Osun Defender Online Version of August 11, 2023

Photo: Shola

Osun Awaits Adeleke’s Palliative Programme

•Coalition Calls For Inclusive Palliative Provision Committee

THERE are high expecta ons by residents of Osun State from Governor Ademola Adeleke on provision of pallia ves to cushion the effect of hike in fuel price as a result of removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.

The expecta ons riped when the Governors of neighbouring Oyo, Kwara, Eki , Ondo, Ogun and Lagos States announced different pallia ve programmes for their various ci zens to migate the economic hardship.

It would be recalled that the Ondo State Government, on August 4, announced that 18,000 “vulnerable” persons will get N10,000 monthly for three months, while all pensioners in the state will also get N10,000 star ng this August.

The government also restored free shu le buses for students star ng from resump on in September, ll December 31st, just as it declared that it will distribute free food packages to one million households across the 18 local governments of the state.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had also on Tuesday set up a commi ee for the Sustainable Ac on for Economic Recovery (SAfER), which is meant to mi gate the effects of the removal of fuel subsidies and the resultant economic difficul es on ci zens of the state.

Makinde had during a broadcast last Saturday stated that “Our SAfER package will ensure a so er landing for the poorest of the poor and the most vulnerable. It

will also address the need for food security through direct interven on to our farmers.”

In Ogun, Governor Dapo Abiodun had on July 25 announced a cash pallia ve of N10,000 for public servants and pensioners for a period of three months in the first instance, beginning from July.

The Governor also approved hazard allowance for health and medical personnel in the state and peculiar allowance for public servants, payment of March and April, 2023 leave bonuses for public servants, and immediate cash-backing for the quarterly payment of gratuies to pensioners.

Also, the Ogun state’s ministries, departments and agencies are to work out modali es for ensuring that 20 percent of their staff strengths are off-duty daily to ease the subsidy situaon, while the government is to immediately begin distribu ng food pallia ves (rice, garri, beans, maize etc) to vulnerable ci zens.

In addi on, the Gateway Trading Company has been mandated to establish food distribu on outlets across the state, and sell the items at the rates obtainable in the market before the removal of fuel subsidy.

Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, had on July 24 approved a

mul -sectoral pallia ve for the state to mi gate the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy

The pallia ve included cash support of N10,000 for every public sector worker in the state which began in July and last un l a new minimum wage is introduced.

Abdulrazaq also directed the leadership of the civil service to con nue a staggered work schedule, not exceeding three days a week, to reduce transporta on expenses for workers.

The Governor also approved the payment of new hazard and skipping allowances, and 100% CONMESS for consultants and medical doctors under the govern-

ment’s payroll.

He also approved a new regime of allowances for nurses working for the state government.

On July 27, the Eki state government announced the forma on of a commi ee comprising cri cal stakeholders to devise modali es and measures for providing pallia ves to the people of the state, aiming to cushion the effect of subsidy removal.

But Osun State government is yet to speak on the pallia ve programmes it has in plan to mi gate the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.

This is just as some residents of the state, notably the civil servants are anxiously expectant of the pal-

Ministerial Screening: Our Senators Supported Oyetola To Redeem Himself - PDP

Kazeem Badmus

THE Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) in Osun State has said it supported the ministerdesignate, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, because it believed the former governor will redeem himself and bring development to the state.

Reac ng to a statement by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Tajudeen Lawal, the PDP said APC should at least appreciate its senators for their support when Oyetola was being screened at the Senate.

Lawal had in a statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Informa on, Chief Kola Olabisi, said that the support of the three PDP senators given to Oyetola during the screening exercise was good but not spectacular.

The APC chairman said PDP’s support for the nomina on of Oyetola as a minister would not have prevented the former governor of the state from sailing through the screening exercise.

However, the Director of Media of the PDP, Mr Oladele Olabamiji, said that he was sure that the APC issued the statement without Oyetola’s consent, saying the former governor will no doubt appreciate what the party did for him.

Olabamiji said Oyetola who was on the hot seat will never come out to say he didn’t appreciate what the PDP senators did for him.

He said: “We believe that the former governor, being a minister, will also have one or two posi ve impacts on the economic well-being of the state if he makes the best use of it.

“We believe he must have learnt some lessons in his handling of the administra on of the state where he failed woefully and people also decided to fail him at the poll.

“We don’t see these people as enemies. Where we have our differences was just the way they handled the affairs of our state, nothing more. If as a sinner, the former governor now has a second chance to at least redeem a bit of himself and show that he can bring some development at that level to the state, why wouldn’t we support his nomina on?

“I think they should know, as we speak, that there are some of these nominees that have problems. If our senators wanted to play polics of bi erness as the APC chairman and his media boys are playing,

they would have stood up because they have the right.

“The least they should appreciate such mature gesture of his excellency direc ves to the senators represen ng the state under the banner of our party, but that they chose not to appreciate it, it does not mean our sena-

lia ve measures by the state government.

OSUN DEFENDER observed that some of the cizens of the state, par cularly the youths, have taken to their various social media handle to ask ques ons and call on Governor Adeleke to announce the government’s plan for pallia ve.

The Coordinator of Peoples Welfare League, an Osun State based advocacy group, Mr Rafiu Agboola, tasked Adeleke to ‘make haste while the sun shines’, no ng that the people of the state are anxiously wai ng to know what he has in stock to cushion the economic hardship on them.

Agboola, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, advised Adeleke to be guided by the needs of the people of the state on its pallia ve programmes.

“Governor Adeleke should make haste while the sun shines. Other states in the South-West have rolled out different pallia ve measures. The people of Osun are anxiously wai ng for what our Governor will do to cushion this economic hardship; the Governor should please do something on me.

“However, I want to advise the Governor to be guided by the needs of the people. His pallia ve programme must be what the people will appreciate and he should note that majority of the residents of the state are not civil servants”, he stated.

Commen ng on the pallia ves expecta on, the Chairman, Osun Civil Socie es Coali on (OCSC), Comr.Waheed Lawal, tasked Adeleke to be judicious on the pallia ves, warning that it must not be turned to poli cal affairs.

tors did not do the right thing.

“I believe the former governor, Oyetola, will never come out to say that he didn’t appreciate what our senators did for him. Oyetola was the one on the hot seat and he knows what such gesture gave him in terms of mileage.”

While expressing confidence in Adeleke’s administra on to be transparent on the pallia ve programmes, Lawal called on the Governor to set up an inclusive Pallia ve Provision Commi ee that will ensure that the needy and others who deserve support of the government cons tute majority of the prospec ve beneficiaries.

Lawal in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said: “We are all expec ng the government to come out with its plan on pallia ves. Osun is the only state that has not rolled out pallia ve programme; we believe the Governor is working on it, but should understand that a long awaited hope weakens the heart.

“On behalf of the people of the state, I want to warn that the expected pallia ve programmes should not be poli cised; it should not be turned to party affairs. We

•The General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Valentine Okoro led members of his team among whom were the Commanders of Engineering Construction Command Ede, to pay a working visit to Governor Ademola Adeleke in his office, on Tuesday.

Ismaeel Uthman

THE death of doctor Vwaere Diaso, a brilliant young Babcock University medical graduate just two weeks away from comple ng her housemanship at Lagos State medical facility is a tragedy, afore to it brings up once again Nigerians chronic ins tu onal deficit.

The infrastructure defeat is interwoven with the in adequate and undermining of ins tu ons. This is not a me for shedding crocodile tears and the issuing vacuous postula ons. Searching ques ons must beamed on the lapses that led to the death of Dr. Vwaere Diaso.

The public and the medical guild should be enlightened as to the processes of the engagement of the facility managers. What was the basis of recruitment, was there a competi ve bidding process, or was it done on the basis of “Man knows man”?

Highlighted here is a key fault line in the Nigerian process, this is the debilita ng refusal to separate policy from procurement.

This failure is at the act of naonal malware manifes ng himself in among other areas “abandoned projects, collapsed buildings and a myriad of vanity projects which have nothing to do with the process of sustainable development.

Avoidable Tragedy Should Be A Wake Up Call

Lagos State law makes a Corona’s inquest impera ve; this must be proceeded upon immediately in full glare of the media and civil society groups. The forge must be lied and full transparency ensured.

Every medical facility at federal and state level must now be inspected for physical deficit is disgraceful, akin to criminal negligent that warns about in structural defects of the medical facility in which Dr. Vwaere Diaso lost her life were ignored for over a decade. We call upon our own government in the Osun State to take the lead in ex-

amining all public medical facili es. The private sector must also do the same or be compelled to do so.

Following common sense and interna onal best prac ces, a Clinical Governance must be swi ly at the Federal level biding on the states. Such an act of parliament will instu onalised the inspec on of facility managers and management as well as their liabili es. It will enforce the complaint of users of the facilies and in the process safe guarding the interest of the public and ensuring public safety. All tenders for facility management in the health

The Discourse

sector must now be published in na onal newspapers and open to public scru ny and even objec ons mechanisms to safeguard public safety must be placed in the acts. We urge the Federal Execu ve to ini ate such a bill immediately name a er the fallen doctor. Indeed, the ins tu onal decay is so pervasive that it will be sensible and preemp ve for propose bill to extended to cover nursery, primary and secondary schools. With everything we have seen around us it is be er be proac ve and preemp ve at a different era. Schools at all levels in Nigeria should be rigorously inspected on a regular basis, including canteen and lodging facili es. It was transparently done and we must return to ethos of that era. Nothing must be done in this painful period to give impression of any a empt to cover up, as a cover up will give an impression of criminal complicity.

Osun Grove: Beyond The Monumental Cultural Heritage

LIKE all the monumental and most spectacular natural wonders of the world which has become a point of reference in world art history, even if the world are discovering some other wonders, one should note that some wonders before the medieval period are no longer exist, many of our fun and tourist seeking folks have found their way one me or the other to the exis ng natural divinely created heritages. Some of them from the primordial realm could s ll be men oned here. They are the Great pyramid of Giza, Hanging Garden of Babylon, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes and Lighthouse of Alexandra. Of all these wonders, only the Great Pyramid of Giza s ll exists and people are spending a lot of money to travel there to behold it’s greatness in Egypt.

What is worthy of note back home here is the way the monuments and the statues at the Osun Grove were painstakingly constructed by the famous late octogenarian Austria Ar st, Adunni Olorisa - the Late Susan Wenger who can be likened to the two Egyp an Pharaohs, the Ramses II and the Ramses III, the third one known as the Ramses the Great died in 1225BC.

What this piece is reminding our people about is not to let the legacy of Late Susan Wenger a er her demise and those who founded this monument - the Osun grove die. Why we need to rejoice and happy is the interest the former governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had placed on the cultural and tradi onal ac vi es of the people of Osun while he was in government.

Surrep ously, it was through his ingenuity the founda on of Osun Grove Pavilion was laid and constructed before the twilight of his administra on. It was

because he demonstrated unbridled panache for crea ng tourists a rac on desna on that the UNESCO bought into it by suppor ng the course in kind and in cash, rehabilitated the road from Olaiya to the Grove and straight to Ita-Olokan Junc on.

That erroneous believe concerning the obsessive secrecy a ached to the faith of our people that our culture and tradi on is fe sh has been laid to rest once and for all, and since then they have been able to set the ball rolling delving deep into the chronology of the Osun Osogbo laid down tradi on. This went a long way to disabuse our people’s minds that the ac vi es they dread a er all have been a source of revenue for our community.

Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove is an organically enveloped cultural landscape associated with Yoruba tradi onal religion and culture. Osun Grove is a world heritage site with primary rainforest vegeta on covering an area of 75 hectares of land with a buffer zone of 47 hectares surrounding it. It is located along the banks of Osun River in Osogbo local government area of Osun State, South Western Nigeria. The grove

is situated on the margins of the southern forest of Nigeria on a raised parcel of land, which are about 350m above sea level. Laro and Timehin Grammar School bound the grove in the north, while in the south is bounded by the entrance of Osun State University which runs parallel to form the western boundary. In the East, it is also bounded by Osun State Agric Farm Se lement.

In Yoruba cosmology, Osun was said to have metamorphosed into river as a result of a misunderstanding between ‘Oba’ a co-wife of Sango. The Osun river takes its source from Igede Eki and flows through Ilesa to Osogbo town and empty itself into Atlan c Ocean. It is believed that the goddess in-habits the Grove, while the river meander within and into the Grove called Osun Osogbo Sacred grove. The grove was discovered by an elephant hunter called Olu mehin, who hailed from Ipole – Omu in Ijesa land. This confirm the fact that the early Osogbo people were Ijesas from Ipole–Omu in Obokun local government area, where they were faced with the problem of draught, which prevented them from ge ng adequate supply of water for farming, cooking, bathing and all other domes c uses.

OSUN DEFENDER

Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd.

Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman

Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa

Reporter – Yusuf Oketola

Reporter – Kazeem Badmus

Photo Journalist – Shola Aderinto

Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere

Timehin, the great hunter in one of his expedi ons came across the river in the grove, and he reported back to Larooye, the King of IpoleOmu and suggested that the king should establish his kingdom in the grove. Larooye was the Owaroki (Crown King) of Ipole-Omu - a se lement built on hilly area surrounded by a trench, dug to protect the community from external aggression.

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

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Larooye and his people migrated from Ipole–omu to se le at the plains of river Osun, where the first palace was erected. While they were building and engaging in farming ac vi es which involved clearing and felling of trees, one of the branches fell into the river on the DYE POT of Osun goddess, who

•Continued on page 6

“We call upon our own govern- ment in the Osun State to take the lead in examining all public medical facilities. The private sector must also do the same or be compelled to do so”

“In Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove, all Yoruba have their landmark, identity and a rich sense of history, deep oral traditions which are testimonies to a living cultural tradition and civilization”

•May the soul of Dr. Vwaere Diaso rest in piece

Femi Siyanbola

4 News Osun Youths Urge Adeleke To Fulfil Election Promise

THE Na onal Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Osun Chapter, has urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to fulfil his elec on promise to alleviate poverty through youth empowerment.

NYCN noted that Adeleke’s promise to engage them with an empowerment scheme tagged ‘Imole Youth Corp’ has not been fulfilled, even a er the governor cancelled Osun Youth Employment Scheme (OYES).

Speaking with journalists on the 2023 Interna onal Youth Week on Tuesday, the Chairman of the NYCN in the state, Comrade Ajala Adetunji, said the government needs to roll out youth empowerment programmes to reduce resveness among them.

Adetunji said: “We appeal to Senator Ademola Adeleke through

his listening Commissioner of Youth Affairs, Hon Moshood Olagunju to speedily kick-start the Imole youth corps with a sustainable implementa on plan, as this will cushion the effect of unemployment and hunger that many youths are passing through.”

He also charged President Bola Tinubu and other state actors to priori se and roll out youth focus agenda of his administra on to engage youth posi vely and enhance their capacity.

“I want to plead with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure holis c implementa on of youth agenda and programmes he rolled out for the youth most especially at this crucial me that many of the ci zens are confronted with infla on due to increase in premium motor spirit price.

“In furtherance to na on building, we

encourage different youth groups to register through appropriate quarters to benefit from

the interven on of government.

“We warn some elements in the youth space

who are spreading negave informa on about the youth cons tuency with poli cal coloura on

Osun PTA Calls For Recruitment Of Teachers Oluwo Bans Oro Festival In Iwo

THE Parents Teachers Associa on, Osun State chapter, has called on the state government to recruit more teachers into all public schools across the state.

This is just as they pledged their unwavering support for the present administra on of Senator Ademola Adeleke.

Chairman of the PTA in the state, Comrade Moshood Fadare, made the call during a courtesy visit to the Commissioner of Educa on, Hon. Dipo Eluwole, on Tuesday.

Fadare who described the PTA members as cri cal stakeholders in the educa on sector, appealed to Adeleke to recruit more teachers to compliment his effort in promo ng func onal educa on.

He stressed that the PTA is ready to partner with the government on programmes that will add value to public educa on and enhance learning for the school children, sta ng that government alone cannot handle educa on ma ers.

“We appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke

government to recruit more teachers into our public schools across the state.

“We also need a science resource center programme to be resuscitated in order to improve on the technological knowledge of pupils and students”, he stated further.

In his address, the Commissioner for Educa on, Eluwole, appreciated the PTA execu ves and members for their support, stressing that the Adeleke-led government is ready to give all what it takes to develop

public educa on.

Eluwole assured the PTA that the forthcoming educa on summit will see to their demands and reforma on of the educa on sector.

In his own remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on School Monitoring, Hon. Akin Ajetumobi, assured the PTA members that the Adeleke administra on will partner with them on educa on reform, while urging parents to ins ll good moral values on their children as teachers cannot do the job alone.

THE Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi has ordered that the tradi onal Oro fesval should no longer hold in the town.

Oba Akanbi also banned any form of sacrifice to appease god or deity in the town, declaring that anybody caught with sacrifice should be made to eat the materials.

The monarch gave the order in a viral video while speaking with some of his

TRAWSO Warns Devotees Against Drinking Osun Water

THE President of the Tradi onal Religion Worshippers Associa on of Osun State, Oluseyi Atanda, on Wednesday, warned devotees of Osun River to stop taking the contaminated water to avoid Kidney failures.

Atanda while speaking with newsmen in Osogbo said the Osun water has been contaminated by corrupt policians, adding that the state government ought to have announced to the public not to drink the water.

The TRAWSO president noted that it is an infringement on the fundamental religious right of people for the government to have allowed the water get

contaminated.

He added that some devotees will s ll consume the water despite its current condi on, calling on the state government to enlighten the public on the danger of using the water.

Atanda said: “If the adherent does not stop to take this water, there is going to be an increase in kidney disease. Osun devotees are s ll drinking the water and the government has not done anything about it. The best we can do is to con nue to tell people that they can use the water to pray, and wash their feet and hands but they should not drink.

“Even as herbal concoc on, it has been contaminated. We know that in spirituality, even in Ifa, there are mes

you may have a herb, concoc on or medicine in the house that Ifa will tell you from defini on that this herbal preparaon has been contaminated or has been bewitched and should be thrown away.

“So, it is the same process and principle that we can say that this water has been contaminated and bewitched but not by the witches but by the corrupt greedy poli cians that are ruling us and people should not drink.

“But you know at mes, this informa on may not go around, probably because the government too does not want to be embarrassed. Ideally, such informa on should be on all radio sta ons. It should be on billboards

at the entrance of the Osun Groove so that nobody will claim ignorance.

“Some people can also be fana cal just like every religion and also tell you that no ma er how much the water has been contaminated, they believe in the spiritual essence of Osun which will make the water work for them. That is where the government has a role to play.”

He added: “It is an infringement on the fundamental religious right of people for the government to have allowed that water to get contaminated and two years running now, the government has not deemed it necessary to do anything about it.

“Government has not deemed it neces-

sary to apologise to us for contamina ng the water. This is like shutng down a church or a mosque for no reason. This, they will not do with any other religion.

“We must also remember that water is a con nuum. Water flows in and out of the Osun Groove.

“Unfortunately for us, Muslims and Chrisans will drink this water and not only Osun devotees because as the water flows out of the Osun Groove, it joins some other waters. It drains into well water that may be used in nearby homes, restaurants and eateries where they use well water. So, people should look at it beyond being the problem of Osun devotees.”

subjects.

Popularly called Telu, Oba Akanbi, in the video said, God is the only harbinger and sustenance of peace and tranquility; adding that “Only God can make Iwo peaceful; and He is the only one that can sustain tranquility in Iwo.

“There should not be any Oro in Iwo. If any oro comes out, it should be arrested. If anybody place sacrifice on the ground, ask the person to eat it. We don’t want any form of sacrifice. No sacrifice can make the town peaceful.

“Only God Almighty can make the town peaceful. Everything is in God’s hands.

“They want to dirty the ground by pouring salt and palm oil. If you see anybody that pours palm oil on the ground, tell the person to immediately clean the place. A er that, arrest him and bring such a person to me.

“Anybody found at Odo Oba pouring something to the river should be arrested.”

Yusuf Oketola

Yusuf Oketola

Kazeem Badmus

Kazeem Badmus

•Ongoing asphalt overlay on Okinni township road.

Photo :Shola Aderinto to desist to allow peace and ensure the dividends of democracy get across to the youth,” he said.

•Oba Akanbi

Osun NMA Laments Shortage Of Medical Doctors, Poor Salary

HE Nigerian Medical Associa on (NMA), Osun State Chapter, has lamented that the state health sector is suffering serious decline in personnel as a result of doctors leaving Nigeria for greener pastures abroad, popularly known as ‘Japa’.

Chairman of the NMA in the State, Dr. Adetoye Adedapo, stated that shortage of medical doctors and poor salary is a major problem facing the health sector in the state, as well as Nigeria.

Adedapo stated this on Wednesday at State House of Assembly while carrying out medical test on some staff members of the assembly as part of the ac vi es marking 2023

Osun NMA Annual General Mee ng.

The medical praconer sought the sup-

port of the state lawmakers for improved welfare package for health workers.

He said if doctors are well remunerated in the state, others from neighboring states

Adeleke Restates Commitment To Sustain UNILESA

OSUN State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has reiterated the commitment of his administra on to the smooth take-off and sustainability of the University of Ilesa.

Adeleke gave the assurance when he received the leadership of the Na onal Universi es Commission (NUC) led by the Execu ve Secretary, Ambassador Chris Maiyaki at the governor’s country home, Ede, on Monday.

Adeleke, in a release made available to newsmen by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, on assured the visiting NUC team that the state government will give all necessary support to facilitate the smooth take-off and sustainability of the university.

The governor described the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Taiwo Asaolu, as a round peg in a round hole, and one who was appointed based on his pedigree and ability to take the citadel of learning to stardom.

He solicited the support of the NUC for the two state uni-

versi es, affirming the readiness of his administra on to provide all needed logiscs for the opera on of University of Ilesa.

Maiyaki commend-

ed Adeleke for his enthusiasm for the development of educa on and passionate commitment to entrenching good governance.

He said the NUC team was in the state to gather first-hand informa on on the state of preparedness of the university for academic ac vi es.

would be encouraged to work in Osun.

Adedapo lamented that medical personnel in Osun did not enjoy the kind of support and empowerment that their colleagues in Lagos are enjoying, noting that Lagos doctors have 50 per cent of the government support.

He said: “Though Governor Adeleke has been suppor ve which makes us not to join the na onwide strike, we seek more support from lawmakers.

“We are badly affected by the Japa syndrome in Osun and we want to solicit your (lawmakers) support. We will bring a le er to the house later on

areas we need your interven on.”

Speaking, the Speaker of the assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, promised to look into the doctor’s demands, asking the medical personnel to present their demands in a wri en form so that the house can look into it.

Egbedun appreciated the doctors for extending their medical outreach to the State Assembly.

He said: “The major challenge the country is having now is the Japa syndrome, so I will encourage you to come with a proposal, then we present it to the governor so that we can come up with solu ons.”

Osun Assembly Expresses Dissatisfaction On IwoOsogbo Road Reconstruction

TYusuf Oketola on the construc on firm handling the project to fast-track work on it.

HE Osun State House of Assembly Adhoc Commi ee on the Iwo-Osogbo reconstruc on road has expressed dissa sfac on on the level of work done so far on the road, calling

Two Killed, 9 Injured As Police, Hunters, Kidnappers Engage In Gun Duel

AIsmaeel Uthman area where some residents of the village sighted them and informed hunters.

cow merchant at Agbese village near Idi Araba, Oke Oba, Iwo West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Osun State, Alhaji Adamu, has been rescued from kidnappers by a combined team of police and hunters.

Two of kidnappers were reportedly killed during the rescue operaon.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the kidnappers who were said to be 11 in numbers engaged the police and hunters in a gun duel that lasted for about two hours on Tuesday.

According to police sources, the other nine kidnappers sustained injuries as they were hit by bullet during the rescue opera on.

The armed kidnappers had on Monday invaded Agbese village, a Fulani se lement to kidnap Adamu at night.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the kidnappers held their vic m in cap vity at a forest around the

The local hunters, according to sources, later informed the police who mobilised to support the rescue team.

A police source said: “The police led the rescue opera on in conjunc on with the local hunters. We combed the forest and sighted the abductors and their cap ve. We engaged

them in gun ba le, during the exchange of fire, two of the abductors were neutralised while others escaped with gunshots injuries.

“We rescued the vic m and took him to a hospital in Iwo town. The remains of the fallen abductors had been taken to police sta on in Iwo.”

The Spokesperson of Osun State Police Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident,

sta ng that the command would not allow criminals have free hand in any part of the state.

PUBLICATION

ONI DAMILOLA ADEDOYIN

That I was formerly known and addressed as ADESEYE DAMILOLA ADEDOYIN, now wish to be known and addressed as ONI DAMILOLA ADEDOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

OKUNLOLA ANUOLUWAPO OMOLADE

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MAKINDE ABIODUN EMMANUEL

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The Commi ee, led by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Akinyode Oyewusi, on Monday, visited the site, saying the visit was necessitated by complaints from the people on the condi on of the road.

Addressing journalists during the inspec on, Oyewusi said: “We have come to do a physical inspec on of this project. As you all know that oversight is part of our cons tu onal duty.

“We have invited the contractor to the plenary for ques oning, and we have read through various reports from his company and the Ministry of Works, including the contract documents. We are here today to see things as they are.”

“I must say that we are not impressed at all with the level of the work done and the slow speed at which it is being done. This road is very crical to the economic development of our State. Once the State Capital is not accessible via good roads, investors won’t come in.”

Responding to the concerns expressed by the Commi ee, the Project Manager, Peculiar Ul mate Concerns Ltd, Mr Lekan Adeleke, reassured the commi ee that the company will deliver the road within the me frame.

He stated that work on the road will be faster as the dry season gets nearer.

TYusuf Oketola Yusuf Oketola

•Former Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Najeem Salam in a group photograph with political friends during his 58th birthday celebration, on Tuesday.

6 News Riders Jacket: Osun Govt. Brokers Peace Between Okada Riders, Cycle Leadership

Kazeem Badmus

OSUN State Government has waded into the disquiet between commercial motorcyclists known as okada riders and the head of cycles sector in the state.

Some okada riders had on Monday protested at the Head Office of a private radio sta on in Osogbo, Rave Fm, calling on the state government to halt the sales of jacket to them.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the jacket is being sold at the rate of N2500 each.

According to okada riders, the economic hardship in the country has made it difficult for them to feed their families, explaining that “buying the jacket at this cri cal me might be difficult for them”.

One of the protesters, Wasiu Babajide, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, urged the leadership of the cycle union to extend the deadline for the purchase of the jacket ll January, 2024.

Babajide said: “Things are very ght this me around. If we buy N2000 fuel, to make N3000 out of it will be very difficult.

“We are not saying we won’t get the jacket, but they should give us more me. They should extend the deadline ll January, 2024.”

Another protester, Gbenga Wasiu, said the okada riders who were perpetra ng crimes that made the union to compulsory the jacket are not from the state.

Wasiu called on the state government to stop the sales of the jacket.

“Those perpetra ng crimes are not okada riders from Osun State. Since the introduc on of the jacket, none of those in charge have come forward to say they apprehended anyone commitng crime.

“I don’t see any benefit in the jacket. That will not stop crime in the state. I just want to urge the state government to stop the sales of the jacket”, he stated.

When contacted, the head of Cycles sector in the state, Sikiru Abayomi popularly called Ado Igbona told newsmen that the protesters were riders from neighbouring states.

According to Abayomi, the riders have been no fied of the availability of jackets for over four months, add-

ing that given more me will not stop them from complaining.

He said: “These protesters are the ones who doesn’t care and do not want the progress of the state. Saying the country is hard is what we don’t want to hear. If they can’t buy the jackets, they should look for another job.

“During the last administra on, the Okada riders paid but they didn’t get the jackets. Now, we have made the jackets available for over four months.

“Those who are yet to buy the jackets are not from Osun State. They are the ones who came from neighbouring states. Even if we give them 100 years, some of them will s ll complain and will not buy it.”

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the state government has convened a mee ng between some okada rid-

ers and the heads of cycles union.

The state Commissioner for Transport, Hon Sesan Oyedele, in a telephone interview with

the medium yesterday, confirmed that peace has been brokered between the two par es.

Oyedele noted that the sales of the jackets

will con nue, while the deadline for buying it has been extended.

He said: “We have resolved the issue between the two par es.

The selling of the jackets is ongoing. We have extended the deadline and given the okada riders enough me to buy the jackets now”.

One Dead As Land Grabbers Threaten Farmers In Osun

Yusuf Oketola

FARMERS in Iwo local government area of Osun State have called on the State government to intervene in a land dispute between the Alakoko family of Agidi

Feesu and a tradi onal ruler in Iwoland, the Onigege of Igege, Oba Kazeem Adio.

The farmers, during a peaceful protest in Iwo on Tuesday, alleged that land grabbers had invaded their farmlands, a de-

velopment that has been preven ng them from farming.

They also accused the land grabbers of vic misa on which has resulted into the death of one of their colleagues, Muslimu Akanbi.

The Alakoko family had alleged Oba Adio of selling their ancestral farmland to real estate developers.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that a human rights group, Ta’awunu Human Rights Ini a ve

Osun Grove: Beyond The Monumen...

•Continued from page 3

was annoyed by this act, a loud voice came from the river shou ng ‘LARO, TIMEHIN, KILODE TE FO IKOKO ARO MI” (Why did you broke my dye pot). Immediately, voices from the other spirit came out from the forests which empathized with the goddess saying ‘OSO IGBO PELE O”(Spirit of the forest we empathize with you)’. This was the genesis of the circumstance that brought the name ‘Osogbo’ by which the town is known ll date.

The oral account went further to say that Oba Larooye Gbadewolu entered into agreement with Osun goddess on behalf of his people that they would respect and appease the goddess, should the goddess solve their physical and spiritual problems. The goddess (Osun) promised to mul ply them if they would build a shrine for her and that a virgin girl from the royal lineage will be bringing sacrifice to her during the celebra on of the agreement. This singular act of propi a on is now celebrated worldwide as Osun fes val. Larooye and Osogbo people accepted the pact and the

promises of Osun goddess materialised. Beyond the monumental cultural heritage of the groove, the grove is blessed with abundant tangible and in-tangible heritages of diverse values among which are:

Historical Value

Osun Osogbo sacred grove is the symbol of the development of Osogbo land from the beginning to the present. The original name of the goddess OSO IGBO (Wizard of the forest) has been the name of the town OSOGBO since then. While the tle of the king ATAOJA was derived from the first spiritual worship of the goddess by the founding king, in return, Osun goddess send one of the messenger to him and the king received the message from Osun messenger called “IKO (Golden fish) with his palm, this act in Yoruba means “ATEWO GBA EJA” which was later coined as ATAOJA to replace the ini al Owaroki a er the ceremonial act.

The root of the town (Osogbo) lay deep in the Grove, which harbors various landmark and features in form of Shrine, Temple, Trees, Animals, Markets and Rocks, places like the

first and the second palace and the river. These are s ll ac ve in the spiritual and physical well being of Osogbo people. Apart from regular ac vi es related to the worship of Osun goddess and other Yoruba Gods, the Grove is the place where yearly, the Osogbo community comes to acknowledge the protec on of the Osun Goddess and to renew the pact that they have with her through their par cipa on in the Osun Osogbo Fes val. They bring offering to the goddess and in – turn revive it’s energies and potency, through the collecon of its ‘Water of Life’, while blacks in Diaspora o en come for a pilgrimage back to their root.

ECONOMIC VALUE

The grove, which is mostly kept wild, is both a sanctuary for Osun and other lesser gods that can be consulted for protec on and a natural reserve with full biodiversity that can be used for medicinal purpose. Apart from the revenue generated from the tourists that visit the site, the grove also serves as a source of income genera on for the immediate community, this could be seen through the different business that goes

on within the community in which the tourist, visitors and researcher patronized.

Herbal prac oners and tradi onal doctors procure materials for healing and other medicinal applicaons from the large variety of the plant species in the grove, example of this is the herbal prepara on known as ‘SELERU’ which the manufacturer said, fi y percent of the ingredient used for the medicine are from the grove. It is used as a body immune booster. The tradional technology of using indigo dye (JELU), which is, believed to have originated from the goddess, is a flourishing enterprise in Osogbo. Buying and selling is a major a rac on during the fes val, as displaying of good services such as kegs, local fabrics, beads ornament, food and local drinks etc., and also the dancers and drummers engage in what they know best. All these provide employment opportunity and income among the communi es.

The Osun Osogbo sa-

•Read full article on www.osundefender.com

•Femi (Mode) Siyanbola (A Public Affair Analyst ) Writes from Agunbelewo, Osogbo

(THURIST), had pe oned the Department of State Service and the A orney General and Commissioner for Jus ce in the state on the ma er.

The group alerted the state government and DSS of a possible breakdown of law and order if Oba Adio con nued to disobey an injunc on of the Osun State Customary Court which restrained both par es from any use of the said land.

The Director General of the group, Barr Sulaymon Tadese, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, expressed dissa sfac on over the acon of the monarch by defying an order of court, saying it amounted to insubordina on.

Speaking on behalf of the Alakoko family, Mr Mojeed Shifahu, alleged that the tradi onal ruler sold a part of the family’s farmland on July 3, and issued a receipt to the buyer despite the court order.

He said: “We abide by the court injunc on restraining both par es from the land, but he (Oba Adio) is s ll selling the land. We told him to bring evidence to support his claim of ownership of the land, but he could not provide any.”

Reac ng to the claim, the monarch denied the allega on, saying “they sold my land. They brought petrol to burn down my palace. They came with 40 motorcycles to a ack me.”

•Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo during an official inspection to dilapidated condition of the multi-million naira infrastructure and facilities abandoned at the Industrial Development Training Centre , opposite St. Charles Grammar School, Ilesa Garage Area, Osogbo on Monday.

EPL Return: Viewers Reduce In Viewing Centres As Charges Increase In Osogbo

Kazeem Badmus

FOOTBALL enthusiasts will this weekend, welcome back the English Premier League as the 2023/2024 season kicks off

The long-awaited mostwatched league in the world, however, might not command large viewers in Osogbo, Osun State capital, as in the previous seasons due to the increment in viewing charges.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the management of majority of viewing centres have increased their charges as a result of astronomical hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit popularly called Petrol and increment in subscrip on fee by Mul choice for Digital Satellite Television (DSTV).

The medium reliably gathered that viewing centre owners have increased their charges from N100 to between N200 and N250.

The viewing centres were collec ng N100 before for the Community Shield match between Manchester City and Arsenal on Sunday, August 06, 2023.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a viewing centre owner, Tobi Adebayo, said he will be charging N250 per match this season, saying anything lesser than that would be a loss to him.

According to him, apart from the hike in fuel price, Mul Choice has also increased the subscrip on fee for their Digital Satellite Television (DSTV).

When asked if the new price did not reduce the number of viewers during the last Sunday match, Adebayo said some of his customers couldn’t afford the money and went back without watching the match.

He said: “During the community shield match, I charged N250 per person and that is the amount I will be charging for this season if the fuel situa on remains the same.

“There is nothing I can do about it because apart from the hike in fuel price, the DSTV has also increased the amount we paid for our monthly subscrip on.

“Although the number of my customers reduced during last Sunday’s match, I have no choice but to take it like that if I don’t want to run at loss”.

A Chelsea supporter who iden fied himself as Kante told the medium that the new viewing price will not deter him from watching his favourite team.

He, however, said he might not watch other teams as he usually does during the previous seasons.

“Normally, I do watch two or three matches every week but now that the price

has gone up, I will only be watching my Chelsea team; nothing can stop me not to watch them,” he said. For Emmanuel Olaitan, a Manchester United fan, streaming football matches on the phone might be an

alterna ve to the increment in viewing price.

Olaitan said although the match will not be interes ng when watching alone, there might be no choice but to do that because of the economic re-

ality.

“I don’t think I can be paying N250 to watch just a match. That will be N500 for two matches. That is too much for someone like me and I might not go to the viewing centres this season

unless the match is a big one.

“I will be watching the live streaming of matches on my phone. The issue is just that it will not interesting watching it alone. Also, the network might not be good some mes”, he stated.

Today (Friday) will see the first match of the season between the defending champion, Manchester City and the newly promoted Burnley coached by former City Player Vincent Kompany at 20:00.

On Saturday, last year’s runner-up, Arsenal who have boosted their chances this season with the addion of record-signing Declan Rice from Westham, Kai Haverts from Chelsea and Jurrian Timber from Ajax will host Nigerian Taiwo Awoniyi’s Notheham Forest at 12:30 p.m.

The match will be followed by four matches at 3:00 pm. Westham United will visit Bournemouth,

Brighton host newly promoted Luton, Everton will be up against Fulham while Sheffield United will take on Crystal Palace. Last season’s surprise package, Newcastle United will round the day off with a match against Aston Villa at 17: 30.

On Sunday, Bren ord will host To enham at 14:00 followed by the first big match of the season. Chelsea who will be looking to amend for last season’s struggle will welcome Liverpool. The match will be played at 4:30 p.m. with both teams looking to put down a marker in the first game.

Manchester United, boosted by the addi on of Cameroonian Goalkeeper Andre Onana, former Chelsea Midfielder Mason Mount and Teenage Striker Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta will round off the first week on Monday while they play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers at 8:00 p.m.

OSPOLY: Osun Govt. Promises Resumption Of Academic Activities As Student Stage Protest

Kazeem Badmus

THE Osun State Government on Thursday, promised the resumpon of academic ac vi es at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, next week Monday.

Deputy Governor of the state, Prince Kola Adewusi, made the promise while addressing protes ng students of the ins tu on at

the entrance of the State Secretariat, Abere.

OSUN DEFENDER had reported that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, OSPOLY chapter had on July 25, 2023, suspended academic ac vi es indefinitely over the suspension of the polytechnic’s Rector, Dr Tajudeen Odetayo.

Odetayo was on July 24, 2023, in a le er signed by

the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Educa on, Kehinde Jimoh, suspended for alleged gross misappropriaon of funds and abuse of office.

The students, majority of whom were wri ng their exams before the suspension of academic ac vi es, embarked on protest yesterday, asking Governor Ademola Adeleke to resolve is-

UNIOSUN SUG President, Gen. Sec. Suspended

•My Suspension, Exercise In Futility - Isaac

Sodiq Yusuf

THE Osun State University Students Union Legisla ve Council (OSUSULC) has suspended the students’ union President, Comrade Olawoyin Isaac and the General Secretary, Comrade Ogunlade Adeniyi.

Following their suspension, the OSUSULC has also installed the Vice President and Assistant General Secretary of the union, as the Ac ng President and ac ng

General Secretary with immediate effect.

This was contained in a statement dated August 8, 2023, and signed by the Speaker of OSUSULC, Oyeniyi Michael, and ac ng Clerk, Olaoye Lukman.

According to the statement, the President and General Secretary were suspended over alleged misappropria on of funds, lack of respect for the cons tu on and allega ons of false alarm.

In a reac on, Olawoyin, said his suspension is an exercise in fu lity.

He stated that he remained the lawful OSUSU President, regardless of the suspension by the legislaon council.

sues with their lecturers to enable them resume duty.

Addressing the protes ng students, Adewusi promised that the government would do everything possible to make sure the students resume to class on Monday, just as he urged them to calm down.

He said: “I can understand how you feel especially since some of you are wri ng your examinaon when the strike commenced. I know those who have fully prepared for the examina ons might be affected but I want to assure you that the school will resume by Monday.”

Earlier, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun, while addressing the protesters at the Assembly Complex, assured them that a las ng solu on will be found to the issue.

Egbedun said: “I talked to the SUG president this morning about this protest and he promise me it’s going to be a peaceful protest but the truth is this, it is always good to be the voice of the voiceless.

“I know you are here to represent your colleagues but there are ways we can do these without violence. I’m appealing to you, let’s embrace dialogue.

“I promise you and I’m assuring you that we are going to sit on this today and by the Grace of God, we are going to find a las ng solu on today. I can understand what you are passing through.”

Meanwhile, the students led by the Student Union Government President, Azeez Adebayo, promised to come back in full force if the government fail to honour its promise on Monday.

Osun Awaits Adeleke’s Palliative

•Continued from page 2

are all ci zens and residents of Osun irrespec ve of political par es or religions. The alloca on to Osun is not directed to member of a specific poli cal party; it is for all the people of Osun.

“I want to advise the Governor to set up Pallia ve Provision Commi ee which will comprise government func onaries, religious leaders, civil society groups and community development associa on, to ensure that the needy and others who deserve the support cons tute majority of the prospec ve beneficiaries.”

Consider Student Community In Your Plan – NANS

This is just as students in the state have requested that the governor should consider one of them to be part of the proposed palliave commi ee.

Assistant Secretary-General, Na onal Associa on Of Nigeria Students (NANS), ZONE D, Comr. Olutunde Oluwole, in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, urged Adeleke to roll out pallia ves and greatly consider the students to ease their burden.

The statement reads in part: “We implore you to ensure these relief materials also reach the student community because we believe in you, your administra on. The provision of pallia ves

will greatly alleviate the burdens on students and promote their academic performance.

“We humbly request that students should be considered to be a part of the planning and implementaon commi ee.”

All efforts to get the state government to respond to enquiries on the expected pallia ve programmes proved abor ve.

Both the Commissioner for Informa on and Public Enlightenment, Barr. Kolapo Alimi, and the Spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Rasheed Olawale, did not respond to enquiries by this medium.

•Wife of the Osun State Governor, Titilola Adeleke, wife of the Deputy Governor, Deaconess Sola Adewusi, wife of Speaker, Osun House of Assembly Mrs Egbedun, Commissioner for Health, Barr Jola Akintola, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Isiaka Adekunle and others during the flag off of World Breastfeeding Week on Tuesday.

CIVIL rule, also known as Democracy, is ins tuted as a government of the majority in the society. This system of government allows the three arms of government to check and balance one another to prevent dictatorship, especially of the execu ve, for a ainment of good governance as “power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Theore cally, there is freedom of expression, right to seek jus ce from the court, right to protest against perceived bad government policies among several rights. Under military dictatorship however, it is a different ballgame. The Head of State has absolute power; he is the execu ve, legislator and judiciary. Under military rule, legislature does not exist; the judiciary exists but all its fundamental judicial powers, especially on fundamental human rights ma ers are ousted as it will have no jurisdic on to entertain them vis-à-vis promulgated decrees.

In 1994, General Sanni Abacha military dictatorship arrested and detained me and my Comrade, Dr. Anthony Fasayo, for six months under Decree 2. Court of law had no jurisdic on over this decree and our family could not have access to us. If not for interven ons of Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana and other spirited lawyers and ac vists, who took extra measures to regularly supply us daily needs and drugs, we would have got ro en in Benin Maximum Prison, Edo State. For those who tasted the very bi er pill of military rule in that era, the popular slogan was, “worst civil rule is be er than best military dictatorship.”

Since 1999 however, Nigeria has witnessed an uninterrupted civil rule but some West African sub-regions have not been so lucky. On 24 May, 2021, military coup dislodged Mali civilian government; on the 5th September of same year 2021, it was the turn of Guinea and before the end of this par cular year, 25th of October, soldiers struck in Sudan. As we were making complimentary gree ngs for the 2022 new year, Burkina Faso civilian government was overrun by the military on the 24th of January and now this year, 26th July, 2023, General Omar Tchianiled soldiers struck in Niger Republic and deposed President Mohamed Bazooun.

Republic of Niger is a landlocked francophone country bounded on the Northeast by Libya, on the East by Chad, on the South by Nigeria and Benin and on the West by Burkina Faso and Mali. It is very rich in natural resources like huge deposit of uranium, oil and gas that are being explored and exploited by France and United States. Meanwhile, over 40% of its ci zens live in excrucia ng poverty. Niger pathe c situa on is same in most ECOWAS countries. Nigeria, for instance, is also blessed with human and about 44 natural resources like crude oil and natural gas, coal, n, columbite, gold, iron ore, lead-zinc and copper, etc. Yet, according to the Nigeria Bureau of Sta s cs (NBS) 2022 reports, 63% of persons living in Nigeria (133 million peo-

Military Dictatorship Is An Aberration

ple) are mul dimensional poor. This year 2023, 4million Nigerians have been pushed into poverty and by the end of the year, about 7.1million would add to this if proper measures are not taken to manage the impact of fuel subsidy removal, according to World Bank June 2023 edi on of Nigeria Development Update (NDU).

In response to this latest development, on Sunday, July 30, 2023, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had, a er its extra-ordinary Summit held in Abuja, issued one-week ul matum to Niger coup plo ers to hand over power to the democra cally elected government or risk use of force in addi on to several other sanc ons. ECOWAS leaders’ disposi on to promo ng democracy in West African sub-regions is more of fear of military incursion where civil

THE recent events in Republique du Niger teach us a fundamental lesson that African governments especially have refused to learn: that Democracy cannot remain an empty word without inherent meanings and delivered dividends and be forever acceptable to the people. We have repeatedly men oned the most popular defini on of Democracy by Abraham Lincoln in this column; “the people” are men oned thrice for good reasons – “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Even when that defini on is deepened to “majority rule” the import remains the same: the majority in any society is the common people - market women and men, women in general, children, students, ar sans, workers, etc.

African governments, hijacked by corrupt and despo c elites in service of foreign masters to the u er misfortune and impoverishment of Africa and its people (with very few excep ons) forget the very basis of democracy and governments, most explicitly captured nowhere be er than in the American Declara on of Independence by some of the most patrio c and brilliant minds mankind have seen: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instuted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any Form of Government becomes destruc ve of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to ins tute new Government, laying its founda on on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

Democracy does not originate from or

rule s ll holds sway. Yes, military dictatorship is an aberra on but we must look into what a racts military coup so as to smash it once and for all, instead of shadow chasing. Democracy cannot be imposed; it has to be planted and nurtured with provision and protec on of people’s welfare which is the essence of democracy in the first instance - government of the majority. More o en, democra cally elected leaders by the people turn despots, inflict misery and poverty on the majority of the people because of their mentality of priori sing the interest of the imperialists above their people interest. While they urge majority of people who suffer to persevere, they loot resources in their care and openly display the stolen wealth.

In a democracy, votes of the people during elec ons determine who rules. In a situ-

a on where poli cians use money and thugs to render majority votes invalid, fraudulent declara on of elec on results, manipula on of judicial pronouncement of elec on results and in some cases where two terms of four or five years tenure of office is guaranteed by the cons tu on, in the middle of their second term in office, most of these leaders would want to elongate their stay in office by using money, power and everything within their control to tamper with the cons tu on for third term and eventually life President; disregard to court orders and ins tu ons; neutralising Rule of Law and jus ce while poli cal brigandage reigns and mediocrity is placed above merit. Every of the items stated above a racts military coup against democracy with support of the people as a hungry stomach, an empty pocket and a broken heart will embrace anything that is likely going to change the condi on for be er.

Once West African leaders retrace their an -people socio-economic policies to formula ng and implemen ng the ones that will make life be er for the people vis-à-vis huge investment in cri cal infrastructures and people that will result to security of life and property, free but qualita ve educa on, func onal but affordable hospitals, uninterrupted but affordable electricity, enabling environment for businesses to flourish, etc, the military will be dedicated to their professional work – safeguarding the country against external aggression – and any unduly ambi ous among them will certainly not enjoy the support of the people.

Democracy Is Not What It Is Not

commanded from heaven, it was devised by Man as arguably the best form of government that guarantees that the wishes and interests of the majority prevail, in the assurance that the welfare of the majority will be assured as far as the guarantee of their rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is concerned. It is upon that basic assump on that the rule of law, separa ons of powers, free press, universal human rights, etc became enshrined statutes in cons tuonal government.

However, whenever any government (“elected” or otherwise) becomes obstrucve of the very rights that democracy is supposed to guarantee, such a “democracy” inevitably earns itself cri cal interroga on and reset; by democra c means s ll remaining the best. It is when every democra c effort to reset such “toxic democracies” fails that, legi mately, the people embrace “by any means necessary,” pending when they can sufficiently empower themselves and be organisa onally competent enough to return to genuine, meaningful democracy by “appropriate” ways and means. So, in Republic of Niger, except for those unconcerned and hos le to democra c tenets or those in despo c service of foreign masters, the clear op on is to leave the people of that Republic alone to determine their des ny as they deem fit. Every support must be indirect on account of the sovereignty of that country and people, and all support must go to the people, whatever they want, however they want! Anything else is conspiratorial lies and efforts against the popular wish.

In suppor ng the prosperity of genuine democracies around the world, charity must always begin at home. Subserviently following the insincere, corrupt, manipula ve propaganda and behest of Western pow-

ers that themselves regularly overthrow genuine democracies in Africa (as in Congo under Lumumba, Ghana under Nkrumah, etc; replacing them with puppet military dictatorships) in the interest of the Western Neocolonialisa on agenda of debilita ng exploita on, oppression and dehumanizaon, is in itself simply symptoma c of despo c local rulership, lack of patrio sm and domes c fear of the people that one is not doing right by.

The quoted American Declara on of independence of 1776 gave a meless warning to all those who are disposed to taking “the people” for granted: “Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly, all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpa ons, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despo sm, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.”

Nobody should comfortably entertain the illusion that unmi gated sufferings, poverty, ignorance, insecurity, trials and tribula ons can endlessly be tolerated as the main dividends of “democracy” simply because any government-of-pains arrived at power through “elec ons.” Democracy is certainly not what it is not! Genuine Democracy is the EXPECTED process to deliver government OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE; and that packs a lot: as per justly expected rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

“Military dictatorship is an aberration but we must look into what attracts military coup so as to smash it once and for all, instead of shadow chasing. Democracy cannot be imposed; it has to be planted and nurtured with provision and protection of people’s welfare which is the essence of democracy in the first instance - government of the majority”

STRIKER Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above