Osun Defender Online Version of January 20, 2023

Crisis Hits Osun House Of Assembly

According to sources in the parliament, the lawmakers also discovered that Owoeye allegedly had a shaddy deal with former governor Oyetola on the approval of a loan request.

The sources said the parliamentarians were ques oning why the Speaker would allegedly be making resolu on on behalf of the assembly to approve loan requests for Oyetola without their consent or a si ng.

OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that the Oyetola administraon was obtaining a sum N1.5bn loan from a commercial bank every month with the approval of the assembly which was not known to the lawmakers.

The N1.5bn loan were always repaid immediately the state receives alloca on, while another request would be made ll the following month, it was gathered.

However, the aggrieved lawmakers have reportedly confronted the Speaker on the two

issues.

It was gathered that, the speaker and other lawmakers held a mee ng yesterday which lasted for hours to iron out the issues.

A top civil servant at the Assembly told OSUN DEFENDER that the development has been generating controversies among the lawmakers.

The civil servant, who claimed to be privy to happenings at the assembly said: “We are aware of what is going on among the lawmakers, some of them are fighting the Speaker. They are accusing the Speaker of chea ng them; they said Mr. Governor gave them N40m which the Speaker did not disclose.

“There are other issues they raised that are not for public consumpon. But I can tell you that there is tension in the assembly because the aggrieved lawmakers have taken up the ma er. The Speaker is not at peace with himself.”

But a lawmaker who prayed anonymity, said there was no tension in

Intensify Campaign Against FGM, HACEY Urges Journalists

Sodiq Yusuf

ANon-governmental Organiza on, HACEY Health Ini a ve, has charged journalists and media prac oners to intensify campaigns against the prac ce of Female Genital Mu la on (FGM), in the State of Osun.

Programme Manager of the organisa on, Oluwatomi Olunuga, urged media prac oners in the state to join hands with the group to stamp out FGM prac ce from the state.

Olunuga, who acknowledged the roles of the media in the development of any society, gave the charge during a press conference in Osogbo, on Wednesday.

She explained that HACEY Health Ini a ve commenced the ‘stop cut project’ in 2020 with stakeholders in the state as regards the protec on of women and girls from FGM.

Olunuga further explained that her organiza on has worked with the House of Assembly, community leaders, some nongovernmental organisa ons and tradi onal rul-

ers as part of the efforts to ensure total eradica on of the menace in the state.

She stressed that the ini a ve has been able to organise capacity building for NGOs on their alliance for the sustainability of the programme in state.

Also speaking, the Director, Commercial and Legal Dra ing, Osun State Ministry of Jus ce, Barr. Kayode Ti loye, reiterated that the ministry is always open for free legal services for any residents of the state on gender-based violence and FGM.

Ti loye said Ministry of Jus ce is ready to collaborate with all the stakeholders at the local government level to address issues affec ng the people in the state.

He charged journalists to do their best in ensuring that they promote and create awareness about free legal services in the interest of the masses.

The legal prac oner stressed that the ministry is open for those who have been vic ms of FGM, just as he charged the media personnel in the state to protect human rights.

the assembly, even as he confirmed that some other lawmakers were accusing Owoeye’s leadership of chea ng and insincerity.

The lawmaker said: “There is no tension in the assembly. What could cause tension? It is true that some of our colleagues are angry; but we are settling the ma er. It is an internal affair.”

However, OSUN DE-

FENDER gathered that former governor Oyetola has intervened in the matter.

According to sources, the former governor has been calling some of the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers one-byone to appeal to them in support of the Speaker.

Reac ng, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Kunle Alabi, dismissed the claim that there was

crisis in the assembly, saying the lawmakers are united and will remain so.

Alabi said all the allega ons raised against Owoeye were specula ve, saying that the Speaker has been transparent and fair on every affair rela ng to the welfare and ac vi es of the parliament.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER in an interview yesterday, Alabi said: “The House of Assembly under

the leadership of Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye is one, united and resolute. There is no crisis in the assembly as I am talking to you.

“The allega ons against the speaker are speculave; I am sure there is nothing of such. The Speaker is a team player and he is open, transparent and just on every issue rela ng to the welfare of the lawmakers and ac vi es of the assembly.”

Adeleke Rolls Out Six-Point Agenda To Mark 100 Days In Office

Oketola

GOVERNOR of the State of Osun, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, has launched a six-point agenda to mark his first 100 days in office.

This was contained in a statement signed by his Spokesperson, Mallam Rasheed Olawale, on Wednesday.

Parts of the six-point agenda include; provision of potable water, renova on of schools, rehabilita on of healthcare centres, among others.

The statement reads: “The Execu ve Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has launched a six-pronged project to touch the lives of Osun masses in all the local governments areas of the state.

“The programes are as follows: Provision of portable water in 332 towns/Villages, one in each of the 332 wards in the State. The implementa on has already started in Osogbo, Ifelodun and other local governments

of the state.

“Complete renovaon of 30 schools, one per local government, including portable water and the provision of at least 50 computers with internet services in each renovated school.

“Rehabilita on of 332 Primary Healthcare Centers, one in each of the 332 wards in the State. Access to Health Care at the grassroot is the main objec ve.

“Enrollment of 3000 Osun Ci zens in the Health Insurance Scheme, free of Charge.

“With an eye to address deplorable state of roads in the state, the government of Governor Adeleke has also ini ated the rehabilita on of nine major roads, one per federal cons tuency. This is targeted at reducing the high infrastructure deficit facing the state.

“To address the yearning of Osun youth popula on, Governor Adeleke is also implemen ng an ongoing ICT/tech innovaons programme which include the making of first State ICT Policy, first

State Innova on Policy, domes ca on of Nigeria’s Startup Act and Goggle Mapping of Osun state.

“All the above programmes designed to touch the lives of the masses and the youth are ongoing for full delivery by the me the administra on clocks 100 days in office”.

Commen ng on the progress of work across the six iden fied areas, Adeleke hinted that the projects were selected on the basis of their direct posi ve impacts on the masses of the state.

According to the Governor, all local governments that have not

submi ed their selected loca on for each of the projects are hereby directed immediately to do so. This is to meet the deadlines set for the project implementa on.

Adeleke also urged community volunteers working on the Google Mapping Project to accelerate the upda ng of their areas on Google map to boost local business and connec vity in the state.

“Our administra on is working to deliver on our electoral promises. We are targe ng projects that touch the lives of the masses. I want the people to feel the impact of governance”, he stated.

Yusuf

•Last weekend, the executive of Yoruba Tennis Club were in Ile-Ife for the investiture of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, as the Vice Patron of the club being the tradition since 15th September, 1926. The President of the federation is the club’s patron. Above is the historic group photograph of the Ooni with the club’s Chairman, Jide Damazio, Vice Chairman, Olakunle Agbebi and members of the club.

•Adeleke.

THE Chairman of Nigeria’s elec on regulatory body, Professor Yakub Mahmood acquired himself very well in his presenta on to the Bri sh Research Center ‘Chatham House’ a few days ago. He was sure-footed in clarifying a lot of niggling doubts. The use of the word ‘acqui al’ is deliberate, for it is a reflec on of the doubts about the real operaonal independence of the Independent Naonal Electoral Commission (INEC). Since for example “a ger does not proclaim it’s gritude” is there any need to state the word “Independent” in its nomenclature at all in the first place?

Nevertheless, the beam of the internaonal searchlight will con nue to be focused on the electoral commission, compelling it to demonstrate its independence. The ongoing collec on of the Permanent Voters Card for example brings up doubts about the commission’s scenario plan-

ning and management foresight. The daily complaints are far too many and unacceptable. INEC should have an cipated an upsurge in registra on and prepared for it. With barely a week to go to the end of the card collec on it must up the ante.

Logis cs will be a key determinant of the fair conduct of the forthcoming elec on and prepara on will be decisive. There are lots of issues. They include vo ng in the “Displaced Persons Camps-, insecurity in many local governments and the fear of parents about using their wards who are doing the mandatory Na onal Youth Service Corps as elector Scout al officers. To allay the fears, INEC like the Boys Scout must “Be Prepared”.

Prepara on is key and must be done with precision paying meculous a en on to details. The margin of error is very ght and we must get it right. There is far too much at stake!

Briefly...

THE Central Bank of Nigeria must up the ante too! With the clock cking on the exchange of old currency for new notes, the Central Bank must assert its authority as a regulator and if necessary bare it’s fangs. The ci zens must not

be driven into penury through no fault of theirs by holding worthless old notes a er the deadline. If the Banks are not behaving sensibly, the Central Bank must make an example of some of them by giving them puni ve sancons as a deterrent.

Review & Outlook

B Y BY E R I C ERIC T E N I O L A TENIOLA

THE KILLER JOB AT INEC

PROFESSOR Mahmood Yakubu (60),

Chairman of the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) has a date with history in February. He will be the only Chairman of the Electoral Commission to conduct two presiden al elec ons in Nigeria. He conducted the Presiden al elecon on February 23, 2019. He will do the same on February 25 this year.

No doubt, the February 25 elec on will make or mar him. If he succeeds, Professor Yakubu will go quietly and live the rest of his life in Kobi, his hometown, in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi state or remain in Abuja like others. He may even go back to the University since that is his calling. He may decide to write a book since he is an author.

If on the other hand he fails, his remaining life is be er imagined. In the last few weeks, he has been assuring Nigerians that he will succeed. Words don’t always depict reality. The only way to make something happen is to make a tangible ac on. Saying it is different from doing it. What you do is more important than what you say. Acons speak louder than words. We pay less a en on to what Professor Yakubu and his team are saying but watch what he and his team will do.

For anyone who loves Nigeria must wish Professor Yakubu best of luck during and a er the elec ons.

This is a country of over 200 million people whose lives must not be messed up by desperate poli cians.

In ancient Greece, a young man asked Socrates the “secret to success”. Socrates told the young man to meet him at the nearest river the next morning.

Next morning, the young, being very determined to learn something from the great philosopher, was very prompt and they met. Socrates asked the young man

to walk with him into the river. Wondering what Socrates was about to do, the young man was very apprehensive. “Perhaps one of Socrates’ many philosophies”, the young man thought…

The water was now up to their waist. When the water got up to their neck, Socrates suddenly seized the young man by surprise and pushed him under the water. The boy struggled to get up but Socrates, being a strong man, held him under the water un l the boy started turning blue.

Socrates pulled his head out of the water and the first thing the young man did was to gasp for air, choking and breathing desperately to stay alive.

Socrates asked, “What did you want the most when you were down there?”

S ll in shock, the young boy replied, “Air”.

Socrates remarked, “That is the secret to success”.

“When you want success as badly as you wanted the air, then you will get it. There is no other secret of success”, Socrates said.

But some mes a successful conduct of an elec on does not necessarily guarantee stability. And this has happened to the past chairmen of the Nigeria’s electoral body. These past chairmen included Eyo Esua (1964–1966), Michael Ani (1976–1979), Victor Ovie-Whiskey (1980–1983), Eme Awa (1987–1989), Humphrey Nwosu (1989–1993), Okon Uya (1993, June-November), Sumner Dagogo-Jack (1994–1998), Ephraim Akpata (1998–2000), Abel Guobadia (2000–2005), Maurice Iwu (2005–2010), A ahiru Jega (2010–2015) and Mahmood Yakubu (2015-present).

OSUN DEFENDER

Let us take Chief Eyo Esua (14 January 1901 – 6 December 1973) as an example. He was a teacher and trade unionist. He was the first chairman of the Electoral body in the country. Chief Esua was a school master and a founder member of the Nigeria Union of Teachers. He was the first fullme general secretary of the union from 1943 ll he was appointed Chairman of the electoral body. He was an Efik, Calabar man, renowned for his dedicaon to duty and uprightness. He did all he could to ensure a successful 1964 general elec on.

On December 29, 1964, the then President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe GCFR (16 November 1904 – 11

•Eric Teniola, a Former Director at the Presidency, wrote from Lagos.

•INEC Chairman

One Ticket System: Residents Fear Rise Of ‘Omo Onile’ Menace

RESIDENTS of the State of Osun have expressed fear over the one- cke ng system for commercial transporters in the state, saying it may lead to the rise in the menace of louts and extor onists, popularly called ‘Omo Onile’.

It would be recalled that the State Governor, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, recently appointed an 11-man Disciplinary Commi ee that would supervise the public transporta on system divided into vehicle and cycle sectors in the state.

Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said: “the new policy is a one- cke ng system approach across the state and will create thousands of temporary jobs and also boost our revenue-genera ng capacity and help improve our economy”.

He also said the new system will eradicate the insecurity, destruc on of proper es, and killings experienced by commuters when rival union groups a ack each other, adding that only the state government will be selling ckets for commercial drivers.

However, the development has created fear in the mind of some residents of the state, as they believed most of the people collec ng cket money from commercial vehicle operators for the unions might resort to alterna ve sources of income that will not be far from extor onate pracces.

Speaking with the medium, Mr. Adejumo Adebayo, a resident of Kobongbogboe area, Osogbo, said the one cke ng system may cause more harm to residents of the state, if the government does not put measures in place.

According to him, members of the transport unions form core part of Omo Onile disturbing land owners in the state, adding that with the new cke ng system, more members of the unions may become landgrabbers and extor onists.

He said: “In as much as I welcome the development, I fear that it may do more harm than good if the government does not put all measures in place.

“We all know what the land owners are facing in the hands of Omo

Onile and now that members of the transport unions have been told not to collect or sell ckets on behalf of the government, this may lead to an increase in their nefarious ac vi es”.

“My appeal to the state government is to find a way to calm the nerves of the union members so that peace will reign in the state”.

In his word, a commercial driver, Samuel Atanda, lauded the governor for the ini a ve,

saying it will reduce the hardship drivers went through in the hands of the union members.

Atanda who said he used to collect mul ple ckets on daily basis, urged the government to see through the ini ave and ease the burden of commercial drivers in the state.

He, however, said the development may cause violence in the state, urging the state government and security opera ves to be on alert.

“When I heard about the one- cke ng system, I was very happy because it will reduce the burden on commercial transporters in the state.

“The money we are paying for ckets on daily basis is too much and I know with this system, we will be able to save more money.

“My fear is just that members of the unions may result to causing violence in the state since they are no longer selling ckets, but I hope

Anybody Causing Violence Will Be Lawfully Dealt With – Consultant

Speaking with newsmen, the consultant to the state government on Motor Park Management, Prof. Abdulrahman Afonja, warned those planning to disrupt the peace of the state to have a rethink, saying anyone caught

causing violence will be dealt with.

According to Afonja, the new transport management system gave no other person the right to sell ckets except those contracted by the state government, adding that anyone caught selling ckets will be prosecuted by the law.

Afonja said: “It is one cke ng system which is the state government. No other person has the right to sell a cket on behalf of the government, except those contacted by the consultant.

“We have let the union members know that they cannot sell mulple ckets and make the state unbearable for commercial drivers in Osun state.

“If anybody is directly caught selling a cket aside from the state cket, the person will be prosecuted by the law. Governor Adeleke is bringing this system to stop extor on by this unions.

“Anybody causing a nuisance in the state will be dealt with by the law. The governor is the Chief Security Officer and he won’t allow violence in the state. Unless you want to ruin your own future, stay away from violence, respect the law, respect the government and its policies”.

Commercial Drivers, Traders, Rejecting New Naira Notes In Osogbo – Findings

Kazeem Badmus

FEW weeks to the deadline for the old naira notes to phase out of circula on, some traders and transporters in the State of Osun were s ll rejec ng the new notes for business transacons, findings have revealed.

The redesigned

N1,000, N500 and N200 bills became legal tender on December 15, 2022, while the old notes would cease to be legal tender by January 31, 2023, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

OSUN DEFENDER reporter who went round Osogbo yesterday to monitor the circula on of the new naira notes

no ced that some traders and commercial transporters were rejec ng them on the basis that they were afraid of being scammed with the redesigned naira notes.

It was noted that the traders in par cular were afraid of collecting the new naira notes because of the fear of being a fake money.

A minibus (Korope) driver, Ademola Olaitan, who rejected the new note as transport fare from our reporter, said he would only accept the new notes when the old ones are out of circulaon.

According to Olaitan, counterfeit of the new naira notes is in circula on, a situa on that leads to his decision not to accept them.

He said: “I will always ask my passengers if they want to pay

me with the new naira notes to avoid unnecessary rancour because I don’t accept it.

“There are a lot of fake new naira notes in circula on and someone like me who can’t differen ate between the fake and original one needs to be careful.

“I’m not saying I won’t collect it but I will only do so when the old notes are no more in circula on. By then, even if I got a counterfeit one, I can also spend it for another person”.

A trader at Akindeko market, Mrs. Blessing Adeshina, said she was rejec ng the new notes because they wash off quickly.

Adeshina who said she once accepted a new N1000 note from her customer added that the money changed colour when she mistakenly

dropped it into water.

She said she couldn’t spend the note again because people were rejecting it due to its new look.

“The money is not fine and it is not everywhere yet. I once accept the new N1000 naira note but unfortunately, I dropped it in the water. Since then, I have not been able to spend it because it changed colour.

“That is why I’m not going to accept the notes again. I prefer the old notes to the new ones and I wish we will connue to spend the old note”.

PUBLICATION

That I was formerly known and addressed as IFE SARAH AYOADE, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EFUNWOLE SARAH AYOADE All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Kazeem Badmus

the government and the security agencies will be proac ve”.

•Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in discussion with Alhaji Semiu Okànlàwon at a one-day dialogue with the theme, “2023 and Beyond: Tracking Campaign Promises for Good Governance,” organized by NPO Reports, in Abuja

MRS. EFUNWOLE SARAH AYOADE

Special Report Report

Inside Osun Health Centre Where Reptiles Force Workers To Close Early

-As Over 500 Residents Face Hardship Seeking Medical Attention -Community Seeks Govt. Intervention Over Dilapidated Building

IN Nigeria of today, one of the major challenges facing rural areas is lack of basic ameni es such as good road network, potable water, electricity and adequate health facili es.

In majority of local communi es and rural settlements, poor healthcare facility is a major challenge facing people, as many rural dwellers find it difficult to get quality and affordable medical a en on.

One of the affected rural areas is Ojudo Community in Ayedaade local government.

The Community is faced with various challenges but the height of it is its poor healthcare centre. The PHC in Ojudo is currently dilapidated. The roof of the building as observed by OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday has been blown off while the windows and doors have also fallen apart.

Apart from the dilapidated building, the health centre has no medical equipment nor drugs for paents use. There is also no func oning water system, modern toilet facility, electricity and security.

As informed by some workers of the PHC, snakes, lizards and other rep les have also turned the building to their habitat, a development that forces the workers to close early.

According to informaon gathered by OSUN DEFENDER, over 500 registered pa ents are using the health centre from different neighboring communi es including; Sekona, Oogi, Oloburo, Araaro, Aba-Osa, among others with only two

health workers available.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER during the medium visita on to the PHC, some residents of the community stated that the condi on of the health centre started deteriora ng in 2021 as a result of a rainstorm that blown off the roof of the building.

They noted that efforts had been made while workers of the PHC had also written different le ers to no fy the government during the administra on of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola about the condi on of the place.

But all the efforts proved abor ve as the government was not responsive to their request for the rehabilitaon of the place.

They said: “The condion of the health centre started worsening two years ago. We have wri en le ers to the Ayedaade local government during the tenure of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola but all proved abor ve.

“We are told that the local government did not have the financial capacity to renovate the health centre. The then Caretaker Chairman of the local government claimed that the local government could not spend more than N200,000 for the renova on which could not be enough.

“We do not have drugs nor medical equipment in the hospital. There are no beds for pa ents. We have over 500 residents using the health centre.

“The windows and the doors of the building have blown off. Lizards and snakes have turned the health cen-

tre to their habitat. We cannot stay here for long for the fear of snakes.

“The state government should come to our aid. we need water system, a modern toilet, security and perimeter fence”.

In a separate interview, a resident of the community, Mr. Emmanuel Odesola, told OSUN DEFENDER that all promises by the Oyetola’s administra on to renovate the health centre didn’t come to manifesta on.

Odesola stated that the community is finding it difficult to get affordable medical a en on, no ng that they travel to Ode-omu and other neighboring towns to seek health care services due to the poor condi on of the building.

Odesola said: “All our efforts to get the health centre fixed during the tenure of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola proved abor ve. They kept promising us and never come to inspect or do anything on condi on of the place.

“The two staffs that are working there are really trying and making lot of sacrifices to help pa ents who come for medical a en on.

“We get most of drugs and injec ons by ourselves because the government didn’t supply drugs or medical equipment to the health centre. The building should be renovated and if possible, the government should provide accommoda on for medical personnel working at the place for them to be available 24 hours to a end to our people. The govern-

ment should also provide security.

“There are different occasions in the night whereby we take our children who need urgent medical a en on to Ode-omu and Sekona”.

The Baale of Ojudo Community, Chief Jabes Adeboye said the condion of the health center has discouraged many residents to seek medical a en on at the place, calling on Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administra on to see to the renova on of the ma er.

Adeboye stated that the community is facing some challenges ranging from lack of electricity and good road network.

He said: “We can only commend the two workers working at the health centre because the environment is not conducive for them. They are only managing to attend to our people.

“We also lack electricity supply and good roads in this community. The government should come to our aid and renovate the

health center and provide other basic ameni es.

A prominent member of the community, Prophetess B.A Osanusi, lamented that pregnant women were facing delivery difficulty due to lack of necessary equipment at the community health centre.

She said: “The present state of the health centre is disheartening. The two workers working there cannot stay overnight to a end to emergencies.

“There’s is no room for pregnant women to deliver babies.

“Also, there is no perimeter fence, bed and medical equipment. Many has even asked us if the place is truly a clinic. There was a me a madman always come to

sleep inside the place un l we chased him out.

“We urged Osun State government to assist us in rebuilding the health center. It has been difficult for us to get adequate medical care from the place. We travel down to Osogbo and Ode-omu and nearby communi es to seek proper medical care due to the condi on of our community health center.

“We don’t have electricity and our roads are bad. We find it difficult to come into community whenever it rains. The roads will be flooded. We swim to come into our houses. The paents bring their own medical materials while coming for treatment. The government should assist us.”

•The dilapidated structure of the health centre.

•One of the rooms at the PHC

•Another view of the building

Yusuf Oketola

Motorists Alert Govt. On Deplorable Condition Of Oke-Fia Roundabout

Kazeem Badmus

MOTORISTS

plying Capital, Estate, Lameco, Agunbeelewo and GRA areas of Osogbo, State of Osun have called the a en on of the state government to the deplorable condi on of Oke-Fia roundabout.

OSUN DEFENDER

was at Oke-Fia yesterday and no ced craters and potholes at the roundabout which leads to the Government House.

Motorists were seen carefully naviga ng the roundabout to avoid accident and damage to their vehicles.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a motorist, Olawale Adebowale,

said the craters and potholes have become death trap, urging the government to act fast before it claims lives.

According to Adebowale, it is shameful that the road leading to the government house is in that bad state, adding that the past administra on also le it unchecked.

He said: “The craters and potholes are a great danger for motorists and if not urgently

looked into, it may lead to loss of life.

“The saddened part is that the road leads to the government house and it is a shame on the government. Even the past administra on failed to address it”.

Similarly, Sunday Olabomi, a banker who resides at estate area, complained that the deplorable condi on of the roundabout is responsible for the usual traffic jam at Oke-Fia.

He noted that the poor state of the roundabout was as a result of years of negligence.

According to Olabomi, such an important roundabout should not be le in disrepair, lamen ng that motorists plying the axis were suffering.

Another motorist, Sheu Abdullah, said the crater and potholes are not just causing heavy traffic towards Agunbeelewo and Estate, but were also causing serious damage to vehicles.

He urged the state government to fix the roundabout on me.

NSCDC Arraign 2 Persons For Tampering With IBEDC Meter In Osogbo

TYusuf Oketola the NSCDC, contravened Sec on 1(10) of the Miscellaneous Offence Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federa on of Nigeria, 2004.

HE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arraigned two persons before a Federal High Court, si ng in Osogbo, State of Osun, for tampering with electric meter.

The defendants, Oyedele Aderogba and Yusuf Adegboyega were accused of by-passing a prepaid meter belonging to Ibadan Electricity Distribu on Company (IBEDC).

According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the accused person commi ed the offence on July 25, 2022 and August 12, 2022 at Lajada Area, Agunbelewo and Olu Alabi Way, GRA in Osogbo respec vely.

The alleged offence, according to

But the defendants pleaded not guilty to the one count charge of fraud levelled against them.

In his ruling, Jusce Emmanuel Ayoola admi ed the accused persons to bail in a sum of N1m with a surety each.

The case was adjourned ll February 28 and March 2, 2023 respec vely for trial.

PUBLICATION

That I was formerly known and addressed as MISS AKANJI OMOWUMI OLUWATOSIN, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ADEGOKE OMOWUMI OLUWATOSIN All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

17 Students Bag First Class As Fountain University Holds 12th Convocation

Atotal of 17 students bag First Class honours at the Fountain University Osogbo.

This was disclosed by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Amidu Sanni during the 12th convoca on of the ins tu on held on Saturday, January 14.

Sanni disclosed that the school has a total of 259 gradua ng students.

He said for the 2021/2022 session, a total of 240 gradua ng students would be conferred with their first degree in various disciplines and 19 at the Postgraduate level, precisely Master’s Degree.

The breakdown, according to Sanni, is 17 in First Class, 88 in Second Class Upper, 107 Second Class Lower, and 28 in Third Class.

Sanni urged the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the ins tu on.

In his goodwill message, the Execu ve Secretary of the Na onal Universi es Commission (NUC), Abubakar Rasheed, said the Federal Government is working round the clock to ensure that no industrial ac on is witnessed in the na on’s universi es as experienced last year.

Rasheed tasked Nigerian students not to be discouraged by the challenges they are facing but to be deter-

mined to overcome them.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Chief Of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Jubrila Ayinla, and two others were conferred with honorary doctorate degrees at the event.

Meanwhile, a professor of Food Science and Technology, Ramota Olayinka Karim has been appointed the fourth Vice Chancellor of the University.

Karim will succeed Sani whose tenure will lapse on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.

The academician emerged as the VC at a mee ng of the Governing Council of Fountain University, Osogbo, held on Monday, 9 January 2023.

Concern As Sacked Monarch Continues To Parade Himself As Ola-Aresa Of Masifa

THERE are growing concerns over the alleged con nuous parade of Prince Josiah Awolade as the Ola-Aresa of Masifa-Ile, Olaoluwa local government of the State of Osun, a er a State High Court has declared the stool vacant.

Stakeholders in the community alleged that Awolade who was appointed a new tradi-

onal ruler for the town

Oyetola’s administra on, has refused to vacate the stool a er the court order.

It would be recalled that Jus ce Jide Falola of a State High Court in Osogbo had on September 1, 2022 ordered the Ola-Aresa’s stool was s ll vacant, adding that “Whosoever is claiming to occupying that office

should be inves gated and if found guilty, be casted away.”

As of the me of filing this report yesterday, there was no informa on as regard the vaca on of the court order.

When contacted for enquiry and reac on, the Awolade refused to comment on the ma er. He instead ques oned the interest of the reporter on the case.

Awolade said: “What

is your interest on the case? What is your own interpreta on of the court order? Do you have knowledge of what is happening in court? He, therea er ended the call abruptly a er hurling insult on the reporter.

He refused to reply the text message and WhatsApp message sent to his line to get him responded on the matter a er hanging up the call.

Awolade was among the tradi onal rulers that held a mee ng with Governor Ademola Adeleke in December 2022.

However, OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the Commissioner of Police, Patrick Longe, had on Tuesday summoned Awolade to warn against parading himself as the Ola-Aresa of Masifa-Ile, saying the police will implement the court order.

•Convocating students of the University.

Kazeem Badmus

Kazeem Badmus

at the tail end of former governor Adegboyega

•Oke-Fia roundabout.

MRS. ADEGOKE OMOWUMI OLUWATOSIN

Farmers Desert Farm, Villages As Kidnappers Abduct 5, Release 2 In Ileogbo

Ismaeel Uthman

FARMERS in Momu and Eleni, Oke-Osun villages

in Ileogbo, Ayedire Local Government of the State of Osun, have abandoned their farms as precau onary measures, following the kidnapping of two farmers in the area.

It would be recalled that two farmers, Samuel Oladotun and Fashola Tobiloba, were on Wednesday, January 11 kidnapped by gunmen around Oke-Osun area while returning from their farm at Eleni village.

Inves ga ons by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that this is the third me gunmen would kidnap businessmen who have farms in the area.

It was gathered that a notable businessman popularly called ‘Bluetooth’ was kidnapped late 2021 while returning from his farm at Momu village.

The kidnappers, according to sources in Ileogbo, collected N9m ransom before the release of ‘Bluetooth’ the third day.

This is just as another businessman was reportedly kidnapped at Farm Support area of Ileogbo in November 2022.

According to findings, Eleni, Momu and Oke-Osun play host to some businessmen who are inves ng in various types of farming in the area.

The businessmen, according to residents of the area, are now the target of the kidnappers.

However, two vic ms of the January 11 incident, Oladotun and Tobiloba have been freed by the kidnappers a er a N6m ransom.

Sources at the Bap st Church, Iwo, whose members raised the N6m ransom told OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday.

One of the sources said: “Oladotun and Tobiloba have been released. They were released this morning. Our people have gone to carry them and they are currently at an undisclosed hospital. But the people who went to pay ransom for the kidnappers have not been released.”

The abducted three people are, Sunday Oladotun, Rabiu Kunle and one other person whose name could not be confirmed as of the me of filing this report.

They were abducted after dropping the N6m ransom for the kidnappers in Kogi.

The kidnappers were said to be demanding for N24m ransom to free the vic ms.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that one of the three people who were abducted in Kogi have also been freed, remaining two people in the kidnappers cap vity.

However, farmers and residents of Eleni and Mamu

villages have expressed worries over their safety in the area.

The residents who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under condi on of anonymity on Wednesday said they could no longer go to their various farms again for the fear of being kidnapped.

They accused herders in the area of responsible for the kidnapping cases.

A young man who has farm at Eleni village told the medium that he has abandoned his farm following the kidnapping incidence.

He said: “I am very close to one of the kidnapped vic ms. We both have farm at Eleni village. We call him “Manager” because he is managing the farm for somebody. When I heard that he was kidnapped, I thought it was fake news un l I confirmed it.

“About three days a er, I was warned by residents of Eleni village to take cauon because the kidnappers might be targe ng me too. Some of us that have big farms at Eleni and Mamu do not reside there, and we have some big men among

us.

“So, when I was warned to be careful, I had to take precau on and abandon my farm. A young farmer had earlier raised concern that the influx of herders into that area would pose dangers to

us. This is the third me kidnapping cases are happening in Ileogbo area, and we suspect that the herders are responsible for it.

“I do not want to conclude that we are witnessing the consequence of Oluwo’s

call for Fulanis to come and se le in Iwo some three years ago, because thousands of herders have settled in the bush and villages around us.

“Farmers and villagers at Eleni and Momu are now

living in fear since the kidnapping happened last week Wednesday. The security agents should please help us. I can’t go to farm, other people can’t to their farm too. We are afraid of being kidnapped.”

Police Warn Against Destruction Of Political Billboards In Osun

Kazeem Badmus

THE Commissioner of Police in the State of Osun, Patrick Longe, has warned supporters of various poli cal par es to desist from destroying billboards of their opponents or face the wrath of the law.

Longe who spoke at a poli cal stakeholders mee ng on Monday in Osogbo, said it is an offence for someone to destroy other poli cal par es’ billboards, maintaining that the space is large to occupy everyone.

He said: “It is an offence to destroy billboards of other poli cal par es. The space is large enough for poli cians. Anybody who runs foul and is caught will pay for it irrespec ve of the status”.

Also speaking at the mee ng, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent Naonal Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, Dr. Mu u Agboke, urged poli cal par es in the state to develop a culture of poli cal tolerance and maturity by allowing healthy compe on among themselves.

Agboke said the commission was aware of some people destroying poli cal par es’ posters and billboards in the state, adding that INEC is working relessly to ensure a hitch-free elec on.

He noted that it is the votes of the people that will determine who wins the coming elec on in the state, urging candidates to solicit votes instead of destroying billboards.

According to him, “INEC is working relessly to ensure free, fair and credible elec on as scheduled. INEC will scrupulously apply the

laws without fear of favour to ensure a free credible inclusive and transparent elec on comes February, 2023.

“It has been brought to the a en on of the commission that some unscrupulous people are destroying other poli cal par es billboards, posters, which is not fair for the conduct

of a peaceful elec on in the State.

“This has created palpable fears in the polity. I want to enjoin all the poli cal par es present to develop the culture of poli cal tolerance and display of poli cal maturity by allowing healthy compeon among themselves in other to portray the real

omoluabi in us.

“The vo ng of Osun people will determine the elec on results in 2023. If you want to be voted for, solicit votes from the electorates and stop destroying billboards and posters of your opponents. Enjoin your members to collect their PVCs; no one can rig this elec on”.

Ataoja Warns Against Land Encroachment, Unauthorised Acquisition

Yusuf Oketola

THE Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, has warned against any unauthorised acquision and encroachment of land in any part of the state capital.

Oba Oyetunji advised

everybody who wants to acquire land in any part of the state capital to always follow due process.

The tradi onal ruler said breaching due process has led to many crises, including breach of public peace and destruc on of lives and proper es.

Ataoja who was rep-

resented by the Olupona of Osogbo land, Amodu Akanbi, gave the warning at a programme organised by Kelebe community landlords on Monday in Osogbo.

He also noted that the recent judgement of an Osun High Court in Ile-Ife over a ma er of land acquisi on between the Nigerian Army and ci zens of the state (Kelebe community) was commendable.

An Osun High Court, si ng in Ile-Ife, had on January 10, 2023 in suit number: HOS/40/2020, ruled that the Nigerian Army should vacate about 1000 hectares of lands unlawfully occupied since 1973.

The Kelebe community landlords approached the court on July 7, 2011, in suit number (FHC/OS/ CS/48/2011) to seek the nullifica on of the acqui-

si on being unlawfully occupied by the army.

The Nigerian Army acquired the hectares of land through an official gaze e in 1973 without the support of the community.

Akanbi sought the support of security agencies, tradi onal rulers and other stakeholders in ensuring that issues rela ng to unlawful acquisi on of lands are addressed.

“I want to advise those people who acquire land from unauthorised bodies to know that the righ ul owners of the land will take it back one day.

“The judgement at the Osun High Court favoured us and we will be returned to our land in accordance with the law and develop our community.

“The court also fined them N200 million for damages to families affected while delivering the judgement on January 10, 2023 in Ile-Ife,” he said.

•Ataoja.

•Yeyeluwa Dupe Adeleke-Sanni alongside, the initiator of the yearly Football Tournament, Rep Bamidele Salam, presenting the dummy cheque of N500,000 to the Captain of the First-Runner Up team Osun Football Academy FC, Naheem Odugbemi after the football competition held at Osogbo township stadium.

NSCDC Arraign 2 Persons For Tampering With IBEDC Meter In

By Rauf Aregbesola

LAST year, 2022, terminated for me with a drama c denouement. I had returned to Lagos from Abuja on Friday, December 30, worn out and listless for no reason at all.

By the way, Idowu KOREDE, my IJESA poli cal anchor-man, was billed for a major surgery at a reputable private hospital in Lagos for Wednesday, December 28, 2022. The surgery was successful, so said the team of surgeons that managed the process. Nevertheless, my mood was sour inexplicably.

On Saturday, December 31, 2022, while complaining to my family physician who coordinated the arrangements for the surgery of Korede and handled all pre-surgical medical management and procedures – the transfer from Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Eki, Krown Hospital, Alimosho Lagos and Saint Nicholas Hospital, Lagos – about my depressed mood, he calmly dropped the bombshell of the tragic death of Michael Idowu Korede. He said he had died that morning of embolism a er surviving the surgery and was on a roune ac vity.

I was stunned and numbed. How could this happen to a man who was an epitome of valour, virtue and honour? It was a huge blow. KOREDE represented the best in all of us: kind-hearted, large-hearted, bold, faithful and loyal. His simplicity was disarming.

He effec vely discharged his responsibility to me and the cause since 2004, from the days of the struggle to rebuild our party, reclaim the state from the PDP, prepare for the 2007 gubernatorial elec on, defend our victory, pursue a tanic legal tussle for 42 months, winning the legal ba le and ge ng the mandate to return the progressives back to the poli cal leadership of Osun and running an eightyear unparalleled people-oriented administra on in Osun. He was in the vanguard of all these efforts.

KOREDE was at the head of the efforts in Ijesaland to install my successor; Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, in the last quarter of 2016, when at my promp ng he formed the LEGACY GROUP to champion the aspira on. This was known to the aspirant whom he personally met on December 26, 2016 in his official quarter at Oke-Fia. This clearly belied the deliberate falsehood of

Tribute

Korede Was A Man

ance in Osun and its con nuity.

The few trappings of development that Ijesaland has had from the Federal Government so far – employment of the youth, empowerment of women and other vulnerable people and si ng of landmark projects like the Federal Fire Service Regional Training School, Ilesa, the 3,000 capacity Custodial Centre in Iloba, Na onal Ins tute of Domes c Security, Urogbo and Nigeria Immigra on Service Passport Office, Ilesa – all have the imprimatur of KOREDE. He chivalrously coordinated the successful delivery of these programmes and projects for my office.

Ogbeni’s opposi on to this cket. But I digress.

Unlike others who could not stand-up to their convic ons in the

THERE is a resounding homily among progressives and radical ac vists: “Do not agonise, organise!” Young, patrio c Nigerians, however many or few, now have to take this counsel seriously considering the depressing level of resigna on and helplessness among ci zens. Because of the innate and boundless energy of young Nigerians especially, collec ve sense of resigna on has now opened up into a channel of self-help engagements - in illegimate and criminal ventures - by a huge number of those not running away from the country, which further escalates an already grave insecurity situa on.

We seem to have come to a pass where problems that have solu ons in organised acons are either handed over to God to resolve or simply ignored out of helpless disposi on, whereas every single, nega ve individual act of self-help con nues to compound the social problems and emboldens the ruling elites who are the architects of the na onal problems to brazenly con nue in their careless, self-centred policies and programmes of naked exploita on and oppression.

Addressing and resolving complex na onal problems that affect the lives of almost all ci zens cannot be an individual act, however heroic: it requires concerted and organised responses and ac ons. However intractable the problems seem to be, we should remember these two wise sayings: “there is no problem without solu on,” and “the journey of a thousand miles begin with a single step.” Confucius said “The man who moved mountain begins by carrying away small stones,” and Nelson Mandela capped it all with a counsel rooted in great experience, “there is no easy road to freedom.”

face of tempta ons, Korede refused to demure in the face of a huge pressure to rewrite the history of the struggle for progressive govern-

As mortals, we are bound to accept death as the ul mate end of life. It will come at its me. We are therefore totally submi ed to the will of God on the transla on of our dear brother, ally, friend and confidant, Michael Idowu KOREDE, as painful as this might have been. We pray for the repose of his soul, divine peace and protecon for his family and an everlasting good memory of his life and me.

KOREDE WAS A MAN May he wake up to joyful ac vies on the other side. Aamin.

Be Up And Doing

Some basic reality we must se le down to, therefore, are: we should stop expec ng prayers, fas ng, God and the gods to do for us what we should do by ourselves; we should never expect to get out of the mess in a hurry knowing it was not also created in a day; we cannot get out of the mess by keeping the same mindset and a tude that allowed us get into the mess in the first place; individual triumphs, criminal or legi mate, in a na on that is in deep conflict and dying, are no achievement; resort to selfhelp, mostly through criminal exploits, however temporarily rewarding for the perpetrators, are roads to personal and social perdi on; no ma er your profession, once your country is organised in such a way that the system makes the country a death trap and renders almost all legi mate produc ve enterprise difficult, if not impossible, then your first duty as a ci zen is to contribute your patrio c quota to redeeming your country.

In same vein, it should be clear to us that the whole ci zens of a country do not need to rise up and be involved in its social redemp on project for it to succeed. By simply realising that Jesus, the Christ, started alone, and then with 12 disciples, and that the Holy Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) started likewise with few ardent disciples and the two great religions are where they are today, you will start believing; even if you can’t read the history of great turnaround that have been achieved by trauma sed countries, the closest being Rwanda.

Stop agonising; start organising is a great, libera ng piece of advice. In various commu-

ni es, schools, worship places, work places, trades places, relaxa on places, start organising! When there is an interest and desire to personally make a change from self-help to collec ve solu ons and ac ons, other things will follow and fall in place, including the knowledge of the deep roots of the problems and las ng solu ons to them, as well as the ac vies needed, from the smallest to the biggest. There is life beyond the 2023 General Elec ons and beyond the tenure of the next President; just as there was life beyond the 2015 elec on when APC and Buhari were sold to Nigerians as the final “Change” that will herald paradise in Nigeria – the rest is history. The task of making Nigeria into a great, prosperous na on has little or nothing to do with elec ng a president, governors and lawmakers periodically. If it was not clear before, it should be clear a er seeing the “change” experience of almost 8 years - the promises versus the reali es! New promises and grand manifestoes by “same of the same” people should least be our focus!

A paradigm shi from present mindset and a tude, a deep desire to get together for collec ve solu ons to collec ve problems, will open in-depth truths about the root causes of the problems, the las ng solu ons, the ways and the means, and the steps that will lead us home to genuinely securing our rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in a free, just and mighty Federal Republic of Nigeria that will not only be a giant of Africa but a giant in the world; a na on we will be proud to hand over to our children and their children.

STRIKER Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above