Aregbesola’s mandate, handed over to him a decade ago. Without Aregbesola, there could not have been an Oyetola. Secondly, Oyetola cut his political teeth and horned his political skills under Aregbesola, under whom he served as Chief of Staff for eight years. So it is 10 unbroken years that began with Aregbesola and has continued with Oyetola. The 10th anniversary therefore could not be celebrated without adequate mentioning of the two years of Oyetola’s administration been celebrated with numerous achievements.

Tracing the historical presence of progressive government in Osun, Aregbesola is not the first progressive governor. Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose name has become a brand for politicians, is the pioneer of progressive politics. He ruled the old Western Region as Premier. Late Bola Ige, the Cicero, inherited Awolowo’s progressive legacy. He was a governor of old Oyo State, where Osun was carved out. Ige was an indigene of Esa-Oke, in Obokun Local Government Area of the State of Osun. As a state on its own, Osun had Alhaji Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke as its first governor. Adeleke won the election on the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party, which had a semblance of progressive, in December 1991. Chief Adebisi Akande won the 1999 governorship election under the progressive platform of Alliance for Democracy in Osun State. He governed the state successfully with strong legacy. Baba Akande’s second term bid was crushed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which manipulated elections and lorded a retired Army General, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, on the people of the state. The declaration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as governor in 2010 restored the reign of progressive government to Osun. Aregbesola won his second term election with landslide victory on August 9, 2014 governorship election. Against all odds, Aregbesola was able to successfully hand over the progressive government to Oyetola of the same political tendency in 2018.

Speaking on the 10 years of progressive government in Osun, Adeoti, a former SGG under the Aregbesola administration said: “The 10 years of progressive government in Osun is nothing but a blessing to the people of the state. We have changed and raised the bar of governance in the state even after Aregbesola left. The development has been in leaps and bounds under Governor Oyetola. What we are praying and hoping is that after Oyetola might have completed his tenure, we will be able to win again so that the good work could continue.”

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FeaturedOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOlagunsoye OyinlolaOsunPOLITICSUncategorized

Oyinlola Projected His Fear Of Aregbesola – Fasure

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

The media adviser to the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Mr Sola Fasure has described the statement credited to the former governor of the state, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, as a counsel tailored to project his long standing fear of the minister.

In a statement on Wednesday, Fasure berated Oyinlola for alluding to the claim by some detractors of plans by him to make “the state ungovernable for Oyetola” owing to his planned visit to the state on Friday to carry out President Buhari’s directive to Minister to visit their home states as a result of the aftermath of the  #ENDSARS protests.

Below is Fasure’s full statement:

The counsel of the former governor of Osun, Brig General Olagunsoye Oyinlola (rtd), urging the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, ‘to avoid doing anything that would suggest a plan to make the state ungovernable’ as reported by The Punch of November 25, 2020, is baffling in its gratuitousness.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the National Assembly had planned some activities including a public lecture and novelty football match on the anniversary of the return of progressive administration to Osun, as they have been doing every year. They invited Ogbeni Aregbesola to the event.

This coincided with the minister returning to the state, in fulfilment of the presidential directive to all members of the Federal Executive Council to return home and engage their state governors and other critical stakeholders on security.

How then does a minister returning home to carry out a critical presidential directive or attend a peaceful anniversary lecture amount to ‘doing anything that would suggest a plan to make the state ungovernable’? How is that a threat to anyone?

Oyinlola’s statement is a Freudian slip of the mortal fear that gripped him at the mention of Aregbesola’s name. He lived under that fear all through his illegally usurped second term and the futile shenanigans of keeping a stolen mandate, including suborning the judiciary, until he was kicked out by God-fearing judges of the Court of Appeal in Ibadan on November 26, 2010. Therefore, it is his own fear that he is dubiously projecting as public interest counsel. He overrates himself anyway, thinking anyone takes him seriously.

Brig General Oyinlola has lapsed into political oblivion, following his fruitless peripatetic junketing round the political parties until he returned home emptyhanded, forlorn and isolated. He is therefore mistaken if he thinks he can relaunch a dead political career by maligning Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola whose political stock has been rising since he successfully handed over to a successor, a member of his administrative team and his political party, two years ago.

But see who is preaching. Oyinlola’s tenure is particularly characterised by the most gut-wrenching violence visited on opposition members. His reign was rightly described as a siege on Osun, during which killings, rape, extortion and hoodlums and political thugs had free reign. How could he have forgotten all that and be offering empty platitudes to a governor whose two terms were adjudged by all to be peaceful?

Ogbeni Aregbesola is a man of peace. It is quite paradoxical that a man on a peace mission to Osun will be falsely accusedof planning to make the state ungovernable by a former military man whose professional calling was to trade in violence.

Aregbesola will continue to diligently and astutely serve the government and the people of Nigeria in any capacity it has pleased the good Lord to place him.

Sola Fasure

Media Adviser to the Minister of Interior

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola

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Babajide Sanwo-OluFeaturedheroNEWSOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorizedYouth Restiveness

Nigerian Youths Tasked On Pursuing Good Causes

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

The Federal Government has called on youths in Nigeria to take advantage of the present digital revolution to channel their energy to good causes through the acquisition of new skills and knowledge sharing so as to nourish human capacity for the socio-economic development of the country.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made the call today in Lagos during a Stakeholders Engagement on Internal Security and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria.

In his speech, titled, “Lagos is the destiny of our race,” Aregbesola described the youth as the pride and glory of any people. “The youths are the pride and glory of any people. We must understand that youths are a unique demography. People under the age of 25 constitute 45% of global population, while they are 60% in Africa and the Middle East”.

“Today’s youth are a peculiar breed. They are a new generation of the social media and the power of ideas and intellect. They appear more intelligent and far more enterprising than previous generations, the deployment of their intelligence is a different matter; which we must all seek to re-channel through positive modelling and gainful employment.

The digital revolution has increased young people’s capacity to bring about positive social change. ICT gives them the tools to learn new skills, to share knowledge and to nourish human capacity.

As information flows seamlessly around the planet, young people can more effectively act as catalyst for change – locally and globally.

They must therefore be commended for the courage to start a movement that shook the foundation of this nation in a way that has never been done before.

However, much as they are a great asset, they also can be a great risk – to themselves and to the society – if their energy is not positively channelled”, he said.

He observed further that the time has come to rouse the consciousness of their leading lights to confront the charlatans among them. These charlatans he said, are the elements capable of dragging down society, because according to him, their activities are destructive to society as well as to themselves.

The Minister stated that the stakeholders engagement was convened to proffer lasting solution to security challenges across the state and the country at large, in order to enhance socio-economic development, especially in the wake of the ENDSARS protest, promote unity among diverse ethnic population of the State as well as share knowledge and ideas on matters that could create crisis in the polity and proffer proactive solution, among others.

He added that security challenges are of global concern, noting that despite the present challenges, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration was working towards attaining the most secure state for all Nigerians and would need all hands to be on deck to ensure its realization.

Ogbeni Aregbesola stated further that armed conflicts and terrorism have devastated large parts of the globe, with 17 countries going through one form of armed conflict or the other, leaving in its wake thousands of dead bodies, ruined landscapes and a large army of internally displaced persons, and therefore called on Nigerians, particularly the youths not to take the relative peace in the country for granted.

He called on all the stakeholders in charge of internal security and those present to bare their minds on how they can make Lagos and the entire South West region that haven of habitation, commerce, economic development and the show-piece of civilization – the best that the first man can offer humanity.

Earlier, the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu pledged the support of the good people of Lagos State and by extension, the entire South West region, to President Muhammadu Buhari’s led-Administration in its determination to ensuring peace and security in the country so as to bring about socio-economic development of the nation.

Also speaking, the Minister of Police Affairs, Alh. Muhammad Dingyadi, condoled with the Lagos State Governor on the destruction of properties.

While reiterating the improvement in the welfare package of Police personnel evident in the increase in their salaries, he further assured that government has put all necessary steps in place, to protect lives and property of all Nigerians and foreigners alike.

In his remarks, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwanu Akiolu urged the Federal Government to grant a special status to the State to enable it empower the youths with jobs. This he said will address youth restiveness.

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photonews:-aregbesola,-dingyadi-visit-tinubu-in-lagos
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TinubuFeaturedOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPhotonewsPOLITICSUncategorized

PHOTONEWS: Aregbesola, Dingyadi Visit Tinubu In Lagos

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; His Police Affairs Counterpart, Mr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi and other Paramilitary Service Chiefs pays a courtesy visit to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the ongoing Stakeholders Engagement on Internal Security and Conflict Resolution in Lagos. Photos credit: Dolapo Julius  

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; His Police Affairs Counterpart, Mr. Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi and other Paramilitary Service Chiefs pays a courtesy visit to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the ongoing Stakeholders Engagement on Internal Security and Conflict Resolution in Lagos.

Photos credit: Dolapo Julius

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re:-‘gov.-oyetola,-aregbesola-set-for-showdown-in-osun-this-week’
FeaturedGovernor Adegboyega OyetolaheroKikiowo IleowoOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOp-EdPOLITICSUncategorized

RE: ‘Gov. Oyetola, Aregbesola Set For Showdown In Osun This Week’

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

My attention has been drawn to a piece titled ‘Gov. Oyetola, Aregbesola Set For Showdown In Osun This Week’ written by Temidayo Akinsuyi, the Political Editor of the Daily Independent.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is principally visiting Osun in obedience to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to members of the Federal Executive Council to visit their respective states and hold robust engagement with their constituents, including their state governors and members of their state cabinet. This is in light of the recent #ENDSARS protest and its attendant carnage.

The Minister had written to the State Government, informing them of the presidential directive and his intention of meeting with them.

The period of the visit also coincides with the 10th anniversary of the return of progressive government to Osun. A group organising the anniversary had invited the minister to the event and he gave his solemn promise to attend.

However, we read with shock, the news report by Mr Akinsuyi that the minister will visit the state with thugs imported from Ede and other neighbouring states.

This we find to be in bad taste and totally unexpected from a reputable newspaper.

The author alleges further that the minister has perfected plans to use his influence as a minister to deploy paramilitary officers of the Civil Defence, Immigrations and Prisons (sic) to shatter the relative peace being enjoyed in the state.

This is a poor reflection of the purposes of the agencies and how they work. Statutorily, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) deals with immigration and border management and have no business with other civil engagement. They can only operate outside on matters regarding breach of immigration rules by aliens.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) are in charge of keeping custody of convicts and awaiting trial suspects. They are confined to the custodial centres, except when they take suspects to courts or hospitals. The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NDCDC) deal with specific civil and security issues. How the minister can deploy these agencies like thugs to cause mayhem beats me hollow.

A journalist should be knowledgeable and well informed. Even when absurd and preposterous allegations are made, the journalist should discard such and report only what is reasonable and will not bring his medium to disrepute.

Allegations should not automatically become news. The reporter has a professional duty to either ask for proof of the allegation or go ahead to investigate it. It is only when he is convinced that there is substance to the allegation that he should consider it worthy of being reported. Reporting untrue and unfounded allegations amounts to peddling fake news.

Showdown? Since when has a minister returning to his base become a showdown with anybody? Ogbeni Aregbesola is an indigene of Osun and a Minister of the Federal Republic. He is on presidential assignment. How does that amount to showdown with anyone?

The minister was privileged to be the symbol of the return of progressive government to Osun. His emergence on the platform of Oranmiyan in 2005, his contestation of the 2007 governorship election under the most adversarial condition, the almost four-year titanic battle to reclaim his mandate, the David and Goliath re-election contest of 2014 and the epochal succession election of 2018 are epic stuff with Ogbeni as the main gladiator. It is a history worth celebrating.

This does not connote antagonism with the state government. Rather, it complements it.

It is sad to note that a section of the media is obsessed with fostering a narrative of conflict and antagonism between Ogbeni Aregbesola and the State Governor. Where there is no evidence of this, they have to concoct one and, in the process, detract from the credibility their organisation.

Ileowo Kikiowo,

Ministry of Interior,

Garki Abuja

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“attack-on-the-nation-unjustified”-–-aregbesola
FeaturedNEWSOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSThe Nation NewspaperUncategorized

“Attack On The Nation Unjustified” – Aregbesola

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola has condemned the attack on The Nation corporate office in Lagos by arsonists during the #EndSARS protest.

In a letter to the newspapers’ Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Victor Ifijeh, the minister said he was “greatly pained” when he got the report of the attack.

“I write to commiserate with you and other members of staff of this organisation on the recent disturbances in Lagos. While the saga lasted, arsonists invaded your premises and set fire on vehicles and parts of the building, with some items looted,” he said.

The Nation, Aregbesola said, has changed the face of journalism since its entry into the market, dictating the pace through in-depth news reporting, informed commentary and Leader writing.

He said: “You have defended freedom; promoted democracy and have always placed the nation (pun unintended) first, even at the expense of your economic interest. You have been the standard-bearer of the truth.

“It is ironic that your leading article a day before the cowardly attack on your premises identified with the #EndSARS demonstrators and was unsparing of the Federal Government. The attack is, therefore, absolutely unjustified.”

The Nation titles, he said, will continue to thrive and “history will be very kind to you for the role you have played in the long tortuous path of Nigeria’s development”.

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fg-launches-corrections-information-management-system-manual
FeaturedNEWSNigeria Correctional ServiceOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorized

FG Launches Corrections Information Management System Manual

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

The Federal Government on Thursday launched the Corrections Information Management System (CIMS) Training Manual and Welfare/Legal Aid and Statistics Module of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola said that the two publications are designed to enhance data management with regards to inmates’ registration, legal representation and processing in line with the present administration’s adherence to the rule of law, respect for human rights and duty of care for victims through a system approach.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had in January 2019 inaugurated the Prisons Information Management System (PIMS) as it was then called while a Remand Indicator which is a major component of CIMS was also launched in January 2019.

Aregbesola added that the indicator was for the reporting of the length of trial and activities of all the Actors in the Administration of Criminal Justice, as it relates to inmates’ trial.

The Minister said “I wish to specifically state that the present Administration under the able leadership of His Excellency, President @MBuhari, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is truly aware of the fact that the world today is driven by technology. Hence, the Administration is putting modalities in motion for the digitization of government transactions.

“The development of CIMS Training Manual and the integration of Welfare/Legal Aid and Statistics Module are not only apt but in tandem with Government’s desire to make information and activities on the Federal Public Service readily available through information technology.

“CIMS Training Manual will provide a practical guide to personnel on the process of inputting data manually into the System while the Welfare/Legal Aid and Statistics Module will automate the process of recording data on inmates’ legal representation and increase monthly reporting capabilities thereby enhancing the capacity of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other related Agencies in implementing the critical elements and provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

“The overall objective of the CIMS is to serve as a backbone for the country’s National Criminal Database especially when fully integrated into the Database of other Security agencies for proper synergy.”

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE MINISTER OF INTERIOR, OGBENI RAUF ADESOJI AREGBESOLA AT THE LAUNCH OF CORRECTIONS INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS TRAINING MANUAL AND WELFARE/LEGAL AID AND STATISTICS MODULE ON 10TH NOVEMEBR, 2020 AT AB DAMBAZAU CONFERENCE CENTRE, AIRPORT ROAD, ABUJA.

PROTOCOL

I am delighted to be here today on the occasion of the launch of the Corrections Information Management System (CIMS) Training Manual and the presentation of Welfare/Legal Aid and Statistics Module. The two (2) publications are essentially designed to enhance data management with regards to inmates’ registration, legal representation and processing in line with the present Administration’s adherence to the rule of law, respect for human rights and duty of care for victims through a system approach.

It may be recalled that in January, 2018, His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and (SAN) launched the Prisons Information Management System (PIMS) as it was then called. Similarly, a Remand Indicator which is a major component of CIMS was also launched in January 2019. The Indicator was for the reporting of the length of trial and activities of all the Actors in the Administration of Criminal Justice, as it relates to inmates’ trial.

I wish to specifically state that the present Administration under the able leadership of His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is truly aware of the fact that the world today is driven by technology. Hence, the Administration is putting modalities in motion for the digitization of government transactions. The development of CIMS Training Manual and the integration of Welfare/Legal Aid and Statistics Module are not only apt but in tandem with Government’s desire to make information and activities on the Federal Public Service readily available through information technology.

It is therefore Government’s expectation that CIMS Training Manual will provide a practical guide to personnel on the process of inputting data manually into the System while the Welfare/Legal Aid and Statistics Module will automate the process of recording data on inmates’ legal representation and increase monthly reporting capabilities thereby enhancing the capacity of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other related Agencies in implementing the critical elements and provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.

Essentially, the overall objective of the CIMS is to serve as a backbone for the country’s National Criminal Database especially when fully integrated into the Database of other Security agencies for proper synergy.

At this juncture, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to sincerely appreciate His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, for approving the needed support for the initial take-up of this laudable project. Equally, I wish to extend my gratitude to the Network of University Legal Aid Institutions (NULAI) Nigeria and other critical Development Partners for their continuous support Government.

Finally, I thank you all for your kind attention. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

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balarabe-musa-was-a-progressive-patriot-–-aregbesola
Balarabe MusaFeaturedOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorized

Balarabe Musa Was A Progressive Patriot – Aregbesola

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has described the late former Governor of Kaduna state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa as a patriot who was committed to the progressive ideals of making Nigeria great.

Aregbesola in a tribute to Musa who breathed his last on Wednesday morning at 84 said the deceased was a thorough-bred leader and a consummate defender of the poor.

According to the Minister, the late second republic governor was deeply rooted in principles of ensuring that the masses are prosperous and liberated.

Aregbesola said “It is therefore a huge shock and surprise that our leader and pillar in the struggle to build a just, humane and progressive society in Nigeria has returned to his maker; never again to be part of those patriotic efforts to make Nigeria very great and leader in the African renaissance.

“Mallam Musa was a patriot, democrat, socialist, consummate defender of the poor, advocate of social and economic justice, promoter of human rights, liberty and dignity and, above all, a very good man. His passage at 84 is the end of an era.

“He was a man of steely resolve on principles, yet soft to the core in relations with people.

He was one of the colourful politicians of the Second Republic. Though he would go down in history as the first state governor to be impeached, he was insistent that the reason the opposition National Party of Nigeria (NPN) dominated legislature removed him from office was his plan to massively empower the masses through the establishment of micro and small enterprises.”

The Interior Minister added that “His brief period as the governor of Kaduna State was remarkable in his commitment to the people in the improvement of their living and working conditions.

“He will be well represented in the pantheons of the heroes of democracy for his brave and uncompromising stand on military disengagement and return of civil democratic rule, all through the period of military rule. This was at great personal risk and discomfort.

“He consistently spoke truth to power and was always on the side of the people at the most critical junctions in the history of the country. He wore his opposition epaulet with honour and dignity. He could not be compromised, intimidated or silenced.

“He fought a good fight. He ran a good race. He won an invaluable and eternal position in the hearts of the masses and patriots for his priceless services to humanity.

“We pray that Allah SWT will forgive his shortcomings and grant him a beautiful abode in Aljannah Fridaous. Aamin.”

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aregbesola-assures-nigerian-traders-in-ghana-of-fg’s-support
FeaturedFederal GovernmentNEWSNigerian Traders In GhanaOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorized

Aregbesola Assures Nigerian Traders In Ghana Of FG’s Support

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has called on Nigerian Traders who are facing tough times in Ghana not to leave the country, but rather to be patient with the Government of Nigeria as it continues to engage the Ghanaian Authorities and other relevant stakeholders with a view to addressing their challenges.

The Minister gave the advice in his office in Abuja when he received a delegation of the Nigerian Traders Association in Ghana, an Affiliate of the Nigerian Traders Association, led by its National President, Dr (Barr) Ken Ukaoha.

Aregbesola assured that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration will continue to engage Ghanaian Authorities to ensure that the challenges faced by Nigerians are amicably resolved.

He said that the Nigerian Government is pained by the condition under which Nigerian Traders in Ghana have been made to operate in recent times and thus, assured that government will not abandon them.

“Your pains cannot endure, we will not abandon you, no stone is being left unturned to remove the pains you are passing through in Ghana,” Aregbesola assured.

The Minister stressed that the Nigerian Government is not resting on the matter but that it is doing everything possible to make life better for its citizens in Ghana and other countries of the world.

He urged the traders not to leave Ghana but rather contribute their own quota to the political development of that country, as the Nigerian Government will continue to engage relevant authorities to arrest the situation.

Earlier, the National President, Association of Nigerian Traders, Dr (Barr) Ken Ukaoha expressed what he referred to as the agony, humiliation and torture of Nigerian Traders in Ghana, emanating from the Ghanaian Government’s decision to raise the capital base of any foreign trader doing business in the country to $1million, and the subsequent locking up of many Nigerian traders’ shops since 2019.

He added that in spite of various interventions by representatives of the Nigerian Government, nothing significant had been done by the Ghanaian Government to reverse the trend.

Ukaoha who further expressed the frustrations of many Nigerians, who are doing business in Ghana, noted that about 753 citizens of Nigeria are ready to leave the country.

“If we react proportionately to the way we have been treated in Ghana, it might lead to a serious crisis,” he stressed.

Dr. Ukaoha, therefore, appealed to the Federal Government and ECOWAS to take urgent steps against the Ghanaian Government to assuage the sufferings of the Nigerian Traders in that country.

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fg-holds-stakeholders-engagement-on-internal-security
FeaturedFederal GovernmentheroInternal SecurityNEWSOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorized

FG Holds Stakeholders Engagement On Internal Security

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

In its determination to bring an end to security challenges across the country, the Federal Government has flagged-off a stakeholders’ engagement on internal security and conflict resolution.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola who disclosed this in Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital called on Nigerians and the good people of Borno State in particular, to support the President Muhammadu Buhari led-Administration in its efforts at exterminating a cancer in the body and vanquish a deadly and cruel insurgency that is making living of an ordinary Nigerian very dangerous, difficult and miserable.

In his speech titled “The People as the Cornerstone of Security”, Aregbesola said that the summit was called to tap from the wealth of experience of the Kanem Borno Empire that made it to stand secured for 1,200 years, more than the Byzantine Empire or the Holy Roman Empire.

According to him, President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the Cabinet are greatly pained over the hardships Nigerians are going through on account of the security challenges in some parts of the country and are determined to do whatever is necessary to bring an end to the activities of these marauders saying “Enough is enough”.

The Minister who said that Government has renewed its stand to do whatever is necessary to stamp out insecurity from any part of the country, where it exists; assured that the challenges we face are surmountable.

“Some nations have faced them before and have come out victorious. We are going to do the same and nothing is going to stop us. But to be able to win, we need the support of the people. We must understand that the defence and security architectural complex is a pyramid. Sitting on the top is the military, followed by the police, next are the other security agencies and at the base, carrying and supporting the complex, are the people who are the security-agency-at-large.” He said.

Aregbesola said further that in every secure nation, especially the developed ones, security is contingent on the information supplied by the citizens, their cooperation with the security agencies and acting in the best interest of their community, society and the nation.

The Minister who commended the security agencies for their doggedness in the fight against crime and criminality in the country called on them to see the people as important to achieving successes. He said that people are the essence of a nation and not just a territorial space, and thus, constitutes the singular most important basis of all the institutions of state.

“Any security agency operating within a national space that disregards the support of the people is simply doomed in its mission of defence and security. I am of the firm opinion that if the security agencies have the trust and support of these people, the terrorists and those constituting threat to life and property in any part of the country, would not be anonymous.

“They would have been handed over by now. The insurgents and other criminals who are disturbing us, are not ghosts but humans, nevertheless they are a tiny minority. They can never withstand a united and determined people who take their security seriously.” He reiterated.

Aregbesola who acknowledged that formidable military might and cutting-edge technology are necessary in the fight against crime and criminality observed that without the support of the people, they may be ineffective.

“The government needs the support of the people in confronting a mobile, flexible and fluid insurgents that hide among the people”, he emphasised.

Also speaking, the Governor of Borno State Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, assured that the Government and people of Borno State would continue to support the efforts of the Federal Government in its determination to ensuring the restoration of peace and security in the state.

He thanked the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Administration for liberating a substantial part of the State and the Northeast from the grip of the insurgents, adding that some time ago, 23 of the 27 local government areas of the State were under the firm control of the insurgents but for the concerted efforts of the Federal Government in calling for the military’s intervention, the situation had been reversed.

In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno, Alh. Abubakar Ibin Umar Garba pledged the support of the traditional rulers to the Federal Government in its efforts towards finding lasting peace and security in all parts of the country.

The stakeholders’ engagement was also attended by the Executive Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, Ministers of Defence, Maj. Gen. Bashir Magashi, Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, Chairman Senate Committee on Interior and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, Controller-General, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Ahmed Ja’faru, Comptroller General, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Mohammad Babandede, Controller-General, Federal Fire Service (FFS) Dr. Liman Ibrahim, Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Muhammadu Gana Abdullahi, traditional rulers as well as other relevant stakeholders on matters of internal security.

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my-angel-is-60
FeaturedheroOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOp-EdPOLITICSSherifat AregbesolaUncategorized

My Angel Is 60

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

By Rauf Aregbesola

My sojourn in Kaduna in the 1980s, first for my youth service and later for a paid employment, will remain ever memorable. This is because it was there that I found the love of my life, Iyaafin Sherifat Abidemi Aregbesola.

I was a dashing young man with long hair and ideological fire burning in my soul. I had been caught in the throes of the ideological fervour of the time. I left The Polytechnic Ibadan fired with idealism and was prepared to change the world.

People of my generation actually were fiercely nationalistic. They wanted the best for the country and at the same time were globalist. Our vision was not just for Nigeria; we wanted a world devoid of injustice, inequality, poverty, diseases and other afflictions of humanity. Kaduna too was a hotbed of activism and provided a natural habitat for me. I was therefore too serious to have any social life. All that would soon change.

It started 39 years ago when I daily secretly admired a damsel in front of her residence on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, in Tundun-Wada, Kaduna. Strangely, it appeared this fine young lady was always there whenever I passed by on my way to my own residence in Dustima Road, Tundun-Wada, in the same Kaduna.

Then, the courage to get down from the commuter bus failed me most of the time to engage her. Towards the end of the service year I eventually mustered the will to so do. However, I left the state soon after.

Providence smiled on me when the defunct Nigeria External Telecommunications (NET) Ltd, offered me employment same year and deployed me to Kaduna, to join in the construction, commissioning and operation of the second satellite telecommunication gateway, in Kujama, Kaduna.

On my return to Kaduna, I did not waste any time in re-engaging with the young beautiful lady that had greatly attracted my admiration and interest. The rest they say is history.

We married in 1983, and the union is marvellously blessed with good children and a paradise of a home. I cannot have a better life partner. My wife is my companion, adviser, guide, protector, teacher, lover and manager. She is a resourceful mother to the children and a worthy matriarch of the family.

Over the years I can say without equivocation that it was an angel that came my way in 1981, who I tied the nuptials with in 1983. Her love for me is total and unquenchable. She was tailor-made for me. I believe the feeling is mutual. By the grace of God, she has been a worthy companion and assistant in my journey of life. She has filled me with laughter and joy and she is worth more than the entire world to me.

I am grateful to Allah SWT for His mercy on the union and my darling wife for her huge sacrifice to manage me over the years. My heart is filled with praise to the Most High for the blessing of an angel He brought my way.

As she celebrates her diamond jubilee with our country, Nigeria, I wish her more grace, good health, long and fulfilled life as I equally wish Nigeria peace, progress and success in the process of nation building.

Sixty is a remarkable landmark. She has matured in every way and mastered the art of being a good wife and mother. But she is still as beautiful and appealing to me as she was 39 years ago.

Darling, happy birthday and many happy returns.

Ogbeni Aregbesola

Minister of Interior.

#sheriat60

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my-angel-is-60
FeaturedheroOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOp-EdPOLITICSSherifat AregbesolaUncategorized

My Angel Is 60

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

By Rauf Aregbesola

My sojourn in Kaduna in the 1980s, first for my youth service and later for a paid employment, will remain ever memorable. This is because it was there that I found the love of my life, Iyaafin Sherifat Abidemi Aregbesola.

I was a dashing young man with long hair and ideological fire burning in my soul. I had been caught in the throes of the ideological fervour of the time. I left The Polytechnic Ibadan fired with idealism and was prepared to change the world.

People of my generation actually were fiercely nationalistic. They wanted the best for the country and at the same time were globalist. Our vision was not just for Nigeria; we wanted a world devoid of injustice, inequality, poverty, diseases and other afflictions of humanity. Kaduna too was a hotbed of activism and provided a natural habitat for me. I was therefore too serious to have any social life. All that would soon change.

It started 39 years ago when I daily secretly admired a damsel in front of her residence on Ibrahim Taiwo Road, in Tundun-Wada, Kaduna. Strangely, it appeared this fine young lady was always there whenever I passed by on my way to my own residence in Dustima Road, Tundun-Wada, in the same Kaduna.

Then, the courage to get down from the commuter bus failed me most of the time to engage her. Towards the end of the service year I eventually mustered the will to so do. However, I left the state soon after.

Providence smiled on me when the defunct Nigeria External Telecommunications (NET) Ltd, offered me employment same year and deployed me to Kaduna, to join in the construction, commissioning and operation of the second satellite telecommunication gateway, in Kujama, Kaduna.

On my return to Kaduna, I did not waste any time in re-engaging with the young beautiful lady that had greatly attracted my admiration and interest. The rest they say is history.

We married in 1983, and the union is marvellously blessed with good children and a paradise of a home. I cannot have a better life partner. My wife is my companion, adviser, guide, protector, teacher, lover and manager. She is a resourceful mother to the children and a worthy matriarch of the family.

Over the years I can say without equivocation that it was an angel that came my way in 1981, who I tied the nuptials with in 1983. Her love for me is total and unquenchable. She was tailor-made for me. I believe the feeling is mutual. By the grace of God, she has been a worthy companion and assistant in my journey of life. She has filled me with laughter and joy and she is worth more than the entire world to me.

I am grateful to Allah SWT for His mercy on the union and my darling wife for her huge sacrifice to manage me over the years. My heart is filled with praise to the Most High for the blessing of an angel He brought my way.

As she celebrates her diamond jubilee with our country, Nigeria, I wish her more grace, good health, long and fulfilled life as I equally wish Nigeria peace, progress and success in the process of nation building.

Sixty is a remarkable landmark. She has matured in every way and mastered the art of being a good wife and mother. But she is still as beautiful and appealing to me as she was 39 years ago.

Darling, happy birthday and many happy returns.

Ogbeni Aregbesola

Minister of Interior.

#sheriat60

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fg-calls-for-collective-efforts-to-surmount-the-nation’s-challenges
Georgina EhuriahNEWSOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorized

FG Calls For Collective Efforts To Surmount The Nation’s Challenges

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to develop positive outlook and join hands with the Government in order to overcome the nations challenges.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made the call in Abuja during the public presentation and launch of a book titled On Merit written by Mrs Georgina Ehuriah-Arisa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior.

In his speech titled, “Eulogy to an Amazon’, Aregbesola assured that the challenges facing the country are not insurmountable particularly with the collective efforts of all. With our collective efforts he said, Nigerians will overcome and build a nation of their dream.

“As we all look forward to the 60th anniversary of our nation, let me remind us all that the challenges we are facing as a nation are not insurmountable. We should therefore develop a positive outlook. With our collective efforts, we shall overcome and build the nation of our dream,” he said.

The Minister who described the Civil Service as the heart or operating engine of government, noted that the success or otherwise of any political leader depends largely on how he or she operates this machine.

He called on Nigerians, especially those in the Public Service to take advantage and learn from Mrs Georgina Ehuriah-Arisa who out of her tight schedule as a Federal Permanent Secretary, decided very rightly to chronicle her experience in the printed pages. Using the words of Oscar Auliq-Ice Aregbesola said, Anyone who has lived a full life has something fascinating to share with the world”.

According to him, Ehuriah has proven to be an excellent civil servant whose capacity for work and diligence are extra-ordinary having worked across several federal establishments, she capped her career with the appointment as Permanent Secretary. “Because she distinguished herself, she was at the Presidency, the pinnacle of government, where nothing but the best is good enough. I therefore consider it a privilege to have worked with her one of the best the service ever produced,” he reiterated.

Also speaking at the event, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha said Mrs Ehuriah-Arisa has contributed meaningfully to the successes so far recorded by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration as a fully-bred Public Servant.

He therefore called on Civil Servants in the country to see the service as the engine room that drives the nations economy. Stressing further that the Civil Service should not be a dumping ground but a place for the best hands like Ehuriah-Arisa.

In her remarks, The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan said that the Federal Government is doing everything humanly possible to return the Public Service to its glorious old days- through the building of capacity of staff in order to provide efficient services to Nigerians.

She called for self-development among the public officers, saying that self-development played an important role in the Author’s life.

“Through Georgina Ehuriah-Arisa, I learnt the need for us to be passionate about what we do, her book will serve as important memoir in the country,” she said.

Earlier, the book Reviewer and Chairman, First Bank Group PLC, Mrs Ibukun Awosika described “On Merit” as ‘a book for many years’. She enjoined Public Institutions in Nigeria to use it as a good reference material for research and development.

In her message at the event, the Permanent Secretary and Author of the Book, “On Merit,” Mrs Georgina Ehuriah-Arisa said, she was motivated to pen down her autobiography by her desire to give support to the women, especially those at the middle level of administration in the Public Service.

She urged her colleagues in the Service to build capacity that will help them contribute their quota to move Nigeria to an enviable level in the comity of nations.

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aregbesola-urges-interior-min-staff-to-develop-value-for-service-delivery
FeaturedNEWSOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorized

Aregbesola Urges Interior Min Staff To Develop Value For Service Delivery

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

By Sodiq Yusuf 

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has called on management and staff of the ministry to remain focused and also develop personal value for excellence and efficient service delivery, particularly in the realisation of the ministry’s mandate.

Aregbesola made the call on Monday, when he flagged off the 2020 Staff Training Exercise in Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mrs. Georgina Ehuriah, Aregbesola said the incumbent administration is committed to lifting the civil service to a world-class status, through imbuement of modern work practices and processes.

According to Aregbesola, the modern work practices and processes include skills acquisition by civil servants in ICT-Digital Model, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era, where public operation may likely move from the normal hard copy to computer-based.

According to him, the civil service is a place for self-development and therefore, workers must learn to set high targets for themselves through development of self-excellence, which is a compulsory hallmark that will stand them out for success in their career.

Aregbesola said Nigerian civil servants must see themselves as agents for the promotion of growth, peace and stability, noting that the training exercise was designed to prepare staff ahead of the post COVID-19 challenges, as the pandemic had gradually altered the operations of government.

He therefore, called on the workers to take advantage of the training to develop themselves in line with the changing trends for effective performance, to enable the realization of government’s programmes, policies and projects for the betterment of the citizens.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Joint Union Leadership, Mr. Bassey Ukpenetus, pledged staff continual commitment to duty in order to achieve the Ministry’s mandate.

He commended the Buhri-led administration’s efforts in entrenching transparency in the conduct of government business, improvement and development of staff through capacity building as well as the provision of a conducive working environment.

Bassey assured the government that the union will continue to ensure maintenance of industrial harmony between it and the management of the ministry in order to provide efficient services to Nigerians.

Also speaking, the Managing Director, Meqstar Global, Mrs. Mercy Agboola, commended the ministry for organizing capacity building for staff and assured that with the calibre of the facilitators engaged for the training workshop, the staff will after the programme, be better equipped for effective performance and service delivery, especially with contemporary realities.

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what-is-aregbesola-doing-at-the-ministry-of-interior?
FeaturedKikiowo IleowoOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaOp-EdPOLITICSUncategorized

What Is Aregbesola Doing At The Ministry Of Interior?

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

By Ileowo Kikiowo

President Muhammadu Buhari took over the leadership of a broke and nearly bankrupt country five years ago. Since then, there is no gain saying that different sectors of the economy that were moribund at the time have now been revitalized.

When he took over power five years ago, Nigeria was in a recession. Government was borrowing to pay workers salary; industrial actions from different labour unions, particularly in the health, education and energy sectors were a monthly occurrence. Foreign debt was humongous, and Nigeria’s main stay and earner of foreign exchange – crude oil – was being stolen at an alarming rate.

However, President Buhari arrested the decay. He began by laying the foundation for a working and prosperous economy. This culminated in Nigerians rewarding him with a second term for a job well done. Shortly had he begun the second term that he put together a formidable team to drive his vision which he campaigned on namely; Security, Economic Rejuvenation, and Anticorruption or what can be termed Transparency.

On internal security, the president, in his wisdom, created the Ministry of Police Affairs out of the Interior, and placed Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola in charge of other critical areas of internal security which the Interior Ministry oversees. Ogbeni, as fondly called by many, is a man whom many have come to love and others love to hate. He had previously served excellently well as the governor of the State of Osun, the state of the virtuous, which was adjudged one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria whilst he held sway.

Since resuming as the Minister of Interior 12 months ago, the minister carrying President Buhari’s vision of SET – Security, Economic Rejuvenation and Transparency – set out to work on revamping the entire internal security architecture strategically placed under his supervision for efficient service delivery.

He started by paying an inspection visit to all the agencies under his supervision. They include; Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) which had just been reformed from the old Nigerian Prison Service, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Fire Service (FFS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Civil Defence, Corrections, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB). Though some people assume that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) was under the supervision of the minister, but that is not the case. Many innocently confuse this because President Buhari entrusted the task of leading a committee on Citizen Data Management and Harmonization in the hands of the Minister of Interior. The committee has since completed its work and submitted far-reaching recommendations to the President.

So what then has Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola been doing at the Ministry of Interior? In the next few paragraphs, I will highlight some of the things he has been able to achieve in the past year.

At the Nigerian Correctional Service, for the first time since forever, there was a wholesale Custodial Centre Decongestion. No doubt, this is one of the most remarkable achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration during this second term. Past administrations had tried to decongest the Custodial Centers but could not. In all, above 5,000 inmates (don’t forget, they are no longer called prisoners), have been released from the system. This was made possible by the pardon and amnesty graciously approved by President Buhari. The process is ongoing and many more who meet certain stringent criteria will benefit from the programme. All of these are being done in a way to avoid recidivism whilst ensuring the lives and properties of Nigerian citizens are secured and national security not jeopardised.

Modalities are being put in place to operationalize the parole system, so that first time minor offenders or others who have no reason to be incarcerated can serve their terms at home or other designated places. Furthermore, three nos 3,000 capacity each custodial centers are currently under construction in three geopolitical zones of the country to avoid overcrowding in some facilities that are stressed. Construction for another three nos 3,000 capacity each custodial centers in the remaining three geopolitical zones should commence in the next budget circle if all things go as planned.

Also, of note are the reforms being carried out in the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). Recall early this year, the United States Government placed restrictions on some classes of Visas for Nigerians over issues that border on National Security. However, in response to that, the Nigerian Government has now launched the Migration Information Data Analysis System (MIDAS) in the five international airports of the country. Likewise, over 136,000 stolen passports information has been uploaded on the Interpol I-24/7 platform. Before now, the NIS had no ability to upload directly to the system.

Also, the agency now has eyes on the official Nigerian Borders by adopting digital technology to monitor them. Fourteen Forward Operations Bases has been activated and late last year, Ogbeni Aregbesola, on behalf of the government signed a contract with a technology firm to upgrade the country’s capacity for monitoring the entire border stretch of the country in real time. The contractual engagement will develop a robust e-land border management system that will deal with close to half of our border surveillance and management system.

This is not to say there were no challenges on ground when Ogbeni took over the mantle of leadership in the ministry. Hey, even some of the challenges still subsist, but the administration is doing its best to surmount them. A good example here is the scarcity of passport at some select immigration offices in Nigeria and outside the country. Good news is, the challenge has been taken head-on by the administration and it will be resolved. The solution among other things will include the removal of human contact as much as possible in the passport process from application to collection. Third party data capturing centers are currently being set-up and customers can opt for their passport to be delivered to their doorstep. This is achievable and will be done.

The Federal Fire Service in five months after the minister took over, responded to 2,615 Fire Calls, saving 726 lives and assets worth N1.629 Trillion across the country. A Fire Service is as good as the fire engines and fighters it possesses. Therefore, the administration of President Buhari graciously approved for the Service, the purchase of around 100 ultramodern firefighting trucks and engines. The last time any equipment was procured was sometime in 1996. The equipment in the inventory before the advent of the administration of President Buhari were those procured between 1985 and 1996, and since then there was no procurement. It will also interest you to note that 2,200 fire fighters have been employed, trained, commissioned and deployed into service. For the first time in Nigeria’s history, Federal Fire Service stations and presence now exist in every state of the federation.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps continue to blaze the trail by providing security for critical national infrastructure. Thanks to the service of brave men and officers in the Agro Rangers Unit, food production from the North which witnessed perennial herder/farmers clashes in the past has improved considerably as they continue to provide security for farmers and herders.

Of interest to President Buhari is citizen dignity and integrity. To actualize this, a new unit called the Citizen’s Integrity Unit was established. They oversee and nip in the bud, the perennial cases of rape, extortion and dehumanizing treatment Nigerian citizens are subjected to.

At the main ministry, Ogbeni’s Midas touch can also be felt. The expatriate quota application system has been fully digitized. Furthermore, Nigerians will soon be able to access the Federal Marriage registry in all the local governments in Nigeria and also some certified private and religious organizations will be accredited as prescribed by the Marriage Act to conduct statutory marriages that will be acceptable by all embassies and foreign organizations.

August 21st, 2020 marked exactly 12 months since President Muhammadu Buhari graciously deployed Ogbeni Aregbesola to the ministry. If he continues these giant strides in ministry, in no distant time, the entire services and agencies under his supervision will be highly efficient and effective in service and public goods delivery.

It was President Barrack Obama that said in 2009 during his visit to Ghana that “Africa doesn’t need strong men; it needs strong institutions”. However, I dare say as much as we need strong institutions, we also need strong men, men of courage, vision and vigour like Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola to continue to drive policies and agenda for strong institutions being built by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Kikiowo Ileowo is a Technical Assistant to the Minister of Interior.

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editorial:-a-reformer’s-year-in-perspective
EditorialOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorized

EDITORIAL: A Reformer’s Year In Perspective

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

The announcement of the portfolio of the Ministry of Interior, assigned to the immediate past governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, elucidated great expectations. Why should this be so? Competence in ministerial office is, after all, based on the ability to master and be on top, very quickly, a complex brief. However the portfolio allotted in this instance, although not in the hideous depiction “juicy”, is nevertheless at the heart of the social contract, binding the government and the people in a democracy. The choice of Aregbesola, a proven, committed reformer and social democrat, was inspired. Aregbesola has not disappointed.

Aregbesola held that Security, Economy and Transparency (SET), are the new narratives that were set to drive the security agenda for the country, and the Ministry of Interior, being the frontline government apparatus in the saddle, is expected to lead the charge. Aregbesola, like an elderly man running on the land of thorns, hit the ground running by championing giant strides, evident by reforms in Nigeria Correctional Service (formerly Nigeria Prisons). The former governor of the state has also proven to be very instrumental in some of the committees he has been appointed, notable of which is The Presidential Task Force on the Control and Management of COVID-19.

In the area of guaranteeing internal security, which is one of the primary functions of the Ministry of Interior, Aregbesola has introduced several reforms. He has fostered relationship between the ministry and licensed private security practitioners, with a view to providing effective and efficient security and safety services to Nigerians. The success being recorded on the partial closure of land borders ordered by the President to ensure the growth of the country’s indigenous industries and overall development of the economy demonstrates bold imprints of the forthrightness of the Minister of Interior.

In less than a year of his leadership, the Federal Government has also purchased 96 fire-fighting vehicles, which have been distributed to the states. In addition, the Federal Government has established six additional zonal offices to boost fire-fighting service delivery across the country.

In the crucial area of capacity building for staffers, the Minister has also not left any stone unturned in improving the knowledge base of all staff working under his ministry. He is taking full advantage of all programmes available at the centre to improve staff capacity support to all its agencies, with a view to promoting and realizing the Presidential mandate of providing internal security and citizenship integrity for all Nigerians and foreigners alike.

He has no doubt proven to traducers that the successes recorded while at the helms of affairs in Osun are no fluke; and that with about three years to the expiration of the tenure of Mr. President, the former governor of the State of Osun will bring in the expected civilizing zeal to humanize and modernize our internal security mechanism towards achieving a more compassionate society.

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us-visa-ban-–-nigeria-has-substantially-met-demands-–-fg-committee
Featuredfederal Government of NigeriaheroNEWSOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorizedUS Visa Ban

US Visa Ban – Nigeria Has Substantially Met Demands – FG Committee

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

• Urges FG to establish national DNA data bank

The Committee on Citizen Data Management and Harmonisation has concluded its assignment and substantially addressed the concern of the United States on citizen data that led to its imposition of visa ban on Nigerians.

Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Presidential Committee, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed this today at the State House Abuja, when he presented the report of the Committee to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Minister said out of the six areas raised by the United States, two have been full met, two substantially met while work is ongoing on the remaining two.

According to Ogbeni Aregbesola, Nigeria “substantially provides information on Travellers Identity except data on Emergency Travel Certificates for Nigerians being repatriated while information on 145,695 Lost and Stolen Passports had been transmitted to the INTERPOL Database as at 31st May, 2020, following the intervention of the Committee.

“In addition, the Nigeria Immigration Service has now acquired the capability to directly transmit information on Lost and Stolen Passports to the INTERPOL Headquarters in Lyon which was one of the key demands of the United States”

The Committee, in its report, also urged the Federal Government to establish a National DNA data bank, testing laboratories and Data collection structures and formations across the federation to support the national security architecture with the view to finding lasting solutions to the security challenges bedevilling the country.

Ogbeni Aregbesola further said that the committee recommends the setting up of a Criminal Information Management System to include the establishment of a Data Fusion Centre fashioned after the INTERPOL model for pooling of crime data and a National Criminal DNA Laboratory with the Nigerian Police Force as the co-ordinating agency.

This, according to him, is to be complimented by an institutionalized standard procedure for the collection of DNA samples of all suspected criminals in government crime control and custodial facilities to aid criminal investigation and administration of criminal justice in the country. DNA is the holy grail of criminal investigation, helping law enforcement to solve the toughest crimes.

Aregbesola stated further that 14 agencies hold substantial citizens’ data which were largely disjointed and in duplicates; and as such the committee recommends that Federal Government should issue an Executive order that would provide among others;

Exclusive collection of biometric data by NIMC and its Licensees; Exclusive storage of Biometric data in the National identity Database and the discontinuance of biometric data storage of new registration by all agencies and institutions in Nigeria, mandatory use of the NIN by all Mobile Network Operations (MNOs) for issuance of Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) with effect from 30th June 2021 subject to the issuance of NIN by NIMC to at least 80 percent of the population and NIN as a unique identifier for all public servants.

The Minister added that the Committee recommended the need for the National Population Commission to commence the digital birth, death and other vital registrations (marriage, divorce, adoption etc) at all hospitals and designated NPC offices in all the wards as well as integrate with the National Identity Database (NIDB) and that all agencies capturing identity data should be directed to commence full enforcement of NIN as a requirement for accessing their services.

He said that the Committee observed that an effective citizens data identity management system is a critical tool for planning well as national and global security, adding that deterring terrorism and related societal crimes through secure online identification, pre-screening and tracking of citizens; creating interface for access and utilisation of identity related data for delivery of services will help in solving security challenges in the country.

The Committee noted the need to revive communication network deployed and owned by government but has remained redundant over the years as this will help in achieving the required connectivity.

It will be recalled that following the temporary visa restrictions placed on Nigerian citizens on January 31, 2020 by the United States Government, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, constituted an 18-member Committee on Citizen Data Management and Harmonization with membership from relevant MDAs.

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Asiwaju Bola Ahmed TinubuFeaturedheroOgbeni Rauf AregbesolaPOLITICSUncategorized

Aregbesola Visits Tinubu

by Bioreports
written by Bioreports

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola paid a courtesy visit to his Leader, Mentor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday.    

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola paid a courtesy visit to his Leader, Mentor and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Friday.

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