Osun Defender Online Version of February 5, 2021

Kudos, Knocks Over Construction Of Olaiya Flyover Page 4

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 05 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021 VOL 16 NO 04

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KIRUN, the headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Council, was yesterday thrown into mourning as the traditional ruler of the town, Oba AbdulRauf Olayiwola Olawale, Adedeji II joined his ancestors.

Oba Olawale, according to palace sources, passed on at a private hospital in Osogbo around 11pm on Wednesday.

The Akinrun was said to have been rushed to

the hospital when his health deteriorated. He was said to have been indisposed and stayed indoor for almost a week before he translated.

He ascended the throne in 1990.

M e m bers of the Olawale ruling houses, palace workers, sympathisers and other indigenes of Ikirun thronged the palace early yesterday when the news of the monarch’s passage filtered into the town.

Some of the mourners were seen crying profusely at the palace while the looks on others’ faces were bitter.

OSUN DEFENDER visited the palace and observed that the gate to the residence of the traditional ruler was closed.

Emotions Flow As Akinrun Joins Ancestors

Mourners at the Akinrun palace after the news of Oba Olawale’s passage filtered in.

Protests Rock LAUTECH Osun APC Leaders Raise Alarm Over Inclusion Of Page 5 SDP Chieftain In Membership Reg. C’ttee

As Workers Demand Payment Of 8-Month Salary Arrears

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Page 2 Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Michael Ologunde addressing the protesting staff on Tuesday.

Council Managers To Administer Osun LGs Pending Caretaker Appointments

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COVID-19: Residents Brazenly Disregard Guidelines

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 05 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

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News

Protests Rock LAUTECH As Workers Demand Payment Of 8-Month Salary Arrears

By Ismaeel Uthman

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O R K ERS of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso have demanded for the payment of their eightmonth salary arrears and deductions adding up to 13 months for their commitment to various cooperative societies.

The workers, who staged protests on the university campus on Monday and Tuesday under the aegis of Joint Action Committee, said they resorted to the protests to drive home their demands for payment of their outstanding salaries and entitlements and other related matters.

Organisation members of JAC include Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU).

Chairman of the LAUTECH-JAC, Comrade Muraina Alesinloye and the Secretary, Comrade Hamzat Fajoye said their demands included payment of balance of 68 hours earned allowances, 2012/2013 promotion arrears, implementation of the minimum wage and creation of the School’s Governing Council.

The workers, in their numbers besieged the Vice-Chancellor’s Lodge to present their demands to the VC, Prof.

Michael Ologunde.

But Ologunde was not around to attend to the protesting workers on Monday.

However, the VC addressed the workers on Tuesday at the front of the Senate Building, when they embarked on fresh protests, promising that all their agitations would be addressed appropriately.

The workers vowed to continue the protests until their demands were met.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the actions paralysed academic and non-academic activities on campus; as the workers refused to go to their various offices.

According to Alesinloye, the eight-month unpaid salary arrears were dated back to 2016 and 2017.

He said the State Government would have a meeting with the union leaders yesterday to address their grievances.

“The outcome of our meeting with the government will determine our next line of action”, he stated.

However, the meeting was yet to commence as at the time of filling this report.

From left, Governor State of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola; National Leader All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande; Team Leader/Chairman, National Registration and Revalidation Monitoring Committee, Senator Lawal Shuaib; and Secretary, South-West Zonal Monitoring Team, Arc. Tunde Imolehin, during the flag-off of the Party’s Membership Registration & Revalidation exercise at Ila-Orangun on Wednesday.

Oyetola, Akande, Speak On APC Membership Reg., Revalidation

By Sodiq Yusuf

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OVERNOR Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun and former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Adebisi Akande have revalidated their membership of the party.

While Oyetola re-registered himself in Iragbiji, Akande’s membership of the APC was revalidated by the party’s Membership Registration and Revalida-

tion Monitoring Committee at his country home in IlaOrangun on Wednesday.

Speaking after his registration, Oyetola canvassed for mass participation in the APC membership registration and revalidation exercise, calling on party members and loyalists across the country to ensure full participation in the exercise.

Oyetola said the registration exercise became necessary as it would af-

ford the leadership of the party the opportunity to update the membership register by accommodating new members, while also enabling existing members to revalidate their membership.

He said the exercise would further help to expand the membership base of the party which, according to him, was in tandem with the reform that National Caretaker and Extraordinary/Convention Plan-

Symbol’s Quote

“Show kindness, love and generousity of spirit and of your substance to others’ needs. We must love our neighbours just like ourselves”

ning Committee (CECPC) put in place.

The governor, who is a member of the CECPC, reaffirmed the APC government’s commitment to providing adequate security before, during and after the registration exercise.

Oyetola said: “As you are all aware, this is a nationwide exercise holding simultaneously in no fewer than 119,973 polling units and 57,000 voting points across the country, in line with the directive by the national leadership of our party.

“This exercise affords us the opportunity to update the membership register of the party by accommodating new members, while also enabling existing members to revalidate their membership.

“As a member, I am proud to say that APC, which started as an opposition party upon its establishment in 2013, is today not only the country’s ruling party, but also the largest party in the West Africa sub-region. It is no doubt a party to belong.

“I call on the good people of Osun to seize the opportunity of becoming card-carrying members of our great party. I urge state, local government and ward leaders of the party to take all the necessary steps in ensuring a smooth and transparent registration exercise.”

In his remarks, Akande, the former Governor of the

State of Osun expressed profound gratitude to the leadership of the party for the honour of being the second person to register after President Muhammadu Buhari.

Akande said the success of the registration exercise would determine the success of the party in future elections, urging the Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Committee to resist all temptations of sit-tight syndromes.

Earlier, the leader of the APC Membership Registration and Revalidation Monitoring Committee in South-West, Sen. Lawal Shuaib, commended Akande for being resolute and committed to democratic tenets and the party’s principles since its establishment.

Lawal said the choice of Ila-Orangun, the hometown of Akande, as the venue for the South-West flag-off registration exercise, was a deliberate decision.

He noted that the initiative is a testimony to the undiluted respect which the party has for its leaders.

Also speaking, Osun APC Caretaker Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun urged party members, loyalists and supporters to throng out en masse to participate in the registration exercise.

He pledged the readiness of the party’s leadership in the state to cooperate with the registration committee in efforts to achieve collective goals and objectives.

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 05 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

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By Festus Olowogboyega Oyebade

Beware, COVID-19 Is Real!

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EYOND punitive measures against infractions to COVID-19 laiddown protocols and regulations either through Presidential Executive Order or other bodies of laws, the more reasonable option to embrace by all at this stage is the caveat that life has no replacement. Hence, we should all guide and guard jealously our breath of life.

As reports have it, within the past week that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 announced the index discovery of the B1.1.7 and B1.351 strains and variants of the pandemic in Nigeria, five cases have been diagnosed in the State of Osun. These new variants are deadlier, more contagious as they spread like wildfire and kill faster.

Earlier, we witnessed, sadly, how the state recorded five deaths within few days, arising from Coronavirus. Much earlier, at the turn of the year, we bore the grief of losing a number of eminent personalities who shone as leading lights and bright gems for the state during “Last year, we saw the precarious their lifetimes. Unarguably, we lost them to the scourge! effects of repeated lockdowns. The At this juncture, all we vestiges are still very much present owe one another is adher- with us. Nobody wishes to have a ence and strict observance of all laid-down instruc- taste of stay-at-home again” tions and directives to forestall further spread of this pestilence.

Last year, we saw the precarious effects of repeated lockdowns. The vestiges are still very much present with us. Nobody wishes to have a taste of stay-at-home again. However, an adage that says “heavens help only those who help themselves” is never of greater relevance than now. The Biblical injunction that, “obedience is better than sacrifice” now reverberates and speaks louder.

We are all enjoined to cooperate with government at all tiers by living within the tenets of laid-down instructions, so that we could issue riddance to the pandemic in good time. Having paid the dues, we could carry on with our normal lives in no-distant future.

We shall not die of cursory/accursed plague. We, however, owe this covenant responsible citizenship and extra vigilance.

Oyetola’s Commendable Efforts At Improving Osun Economy

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HERE’S no denying the fact that, apart from corruption, one other main reason why Nigeria has found herself in this level of economic quagmire is the monolithic nature of our economy. Nigeria’s overdependence on petroleum since its discovery in 1958 has led us to this economic crisis such that a country that was once swimming in economic prosperity has now become a mendicant nation. What a sad reversal of fortune?

In view of this reality, it has now dawned on us all that except we diversify the economy we are clearly heading for the rock. The fall in the price of petroleum at international market, which has grossly affected our national income, has awakened us to the reality of the need for economic diversification and that’s why from federal to state; and down to local levels now, the leitmotif is economic diversification; with emphasis on agriculture.

As stated in the first paragraph, our failure to diversify the economy since and the humongous corruption that has

characterised our politics has put Nigeria’s economy on the brinks of collapse.

The effects of this near-collapse of the economy are seen in the worrisome level of unemployment, massive poverty, rising insecurity, all manners of criminalities arising from the need for survival at all costs and the hopelessness in the land generally.

For Nigeria to get back to the track of economic prosperity, agriculture has been identified as the recipe. It’s important to remind ourselves here again that the country survived sufficiently with agriculture as the mainstay of our economy before the discovery of oil. Then it was food sufficiency, life more abundant and peaceful coexistence amongst the various ethnic groups that made up the country. However, the reverse has been the case with our petrodollar economy.

This is highly ironic.

Read full article on www.osundefender.com • Kola Odepeju is Senior Special Assistant to Governor Oyetola on Public Affairs.

Marching Away From A State Of Emergency

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AVE you read “King Solomon’s Mines” by Rider Haggard? Do you know that Henry Curtis, while in total darkness with others, shouted to Captain John Good: “Strike a light to show me where you are”? Do you know that this is the time that each of us like Captain John Good, has to demonstrate to Nigeria where we stand on the issue of security? Do you wonder why Governors Makinde of Oyo State and Akeredolu of Ondo State sprinted to the President on their takes on the security breaches in their jurisdictions? You care to know? Do you know that their expeditions were to forestall a possible read of malfeasance to them, a situation that could call for declaring State of Emergency in those states? Do you know what it takes to be in ‘state of emergency’ in Nigeria according to the Constitution, (1999 as amended)? Have you monitored the trajectory of the State of Emergency in Nigeria?

Are you aware that the history of State of Emergency in Nigerian politics began in 1962 when alleged irregularities in the country’s first real census led to a crisis in the Action Group (AG)-controlled Western Nigeria? Can you recall that on 1st October, Prime Minister Balewa in a nation-wide broadcast told the nation that his government had been aware for some time of violent intentions of certain politicians to forcefully overthrow the legitimate government in Nigeria, and that they had been undergoing military training abroad? Do you know that on 26th October, 1962, the ban on public meetings and processions was extended to cover the whole of Western Nigeria? Do you know that on 2nd November, 1962, Chief Awolowo was formally charged with 26

others (including Anthony Enahoro, Sam Ikoku, Ayo Adebanjo, Lateef Jakande, Alfred Rewane, J.S. Tarka, Josiah Olawoyin, Dr. Oladipo Maja, Bisi Onabanjo, James Aluko, etc) with conspiring to overthrow the Federal Government by force?

Do you know that the next state of emergency was declared by President Olusegun Obasanjo on 18th May, 2004?

Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, do you know that the President imposed a state of emergency on Plateau State, suspending the elected Governor Joshua Dariye and the State House of Assembly in the process as he accused the governor of failing to act to end a cycle of bloodletting violence between the Plateau State’s Muslim and Christian communities that claimed over 2,000 lives since September 2001? Can you recall that on 19th October, 2006, President Olusegun Obasanjo declared a State of Emergency in Ekiti State and suspended the Governor, Deputy Governor and House of Assembly of the State and appointed Brigadier-General Tunji Olurin, (retired), a non-indigene, as “Sole Administrator” on Ekiti State as the State of Emergency was ratified by the National Assembly on 26th October, 2006? Can you recall that President Goodluck Jonathan also declared a State of Emergency in some local governments in Borno and Plateau states in 2011 before full declaration in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states? Do you know that these are precedents that the governors were trying to avoid in their respective states? Are you aware that Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution provides for the imposition of a state of emergency in the country or any part of it?

As lovers of democratic rule, do you know that this is the time to lower the flag of war and violence and raise the banner of peace? The voice of President Lyndon Johnson of the United States cuts in: “The guns and the bombs, the rockets and the warships, are all symbols of human failure. They are necessary symbols. They protect what we cherish.

But they are witness to human folly.”

The people of Osun are enjoined to promote peace at all times to multiply the dividends of democracy which this Governor is seriously committed to do. We must march away from a state of emergency.

Olowogboyega Oyebade is the Head of Service, OSUN DEFENDER IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER, State of Osun MAGAZINE OR ANY PUBLICATION WHATSOEVER

“As lovers of democratic rule, do you know that this is the time to lower the flag of war and violence and raise the banner of peace?”

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 05 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

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News

Kudos, Knocks Over Construction Of Olaiya Flyover

By Solomon Odeniyi

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IXED reactions have been trailing the proposed construction of a flyover on the popular Olaiya junction of Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

While some people welcomed the project and commended Oyetola, another

set of residents of the state has been expressing dissenting views, describing it as white elephant and misplacement of priority.

Oyetola had, during a demo closure of Olaiya junction last week Friday, said the flyover was not just an iconic project designed for ostentatious purposes, but one of the government’s measures to ensure

the safety of citizens’ lives.

The Governor said: “The Olaiya flyover is meant to take care of the traffic bottlenecks around that intersection. There have been several accidents around there over the years, some of them fatal. So, to prevent the frequency of accidents, we are proposing this interchange at the Olaiya intersection.

“Part of our own job is to ensure the security of lives and so we thought it necessary to ensure that those who are coming from Abere for instance can pass through the flyover without necessarily impeding the movement of those plying Alekuwodo and OdiOlowo lane. It will take a lot of traffic off the regular route and ensure that eve-

Pastor Clement Ademuluti, Zonal Pastor of Christ Life Parish, RCCG, Pastor and Dr. (Mrs.) Obateru, the Celebrator, Pastor Mrs. Janet Ogolo, flanked by her husband, Pastor Professor Emmanuel Ogolo and a host of other pastors during her 60th birthday and retirement thanksgiving service held at the Church, Neubertosh Area, Ofatedo, recently.

rybody is able to navigate without causing accidents.

“So, apart from being iconic, it is also an instrument to ensure that there is safety and accidents are reduced to the barest minimum. It is important that we mitigate the possibility of accidents happening at that intersection and that is the purpose of this flyover.”

But the Transparency and Accountability Group (TAG), rejected the project and demanded its stoppage, just as it questioned the process of the award of the project.

The Spokesperson of TAG, Ayo Ologun, in a statement said after subjecting the project to professional and socioeconomic intellection, the bridge was needless and amounted to a waste of the state’s scarce resources.

Ologun said: “Details of the Award of this project are shrouded in secrecy.

The State’s Public Procurement Law 2015 makes certain provisions for Bidding and Award of projects in the state. Section 33(2) of this law particularly states that “In the case of goods, works and services valued under International Competitive Bidding, the invi-

NGO Raises Alarm As Guardian Denies Teenage Cancer Patient Access To Surgery She was said to have been referred to Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, IleIfe. The Monsurat Ajoke Foundation convener

By Yusuf Oketola

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Non-Governmental Organisation, Monsurat Ajoke Foundation has called on well-meaning members of the public to rise in support of a 16-year-old cancer patient, Cynthia Sunday.

According to the Convener/Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Mrs. Monsurat Ibraheem, Sunday was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, but was reportedly subjected to self-medication by her guardian, Mrs. Obey Christiana in Osogbo for five years.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that when the ailment started in 2015, a surgery was supposed to be carried out on her at Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, but Christiana, her guardian refused to release her for the operation.

Her guardian reportedly said the operation would not be carried out because someone else’s blood could not be given to her, based on their religious belief as a Jehovah’s Witnesses.

urged well-meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the young girl for medical treatment, saying the sickness could claim her life if not given proper timely attention.

tation for bids shall be advertised in at least two (2) national newspapers, one (1) relevant internationally recognized newspaper, the official website of the procuring entity, the Agency and the State Procurement Journal not less than six weeks before the deadline for submission of the bids for the goods, works and services.”

Also, a resident of OkeFia area of Osogbo, Mr. Rafiu Awodele said the fund for the project should be used to redesign the Oke-Fia roundabout to ease the usual traffic gridlock on the road.

Awodele said: “Let the government use the money to expand the road around Oke-fia area. The traffic in that area is always much.

Let our government do that one. There are other roads too begging for repairs and there are areas where there are no good roads. Let them fix those ones first. “ Commending the proposed Olaiya flyover, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, said the project is a thoughtful idea from a leader who sees beyond the present time.

He described the project as a bold step and one capable of solving contemporary problems and future ones.

Farounbi said: “Leaders don’t only solve contemporary problems. They also solve future problems which they can see, but their followers can’t see. What if Oyinlola didn’t start UNIOSUN, for which he was criticised, and LAUTECH was taken over the way it had been taken over?”

COVID-19: Residents Brazenly Disregard Guidelines

By Ismaeel Uthman

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It was learnt that Cynthia and her two siblings were brought from Owo in Ondo State to Osogbo

by Christiana, who happened to be their neighbour then after the passage of their mother.

The condition of the cancer patient was said to have so deteriorated as at the time of filing this report that she was said to have been rejected at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.

HERE has not been total compliance with non-pharmaceutical protocols rolled out by the State Government of Osun to curtail the spread of the second wave of the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic by residents and specific segments of the society.

OSUN DEFENDER, which has been monitoring the level of compliance with COVID-19 new set of guidelines issued on Monday, January 18, 2020, noted that a majority of the people was not observing the safety protocols as directed by the government.

Notable segments of the society that have

been disregarding the guidelines are commercial transporters, worship centres, workers and visitors to the State Government Secretariat, Abere.

The interstate, intrastate, intercity and intracity commercial transporters have continued to carry their usual four-three passengers at the back and two passengers at the front seat, against the directives of the government.

Also, mosques and churches have refused to ensure physical distancing while praying.

But some churches have been ensuring that their members wash their hands and apply sanitizer before entering auditoriums for church

services.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that in some churches where physical distancing was to be enforced, the large number of worshipers would eventually disrupt the process.

At the Government Secretariat in Abere, the ‘no-face-mask, noentry’ directive of the government was not totally in place as observed by the medium during a visit yesterday.

Sizeable number of workers and visitors to the secretariat were sighted without face masks in various ministries, agencies and parastatals.

Continued on page 7

News

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 05 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

Osun APC Leaders Raise Alarm Over Inclusion Of SDP Chieftain In Membership Reg. C’ttee

By Yusuf Oketola

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OME leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun have alerted the National Caretaker Committee of the party to the inclusion of a chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Tayo Adewakun as a member of APC Registration and Revalidation Committee for Osun.

According to the APC leaders who spoke under the aegis of Osun Progressive Top, Adewakun is a relation of Senator Iyiola Omisore, the governorship candidate of the SDP in the 2018 election, and has never been a member of the APC. The APC chieftains, in a letter directed to the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, Mai Mala Buni, said Adewakun is not eligible to be a member of the party’s registration committee as he is yet to denounce his membership of the SDP. Dated January 30, 2021, the letter reads: “We write as genuine members and stakeholders of our beloved party, APC, to register our displeasure and formally com-

Famodun plain about the inclusion of one Tayo Adewakun, Esq. as a member of APC Registration Committee for Osun.

“The ground of our complaint is that Tayo Adewakun has never been a member of our party. Our findings show that Adewakun is a relative of Otunba Iyiola Omisore and up till this moment, he is still a card carrying member of the SDP and yet to renounce same.

“The generality of the members of our party, APC and the stakeholders of the party are now wondering why a chieftain of SDP would now

be saddled with such sensitive responsibilities, most especially when Mr. Tayo Adewakun has not denounced membership of the SDP and he is not a member of our party.”

The letter, which was obtained by OSUN DEFENDER today further reads: “We equally want to complain about the three slots allotted to our state, Osun, instead of the seemingly expected seven slots.

“Our ground for this complaint is that from the list of the registration committee for the 36 states and the FCT, each of the states has a sevenmember committee, and

that presupposes that each of the states should be entitled to seven slots.

“We call on your Excellency to use your good office to right the wrongs by removing the name of Tayo Adewakun without further delay and replace same with a committed member of our party, and increase the slot of Osun from three to seven, to correct the obvious imbalance.

“We need to state that we have absolute confidence in your ability to do justice to our complaints expeditiously, bases on your Excellency’s reputation built over the years as a man of integrity.

“We also want to wish you and your committee members success on this current assignment.”

The letter is signed

by Alhaji Azeez Adesiji, Deputy Caretaker Chairman of the APC in the state, Messrs Gbenga Akano, Gbenga Awosodo, Kolapo Alimi, Biyi Odunlade, Idowu Korede, Engr Kazeem Salami, Muideen Olateju, Rasheed Opatola, Kehinde Morenikeji, Hon Nureni Adebisi, Sadiq Olajide, Alh Busari Ibraheem and Jimoh Olayemi.

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Council Managers To Administer Osun LGs Pending Caretaker Appointments

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OUNCIL managers across the local government and local council development areas are to administer their various councils pending the appointment of caretaker management committees by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

OSUN DEFENDER authoritatively gathered yesterday that the council managers, who are the accounting officers in all the LGs and LCDAs, would resume into a new leadership position from Monday, February 8, 2021.

The tenure of the current chairmen and councillors in the LGs and LCDAs comes to an end today.

Findings by the medium revealed that Governor Oyetola had resolved that the council managers would rule their various LGs and LCDAs for a period not less than a month, after which

caretaker management committees would be appointed.

OSUN DEFENDER had in its January 29, 2021 edition reported that the governor was considering using council managers to administer the LGs and LCDAs for a while before appointing caretaker management committees.

The proposed caretaker appointment has been generating ripples in the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is said to be delaying its enforcement.

The concerned party members who spoke with the medium under condition of anonymity said Governor Oyetola should have concluded arrangements for the appointment of the caretaker management committees before the expiration of the tenure of the council chairmen and councillors.

Social Diary

Alh. Gbadamosi Okunola Lawal Celebrated His 94th Bday Last Saturday an untainted legacy that you have, working with others, planted progressivism in Ikirun over the years.

You are an accomplished progressive and dedicated community leader.

You have now transcended the realm of a politician and it will be fair to regard you as an ‘Elder Statesman’.

On behalf of my wife and our associates, I wish you long life and pray that you will continue to glow in joy, abound in good health as you age with grace.

Happy Birthday Sir!

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior

Media Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Mr. Sola Fasure presenting birthday message to Alhaji Gbadamosi Lawal on behalf of the Minister at the weekend at Ikirun, State Of Osun.

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LHAJI Gbadamosi Okunola Lawal, En ville, Ikirun.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR 94TH BIRTHDAY I write to con-

gratulate you on your 94th birthday. This is a great milestone, considering that everyday counts as we sleep and rise every day, by the grace of God. I thank God on your behalf for the long life it pleases Him to give you.

These years have been well lived in the service of God, humanity, Nigeria, Osun and your community, Ikirun. The good time you have invested in councillorship, council chairmanship and membership of the

old Oyo State House of Assembly has been for selfless service.

Being a progressive at heart, you have pursued and advanced the progressive cause with all of your energy, might and entire being. It will remain

The Celebrator, Perusing the birthday message from the Minister of Interior.

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Religion

seek refuge in Allah from the devil the accused and I start in the name of Allah The Most Beneficent The Most Merciful. I testify that there is no any other deity worthy of worship save Allah, I also testify that Prophet Muhammad is His messenger. May His benediction be upon his (Muhammad) soul, members of his household, his companions and those who follow his ways till the By Day when man will see that which his hands have sent forth, and the disbeliever will say; I wish I would have Imam Musa been dust.

Oladapo Raji O you who believe! Fear Allah as he should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam. (Q3:102).

Da’awah Methodology What is Da’awah? Da’awah is an Arabic word which simply means call, However, in Islamic parlance, it connotes an act of inviting people to the fold of Islam. Or better still Islamic Propagation. Methodology on the other hand means sets of methods used in working at something.

Da’awah Methodology therefore means the sets of methods or ways or methods. The verse mentions three different categories to be followed. orderliness employed in inviting people to the Islam hence; this topic The first one is wisdom; this is applicable to those who have faith in the “Da’awah Methodology” will dwell on ways to call people into the fold lord to enhance their belief. The second category is fair preaching, which of Islam. The caller/preacher is known as Daa’I, which is derived from is applicable to inattentive and fickle-minded people; while the third category, argue with them in a way that is better, is applicable to the denial Da’awah.

Conveying of Islamic message to the people is an obligatory act en- or rejecter of the truth.

All the categories stated above can only be sufficiently carried out joined on every Muslim at all time. Not necessarily when one is loaded with many knowledge it is an act /profession of all the messengers of when a caller follows certain protocols. Such as adequate knowledge of Allah right from prophet Nuh AS to the zeal of them Muhammad (SAW) what he intends to put across, leniency and patience. On this protocol Prophet Muhammad SAW was quoted to have even said: “ Convey to Allah told the Prophet thus: “… And had you (Muhammad SAW) been them, on my behalf, even if it is a verse, This tradition stresses the impor- severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from you …” tance of Da’awah. Equally, it is a directive from Allah to Prophet (SAW) Q3:159.

Also Allah said through His pious servant Luqman thus: “O my and by extension to the mankind, to do that Allah says: “invite (mankind, O Muhammad SAW to the way of your lord (i.e Islam) with wis- son! Aqim-as-Salat (perform As-Salat_ enjoin (on people) Al- Maruf (Isdom and fair preaching and argue with them in a way that is better…” lamic Monotheism and all that is good), and forbid (people) from AlQ16:125. With this verse therefore, it is imperative on all Muslims (male/ Munkar (i.e disbelief in the Oneness of Allah, polytheism of all kinds female) to invite people to the way of Allah. It is an open secret that the and all that is evil and bad) and bear with patience whatever befall you. devil too is striving to call people to his way. The devil and his soldiers Verily these are some of the important commandments (ordered by Alare doing everything within their powers to dissuade people from the lah with no exemption).

It is pertinent to state here that calling to the way of Allah requires a way of Allah through various means. Human being therefore needs exgradual approach. That is why Allah legislates almost all the legislations tra efforts to wage war against this manifest enemy called Devil.

However in our attempt to carry out directive of our creator, a caller in a gradual manner. He also said: “there is no compulsion in religion.” i.e (Daa’i) must possess some qualities to enable him/her carry out the “Q2:256” The practical approach to this as employed by the Prophet (SAW) duty adequately. Some of the qualities include the following: was the account given by Hazrat Mu’adh (RAA) he related: The Holy 1) Adequate knowledge of what he intends to put across Prophet (SAW) nominated me as (Governor of Yemen) and said: “bear 2) Must be a practising Muslim in mind: a group of the people of the book (follower of the revealed re3) Must be an upright, honest, trustworthy and God fearer. ligions) will come to you therefore ask them to bear witness that there 4) Must practise what he preaches 5) Above all must have wisdom and be methodical in his pres- is no god save Allah and that I am His messenger. When they have accepted this, inform them that Allah has prescribed for them five prayers entation.

The five above is what Allah means in Qur’an 16:125 quoted above. (Salat) in a day and night when they accept this then tell them that AlNow, let us scrutinize the verse in a way that spells out the intended lah has made it compulsory for them Zakat (poor due) which will be

JUMAT SERMON

Da’awah Methodology

realized from those who are wealthy among them, and will be distributed to poor persons among you, when they agree to this, do not take their best articles as Zakat. Fear the call of an oppressed person, because there is no barrier between the complaint of an oppressed person and Allah.”

The Prophet SAW equally stated the steps to be followed thus: (i) Hand (ii) tongue (iii) Heart in sequential order. He (Prophet) Says “whenever anyone of you sees anything disapproved (of by Allah) let him change it with his hand, or if he can not do that then with his tongue, or if he cannot do that then with his heart, through that is the weakest faith” Muslim Related it.

Prophet Muhammad (SAW) did not only say the above Hadith but demonstrated it with his actions in many ways. For instance he exhibited a high degree of tolerance when a villager discharged urine in the mosque. This made some people there, greatly annoyed, who got up in order to punish him; whereupon the Prophet (SAW) said: leave him and throw a bucketful of water over the polluted spot to clean it. You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them hard and difficult. Bukhari.

Likewise a caller must abstain from using vulgar languages as did by the Prophet (Saw) when he was assaulted and wounded by his people. Ibn Mas’ud (RA) relates: “ As if I am seeing the Holy Prophet (SAW) narrating the account of one of the Prophets of Allah (SAW) who was assaulted and wounded by his people: while wiping the blood from the face he prayed ‘O Allah! Forgive my people because they do not know.

Bukhari & Muslim.

From the above it is discernible that the Prophet was a typical role model that a caller (Daa’i) must emulate in discharging his duty. In fact in another tradition, he was categorical about the leniency of the message he brought He (Prophet) SAW says, Hadrat Aishat (RAA) related that the holy Prophet (SAW) said: where there is softness it beautified that thing and from what it is taken away it snatched its glamour.

It was on record that Umar ibn Khattab (RAA) places high premium on manners as an essential tool of calling people to the fold of Islam. He was reported to have said “Invite people to Islam through your manner” The last point I want to make here is Da’awah (call) through dialogue. Anybody that wants to use this method must be versed in the field otherwise he will end up in another faith.

In conclusion I admonish whoever desires to join the train of the preachers to equip himself with necessary knowledge to enable him do the job diligently.

May Allah make the close of our request to be Alhamdulillah Rabbil alamin.

• Imaam Musa Oladapo Raji The Chief Imaam of Telemu Land Ola Oluwa LGA, Osun State.

Crime

22 Corolla Brainboxes Stolen In A Week In Osogbo

By Yusuf Oketola

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HERE seems to be a concentrated stealing of brainboxes of Toyota Corolla cars in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun.

Thieves who specialise in the stealing of the brainboxes have consistently been vandalising Corolla vehicles at mechanic workshops and roadsides.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that no fewer than 22 brainboxes of this particular brand of cars have been stolen in the past one week.

In one of the recent cases of the stealing that occurred at Alekuwodo, Osogbo, the thieves vandalised three Corolla cars, one Matrix and a Hilux Jeep and stole their brainboxes, coils and tappings.

Two of the Corolla cars and the Hilux vehicles were parked for repair at a mechanic work-

shop while the other vehicles were parked by the roadside.

Speaking with the medium, Mr. Kunle Ojelabi,

owner of a mechanic workshop at Alekuwodo where the incident occurred, said the development is rampant in Os-

ogbo in recent times.

According to Ojelabi, the thieves concentrate on stealing Corolla and other Toyota products’

brainboxes and coils, saying that mechanics were afraid of leaving vehicles at their workshops overnight.

Police Brutality: Court Awards N5m Damages Against Police

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Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo, State of Osun has awarded a sum of N5m against the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu as aggravated and general damages for abusing the rights of Mrs. Adetola Halima Abdulazeez.

Abdulazeez was beaten by two policemen at Odo-Ori Iwo on April 18, 2020 during a lockdown declared by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to curtail the spread of the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic.

She was hounded by the uncivilised police officers on her way to a pharmaceutical store to purchase drugs for her ailing daughter who was down with severe ear infections.

The said erring policemen pounced on her with police batons and other whips, causing her grievous bodily injuries and emotional distress.

The erring police officers were identified as Mr. Taiwo Ikuesan, a Po-

Olokode

lice Inspector and Abass Ibrahim, a Corporal.

A human rights lawyer, Mr. Pelumi Olajengbesi, instituted a fundamental human rights enforcement suit on behalf of Abdulazeez at the court.

At the hearing of the suit, counsel to the NPF and the IGP, F.B Osei

argued that the former and the latter could not be held liable for the acts and omission of its erring officers, even though they were their agents.

Ruling on the case yesterday, the Presiding Judge, Justice Ayo Emmanuel, resolved the matter in favour of the Applicant.

Justice Emmanuel held that the actions of the policemen in the discharge of their official duties as agents of the Nigeria Police Force amounted to an infringement Abdulazeez’s fundamental right to dignity; therefore the NPF must shoulder the liability.

Commenting on the judgment, Olajengbesi said the verdict would reinforce the slogan which connotes the judiciary as the last hope of the common man and equally rekindle the hope of Nigerians in the judicial system.

He said: “On Sunday, the thieves came to my shop, they vandalised three vehicles, comprising Toyota Corolla brand and one Hilux. They stole the brainbox of one Corolla and the Hilux.

They also stole the coils of the vehicles. I learnt that has been the case in some other workshops in recent times.

“When I called the owners of the vehicles to explain to them, they said I am responsible for everything that happens to their cars in my custody, so I should fix whatever was broken or stolen. I am now indebted.”

About 12 Corolla cars were also reportedly vandalised with their brainboxes removed last weekend around Powerline area of Osogbo.

The medium learnt that the brainboxes of about six Toyota Corolla cars were also stolen at Oke-Baale area of the capital of the State of Osun.

Sports Osun FA Goes Digital

By Solomon Odeniyi

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HE Osun State Football Association has launched its official football website.

The FA stated that there would be a strong focus on giving constant updates, supply data, news and fans’ engagements.

The Chairman of the Association, Chief Rasaq Mustapha said the webiste will allow the global community to access football activities in the state.

“Our catchy official website domain, www.osunfa.org, would be a channel for the public to get relevant and useful information, including

news releases, competition schedules, football components, local match updates and related news from the state FA. “I have been working round the clock and set the agenda on how to digitalise grassroots activities and package useful contents aimed at drawing the attentions of both investors and followers.

“The, link www. osunfa.org, is designed for mobile and PC use and will be undergoing constant improvements from time to time, even feedback would be considered, because of the portal’s stability.”

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 05 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

7

Osun United Goalkeeper Trainer Resigns

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SUN United goalkeeper trainer, Olatunji Baruwa, has resigned his appointment with the Omoluabi Giants last week.

This brings to an end his 15-year stay

with the club he joined in 2006.

The former Golden Eaglets U-17 goalkeeper trainer under Manu Garba Manu has joined another NNL side, Gateway United.

Speaking with some

sports journalists on Monday, Baruwa said leaving Osun United was a difficult decision.

He, however, appreciated the management, players and fans of the team.

Baruwa, the former Lobi Stars and Crown FC goalkeeper, said: “After difficult considerations, I have decided to resign from my position as Goalkeeper Coach of Osun United Football Club.

“I deeply appreciate my time with Osun United and I want to thank all the people who made the club a fantastic place to work for me.”

However, the President of the club, Chief Ademola Adesina, in a statement acknowledged receiving Baruwa’s resignation letter, wishing him well in his new team.

“We have received soft copy of resignation letter from Baruwa and we wish him well. His new assignment with another club is a good development for him to gather further experience away from home. We believe that he would bring his experience to bear as we pray for his success at his new club”, Adesina said.

News Ogunkanmi Hails Oyetola On Ileogbo/Gbongan Reconstruction Approval

By Sodiq Yusuf

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HE Deputy Chief Whip, of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Abidemi Ogunkanmi has commended Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for approving the reconstruction of 22 roads across the state.

Ogunkanmi said the reconstruction of the 22 roads will facilitate needed rapid economic development of the state.

Speaking with newsmen yesterday, the lawmaker representing Ayedire Constituency in the state’s parliament specifically thanked Oyetola for including Ileogbo/ Gbongan road in the approval list comprising the 22 roads to be reconstructed.

It would be recalled that Ogunkanmi had, during the 2020 Ileogbo Day, promised that Governor Oyetola will reconstruct Ileogbo/Gbongan road soon.

Ogunkanmi who expressed his joy that his desire is now a reality on the approval for the reconstruction of Ileogbo/ Gbongan road, said a good shape of the road will be a springboard of economic growth in the two towns.

He stated that the road is one of the important links in Ayedire state constituency that need urgent attention.

According to him, “The road is overdue for

reconstruction and it has created lots of hazard to the economic advancement of the towns because of its importance.

“As a lawmaker, I will continue to play my role

to sponsor and promote bills to foster the development of our constituency and our dear state as we work toward ensuring that the wave of development continues

Continued from page 4

viduals.

Aside sensitising residents of the state across media, the government was noticed not to have embarked on any enforcement move to ensure compliance with the new COVID-19 guidelines.

The dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed by the government has also not been effective, as it lacked strict enforcement.

There have also been gatherings of more than 50 people for ceremonies and other social functions without an approval from the government and bereft of compliance with the Coronavirus guidelines.

Traders across the market places in the state capital have not also been using their face masks.

Commenting on the matter in a telephone interview yesterday, a social analyst, Mr. Goke Omigbodun attributed the non-compliance to lackadaisical attitudes of the followers and lack of political will on the part of the leadership.

Omigbodun said: “Nigerians as a people

never want to follow any regulation. That is why I have been saying that our problem it is not necessarily about leadership. The only reason I will ever blame the leadership is the lack of political will and determination to ensure that the people do what is right.

“On this issue of compliance with COVID-19 guidelines, the government should be bold enough to enforce discipline. Those at the helm of affair should ensure that defaulters are made to face the wrath of the law, either by imposition of fines or detention. The protocols have been well spelt out.

“Government should ensure that there are monitoring officers that should execute this and discipline the people according to the dictates of the law.

With this being done, there will be less spread of the virus. The government should also do more tests in mosques, markets, churches and other places to know where the virus is prevalent”.

unabated.”

The lawmaker urged the people of the state to continue to support Oyetola’s administration as it is working hard to ensure that they enjoy the

dividends of democracy.

Ogunkanmi, however, charged the government to put machineries in place for quick execution of the project.

COVID-19: Residents Brazenly... Police Arrest Suspected Cultists Over Murder Of 22-Year-Old Man In Ejigbo However, virtually all the MDAs provided hand-wash basins and hand sanitizer at the entrances of their various buildings, even though some of the containers are empty of water.

Both public and private schools in Osogbo, the state capital, have been complying with the new guidelines by ensuring that all the pupils and students of the schools wear face masks, while sanitizer was also applied to their hands at the school entrance.

The schools have also cancelled the regular morning assemblies to avoid convergence of the teeming populace of pupils and students.

Findings by the medium have revealed that a majority of the residents of the state does not believe that COVID-19 is real, while another set of people who acknowledged the presence of the virus does not take it serious in spite of the persistent enlightenment campaigns from government, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and indi-

T

wo suspected cultists, Jamiu Usman and Azeez Ismail have been arrested by the Police for allegedly killing a 22-yearold man in a recent cult clash in Ejigbo, State of Osun.

Usman (28) and Ismail (21), were said to be members of the Aiye and Eiye confraternities terrorising Oke-Odo and Isale Agoji areas of Ejigbo, as they engaged in a supremacy battle.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that members of the two rival cult groups, led by the arrested suspects, engaged themselves in a gun battle in which a 22year-old man, Abifarin Abeeb was killed.

It was also gathered that the corpse of the deceased had been evacuated and deposited at Adeeyo Private Hospital Mortuary, Ejigbo.

Confirming the arrest, Police Public Relations Officer, Osun

Command, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola stated that that intensive efforts and discreet investigations by the police detectives led to the apprehension of the two suspects.

Opalola said the two culprits would be arraigned in court after the completion of investigations.

CHANGE OF NAME DUROSOMO JACOB ADEBAYO

That I was formerly known and addressed as DUROSOMO J. ADEBAYO now wish to be known and addressed as DUROSOMO JACOB ADEBAYO. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank and general public should take note.

ARAOYE ASIFA AKOPE That I was formerly known and addressed as ADEYEMO ASIFA now wish to be known and addressed as ARAOYE ASIFA AKOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 05 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

VOL. 16 NO 03 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

NGO Raises Alarm As Guardian Denies Teenage Cancer Patient Access To Surgery Page 4

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T a period when countries of the world, including Africa, are making in-roads into the Information Age and its scientific innovations, we in Nigeria are not only receding, we are moving into the Neolithic Age very fast, grappling with cattle-rearing methodology and, for not knowing how best, harvesting assorted criminalities including kidnapping for ransom, rape, killings, banditry, etc, which now pose acute security challenges approximating a threat to Nigeria unity and corporate existence.

For over a decade, there had been cries over cattle rustling, which had become a major crime business alongside banditry. The marauding Boko Haram militants’ attacks include theft of huge number of cows, killings of herders and other people and wanton destruction of property in virtually all the states in the North, especially in places like Benue, Zamfara, Nassarawa and Plateau states, among others, with slow response from government and security agencies. According to Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association of Nigeria, about 7,000 cattle were rustled between October 2013 and March 2014 alone. Not only that, the rustlers would first rape women, maim and kill herders and destroy property before escaping with the cows. As recent as January 2019 alone, an estimated 371 people were reportedly killed by cattle rustlers in Zamfara State alone! Based on the failure of security apparatuses to perform, the cattle owners had to resort to self help of arming their herders with lethal weapons like AK47 rifles for protecting themselves and their cattle. All these were basic realities limited to Northern Nigeria alone as at then.

Fulani herdsmen have been gravitating towards South, not solely because greener pastures and water could be gotten to feed their cows but to escape the above realities. It is instructive to state that Fulani with their cattle had always lived peacefully with their host communities in Southern Nigeria with some confirmed intermarriages. The current insecurity challenges are basically with the invading armed, under-aged, adult herders with AK47 in an environment where kidnapping for ransom, banditry among other criminalities have already become flourishing business, with government inaction and incompetence to protecting lives and property.

Poor, uneducated herders armed with such lethal weapons inevitably become susceptible to criminal activities to better their lots, especially if they secure local accomplices. Little wonder that both Fulani herders and non-Fulanis masquerading as Fulanis have severally been arrested in cases of kidnapping, rape, killing for ransom in Southern forests.

Under such circumstances, what is expected of a responsive democratic government is to proffer lasting solutions to these problems which are the essence of its existence in the first instance – protection of lives and property. Having slumbered for so long while hundreds of thousands of people paid ransoms, are raped and kidnapped daily as a booming prevalent business, the Presidency woke up and decreed that every state should adopt RUGA. Ruga is a Fulani word for human settlement which also has an acronym “rural grazing area”. The RUGA idea was viewed by other sections with suspicion - as a disguise by Fulani to conquer the entire Nigeria, which has credence to the extent of the largely unresolved national question by successive governments and

“Stakeholders and investors in agro-business with the support of the State Government could invest in ranches where herders will either bring their cattle like day-schooling or bring them for boarding like boarding school with affordable fee”

Open Grazing Is Simply Outdated the incumbent President being of Fulani extraction; and the history of the early 19th Century where Fulani leader, Usman dan Fodio, launched a holy war that conquered the Hausa city-states with subsequent Fulani hegemony all over Northern Nigeria with Fulani Emirs replacing Hausa kings, and a resolve to so conquer all the way to the sea. The RUGA idea was stillbirth.

Before degeneration into full-blown criminalities in the bushes, the main problem had been Fulani herdsmen/farmers clashes as a result of destruction of farmlands and food crops. In the course of the conflicts, herdsmen would attack the farmers with lethal weapons, rape women, destroy the farm, raze villages and follow with savage killings. With such continual scenario unchecked by government and security agencies, people are bound to rise up to defend their farmland and means of livelihood. After all, there is Sambisa among other such forests in the North also with four out of the eight river basin development authorities sited in the North - Benue, Hadejia-Chad, Sokoto-Rima and Niger - with enough food and water for cattle rearing. Hence, it is not surprising that amidst lack of creative imagination and modern solution by all levels of government and authorities, a Sunday Igbo-

STRIKER

ho and many more will emerge as arrowheads to lead the fight in liberating their people from the deadly Fulani invaders. In this January 2021 alone, an estimated 255 and 258 people have been killed and kidnapped for ransom respectively across the land.

Meanwhile, there is sustainable modern cattle rearing practise - Ranching. Ranching is a system of operating a large farm specially for raising cattle, sheep or horse. It is not new to us. It predates Nigeria’s Independence with a start in Northern Nigeria in 1914. The target of the ranch was to build agro-pastoral settlement that would meet the minimum of 45 grams of mutton per cattle a day to boost the supply of meat, milk and butter to Europe and other West Africa countries.

The ranch, however, collapsed. Why? The traditional Fulani herdsmen were not encouraged to embrace commercial, more profitable ranch system as a far better option to open grazing by their elites who profit from the nomadic lifestyle so as to stunt human capital development in the North, making their people easy to manipulate and “govern.”

The common herders themselves have untenable misgiving that ranching will be too ex-

pensive to be profitable; that the fenced pastoral environment is inadequate in terms of food to raise their cows; that restriction of the cows could cause diseases as exercises would be limited; seeing extension officers as inexperienced intruders with nothing to offer among others. Their perception of open grazing against ranch is nothing other than justification of ignorance.

Stakeholders and investors in agro-business with the support of the State Government could invest in ranches where herders will either bring their cattle like day-schooling or bring them for boarding like boarding school with affordable fee. Where ranch is located, with value chain in livestock business, it will spring up dairy and skin markets, abattoirs, good roads, water supply, vet and health centres, schools, farmers’ settlements which will foster national unity with indigenous communities that will promote national integration and translate to rapid growth and development with bountiful harvest for crop and pastoral farmers and herdsmen; it will improve small-scale cattle herders’ livelihoods, especially via dairy production; it will boost meat production with consequent greater gains for the herders, especially at export level, having satisfied local demands, with rippling effect of foreign earnings for the government; and eventually bring peace to the crop farmers and herdsmen. More crucially, it will create condition that is favourable to formal education for the children of the herders and transformation of subsequent generation. Perhaps, this last benefit is the deep-seated fear that has prevented ranching for ages.

To finally tackle professional criminals hiding in the bush/forest - kidnappers, rapists, bandits - governments, across board, must create enabling environment that will first guarantee decent livelihood for commoners, along with social protection programmes that will take the mass of the people out of poverty. For this to happen with ease and on a win-win situation for the elites and the people, there is no running away from restructuring Nigeria to genuine federalism. How soon, how late depends on us all.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

Unpunished Crime Is Enemy Of Democracy

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great nation needs good people. The definition of a good person is easy: a person who will do to his/her neighbours as he/she wants them to do unto him/ her, and who would not do unto them as he/ she wouldn’t want. This is the soul of the 10 Commandments, all the way through to Sharia and the millions of laws, civil and criminal codes that we are stuck with today. From just 10 Commandments by God to millions of laws by man, the world is as unsafe as the time of Cain and Abel!

A good fellow will never covet or take what belongs to others – their valuables and their lives – much as he or she will not love others to take his or hers. However, yonder stands Lucifer “with his lean and hungry looks,” along with his multitude of followers, in utter disobedience of God’s commandments! They are the reasons why man has multiplied God’s commandments a thousand fold. From civil crimes to arson, murder and treason, laws are made to take care of them.

It is the foundation of civilisation, rule of law and democracy.

The degree to which citizens live in obedience to the Rule of Law, and punish infractions promptly and impartially, is directly proportional to the degree of peace and prosperity experienced by society. Laws are made to be obeyed, irrespective of forms of government. It is popular struggle that purifies political and justice systems. A time was when

apartheid was legal, when slavery was legal and colonisation was legal. 70 years ago, black people could not vote in America despite the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal.” Citizens have the courts available to challenge laws they feel are unjust and fight till a more just system is obtained. However, once stabilised for every season, the role of government and the judicial system is to ensure speedy dispensation of justice based on the Constitution – the Rule of Law. Nigeria’s history of constitutional and legal evolution is as old as its age. There are many areas crying for review and improvement but there are several settled civil and criminal positions, older even than Nigeria and as old as humanity and the 10 Commandments. Today, no one is in doubt about the law’s position on rape, theft, arson, armed robbery, murder, fraud, kidnapping and terrorism. Why then are we helplessly overwhelmed today in the relentless assault of these mentioned vices?

Although Hannah Arendt said “no punishment has ever possessed enough power of deterrence to prevent the commission of crimes,” which is a clear recognition of the power of the devil as mentioned earlier, any elite in government, however weak and in moral deficit, must still mind Joseph Story’s words, that “without justice being freely, fully and impartially administered, neither our persons, nor or rights, nor our properties, can

be protected. And if these, or either of them, are regulated by no certain laws, and are subject to no certain principles, and are held by no certain tenure, and are redressed, when violated, by no certain remedies, society fails of all its values; and men may as well return to a state of savage and barbarous independence.” A state we are rapidly sliding into but must twice as rapidly retreat from.

The solution lies in the courage of the best of our elites, few as they are, especially the top echelon of the judiciary, to set a powerful new tone, with powerful new examples. The laws available are more than enough to serve them in a Nigeria era when it seems like it is a crime to punish big crimes! “The Constitution is what the judges say it is,” said Charles Evans Hughes; and Andrew Johnson said “All the rights secured to the citizens under the constitution are worth nothing, and are mere bubbles, except guaranteed to them by an independent and virtuous judiciary.”

Self-help and jungle justice are symptomatic of a failing policing and justice system in which majority no longer has confidence because of a litany of unpunished crimes committed in full public glare (indisputable examples too many to mention here) - a clear danger to order, Rule of Law and democracy; a recipe for anarchy. The restoration of Nigeria needs many medicines: a major one is a resurrected judiciary, encouraged by elites fully aware of the signs of the time, the handwritings on the wall and the scope of their historic mission.

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