Osun Defender Online Version of August 13, 2021

TOP Alleges Plan To Attack, Assassinate Leaders Ismaeel Uthman

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HE Osun Progressives (TOP), a caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, has alleged that some people in the government and party were planning to a ack and assassinate leaders of

the group.

According to TOP, the alleged plan had been reported to the security agencies for inves ga on and other necessary steps.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, TOP Chairman, Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi, said the planned a ack was as a re-

sult of the group’s struggle to restructure and reenergise the party, coupled with the outcome of the last Ward Congress of the APC, where it had a good show.

Also, the Caretaker Secretary of the APC in the state, Hon. Rasaq Salinsile said the leadership of TOP

decided to make the evil plan known to the public to avoid casual es, saying that violence was alien to the progressives’ family unl some ‘elements’ joined recently.

Salinsile said TOP leadership knows who to hold responsible, should any attack be carried out on any

members of the group or those of the party who are loyal to the Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

In his address, Adelowo said: “This urgent press conference is aimed at pu ng on record, informa on on a empt by some elements, allegedly

within government and our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), to a ack and murder some of the leaders of The Osun Progressives (TOP).

“It is important that we bring to public knowledge this evil inten on. Despite that, we have informed •Continued on page 7

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 VOL 16 NO 30

Dashed Hope: LAUTECHTurned-UNIOSUN Workers In Disappointment, Grief Aregbesola Launches Code Of Conduct For NIS Personnel, Unveils Electronic Data Management Page 2

•No Fixed Salaries Yet

- Page Page 2

•50% Ready To Return To LAUTECH

Public Outcry Over Abandonment Of Freedom Park In Osogbo Page 4

Existing Voters Who Registered Afresh Caused High Increase Of CVR In Osun Page 7

•Nelson Mandela Freedom Park at the heart of Osogbo, capital of the state of Osun, overgrown with weeds. Inset: Cloth driers having a free day at the recreational facility.

Photo: Olushola Aderinto

Editorial: Rest On, Muhammed Fawehinmi

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 13 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

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News

Dashed Hope: LAUTECH-Turned-UNIOSUN Workers In Disappointment, Grief Ismaeel Uthman

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XPECTATIONS of workers of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, who transferred their services to Osun State University, Osogbo, have not been met, inves ga ons have revealed.

It would be recalled that about 82 workers of LAUTECH, who are indigenes of the State of Osun, transferred their services to UNIOSUN early this year, following the dissolu on of joint ownership of the university

by Osun and Oyo state governments.

However, findings by OSUN DEFENDER on the welfare and condi ons of service of the LAUTECHturned-UNIOSUN workers revealed that they are yet to be fully integrated into the UNIOSUN system.

As at the me of filing this report yesterday, none of the LAUTECH returnees had been put on the payroll of UNIOSUN, neither had they been given an iden ty card.

But all the workers had been given appointment le ers and had been assigned du es by the UNIOSUN management.

It was gathered that so far, the workers have not also been fixed on a parcular salary and have always been paid different amounts as salaries since they joined UNIOSUN. OSUN DEFENDER gathered that some of the LAUTECH-turned-UNIOSUN workers had been making fran c moves to return to LAUTECH because of the disappointment they are facing.

The medium talked to the workers and they lamented that they had not been integrated into the UNIOSUN system five months a er their transfer of services.

According to some of the workers who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under condi on of anonymity, the management of the university and the State Government of Osun had not been fair to them on their welfare.

Complaining about irregular payment of salaries, the workers said the management of the university and the state government had not put them on a fixed salary, claiming that they had been paid different amounts of salaries since they resumed in the ins tu on.

The medium gathered that about 50 per cent of the workers had shown interest in going back to

•Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, representing Nigeria at the bilateral discussion held with Republic of Belarus. Presenting an award to him at the session is Belarusian Internal Affairs Minister, Ivan Kubrakov, recently.

LAUTECH, if they had the opportunity.

One of the workers said: “The management of UNIOSUN has been unfair to people from LAUTECH who trans-

ferred their services to the university as workers of Osun State University. They are seeing us as outsiders. Till date, they have not put us on the payroll. We’ve not been

incorporated into the salary structure of UNIOSUN, and that has been causing suffering for us.

“We are not being paid accurate salaries, and not being paid at

the same me UNIOSUN workers are paid. In the last five months, we have been paid different amounts of salaries; no two months have been the same. And the man-

Aregbesola Launches Code Of Conduct For NIS Personnel, Unveils Electronic Data Management Idris Idowu

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IGERIA’S Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has demanded that all officers and men of the Nigeria Immigra on Service (NIS) acquaint themselves with their expected roles and responsibili es and be guided by the expected

principles and standards of behaviours in the discharge of their du es.

The Minister said this at the launch of the NIS Code of Conduct and Ethics Document and unveiling of Electronic Data Management Systems (EDMS) at the Service Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

Aregbesola said that as

gatekeepers of the na on, NIS cannot but regularly showcase the cherished virtues of integrity, courtesy, sound morality and uncommon transparency in its official conduct.

He noted that the essence of se ng code of conduct and ethics for any organisa on is to ensure that ac ons, disposi ons

Symbol’s Quote

“Today’s youths are a peculiar breed; they are a new generation of social media and the power of ideas and intellect. They appear more intelligent and far more enterprising than the previous generations; the deployment of their intelligence is a different matter, which we must all seek to re-channel through positive modelling and gainful employment,”

and behaviours of the workforce conform significantly with the laid down rules of engagement.

The Minister said: “The code of conduct and ethics for the NIS should constantly speak to the need to always display sound judgement in the face of ethical and/or opera onal dilemmas and therefore, “encapsulate the unambiguous benchmarks upon which ethical behaviours, values and ac ons shall be weighed to ensuring compliance to the laid down processes and procedures.”

Assuring them of the Federal Government’s determina on at addressing the challenges of passport administra on and border management, which he referred to as ‘ethical challenges’, Aregbesola urged the NIS staff to always remember their integrated moral and civic obliga ons to the public and strive to be patrio c and exemplary in their official and private conducts at all mes.

He commended the NIS’s efforts at automa ng its processes and systems with the introduc on of Electronic Data Management Systems (EDMS), no ng that the system will ensure that “paperwork bureaucracy and unnecessary waste of man-hour in moving bulky files from •Continued on page 6

agement of UNIOSUN has made sure that the payslips are not made available, for us not to know the actual amount to be paid or why we are being paid a par cular amount.

“So, for each month, we receive different amounts of salaries.

And the salary amounts keep on reducing every month, it is important to note that. We were told that it is the State Government that is paying us with available funds in the sense that, it is what the government makes available to UNIOSUN that the management will share to everyone of us that came from LAUTECH. “In the real sense of it, we are yet to be integrated into UNIOSUN. The university has been paying its original workers the accurate amounts of salaries as at when due, while refusing to augment the salaries of the LAUTECH returnees with the Internally Generated Revenue, in spite of the fact that it has been making use of the workers.

We have been ac vely involved in the generaon of IGR across the six campuses of UNIOSUN. This is not fair to us.

“At the same me, UNIOSUN management are me ng out preferenal treatment on Pay As You Earn taxes. What the LAUTECH returnees are paying is more than what the UNIOSUN workers are paying on taxes. And this has been frustra ng a lot of us.

“Some of us are ready to go back to LAUTECH if the opportunity is open.

More than 50 per cent of us are ready to leave because we are disappointed with what we are experiencing here.

We are being treated as if we are fresh employees, whereas we transferred our services. This is the fi h month of our transfer of services and if we have not been integrated into the system ll now, it calls for serious concern.”

Another worker of the university accused the UNIOSUN management of tac cal discrimina on against the LAUTECH returnees.

He said: “Why I am accusing the UNIOSUN management of discrimina on is that none of us (the LAUTECH returnees) have been given iden ty cards, though they promised to do that. We are yet to be on the payroll of the university.

“When the university •Continued on page 7

PEOPLE FIRST

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Review/Outlook BY KOLA ODEPEJU Osun: For Continuity Of Preparing Generation Next Progressive Governance “I” MIDST a sobering third wave “Youth empowerment in

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of the no longer novel Coronavirus worldwide, the interna onal community observed Interna onal Youth Day yesterday. In sombre atmosphere, it could hardly have been a celebra on; nevertheless, it was worth observing.

In Nigeria, unlike other countries, at a similar cri cal junc on in their economic transforma on, we have not transformed our youth demographic bulge into an opportunity for an advance. The consequences has been the social cataclysms that has transformed into the provision of never ending recruits and canon fodder to feed terrorist groups, some of them masquerading as “bandits”, mass under and unemployment and a heightened state of anxiety.

All very predictable; for the poli cal establishment have deliberately created a low skill, low wages economic format which makes the country pathe cally uncompe ve in a globalised world order.

A good example of the current debilita on manifests itself in the tragic - comedy called Big Brother Naija. The charade adds absolutely nothing of value to society, on the contrary it elevates voyarism which used to be known as “Peeping Tom” into a socially acceptable norm which is disgus ng.

The youthful demography must

today’s world is based on constant enhancing of skills to develop a competitive workforce.

It is not marshalling a dependence syndrome based on handouts and temporary succour to take part in meaningless financially induced demonstrations.”

not wallow in self - pity and haplessness. They must use the ongoing registra on of voters to signal to the old order that they will mount a challenge by par cipa ng in polics and decision making. Poli cal ac vity starts with registra on and they must seize this opportunity for change. Overall, the poli cal economy must be redirected away from consump on to the produc ve base needed for the crea on of jobs crea ng sustainable development.

Youth empowerment in today’s world is based on constant enhancing of skills to develop a compe ve workforce. It is not marshalling a dependence syndrome based on handouts and temporary succour to take part in meaningless financially induced demonstra ons.

Rest On, Muhammed Fawehinmi outstanding lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi was largely unfulfilled. The debilita on of the spinal cord injury from a car accident was responsible for this. Nevertheless, he took the pain in good stead taking off from where his greatly admired father took off and making an impact in the arena of human rights, the struggle for social jus ce and the fight for a fairer society.

At fi y-two, he s ll had so •Muhammed Fawehinmi, a solid chip off the old much to offer. May the Alblock who kept the flag flying. mighty Allah overlook your HE promise of Mo- shortcomings and grant hammed Fawehinmi, you Jannatu Fridaus, Mufirst son of the late hammed.

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S Osun Governorship Elec ons draw closer by the day, the protracted feud between the incumbent Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, must by now be of serious concern; not only to stakeholders in the Osun Project but also to all lovers of good governance generally.

Before proceeding further, it’s important for me to men on it that this issue has from me been a source of worry to me such that l had once summoned courage to talk to the two leaders about the whole issue. It’s equally important to emphasise it that beyond my rela onship with these two progressive leaders, what mainly prompted me to raise the issue with them then was my concern about the foreseeable setback that would befall Osun, should the frosty rela onship between them be allowed to degenerate into a situa on whereby Osun would fall into the hand of the opposi on PDP (God forbid), a party that has nothing to offer the state, save progress retardaon. Progress retarda on is here used consciously because the history of PDP in Osun is that of non-performance, egregiously inept leadership and imposi on of massive poverty and underdevelopment on the state.

Much as this writer is not interested in comparing the PDP era in Osun with Aregbesola era, it is not disputable that Aregbesola changed Osun narra ve from underdevelopment - as witnessed under the PDP - to that of unprecedented development. Aregbesola li ed Osun from development backwater, no doubt.

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on

his part has been a fantas c leader. He has hitherto swung surprise and did the extraordinary. Not only has he con nued from where Ogbeni stopped, he has li ed Osun beyond where Ogbeni le it.

From the foregoing, it is clear that both Aregbesola and Oyetola are progressive leaders who cherish progress and development for their people. But in life, no ma er how close or friendly two people are, there may come a me in the course of their rela onship that things can go awry between them. If it happens thus, it does not mean it will or should con nue like that for ever. It should not be allowed to turn to that of God and the Lucifer whose quarrel has become eternally irreconcilable. This is why people of conscience must wade into the ma er now to ensure that the issue is se led.

My observa on in this whole scenario so far is that the trouble is not so much with these two progressive leaders. The trouble is more with us, their followers. Of course, some of us have turned ourselves to conflict entrepreneurs that are interested in con nually fanning embers of discord between these two brothers mainly for our own selfish interests; forge ng that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. And we need to remind ourselves here that it was the conflict entrepreneurs but not the principal actors that escalated the 1962 schism in the Ac on Group (AG) with disastrous consequences which the en re Yoruba race is s ll paying for ll today.

Osun has witnessed unprecedented development under both of them and therefore, we cannot afford to slip backward again. This is why as a stakeholder this writer is much interested in appealing to the two of them to sheath their Publisher – Moremi Publishing swords and then appeal House Ltd. to their followers to give Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman peace a chance. I sin(0805-121-2204) cerely feel we should not go to the polls with a diProduc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa vided house. For divided Reporter – Yusuf Oketola Reporter – Kazeem Badmus we fall, united we stand.

We all must remember Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto that ‘when two brothComputer Graphics – Zainab Olalere ers engage in duel onto OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing death, it is stranger/s House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, that will inherit their father’s property’. Con State of Osun nuity is a desideratum in ISSN : 0794 – 8050 Osun.

Telephone : 0805-121-2204 Long live the State of Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php Osun! e–mail : osundefender@yahoo.com osundefenderbank@gmail.com •Kola Odepeju is SenAll Correspondence to the above email Addresses. ior Special Assistant to OSUN DEFENDER IS NOT AFFLIATED WITH ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER, Governor Oyetola on MAGAZINE OR ANY PUBLICATION WHATSOVER Public Affairs.

OSUN DEFENDER

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News

Public Outcry Over Abandonment Of Freedom Park In Osogbo Kazeem Badmus

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ESIDENTS of the State of Osun have been expressing their displeasure over the abandonment of Nelson Mandela Freedom Park, Osogbo.

Nelson Mandela Freedom Park had hitherto served as a recrea on centre for residents of the state, but it has turned into a shadow of its old self since the State Government handed it over to the Nigerian Railway Corpora on last year.

The Freedom Park, built by the Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola administraon, is an excep onal tourist haven for residents of the capital territory and visitors from far and near and adjudged to be the most beau ful park in the state.

When OSUN DEFENDER visited the park yesterday, there was no life in the tourist site, as everywhere was overgrown with grasses, while some residents had turned some sec ons of the park to clothes’ drying site.

The abandonment of the park has been genera ng hues and cries on the social media, as residents of the state unanimously condemn its ‘disheartening state’.

A resident of the state, Com. Lamina Kamiludeen, who is the Chairman, World Ins tute for Peace, called on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to act fast in bringing the park back to life.

Kamiludeen, in an open le er tled ‘Call for Retract from Railway Management: Nelson Mandela Freedom Park Losing Its Value’, said it was embarrassing and disturbing that the park, which had hitherto been full of life, is now being

abandoned.

Reac ng, the State Commissioner for Commerce, Industries, Coopera ves and Empowerment, Dr. Bode Olanipekun, in an interview with the medium, said the government did not abandon the park, but is rather trying to give it a new and be er look.

According to Olanipekun, there were some anomalies that needed to be corrected in the area of managing the place, hence the delay in redesigning and renovating the place.

The commissioner said both the government and Nigerian Railway Corpora on were working hard to come to an agreement on the issue He said: “There were anomalies that are being corrected. The Freedom Park originally belongs to the Nigerian Railway. The State Government took the ini a ve of making the place a rac ve by redesigning the place.

•The Dadas from Esa Oke, State of Osun, in a group photograph during the funeral ceremony for their late matriarch, Chief (Mrs.) Dorcas Olabisi Dada, held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Esa Oke, recently.

“But if the government is repairing what belongs to somebody else, there must be an agreement

between both par es in order to know their responsibili es and that did not happen between the

State Government and the Nigerian Railway during the me of the immediate past administra on.

Oba Makama Calls For Cultural Orientation, Hosts First ‘Ijo Orisa’ Festival Yusuf Oketola

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HE Olowu of Kuta, Oba Adekunle Oyelude Makama, has called on the Na onal Orienta on Agency to embark on vigorous grassroots-oriented campaign for the promo on of culture and cultural heritage in Nigeria.

Oba Makama made this call during the first celebra on of Ijo Orisa fes val held in his palace, on Tuesday.

According to him, religion has wreaked havoc on Yoruba culture and that of other ethnic na-

onali es in Nigeria.

He stated that culture is different from religion, warning that religion must not be put in place of culture.

Oba Makama said: “Religion has really wreaked havoc on us and our culture. We should all work hard and be proud of our culture, religion is not our culture. Africa has been bastardised because of religion and poli cs. Some of us that understand this should strive hard to set this genera on free.

“The orienta on is not enough; the orienta on

•Olowu of Kuta having discussion with Olu of Ileogbo, Oba Abeeb Agbaje.

should be more vigorous and grassroots-oriented as it was done in those days.

“What we are doing today is what we call the first ever commissioning of Ijo Orisa fes val. Ijo Orisa is those cultural exercises like that of Egungun dance. You could see Egungun dancing today, even when it is not the Egungun fes val period, Sango came out and performed magic, Oya as well performed and Ifa worshippers did theirs as well.

“So, Ijo Orisa comprises all different kinds of cultural exercises that do not have anything to do with religion and ethnicity, which we inherited.”

Olowu maintained that Yoruba monarchs are custodians of culture and tradi ons, calling on the tradi onal rulers in Yorubaland to lead the campaign of promo ng the culture.

“We the Yoruba monarchs are the owners and custodians of culture, because it is the culture and tradi ons of Yoruba that we are reigning over.

If we spearhead the promo on, our subjects, our people, will also need to join us even before the government can assist us.

“If we go to England, we cannot see them promo ng our culture. We are the ones that need to rise up and support our own culture and then tell

the government where they can also assist us” he added.

Oba Makama urged government at all levels to take promo on of Yoruba language as utmost priority.

Speaking at the event, The Governor of State of Osun, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, who was represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Adebisi Obawale, commended Oba Makama for the ini a ve, describing it as fantas c.

The Governor said: “Ijo Orisa is a fantas c cultural product which we want to encourage to grow and I commend the ini a ve of Kabiyesi, Olowu of Owu Kuta for this credible work.

“As government, we will do all things possible to support it in line with our policy to grow culture and tourism in the state.

We want to encourage all Kabiyesis to do the same, because this is the only way to preserve our culture and it is also the only way to pass it from one genera on to the other.”

At the event were the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, (who was represented by Oba Olalekan Faseesin); Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Kelani Adekeye; Olu of Ile Ogbo, Oba Habeeb Adetoyese Agbaje; the Araba Awo of Osogboland, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon; among others.

“So when we came in and there were issues about control over the place, we looked into our book and discovered that there was only dra agreement that was not signed. We now said let us work together on it, since there was an understanding that the state should take over and manage it, let us now go into proper cul va on of the agreement.

“Also, we consider that the place should take a be er look than it is wearing now. More so, the overhead bridge coming around that place will also bring a new design to the park.

“For everything that we are taking over from the Nigerian Railway which comprises both opera onal and nonopera onal segments of the park and other ones that is not park-related, we should do an agreement that will be all-encompassing, touching on everything that is Railway which the State Government is interested in, and that includes Dagbolu Axis, Osogbo Axis, Parking Area, Tarmac and the Garden.

“And we cannot agree if we do not know the quan ty of what we are agreeing on. That put us into making designs, drawing, architectural and engineering work, for us to have the basis for our agreement.

“This is all we have been doing that has delayed what the State Government and the Nigerian Railway are working on, and you know COVID-19 has not helped things either, but very soon by the grace of God, the place will wear a new look.”

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News

Govt. Harps On Compliance With COVID-19 Guidelines As Osun Osogbo Holds Today Kazeem Badmus & Idris Idowu

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HE State Government of Osun has called on the people coming for today’s grand finale of the annual Osun Osogbo fes val to adhere strictly to the COVID-19 safety protocols to prevent the spread of virus in the state.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, assured residents of the state of Government’s preparedness towards enforcing COVID-19 protocols during the fes val.

Large numbers of tradional worshippers, tourists, Osun adherents and spectators are expected in Osogbo for the fes val.

According to Isamotu, apart from ensuring strict adherence to COVID-19 protocol, the whole essence of keeping to the guidelines is about the safety of everybody.

He made this known while addressing newsmen in Osogbo on Wednesday.

The Commissioner stated that the State Government cannot stop the tradi onal worshippers from celebra ng their fes val, but calls for cau on and strict adherence to COVID19 protocols.

He said: “We will ensure that people coming for the Osun Osogbo fes val adhere strictly to COVID -19 safety guidelines. People must compulsorily wear their face masks. Since many people will come for the fes val, they must maintain adequate physical distancing.

“It may be difficult, but we must do our best to ensure everything is done and our staff will also be staoned at the entrance of the Osun Grove to adequately advise the people just as we did in 2014 during the Ebola

virus epidemic.”

Speaking in the same line, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Adebisi Obawale, urged everyone coming to the fesval to be peaceful and orderly, reitera ng that Osun is the State of the Virtuous.

Obawale said: “We want everybody to be peaceful and to fully comply with COVID-19 safety protocols.

We are experiencing the third wave of COVID-19 this par cular me and we must be mindful of it. We want to enjoin everyone coming to the grove to come with their nose masks to make sure that there is no transmission of Coronavirus pan-

the state and those coming for the Osun Osogbo fes val of adequate security during the celebra on.

Olokode, in a press statement issued by the Public Rela ons Officer of the command, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, said the Police were more commi ed to guaranteeing adequate and water ght

security before, during and a er the fes val.

According to the Police boss, no one will be allowed to carry arms or any offensive weapons or instrument of violence, sta ng that the sledgehammer of the law will fall on anyone found conduc ng himself or her-

self in a manner likely to cause the breach of the peace.

He called on parents and guardians to cauon their wards to be law-abiding, just as he enjoined residents of the state to go about their lawful businesses without any fear of insecurity.

Osun Assembly Passes Legislative, Judiciary Autonomy Bills Into Law

By Yusuf Oketola

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HE House of Assembly of the State of Osun on Wednesday passed three bills into law at the plenary of the House in Osogbo.

The bills are: Osun State

Legisla ve Funds Management Bill, Osun State Judiciary Funds Management Bill and the Osun State Private Veterinary Premises and Ambulatory Prac ce (Regula on) Bill 2021.

Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owo-

eye, while congratula ng both the legisla ve and the judicial arms of government for gaining autonomy, stated that the 7th House of Assembly would con nue to make development laws for the state.

Owoeye, who noted that the bills were for the development of the two arms of government, explained that they would guarantee good management of funds for both arms.

He said: “Both the legisla ve and the judicial arms of government should be different in all things.

“With the passage of the House of Assembly Autonomy Bill, the House will have the opportunity to

carry out its affairs without interference.”

The Speaker also disclosed that with the passage of the Judiciary Autonomy Bill, the judiciary would have the opportunity to discharge their cons tu onal du es fairly without undue interference.

According to Owoeye, the passage of the Private Veterinary Premises and Ambulatory Prac ce Regula ons Bill would put an end to the unprofessional conduct of veterinary doctors.

He explained that the bill would put a stop to illegal aba oirs and the slaughtering of sick animals within the state.

Irewole, Isokan APC Inaugurate Ward Executives

By Idris Idowu

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•Members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at Irewole LG.

TOP Alleges Plan To Attack,...

•Continued from front page relevant security agencies, who had assured us of taking steps to inves gate the informa on and as well ensure protec on of the lives of the leadership and members of our caucus.

“The Osun Progressives has provided hope that tomorrow will be better in APC with the agenda.

Because we see be er and clearly than members whose personal interests have beclouded the reality that Osun APC leadership, as presently cons tuted is inept and cannot make it served desired goal.

“The Oyinlola govern-

demic in the state.

“We are going to have an online coverage to ensure that we stream the fes val live and we want to encourage our people to stay at home to enjoy that.”

Meanwhile the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr. Olawale Olokode, has assured the people of

ment, which we challenged in the past, was not as virulent as the Governor Oyetola-led government of our party, since the struggle started.

“To think that we jointly worked to hoist the government became a joke on us, as any party member with traceable connec ons with former governor Aregbesola is excluded from all forms of things in government.

“Upon the failed attempt at ge ng to uphold their wobbling and fumbling during the last ward congress, helped with the crude use of power, the government and party ele-

ments have resulted to selfhelp of planned a ack and assassina on, if the need be, of some leadership of TOP. “We cannot dismiss the informa on because we witnessed the orgy use of thugs and violence in the conduct of the congress in some local governments, quite alien to the progressives’ poli cal pla orm.

“Not a few government officials came to colla on centres with horde of thugs, cul sts carrying dangerous weapons and issuing threats.

“We are not par cularly surprised that things have go en to this extent because the progressives platform has been infiltrated by

many men from the party that is popularly known as the nests of killers.

“May we plead with the authori es; star ng from President Muhammadu Buhari, the Inspector-General of Police, Director General of Department of State Service, Chief of Staff to the President, Secretary to the Government of the Federaon and Chief Bisi Akande to quickly intervene and stop desperate elements in Osun APC from spilling the blood of the innocents for their selfish interests.

“Anybody’s selfish interest is not enough to spill another man’s blood, a former President of Nigeria once noted.”

EMBERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Irewole and Isokan local government areas of the State of Osun have been urged to kickstart the process of rebuilding the party and reposi oning it for victory in coming elec ons.

The admoni on was given by leaders of the party during the inaugura on of execu ve members who were elected at their various wards in the last ward congress of the APC. According to the APC stalwarts, among who are Alhaji Mufutau Tajudeen, Oyebola Mojeed, Comrade Wale Adebisi, Hon. Ademola Owoade and Hon. Tunde Boladale, the party needs to be restructured and reenergized to bring about inclusiveness of all members.

The APC stalwarts who took turns to speak at the inaugura on held at Ikire, headquarters of Irewole Local Government, supported the objec ves of a caucus of the APC, The Osun Progressives (TOP), just as they called on the newly elected ward chairmen and other excos to hit the ground running by correc ng the mistakes

of the outgone ward execu ves.

They stated that the new APC ward officers have to jus fy their elecons by quickly steering the ship of the party to safety from its close reach to precipice it had been taken to by the outgone execu ves.

No ng that the inep tude of the outgone execu ves had affected the party nega vely, the APC leaders said the new execu ves have no choice than to work assiduously in restoring life back into the party at the grassroots where they will operate.

They urged them to commence mee ngs immediately and allow everyone to make contribu ons on how to move the party forward with agreed focus and purposes.

Speaking at the event, the Chairmen of Ward 2 and 4, Irewole LG, Messrs Bayo Salami and Kasali Ilori, and Chairmen of Ward 1 and 11, Isokan LG, Messrs Liasu Babatunde and Muideen Ogunlowo, respec vely expressed their commitment for the progress of the party.

They promised to work for the unity of the party and deliver their various wards for the APC in future elec ons.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

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Religion

HE word Hijrah is used to refer to the journey of Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be on him) and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE. Hijrah is also iden fied as the epoch of the Islamic calendar, which is also known as the Hijri calendar. The new Islamic year commenced on By Monday, August 9, as 1st of Muharam, 1443AH. ENGR. BASHIR Allah, declaring Muhammad as His Prophet LAWAL (SAWS) and confirming Islam as the only religion accepted by Him were turning points to good for his na ve home Makkah’s (Jahiliyyah) ignorance society. Passing the message to the society that was famous for idolatry and its devia on from the Abrahamic doctrine of monotheism preached by previous Prophets of Allah (May Allah’s blessings be on all of them) was rebuffed and absolutely rejected by the Makkan authority and its riches with hos lity to Muhammad (SAWS) and handful of followers that accepted the message. The persecu on lasted for thirteen gressions. His membership being from a noble clan prevented a direct assault on him for the fear that it may lead to years.

History had not reported any case in the earlier world inter clan war. However, many of his clan members were also more damning than opposi on to Islam and persecu on of hos le to him. The worst among them was Abu Lahab. While its adherents. Bilal, the black slave, because of his acceptance Alli, his cousin accepted Islam, his uncle, Abu Talib bin Abd alof Islam was tortured daily in a scorchy sun, beaten and as- Mutalib did but gave clan solidarity which made Muhammad saulted by his master who was asking him to renounce Islam (SAWS) untouchable. Unfortunately, this immunity could not un l he (Bilal) was bought by Abubakar, who immediately last due to Abu Talib’s death. The Makkans purposely held freed him. Sumayyah was the first martyr of Islam; her crime mee ng to curb what they perceived as the ‘excesses’ of was that she accepted Islam. She was ed to a stake while Muhammad (SAWS) and his new doctrine. It was suggested her flesh was cut in pieces un l she gave up the ghost. She at the mee ng that He should be dealt with. Allah revealed was enduring the pains while her tormentors were asking her to Him their plots: “And (recall) when the disbelievers were to renounce the new faith and return to idolatry. But she was conspiring against You to hold You as a cap ve, or to kill You, only replying them with the statement Laa ilaha ilaa Allah or to expel You. They were planning, and Allah was planning, Muhamadur rasullullah, meaning ‘there is no deity worthy and Allah is the best planner.” Quran 8:30. Allah ordered Him of worship except Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger. to leave Makkah for Madinah (Formely Yathrib).

Muhammad’s thirteen years endurance lasted before Psychological and economic warfare were weapons to fight the new faith. The few that believed in the message of Islam Allah commanded him to leave the city. In 622 CE, He le were openly assaulted and insulted in the streets of Makkah. with His friend, Abubakar. However, prior to the journey, There was a sanc on which lasted for three good years that some Muslims on His instruc on had gone on exile to Abysbuying and selling should not be transacted with whoever sinia (now Ethiopia and Eritrea). They were 83 men and 13 becomes Muslim. This brought untold hardship on Muslims. women. King Negus, a Chris an, gave them asylum when it It was reported that during the sanc on period, the Muslims was proved to him beyond doubt that they were persecuted resorted to feeding on any available leaves seen not vegeta- because of their new religion. While the Prophet (SAW) rebles and whenever, if at all, they managed to visit toilet, their mained in Makkah and enduring the persecu on, He was using the opportunity to impart faith in Allah and His Prophet faeces could not be dis nguished from goats’ dung.

Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) was not spared of the ag- into his followers’ hearts, invi ng people to Islam and build-

JUMAT SERMON

Hijrah In The Life Of Muslims

ing men and women in total submission to the will of Allah.

The movement of the Prophet (SAW) to leave Makkah was miraculous. Prophets of God were always protected by Him, same to Muhamad (SAW).

The day Allah asked the Prophet (SAW) to leave Makkah coincided with the day that Makkan authority with its soldiers wanted to kill him. That night was memorable in history. It was a night that truly confirmed that Allah sent Muhammad (SAWS) as His Messenger. The Makkan authority kept the a ack secret but Allah’s plan was above their plans. Muhammad (SAW) asked Alli, his cousin, to sleep on his bed a er handing over all proper es kept in his (Muhammad) custody to him.

He set out unknowingly that enemies had laid siege in front of his house. The unperturbed Muhhamad (SAW) walked in their midst. Historians said on seeing them, He started recita on of Qur’an, precisely Suratu Yaa Sin, Chapter 36 of the Quran and on reaching the 10th verse (“And We have put a bar in front of them and a bar behind them, and further, We have covered them up; so that they cannot see”, Quran 36:9.), all the enemies were caught slumbering. As a proof, the Prophet put dust on their heads and walked off to join Abubakar at a designated point of mee ng. They woke up to discover that Alli was the one sleeping on Prophet’s bed (SAW). They realised he had gone. He was unsuccessfully pursued for three days before they gave up.

Madinah was agog and excited at the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The town used to be called Yathrib, it was His entrance that changed its name to Madinah. People going to Yathrib to pay homage to the Prophet would say “We are going to madinatun nabiyy, i.e, the City of the Prophet”. Hence, it was shortened to Madinah. Already in the town were many that had le Makkah for asylum there, while some of its tribes and surbub accepted Islam. The preIslam Madinah was disorganised with family feuds and wars, yearning for a rallying point which they saw in Muhammad (SAW). No more persecu on of Muslims for those in the city and they were enjoying freedom of worship, associa on and unrestricted learning from the Prophet (SAW).

Read full article on www.osundefender.com

•Eggr. Bashir Lawal, State of Osun Muslim Community, Osogbo..

Crime

Truck Driver Remanded For Killing Pedestrian In Ikirun Yusuf Oketola

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35-year-old man, Akeem Agbaje, has been remanded in Ilesa Correc onal Centre by an Osogbo magistrate’s court for allegedly killing a middle-aged man, Kazeem

Azeez.

Agbaje reportedly drove a Mack truck with Registera on number Lagos APP 843 XA on the highway in a dangerous manner, which led to the death of Azeez of Ile-Baale, Oke-Iba area of Ikirun, while walking on the

road.

According to the charge sheet made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the accused person also caused a damage to a container which contained telephone handsets and phone accessories, prop-

Medical Doctor Arraigned For Beating on assault, malicious Policewoman To Comma ing damage and breach of

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medical doctor, Jimoh Kabiru, was on Tuesday dragged before an Osogbo magistrate’s court for allegedly bea ng a female Police officer to coma while performing her duty in Osogbo.

Kabiru was said to have assaulted and beaten Inspector Janet Oyewole, a Police officer a ached to traffic sec on, Iludun Division, to coma while on duty.

According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the defendant commi ed the offence on August 10, 2021, at about 1042hrs at the front of Hammed Omidiran University, Kola Balogun area, Osogbo.

The charge sheet disclosed that the defendant did maliciously dam-

age one eyeglass valued N12,000, swagger cane worth N3,000 and a Police crest valued N1,000 which belongs to the police officer.

Kabiru, according to the charge sheet, also resisted arrest by the Police.

He was also accused of conduc ng himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by taking a photograph of a suspect named Johnson Oke, who was detained behind the counter and sending it to social media.

The alleged offence contravened Sec ons 356 (1), 452, 197 and 249(d) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge border-

peace.

The defense counsel, Ashim Abioye, prayed the court to admit the accused person to bail, promising that he would stand trial and reliable surety would stand for him.

But the bail applica on was opposed by the Police prosecutor, Mr. Abiodun Fageyinbo, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, on the ground that the accused person did not respect the law and deliberately embarrassed the police by bea ng an officer on duty.

The presiding magistrate, Dr. Olusegun Ayilara, admi ed the defendant to bail in a sum of N200,000 with a surety.

The case was adjourned ll August 16, 2021 for hearing.

erty of one Miss. Sherifat Idowu of Esa’s compound, Ororuwo.

The accused person, according to the charge sheet, also damaged one electricity pole valued at N350,000, which belongs to Ibadan Electricity Distri-

bu on Company (IBEDC).

Agbaje was also accused of driving on the highway without a driver’s license, insurance cer ficate, road worthiness, hackney stage carriage and heavy-duty permit.

He allegedly commi ed

Aregbesola Launches Code Of Conduct...

•Continued from page 2 one table to the other will be done away with”.

Aregbesola informed that the EDMS is following a list of digital transforma ons taking place at the NIS, and expects that speed for effec ve and efficient service delivery shall be highly improved while the skill sets of the workforce will be greatly upgraded.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Comptroller-General of NIS, Muhammad Babandede, said the NIS Code of Conduct Document was developed in consultaon with all relevant government established an -corrup on and related organisa ons, stat-

ing that training of staff will immediately commence to ensure proper integra on and implementa on of the document.

The dignitaries present at the events include the Chairman, House of Representaves Commi ee on Interior, Hon. Nazir Zango Daura, the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Prof. Mohammed Isah, the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Pracces Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, representa ves from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Na onal Orienta on Agency (NOA), development partners and other stakeholders.

the offence on July 6, 2021 at about 1530hrs at EkoEnde Junc on, Ikirun.

According to the Police, the alleged offence contravened Sec ons 16 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun state, 2002 and Sec on 27, 18(1), 7, 21(b), 139, 142 of the RTA, Cap 546,115 and 146 of law of Osun State, 2002.

But the accused person pleaded not guilty to the eight-count charges bordering on dangerous driving and manslaughter levelled against him.

Defence counsel, Mrs. Bose Dada, prayed the court to admit the accused person to bail on a liberal term.

However, the bail applica on was opposed by the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Jacob Akintunde, on the ground that the conduct of the accused person resulted to loss of life and damage of vehicle which was reprehensible, sta ng that jus ce should not be onesided.

Magistrate O.A. Daramola turned down the bail applica on and ordered that the accused person be remanded in Ilesa Correconal Centre.

The case was adjourned ll September 13, 2021 for men on.

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

7

News

Existing Voters Who Registered Afresh Caused High Increase Of CVR In Osun Kazeem Badmus

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HE Resident Electoral Commissioner of Independent Naonal Electoral Commission in the State of Osun, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, has disclosed that some existing voters re-registered as fresh voters during the online Con nuous Voters’ Registra on.

According to Agbaje, the prac ce was responsible for the high figure recorded for the state during the online CVR. The commissioner said, the commission discovered the anomaly during the physical verificaon exercise, explaining that some exis ng voters who lost their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC), damaged their cards or wanted to move their polling units to other places wrongly did fresh registra on.

Agbaje made this known in a telephone interview with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday.

He said: “The turnover of people for the physical verifica on exercise has been quite impressive.

You know it is not a fresh registra on altogether.

It is only for those who have just turned 18 years, those who have lost their PVCs, those who have damaged theirs and those who want to transfer from one place to another.

“Those who registered online have started coming for the physical

verifica on, but we found out that many of them did it wrongly. Many of them had registered before.

Instead of going to the portal where it will show them lost card, replace PVC or transfer, they

were just doing fresh registra on.

“When they came, we were able to know that

•Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Barr. Cecilia Ezeilo with Nigeria Imigration officers during the commissioning of NIS Enugu Command Headquaters, yesterday.

Condemnation Trails Mobilisation Of Women In Burka For Oyetola’s Visit To Iwo Kazeem Badmus

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OME Islamic clerics in the State of Osun have frowned at the mobilisaon of some women in burka to welcome Governor Adegboyega Oyetola during his visita on to Iwo last Saturday.

Pictures of a few Muslim women in burka, who were sta oned by the r oadside to

welcome Oyetola to Iwo, rented the internet over the weekend and have since been genera ng reac ons from Islamic faithful.

Some of the Muslim faithful condemned the mobilisa on of women in the Islamic garment for poli cal ac vi es, describing it as the height of hypocrisy and despera on.

Commen ng on the ma er, Amir of Jama’atu Ta’awunil Mus-

limeen Society of Nigeria, Sheik Daood Imran Molasan, said no Muslim in his right senses would support the mobilisa on of the women in burka for poli cal acvi es, describing it as molestaon of the Muslimah.

Molasan ques oned the iden es of the mobilised women in burka, revealing that one of the two people that were paid to bring out the Islamic

Dashed Hope: LAUTECH Turned UNIOSUN...

•Continued from page 2 wanted to appoint new Heads of Departments and we had three professors at the Medical Laboratory Science Department who were from LAUTECH, hitherto there was nobody in the department. Although on the record of UNIOSUN, only one among the three was a professor, the two others were readers because their professorship was just approved two weeks ago in LAUTECH. “In spite of that, the university supposed to appoint one of the three as HOD but it did not. Instead, the management asked the Dean of the faculty to be superintending over the department.

“We have cases like that in some other departments. We were told by some of the UNIOSUN workers that unionism blood is running in our veins, that we need to learn the UNIOSUN culture before we could be given appointment.

they had registered before and this compounded our problems and unnecessarily inflated our

“Sizeable numbers of those who transferred their services to UNIOSUN are now willing to go back to LAUTECH if there is opportunity because of the disappointment here.

“The State Government of Osun has not been fair to us. Our hope is dashed already. The government should be able to call the UNIOSUN management to order in doing the right thing. We cannot be in our state and s ll be suffering.”

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, the Public Rela ons Officer of the university, Mr. Ademola Adesoji, said the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Labo Popoola, has addressed all the issues raised by the workers in July in a mee ng he held with them.

Adesoji dismissed the allega on of discriminaon against the LAUTECH returnees, saying that there is no reason to do that because they have all become workers of

UNIOSUN. The P.R.O. said: “The Vice Chancellor of the university had held a mee ng with them (LAUTECH returnees) in July, where he addressed them and assured them that the payment of their salaries is a priority to him. The Deputy Registrar (of LAUTECH), Mrs. Oguntunde was the Secretary of the mee ng and she did the extract of the mee ng and sent to all of them.

“UNIOSUN is not responsible for the payment of their salaries yet; it is the State Government that is paying them directly. Their salaries are not in UNIOSUN budget yet.

“The issue of the ID card, the machine producing the card was having issue and it has been fixed. Making all the ID cards is currently in progress. They are not the only ones affected by that. Some staff of UNIOSUN, even 100 and 200 level students of the

university are affected too. Some of the people complaining are working in the department that is producing the ID card. I see that as no issue.

“Being on the payroll of the university is a process and they are collec ng their salaries, they should not entertain fear.

The university is working on ge ng them on the payroll. They should be pa ent with the university.

“There is nothing like discrimina on in UNIOSUN. All these issues have been addressed by the VC. We are all working in one university. The fact that the management is appoin ng or not appoin ng some people as HOD is not an issue.

“We have a standard and system that we follow in every appointment. If it is not in their turn today, it will be theirs tomorrow.

They should wait and learn the standard pracce and requirements that we use in making appointments.”

women was a suspected fraudster who was recently arrested by the Police.

He said: “We in the Tawun and our Alfas are against it. All of us that have women in burka as wife or rela ons are against it. We have inves gated the ma er and warned the people that mobilised the women to welcome Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

“We have go en the two people that were paid to mobilise the women for that shameful show. One of them is a suspected fraudster whose bail I secured when he was arrested by the Police recently. We have warned them not to play poli cs with our pious Muslim women, par cularly those in burka.

“We are not even sure if those women that were mobilised are real Muslim women in burka, because if you look at their numbers, they are less than 50. If we are the one that want our women in burka to welcome the Governor, the streets will be locked because we have over a thousand of them.

“If we want the Governor to meet our women, he will come to them, not that they will stand by the roadside to welcome him.

All those who came out that day are paid and we have warned those behind it to desist.”

OYINDAMOLA ELIZABETH OJO-OLAGOKE That I was formerly known and addressed as O Y I N D A M O L A ELIZABETH OJO. Now wish to be known and addressed as O Y I N D A M O L A E L I Z A B E T H All OJO-OLAGOKE. former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

registra on figure. However, we have guided and advised on what to do.

“In the local governments that we have been to, INEC officials there are doing a very good job.

The areas where we noced some challenges, we asked those at the headquarters to come over and assist them so that they will not have any problem.

“We have been to Boripe, Boluwaduro, Ifedayo, Ila, Irepodun, Osogbo and Olorunda local government council areas and it was fairly reasonable.”

The commissioner urged those who have not registered to do so, while appealing to existing voters not to reregister again.

“I want to encourage those who have not registered before to do so and the ones that have registered before but have some challenges should not register again, as we have areas for them to rec fy those challenges.

We are ready for them and we have enough personnel, so they should not entertain any fear.”

CHANGE OF NAME IBRAHIM KAZEEM OLAEKAN

That I was formerly known and addressed as IBRAHEEM KAZEEM OLALEKAN. Now wish to be known and addressed as IBRAHIM KAZEEM OLAEKAN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OLAOYE OLUWABUKUNMI YEWANDE That I was formerly known and addressed as AFOLABI ISIWAT OLUWABUKUNMI YEWANDE. Now wish to be known and addressed as OLAOYE OLUWABUKUNMI YEWANDE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

BASIRU KAFAYAT OLAJUMOKE That I was formerly known and addressed as BASHIRU KAFAYAT ASAKE. With former Date of Birth 03/01/1991. Now wish to be known and addressed as BASIRU KAFAYAT OLAJUMOKE. With the Correct Date of Birth 09/12/1996.

All former documents remain valid.

General public should take note.

ONUH MARTHA CHINYERE That I was formerly known and addressed as ONU IFEOMA LYNDA. Now wish to be known and addressed as ONUH MARTHA CHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

News Govt. Harps On Compliance With COVID-19 Guidelines As Osun Osogbo Holds Today

FRIDAY, AUGUST 13 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021 VOL. 16 NO 30 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

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HE poli cs and polity playing out in the State of Osun has put All Progressives Congress (APC) in poli cal incarcera on from which it needs to be bailed, and then forfied, to be in a good stead to victoriously contest the July 16, 2022 Gubernatorial Elec ons in the state. What do I mean? In the run-up to the 2018 Gubernatorial Elec ons in the state, some poli cal juggernauts in APC protested an alleged unlevelled playground created by governor Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, to favour his Chief of Staff, Gbeyega Oyetola, to emerge as the APC gubernatorial candidate. Although, Oyetola eventually emerged as the APC candidate in the 2018 direct primary of the party, the protest of the stalwarts and their eventual exit from APC jeopardised the victory of the party and its candidate in the elec on.

The result of the elec on was 254,698 for Peoples Democra c Party (PDP); and 254,345 for APC. That implies that PDP won the first ballot by 353 votes. What eventually snatched victory away from PDP was a rerun: as Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the elec on inconclusive as a result of disrup on of elec ons and violence in seven different polling units across four local government areas. The affected areas were Ife North, Ife South, Osogbo and Orolu Local Governments. INEC contended that registered number of people denied vo ng in the affected areas was 3,498 which is far over and above the difference of 353, with which PDP was ahead of APC; hence, the rerun. At the end of the exercise, the result declared by INEC was 255,505 for APC; and 255,023 for PDP, which implies that APC finally turned the table against PDP with 482 votes margin. Not sa sfied with the outcome of the elec on results, PDP headed to court but APC eventually won at the Supreme Court. This difference of 482 is highly infinitesimal, compared to 101,937 (One hundred and one thousand, nine hundred and thirty seven votes) difference with which APC defeated PDP in 2014 which won Rauf Aregbesola second term. This was a period when PDP held sway na onally with federal might used to in midate and harass Osun people, including a threat to invade Governor’s official residence.

The fact of the ma er is if those APC stalwarts had not le APC, it would have defeated PDP landslide. For instance, Alhaji Moshood Adeo , the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) under the Aregbesola administra on le APC to contest governorship under the platform of Ac on Democra c Party (ADP) and garnered 49,744 votes (Forty-nine thousand, seven hundred and forty-four votes). Some

“Instead of working for peaceful coexistence, consultation and inclusive engagement with all these stakeholders and caucuses within the party, Governor Gboyega Oyetola has chosen the path of alienation”

Rescuing The Soul Of Osun APC

July 16 Osun Governorship Elections Postulation members also le for African Democra c Congress (ADC), which also garnered 7,681 votes (Seven thousand, six hundred and eighty-one votes). All together, those 57,425 votes would have been credited to APC. Again, if the former Speaker of Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Honourable Najeem Salam, who felt short-changed like others had jumped overboard by refusing Aregbesola’s persuasion to stay with the party, 2018 Governorship Elec ons would have been an automa c victory for PDP, as the 14,779 votes delivered by Najeem in Ejigbo Local Government to APC would have gone the other way. This was the situa on with the Osun APC

STRIKER

three years ago.

Although, as at today, all these stalwarts are fully back to APC, the party is engulfed with crisis and it is ge ng messier as we coast to July 16, 2022 Gubernatorial Elec ons in the state. Instead of working for peaceful coexistence, consulta on and inclusive engagement with all these stakeholders and caucuses within the party, Governor Gboyega Oyetola has chosen the path of aliena on. Apart from his caucus in the party – IleriOluwa group - he does not want to have anything to do with others. It is one of those things for somebody to be deceived, especially one in the posi on of

power, as people around the powerful mainly tell them what they want to hear; it is irra onal and illogical, however, for somebody to be deceiving himself/herself.

If the situa on is not radically addressed on me, either of these two will happen. On the one hand, if Oyetola uses his incumbent execu ve power to manipulate the game and emerge as APC candidate for the 2022 Governorship Elec ons without the support and coopera on of other caucuses in APC, a worse repeat of 2018 clearly means he will lose the Governorship Elec ons. Winning an elec on is not all about money; goodwill and general acceptability play more significant role. On the other hand, if the conglomera on of caucuses in the party succeeds in having an APC gubernatorial candidate other than Governor Oyetola, a lot of yeoman job will be required to win at the elec on as a lot of havocs have been wrecked. Head or tail, APC is in a thorny situa on.

This situa on in the PDP is unhealthy as well and there is no viable third force that could kick out the two par es at the moment. If the electoral weather is as bleak as this in less than one year to the Osun July 16 Governorship Elec ons, it calls for concern as violence and electoral malprac ces may be the determinant factors, instead of conducive atmosphere for ci zens to make their choice freely and willingly. I want to be op mis c that the shining sun is s ll enough to dry the fabric.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

Democratic Values

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Page 5

ONG years of military rule have impacted heavily and nega vely on almost all aspects of our lives, especially our understanding of democracy and how we prac se it. That, combined with the fact that what we knew in most of Africa before the coming of the Europeans was basically the rule of almighty kings and queens, has discoloured our apprecia on of democracy.

Democracy is popularly defined as government of the people by the people and for the people. However, since all the people can never always agree 100% on any one issue, it is better redefined as “majority rule,” which is all fair. It is believed that the wishes of the majority should prevail in any given situa on.

We need to imbibe the core values of pu ng together opinions on issues and conceding to the majority wishes right from the family up to poli cal par es, elec on and governance decisions. The burden for those who think their opinion and choices are the best is to try hard to convince the majority of the popula on. Of course, the father is the head of the family but in every cri cal decision about the fortune of the family and the des ny of the children, the best decisions are invariably taken when the opinions of everyone is sought, and the one that believes his or her opinion is be er tries hard, persuasively and convincingly, to get the majority to see the light and agree to that decision. No doubt, there will consequently be peace and progress in such family.

As it should be for the smallest unit

of the society - the family, so it should be with all associa ons and organisaons: the village, the city, the state and the na on at large, not only during elec ons but with all cri cal decisions that can affect the fortune of the community.

Whatever group you belong and however enlightened and smart you think you are, the democra c order demands that issues are tabled among all stakeholders. The du es of the most enlightened and the smartest is to enlighten the majority to see the light and key in. At the extreme ends, the ill-inten oned usually avoid rigorous, all-inclusive debate for selfish and an -people interests while the wellinten oned who are in a hurry usually short-circuit it, for fear that the majority are usually well behind in their apprecia on of new (strange) ideas and policies.

Whereas, the democra c values of consulta on, debate, consensus and the valida on of the will of the majority must be cul vated at all levels, from the family up to all associa ons (trades unions, students unions, cultural and religious associa ons, town and professional associa ons, poli cal par es, governments, etc), it is at the poli cal level that it is inescapably essen al. Unfortunately, it is at the poli cal level that it is mostly relegated, no thanks to the men oned hangovers from military dictatorship and a monarchy past. There are two tendencies that tend to retard our democra c advancement, which is why we forever keep saying our democracy is s ll young, even a er 22 years of unbro-

ken civilian rule: firstly, sponsored and mischievous popular consensus from well-orchestrated assemblies arriving at what is usually parcelled as “wishes of the people,” and secondly, the wishes of a select clique presented as “consensus” and the “best” for the people.

The mass media usually come handy in these opinion manipula ons.

For the survival and progress of democracy, we all owe it a duty to deepen the democra c culture by learning and imbibing democra c values and promo ng them within our various associa ons and poli cal par es. It is the absence of these values and prac ces that breed “cabal,” absence of internal party democracy, “imposi on,” and inevitably organisa onal and poli cal party crises and bad governance. As democracy an cipates, there will always be differing opinions and interests within any associa on but the wishes of the majority should always be made to prevail. That way, the minority will clearly see that they are in the minority and will have to put more effort into convincing many more people to tow their way.

Debate, consulta ons, enlightenment, and majority carrying the day should be everyday reali es. We should promote democra c values in all associa ons to the extent they become a way of life. Only then will service be the essence of leadership at all levels, from fatherhood at family level all the way to the Presidency. The alterna ve is to con nue to languish in disorderly organisa ons amidst destruc ve dissent, and at the highest level, poli cal par es con nuing to run “civilian” administra ons that have no semblance of democracy, while we forever deceive ourselves that our democracy is young and evolving.

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

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