Osun Defender Online Version of February 25, 2022

Osere Stream Channel Page 4 Turning Into Refuse Page 2 Site, Open Defecation Page 5 In Ikirun P. 5

Osun River: Worshipers Appeal to Government Over Pollution

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 - THURSDAY, MARCH 03, 2022

Osun 2022 Guber Election Will Be Conclusive – INEC

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VOL 17 NO 08

Fraud, Extortion As Police Hunt ‘Yahoo Boys’, Others In Cryptocurrency Business •Victims Recount Ordeal

Ward Congress: Adeleke, Ogunbiyi Supporters Trade Blame Over Killings Ismaeel Uthman

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UPPORTERS of Senator Ademola Adeleke and those of Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi have been trading blames on the killing of two members of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP), during the congress to elect the 3-Man Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates to the Special State Congress of the party on Wednesday.

The delegates’ congress to choose members of the party who will par cipate in the March 7 governorship primary elec on of the PDP turned bloody, leading to the death of two people.

A Sport U lity Vehicle (SUV) was also burnt by armed poli cal thugs in •Continued on Page 7 •Some of the victims of the violent PDP congress and a burnt SUV at Ipetumodu.

Our Reporter

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OME officers of the Nigeria Police Force in the State of Osun have been extorting some innocent youths who are into electronic and internet related businesses, inves ga ons have revealed.

While the policemen hunt for suspected internet fraudsters notoriously known as ‘Yahoo Boys’, findings revealed that innocent youths who are into legi mate online business are being extorted, in midated and threatened by the policemen.

Inves ga ons by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that policemen who claimed to be on special opera ons on intra-city roads and expressways are known for extor ng the youths and the yahoo boys.

Notable routes where the policemen extort the youths and internet fraudsters are Gbongan/Ibadan road, Ife/Ibadan Expressway, Osogbo/Ilesa road, Ikirun/Offa road and Ikirun/Ila road.

The policemen usually operate with the popular mini commercial bus known as korope and private cars.

The medium noted that the policemen who some mes mounted checkpoints on the roads usually stop commercial transport buses, private cars and motorcycles forcing any of the occupants suspected to be an internet fraudster to alight.

In most cases, the suspect would not be allowed to con nue his journey with the bus.

OSUN DEFENDER had witnessed series of forceful alight of passengers from commercial buses on the Gbongan/Ibadan ex•Continued on Page 2

Osun APC Can’t Stand Weakest Opposition Now, Says Salinsile

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 - THURSDAY, MARCH 03, 2022

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TEXT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY OSUN CIVIL SOCIETIES COALITION TODAY, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2022, AT THE SECRETARIAT OF THE OCSC. OSUN CIVIL SOCIETIES COALITION (OCSC) DID NOT WRITE ANY PETITION The attention of Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) has been drawn to a press conference and a petition sent to President Muhammadu Buhari on political violence in Osun State and the recent gun duel between some suspected political thugs and security agents attached to the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, by some individuals who claimed to speak on behalf of “Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Osun State.”

To start with, Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) does not know anything about the press conference and the petition sent to the President with the heading: “Dangerous and Socially Irresponsible Actions Of The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.”

We state categorically that all the people and organisations listed as signatories to the petition are not members of Osun Civil Societies Coalition. Therefore, we dissociate ourselves from the press conference and the said petition. We suspect that the action of the petitioners was politically motivated for pecuniary gains. And the said individuals were hurriedly put together by political elements who needed the service of available, curruptible civil society groups to drive their selfish interest.

Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) was formed in 2011 by not less than 16 pressure groups and nongovernmental organisations based in Osun State. We are not just a 'hurriedly' put together civil society groups. Membership of Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC) includes the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Justice Now Foundation (JNF), Peoples Welfare League (PWL) Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Movement For Social Justice (MSJ), Independent Masses Forum, just to mention a few among notable organizations.

We acknowledge individual's right of association and freedom of speech, but freedom without responsibility will give room for shenanigans. We state with all modesty that all the issues raised in the said petition were half truth and there is no sincerity, fairness and objectivity in it. However, we don't want to join issue with anybody. We ordinarily wanted to keep silent on the petition but because of the confusion and mistaken identity that it has generated, this press statement is needed for clarification.

Having said that, we are not unaware of the growing threats to security of lives and property of the people of Osun State. We state categorically that Osun is no longer a safe state that it used to be. There is a growing trend of insecurity with a side attraction of political violence. Recently, the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi declared a dusk to dawn curfew because of the incessant armed robbery in the city. The Aree in Council in Iree, the hosting community of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, also declared curfew because of armed robbery, kidnapping and ritual killings in the town few weeks ago. Cultists and hoodlums have been terrorising Ilesa and Ede consistently, leaving nothing less than 18 people dead. Just yesterday, it was reported that 10 people were killed in a fresh cult clash in Ilesa. This is hearth-breaking. Osogbo, the state capital, is now an abode for both cultists and thugs. The rate at which thugs are 'growing' in Osogbo is alarming and this calls for concern from all rational residents of the state.

We observe that our core politicians have shamelessly been banking on the support of thugs and criminal elements for their political activities. This is a dangerous trend as it is already posing threat to our lives and property. The spate of political violence in the state is alarming, and we condemn anybody and everybody connected to this. The political gladiators should not turn Osun to a battle ground where the use of hoodlums with dangerous weapon is the order of the day.

All the security agencies in Osun state should please act fast in restoring the lost glory of Osun as one of the safest states in Nigeria. We specifically call on the Commissioner of Police to rise up to the core duty of policing. There is need to do more on the police activities as regard preventing and curtailing violence and other crimes, investigations and prosecution of the real perpetrators of crimes without fear or favour; fear and favours are corrupt enemies of law and order, which the police suppose to exemplify.

Osun belongs to everyone of us. We will not watch it turned to an unsafe state for us.

Signed

Alh. Waheed Lawal

Com. Wole Folaranmi

Chairman Osun Civil Societies Coalition

Vice Chairman

News Fraud, Extortion As Police Hunt ‘Yahoo Boys’, Others In Cryptocurrency Business

•Olokode, Osun CP.

•Continued from page 1 pressway.

The policemen, a er forcing the suspects to alight, will go straight for their phones, asking them to unlock it and therea er check for some applica ons believed to be used to defraud unsuspec ng members of the public.

If the suspect is indeed into internet fraud (Yahoo), the policemen would first ins ll fear in him and threaten to prosecute him, in a bid to make him ‘cooperate’ with them.

Findings by the medium revealed that the policemen have considered the ‘Yahoo boys’ as ATM (Automated Teller Machines) from who they can get cash and fraudulent money.

Instead of prosecu ng the suspected internet fraudsters, the policemen have resorted to asking for money from the ‘yahoo boys’, and even establish friendship with them for ‘future purpose’.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the policemen usually obtain nothing less than N150, 000 from any internet fraudster arrested before he will be released.

One of the claims which the medium was unable to verify is that some of the policemen have Point of Sales (POS) machines being used to withdraw money from the ATM card of arrested internet fraudsters.

The medium learnt that the policemen, some mes, also follow the ‘yahoo boys’ to ATM points to withdraw cash for them.

Inves ga ons revealed that the ‘yahoo boys’ have strong network among the rank and file of the police, which helps them to nego ate amount and secure the release of anyone of them.

However, some youths

who engage in cryptocurrency (bitcoins, forex trading, Ethereum, binance, Litecoin), among others, have also been suffering similar fate with the internet fraudsters, it was gathered.

According to findings, the youths who are into cryptocurrency business are also being treated like ‘Yahoo Boys’ by the police, even when it was clear to them that the suspect is not a fraudster.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that any young man on whose phone any of the e-business apps was found, are usually made to part away with some certain amount before they are released to go by the police.

Some vic ms of the police extor on have taken to the social media, par cularly Twi er, to narrate their ordeals in the hands of the police.

A young man, Mr. Oluwatosin Babatunde, had taken to the social media to complain how he was harassed, threatened and extorted by the police on the Ife/Ibadan expressway on his way to Lagos on February 17, 2022.

Babatunde who confirmed his post on the Twi er handle to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, said: “My encounter with the police special unit today, 17/02/2022, was nothing to talk about along Osun-Ibadan expressway. Please I need an honest answer to this queson, is it unlawful trading cryptocurrency in Nigeria?

“I was stopped around 8:05am in the morning. I was driving my own car heading to Lagos state to buy my fiancée goods. They were five in number. They stopped me at Ikire checkpoint and my phone was searched and they saw binance message on my gmail, that is where the issue started.

“They ask me if I am into crypto a er they have checked

all my binance messages and I said yes. They took me to the small sta on at the checkpoint.

“They told me I will need to pay them before they can release me or they will transfer me to their sta on and arraign me in court. I agreed to that because I don’t think I can pay that 200k they were asking for.

“They forced me to write a statement and we reached one point where they said I should write it down that I am an internet fraudster by involving myself into what government has already banned.

“I insisted that I won’t write such a thing about myself that they should just do their inves ga on by checking my history on binance. They threatened me but I insisted and they transferred me to Ikire police sta on where they later collected N30,000 from me a er pleas from my fiancee and her friend.

“The experience for me was bad and not worthy to have happened to me a er impeccable evidence that I am not a yahoo guy.”

Another incident of the police extor on was reported

by OsunPoliceWatch, a Twitter account tracking ac vi es of the police in the state of Osun.

Operators of the Twi er account had reported on January 21, 2022 that: “A young man was en-route Oki pupa from Osun and was stopped at Akoda, Ede by men of the Prompt Response Unit of the State CID. A er his phone was searched, he was taken to their office where they saw pictures of gi cards on his phone and was asked whether he is into yahoo which he claimed he did before he began his crypto currency business.

“They printed photos of Continued on page 7

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 - THURSDAY, MARCH 03, 2022

3

Review & Outlook

BY S. O. FAYENUWO ESQ ASUU And The Collateral Damage

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HE customers (they used to be known as students) are the biggest casual es in the ongoing industrial dispute between the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universi es (ASSU).

With poten al employers insis ng on a certain age grade for employment, those in the public universi es are really at a disadvantage. Unfairly so.

The job market is already ght, a certain class stra fica on is now coming into play since those who can afford it have for a long me moved (tempting to say fled) into the private university sector.

This is not the way to ensure social cohesion and peaceful coexistence in any country, it is guaranteed to build up resentment with poten ally dangerous consequences.

We urge employers in all sectors to show flexibility in the requi ng process so that the applicants from the public universi es are not at disadvantaged for no fault of their own.

The present imbroglio is a reflec on of the antediluvian industrial rela ons format that came out of the colonial experience. The me is long overdue to have a review.

Our industrial rela ons system appears to be trajected by strife. It has clearly not delivered the con nuously increasing rise in living standards associated famously with the German consensus building model. The German model has delivered real gains for the least protected in every decade since the end of the second world war in 1945.

An endearing feature of the German model is the interpreta on of nego a on “as a process in which all sides come

“This strike should be speedily resolved.

It should be the first step in the overall revamping of the entire system of higher education in Nigeria” out believing that they have received the lion share”.

The efficacy of this model contrasts sharply with the Nigerian model in which the unions have clearly being unable to stop the erosion of purchasing power parity decade a er decade. The case for a rethink of the present system is clearly incontrover ble.

This strike should be speedily resolved. It should be the first step in the overall revamping of the en re system of higher educa on in Nigeria.

Since the abandonment of the very though ul report of the 1962 Ashby Commission of Enquiry into the future of higher educa on in Nigeria, we have not done any systemic projecon and review.

The consequences coming out of the inability to do a holis c reappraisal are painfully obvious, excrucia ngly so! Its me to do so now “ with the fierce urgency of now”. Without an updated university system, the country will con nue to be uncompe ve even in Africa. We therefore urge all par es to think of and put the interests of the students first above all else.

Afcon 2021 Round Of 16: Super Eagles Falter

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FRICAN Cup of Na ons, League (AFCON), spanning 60s to early 2000s was the most glamorous tournament in the con nent. This was the era where major European Leagues: English Premier League (EPL), Sco sh League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, French League 1, German Bundesliga, Dutch Eredivise were neglected by Africans. These European Leagues, then, enjoyed high patronage from pool stakers. The teams like Dundee united, Sco sh Rangers Club, No ngham Forest, middles brought, Liver pool etc were then noted for pools staking.

Africans focused on their domes c leagues. The domes c league which were well organised and packaged, had in Nigeria formidable football clubs such as IICC Shoo ng Stars FC of Ibadan now 3SC, a er 1996, Ibadan Rangers Interna onal Football Club, Enugu also won the trophy in 1977, Sta onery Stores, Onikan, Lagos, New Nigerian Bank, Benin, Bendel Insurance, Benin, Abiola Babes, Abeokuta, Racca Rovers, Kano, Water Corpora on, Lagos, African Con nental Bank (ACB) Lagos, Sharks Football Clubs, Port-Harcourt, Iwanyawu Na onal Oweri, Spartan Football Club, Oweri, Leven s United, Ibadan Exide FC, Ibadan, Femo Scorpion, Eruwa, Amicable Assurance, Ile-Ife, Zamalek FC, Alhali FC (Egypt), Esperance FC (Tunisia), Asan kotoko, Heart of Oaks, Accra (Ghana), ASEC Mimosa, African Sport FC (Cote D’voire), Royal Hafia FC (Gunea)etc.

Some of these aforemen oned football clubs are notable for winning laurels and trophies in the con nental soccer fiesta. For instance, IICC FC, Ibadan, won African Cup Winners Championship in 1976. Other football clubs like Sta onery Stores. Leven s United, Zamalek of Egypt, Asan kotoko, Ghana, ASEC Mimosa, Cote D’voire, Hafia of Guinea won it respec vely.

Meanwhile, African Cup of Na ons tournament in the last four decades, was of high quality and standard as it features arrays of skillful players. These are passionate and patrio c footballers while the adoring the na onal jerseys of their countries on the pitch.

Succinctly, Cameroon AFCON 2021 opening ceremony, in its usual tradi on, was flamboyant and fanfare, but in contrast to previous edi on, the tournament was drab and sub-standard. Nigeria, who has made giant strides in sports, most especially, in football compe on, raised the bar with her soccer artistry and scin lla ng performances. The Super Eagles, out of the 24 na onal teams in the compe on, won all their three preliminary matches: defea ng Egypt 1 – 0 in the opening match, white-washed Sudan 3 – 1 and lastly, walloped Guinea Bissau 2 – 0 and garnered maximum nine points under the interim manager, Aus n Eguavon, who won the best coach award in the group stage.

“Ahmaju Pinnick led NFF should organise sport clinics, seminars for indigenous coaches to enhance their technical in-depth and productivity.

This will encourage the organisation to be passionate in employing indigenous managers rather than patronizing foreign expatriates. Indigenous coaches often excel than the foreign managers if given enabling environment and facilities to work with. Employing foreign coaches for the team is a waste”

Super Eagles instantly became the beau ful bride of football enthusiasts, buffs, supporters, pundits and even, the arm-chair analysts. She was perceived as the poten al winner of the compe on.

Consequently, the performances of the na onal team nosedive on Sunday, 23rd January, as Cathage Eagles Tunisia – the best looser in the group stage, chipped the wings of Super Eagles by 1–0 in a round of 16 pulsa ng match tagged “Clash of Eagles’. It was a gloomy day for football enthusiasts and supporters as they watched the exit of their darling team from AFCON tournament. What a pity! The victory of Super Eagles at the group stage seemed to be a fluke. They are now pretenders not contenders.

The Cameroonians, who were mainly Super Eagles supporters were livid at her sudden exit from the compe on and threatened to a ack the officia ng match officials. Well-meaning Nigerians were bewildered by the drama c turn of events, courtesy of the tac cal deficiency of Aus n Equavoen, the interim manager of the team. They wondered the ra onal for s cking to a forma on in the whole 90 minutes when the result was not forthcoming. A er all, repe on of the same approach does not always produce be er result. A competent gaffer is o en flexible dynamic and innovave in his approach to games.

It is appalling, that the poten al winner of AFCON 21 Soccer fiesta crashed out of the tournament in spite of mo va on by the philanthropists, corporate organisa ons. The team was promised monetary rewards of 50,000 dollars for each goal scored, 5,000 dollars as winning bonuses, 2,500 dollars for draw. The squad parading mostly professional players like Maduka Okoye, William Trost Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Ola Aina, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Ihenacho, Moses Simeo, Taiwo Awoniyi, Samuel Chkwueze, Ahmed Musa, etc, was shown the exit door without reaching semifinal of the compe on. Speculaons were also rife that the Eagles Publisher – Moremi Publishing might loose some of the incen ves House Ltd. which were offered for their sucDeputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman cessful camping at the tournament (0805-121-2204) – winning the on-going AFCON Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa soccer compe on.

Reporter – Yusuf Oketola There is no gain saying that Reporter – Kazeem Badmus our exploit(s) on the field of Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto sports is dwindling. Our football Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere fortune is retrogressing. In the OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing hey days when Nigeria bestrode the spor ng word like a colossus, House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, Falilat Oshikoya, Funke Oshonaike, Chioma Agunwa, Olusoji State of Osun ISSN : 0794-8050 Read full article on www.

Telephone : 0805-121-2204 osundefender.com Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php •Stephen Oladehinde e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com Fayenuwo writes from osundefenderbank@gmail.com Osogbo fayenuwosteAll correspondence to the above email addresses. vo@gmail.com

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 - THURSDAY, MARCH 03, 2022

4

News

Petition Against Aregbesola Politically Motivated, Ijesaland APC Leaders Want Tinubu, Aregbesola We Didn’t Know Anything About It - CSOs To Resolve Differences

Ismaeel Uthman

Yusuf Oketola

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HE Osun Civil Sociees Coali on (OCSC) has dissociated itself from a pe on wri en by some individuals against the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola under the pla orm of ‘Civil Society Coali on in Osun State’.

According to the OCSC, the said pe on was poli cally mo vated and contained half-truth, thereby lacking in merit.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday at the OCSC secretariat, Odiolowo, Osogbo, the Chairman of the coali on, Comrade Waheed Lawal, said there was no sincerity in the pe on which he said was sponsored by some poli cal elements.

Lawal warned the individuals against impersona ng and using Osun Civil Socie es Coali on for poli cal interest, stating that the organisa ons with which the individuals wrote pe on against Aregbesola are not members of the coali on in Osun.

The human right acvist said: “We suspect that the ac on of the peoners was poli cally mo vated for pecuniary gains. And the said individuals were hurriedly put together by poli cal elements who needed the service of available corrup ble civil society groups to drive their selfish interest.”

Speaking at the press conference, the Vice Chairman of the coali on, Comrade Wale Folaranmi, said: “We acknowledge individual’s right of associa on and freedom of speech, but freedom

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•Overloading: A family of six packed on a motorcycle in Osogbo.

Photo: Olushola Aderinto

ference addressed by coali on reads in part: “We are not unaware of the growing threats to security of lives and property of the people of Osun State.

We state categorically that Osun is no longer a safe state that it used to be.

“There is a growing trend of insecurity with a side a rac on of poli cal violence. Cul sts and hoodlums have been terrorising Ilesa and Ede consistently, leaving nothing less than 18 people dead.

Osogbo, the state capital, is now an abode for both cul sts and thugs.

“The rate at which thugs are ‘growing’ in Osogbo is alarming and this calls for concern from all ra onal residents of the state.

“We observe that our core poli cians have

shamelessly been banking on the support of thugs and criminal elements for their poli cal ac vies. This is a dangerous trend as it is already posing threat to our lives and property.

“The spate of poli cal violence in the state is alarming, and we condemn anybody and everybody connected to this.

The poli cal gladiators should not turn Osun to a ba le ground where the use of hoodlums with dangerous weapon is the order of the day.

“All the security agencies in Osun state should please act fast in restoring the lost glory of Osun as one of the safest states in Nigeria.

We specifically call on the Commissioner of Police to rise up to the core duty of policing.”

without responsibility will give room for shenanigans.

“We state with all modesty that all the issues raised in the said peon are half-truth and there is no sincerity, fairness and objec vity in it.

“However, we don’t want to join issue with anybody. We ordinarily wanted to keep silent on the pe on but because of the confusion and mistaken iden ty that it has generated, this press conference is needed for clarifica on.”

Speaking on the insecurity in the state, the coali on lamented that Osun is no longer a safe state that it used to be, calling all security agencies to up their ante and restore peace to the state.

Text of the press con-

Osun River: Worshipers Appeal to Govt. Over Pollution Kazeem Badmus EVOTEES of Osun goddess have appealed to the State Government of Osun to clean up the polluted Osun river, describing the condion of the water as irritating.

Some of the devotees who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER disclosed that the current state of the Osun River has made it una racve to tourists and people seeking spiritual help.

A civil society group, Urban Alert, had raised the alarm that the river has been contaminated with heavy metals- Lead, Cynaide and Mercury as a result of indiscriminate mining in Ijesaland which in turn, put the health of over two million

D

people at risk.

According to a popular Osun devotee, Mrs. Adedoyin Olosun-Faniyi, the effecveness of the river in the healing of sickness has been reduced due to the pollu on of the river.

Olosun-Faniyi who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday, said efforts had been made to concerned authories with no solu on forthcoming.

She added that worshipers of the river find it difficult to use the water due to its current state, adding that those using it now are doing so with faith and lack of choices.

She said: “The pollu on of Osun River is a sad situaon. Even in this me of dry

season, the river was usually neat and clean. The polluon of the river is uncalled for and no solu on has been made so far concerning the pollu on.

“Efforts have been made to the Na onal Museum about the pollu on of the river and we appealled to them to examine and find solu on to it.

“Due to the dir ness of the river now, worshipers find it difficult to use the water and those who did, do so because of faith, especially when they are le with no choice than to use it the way it is. It is something that saddens our heart.

“There was a lady who came to worship here but on sigh ng the dirty state of the river, she decided not to take

the water un l I pleaded with her.

“The river effec veness in healing series of sickness has been reduced due to the pollu on and all Osun worshipers are not pleased with”.

When asked if the worshipers have informed the state government about the state of the river, OlosunFaniyi said the Na onal Museum in charge of the river has done so.

“The Na onal museum said they have dra ed a letter to the government about the pollu on of the river but we don’t know how far they have gone about it.

“We also want the Ministry of Tourism, State of Osun, to come to our aid and find a las ng solu on to this”.

EADERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ijesaland have expressed their hope to see the se lement of the differences between the Na onal Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

The APC leader in a press conference addressed in Ilesa on Tuesday, said it is heartbreaking to see Tinubu and Aregbesola figh ng each other.

According to the APC leaders, some fi h columnists who are not happy with the rising poli cal profile of Aregbesola sowed the seed of discord between the two APC leaders.

This is just as the Ijesaland APC leaders reaffirmed their allegiance and support for Aregbesola, saying that were ready to follow him to war and fight on his behalf against any foe.

Led by Alhaji Azeez Adesiji, a former Chairman of Ilesa West Local Government, the Ijesaland APC leaders, condemned the a tude of some youths who carried coffin to announce the purported poli cal death of Aregbesola in Alimosho local government.

They described the conduct of the youths as uncalled for and poli cal hatred carried too far.

The Ijesaland APC leader said: “Aregbesola’s poli cal rise and exploits, no doubt has not gone down well with

•Tinubu

some people in Lagos who are sworn to pull him down. From me immemorial, they have been sowing seeds of discord between him and Asiwaju but their efforts hitherto have been fruitless. “ U n f o r t u n a t e l y, however, they have now succeeded in poisoning the mind of Asiwaju against him, leading to the crisis of confidence between them. It is our hope and prayer that they will iron out their differences and become a formidable team again.

“These enemies within have now used the crisis in Osun to maximum advantage.

Let us ask them: where were they when Rauf was making enemies on behalf of Asiwaju and taking bullets for him?

They have been lurking in the shadows, of no use to themselves, Asiwaju and the party.

They falsely think that Rauf’s loss will be their gain. They are grossly mistaken.

“Their campaign of calumny against Rauf will fail and they will eat the bread of shame and drink the wine of disgrace. Aregbesola is God’s anointed.

“We are also sounding a note of warning to them. Nothing must happen to Rauf Aregbesola. We shall hold them responsible. We are ready to follow him to war and fight on his behalf against any foe.

We shall use everything at our disposal to defend one (or any) of our own in the face of any diabolical a ack.”

•Aregbesola

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 - THURSDAY, MARCH 03, 2022

5

News

Ward Congress: Adeleke, Ogunbiyi Supporters Trade Blame Over Killings Continued from page 1 front of the PDP secretariat in Ipetumodu, Ife North Local Government of the state while scores of the party members sustained injuries.

A member of the PDP, Toheeb Mutalib, was killed at Ward 14, OkeOba, Agberire village in Iwo Local Government by armed poli cal thugs who invaded the ward to disrupt the congress around 1:30pm.

Another member of the PDP, Aremu Olamide, who was shot in the leg by hoodlums at the secretariat of the PDP in Ipetumodu also died in the violent ward congress.

Members of the PDP, par cularly supporters of two major governorship aspirants, Adeleke and Ogunbiyi have been poin ng accusing fingers at one another.

The supporters of Ogunbiyi were accusing the Adeleke camp of being behind the violence that marred the elec on, saying that it imported thugs to unleash mayhem on innocent members of the party during the congress.

Commen ng on the outcome of the ward congress, Mr Emmanuel Monyeh, a staunch supporter of Ogunbiyi said Adeleke’s supporters were responsible for the violence that greeted the congress.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday, Monyeh said: “The violence that happened yesterday (Wednesday) was wrong. Some mes ago, some people were beaten up at the party secretariat (Akin Adeyi, Diran Odeyemi, Soji Adagunodo). A er that, the people who perpetrated that act were compensated with alerts because they were reported to the police and were arrested and sent to deten on.

They received alert which served as compensa on for assault in favour of a par cular candidate.

“At that me, because there was no punishment or reprimand for that kind of ac on, it became a thing of glorifica on; as they were able to embarrass top people especially the high-ranking ones within the party without consequences.

“The only way people felt they could gain atten on and recogni on of people who are dispensing these funds was to make sure that they

physically embarrass any top ranking member of the party that is against the ambi on of Senator Ademola Adeleke.

“This emboldened them to such an extent that the same thing that led to the exit of the former governor of the state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke from the PDP when he was assaulted by the then Minister of Police Affairs, is the same thing they now applied to former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola at a hotel in Osogbo.

“Oyinlola incidentally has not been visibly acve in taking side with anybody. But because the culture of in midaon has become established within the party as a means of gaining a en on, people started shou ng at him and there was no disclaimer whatsoever un l a er there was a counter demonstra on in Okuku.

“The disclaimer came as a sort of a erthought.

Any me you disagree with anyone in that group, their claims are that ‘you are a mole, an APC member or you are working for Oyetola’.

“When they say that the people who were affected by the violence were not PDP members, how many people know the picture of every PDP member? Can you see a man and know from his face that he is a PDP member or a none PDP member?

“At the end of the day, if the PDP cket is secured, is that how the vote for the general elecon will be secured? Will it lead voters to vote for the party a er you have secured the cket using obnoxious means?

Speaking on Rave FM’s Frank Talk programme yesterday in Osogbo, Prince Diran Odeyemi, a supporter of Adeleke, absolved its camp from the violence that rocked the congress.

He said: “In a situaon whereby you have six people contes ng for a posi on, there are bound to be compe on, alterca on and skirmishes and that is poli cs for you, but the most unfortunate aspect is when people become too desperate.

“In the spirit of serving people, I don’t believe you should be so desperate to the extent of moving around with thugs, trying to disturb the process.

“In every poli cal par-

•Some delegates of Osun Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), displaying their membership card during the party’s Delegate Ward Congress in Ilesa. es, we always have people we called ‘Aanigba groups’ (the non-conformists) and whatever the party does to ensure a free and fair elec on, they will always come back to go against it or blackmail whoever is trying his best.

“Whoever is not playing their games or when things are not going in

their favour, they will always find an excuse. The commissioner of police in the state made sure the hall we used was secured for everybody. Whoever was in the hall is a party member.

“If they are now saying that thugs entered the hall to distraught the process, it is a mere allega on and an excuse

because they know they have failed. When you are in the minority, they will always find an excuse to fault the process but in this case, the failed.

“They are blaming Senator Ademola Adeleke because they don’t have support from anywhere.

They know they are failures and I want to say that nobody brought thugs an-

ywhere. Whatever happened, let us leave it to the police to inves gate.

“Everything went well on Wednesday and may the soul of the diseased rest in peace. It is quite unfortunate that it happened and I’m using this opportunity to call on the police to ensure that whoever is involved is brought to book.”

Osere Stream Channel Turning Into Refuse Site, Open Defecation In Ikirun Yusuf Oketola

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T is unbelievable that a water that supposed to be a natural benefit for people of a par cular community for a general purpose is being polluted by the same residents through an act of indiscipline.

In spite of efforts by government at all level to provide clean water for the people and curtail all kind of ailments that can be contacted through water, especially cholera which evolve as a result of water contamina on, many people s ll find it difficult to take heed to proper hygiene.

One of the stream begging for government’s urgent a en on is the Osere stream located in Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government, state of Osun.

The stream channel has been heavily turned into a refuse site and a place for open defeca on by residents of the community.

The water channel that cut through Ikirun township is as a complete refuse clog and putrid stagnant water, cons tu ng a clear looming danger should there be downpour as we are about to enter raining season.

OSUN DEFENDER gath-

ered that traders at OjaOba market in Ikirun have contributed more to the dumping of refuse into the water channel which has led to blockage.

The state of the water channel also depicts the inability of state government of Osun in carrying out orienta on on proper refuse

•The Osere stream channel.

dumping and open defecaon for the people in various community. No wonder the state was ranked the third dir est state in Nigeria.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, a resident of the community who do not want his name in print, said human

indiscipline has made the flourishing stream a refuse dump site.

The source opined that people living at the embankment of the water channel have made the stream their preferred place, not only for refuse dump, but for open defecaon.

He noted that few houses along that corridor have func oning toilet facili es of their own which led them to resort to agelong prac ce of improper sanita on.

“This is what human indiscipline has made of Osere water channel in Ikirun. There is unceasing efforts of turning the once flourishing stream to refuse dump site.

“Our people that lives in the embankment of the water channel have made the stream their preferred place, not only for refuse dump, but for open defecaon.

“That is a fact known to the authority. Only very few houses along that corridor have func oning toilet facili es of their own. Occupants of other houses resort to age long prac ce of open defeca on and refuse dumping in the stream channel.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 - THURSDAY, MARCH 03, 2022

6

I

seek refuge in Allah from the devil the accursed and I start in the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful. I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. I also testify that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is His Messenger. May the benediction be upon his soul, members of his household, his companions and those who follow his ways till the last day.

Say O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have

Religion

JUMAT SERMON By Imaam Raji, Musa Oladapo

transgressed against themselves by committing evil deeds and sins. Despair not of Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly He is oft Forgiving Most Merciful.

This discourse would not have come at any other time better than this, when various degrees of sins are being committed every moment unabated. And if truly we are seeking the countenance of Our Creator, we must put an end to wallowing in sins. Allah (SW) our Creator honours and prefers us to other creatures.

He gives us reasoning faculty that makes us to excel above other creatures. But alas! What we are doing is contrary to the expectations of Allah, and then we still expect His mercy to be in abundance, whereas mercy and blessing of Allah are not given to sinners and perpetrators of evil acts.

Allah (SW) is happy when a servant repents to Him, because He was created by Himself and created other things for the benefit of mankind. He (Allah) has made the heavens and earth and whatever therein of service to the mankind. Even the angels whom we believe to be closer to Allah, Allah still makes them to be subservient to mankind by charging them (angels) to guard mankind at all times. As a result of this uniqueness of mankind, he has succeeded in having a manifest enemy (satan) or devil who always wishes to distant mankind from Allah. He (devil) always provides paths that will lead him (mankind) to distant him from Allah. In fact in most cases, he (devil) will make the path attractive and adorable for his perceived enemy to follow because his happiness lies in that. Should somebody fall prey to his trick, he rejoices at this type of situation, because he considers it as part of his score card over the mankind.

Let Us Turn To Allah In Repentance If however, a servant turns to Allah in repentance, the devil became annoyed because he regards it as a loss, but he will still strive harder probably such person can still be in his shackle. It is our duty therefore to do everything humanly possible to free ourselves from this avowed enemy. If a servant returns to His master confessing his misdeeds with moody appearance, there is every probability for the master to change his anger to pleasure and punishment to reward.

Nevertheless, my esteemed readers, sincere repentance has five conditions that must be in place before Allah accepts it. These will be explained in brevity: (1) Repentance must be SINCERE for the continence of Allah, without any atom of showoff or because of worldly gain. If it is otherwise, such repentance is not accepted. Allah says: “So, call you upon Allah making worship pure for Him” (Quran 4:14).

(2) Showing of REGRET over one’s misdeed: This must reflect on him of being sober and blaming his soul for the sin he has committed.

(3) Total REFRAIN from such sin: This is necessary because if he persists in repeating the same act, it appears as if he does not take Allah serious or his repentance could be likened to being sarcastic. This type of repentance lacks sincerity of purpose and it is not accepted.

(4) Taking a FIRM DECISION not to commit such sin in future.

(5) The repentance must be TIMELY: i.e. when it is acceptable, this is divided into two; general and specific.

The general one is the repentance a sinner makes before the sunrise from where it used to set. Any repentance after this is not acceptable.

Allah says; “The day that some of the signs of your Lord do come, no good will it do to a person to believe then, if he believe not before, nor earned good (by performing deeds of righteousness) through his faith” (Quran 6:158). “The signs of your Lord” in the verse was interpreted to be rising of the sun from the west (where it used to set) by the Prophet (SAW).

The specific one is the repentance that one makes when one is dying, this is not acceptable for Allah says; “Allah only accepts the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and foolishness and repent soon (i.e. afterwards). It is they whom Allah will forgive and Allah is Ever all Knower, all Wise. And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says; now I regret, nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them we have prepared a painful torment” (Quran 4:17-18). Any repentance makes during the time of death is not acceptable.

You will all recall that Pharaoh made the same attempt but Allah turned it down. Allah says; “till drowning overtook him, he said, I believe that none has the right to be worshipped but He (Allah) in whom the children of Israel believe, and I am one of Muslims” (Quran 10:10). Listen to what Allah says thereafter “Now (you believe) while you refused to believe before and you were one of the Mufsiduun (evil doers, the corrupter)” (Quran 10:91).

With this last condition, it is pertinent to encourage ourselves and stress the need to flee to Allah in repentance because of our being shortsighted in nature, only Allah knows what the future holds for us.

Read full article on www.osundefender.com •Imaam Raji, Musa Oladapo is the Chief Imaam of Telemuland, State of Osun.

Crime

45-Yr-Old Arraign For Allegedly Destroying Farm Land Bolanle Lasisi

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45-year-old man, Wakili Aderogbin has been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly unlawfully destroying a farm land as a result of land tussle in Ikire.

Aderogbin was accused of forcefully entering into a farm land which belongs to one Hammed Abass and willfully destroyed coconut and mango trees and other economical trees valued yet unknown.

According to the charge sheet obtained

by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the defendant with others at large commi ed the offence on August 25, 2021 at Wakajaye Ologbin Village via Ikire, Irewole local government, state of Osun.

The alleged offence, according to the police, contravened Sec ons

517, 81 and 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun state, 2002.

However, the accused person pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of forceful entry, conspiracy and malicious damage levelled against

him.

Defence counsel, Olatunbosun Oladipupo, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on a liberal term, noting that the offence was bailable.

Oladipupo noted that the defendant would

provide reliable surety if admi ed to bail.

In his ruling, Magistrate A.A Adebayo admi ed the accused person to bail in the sum of N500,000 with a surety.

The case was adjourned ll April 11, 2022 for men on.

Osun Govt. Alerts Residents On Dangers Of Poor Waste Management Sodiq Yusuf

T

HE State Government of Osun has sounded a note of warning to residents of the state on the dangers associated with poor waste management in their domains.

Commissioner for Environment and Sanita on, Mr. Sola Oladepo, noted that if wastes are not properly managed, it can lead to serious environmental problems ranging from avoidable poor aesthe cs, odour, diseases, flood and erosion as well as climate change, among

others.

Oladepo disclosed this at the flag-off of the Youth and Women Empowerment Capacity Building Workshop on “Sound Waste Management” held in Osogbo, the state capital, on Wednesday.

He further noted that the popula on projec on of Nigeria in 2050 will be 400m, saying that waste generaon and its a endant problems would have doubled, if concerted efforts are not made to tackle the menace.

The commissioner said: “As we all know; waste genera on is an

intrinsic part of our daily ac vi es. Every living human being generate waste, in fact all living being will also become waste at the expira on of their individual’s life cycle.

“Waste genera on through human acvi es is a func on of popula on, urbanisaon as well as social class. Our industries and commercial acvi es also contribute in no small measure to waste genera on.

In the world today, wastes are no longer considered as wastes, but resources that are wrongly located.”

Police Arraign Man Over Goat Theft In Osogbo Yusuf Oketola

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OLICE authority in the State of Osun has arraigned a 27-year-old man, Rasheed Kola, before an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing a goat in Osogbo.

Kola was said to have stolen a goat worth sum of N25,000, property of one Opeyemi Akinokun which he later unlawfully slaughtered.

According to the charge sheet obtained

by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the defendant commi ed the offence on February 23, 2022 at about 2:45am at Lajomo, Oke-Odo, Olude Area, Osogbo.

The alleged offence, according to the police, contravened Sec ons 450 and 383 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol.II, Laws of

Osun State, 2002.

But the defendant pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of stealing and unlawful killing the goat.

Defence counsel, T.B Ayodele prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on a liberal term, no ng that he will provide a reliable surety.

However, the bail applica on was opposed by the police prosecutor, Mr Kayode Adeoye, who claimed that the defendant would jump bail if granted.

The presiding Magistrate, Adekanmi Adeyeba, however, admi ed the defendant to bail on a sum of N20,000 with a surety.

The case was adjourned ll March 9, 2022 for hearing.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 - THURSDAY, MARCH 03, 2022

7

News

Osun 2022 Guber Election Will be Conclusive – INEC Kazeem Badmus

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HE Independent Naonal Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed its readiness towards the July 16 gubernatorial elec on in the State of Osun, maintaining that there will not be anything like inconclusive in the elecon.

This is just as the commission said it has recorded about 600,020 registered voters online, while over 250,000 have completed their registra on.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Prof. Abdulganiy Raji, made this known on Tuesday during a roundtable discussion with stakeholders ahead of the 2022 gubernatorial elec on.

The discussion was organised by Jus ce Development and Peace Makers Centre (JDPMC) Osogbo.

According to Raji, the commission has received non-sensi ve materials for the elec on and efforts were ongoing to ensure a hitch free elec on.

He said: “We are here to talk with the stakeholders, especially the CSOs and we have explained our level of preparedness and all the things we have put in place to ensure we have a smooth elec on.

“We have taken the delivery of the materials we needed for the elec on except for sensi ve materials.

All we are solici ng for is the en re coopera on of the people of Osun state.

“We are ready to conduct a free, fair, credible, inclusive and conclusive elecon. We want a violent free elec on.

“Osun state has recorded about 600,020 registered voters online and over 250,000 have completed their registra on”.

Earlier in his welcome address, the General Coordinator, Jus ce Development and Peace Makers Centre, Osogbo, Rev. Peter

•As JDPMC Organises Roundtable Discussion Akinkunmi, appealed to all stakeholders to work together in other to have a hitch-free elec on.

Akinkunmi said: “Electoral process in Osun state in the past few years has been wonderful as a result of the collabora on between INEC, Civil Society Organisa ons and the media as well. It has been a beau ful experience and one which has enabled us to progress meaningfully in our democracy in Osun state.

“We need to have constant conversa on with one another to understand the new development and the issues arising from such development in order to enable us prepare accordingly.

“Just as INEC has been improving on the use of technology and this has had consequence in the process of elec on, so also, the civil society organisa on and the media are improving in their

•Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Abdulganiy Raji with the General Coordinator, Justice Development and Peace Makers Centre, Osogbo, Rev. Peter Akinkunmi and other stakeholders after the programme. adop on of technology in their par cipa on in the electoral process.

“All of this have warrant-

ed that there is a need for us to have exchanges that will help us to understand the space where we are go-

urged INEC to work with security agencies to have a violence free elec on and minimise vote buying.

E-Tech A Locus Of Opportunity For Smart Entrepreneurs - UNIOSUN VC Kazeem Badmus

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HE Vice-Chancellor, Osun State University, Professor Odunayo Adebooye, has called on the youth to leverage the global pivot towards digital technology to create scalable businesses that would generate wider employment and wealth.

This is just as he lamented the alarming rise in cases of crime and other vices among Nigerian youth.

Adebooye made the call on Tuesday during an event tagged ‘The Osun Innovent’, held at the University campus, Osogbo.

The event was organised through the joint effort of Opolo Global Innova-

ons Limited and the Bank of Industry.

Themed, ‘Innova on and Entrepreneurship for Na onal Development through University Communi es’, the event also witnessed the launch of a Digital Innova on and Business Start-up Hub (DIBUSH) for the University.

According to Adebooye, youth could put their talents to be er uses instead of embracing sharp pracces which offer only shortterm benefits.

He said: “It is saddening that youths of today employ sharp prac ces to live beyond their means. The money you are looking for through sharp prac ces can be go en through legi -

mate means like E-tech.

“A lot of youths today are raking in huge sums from digital knowledge and you can join the trend by taking advantage of schemes like this.”

“When I was wri ng my mission statement in August, 2021 while applying for the UNIOSUN Vice-Chancellorship, I expressly stated that I would strengthen our digital hub in the area of Machine Learning, and I am happy that today, this mission is on the route to fulfilment,” Adebooye promised to strengthen the University’s Digital Innova on and Business Start-up Hub in the area of Machine Learning.

In his keynote address,

Fraud, Extortion As Police Hunt ‘Yahoo Boys’...

Continued from page 2 the gi cards on his phone from January, 2021 and then went through his bank statements and blockchain wallet.

“He was asked to withdraw 153k (N153, 000) from his account while his phone was taken from him. While the officers were with his phone, his blockchain security key was reset and bitcoins and usd (US dollar) worth $4k ($4,000) transferred from his blockchain wallet.

“He lost access to the wallet and is only receiving email no fica ons as we speak. A er careful interven on, the vic m was invited by the same PRU unit and they are asking for an amicable resolu on which will involve refunding part of the

ing to operate ahead of the coming elec on.”

Some of the stakeholders who spoke at the event

transferred funds.

“We demand iden ficaon and prosecu on of the officers involved in this crime since email no fica ons confirmed the account’s security was breached while the phone was with the officers.

“A total refund of both the #153k (N153, 000) withdrawn from his local bank account and the total refund of the bitcoins worth over $4k ($4000).”

On January 23, 2022, the operator posted on the OsunPoliceWatch: “Update on this case. “The officers who fraudulently extorted the vic m have now been iden fied and detained. The CP, The PPRO and the OC of the PRU unit have all commi ed to enforce

all police disciplinary ac ons to get them punished.

“The vic m has also confirmed that the stolen assets have now been transferred back to him. We thank @PoliceNG_CRU @oluobamzy @ WahidSaka @InsideOsogbo and other cri cal stakeholders who are ensuring that peace is sustained in Osun and this war against police brutality is won.”

The two reported cases are one out of thousands of extor ons of the police.

When contacted, the Police Public Rela ons Officer, Osun Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola said it is wrong to assume that all cases of police extor on are done by officers in the state command.

According to Opalola,

there are policemen who are posted on the expressways from other states for special opera ons, saying that if such officers commit a crime, members of the public will wrongly conclude that they are policemen in Osun.

When asked about the specific men on of the PRU of the Osun command of the police, Opalola said anybody who has complaint against any police officer in Osogbo should not hesitate to report to her office.

She encouraged people to always summon courage to report police misconduct to the nearest police sta on or office of the Police Public Rela ons Officer at the headquarters of the police.

the Chairman of Opolo Global Innova ons Limited, Dr. Segun Aina, spoke about how the organisaon is on a journey to

support innovators in Nigeria and clamoured for the commercializa on of innova on and research works.

Osun APC Can’t Stand Weakest Opposition Now, Says Salinsile Fatai Salaudeen

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HE fac onal Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Rasaq Salinsile, yesterday said that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has weakened the party Salinsile said Oyetola the APC could not stand the weakest opposi on in the state currently, accusing the governor of bastardising the chances of the party in coming elecon.

He spoke while answering ques ons from journalist in Osogbo, on Wednesday.

According to him, some valuable members of the APC have defected to the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) because of the maladministra on of the party affairs by Oyetola.

“The APC was badly managed and when we discovered that things were going out of hand, we formed The Osun Progressives (TOP) to save the party from sinking. TOP is a damage control mechanism for the party not to die a premature death.

“Despite the formaon of TOP, many valuable members have defeated to the main opposi on party, PDP. But for TOP, a good number of people who

would have defected are within the group and that is what is giving us hope of maintaining victory in our state come the next elecon.”

Salinsile described the last Saturday governorship primary elec on of the party as kangaroo, saying that Oyetola and his followers were celebra ng electoral fraud.

“The primary elec on we held last Saturday was not an elec on. It was a kangaroo. It was marred with irregulari es. The governor and his followers are celebra ng electoral fraud.

“Oyetola is not popular to poll one-third of the total number of the votes of APC members in the state. The Governor knows how he manipulated the APC primary. We will take decisive step on it”, Salinsile said.

•Salinsile

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 - THURSDAY, MARCH 03, 2022 VOL. 17 NO 08 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

Crime Osun Govt. Alerts Page 6 Residents On Dangers Of Poor Waste Management

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LTHOUGH, it has always been living with us especially since return to civil rule in 1999, the term, “stomach infrastructure”, came into our poli cal lexicon in 2014 when Ayodele Fayose of Eki state used it to undermine his poli cal opponents. Stomach infrastructure refers to the use of food items and money to arm-twist voters during elec oneering campaign. It connotes that filling up belly takes preference over infrastructural development.

If Eki State that is adjudged to be one of the most literate and poli cally sophis cated states in Nigeria could be a vic m of poli cs of belly against manifestoesdriven choice of candidate for sustainable development, we are in for trouble.

We are in a global village where the speed of ICT determines prosperity and dominance with 5G deployment being the new war fron er. In this village, we have been le far behind to the extent that primordial needs like food, clothing and shelter have become challenges to vast majority of the people. In actual fact, we have become a popula on of liability to mankind. Under this circumstance, one would have thought that the way out is complete overhaul of the knowledge produc on system to become problem conscious, solu on oriented, such that it can deliver cri cally needed skills and engage almost the en re youth in na on building. In this way, in a decade, food, shelter, clothing will be steadily resolved by integra ng mechanised agriculture with engineering skills. On the basis of agro-allied processing, we can then move to industrial age which s ll leaves us millions mileage to catch up with people who have conquered the moon and have travelled in and out of the solar system.

What do we have instead? Archaic curriculum handed to us by the colonial masters, scarcity of basic school teachers, woeful school environment, university shutdown with ASUU on incessant strike as a result of government irresponsibility, lack of ar sans as many of them have converted to Okada riders or yahoo boys, all industries gone and their facili es turned to worship centres. How many do I list?

In this milieu and season of poli cal campaigns, what is ordinarily expected of any responsible poli cian, especially those who lay claim to progressivism, is a campaign focussed on these challenges with ar culated responses. What is obtainable, instead, is money and food supports - repackaged stomach infrastructure - for the voters; packaging money for Obas and opinion moulders under the guise of consulta on and visita on; use of thugs to a ack and disperse mee ngs of perceived enemies. Interes ngly, the thugs have fully realised their nuisance values to the poli cians.

They live large with resources allo ed them and solicit chie aincy tles from the tradi onal rulers with the influence and backing of their coryphaeus.

It is high me Nigerians, especially

Fine-tuning Stomach Infrastructure the youth and the poor people, held these callous poli cians accountable by making their clear request and statement of what they expect of them in terms of commitment to func onal educa on, good roads, employment opportuni es, end to fuel subsidy fraud and local refinement of crude oil, etc. Collec on of rice and money, however finely repackaged, in exchange for votes is a recipe for permanent wallow in abject poverty and penury while poli cians and their thugs con nue to enjoy our collec ve wealth.

The bi er truth is that “in a democracy, people get the leaders they deserve”-

STRIKER

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Joseph de Maistre. Power belongs to the people especially the youth and the poor people who are the largest in our society. Once that power is transferred to the poli cian via vo ng on an elecon day, he/she becomes powerful with the mandate transfer and plays with our lives and future having bought power with exchange of rice and s pend.

I don’t know whether heaven and hellfire exist as nobody has gone and come back to confirm but the undisputable fact is that we are alive and will someday die. With the stupendous wealth and resources God endows us as

“One would have thought that the way out is complete overhaul of the knowledge production system to become problem conscious, solution oriented, such that it can deliver critically needed skills and engage almost the entire youth in nation building” a country, we should have be er working and decent living condi on. How do we explain living in penury in the midst of plenty? The youth and the poor should inculcate discipline by refusing food items and money from these coldhearted poli cians who feed on their ignorance and indiscipline. If the people could muster the poli cal will right from this forthcoming poli cal dispensa on, be er life awaits them. A slave is half free once he/she is conscious of his/her slavery and ready to fight for freedom.

It is me you stopped selling your birth right and future because of common porridge. It is self inflicted bondage.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

CSOs And Democracy

HE season of electoral ac vi es leading to the 2023 general elec on is fully with us at a me Nigeria faces daun ng socio-economic and security challenges. Even fuel scarcity and queues at filling sta on that were thought to be a thing of the past are back amidst conspiratorial plans to hike PMS pump prices.

In a democracy; government of the people by the people and for the people, not every ci zen can be in government. The sovereign powers of the people are delegated to certain ci zens to exercise. However, if the people are not to finally surrender their sovereignty and become slaves to their government, they must engage government consistently on its ac ons, which ought to guarantee them “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” To do so, the people exist in several social, cultural, civil, religious, trade, community and poli cal non-governmental organisa ons for the pursuit of diverse interests related to their prosperity, and act at cri cal mes as pressure groups to affect the policies and plans of government: suppor vely when those policies are favourable; opposing, when detrimental.

At the very apex of those civil organisaons are the trade and labour movement, and then followed by all others, including the students’ movement. Civil Society Organisa ons are such non-governmental organisa ons specifically setup for the advocacy, protec on and defence of civil liber es and rights: women, children, environment, workplaces, democracy, educa on, health, accountability, etc.

At decisive moments in the historical journeys of na ons, it is not the poli cal elites and their poli cal par es that shape discuss and ac ons for change and development, it is the ac vi es of civil society organisa ons, which are rooted in deep thinking, upli ing vision, noble ac ons and patrio c self-sacrifices. In America, in the cri cal decades of the 60s and 70s, it was the Civil Rights Movement led basically by the Southern Chris an Leadership Conference and the Na on of Islam with prominent leaders like Mar n Luther King Jnr and Malcolm X respec vely that drove the redefini on of the American Dream. Check the history of most na ons and you will find similar parallels.

Nigeria under military rule a ained the brightest age, so far, of CSOs as shinning lights and drivers of social change and development. Sadly, return to democracy in 1999 and the engagement in poli cs, government and related ac vi es by most of the ac vists in these organisa ons led to the relapse of CSOs and their decline into the shadows. Indeed, today, most have turned themselves into appendages and hand maidens funding agencies, foreign and local, and of any government in power.

Neither the na onal stage nor the State of Osun theatre is spared of the sorry experience of hurriedly concocted CSOs that are nothing other than errand-agencies for the dirty works of sordid powers, and golddigging pla orm for degenerates and renegades.

However, when darkness and dark deeds become the signs of the me, it is

me for votaries of light to step forwards and shine bright. Genuine CSOs as well as other socio-economic, cultural, religious and poli cal pla orm s ll abound, fa gued as they are in the presence of seemingly overwhelming “State of the Na on” and complexi es of “What is To Be done?”

Rather than let their hearts palpate upon the goodies in the bullion vans that lurk around the corners, they should focus on the heroism that the me demands. If they are resourceful, the resources they need will arrive legi mately outside the realms of corrup on. They should lead in asking the ques ons that needed asking and providing answers, and mobilising the people around those answers.

What manner of poli cs does Nigeria need today? What kind of poli cal par es?

What manner of manifestoes? Do age, sex, religion and tribe ma er? Why and how?

Where is the place of educa on, health, produc vity, food, shelter, clothing, industry, federalism, human rights, self-determina on, jus ce system and public services, for a few examples, in the present equaons and op ons? What are the best strategies, tac cs and programmes, alliances and struggles, to make them dominant factors in the polity and biggest impact on the upcoming elec ons?

It is by doing the right things well that the wrong things, wrong people and impostors will be exposed for what and who they are. It is the decline of goodness that allows the ascendancy of evil and corrup on everywhere, including within Civil Society Organisa ons.

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