Osun Defender Online Version of April 1st, 2022

FRIDAY, APRIL 01 - THURSDAY, APRIL 07, 2022

Osun 2022: Ogunbiyi May Contest Under ADCP. 2

VOL 17 NO 13

Govt. Commences Studies on Polluted Osun River P. 4

Disquiet In Osun APC Over Omisore’s Emergence As Nat’l Sec.

•Elders Express Reservations

Man Serves 24 Hours Community Service for Dehumanising Son

•Oyetola Supported Ambition To Protect Famurewa’s Senatorial Ticket – Sources

P. 5

P. 2 •We’re Not Leaving APC – Aregbesola Loyalists

Father, 3 Son, Other Remanded Over Theft Of Phones Osun People Tired Of APC, PDP – SDP Guber Candidate

Pg. 4 Pg. 5

FRIDAY, APRIL 01 - THURSDAY, APRIL 07, 2022

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News

Disquiet In Osun APC Over Omisore’s Emergence As Nat’nal Secretary Our Reporter

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HE emergence of Senator Iyiola Omisore as the Na onal Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been causing disquiet in the State of Osun chapter of the party.

Inves ga ons by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that some elders of the party, par cularly those who are Alliance of Democracy extrac on, were unhappy that Omisore became the Secretary of the party and by implica on, the leader of APC in Osun.

Aside members of The Osun Progressives (TOP), who had vehemently opposed Omisore’s secretary ambi on, some other members of APC in the IleriOluwa camp, also expressed reserva ons on the development, saying it is discouraging and ill-movated.

Omisore was in the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) between 2002 and 2018.

He joined Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2018 and later le the party for APC in February 2021.

According to some of the elders who spoke with the medium on condi on of anonymity, it is shameful that the South-West Governors and some leaders of the APC handed over the party to Omisore on a platter of gold because of their ambi ons.

The elders, among who are three members of Agba Osun, the elders caucus of the APC, said Omisore’s emergence was nothing but ‘a joyful dance on the grave of Chief Bola Ige’, the leader of the progressives and former Minister of Jusce and A orney General of the Federa on.

A former Na onal Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande had wri en in his book, My Par cipa ons, that Omisore allegedly led thugs to harass and remove cap from the head of Bola Ige when he came for a programme in Ile-Ife. Omisore was impeached by the Osun State House of Assembly in December 2002 amid the allega ons of financial impropriety and murder.

A er his impeachment, Omisore was arrested and arraigned in court for alleged complicity in the death of Bola Ige, who was assassinated at his house in Ibadan on December 23, 2001, few days a er he was harassed in Ile-Ife. But the Oyo State High Court where Omisore was arraigned eventually set him free for lack of evidence to link him to the murder.

Akande described Omisore as a silent malignant cancer who later turned to a Wolf in Wolf’s Clothing

with his alleged fraudulent deals and efforts to impeach him.

One of the APC leaders who went to Abuja for the party’s conven on last weekend expressed his dissa sfac on on Omisore’s emergence, saying he could not believe that somebody who spent about two decades figh ng the progressive tendencies would suddenly be his leader by virtue of his posi on.

The leader said: “I can’t believe Omisore will now be my leader a er all what he has done to our party and members. Bola Ige will not forgive everybody that supported Omisore to become the na onal secretary of APC. It is a shame. Omisore will now be in charge of party affairs in Osun!

“Though some of us are suppor ng Oyetola, but we felt disappointed in him and other South-West Governors on this. It is a shame that the party leadership was ceded to Omisore who did not share progressive ideology. We are not proud of that.

Another leader of the APC who is a staunch supporter of Oyetola’s second term ambi on in Egbedore Local Government was said to have lost appe te for food a er Omisore was announced as the na onal secretary of the party.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, another leader of the party in Ilesa described Omisore’s

•Speaker State of Osun House of Assembly, Rt.Hon.Timothy Owoeye exchanging pleasantries with former governor of the State, Chief Bisi Akande after receiving an award of recognition from Ekiti State University (EKSU), on Wednesday

emergence as a total collapse of progressive ideology.

According to the APC leader who prayed not to be named, those who sponsored Omisore for that posi on are poli cians who have been using the ‘progressive mantra’ to deceive people.

He said: “What happened at the last convenon of the APC is an abomina on. Omisore was and s ll an outcast in the progressive circle.

“He does not believe in the progressive ideology. I don’t know the des-

pera on that forced the governors and Tinubu to believe that Omisore is the right person to handover the party structure to.

It is a slap on the faces of the genuine progressives in Osun. When did he join the party? Some people are arguing that he is a pioneer member of AD. The people saying that should also tell us why he le the party, or they should go and read Chief Bisi Akande’s book.

“Let me tell you, Omisore’s emergence as Secretary of the party is the beginning of another crisis in Osun APC, go and write

it down. Some of us cannot just believe what is happening.”

When contacted, a leader of the APC in Okuku, Odo-O n Local Government of the state lamented what he described as ‘bastardisaon of progressive poli cs’, saying both Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Bola Ige would not be happy with the ac ons of some of the ‘self-acclaimed progressive leaders in the South-West.

He said: “Chief Bola Ige le the PDP to establish Alliance for Democracy (AD) because he did not want to be in the same party with

Osun 2022: Ogunbiyi May Contest Under ADC Ismaeel Uthman

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HERE are indicaons that Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, a governorship aspirant who le the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) might contest the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on on the pla orm of African Democra c Congress (ADC).

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that Ogunbiyi had finalized discussions with leaders of the ADC in Abuja and Osun and join the party any moment, baring last minute change of mind.

Some of Ogunbiyi’s poli cal aides confided in the medium yesterday that the Ileogbo born poli cian has been assured of the governorship cket of the ADC. One of the sources said: “Since Dr (Ogunbiyi) withdrew from the PDP governorship primary elec on, many poli cal par es have

been approaching him with different offers. You know Ogunbiyi is a polician many poli cal pares will want. But he is being guided by God. “ADC is our next desna on. We le PDP officially on Tuesday and I can assure you that we have finalized discussion on our defec on to the ADC. Dr. (Ogunbiyi) will contest the governorship elec on under ADC. That

•Ogunbiyi

has been se led.”

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Ogunbiyi has also been encouraging some governorship aspirants of the PDP to join the ADC. When contacted for confirma on, Mr. John Ajayi, the Media Aide to Ogunbiyi, said it was premature to declare which party his principal would join.

Ajayi urged the medi-

um to exercise pa ence and wait for official declara on of Ogunbiyi’s new party.

It would be recalled that Ogunbiyi had on March 7 withdrew from par cipa ng in the PDP governorship primary elec on, accusing the Na onal Secretariat of the party of bias.

He said: “It is a very difficult decision for me because of the amount of investment and the hope that my personality and leadership would have given to Osun State.

“But when you have an umpire who is so biased to the extent of planning with the other group, what can you do?

“Senator Iyorcha Ayu has agreed to work with Ademola Adeleke and I am being told that I shouldn’t waste my money and we did everything possible. I can only come to the conclusion to withdraw from the race.”

people of ques onable character then. We knew what Awolowo and Ige stood for. Awolowo always said “death is preferable to prostra ng before your tormentor”.

“But those who claimed to be the leaders of progressive today have bastardised the progressive poli cs.

How would you explained that somebody that joined APC in a year was sponsored by so called progressive leaders to become the Na onal Secretary of the party?

“What is the jus fica on for promo ng somebody that had done irreparable damage to the progressive family? They claimed to be ‘arole Bola Ige’, but they are happy to associate with somebody that they all had accused of complicity in the death of their leader. That is deceit and ideological inconsistency. Bola Ige will not forgive them.”

“Let me tell you, majority of APC leaders in the state are not happy on what is happening, but they cannot talk. How do you want us to be happy when the authority of the party is now with a new entrant and somebody that did not believe in our ideology?

“Those who are celebra ng Omisore’s emergence as Secretary of the party are either inexperienced or myopic in thinking. It is a bad omen for progressive poli cs.”

Oyetola Supported Omisore to Protect Famurewa’s Ambi on – Sources However, sources in the IleriOluwa camp confided in OSUN DEFENDER yesterday that Governor Oyetola supported Omisore for the Na onal Secretary post to secure the Osun East senatorial cket of the APC for •Continued on page 7

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, APRIL 01 - THURSDAY, APRIL 07, 2022

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Review & Outlook

BY WALE BOLORUNDURO An Example From Ghana

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HE decision by the poli cal establishment in Ghana to accept a cut in remunera ons of 30 per cent across the board for all poli cal office holders is worthy of both applause and emula on. Kudos! This is a very good example that a democracy works best on the basis of a na onal democra c agreement agreed upon o en informally by all stakeholders.

A na onal democra c agreement is not necessarily as altruis c as it sounds. There is always a need for the self-preserva on of the elite itself underpinning. For example in 1962, as part of the “austerity measures” which was a response to a fall in commodity prices, all the poli cal par es, na onal and regional governments in Nigeria agreed to a 10 per cent pay cut for all poli cal office holders from the GovernorGeneral to the prime minister, down to the local government councillors in the regions.

It was an admirable demonstraon of patrio sm and enlightened self-interest by the poli cal establishment and it worked. Inadvertently, it turned out to be a s mulus.

The ban on the purchase of new items including cars, furniture, office equipment and so forth unleashed new ini a ves in servicing, repairs and refurbishing which created new skills and employment opportunies. We should learn from this.

Nigeria needs to emulate Ghana.

For even before the Oronsaye report on the costs of the machinery of the government that the public sector in Nigeria is misaligned. In view of

“In 1962, as part of the ‘austerity measures’ which was a response to a fall in commodity prices, all the political parties, national and regional governments in Nigeria agreed to a 10 per cent pay cut for all political office holders from the Governor-General to the prime minister, down to the local government councillors in the regions” our present fiscal precariousness, there is a need to dispassionately reexamine the recommenda ons of the report of the Oronsaye committee.

Ques ons must be asked; in the age of informa on technology and data driven logis cs, what is the ra onal of maintaining 119 foreign missions? We have to face daun ng reali es.

No ma er how it is propagated, the remunera ons of Nigeria’s poli cal office holders is morally unacceptable and unsustainable. The rest of this decade will be decisive and turbulent, even the terms of trade have become problema c.

Apart from the shi into green energy alterna ves to fossils there are other issues. For example, we have to examine the implica ons of China plan ng 20million cocoa trees.

This is just one of many examples that can be giving.

The country had to forego many indulgences in today’s changing and unpredictable circumstances.

Which is why we ought to emulate the worthy, sensible example set by Ghana.

Uttermost Disrespect

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HE en re sports set up in Nigeria should show greater circumspec on and care. It is disgraceful that hours a er a na onal tragedy involving loss of lives, we played the World Cup qualifier against Ghana at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, on Tuesday evening, without a remorseful mood and appearance.

The Supper Eagles players were expected to wear black armbands to mourn those who lost their lives to the two different a acks on AbujaKaduna Train by terrorists on Monday and Tuesday.

That our players did not wear black armbands in addi on to not observing a minute of silence in honour of those who had lost their lives to the a ack speaks volume Nigeria’s presence of mind. It is disdainful and

morally insensi ve to the feelings of the country and the families of the vic ms of the a acks.

It is also disgraceful that ci zen of a country where families of deceased of terrorists’ a acks were s ll grieving could engaged in a reprehensible destruc on of na onal stadium because the Super Eagle team did not win the match. The conduct of the criminal elements is barbaric and condemnable.

We condole with the family of an official of the Confedera on of African Football (CAF), Joseph Kabungo, who died during the stampede that followed the World Cup qualifier match.

The disgraceful event must never happen again and everyone involved should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.

Stop Misleading The Governor

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OVERNOR Gboyega Oyetola has con nued to allow some of his men to divide the APC Osun further, judging from the recent official statements from them.

Last week, when the former Director General of Debt Management Office in the state,Tunde Adejumo, issued that abominable official statement, that Oyetola inherited over N200bn debt instead of the N141bn domes c debt previously confirmed by Oyetola himself, as “Governor-in-wai ng”, and the external subsidiary debt of N30bn. I quickly exposed them in my press release dated 18th March, 2022 that they are looking for a “fudge amount” of over N30bn to embarrass the current governor. Unfortunately, and to the chagrin of everybody, all the “strange items”, Tunde Adejumo wants to add to the public debt of Osun to arrive at “over N200bn” have no figures or amounts a ached to them. Not a single one, despite his fruitless efforts of releasing two statements on this flippant claim in the last one week.

Tunde Adejumo has chosen the path of perdi on to embarrass Governor Oyetola. In addi on, there is no accoun ng standard, men oned to back this misadventure, in a cash-based government accoun ng since many states are yet to adopt accrual based IPSA. All his theories are based on jaundiced online collecons and qualifica on that lack rigorous academic disciplines that are learned full me in the classrooms of world class ins tu ons and through work experiences.

To my friends, I predicted two things: that the government of Oyetola would come out to disown the DMO DG’s frivolous claim and that he would send emissaries to apologise to me.

True to my first predic on, the Commissioner for Finance, Bola Oyebamiji, who is known to be evasive on issues especially state ma ers, was the one who issued a press release on the 19th March. The press release was hollow, colourless and dissembling, but laced with conten ous statements to atone

“If the total sum of monthly repayment is higher than N1.5bn by more than 10 per cent and can be attributed to inherited debt balances, we will honorably leave the issue out of further discussion”

for his sin to his former boss, Ogbeni Aregbesola , who brought him into public office. It was the same Oyebamiji that led on Aregbesola’s associates on the poli cal entrapment that later became an albatross for our dear party, APC, in Osun, when Oyetola was to succeed Aregbesola in the middle of 2018’s “West Lokan” agita on and primary elec on. So where is the moral ground for Oyebamiji to stand on and point finger to the wide gorge, per-mutated and created by him between Oyetola and the predecessor, and their respec ve followers. Oyebamiji is not only the beginning of the conundrum we have found ourselves in Osun APC, he is the testament and only God knows, how long the movie on mischief, perfidy and power play will last.

That Oyebamji’s statement was silent on the subject ma er, could mean a “volte-face” on the taunted misguided adventure of “sexing up” the inherited debt balance by his direct report, Tunde Adejumo. That is, Oyebamiji has surrep ously disowned Tunde Adejumo. It could also mean Oyebamiji is buying me, waiting for his hatchet man to fabricate figures for the “many strange items”. We will expose him further. However, if you analyze their two press statements, the gramma cal structures, the idiosyncrasies and the seman cs, obviously, the same person wrote the two press statements. Yet, their figures are different, that shows the dishonPublisher – Moremi Publishing esty and the abysmal level House Ltd. which they are leading Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman the Governor to in Osun (0805-121-2204) because of the rat race of Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa nailing Oyetola’s predecesReporter – Yusuf Oketola sor. It will be good to reply Reporter – Kazeem Badmus Oyebamiji in a way similar to his press statement.

Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto To start with, OyebamComputer Graphics – Zainab Olalere iji used subterfuge to tell OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing his story on the status of House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite the road projects inherGuarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, ited, without telling us the State of Osun •Continued on Page 6 ISSN : 0794-8050 •Wale Bolorunduro, PhD, Telephone : 0805-121-2204 Former Commissioner of Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php Finance, Economic Planning e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com and Budget writes from 6B Lase osundefenderbank@gmail.com Ogunleye Street, off Fadahunsi All correspondence to the above email addresses.

Avenue, Ilesa, State of Osun.

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, APRIL 01 - THURSDAY, APRIL 07, 2022

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News

Govt. Commences Studies On Polluted Osun River Kazeem Badmus

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FTER several complaints and reports, the State Government of Osun has commissioned studies on the level of pollu on of Osun River and how to remediate it.

The government has also said it was ready to launch a full blown war on illegal miners and those who have resisted guidance and refused to follow approved standards for mining in Osun.

According to reports, the illegal mining ac vi es going on in Ijesaland is responsible for the pollu on of Osun River.

But the government, in a statement by the Commissioner for Informa on and Civic Orienta on, Funke Egbemode, on Wednesday, said it was ready to address the pollu on, seeking the assistance from the Federal Government as well as development partners to remediate the damage.

The government also read the riot act to mineral resources exploiters and defaulters of environmental standards in the state to forthwith comply with the government’s regula ons or face legal ac on.

According to Egbemode, the state government has deployed its limited enforcement resources to curbing illegal and informal mining to arrest the despolia on of Osun land and pollu on of Osun rivers.

The statement reads in part: “Osun is the proud host of one of Nigeria’s UNESCO World Heritage sites that is the Sacred Grove in Osogbo through which the sacred Osun river winds.

“The state government’s mining blueprint has sought through a combina on of enforcement and formalisa on via registra on and capacity development of ar sanal miners, to mi gate the degrada on caused by mining.

“While these achievements present the state’s proac ve policies designed to change the mining landscape, the state con nues to deal with the scourge of illicit and irresponsible mining that is causing the polluon of the Osun river.

“Governor Oyetola has since deployed its limited enforcement resources to curbing illegal and informal mining to arrest the despolia on of our land and pollu on of our rivers. To date, the enforcement ac ons have led to the arrests of several individuals for illicit mining, seizures and site closures.

“In addi on to the enforcement ac vi es, the state has commissioned studies on the level of pollu on and how to remedi-

•Declares War On Illegal Miners

•Anthony Adejuwon, the Coordinator, Urban Alert, in a lone campaign for the zzclean up of Osun river. ate it and also sought assistance from the Federal Government as well as Development partners, includ-

ing from the Ecological fund, to remediate the damage.

“Osun will con nue its enforcement and its efforts

to remediate. However, Osun’s scope for ac on is constrained by cons tu onal limits where Federal Gov-

ernment exercises exclusive jurisdic on over mining.

The government therefore welcomes the interna onal

Osun Sport Sector Now Relegated To The Background – Ex Sports Commissioner Yusuf Oketola

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ORMER Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Special Needs in the State of Osun, Comrade

Biyi Odunlade, has asserted that sports ac vi es under the current administra on of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has been relegated to the background.

According to Odunlade, sports sector under the current administra on is not ge ng the premium a en on, recalling that Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s scorecard in sport Sector is quite memorable, huge

Father, 3 Sons, Other Remanded Over Theft Of Phones Yusuf Oketola

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58-year-old father, Oyewole Bankole and his three sons have been remanded in Ilesa Correc onal Centre by an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly receiving a stolen phone in Osogbo.

Oyewole was arraigned before the court alongside, Micheal Bankole (20), Seyi Bankole (18), Shola Bankole and one other person, Abdulahi Jamiu.

Micheal, Seyi, Shola and Jamiu were said to have conspired to break into the houses of one John Odebiyi, Abiola Sulaimon,z where they stole one Tecno K7 phone, iphone X Promax, Infinix Hot Lite and Itel Handset, totaling a sum of N460,000.

The father, Oyewole Bankole, was said to have received the phones from his children and their accomplice.

He was also accused of been in possession of some items suspected to be criminal charms.

According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the defendants commi ed the offence on March 25, 2022 at about

2:00am, at Popo area, Osogbo.

The alleged offence, according to the police, contravened Sec ons 516, 390, 411, 427, 213 and 249(d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol.II, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to a six-count charge bordering on conspiracy, burglary, stealing, illegal possession and breach of peace levelled against them.

Defence counsel, Okobe Nagite prayed the court to admit the defendants to bail on a liberal term, no ng that they would provide reliable sure-

es.

But the police prosecutor, Inspector Kayode Adeoye, opposed the bail applica on, stating that the accused persons do not have a traceable address, saying they could jump bail.

In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Abayomi Ajala, ordered that the defendants be remanded in Ilesa Correc onal Centre, just as he directed the defence counsel to present a formal bail applica on for them.

The case was adjourned ll April 4, 2022 for ruling on bail.

Oyetola Announces Upgrade Of Ilesa College Of I conEducation To University clude,He letsaid:me “Before say that, hav-

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OVERNOR Adegboyega Oyetola has announced the decision of its government to upgrade Osun State College of Educa on, Ilesa, to a full fledge University.

Oyetola made the announcement yesterday while commissioning the Ijesaland Geriatric Centre, Ilesa.

According to the governor, KPMG Consultants had been contacted to work out the sustainability plan of the upgrade.

ing looked into and examined carefully the request made by prominent sons and daughters of Ijesaland, and the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Aromolaran, government has decided to upgrade the Osun College of Educa on, Ilesa, to a full-fledged University.

“We have also engaged one of the na on’s best corporate Consultants, KPMG, to work out the sustainability plan of the upgrade.”

and s ll the best so far in any part of the country.

The former commissioner’s comments were borne out of the hardship facing players of Osun United and challenges confron ng the sports sector generally.

In an exclusive interview with OSUN DEFENDER, yesterday, Odunlade noted that in a bid to have a state team, Aregbesola revamped Osun United from Prime FC formerly under Osogbo Local Government and also renamed the female team as Osun babes with proper funding.

He stated that he could not remember any me Osun United players got stranded when going outside the state for matches without immediate ac on, claiming that many talents were discovered and nurtured to stardom during Aregbesola’s reign.

Odunlade, however, added that some of the most decorated athletes in Osun are now making ways to other states in pursue of their career as government is not giving premium to their welfarism.

Osun United players were recently stranded on the road for three days between Abuja and Osogbo, while their female counterparts, Osun Babes, had similar experience last week in Asaba, Delta State while coming from a football match due to the bad condi on of their vehicle.

community as it lends it voice to the scourge of pollu on on our most prized heritage.

“We hope that by coming to Osun and shining the spotlight on this problem, they bring with them the support the state and the affected communi es have been advoca ng for to remedy this.

“Osun State Government is worried and deeply concerned about the flagrant abuse of its environment by illegal miners who are daily degrading and pollu ng the Osun River.

“In spite of efforts to curb the excesses of these fly-by-night business men, they have consistently resisted guidance and refused to follow approved standards for mining in Osun.

“It has therefore become impera ve to serve them the last warning here and now. The state will no longer fold its hands while these miners (both legal and illegal) throw cau on to the winds and ruin one of our heritage sites.

“Osun River is not just a geographical landmark. It is one of the few accredited UNESCO sites in Nigeria. It is our heritage; one we will do everything to protect and preserve.

“Illegal Miners are therefore served a no ce to shape in or ship out. If they cannot operate within the ambits of World Standards and observe safety protocols, they may have to take their business elsewhere.”

The government warned na ves leasing out their farmlands to illegal miners to desist from such acts or face the law.

PUBLICATION OLARIBIGBE KING DAVID That OLARIBIGBE KING DAVID and OLARIBIGBE DAVID CLINTON are the same, but now wish to be known and addressed as OLARIBIGBE KING DAVID. All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

LUKMAN-BELLO AISHA AYOMIKUN That I was formerly known and addressed as LUQMAN-BELLO A’ISHA AYOMIKUN now wish to be known and addressed as LUKMAN-BELLO AISHA AYOMIKUN. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank and General public should take note.

BALOGUN AISHAT AYOMIDE That I was formerly known and addressed as ABDULAHI AYISAT AYOMIDE now wish to be known and addressed as BALOGUN AISHAT AYOMIDE. All former documents, WAEC, JAMB with former name remain valid. Apostle Babalola Memorial Grammar.

School, Ekiti and General public should take note.

FRIDAY, APRIL 01 - THURSDAY, APRIL 07, 2022

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News

Osun People Tired Of APC, PDP – SDP Guber Candidate Kazeem Bademus

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HE governorship candidate of the Social Democra c Party (SDP) in the July 16 gubernatorial elec on in the State of Osun, Arch.

Goke Omigbodun has said the people of the state are red of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP).

Omigbodun said the electorate will reject both the APC and the PDP, say-

ing this will afford him the opportunity to emerge victorious at the governorship poll.

The Osogbo born educa onist and poli cian who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday, said he is preparing himself to be the next governor of the state.

According to him, his chances of winning the elec on are high as the major opposi on party, PDP, is in disarray and em-

bellished in serious crisis.

He said: “The people of Osun are determined not to return APC. The contest is not about how much money APC has and does not have. The contest is between the rest of us and if the contest is between the rest of us, I will be fooling myself to pretend not to know the PDP always had a stronger show in past elec ons in Osun, but PDP is facing a serious crisis now.

“Akin Ogunbiyi le

•Says Party Will Escape With Victory By 40% Votes the party and others are planning to leave. Where is that power with which they want to move forward now that they are breaking apart?

“I foresee a situa on whereby SDP will escape with a victory, probably about 40 percent of the votes. So, I’m preparing myself to be the next governor of Osun”.

When asked about the weak structure of his party in the state, Omigbodun

said the SDP has been welcoming more people to the party since Sen. Iyiola Omisore le .

He said: “I am talking to people everywhere now to make sure that even nonpoli cians become part of our structure.

“A lot of nonpoli cians are joining us now on account of their knowledge that Iyiola Omisore is no more with us and the fact that I did not belong to the camp of the SDP Chairman,

Sola Oladehinde who they knew is working for Omisore.

“But now that is clear to them that I’m not working with any of them (Omisore, Oladehinde), people are now coming into the party.

“Also, a lot of mixedmatching is going on now and people are moving from one party to another and with the me le before the elec on, we hope to have more than enough to win the elec on.

Alleged Employment Scam: Culprit Not Aregbesola’s Aide – NIS Kazeem Bademus

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•Ongoing rehabilitation of Adetoro Street, Dada Estate, Òsogbo by Federal Road Maintenance Agency, facilitated by Hon. Bamidele Salam, representing Ede South, Ede North, Ejigbo and Egbedore at Federal House of Representatives, Abuja.

Agunbe Descendants Union Celebrates 7-Year Of Impactful Achievements In Ikirun Yusuf Oketola

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HE Agunbe Descendants Union (ADU), a nonprofit philanthropic Organisa on will this year celebrate seventh anniversary of impac ul existence of the group in Ikirun, the headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government, state of Osun.

According to the President of the ADU, Ismail Raheem, the objec ves of the associaon is to contribute to the development of Ikirun community and it’s environ in Nigeria, and also assist the less privilege in their chosen careers.

Raheem said ADU’s mission included the enhancement, engagement and representaon of their diverse neighbourhoods by coordina ng the delivery of programmes for the ci zen of Ikirun and facilita ng community partnership to foster propinquity, development and harmony.

He stated that parts of the achievements of Agunbe Descendants Union over the years include the distribu on of pallia ves during the COVID-19 pandemic in conjunc on with LIKE MINDS IKIRUN in the year 2020, orienta on campaign across all primary and secondary schools in Ikirun, annual scholarship for students to ter ary ins tu ons, youth empowerment programme and interschool compe on in 2022.

Raheem said the associa on is also looking towards acquiring two acre of land for ADU events centre, ICT resources centre, acquision centre, while mak-

ing effort to buy bus for the union.

He urged all Ikirun indigene to join the associa on for the be er welfare and progress of Ikirunland.

HE Nigeria Immigraon Service (NIS) has debunked the report trending online that one Babangida Tanko who was allegedly involved in an employment scam is an aide to the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola Ac ng Comptroller General of the NIS, Isah Jere Idris, in a press release issued yesterday, confirmed that Tanko is a personnel of the service but not an aide to the Minister, maintaining that the alleged ac ons do not represent what the service and ministry stands for.

Tanko was alleged of collec ng money from unsuspec ng members of the public with the promise of securing job placements for them in the NIS. In the press statement signed by Public Rela ons Officer of the service, Amos OKPU, the Comptroller Gen-

eral enjoined members of the public to discountenance any promises for job placements into the service by anyone to avoid being swindled by criminal elements who are out to deceive them.

The statement reads: “The service is in receipt of a trending media report that one Babangida Tanko who claimed to be an aide to the Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, is involved in employment racketeering.

“The report alleged that the said Mr. Tanko collected sums of money from unsuspec ng members of the public with the promise of securing job placements for then into the Service.

“The ac ng Comptroller General of Immigra on, Isah Jere Idris, wishes to use this medium to state that Mr. Babangida Tanko, though a Personnel of the Service, is not an aide to the Minister of Interior and so, the alleged

ac ons do not represent what the Service or Ministry stands for.

“He has ordered an invesga on into the allega on with a view to unraveling his level of culpability for necessary disciplinary ac ons.

“He therefore, wishes to reiterate that recruitment exercises into the Service are usually publicised in the media, including the service’s website. Interested applicants are required to apply via a dedicated online pla orm and due selec on processes including computer-based examina on and physical screening conducted before successful candidates are formally no fied.

“The public is hereby enjoined to discountenance any promises for job placements into the Service by anyone to avoid being swindled by criminal elements who are out there to deceive unsuspec ng members of the public”.

Man Serves 24 Hours Community Service for Dehumanising Son Kazeem Badmus

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35-year-old divorcee, Ola Emmanuel, was on Wednesday, sentenced to 24 hours community service by a Family Court, si ng in Osogbo, State of Osun, for abusing his six years old son.

Emmanuel, a resident of No 2, Temitope street, Oke Oni Area, Osogbo, was arraigned by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun Command, for inflic ng injuries on his son.

According to the command, a concerned neighbour raised the alarm and contacted the Area Commander to report the incident.

Some community members of the convict

disclosed that the vicm had been subjected to regular torture and abuse by his father.

They pointed to the scars and wounds sustained by the boy as evidence of torture by the father.

When asked why he inflicted injuries on his son, the convict said his son is greedy and love figh ng for what does not belong to him, adding that his anger towards him was to discourage him from the bad behaviour.

He said he prepared beans, served the little boy his own por on and kept the remaining for himself in order to fall back on it when he returned from work, but on ge ng home, he discovered that the boy had

finished all the food.

The court found Emmanuel guilty and therea er sentenced him to 24 hours community service

while the boy was ordered to remain in the custody of Osun State government at the Children’s Home.

•Convict

•Victim

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Religion

LL praise is due to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon the final Messenger, His pure family, noble companions, and all those who follow them with righteousness un l the day of Judgment.

Fas ng during Ramadhaan means abs nence By from all food or drink, including water and chewing Imaam Raji gum, from dawn to sunset. It is recommended that before sunrise, Muslims eat a prefast meal known Musa Oladapo as suhur. This meal o en resembles breakfast, but in some cultures, it may include more dinner-like foods.

Ramadhaan is one of the purposes Allaah Almighty remains people on the surface of the earth. Ramadhaan is among the months, which because of them, Allaah Almighty has not perished the world. his past sins will be forgiven.” — Sahih Al-Bukhari The month of fas ng is a month people move near to their 2. Steadfastness: Since the goal of Ramadhaan is to a ain piecreator most, that is why the blessings of Allaah descend a lot in ty, then you should brace up with good deeds. Increase your goodthe month of Ramadhaan. ness not only in the blessed month but beyond. Ramadhaan gives It is a warnig that nobody should reproach or insult the fas ng you a chance to scale up righteousness and keep it as an habit. people, because everybody is benefi ng a lot from their fas ng.

3. Protec on: In the famous hadith of Muadh ibn Jabal RA, he It has been proven medically that there are merits the fas ng reported the Prophet (PBUH) to have said: “…fas ng is a shield…”. people will have access to, that such merits cannot be achieved Not only does it ward off evils and immorali es from us. It also except through fas ng. prevents us from following the footpath of shaytan. So if you find The order by the Most Merciful that we should fast is a sign people keeping to bad habit in Ramadhaan and blaming it on shaythat the seal of the Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH), was sent by Al- tan, remind them of this hadith: laah Almighty like others. This is clearly stated in Chapter 2, verse “When the month of Ramadhaan begins, the gates of the 183 of the Noble Qur’aan: ‫ ُﻡﺍَﻱِّﺹﻝﺍ ُﻡُﻙْﻱَﻝَﻉ َﺏِﺕُﻙ ﺍﻭُﻥَﻡﺁ َﻥﻱِﺫَّﻝﺍ ﺍَهُّﻱَﺃ ﺍَﻱ‬heaven are opened; the gates of Hell-fire are closed, and the devils ‫َﻥﻭُﻕَّﺕَﺕ ْﻡُﻙَّﻝَﻉَﻝ ْﻡُﻙِﻝْﺏَﻕ ﻥِﻡ َﻥﻱِﺫَّﻝﺍ ﻯَﻝَﻉ َﺏِﺕُﻙ ﺍَﻡَﻙ‬ are chained.” (Sahih Bukhari) “O you who believe! fas ng is prescribed for you, as it was pre4. Reflec on: This is a me for us all to rethink and reform scribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil). our ways. Remember how Allah favored you to witness the last These are spiritual and physical benefits of fas ng in the Ramadhaan. Some did observe the previous fas ng but are commonth of Ramadhaan panions of the grave today. Think about the numerous sins you’ve 1. Forgiveness: One of the numerous benefits of Ramadhaan commi ed and determine not to return to them. Express gra tude is earning Allah’s forgiveness. It is important to point that the for all the favours Allah has endowed you with and commit yourMessenger (PBUH) said: “Cursed is he who witnesses the blessed self to be a be er person in Ramadhaan and beyond. month but doesn’t earn Allah’s forgiveness”. So repent and brace 5. Detoxifica on: Abstaining from ea ng and drinking enhances for Allah’s mercy — it’s in abundance. the metabolic process of the body. This is done by naturally expelNarrated by Ibn Salam who heard from Muhammad Ibn Fu- ling body toxins and systema cally reducing the rate of food condoyl who said: It was narrated from Yahya Ibn Sa’eed, who re- sump on. So, it is really not about how much you eat and store, it’s ported from Abu Salamah, who reported from Abu Hurairah (May the pa ence and perseverance that really keeps the body in shape.

Allah be pleased with all of them): Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, 6. Accountability: Ramadhaan helps you stay on track. You con“Whoever observes Saum (Fas ng) during the month of Ramad- sciously take into cognisance what you say, eat, do etcetera. Most haan out of sincere faith, and hoping to a ain Allah’s Rewards, all o en, people get to abandon their sinful ways as a result of reforma-

JUMAT SERMON

Ramadhaan Is Here Again !

on. This is because the holy month gives room for reflecon in order to assess one’s progress as the days count.

7. Emancipa on: This blessed period comes with a big bonus — ransom from hell and admission into paradise. In a beau ful narra on, Abu Huraira reported; The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “On the first night of the month of Ramadan, the devils are chained, the jinn are restrained, and the gates of Hellfire are closed and none of its gates are opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and none of its gates are closed. A caller announces: O seeker of good, come near! O seeker of evil, stop short! Allah will save them from the Hellfire and that is during every night of Ramadan.” — (Tirmidhi) 8. Bonding with the Qur’an: It is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed and the Angel Jibril used to revise it with Allah’s Apostle. Muslims familiarise themselves with the Qur’an day and night through recita on, memorisa on, listening and also learning the exegesis. One of the best parts of it is the reward that comes with comple ng the recita on of the whole Qur’an in the sacred month.

9. Humility and Empathy: We submit to Allah’s injunc on by fas ng in this holy month. It’s one of the pillars to be established by every faithful Muslim. Through this as well, we are able to express gra tude to Allah for His endless boun es on us. We feel the pains of the poor and this reminds us of the virtue of suppor ng the needy.

10. Growth: One of the most important gains from Ramadhaan is the ability to evolve. To transform from a previous you to the new you. The one whom hopefully has gone through a spiritual rebirth that will propel for the rest of the year. Ramadhaan comes to teach piety so we are expected to keep up with good deeds and abstain from evil as much as we can. If you can achieve this, then count yourself among the lucky ones who gained immensely from the blessed month.

May Allah count us among those who will witness Ramadhaan from the beginning ll the end, and grant us the ability to do acceptable deeds. May we be among the people who would be totally forgiven, emancipated and earn His love. Aameen!

May Allah make this sermon a beneficial one for me, the writer, the readers, and the en re Muslims. And our last prayer, is praise be to Allaah Almighty, Lord of the worlds.

•Sheik Muhammad Abdulalimi, is the Mudiru Ad-Da’wah Wal-Irshad, Obaagun, State of Osun.

Review & Outlook •Continued from Page 3 ini al percentage of comple on, when bequeathed to their administra on. He has forgo en that their Commissioner for Works and Transport had earlier men oned that GbonganAkoda road was inherited at 30 per cent comple on, so in three and half years, they have only added 10 percent. Similarly, Oba Adesoji Aderemi dual carriage road was at 52 per cent when Aregbesola le , but the Oyetola’s administra on has converted it to single carriageway. So, Oyebamiji’s 23 percent addi on, was it based on the new scope of work or what? Oyebamiji cannot be comparing an Orange with Apple in civilisa on.

Osogbo (Old Garage)Ikirun- Kwara boundary was at 50 percent when Aregbesola le , Oyetola’s efforts in three and half years have only added less than 10 per cent. As much as I have not jumped six (6) feet pole for the current Osun administra on on inherited projects, I have also restrained myself from commen ng before now, so why is Oyebamiji craving my pen’s trouble on inherited projects? My previous observa on on issues other than the status of inherited projects is not personal or expression

Stop Misleading The Governor of issue with Governor Oyetola. I have congratulated him, twice on the increased in IGR by sending personal messages to him and by asking him to take the glory on this. I know at the beginning of this smear campaign against Aregbesola, I had reached out severally to him to “rein in”, his followers and not to allow the house to be divided by sycophants.

My ombudsman’s role has been misinterpreted as “currying his face”. The rest is history.

Making Oyetola a governor means surrendering our choices to him to make on our behalf, either good or bad. Therefore, I have no beef with the abandonment of projects by the current governor of Osun or his “lack of skin” in the inherited projects. It is his choice, but using the debt that can be refinanced or restructured as an excuse for the choice is a profanity (with due respect) for a government, headed by a man, who was the Chief of Staff for eight years of Aregbesola. At this stage, I pray, I will not be compelled to comment further, on the inherited road projects, no ma er how provoca ve Oyebamiji and others are.

In addi on, the claim

by Oyebamiji that the state’s revenues including IGR figures are available is a cheap lie because the state has never published its audited financial statements in any newspapers in the recent mes. So, if you cannot find it on the official website of the state; what is the definion of public domain used by the Commissioner? His statement in this regard is puerile and nobody should take him serious on disclosure and accountability expected from any public servant. Apart from the 2020 press release on the auditor’s statement (summary of audit), which gave the IGR figures for 2019 and 2020, nothing was ever heard before and after the press release from the State Auditor-General.

Three months a er the end of 2021, nothing has been heard of the IGR figure of the state for 2021. The ques on is: why do we have to wait for secondary sources (DMO in Abuja, NBS, BudgIT) before we know the financial status of our state, Osun.

For the past 22 years, VAT revenues have always been part of the revenues from federa on accounts.

Some states do place their

direct deduc ons via ISPO on their VAT revenues.

FAAC at the federal level always bundles statutory revenues and VAT in their repor ng of monthly alloca on. So, nobody knows the inten on of removing VAT revenue from monthly receipt of the state from the federa on accounts

by Oyebamiji. If it is to confuse us on their claim of nega ve receipt only, that is fine; we know if we add the N400m or N500m VAT revenue back, it is not nega ve again and that is bone-head arithme c.

Since not even the devil knows the intent of man, we will have to be sure of what will become of the VAT revenue in the near future.

Furthermore, Oyebamiji claimed they have not approached any financial en ty for facility. I have not men oned any commercial transac on in my wri ng (even when I know some in existence), I have men oned FGN Budget support that has capacity of impac ng direct deducons, so the use of financial en ty by Oyebamiji is to dissimulate the issue as usual. The budget support facility is from Federal Ministry of Finance, meant for all states and not from a

Financial en ty. The state has up to six (6) months to draw down this facility. Governor Oyetola has said he has not foreclosed debt as financing source, so there is no need for the Commissioner to grandstand on this or embellish, the issue.

On direct deduc ons on Osun revenues from federa on accounts, I will urge him to do the breakdown of the direct deduc on into individual deduc on on each of the following debt items bequeathed to the current administra on i.e (1) The FGN restructured bond for the states loan (2) External loan (3) CBN backed bailout facility (state por on) (4) CBN - ECA backed Infrastructure loan (5) Budget Support Facility. All the items (except item 5) were created while I was serving either as Commissioner or Adviser between August 2011 and December 2016.

I had also confirmed their status con nuously ll recently from his DG DMO, Osun. Oyebamiji would have to warm up to the challenge of analyzing the direct deduc on.

The monthly individual repayment on each debt item is a fixed and equal amount. Once, Oyebamiji

supplies, each of them, we can add them up. If the total sum is within the 10 per cent tolerance level, higher than N1.5bn, we will be sa sfied. For this to be autographed, it must take care of the state’s usual monthly accoun ng adjustments and inter agencies se lement to match the state deduc ons with its revenues. Honestly, if the total sum of monthly repayment is higher than N1.5bn by more than 10 per cent and can be attributed to inherited debt balances, we will honorably leave the issue out of further discussion. To ram the N1.8b direct deduc ons into our throats is not only disdainful, it is mortally insensi ve to our sensibili es, especially when Oyebamiji knows the states were the one that stopped Federal Ministry of Finance from publishing the monthly alloca ons and direct deduc ons of each of them as primary source. Oyebamiji is superciliously, saying Osun people are stupid for asking and therefore, they should go and fish out the informa on on the makeup and the basis of direct deduc on, when he knows it doesn’t exist. Oyebamiji is the public accoun ng officer, the onus of proof is on him to give the required informa on. Period.

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News

SUG and Moral Decadence In Tertiary Institutions Kazeem Badmus

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TUDENTS Union Governments (SUG) was established in various ins tu ons of higher learning to promote unity, orderliness and smooth relaonship between students and school authori es.

Elec ons into various posi ons in the student body were always keenly contested with brilliant and brave students emerging winners most o en.

However, reverse is the case nowadays as internet fraudsters, notoriously known as ‘Yahoo Boys’, cul sts and louts have been showing interest in leading the students and sponsoring candidate for SUG elec ons in most of the higher ins tu ons.

The once peaceful student union elec ons are now turning bloody with candidates wagging war against one another as a result of the infiltra on of criminal elements into the SUG. On Monday, the management of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, suspended the Students’ Union elec on amid violence which broke out between two different groups.

The ins tu on in a memo signed by the Dean, Students’ Affairs, Dr. Oluyemi Omotosho (Jnr), said it was impera ve to put on hold the Students’ Union elec on due to the violence that trailed the

campaigns.

According to the statement: “When the ban on poli cs was li ed on March 21, 2022, by ISEC, everybody was hoping for a violencefree elec on un l two presiden al aspirants, Akeem Kabiru Olawale (Kaybright) and Edward Ayodeji Michael (Edward) commenced their campaigns on March 24, 2022.

“The two groups clashed and violence erupted, leading to serious injuries on many students. A cutlass

welding supporter was caught a er using the cutlass to injure one student and another student with a gun was apprehended.

“The management reviewed the security challenges in the Federal Polytechnic Ede campuses and Ede community and took the following decisions; “That the 2021/2022 SUG elec on is hereby suspended un l further no ce, when the security challenges improve to prevent the loss of lives and property”.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a student of the ins tu on, Abayomi Kolawole, said students were panicking and they had to scamper for safety during the a ack.

Kolawole disclosed that a SUG aspirant, Kabiru Olawale, an engineering student of the ins tu on who usually receive lecture at the South Campus of the ins tu on came to campaign at the North Campus where another aspirant, Edward Ayodeji and his group were

having their lectures.

He added that there was an alterca on between the two aspirants which resulted to a clash among members of the two groups in which some of their supporters were injured while some vehicles were destroyed.

It would be recalled that similar event occurred in Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, recently where the management of the ins tuon suspended the Student Union Government.

The suspension was as a

•Mr. Adabanija Qomarudeen and his Wife during their daughter’s wedding ceremony held at Ofatedo area of Egbedore local government, last Sunday.

result of the violence that characterised the unsuccessful SUG elec on of the ins tu on.

The ins tu on approved the setup of caretaker Commi ee which is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing students’ affairs un l suspension on SUG is called off.

Speaking with the medium on the sad trend, a Public Affairs analyst, Mr. Usman Rasheed a ributed the violence engulfing the SUG elec ons to moral decadence in the society and do-or-die poli cs being played by mainstream poli cians.

Rasheed said unlike before where intellectuals and brave students emerge students’ leaders, dullards, cul sts and yahoo boys are the ones that are domina ng SUG elecons in majority of the ter ary ins tu on now.

He said: “It is quite unfortunate that student unionism in our ins tu ons has become violent and a do-or-die affair.

“Most of those contes ng for student leadership posi ons are criminal elements who want to hide behind the union to perpetrate their heinous act.

“Most of them are yahoo boys and cul sts and they want to use SUG official number plates to do whatever they want without anyone challenging them”.

Disquiet In Osun APC Over Omisore’s Emergence... Group Asks Govt, Landlords To Caution Caretaker Agent

•Continued from page 2

Hon. Ajibola Famurewa, the Director General, IleriOluwa Campaign Organisa on.

Famurewa contested the Osun East Senatorial District elec on in 2019.

He lost to Senator Francis Fadahunsi of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP).

The Chairman of State Universal Basic Educa on Board has also indicated interest in re-contes ng the senatorial elec on in 2023.

However, sources disclosed that Omisore had been eyeing the senatorial cket immediately he joined the APC, a situa on that had brought confusion into the camp.

According to the sources, Governor Oyetola happily supported the move to use Omisore as the Na onal Secretary of the party because he will no longer contest the senatorial cket with Famurewa.

The sources said: “Governor Oyetola was happy that Omisore became the Na onal Secretary of the APC. Omisore was to contest the Osun East Senatorial cket of the APC and Hon Famurewa is also interested

in the cket. Famurewa is our governor’s man Friday, while Omisore is the new bride.

“But when the idea of using Omisore for Na onal Secretary of the party came up, Governor Oyetola happily supported it. He believes if Omisore becomes the secretary of the party, he will no longer contest the senatorial cket with Famurewa again.”

We’re Not Leaving APC – Aregbesola Loyalists

Loyalists of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, in the state of Osun have said that they are not leaving the party as wrongly reported on the headline of a na onal newspaper.

The loyalists who belong to the Hon. Rasaq Salinsile fac on of the party, said though it was uncalled for that Omisore suddenly became the naonal secretary of the APC, but they are not considering defec ng to another party.

Publicity Secretary of the APC fac on, Mr. Abiodun Agboola said they

would remain in the party and see to final determinaon of the suits ins tuted on the conduct of the ward congress and declara on of Governor Oyetola as the winner of the party’s primary elec on.

He said: “We are not leaving APC and we are not talking to any party whatsoever. We remain members of the APC. The na onal conven on has come and gone. It is a disgrace to the progressive fold that somebody who was known to be an unapologe c conserva ve was rapidly promoted to the na onal secretary of the party. But the outcome of the conven on does not mean that we are going to leave the party.

“We have a case in court. We are challenging Oyetola’s eligibility to contest the governorship primary elec on. The case came up before a Federal High Court in Abuja last week Friday. We also have a case on the conduct of the APC ward congress. We will wait for the court to decide those cases before the next line of ac on.”

Sodiq Yusuf

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civil society group, the Centre for Social Jusce and Public Interest Protec on has called on the State Government of Osun and landlords in the state to cau on caretakers and agents serving as intermediaries between landlords and tenants in the state.

According to the group, the caretakers and agents are making accommoda on difficult for prospec ve tenants, saying that they are also responsible for the skyrocke ng increment in house rent.

The group, in a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Akin Akanji, yesterday, asked the government to regulate the ac vi es of the caretakers, saying they are sniffing life out of people seeking accommoda on.

A copy of the statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads: “We want to bring to the atten on of the state government, landlords and general public the atroci es of this

people called caretaker/ agents managing some people’s proper es.

“From findings and experience, majority of the caretakers and agents have been extor ng tenants and potenal tenants through obnoxious charges and increment in house rent without the consent of the landlords. We need to state that this people are se ng Lagos template in Osun. They want to be opera ng like their counterparts in Lagos.

“How do you explain a situa on where a house rent will be N200, 000 and the agent will come up with addi onal charges of between N50, 000 and N80,000. That is a er poten al tenant has paid between N2000 and N5000 as transporta on and office charge.

“Some mes, landlord will release a house to the caretakers at N100, 000 and they will increase it to N150, 000 and s ll bring up some other charges that will put the total amount of the house rent at N180, 000 or N200,000. That is criminal. Worse s ll, this

people will not take their clients to good house, in spite of their specifica ons.

“The government should regulate the ac vi es of the caretakers before they make life more difficult for the people of the state. How can they be comparing Osun with Lagos? They should relocate to Lagos if they want to be earning like their counterparts there.”

Some residents of Osogbo, capital of State of Osun, have also registered their displeasure on what they described as poor treatment received from caretakers in the course of searching for accommoda on.

The prospec ve tenants alleged the caretakers of exploi ng them in the process of securing accommoda on.

According to the residents who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER at different places in Osogbo yesterday, the caretaker are responsible for the hike in the house rent in the state capital.

They accused the caretakers of jacking up the house rent far above what the landlords ask them to collect from prospec ve tenants.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

News

FRIDAY, APRIL 01 - THURSDAY, APRIL 07, 2022 VOL. 17 NO 13 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

Alleged Employment Scam: Culprit Not Aregbesola’s Aide – NIS Pg. 5

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IGHT from its birth, All Progressives Congress (APC) DNA was that of characterless conformity as its configuraon was an assemblage of strange bedfellows. In 2014 and run up to 2015 general elec ons, there was no poli cal party viable enough to wrest power from the ruling People Democra c Party (PDP). Hence, the ini ave and an alliance of Ac on Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), a facon of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and some disgruntled members of Peoples Democra c Party tagged “New PDP” (nPDP) coming together to form APC. With radical and progressive campaigns to turn Nigeria around and make it a be er place for mass majority of Nigerians, APC got massive support of the people and defeated the ruling PDP in 2015 general elec ons.

Electoral reforms and introduc on and use of par al electronic vo ng via Permanent Voters Card for the first me as against usual manual vo ng that allowed easier and massive rigging and manipula on, especially by incumbent, made a smooth ride to victory

by APC. To the mass of the people, APC was seen as a progressive party and an alternave to conserva ve PDP. From 2015 ll now that APC has been in power, we are all living witnesses to our nasty experiences. While the party and government could lay claim to some remarkable achievements in some areas, threat to security of lives and property has been so overwhelmed that it relegates such achievements to the background. Things have so gone haywire that majority of the people have hurriedly forgo en the hellfire PDP government placed us in before APC emerged to the extent that a recall for return of PDP is being silently drummed.

There is a phrase, “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.” In the recent past, exodus of PDP stalwarts to APC had called for concern. A poli cal party is an organised group of people who share similar ideology with the aim to capture power and implement policies based on its ideology. The out-gone Governor Mai Mala Buni led APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Conven on Planning Commi ee (CECPC) had con nued to boast that it would woo PDP big wigs into the party and increase APC membership to be the biggest in the black con nent. This informed why it conducted membership registra on/revalida on exercise in 2021 where it claimed to have registered 41 million members. The remaining progressive oxygen in the party started leaking out rapidly the very period it threw its gates open to every “Tom, Dick and Harry.” It so lost guard that people of ques onable characters who have no inclina on with progressivism became its members. It was this pathe c development

Complete Transmutation Of APC that snowballed into its Na onal Conven on of 26 March, 2022 at Eagle Square, Abuja.

The soul of a poli cal party largely resides in the Chairman and the Secretary. By consensus arrangement, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Iyiola Omisore emerged Na onal Chairman and Na on Secretary of APC respec vely. In an a empt to confuse the mass of the people who have seen transmuta on of APC that they used to think represented their aspira on on the one hand and massaging ego of his principal who was a major sponsor of Senator Iyiola Omisore, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Gboyega Oyetola, Ismail Omipidan said, “...Senator Adamu has spent eight years out of the nine years existence of the ruling party within the party. Two, the Na onal Secretary, Iyiola Omisore, had his founda on in the Alliance for Democracy, AD, where he was first elected Osun Deputy Governor. That he le for PDP at some point cannot make him complete PDP through and through.” Omipidan has

STRIKER

refused to inform us that the new Na onal Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Adamu, was the pioneer Chairman of the defunct Na onal Party of Nigeria (NPN) in Plateau State as Nasarawa, his home state, was then s ll part of the old Plateau State. He forgot to remind us that Adamu was a founding member of the PDP in 1999 and became governor for eight years (1999 – 2007) under PDP pla orm.

Governor Oyetola’s CPS seems not to know that Adamu won an elec on into the Senate, represen ng Nasarawa West Senatorial District, in 2007 under the pla orm of PDP a er his two term tenure as Governor.

Omipidan forgot to tell the people that un l registra on/revalida on exercise of 2021 which gave Iyiola Omisore, among others, lifeline to join APC officially, he was a core PDP man as he contested for Senate under PDP pla orm in April 2003, represen ng Osun East Senatorial District, and won. He was re-elected again in 2007 under same PDP pla orm and won. In 2014, he contested gubernatorial

elec on under PDP but lost to incumbent Governor Rauf Aregbesola. He, in fact, contested in 2018 Osun gubernatorial elec on under the pla orm of Social Democra c Party (SDP) as he was muscled out of PDP by the Adeleke dynasty, but lost to Governor Oyetola.

As presently cons tuted, APC is led by PDP stalwarts. The 26th March Conven on is a consumma on of its complete transmuta on.

PDP is, therefore, the ruling party and main opposi on party at the same me.

Any change seeker who s ll sees APC, as presently cons tuted, as a vehicle for change should be er have a change of mind as it is APC - Power!; PDP - Power! To return APC to anything close to a progressive party, either at state or na onal level, is now a daun ng task for the overwhelmed progressive tendencies within it, with conserva ves and reac onaries now in the driving seat. While there is no party that is viable enough, at the na onal level, to wrest power from APC and PDP, a serious party with pro-people manifestoes and credible candidate could spring surprise as the state level.

The electorate should not fold their hands.

As we seek the best of driver, mechanic, teacher and doctor, etc, so we must seek best poli cal party and candidate as poli cians’ policies and programmes, having received our mandates via votes, will either translate to our peace and prosperity or poverty and penury.

Their decisions in government will affect our living and working condi on posi vely or nega vely. We cannot and should not, therefore, allow money and sen ments to be determining factors in our choice of party and candidate in future elec ons especially as we draw close to 16 July, 2022 Governorship elec on in Osun.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

A Damning And Sustained Decline (First published at the time Femi Fani-Kayode was admitted into APC, this piece is more instructive to youths today, in the wake of the outcome of the APC National ConvenNCNC and the A.G, on the one hand, and tion)

riedly packaged return to democracy.

Through various metamorphoses, today’s Peoples Democra c Party is as far from the Naonal Party of Nigeria as the All Progressives Congress is far from the Unity Party of Nigeria!

Nigeria has finally produced “conserva ve” and “progressive” par es, in same likeness, with manifestoes forgo en, service to the people immaterial and democracy only an exercise in power grabbing and clique aggrandizement: rather than progressing, society is not only stagnated but retrogressing into barbarism – economically, poli cally, socially and spiritually. Sadder s ll for the “progressives” that had been busy admi ng major actors that cannot sustain a debate without pulling out a machete or gun; people who have pending corrup on and murder cases; and now joined in the inner poli cal chambers by confirmed charlatan, perpetual liar, irredeemable double dealer and traitor.

Historically, the darkest poli cal hours are usually followed by a radiant dawn. It is up to the youths, who are trapped between six and half a dozen (the devil and the deep sea), to take up the challenge. Poli cal par es are the vehicles for the delivery of democracy and its dividends – life more abundant for all. A hundred outrages like the #EndSARS combus on will take us no far.

However, the energy, crea vity, vision and organisa on capacity demonstrated, if channelled into poli cal party forma on or interven ons, along principles and manifestoes that clearly ar culate a development agenda by likeminded fellows, can and will eventually save the day and take us to the promised land of “unity and faith, peace and progress.”

the NPC and the rump of the NCNC and AG INCE 1922 ll date, there has been steady in the new NNDP, on the other hand - that erosion in iden ty, principles, ethics and contributed significantly to the poli cal and discipline of poli cal par es in Nigeria. The cons tu onal crisis and the civil unrest of recent decamping from the Peoples Democra c October-December 1965, which precipitated Party (PDP) by Femi Fani-Kayode into the All Pro- the fall of the First Republic in January 1966.”

Thirteen years of military rule followed. Degressives Congress (APC) is a high point in that spite the distor on to public governance system history of decadence.

In Pre-Independence mes, despite the uni- and values by the dictatorial, unitarising and lawfying mantra of decolonisa on and diverging less military, the poli cal par es that crystallised fault line of ethnicity, poli cal par es had clearly in the 2nd Republic substan ally maintained the iden fiable conserva ve, centrist or progres- standards of their progenitors in the 1st Repubsive tendencies and manifestoes, which were lic: everyone knew the characters and disposion of the Na onal Party of Nigeria (NPN), Unity carried into post-independence mes. Indeed, it was the struggle to muddle up and whi le Party of Nigeria (UPN), and other; whence they down the clear ideological lines of the major op- came from and what they stand for.

By the close of 1983, the military struck again posi on par es in bogus alliances with persons and groups within it that led to the crises that and stayed forcibly and more destruc vely ll precipitated the downfall of the First Republic. 1999 – 15 years of brutality, corrup on, disorienIndeed, in his lead paper at the Poli cal Par- ta on and distorted development. Understandes Dialogue Series held in 2011, dis nguished ably, the poli cal par es that emerged from the Professor Adele Jinadu affirmed that “It is the ashes of military devasta on of social life were contradic ons unleashed from 1962 onwards only shadows and distant echoes of their proby this federalisa on of the party system - the genitors. The military had substan ally comprodeclara on of emergency rule in the West- mised the civilian poli cal elites and railroaded ern Region in 1962, the crea on of the Mid- them into nepo sm, dictatorship, corrup on, West Region in 1963, the 1962-63 census megalomania, “se lement,” and kleptomania to controversy, the party realignment before the the extent that the raison d’être for poli cal par1964 regional elec ons and the 1965 federal ty forma on and party poli cs and democracy in elec ons, involving the alliance between the general were ter ary considera ons in the hurOSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarnaty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun.

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“APC is led by PDP stalwarts. The 26th March Convention is a consummation of its complete transmutation. PDP is, therefore, the ruling party and main opposition party at the same time”

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