Osun Defender Online Version of April 9, 2021

Osun Can’t Afford To Slip Back To The Days Of Violence – APYF

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Those Behind Attacks On Custodial Centres, Police Headquarters Will Be Hunted - Aregbesola Page 4

Police Rescue 2 Abducted Chinese Nationals In Osun

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FRIDAY, APRIL 09 - THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021 VOL 16 NO 13

How To End Insecurity In Osun

Traditional Ruler, Experts Call For Suspension Of Mining Page 2

Oyetola: Centralised Policing System Not Working

•Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in discussion with the Chairman, National Peace Committee and Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, during stakeholders’ meeting held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

FRIDAY, APRIL 09 - THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

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By Ismaeel Uthman

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N the wake of rising kidnapping and other criminal activities in some parts of the State of Osun, a traditional ruler and experts in the state have come up with suggestions on how to nip the security threats in the bud.

The challenges of insecurity have been worrying residents of the state, who are wondering how and why kidnapping, armed robbery, violent clashes between rival cult groups are on the increase and claiming lives in the state in recent times.

However, some stakeholders in the state have attributed the spate of kidnapping to mining activities in Ijesaland, just as they called on the State Government to suspend mining to curb the nefarious acts of criminals.

According to the stakeholders, mining activities in Ijesaland had attracted many criminals who surveyed the land before embarking on the kidnapping business.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday, the traditional ruler of Itagunmodi, a mining community, Oba Michael Fabadewa-Kosile, Asegbofawekun II, called for

News

How To End Insecurity In Osun

• Traditional Ruler, Experts Call For Suspension Of Mining

Pharmacist Israel Oyagbile, with family members during the burial service of his late brother, Pa Michael Popoola Oyagbile, held at First Baptist Church Ekosin, Odo-Otin LGA of the State of Osun, recently. suspension of mining activities in the area, reiterating that it was responsible for kidnapping activities in Ijesaland.

Oba Fabadewa-Kosile said, “I have said it over time and I will repeat it, there should be no mining again in my community.

The government should stop mining activities if

they want to put an end to insecurity. If not for the gold, we will not have influx of the Northerners in the community.

“It is no longer news that I had been kidnapped. Those that kidnapped me then were Fulanis. They could have come to my community on the pretence of mining.

I don’t want them again, the Northerners are too many and they constitute threat to the security of my community.

“The government is not also cooperating. The government should not prioritise revenue being generated from the mining activities above security of lives and property

controlled from the centre.

The governor identified the sources of insecurity as poverty, which creates a gulf between the rich and the poor; inequitable allocation of resources, which pits one region against the other; injustice, which makes

offended parties resort to self-help and consequently, causes them to take up arms against the state.

He added that other sources of insecurity include illiteracy, which makes innocent citizens willing tools at the hands of unscrupulous elites

and elements; youth unemployment, which makes able-bodied and educated youths susceptible to crime; among others.

Oyetola noted that security, governance, and sustainable economic de-

Oyetola: Centralised Policing System Not Working

By Sodiq Yusuf

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OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, has said that the centralised security system in Nigeria is not working, saying that one sure way to confront the insecurity challenges headlong is to decentralise policing system to meet the nation’s current realities.

According to Oyetola, the constitutional provision that assigns the role of Chief Security Officer to state governors ought to have provided corresponding empowerment and control of the security agencies to the same governors to enable them perform their responsibilities as security heads in real times.

Oyetola stated this on Wednesday at the 2nd Annual Colloquium of the Sultan Maccido Institute for Peace, Leadership and Development Studies, University of Abuja.

While acknowledging the efforts of the Federal Government through the Police at establishing Community Police, the Governor noted that the intervention is inadequate, as it is still being

•Continued on page 7

Symbol’s Quote

“Love for one’s country is undoubtedly a good trait that imbued people with a sense of loyalty and a desire to coexist peacefully with one another, regardless of religion, political affiliation and cultural background”

of the people. Let the government suspend mining activities and see whether we will have peace or not.”

Also, a security expert, Mr. Olalekan Jackson-Ojo, enjoined Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to equip and rely on local security agencies than the conventional security agents, saying that all criminal acts are local.

According to JacksonOjo, Oyetola needs to call security meeting with religious, community, youth and traditional leaders and local security agencies to address the rising spate of challenges woven around insecurity, saying that security is the business of everybody and only becomes that when you involve everybody.

Jackson-Ojo said: “Every other person in the state is supposed to be a stakeholder when it comes to security. After calling the meeting, the governor must show that he can be ruthless. This, coupled with firmness, is the true major attribute of a leader. You can call that meeting a parley and at the same time it could be security summit.

“When you call this people for the first meeting, at the second meeting, you would tell them to go home and meet, and the resolution of their meetings be sent back to the governor. Then the governor should institute a meeting which will still involve all these people and conventional security agencies.

“At the end of the meeting, phone numbers should be exchanged.

A lot of people would not talk when they see something, because they

believe if they talk, they will be called to stand as witnesses. But when there is a parley meeting with the DPOs, dissemination of information will be easier.

“Information is the father of security; without it, there is no security agency that can work effectively.

Then, access control system must be well monitored. All the access roads to Osun, to each of the local government must be monitored by the combination of the government security forces and local security agents.

“There is no crime that is not local because the perpetrators reside in a particular house, street, axis, community and local government. That is why the people at various communities are very important. No DPO can succeed without the help of the locals.

“In security, there is something called the pointer. There are some places that the Police and the government must recruit secretly and used them as an eavesdropper.

They might be commercial motorcyclists. Their role is to move around and gather intelligence for the government.

“There should also be a department in the Police that would relate with these people. Upon getting the information, they would create surveillance in that area until they get the culprits. If we are not doing that, we can’t achieve anything.”

Jackson-Ojo also called on the State Government to suspend mining activities in the state, saying that was key to achieving security balance.

He stated that the influx of Northerners to the state for mining constituted part of the security threats and eventual insecurity in the state.

According to JacksonOjo, the State Government needs to sanitise the mining sector by taking proper and real identity of approved miners, including the artisanal, to flush out the bad eggs among them.

He urged the government to take clue from the closure mining forests in Zamfara State when crimes and criminal acts were increasing.

In his view, the Balogun Agbekoya Worldwide, Dr. Samson Alo, stated that insecurity should not be narrowed down to illegal mining activities, saying that approach to restoring peace and security should be holistic.

Alo said: “I am not in support of Illegal mining, but before the mining •Continued on page 6

PEOPLE FIRST

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By Abiona Wahab Nigeria’s Industrial Relations: In Place Of Strife!

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T really is a season of discontent. The lead story of a leading national newspaper summed it up two days ago, “Courts shut as Judiciary workers begin strike over autonomy.” With so many sectors crucial to the country on strike at the same time, the time is overdue to ask questions about the efficacy as well as the continuing relevance of our attitude to labour relations.

An embryonic labour movement played a glorious role in the struggle against colonialism and in the march to flag Independence. There were casualties; many made the supreme sacrifice; it is unpardonable that national monuments have not been dedicated in remembrance of their sacrifices.

After the attainment of independence, acclaimed unionists such as “Labour leader No 1” Michael Imoudu, became iconic figures going out of history and into legend.

The dysfunction today indicates the imperative to move into

“Using such a framework the government of Ignacio Lula da Silva in Brazil in eight years according to the figures of the world bank pulled forty million people out of poverty. It demonstrably works.”

become not just an impediment to growth but an embarrassment.

As far back as 1969, a government whitepaper “In place of strife” was published as a matter of urgency to break the logjam caused by the adversarial labour relations framework. It was never passed into law but it laid the foundations for profound changes.

Nigeria’s industrial relations system is similarly antediluvian. It has not delivered “life more abundant” and must be reworked. We need to look at other models such as the excellent system used in the Nordic countries and of course Germany’s widely admired “social market” system of fixed term tripartite agreements between government, labour and business. Such systems are based on agreements about inflation levels, unemployment, investments, as well as the widening of access to education, health and social services. Of • Need to move from discord to collaboration course, all agreeanother era for the times have ments are based on the sanctity changed. The entire system in of contracts. Using such a frameoperation now is outdated and is work, the government of Ignacio becoming self-defeating to all in- Lula da Silva in Brazil in eight volved. High inflation, continuous years, according to the figures of depreciation of the naira, uncom- the World Bank, pulled forty milpetitive trade facilitation processes lion people out of poverty. It dehave resulted into the rapid ero- monstrably works. sion of living standard.

The sensible way out after The British, from whom we this season of discontent is for largely borrowed our industrial Nigeria as a country to adopt a relations framework, have had to new model of industrial relations painfully, over the years, readjust replacing strife with tripartite colfrom the format because it had laboration for the common good.

The Logic Of “Tinubunomics” • An Assessement Of A Paradigm On Offer

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HE Nigerian economy cannot but give every patriotic Nigerian and those feeling its pangs a great concern. In reality and statistics, the pains, the poverty, the inequality and the insecurity it has wrath on the Nigerian people are not just too grim, but seem at the moment, very rare in the country’s history. If the rates of inflation and unemployment can stand at 17% and 33% respectively (the second highest in the world) and are still climbing and poverty is still widely ravaging, what else do we need to prove that the economy and the people living under it are in a dire strait? The World Bank has also predicted that Nigeria is likely to record the lowest per capita income in forty years before the end of this year.The ills of poverty, inequality,social insecurity,inflation and unemployment had long been theoreti- •Tinubu cally predicted and proven by Karl Marx as can say all private sector activity is economiinevitable in every capitalist society of which cally positive. Government can be wasteful or Nigeria is a pure epitome made possible by it can be the key component to growth just as colonialism, sustained by neo-colonialism and a private sector business can function profitcapped by the capitalist policy of privatisation ably or spend itself into bankruptcy.” He arwhich Nigeria had pursued years back. Small gued further,”cost of governance is always a wonder then that, in order to mitigate the cur- key factor in the socio-economic development rent mass sufferings, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has of any nation. But at this year’s it is also one side of Sardauna Me- “Production will create jobs an important coin. morial Lecture, and wealth, boost our econo- We must not look advocated a at the cost alone.We stronger and my, reduce poverty and crime must weigh the cost wider state in- rate because the sizeable job- against the benefits tervention in derived therefrom.” the Nigerian less youths will be engaged for The developeconomy. While massive production” ment of any poputhis is not Marxlous nation, he said, ism in its pure “has always been form, it is one of the plethoras of variants of dependent on the ability of the government to Marxism, which to ardent Marxist will pass allocate sufficient funds to projects and profor revisionism and heresy. grammes that can create and encourage endurIn any event, he had at that lecture articu- ing development and growth.” Further still, lated and submitted as the chairman that, “we he maintained that “where the private sector must reject that mode of thinking that assumes is too weak or unable, the government must that government expenditure is intrinsically fill the void.This means government must not unproductive as well as harmful to the econo- be afraid to embark on an activist fiscal policy my.It is not the fact that government expendi- to create jobs, build infrastructure and develture is intrinsically wrong any more than one op our industrial (sector), as well as continue to improve agriculture”. The overall sense in all these assertions is that, the adoption of wholesale economic liberalism by our country is inappropriate at this juncture of her national development, as it will continue to sentence people into joblessness and penury.

The Nigerian situation is much more precarious and thus demand a much more state intervention granted the dependent nature of its economy, coupled with the fact that it is majorly driven by sales of primary products, oil being the most dominant.

Read full article on www.osundefender.com OSUN DEFENDER IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER, MAGAZINE OR ANY PUBLICATION WHATSOEVER

•Dr. Adebisi writes from the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, Ondo State.

FRIDAY, APRIL 09 - THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

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News Those Behind Attacks On Custodial Centres, Police Headquarters Will Be Hunted - Aregbesola

By Ismaeel Uthman

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IGERIA’S Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that those behind the attacks on custodial centres, Police Headquarters and stations in Nigeria will be hunted to the ends of the earth.

Aregbesola emphasized the grim resolve of the Federal Government to go after the perpetrators and bring the full weight of the law to bear on them, saying that they can only run, but they cannot hide.

The minister stated this on Tuesday, when he visited the Owerri Custodial Centre, Imo State, according to a press statement by the Director of Press, Ministry of Interior, Mr. A.B. LereAdams Gunmen had on Monday attacked the Owerri Custodial Centre and the Imo State Command Headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force, in which 1,844 inmates were freed while the armoury was also looted.

According to Aregbesola, the coordinated attack was the worst of such ever witnessed in living memory, maintaining that unprovoked attacks on the institutions of state, especially the law enforcement institutions is nothing short of a declaration of war on the Nigerian state and her people.

The former governor of the State of Osun said: “During the #ENDSARS riots of late last year, there were coordinated attacks on custodial centres in Edo State, while an unsuccessful attempt was made in Lagos. Thus, a pattern of syndicated attacks on custodial centres is emerging.

“Attacking Police Headquarters could only have been intentioned to cripple the Nigerian state and stop it from its duty of protecting the lives and property of the people. While the attack on a custodial centre and forcible freeing of inmates was meant to imperil law-abiding citizens with possible harm that could come to them from hardened criminals on the loose.

“These acts therefore are capable of unleashing anarchy and gravely imperil the lives and property of the Nigerian

people. The perpetrators are without doubt the enemies of the people and should be treated as such.

“It also has all the characteristics of terrorism, meant to put fear in the people, disrupt communal peace and create disaffection among the people.

“The Federal Government will react appropriately by going after these criminals and making0 them to face the full wrath of the law. We will leave no stone unturned in fishing them out. Make no mistakes; they will be hunted to the ends of the earth. They can only run, but they cannot hide. We shall bring them to justice, or in the alternative, take justice to them.”

Aregbesola urged all escaped inmates to voluntarily return to custody and that those who heed this call will be given amnesty on the possible consequences of escaping from lawful custody.

While advising all correctional officers to be vigilant and take the security of the facilities and the inmates serious more than ever before; he also assured them of the Federal Government’s determination to ensure their safety at all times.

“Additional security

will be provided for all custodial centres from now on, for the safety of personnel and inmates and security of the facil-

ities. Full investigation will also commence immediately”, he said.

The minister called on citizens with use-

ful information on the perpetrators of these dastardly acts and the 1,844 inmates that escaped from law-

•Customers waiting tirelessly to lodge complaints at MTN office, Dada Estate, Osogbo on Thursday.

Photo: OLUSHOLA ADERINTO

Police Rescue 2 Abducted Chinese Nationals In Osun

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WO Chinese nationals, Messrs Zhao Jian (33) and Wen (50), who were kidnapped by gunmen on

Monday at Okepa/Itikan Village, a gold mining site in Atakunmosa West Local Government of the State of Osun, have been

rescued by the Police.

The gunmen invaded the site and engaged security guards in a gun duel.

However, Jian and

NANTMP Dissociates Members From Herbalists Caught With Human Parts

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HE National Association of Nigeria Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) in the State of Osun has disassociated itself from herbalists and other people caught with human parts across the state.

According to NANTMP, no member of the association has been found wanting or accused of any criminal act, saying that the people caught with human parts do not fear God. The Chairman of the association in the state, Mr. Olatunji Maruf, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said: “Traditionalists

ful custody to inform the law enforcement agency nearest to them as an act of patriotism.

caught with human parts are not our members. Those people do not fear God. None of our members has been found wanting.

“People are seeing us as killers and ritualists, which is not so. No member of our association has ever be found wanting. Traditionalists perpetrating all these criminal activities do not belong to our association.”

Maruf urged Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to constitute a board of traditional medicine practitioners, saying that the step would not only help in fishing out the bad eggs but also

boost the economy of the state.

He said: “I will like to appeal to the Governor of the state to constitute a board of traditional medicine practitioners and also make sure that the board includes those who are members of the association.

“The board was in place during the previous administration, but because those who were given the mantle of leadership were not members of our association, they failed woefully.

“This is the reason why we are appealing to the Governor of the State to make sure that this time around, our

members are the ones on the board and we believed that he is a kindhearted man and he will grant our request.

“This would allow us to fish out the bad eggs who are using our association’s name to perpetrate these heinous acts and hand them over to the security operatives.

It will also boost the economy of the state and help in the sensitisation of our members on our modes of operation”.

Olatunji urged other traditional medicine practitioners who are yet to register with the association to do so to certify their operations.

Wen were rescued around 9pm on Tuesday, according to the Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, yesterday.

Opalola, in a press statement, recalled that, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Olawale Olokode had drafted a strong combined reinforcement of Police Tactical Unit, JTF, and other security outfits to embark on rescue operation of the two kidnapped victims and possible arrest of all the kidnappers.

She said efforts were ongoing to arrest the ‘devils in human clothes’, who were perpetrating the dastardly act.

The Commissioner of Police, according to Opalola, enjoined members of the public to support, cooperate and collaborate with the Police in fighting crime, by providing credible and prompt information, saying that this will always help in forestalling future incident.

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 09 - THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

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Osun Can’t Afford To Slip Back To The Days Of Violence – APYF

By Niyi Olasinde

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socio-political group with the All Progressives Congress, the All Progressives Youth Forum (APYF), has condemned what it described as dastardly attack and assassination attempt on the Coordinator of the Forum in the State of Osun, Comrade Olateju Ishola.

According to APYF, Ishola was almost killed whilst attending a function on Sunday, March 28, 2021, when he was violently attacked by political thugs.

The forum, in a press release made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, said it is disturbed by the incessant spate of squabbles by political actors in the state on social media and on other fora, thereby heating up the polity.

Signed by the National Chairman of the forum, Mr. Ife Adebayo, the press release reads: “We recall how in recent past; Osun was adjudged to be one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria. However, cultism, armed robbery, kidnapping, hooliganism and in recent times, attempted political assassination,

• Condemns Attack On Aregbesola’s Nephew political assassinations, killings and maiming were regular occurrences in Osun until the progressives’ tendency took over power in the state.

“Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, as one of the leaders in the state, must rise to the occasion by calling all warring factions to order. In fact, he must stoop to conquer, or else the APC stands the chance of losing the state

to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Former governor of the state and Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, a foremost leader and dogged fighter for the people, must also ensure the legacy of the party in the state is protected; our party must not disintegrate under his watch.

“Our father and mentor, Chief Bisi Akande,

must play the fatherly role and ensure reconciliation is achieved before the congresses, or else, we the youth will hold these trio responsible if the party fails in the state.

“We also call on the security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Security to fish out the perpetuators of violence in Osun and particularly, arrest and prosecute the masterminds of the attack on Comrade Teju Ishola.”

Transition: Pa Fayemiwo Buried Yesterday

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•Ishola seems to be the lot of the State of the Virtuous.

“This calls for concern, particularly as the government in power is of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. In-fighting between (among) party members, especially one that resort to physical violence must be condemned by all.

“Progressives are known to protect social welfare, encourage pro-

ductiveness and uphold moral values and generate economic reforms.

Anything short of this is unacceptable and should have no place in the party.

“The current level of barbarism in Osun was last witnessed during the administration of a retired Brigadier-General from Okuku, Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state. Bombings,

Social Diary Fidau Prayer For Late Mrs. Adebimpe Salam, Wife Of Former OSHA Speaker, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salam

A Adejumo Fayemiwo of the Abogunloko Dynasty in Ibokun, State of Osun, who passed away on Easter Sunday at the age of 92 years, was yesterday laid to rest in his hometown.

Pa Fayemiwo was a manager coordinating logistics in the transportation sector.

He worked with major transportation companies including SLEE Transport and later re-

tired from the profession in the year 1985, after 35 years of meritorious service.

After his service

years with the transport companies, he later became an evangelist, preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ until he breathed his last on Easter Day. He is survived by children, grand children and many other relations among who are Iyabo, Segun, Wole (USA) and all sons and daughters of the Fayemiwo Abogunloko Dynasty in the ancient town.

Entertainment

Uche Ogbodo Advises Unmarried Women On Pregnancy

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•(L-R) Speaker, State of Osun House Of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, Deputy Governor, Mr. Benedict Alabi and Former Governor of the State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, during the programme, on Wednesday.

•A cross section of Islamic clerics at the event.

CHE Ogbodo, a renowned Nollywood actress and media personality, has advised unmarried women not to opt for abortion.

Ogbodo stated this in a video posted on her Instagram account, maintaining that unmarried women who are above 30 years of age should give birth to their kids, instead of opting for abortion.

In the video, the actress spoke at length about her first pregnancy when she was 27 years old and her current pregnancy now that she is 34.

According to the actress, she is not ashamed of her deeds, neither does she regret being pregnant before and again.

Ogbodo said she does not support abortion, noting that it is against her belief as a Catholic and that is why she managed the ill-treatment given to her by her ex.

“It is silly for a woman at the age of 30 and above to have an abortion all because she’s waiting for a husband. This could actually be detrimental, since women can quickly

reach menopause, unlike the opposite gender”, she said.

The actress revealed that marriage doesn’t favour everyone and what worked for “A” might be a disaster for “B”.

Ogbodo said: “She’s married oh, and she’s looking haggard and old and ugly. So who marriage help? If with mar-

riage and the almighty man that you’re marrying, you’re looking terrible, without marriage, who knows how you go look?

“Please, stop killing your children, especially when you’re of age. Have your kids. If marriage comes, marry oh, if marriage no come, raise your children now.”

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LL praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the universe, the Sustainer, and the Cherisher of our lives. He whom Allah guides is rightly guided, but he whom He sends astray, for him he would find no guiding friend (Waliyy) to lead him (to the right path). I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him and I also bear witness that Prophet Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger. May the peace and mercy of Allah be upon his soul, members of his household, his companions and those who follow him till the day of account-

Religion

JUMAT SERMON By

Imaam Raji Musa Oladapo

ability.

“In the name of Allah, most Gracious most Merciful, and strive hard in Allah’s cause as you ought to strive (with sincerity and with all your efforts that His Name should be superior). He has chosen you (to convey His Message of Islam monotheism to mankind), and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship….”, Qur’an 22:77.

What is fasting (sawm)?It is total abstinence from eating, drinking, sexual intercourse and every other thing capable of rendering one’s fasting invalid such as: telling lies, backbiting, tale-bearing, cheating, deceit, nonsense, etc.

WHY DO WE FAST AS MUSLIMS? The answer to this question is found in the Qur’an where Allah says “O you who believe! Observing As-sawn (the fast) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious)”, Qur’an 2:183. To fast therefore, is a directive from our creator, the Most High. The verse also informs us that the same directive had been given to those before us. Not only that, the purpose of the fast is equally stated, i.e. God’s consciousness.

Apart from the above-quoted verse, the Prophet (SAW) made the fast as the Fourth Pillar of Islam. His tradition says that Jibril (AS) appeared to him and demanded thus: What is Islam? He (the Prophet) said “Islam is that thou shall worship Allah and not associate (anything) with Him and (that) thou keep up prayer and pay the prescribed poor rate (zakat) and fast in Ramadan….”

In order not to be handled with levity or hide under a flimsy excuse, fast must be repaid back by those who have legal reasons to leave it during the Ramadan. Some of these reasons are mentioned in the Qur’an thus; “But if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days”, Quran 2:184.

WHEN DO WE FAST? We fast for the entire month of Ramadan, which is the ninth month of lunar calendar. Allah says; “Observing sawm (fast) for a fixed number of days (29 or 30 days).But if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up)

Preparations For Ramadan from other days. Qur’an 2:184.

It must be on record that Muslims fast only when some conditions are met: (1) We fast when the crescent of Ramadan is sighted and If the crescent is not visible, we should count 30 days for the previous month, and then fast. The Prophet says; “Fast upon the sighting of the crescent and break the fast upon the sighting of the crescent”. (2) A fasting believer must form an intention of fasting for his fast to be valid. This must be done individually and not the traditional chorus way of doing it. Because the Prophet says, “Actions are judged according to the intention”. (3) A fasting believer should not fast on the day of doubt; if he does, his fast would not be counted.

HOW DO WE FAST? A fasting Muslim must abstain from everything capable of rendering his/her fast invalid between the dawn and the dusk. Allah says “….and eat and drink until the white thread (light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread (darkness of night) then complete your sawm (fast) till the nightfall…”Qur’an 2:187. This verse sounds rhetorical by comparing the night with a black thread and the broad day with white thread. The intention is just to determine the period of fasting in a concise manner, so that a fasting person would not eat his/her sahur dawn meal in the midnight and break his fast very too late in the night. While a Muslim is fasting, he should shun vulgar talks, false witnesses and all evils deeds because the aim of fasting is to attain God’s consciousness. The Prophet (SAW) was reported to have said thus; “If a Muslim does not refrain from lying and indecent activities, Allah does not want that he should abstain from eating and drinking.” The aim of fasting, therefore, is to sanitize

the society from all evils.

Whenever the fasting was approaching like this in the past, the companions of the Prophet (SAW) used to share good tiding of it among themselves. Ramadan period is considered to be a period of bumper harvest because of various acts of Ibaadat therein. We should therefore emulate them. The Prophet was quoted as saying: “O believers, take advantage of this great month and magnify it. Allah has blessed you therein with various acts of Ibaadat and other means of nearness to Him. Strive therein and follow Allah’s way for it is a great month. Allah has made it an arena for his servants so they can compete in goodness towards Allah. Therefore, establish prayers (obligatory and non-obligatory) therein, give charity therein, read the Quran therein, be kind to the poor, the needy and the orphans therein and above all, guard your fast jealously against all evil acts. Islam teaches that when anyone of you is fasting, he should abstain from loose talks and the noisy exchange of words. If someone starts cursing him or picks up a quarrel with him, he should tell him: “I am fasting”.

HOW DO WE USHER IN THE RAMADAN? It must be ushered in with pure heart, good intention and high spirit of preparedness to harvest its goodies. Upon arrival of Ramadan, the Prophet said, “There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month which has enjoined you to fast during which the gates of heavens are opened and gates of hell are closed and the rebellious devils are chained up. In it there is a night which is far better than a thousand months and whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.

Because of all the above inspiring words, the companions used to pray fervently to Allah to spare their lives in order to take part in it. The object of their intention is to carry out acts of Ibaadat therein and not to stock food items in their house. Muslims are therefore enjoined to prepare well for the forthcoming Ramadan with a view at maximizing the derivable benefit therein through various recommended acts of ibaadat, because Allah Himself is in charge of its reward. Allah says, “Fasting is Mine and it is I who give reward for it”, (a man) gives up his sexual passion, his food and his drink for my sake. Fasting is like a shield and he who fasts has two joys; a joy when he breaks his fast and a joy when he meets his Lord.

In conclusion, I pray Almighty Allah to count us among those that will partake in it and those that will secure His forgiveness, and above all, count us among the dwellers of Paradise. I seek forgiveness of my sins and yours from Allah The Most Merciful. The ever-Forgiving.

•Friday sermon prepared and delivered by Imaam Raji Musa Oladapo, the Chief Imaam of Telemuland, Telemu, State of Osun.

News

How To End Insecurity...

•Continued from page 2

issue, there had been several cases of kidnappings. Though during the mining era, there is increase of the scourge.

If you want to look at it very well, you can’t differentiate between Illegal and legal miners.

“But if you look at it, you see that someone who has been digging all day cannot have time for such crime. Those who do not have something doing are those who are highly responsible for kidnapping.

There are some sets of people who do not have rigorous job to do, some of them hang around motor parks, restaurants and several junctions with nothing doing.

“One cannot actually attribute the kidnappings to those who are mining illegally. But the issue of kidnappings has become very rampant in Ijesaland and the State of Osun as a whole and Nigeria at large.

“Most of the people involved in the kidnappings want to be millionaires within a short period of time and they have been hearing of billions of naira.”

Alo also attributed the rising insecurity to recruitment of hoodlums by politicians for campaigns and elections, saying that the thugs who were armed for political purposes are part of the men of the underworld terrorising the state.

He said: “If you also want to trace this, it can as well be linked with how people aspiring for political positions spend money and equip some of these youths with weapons and use them as thugs. Some of the armed youths will have nothing to do for about four years after elections and they can’t approach their masters until another round of elections beckon. They eventually venture into violent crimes.

“Those involved in kidnappings do not use bare hands. They carry very sophisticated weapons. The system they adopt to waylay vehicles is the same with the way the political thugs attack people during electioneering campaigns or rallies. I am saying this because I have practically experienced it.

“Some of them wear hoods to hide their faces while some don’t care.

Some speak in pidgin, even Yoruba language.

It is not only the Fulanis that are kidnapping.

Most times, the Fulanis need the help of a Yoruba person to navigate the forest they are operating in.”

He called on the State Government to provide arms and ammunition to Osun Security Network, codenamed Operation Amotekun and other registered local security outfits.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on the increase in rate of kidnapping yesterday, the Commander-General of the Harmonized Vigilante Group in the State of Osun, Alhaji Ridwan Hussein, a.k.a. Yah Salam, said the mining activities taking place in Ijesaland are attracting criminals into the state.

According to Hussein, the increasing rate of kidnapping is as a result of strong conspiracy of ‘criminally-minded Yorubas’, foreign Fulani herdsmen and some Northerners who are coming into the state for mining operations.

He called on the State Government to suspend mining activities in the state as a step to nip the rising insecurity in the bud.

University Don Advocates Continuous Learning For Sustainable Living

By Yusuf Oketola

P

ROFESSOR Mrs. Margaret Okorodudu-Fubara, pioneer Professor of Environmental Law at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has advocated for continuous learning by the people for sustainable living.

According to Okorodudu-Fubara, there should a synergy between life and education, stating that being educated goes beyond passing through the four walls of a university or other tertiary institutions.

She stated this while delivering her valedictory lecture tagged “Education for Sustainability...

Pedagogies and Odyssey of My Ivory-Tower Years at IFELAW” at OAU Auditorium on Tuesday.

The university don defined education as an act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge and of developing the powers of reasoning and judgment.

She said: “Learning and life are interlinked.

As a matter of fact, before we attain the prescribed school age (even as suckling infants), we learn to live to survive. This sim-

•Okorodudu-Fubara ply is fundamental and is the secret of how we live life.

“We either learn to live or we shall live to drift if we fail to learn to live. As a pedagogue and an environmentalist, I am convinced that it is very important how we learn to live sustainably.

“Life itself is an unending learning process from cradle to grave.

Life pedagogy is at the core of living successfully and sustainably in this one and only life-

sustaining planet-earth.

Eco-pedagogy, which simply is a pedagogy focusing on life, takes into account people, cultures, lifestyles and the respect towards identity and diversity.”

Okorodudu-Fubara, who is also the first Professor of Environmental Law in sub-saharan Africa, added that learning is a fact that human being cannot run away from, as we learn to live on this earth and for optimum results.

PEOPLE FIRST

Sports

FRIDAY, APRIL 09 - THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

7

National Sports Festival: Osun Wins Two Medals In Taekwondo Top European Clubs Race To Sign Nigerian Striker, Sadiq Umar

Stories by Yusuf Oketola

T

E

he State of Osun has won 2 medals in Taekwondo at the ongoing 20th National Sports Festival in Edo State.

A taekwondoka, Anifa Ogunjimi won Silver medal in the final of the competition decided on Wednesday night at the Sports’ Hall of the University of Benin.

The medal, brought to two, the number of medals won by the State of Osun as another taekwondoka, Fatimah Aderibigbe,

won Bronze in the same event.

More medals are expected to be won as

A

Surprise As 8-Month Pregnant Athlete the combat Wins Gold In Taekwondo branches: sport and Poomsae —

N eight-month pregnant taekwondoka, Aminat Idrees, clinched a Gold medal at the ongoing National Sports Festival, in Benin City, Edo State.

Idrees won in the Mixed Poomsae category in Taekwondo, which the organisers described as “inspiring.”

The 26-year-old expectant mother, who was shown in a footage, shared on Twitter

UROPEAN champions Bayern Munich and Sevilla are interested in signing 2016 Olympics bronze medalist Umar Sadiq in the summer.

If Sadiq is to leave Almeria when the transfer window opens, then it will be for 60 million Euros, the fee stated in the striker’s release clause but the price would rise to 80 million Euros if the Rojiblancos are promoted to La Liga at the end of this

demonstrating different combat techniques, also picked up other medals in a non-combat simulated category of Taekwondo known as Poomsae.

Speaking to CCN, she said she feels elated by her accomplishment.

“It’s such a privilege for me. I just decided to give it a trial after training a couple of times…

other events in the sports fiesta which began yesterday are decided.

It feels really good,” she said.

“Before I got pregnant, I have always enjoyed training, so it didn’t seem different with pregnancy,” Idrees added.

“A lot of people don’t understand what Taekwondo is actually about.

I feel this is an avenue to educate people about this. Taekwondo has two

Athletes from the state are participating in 20 events, all holding in Benin City, Edo State.

which is a form of exercise…just displaying the hand and leg techniques in Taekwondo. I participated in Poomsae event.

“I felt there wasn’t much risk attached to it, so I decided to give it a try. My doctor, as well as the organizing body of the games certified me fit to participate in the noncontact sport.”

•Idrees

season.

On the other hand, Almeria would be willing to listen to offers as from 30 million euros if they remain in the second-tier.

The former Nigeria U23 international is having a fantastic season, leading to a maiden callup to the Super Eagles for their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against the Republic of Benin and Lesotho, but was prevented from linking up with the squad due to Coronavirus concerns.

Sadiq has directly participated in 30 goals (23 goals and 7 assists) in all competitions combined for Partizan Belgrade, where he started this season, and current club Almeria.

Sevilla are reportedly the front runners to sign the lanky striker who has a contract with Almeria until June 30, 2025.

News •Continued from page 2 velopment are the tripod upon which a nation’s prosperity and wellbeing stand, adding that security is the facilitator of the two other factors. He further said criminality has no religion or ethnicity.

Stating that the Osun Security Network, known as ‘Amotekun’, which is also present in the South-West states, is a child of necessity, Oyetola said the security arrangement is complementing the conventional security agencies to effectively tackle armed banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, among other crimes.

According to him, “Amotekun became necessary because the nation’s conventional security agencies are overstretched and sorely underfunded. The Police once confirmed the sorry state of its manpower when it said the force needed 155,000 additional hands to effectively police the nation.

“The nation’s security agencies, as presently constituted, are too

Oyetola: Centralised Policing System Not Working centralised and too far from the grassroots to adequately provide the required security for the nation. Worse still, they are unfamiliar with the terrains where crimes take place. It is our belief that our people understand the topography of their communities more and can govern them better.

“The nation’s expansive forests have unfortunately become the hideouts of bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals. With the establishment of Amotekun, the forests of the South-West are now better policed.

The issues that make Amotekun inevitable in the South-West are the same in other regions of the nation. Other regions may wish to emulate the South-West to put structures in place to rid their regions of crime.

“Our recent experience where the attempt to confront armed banditry headlong in the North resulted in their incursion into the South-West and

•Oyetola other regions that were erroneously perceived to be immune from the insecurity challenge is proof that each region has to be adequately policed for the region to know peace.”

While noting that security holds the master key to planning, governance and sustainable development as the whole outcome could be jeopardised by insecurity, Oyetola added that

government at all levels must not be left alone in the fight against insecurity in the country.

Oyetola therefore, called for collective and concerted efforts to deliver the security that we desire as a nation and as a people.

The governor spoke further: ““Many of you will recall that some time ago, specifically, early in our administration – at the height of the farm-

ers’/herdsmen debacle in the country – there were indeed flashes and skirmishes of armed banditry in Osun, as it was in other parts of the country.

“However, in our own case, this lawlessness was promptly nipped in the bud, as we leveraged the firm grip of local authorities, the dynamism of our security agencies, and the rallying of critical stakeholders across the state.

“Our Administration organised town hall meetings in all communities under the leadership of our traditional rulers to brainstorm on how to mitigate crisis in those communities and to ensure peace and good neighbourliness.

“We also leveraged on our existing Committee on Peaceful Co-existence between Bororo/ Fulani and Farmers to resolve issues between herders and farmers to ensure smooth relationship between them.

“In our current situ-

ation, some of our traditional rulers have proactively intervened in averting conflicts in the Gold-rich zones of the Ife-Ijesa axis by managing the heavy influx of artisanal miners threatening the absorptive capacities of the local communities. This is further enhanced by a Government-backed multi-stakeholders committee devoted to settlers and transhumance issues.

“Let me also add here that the preliminary collaborative efforts of the South-West governments and the traditional institutions birthed the idea of Amotekun.”

CHANGE OF NAME OLATUNDE WASIU KOLAPO

That I was formerly known and addressed as ABDUL-WAASII YUSUF KOLAPO now wish to be known and addressed as O L A T U N D E WASIU KOLAPO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

FRIDAY, APRIL 09 - THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2021

T

O the ordinary onlooker and observer of politics, 2023 is still far away, but to the average politician, 2023 is near the corner.

It is true that the merger between the new People Democratic Party (nPDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) was not based on ideological lines, but since politics is interest-driven, that activity could be analyzed on the basis of thesis-antithesis-synthesis spectrum. The challenge before our contemporary political actors is to be bold enough to spell out and stand by their real intentions for seeking political offices, whether it is based on altruism or mere selfish desires. Some of them have inadvertently alluded to their true intentions, which they hide under such clichés as ‘stomach infrastructure’, ‘dibo kosebe’ (vote and cook soup). Since they view politics as a business investment with a lot of juicy benefits, they hide their shameful, ignoble intentions for pursuing political offices under such clichés and cannot publicly flaunt same. Their behaviour is akin to that of a cheating man/woman caught in the inglorious act of infidelity and who tries to hide his/her loin with a lean part of a loose wrapper in public.

We cannot be at the end of history (apologies to Francis Fukuyama) as there have been several events since the above merger took place. Even Fukuyama tried to give credence to the emergence of events by alluding to the foundation laid by ancient philosophers thus: “And yet what I suggested had come to an end was not the occurrence of events, even large and grave events, but History: that is, history understood as a single coherent, evolutionary process, when taking into account the experiences of all peoples at all times. This understanding of History was most closely associated with the great German philosopher, G. W. F. Hegel. It was made part of our daily intellectual atmosphere by Karl Marx, who borrowed this concept from Hegel and is implicit in our use of words like “primitive or advanced”, “traditional” or “modern” when referring to different human societies…”

It is of note to say that the merger produced a thesis, which was threatened and saw the exit of some of the gladiators who formed it, thus creating an antithesis. This state of flux will continue in an attempt to give rise to a permanent synthesis, which is becoming more difficult to attain in Nigeria due to several intervening variables like the clamour for restructuring, #EndSARS movement et. al.

VOL. 16 NO 13

www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

National Sports Festival: Osun Wins Two Medals In Taekwondo Page 7

PERSPECTIVES

By James Ashipa 2023: Clashes Between Theses And Antitheses For Permanent Synthesis Another reason for the continuous backand-forth, emergence and reemerg e n c e , alignments and realignments is the variant of democracy we are practising, which is one of EXCLUSIVENESS - a zero-sum game

STRIKER

and winner-takesall type of democratic system. This democratic m o d e l agrees with Michel’s ‘iron law of oligarchy’ in which, he who says organization, says oligarchy as is easily seen in the skewed

appointment into public offices.

What is predictable with our present situation was aptly captured by another Scholar, Huntington when he provided an alternative to Fukuyama’s ‘End of History’ with his ‘Clash of Civilization’.

In similar manner that we have clashes between western, liberal democracies, communist China and the Islamic civilization, within our political space and as we move towards 2023, there will be several sociopolitical events that will attempt to shape and reshape the political landscape but the best bet for the political class is to institutionalize and practise an INCLUSIVE system of political participation. This will reduce the tension in the land and give every part of the country a sense of belonging.

In a nutshell, this cycle of sociopolitical development and clashes between theses and antitheses will continue in an attempt to arrive at a permanent and final synthesis but of course, this will likely remain utopian as events will continue to occur and reoccur before and after 2023!

•Ashipa James Olashupo, Osogbo, State of Osun. ashipaj@gmail.com, ashipaj@yahoo. com

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

To Make A Difference, Learn

W

E are living through trying times in Nigeria; heading swiftly to a point where “the centre can no longer hold.” Still, Nigeria has such a resilient spirit and uncommon Grace from Above such that it has consistently bounced back from the brink from such adversities that make other nations history. Born of unusual historical circumstances, it seems that no diabolic machination will stop it from achieving its historical destiny as the “Giant of Africa,” of which it is at present only a mere potential.

However, the heavens only help those who help themselves, as they say. Accordingly, every genuine citizen desirous of a change to that mighty and just republic must wake up now and begin to do the needful rather than leaving it to fate. Believe it or not, the change we desire must begin with us all as individuals. Leo Tolstoy said “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself/herself.” There, precisely, lies the contradiction. Whereas there are overwhelming social conditions that form a person’s character, the same adversity that turns one man to a bandit is the same that turns another, right by his side, into a scholar. It is a matter of personal choice based largely on birth, upbringing and self-development.

This is why we have made the choice today to inspire ourselves with some words on learning and making a difference. To make a difference, the first thing to do is to learn, and learning does not take ages. There are so many sayings that point to the fact that knowledge is everything: it is what builds wisdom, character and skills.

It is said that “wisdom is better than silver and gold,” “knowledge is power,” and “my people

perish for lack of wisdom.” The misconstruction of what knowledge is all about is indeed at the root of Nigeria’s vagrancy almost to the edge of self-annihilation today.

Learning and knowledge is definitely not about certificates for plum job and is not to be obtained solely from the schools. According to Marcus Garvey, “To be educated is to be learned in all that is worthwhile knowing. Not to be crammed with the subject-matter of books or the philosophy of the classroom but to store away in your head such facts as you need for daily application of life, so that you may be better in all things, understand your fellowmen and interpret your relation to your creator. You can be educated in soul, vision and feeling as well as in mind. To see your enemy and know him is a part of the complete education of man; to spiritually regulate oneself is another form of the higher education that fits man for a nobler place in life, and still to be able to approach your brother by feeling of your own humanity, is an education that softens the ills of the world and makes us kind indeed...”

As said, when this notion is gotten wrong in trying to formalise the acquisition of learning, a society is on the way to doom. Indeed, at the entrance gate of a university in South Africa the following message was posted for contemplation: “Destroying any nation does not require the use of atomic bombs or the use of long-range missiles. It only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in the examinations by the students. Patients die at the hands of such doctors. Buildings collapse at the hands of such engineers. Money is lost at the hands of such economists and accountants. Humanity dies

at the hands of such religious scholars. Justice is lost at the hands of such judges... The collapse of education is the collapse of the nation.”

To remedy the decades of institutional damages to knowledge acquisition process, the onus is now on us all to learn by ourselves, as the basis for a quick rethink, reflection and action to redeem ourselves and our nation, and project it to its true destiny, rather than succumb to simplistic agenda that only leads to chaos and destruction, offering no good to any common man. We must embrace learning and run a quick course for ourselves in being our best, for ourselves and for the society. The way is to return to our study desks, and for those who can read to widely do so and then write and teach those who can’t. The Sage, Obafemi Awolowo, emphasised this discipline when he said “while many men in power and public office are busy carousing in the midst of women of easy virtue and men of low morals, I, as a few others like me, am busy at my desk thinking about the problems of Nigeria and proffering solutions to them. Only the deep can call to the deep.” Thinking correctly is a function of good learning.

Learning is available everywhere for those seeking it, for those that desire wisdom, character and skill. The first task is to pause in our routine of being busy doing mostly nothing other than surviving, and resolving, in addition to hustling for mere survival, to seek knowledge; convinced genuinely that being maximally useful to oneself and positively relevant to the community, not to mention relevance to the larger society, the nation and the world, is simply impossible without adequate learning.

Osun DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun.

All correspondence to the Deputy Editor, ISMAEEL UTHMAN, Telephone: 0805-121-2204, usmanismail001@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.

Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefemder@yahoo.com