Religion

Pilgrims who couldn’t make 2022 Hajj will be reimbursed – Professor Malik

By Web News 556

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has approved the payment of full funds to intending pilgrims who were unable to perform the 2022 Hajj exercise.

The Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Professor Sayed Malik disclosed this during a press conference held at the State Secretariat Agodi, Ibadan.

Addressing newsmen, the Chairman, Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Professor Sayed Malik expressed regret that 150 of the state’s intending pilgrims could not take part in this year’s Hajj due to some circumstances beyond the board’s control.

He said Governor Makinde has approved the payment of full funds to whomever among the intending pilgrims that wishes to collect his/her money, while those that intend to use their money for the 2023 pilgrimage, would be the first to be considered for the exercise.

Professor Malik explained that they would not make any additional payment to the one they have already made this year as part of measures to compensate them.

On the issue of Basic Travelling Allowance of the pilgrims, Professor Malik maintained that the board officials did not short-change the pilgrims or divert the funds meant for payment of their BTA contrary to speculations in some quarters.

He however made it clear that all pilgrims from the state had gotten their BTA.

Professor Malik noted that the last batch of Oyo State pilgrims which consisted of 60 persons had been airlifted to Saudi Arabia on Monday 4th July 2022.

Iyabo Adebisi

Economy

We Have Fed 40,000 Vulnerable People in 8 Months – Osun Govt

By Web News 986

Over two hundred and forty thousand vulnerable residents of Osun State has been fed in the State’s Food Support Scheme.

The state governor, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola announced this while flagging off the 8th edition of the programme in Osogbo, the state capital.

Governor Oyetola added that the scheme had stimulated the economy of the state as the purchase of materials produced locally and food items had been tremendously enhanced the socio-economic activities.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prince Wole Oyebamiji, the governor said the current administration was on course in its efforts to boost local food production, achieve food security and turn Osun State into the food basket of the Southwest.

He observed that despite the fact that food given might not last a family for a month, but it would go a long way to cushion the effect of hunger and augment what the beneficiaries were able to raise from their little effort and support of families.

The initiative, according to him, has impacted greatly the lives of the beneficiaries, particularly the vulnerable citizens ranging from the aged, the widows, people living with disabilities, youths, among others, with the multiplier effect on the status of the state’s economy.

In a remark, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Mr. Olalekan Badmus, said the government had designed the scheme in such a way that the food items got to the targeted beneficiaries through the efforts of the distribution committee.

Mr. Badmus said beneficiaries were drawn from the various nooks and crannies of the state using the World Bank-sponsored Social Register.

He said the state had injected about eight hundred million naira into her economy since the commencement of the programme in the last eight months, as one hundred million naira goes into the scheme monthly.

The commissioner who said the programme was being funded solely by the Osun State under the present administration stressed that the government was open to any kindhearted citizen that wants to support it. 

One person with disability who benefited from the food support scheme, Mr. Lukman Ridwan told Radio Nigeria that the monthly food was a big relief for him and others beneficiaries in his category.

Similarly, Mrs. Maria Onaopepo from Ejemu village in Ifedayo Local Government Area appealed to Governor Oyetola to increase the number of beneficiaries.

Governor Oyetola had in April, this year, inaugurated the “Osun Food Support Scheme” to mitigate the adverse impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on 30,000 vulnerable citizens on a monthly basis.

Adenitan Akinola

Politics

Osun APC Adopts Consensus As Aregbesola’s Supporters Kick

By Web News 611

The Ward Congress of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, held peacefully across the 30 local government areas of Osun State.

Party members have trooped out in large numbers as early as seven o’clock in the morning to participate in the exercise.

The electoral materials also arrived the affected polling locations early enough accompanied by officials selected by the national headquarters of the party.

However, the party members did not agree on the particular modus operandi of conducting the congress.

In majority of councils including Boripe, Osogbo, Ila, Olaoluwa, Iwo, Ayedaade, Isokan and Irewole, members agreed on consensus as recommended by the national leadership, while in few other areas including some parts of Ejigbo, Ilesa East and West, party faithful insisted on contest to enable every eligible member vote.

This division is obviously between a faction of the party loyal to the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola who parade themselves under the tag, The Osun Progressives, TOP, and the Ileri Oluwa group consisting those loyal to the incumbent governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola.

Speaking in his country home in Iragbiji, Governor Gboyega Oyetola described the exercise as the first time party members would agree on choice of ward officials without any rancour.

Governor Oyetola commended members of the party for their peaceful conduct during the exercise.

Similarly, the Chairman of the National Congress Committee in Osun State, Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye commended party members for their conduct at ensuring that the process went peacefully.

Mr. Elegbeleye said there was no parallel congress anywhere in Osun state.

Adenitan Akinola