Osun Defender Online Version Of August 18, 2023

Osun LG C' Committee: We Have No Alliance With Adeleke Areg besola Loyalists

EDITORIAL

Is A Need To Fix Targets And Have Performance Benchmarks

Osun

Osun Indigene Convicted To Death For Stealing

NEMA

Pg.

Pg. 4

Osun Of Possible

Fowls, Eggs Begs Adeleke For Amnesty

Traditionalists Dare Oluwo, Say Isese Holds In Iwo On Sunday

TRADITIONAL Religion

Worshippers Associaon in Osun State has declared that the ban on tradi onalists’ ac vi es in Iwo by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi, was a rude joke which holds no water, sta ng that the annual Isese Fes val will hold in the town on August 20, 2023.

Kazeem Badmus read his le er of appointment as Oluwo, he is the custodian of our culture, custom and tradi on. So, once he ceases to do that, he has gone against his letter of appointment.

“What he said was just a rude joke, and maybe he was sleepy when he was talking or maybe he was misquoted. I’m sure he wouldn’t have said that in his right senses.”

OSUN DEFENDER had reported that Oba Akanbi, in a viral video, ordered that no Oro fes val or sacrifice will take place this year in the ancient town.

Oba Akanbi in the video said only Almighty God can make the town peaceful, just as he called for the arrest of anyone who places sacrifice anywhere in the town.

Reac ng to Oba Akanbi’s direc ve, the President of the Tradi onal Religion Worshippers Associa on, Dr. Oluseyi Atanda, said Oluwo was no longer acting as a monarch with his ac ons, adding that he cannot stop people from performing their fundamental rights.

Fowls, Eggs Begs Adeleke For Amnesty Pg.5

Atanda said: “I know for sure Isese fes val will come up in Iwo and tradi onalists will perform their normal fundamental human rights under Sec on 48 of the Nigeria Cons tu on.

“For me, he is not the Oluwo of Iwo because if he

Atanda called on the tradi onalist to be peaceful and be a role model, warning miscreants to stay away on the day.

“Let us come in our hundreds. There is nobody that has the right to prevent us from exercising our fundamental human rights and in as much as we are doing this, we should do it peacefully, orderly and be a model of the true Omoluabi that we are”, he stated.

•Oba Akanbi

•There

2 News NEMA Alerts Osun Of Possible Flooding

Ismaeel Uthman

OSUN State has been alerted of torren al rainfall that may lead to flood in some parts of the state this month.

The Na onal Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) predicted that Osun, Delta, Ondo, Sokoto, and 15 other states will witness downpour that may lead to inunda on in some communi es.

Revealing the forecast, NEMA Lagos Territorial Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, in a statement on Monday, listed Ilesa and Osogbo as those standing high risk of flood in September.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government had in February this year alerted that Osun and 31 other states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja are on the high risk of flooding in 2023.

The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, as then was, raised the alert at the Annual Flood Outlook organised by the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency, (NIHSA) in Abuja.

Adamu said 178 local

government areas in 32 states of the federa on and FCT fall within the high flood-risk areas.

He noted that the high flood risk was between April and November 2023, adding that the level of floods in the category was expected to be high in terms of impact on the populaon, agriculture, livelihood, livestock and infrastructure.

Also, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency

(NiMet) had in a release on January 25, 2023 predicted that Osun and Oyo states as well as the FCT are expected to have between 1190mm to 1590mm of rain.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that there has been a consistent rainfall in Osogbo since Monday.

We’re Prepared To Curtail Flood –Govt.

However, Osun State

Government has assured residents of the state of its preparedness to contain possible flood in the state.

The Commissioner for Environment in the state, Mr. Mayowa Adejorin, in an interview with journalists in Ilesa, on Tuesday, said government had already taken proac ve steps to forestall disasters, prior to NEMA’s forecast.

According to Adejor-

in, parts of efforts made right from the incep on of Governor Ademola Adeleke administra on was to broaden channelisa on and dredge canals in communi es throughout the state, especially, in major ci es across zones like Osogbo, Ede, Iwo, Gbongan, IlesIa, Ile-Ife as proacve measure to forestall disasters.

He stated that a task force had been put in

place all over the state to respond promptly to environmental challenges, sta ng that it was the promptness of the task force that saved the day during the recent Ikire flooding disaster.

Seeking greater collabora on among the Federal Government, Oyo State and Osun State, Adejorin expressed hope that the flood will be more prevented and people’s lives and property will be more secured and assured.

He disclosed that there were measures in place to empower local governments and Local Council Development Areas in the state to be more preven ve, proacve and responsive to environment issues, not only when flooding occurs but to be effec ve and efficient all-yearround.

NGO Cau ons

Residents Against Indiscriminate Waste Disposal

A nongovernmental organisa on, Urban Alert, has warned residents of the state to stop disposing their waste, especially the solid ones indiscriminately

Osun LG C’ Committee: We Have No Alliance With Adeleke - Aregbesola’s Loyalists

Yusuf Oketola

MEMBERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, who are loyalists of the former Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, have again declared that they have no alliance with Governor Ademola Adeleke-led Peoples Democra c Party government.

The Aregbesola’s loyalists under the aegis of Omoluabi Caucus of the APC, debunked the insinua ons that some of them were compensated by the Adeleke administra on with local government caretaker commi ee appointment.

According to the Omoluabi Caucus, whoever that has been appointed into poli cal offices by the Adeleke got such on his or her individual’s connec on and affluence, and not as compensa on for the caucus or the defunct The Osun Progressive (TOP).

This was contained in a statement by former Chairman of the APC in the state, Elder Adelowo Adebiyi, a copy of which was made available to OSUN DEFEND-

ER yesterday.

Resta ng their commitment to the party, the Aregbesola’s loyalists said they believe in the essence of progressive poli cs, democra c values and good governance which is the pedestal on which APC stands.

They described the insinua on that they were being compensated by the Adeleke administraon as the handiwork of mischief makers who have programmed their minds to con nue smearing the caucus’s reputa on as part of their failed a empt to denigrate Aregbesola.

The statement reads:

“The Omoluabi Caucus of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State has dissociated itself from any of its members who have been appointed into local government caretaker commi ee by the Governor Ademola Adeleke-led PDP government.

“We wish to state that whosoever that has been appointed into poli cal offices by the Adeleke’s administra on got such, prac cally on his or her individual’s connec on and influence, and not on behalf

of Omoluabi, or as compensa on for defunct The Osun Progress (TOP) or Omoluabi caucus.

“We restated unequivocally that at no me did the defunct TOP enter into any agreement with the PDP to work for it; which might warrant the erroneous compensa on as being falsely spread by the mischief makers. But we know that the mischief makers have programmed their mind to con nue smearing our caucus’s reputa on as part of their various failed a empt to denigrate our patron, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

“To us, the issue involved in the Osun APC crisis is based on fundamental wellbeing of the party and its purposeful usefulness for the sake of its establishment and pursuit, and not for any personal pursuit.

“We addi onally note that our posi on has been for the essen al need to rejuvenate, reorganise, refurbish and reenergise the structure of the party for achieving electoral victories.

“It is unfortunate that the self-centred and poli cally naive individuals

and groups rejected our efforts with violence and onslaught.

“Incidentally and sadly, our rejected posi on has been scien fically vindicated with the embarrassing loss of more than 99% of the electoral posi ons and invariably loss of power in the state.

“As we have always been sta ng, we in the Omoluabi Caucus, like its precursor The Osun Progressives, are the elite and well rooted class of the progressives poli cs and good governance with clear and admirable evidence to show for it. No amount of villainous efforts by some individuals who have held the party-APC by the jugular will make us abandoned the pla orm.

“Meanwhile, we note that it isn’t all members of the caucus that share absolutely the selflessness embedded in the core value of the progressives poli cs and so, those who feel strongly about their individual interests couldn’t be stopped from pursuing such, hence the situa on whereby some of them accepted to serve in the PDP

government.

“Like every life circumstances that border on individual interests, we, the believers in the essence of progressives poli cs restate our commitment to the ideals of democra c values and good governance which is the pedestals on which the APC stands.

“We note that in a short- me, our long suffering stance and efforts for the ideal of the greater good for the greatest number of the people shall be jus fied and the rejected stone shall become the corner piece.

“We restate our commitment to the APC, the Progressives pla orm which we worked assiduously for its reinstatement into government in 2010, cos ng us sweat and blood along with other patriots a er the manipula ve debacle of 2003.

“On behalf of our Patron, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, we thank all those who had been steadfast and absolutely loyal within our tendency and urge all members to start the mobilisa on work of poli cians and voters in earnest for the APC, our party ahead of future elec ons as it is known with us.”

State Coordinator of the group, Comrade Anthony Adejuwon, called for collabora ve effort on the parts of government at all ers and people to clean drains, culverts, gu ers, sewages and canals to pave way for free flow of water.

Adejuwon charge local government in parcular to wake up to its statutory environmental sanita on responsibili es, calling on state government to recruit and train more sanitary inspectors to effect adequate coverage of all nooks and crannies of the state.

Group Recommends Aregbesola’s Approach To Flood Control

This is just as a civil society group, Centre For Social Jus ce and Public Protec on, called on the state government to adopt an approach that will permanently put stop to flood in the state.

Speaking in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday in Ile-Ife, the Coordinator of the group, Mr Akin Akanji, recalled what he described as innova ve

•Flooded naira and kobo junction, Ikire, Osun State in July, 2023.

THE long awaited is over, the me has come to s ck to a structured plan to resuscitate a faltering economy. There is a long bumpy road ahead. It is also an opportunity to slay demons. W

e may care to recall the Chinese ideograph for “Danger” which is a mixture of “Crises” and “opportunity “. The present dysfunc on presents an opportunity for a momentous advance. We must seize the me.

The composi on of the new cabinet to be sworn-in on Monday highlights some promising advances based on cri cal analy cal rigour. Making the highly respected cerebral and superbly prepared Wale Edun the Coordina ng Minister for the economy is very important. Cofounder at the age of 33 of what is now a very successful financial services ins tu on and a former Commissioner for Finance in Lagos State, Edun has the nous and commands great respect at home and in the interna onal financial markets.

His appointment is crucial to restore a percep on of fiscal stability. Macroeconomic stability will be decisive in restoring confidence at home and abroad. It is the absence of fiscal stability that has placed Nigeria so low in a rac ng long term investments, this must now be reversed. It will also strengthen social cohesion, this is because infla on in par cular represents a destruc ve and puni ve tax on the least protected sectors, the social consequence of unbridled infla on is inevitably destruc ve. Furthermore, the APC in its manifesto commi ed itself to the construc on of a “Social Market” economic model. Social market economy is constructed on the founda on of price stability as the trajectory to the a ainment of social jus ce and shared prosperity. The economic team is looking good overall. The emphasis placed

After The Allocation Of Portfolios

•There Is A Need To Fix Targets And Have Performance Benchmarks

“The Blue Economy can add $50 billion annually to the Gross Domestic Product and create at least a million new, sustainable jobs. Kudos for this! However, there must be no fault lines or turf war with the Ministry of Trans- portation. It must be spelt out from day one that the Sea Ports must be under the Ministry for

on the Digital Economy is refreshing, of significance is the emergence of a Minister for the Blue Economy. Long advocated pu ng the Blue Economy on the center stage must be a game changer. The Blue Economy can add $50 billion annually to the Gross Domes c Product and create at least a million new, sustainable jobs. Kudos for this! However, there must be no fault lines or turf war with the Ministry of Transporta on. It must be spelt out from day one that the Sea Ports

must be under the Ministry for the Blue Economy. A hearty applause for this. There are promising new entrants such as Professor Pate at Health: Professor Pate will be outstanding anywhere. Beta Edu will bring much needed empathy to Humanitarian Affairs and the appointment of a seasoned diplomat at External Affairs is a relief, we find the appointment of the astute Adebayo Adelabu as Minister of Power an inspired choice. And so it goes on, a mixed grill.

The Discourse

What is crucial is that ministerial appointment is not a sinecure. There must be fixed performance targets and immutable melines. Ministers must see this as a sword of Damocles hanging over their heads. Let us recall that the Chinese ideograph for Danger” is a mixture of on the one hand “CRISIS” and on the other hand “OPPORTUNITY”, the present danger must turn into an opportunity for mountainous, irreversible advance. Performance is key and we wish the new team the very best.

Sexual Harassment: A Persistent Menace and Its Far-Reaching Implications

SEXUAL harassment, an insidious blight on society, con nues to cast a shadow over workplaces, educa onal ins tu ons, and public spaces. It is a pervasive issue that transcends geographical and cultural boundaries, undermining individual wellbeing, professional growth, and societal progress. The implica ons of sexual harassment are profound and mul -faceted, demanding concerted efforts to eradicate this menace from its roots.

According to report, one in five people employed have experienced violence and harassment at work whether physical, psychological or sexual.

In another data on sexual harassment by Stop Street Harassment, over 38% of women have faced unwelcome sexual advances in the workplace while trying to do their jobs. This par cular form is referred to as sexual harassment in the workplace and is a day-to-day reality for millions of workers all over the world.

In Nigeria, the numbers are much higher, according to a report by Stand To End Rape (STER), with 64% of women repor ng they had been sexually har-

assed in their workplace.

At its core, sexual harassment infringes upon the fundamental human right to dignity and respect. Vic ms are subjected to unwelcome advances, comments, or ac ons that create an environment of fear, humilia on, and power imbalance. This not only affects their emo onal and psychological wellbeing but also impedes their ability to thrive personally and professionally. The psychological scars can linger long a er the harassment has occurred, leading

to diminished self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression.

The implica ons of sexual harassment extend beyond individual suffering. Organisa ons grapple with reduced employee morale, decreased produc vity, and poten al legal consequences. A toxic work environment erodes team-

OSUN DEFENDER

“Sexual harassment is a societal ill that requires unwavering commitment and collective action. Only by dismantling the power structures that enable harassment and fostering a culture of empathy and accountability can we hope to eliminate this deeply entrenched problem”

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

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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work and trust, hindering crea vity and innova on. Furthermore, the erosion of trust in ins tu ons perpetuates a cycle of silence, allowing perpetrators to operate with impunity while discouraging vic ms from repor ng incidents. This undermines the very fabric of a just and equitable society.

Recoun ng her ordeal, a vic m of sexual harassment, Mrs. Abiola Ogunlade, said she was forced

Read full article on www.osundefender.com

the Blue Economy”

Funmi Adekoya-Ojo

•Wale Edun: Coordinating the economy •Prof. Pate: Resuscitating health

•Betta Edu: Empathy in Humanitarian Affairs

•A

lot will depend on

University Of Ilesa Inherited Financial Liabilities From Osun College Of Education — VC

Yusuf Oketola

THE Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, Prof. Taiwo Asaolu, has disclosed that the varsity inherited huge financial liabili es totaling about N400m from the Osun state College of Educa on, Ilesa.

Asaolu made this known last Friday during a familiarisa on visit to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of the university, Hon. Gbenga Onigbogi.

The VC explained that “the large inherited sum was in the form of unpaid bank loan; unpaid internal allowances (peculiar and hazard allowances) to staff for about 56 months, running into about N400m; debt to illegal miners and so many other startling debts”.

He also added that other inherited items in-

clude many abandoned vehicles, abandoned equipment, dilapidated

buildings and abandoned toilet facili es.

The Vice-Chancellor,

however assured that in spite of the debt, the university management

Osun Indigene Convicted To Death For Stealing Fowl, Eggs Begs Adeleke For Amnesty

Yusuf Oketola

THE family of Segun

Olowookere, an indigene of Oyan in Odoo n local government of Osun State who is on death roll at Kikiri maximum prison, Lagos State, has again appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke and A orney General of the state, Barr. Oluwole Jimi-Bada to grant amnesty to the convict.

Olowookere was arrested when he was 17-yearold alongside one other convict, Sunday Morakinyo, in Oyan for robbing a poultry farm in April, 2010 where they stole two fowl and eggs.

Both Olowookere and Morakinyo were convicted and sentenced to death in December 2014 by Jusce Jide Falola of the State High Court, si ng in Okuku then.

However, all efforts to appealed the judgement at the Court of Appeal in Akure since 2014 has not been frui ul.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the case was s ll pending at the court as of the me of filing this report.

The family’s appeal for amnesty is coming days a er the state government announced its readiness to decongest prisons in the state through the office of the A orney General and Commissioner for Jus ce.

Speaking with the medium yesterday, a family member of the convict, Temitope Salawu, explained that the only way out for Olowookere is for the government to grant him amnesty.

Salawu who disclosed

that she visited the convict at the Kirikiri prison recently, said Olowookere has completed his educa on up to university level while in the prison.

She appealed that the government needs to help Olowookere fulfill his dream by gran ng him amnesty.

“We appeal to Governor Ademola Adeleke to help us look into the case

of Segun Olowookere. He was convicted for stealing two fowl and eggs. Since his appeal is s ll pending, we believe the only way is the interven on of Osun State government.

“Segun has been in the prison for almost 14 years. We don’t want him to connue was ng his youthful age in jail. Segun is a brilliant child. He has finished his educa on up to the

University level in the prison. He is the only child of his mother.

“We heard that the Osun State government has begun the process to decongest prisons in the state. We appeal to them to not limit it to Osun only. They should try and visit other states too to see the condi ons of Osun indigenes serving jail terms”. She said.

Stakeholders Harp On Creativity Among Youths For Successful Career

Yusuf Oketola

YOUTHS in Osun State have been charged to be crea ve in order to be more relevant and successful in their choice of careers.

The charge was given at the 2023 Youth Leaders Conference organised by the Nigerian Youth Congress (NYC) Osun Chapter, tagged: ‘Green Skills For Youth Towards A Sustainable World’, in commemora on of the Interna onal Youth Day.

Guest Speaker at the programme, Mr. Olajide Osiberu, noted that youths in the state must adopt Green Economy and be more crea ve to remain relevant in their workplaces.

Osiberu stated the world is in the era of crea vity, no ng that anyone who failed to be crea ve should forget about progress.

He opined that the world is faced with a challenges of mass produc on of people of same skill, maintaining that only creavity dis nguishes individuals.

Osiberu said: “Youths must adopt green economy because we are now in a crea ve era. Crea vity will make you relevant. What can sustain you in a workplace is your crea vity. You must be crea ve in order to proffer solu ons to societal problem and that will put you ahead of others with same skill.

“If you fail to add creavity to what you are doing, forget progress in this stage. If you are not creave in this era, nothing will work out”.

Corrobora ng Osiberu’s posi on, the wife of the Governor, Erelu Ngozi-Adeleke, encouraged youths to challenge conven onal thinking and envision a future that champions sustainability.

She said: “We are in an era where global challenges demand innova ve solu ons, there is need to encourage youths to challenge conven onal thinking, ques on the status quo and envision a future that champions sustainability.

“The choice of “Rethink “ as the central theme aptly captures the essence of

our me. In an era where global challenges demand innova ve solu ons, it is impera ve that we encourage our youth to challenge conven onal thinking, ques on the status quo and envision a future that champions sustainability, inclusivity and development.

“By rethinking strategies and approaches, it will enable them to harness their crea vity, passion and poten al, transforming them into impac ul change agents capable of reshaping our world.

“I would also like to acknowledge the firm commitment of Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to the growth, wellbeing, and development of the youth in our state”.

The Chairman of NYC in the state, Comrade Olakolupo Akinbode, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER said the programme was organised to change narra ve of things in the state.

Akinbode said governments at all levels can do be er in all their policies, saying that can be achieved through crea ve thinking.

University environment.

“Sustainable funding for the University. Manpower needs through the appointment of qualified staff Professors, Senior Lecturers, Administra ve Staff, Medical Staff, Professional Librarians for the University Library and Law Librarians, Security personnel, Programmes, Public Rela ons Officers, Legal Officers, Medical Doctors, Nursing and renova on/Upgrading of cri cal facili es amongst others.”

team has forged ahead to make the ins tu on a classical one.

Lis ng some other challenges, Asaolu said: “Let me also men on that our takeoff was not quite smooth as it was marred with some challenges. Challenges such as lack of official vehicles for Principal Officers and key staff of the University, lack of staff needed for some essenal services, and appeals of contract staff who have been in the service of the erstwhile College of Educa on for several years for their appointments to be confirmed, issue of outstanding unpaid peculiar allowances to staff, and funding of the resource verifica on exercise.

“We therefore had to quickly approach the State Government and I am pleased to report that posi ve ac ons have been taken by government on some of the ma ers presented. We have also been assured that ac ons are being taken on the rest.”

“There are some urgent issues that need to be addressed in order to consolidate the foundaon being laid for the university. It is our hope that swi a en on shall be given to these issues very soon, namely: Review of the University Establishment Law.

“The issue of bad road network within the university. The Issue of porous borders and its a endant nega ve impacts such as encroachment of our land, incessant the s, herdsmen ac vi es, massive illegal gold mining ac vi es and degrada on of the

In his remarks, Onigbogi said: “Adeleke has given us a great task, which is to build a firstclass University that will be a pride for the en re ci zenry of the State. This is a task that must be painstakingly accomplished within the nearest possible me.

“I enjoin all staff to cooperate with the Governing Council under my leadership and the Management of the university. Let us collec vely build the University of Ilesa, Osun State and by so doing, our names shall definitely be boldly wri en in the history of the university as the pioneer Governing Council, Management and Staff University Set To Offer First Admission

By September

The VC also hinted that the ins tu on would offer admission to applicants and commence academic ac vi es by September this year.

He affirmed that the feedback received from the Naonal University Commission a ested to the students’ admission by September.

“By the grace of God before the end of September 2023, the first set of students will be admitted into the University of Ilesa.

“We have just had our resources verifica on led by the Execu ve Secretary of the Na onal University Commission, Dr. Chris Mayaki and even with our own prepara on, we are expec ng that we will be given pass mark to commence this and once we pass this, they will communicate with JAMB and we will be given students “, Asaolu maintained.

•Special Adviser to the Governor on Children Affairs, Mrs Temilade Olokungboye, joins Osun children for the 2023 Sensitisation programme on Out of School Children, organised by the ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs, held at Bode-Osi in Ola-Oluwa local government area of Osun State.

Photo :Shola Aderinto

How Cultists In OPC Garment Unleashed Terror During Osun Osogbo Festival

•Cultists Bought Our Customised Vest to Perpetrate Crime – OPC

•Police Arrest Two With Stolen Motorcycle

Ismaeel Uthman

THE 2023 Osun Osogbo

fes val recorded three deaths as a result of violent clash between some members of Aiye confraternity and Eiye cul sts who were in the garment of Gani Adam’s fac on of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC).

Inves ga ons revealed that there have been recurrent clashes between the Aiye and Eiye cul sts during annual Osun Osogbo fes val.

In 2020, there was a clash between members of the two confraterni es which resulted into the death of one person known as Panty, during the fes val

Two suspected cultists were also killed in a violent clash between Aiye and Eiye cul sts during the grand finale of the fes val in 2021.

The two groups and some members of OPC also clashed in 2022 at the fesval, leading to the death of two suspected cul sts.

However, the clash between the Aiye and Eiye confraterni es took a new dimension last Friday during the fes val when members of the OPC launched a ack on Aiye cul sts on behalf of eiye confraternity.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that a member of OPC, known as Elijah, who is suspected to be a member of Eiye cult group, mobilised his colleagues for the a ack.

Elijah, according to findings, lost his brother, Panty, to the clash between Aiye and Eiye in 2020.

Sources told this medium that Elijah, who resides in Lagos, came fully armed with hundreds of OPC members with determina on to cause violence during the August 11, 2023 Osun Osogbo grand finale.

Besides, there had earlier been a light clash between members of the OPC and Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFS) inside the Osun groove.

According to some devotees, a member of NHFS had hit an OPC member with charm during a misunderstanding, a development that had created tension before the Aiye and Eiye cult group clash.

OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that majority of OPC members who were involved in the violent clash are members of Eiye confraternity and were nonresidents of Osun.

Some of the Osun devotees who spoke with the medium stated that the

last week Friday clash was between Eiye cul sts who were in the garment of OPC and Aiye confraternity. The cul sts also attacked members of the Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Service (NHFS) and their office at Asubiaro, Osogbo.

Three suspected cultists were killed, while five members of the NHFS were injured in the a ack.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday, Head of Opera ons of the NHFS in the state, Mr. Ahmed Nureni, accused OPC members of complicity in the violent clash.

Nureni said it was disappoin ng that OPC allowed itself to be infiltrated by cul sts – members of the Eiye confraternity. He confirmed that five members of the NHFS were a acked, while the office was vandalised by the cultists.

He said: “From our findings, the clash was between Aiye and Eiye cult groups. This is not the first me they were going to engaged in such violent a ack; they have been doing that since 2020.

“However, the Friday clash, during the grand finale of Osun Osogbo, was terrible. It was between Aiye and Eiye cul sts and some members of OPC who we believed are also members of eiye cult group.

“The clash started at Beta Life junc on in Osogbo where the Eiye cul sts met Aiye members on their way to the grove. During the clash, a member of the OPC was shot to dead and

two members of the Aiye confraternity.

“While the clash was going on, some members of our own group (hunters) who were on their way to the grove were a acked by the cul sts who are also OPC members. They wanted to rob our members of their guns but they resisted and escaped at the scene.

“The cul sts chased our guys from Laro and one of them fell and was brutally macheted. Eventually, the cul sts who are also OPC members had their way to our office. They were about 1000 men. They started shoo ng sporadically. But we warned our guys not to engage them.

“They destroyed our office and people around the office sustained gun injury. We tried to rescue some of them to the hospital for treatment.

“Five of our members got injured in the a ack; one of them was stabbed with bone. An innocent guy was also macheted by the cul sts because he was wearing black T-shirt which was believed to be the uniform of Aiye cult members. The Commissioner of Police and DSS tried for us. They secured our office immediately I put a call to them.

“I need to state again that the clash was between OPC members and Aiye confraternity; But the OPC members are members of Eiye cult group. All of them were fully armed; and they are Gani Adam’s OPC members.

Nureni disclosed that the OPC members looted the NHFS office, saying “they stole a lot of things,

curity opera ves have not been able to curb frequent cult clashes in Osogbo; the cul sts keep killing and figh ng one another and that was what happened during the Osun Osogbo fes val grand finale.

“Anybody that is conversant with the situa on in Osogbo will know that the rivalry between the two cult groups has been a reoccurring decimal which has con nued unabated.”

Police Arrest OPC Members For Alleged The Osun State Police Command, on Wednesday, paraded two members of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) who were arrested in connec on with the violent a ack and the that occurred during the last Friday’s grand finale of the annual Osun-Osogbo fesval which le three people dead.

son said: “At about 5:00 pm, the complainants reported at Oja-Oba Police Sta on under Oke-Baale Division that they were accosted by some hoodlums later iden fied as one Peter Monday Afodewu Michael ‘m’, Jamiu Kadiri ‘m’ and at large at Asubiaro Osogbo.

“However, one of the motorcycles was later intercepted by Policemen at Awo in Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State on their way to Lagos. The second Bajaj Motorcycle belonging to one of the vic ms who sustained a deep cut on his back is yet to be recovered.”

including guns from our office. What they destroyed and stolen worth nothing less than N5m.

“Two members of the OPC were arrested by the police with stolen motorcycles.”

However, the Ac ng Chairman of Gani Adam’s fac on of the OPC in the State, Mr Yemi Aboderin, denied the report that the members of Eiye cult group who were involved in the attack are members of OPC.

According to Aboderin, the cul sts bought OPC’s vest in Osogbo to perpetrate the crime.

Aboderin who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said: “We discovered that during the course of the celebra on of Osun Osogbo fes val, some cultists bought OPC vest and wore it to the grove during the grand finale of the fesval. OPC was not involved in the clash; it was between two cult groups. Our men were not involved at all.

“We have done our own inves ga on and we discovered that the cul sts were in the OPC vest which they bought somewhere in Osogbo. They wore the OPC vest to perpetuate crime. Our members were not involved in the violent clash at all and we don’t accept cul sts as our member.

“What transpired on the Osun Osogbo day was between two cult groups and we understand from our own inves ga on that they were Eiye and Aiye. It was the con nua on of their rivalry. So OPC should not be put in the whole scenario.

“The conven onal se-

The suspects, Monday Michael, 26, and Jamiu Kadiri, allegedly snatched motorcycles at gunpoint around Asubiaro, Osogbo, from par cipants at the fesval.

The OPC members were fleeing to Lagos with the stolen motorcycle when they were apprehended by the police.

Mrs Yemisi Opalola, the Police Spokesper-

She added that items suspected to be cannabis, a Bajaj motorcycle, a membership card of the Oodua Peoples Congress, assorted charms, and a beret with an OPC inscripon, were recovered from the suspects.

One of the suspects, Kadiri, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, said: “We are members of OPC but we did not wear our uniform. We came from Lagos to attend Osun-Osogbo. We didn’t steal the motorcycle.”

Group Urges Osun Govt. To Look Into Residents Living, Trading Under Electric Pole

Kazeem

Badmus

Anongovernmental organisa on, Urban Alert, has called on the Osun State Government to as a ma er of urgency, look into residents of the state who built their houses and shops under electric poles.

The group, in a statement signed by its Team Lead, Mr Anthony Adejuwon, lamented that setbacks are being encroached in Osogbo, the state capital, without anyone doing something about it.

He called on the state Ministry of Lands and other relevant agencies to act fast and curb the danger-exposing trend.

The statement reads in part: “In Osogbo, the Osun State capital, setbacks are being encroached upon while li le or nothing is done by relevant government agencies to curb the

act.

“We urge the Osun State Ministry of Lands, the Osun State Capital Territory Development Authority and other relevant Local Government departments to act fast and curb this fast-growing culture that is exposing people to danger.”

Urban Alert however acknowledged the swi response of the Osun Ministry of Lands and the management of Ibadan Electricity Distribu on Company over a toilet being built under electric poles at OgoOluwa area of Osogbo.

The toilet was under construc on according to the group.

A picture obtained by OSUN DEFENDER on the group’s official facebook page showed a le er by the IBEDC direc ng that the construc on of the toilet be stopped.

•Gani Adams•Osun CP, Kehinde Longe.

OSPOLY ASUP Divided Over Odetayo’s Suspension

Ismaeel Uthman pension.

THERE is a new dimension to the protest by members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Osun State Polyethnic chapter on the suspension of Rector of the ins tu on, Dr. Tajudeen Odetayo, by the state government.

ASUP is sharply divided into two camps in OSPOLY, according to findings.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that there is a breakaway camp of ASUP which has turned around to be suppor ng the acon of the state government on Odetayo’s suspension and appointment of Mr Kehinde Alabi as the Ac ng Rector.

It would be recalled that ASUP had on July 25, 2023 suspended academic ac vi es in protest against Odetayo sus-

Non Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (NASUP) and Senior Staff Associa on of Nigerian Polytechnics, (SSANIP) also joined the industrial ac on a week a er in solidarity with ASUP.

According to a communique signed by the SSANIP Chairman, Olatunji A. Okunola, the union was toeing the path of ASUP.

Okunola stated that due process was not followed in the suspension of Odetayo and appointment of Kehinde Alabi as ac ng Rector. “If a Rector is suspended, the Deputy Rector or the next person in rank should be asked to act in his absence. This is in line with the dictates of the Polytechnic Act”, he stated.

NASUP had last Friday called off the strike

ac on, following a direc ve from its Na onal Secretariat.

Some of the academic staff members under the aegis of Concerned ASUP, have also resumed to their various du es on Monday.

Findings by this medium revealed that the ASUP splinter group held a congress on Monday where it concluded that the industrial ac on be called off

Inves ga ons by OSUN DEFENDER revealed there is a growing hos lity between members of the main ASUP and the splinter group which is yet to have a leader as of the me of filing this report.

However, the main ASUP, on Wednesday, held a congress where it agreed that the industrial ac on be suspended for con nua on of ex-

Campus Review Campus Review

amina on and pending the outcome of the Inves ga on Panel set up by Governor Adeleke on Odetayo’s suspension.

The Spokesperson of OSPOLY ASUP, Mr Aderemi Adeagbo, confirmed to this medium that the union has suspended the strike ac on.

He said: “We held a congress on Wednesday and we agreed that the strike ac on be suspended for con nua on of examina on and pending the outcome of the inves ga on panel on the ma er.

“We did not call off the industrial ac on; we just suspended it because of the students wri ng exams and to give room for conclusion of invesga on on the suspension of the rector.”

However, Adeagbo refused to comment on the division in ASUP.

OSPOLY SUG Writes IBEDC Over Unstable Power Supply, Exorbitant Bills

Kazeem Badmus

THE Students Union Government of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, has written a protest le er to the Ibadan Electricity Distribu on Company (IBEDC) over irregular power supply and exorbitant electricity bills being given to residents of the community.

The student body in a memo signed by the union President, Azeez Adebayo, dated August 14, 2023, urged the IBEDC to immediately take ac on to address their complaints.

According to the SUG, the irregular power supply was causing considerable inconvenience and financial strain to students and residents of the community.

The union admonished IBEDC to visit the community and engage in consulta on to better understand the challenges being faced by the students and residents.

The memo reads: “Despite the substan al challenges posed by irregular power outages, we have no ced a consistent trend of receiving exorbitant electricity bills.

“The residents of Iree community, including students and local business owners, rely heavily on a consistent and reliable power supply to meet their daily needs. Unfortunately, the frequent disrup ons and voltage fluctua ons are

causing considerable inconvenience and financial strain.

“Furthermore, the discrepancy between the quality of service and the high bills we receive is deeply concerning. In light of this situa on, we kindly request that you take immediate measures to address the following issues.

“We urge you to priori se efforts to stabilise the electricity supply in Iree community. Frequent power outages not only disrupt daily life but also impact the efficiency of businesses and educaonal ins tu ons in the area.

“We request a detailed breakdown of the billing calcula ons to ensure accuracy and

transparency. It is essen al that residents are charged appropriately for the service they receive.

“We kindly invite your management team to visit our community and engage in a consulta on to be er understand the challenges we face. We believe that direct dialogue can lead to ef-

fec ve solu ons and improvements.

“We expect a fair and reasonable assessment of electricity consumpon in line with the service provided. The current prac ce of issuing exorbitant bills is financially burdensome and unsustainable for the community.”

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Intelligence Masters Programme

Yusuf Oketola

THE European Union (EU) has listed Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, among the eight universi es selected across the world for its support and grant to start a Masters Degree programme in Ar ficial Intelligence (AI).

In a statement by its regional body on Tuesday, EU announced that Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU); University of Port Harcourt; University of Abuja; Obafemi Awolowo University, and Michael Okpara University as five of the Nigerian universi es considered for the programme.

The remaining three universi es are from Europe.

The statement further disclosed that the EU Erasmus programme was aimed at integra ng ar ficial capabili es into embedded systems to enhance the skill set for modelling, design and analysis for Engineers.

“Approval for the grant was given by the EU Culture Execu ve Agency to establish an interna onal MSc degree programme in embedded ar ficial intelligence as part of

its vision for human capacity development in higher instu ons.

“It has the capability to strengthen the Nigerian higher educa on training curriculum with stateof-the-art, European standard technology. The programme will last for 36 months,” the statement noted.

PUBLICATION

AYOOLA ABDULFATAI KOLAWOLE

That I was formerly known and addressed as AYOOLA ABDULFATAI, now wish to be known and addressed as AYOOLAABDULFATAI KOLAWOLE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS. RUTH AKANJI

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

OAU Makes EU’s List Of Varsities To Fund Artificial

•Odetayo

PDP Members, IPAC Kick As Adeleke Inaugurates LG Caretaker Chairmen

Kazeem Badmus

SOME members of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) in Osogbo and other parts of Osun State, have protested the list of caretaker chairmen released by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

The PDP members who took to the streets in Osogbo and their social media pla orms accused the leadership of the party of imposi on of candidates.

They claimed that those who worked for the party’s victory during July 16, 2022 gubernatorial and 2023 general elec ons were not rewarded, calling on the party leadership to address the issue.

Governor Adeleke had on Wednesday inaugurated the appointed local government caretaker Chairmen, urging them to key into the development strides of his administra on.

Speaking during the event held at the State Secretariat, Abere, Adeleke said the appointment was necessitated by the need to fill an exis ng vacuum at the local level, adding that his government has kick-started a process that will produce a democra cally elected local government system in the nearest future.

The Governor charged the Chairmen to hit the ground running, no ng that their mandate was to compete in the area of grassroots programmes and projects that will posi vely affect Osun people.

“As you are taking office today, you are to take note of the following: You and your team must fashion out a local copy of the five-point agenda for implementa on in your local government. This will help to deepen the reach and touch of our administra on across the state.

“You can also make a difference by developing local development plans for your local areas. This will help to take care of your local peculiari es;

“Your leadership must remain closely in touch with the people. You must ensure an inclusive government that carries along people from vo ng units to ward and local government areas.”

However, some members of the party in Ward 4, Osogbo local government who took to the street to protest the alleged imposion of Osogbo West Local Council Development Area Chairman, said their preferred candidate name was removed from the list on the instruc on of a monarch.

The protesters said their preferred candidate, Segun Akeju, was allegedly schemed out of the chair-

manship list on the ground that he is not an indigene of Osogbo.

The protesters who gathered under the Olaiya flyover bridge, carried placards with different inscripons such as; “No Akeju no chairman”, “Akeju is our choice for Honorable chairman Osogbo West Local govt”, “Kabieyesi did not vote for us” among others.

One of the protesters, Yusuf Ajisafe said: “The reason for the protest is the removal of our candidate as the chairman of Osogbo West LCDA.

“We reject in totality the imposi on of another candidate as our chairman. We are figh ng for the young man whose name was removed yesterday around 3pm on the ground that he’s not from Osogbo”.

Appointment Undermines Principle of Democracy - IPAC Chairman

Similarly, the chairman, Osun Inter-Party Advisory Commi ee (IPAC), Wale Adebayo, while reac ng to the caretaker appointment said the ac on undermines the principle of democracy,

adding that IPAC was not consulted or carried along in the process.

Adebayo said the focus of the state Governor should be on how to hold local government elecon and not appoin ng his party members as caretaker chairmen.

He added that appointing the chairmen when the legal ma er involving the dissolved former council chairmen is s ll under review in court gives the impression that Adeleke was trying to pre-empt the outcome and manipulate the system for his party’s

According to him, “I believe that this decision undermines the principle of democracy and disregards the ongoing legal proceedings regarding the dissoluon of former council chairmen.

“Firstly, I am disappoint-

ed to note that the Osun IPAC was not consulted or carried along in this decision-making process. As the representa ve of all polical par es in the state, it is of utmost importance that we are given the opportunity to contribute to discussions and decisions that affect the governance of the state.

“By excluding us from this process, it appears that the Governor is disregarding the principles of transparency and inclusivity that are vital for a healthy democra c system.

“Furthermore, I am parcularly concerned with the ming of this appointment. At a me when the focus should be on holding local government elec ons in accordance with the relevant provisions of the law, it is disheartening to see that instead, party members have been appointed to these posi ons.

“This raises ques ons about the fairness and imparality of the upcoming elecon of local government, as it appears that his party will have undue influence over the administra on of the third er of government in Osun State.”

Osun Police Parades 22-Year Labourer For Raping Minor

Kazeem Badmus

A22-year labourer, Adewale Mustapha, has been arrested for allegedly having carnal knowledge of a minor.

Mustapha who was arrested at Garage Olode,

owned up to the crime during an interview with OSUN DEFENDER , after he was paraded by the police in Osogbo, on Wednesday.

He was among other suspects arrested across the state and neighbour-

ing Oyo state for crimes ranging from rape, kidnapping, membership of unlawful society and armed robbery.

He said: “Her mother le her in my care and went to the farm. She slept and when she woke up,

she came to me and said she was hungry. I bought a biscuit for her. A er then I had carnal knowledge of her. I am a labourer helping people to clear their farmland in Olode but I am from Ilobu.”

Giving further facts

NEMA Alerts Osun Of Possible Flooding

•Continued from page 2

and proac ve approach of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administra on to control flood in the state.

According to Akanji, flood was permanently at the lowest ebb during the Aregbesola’s administra on because of the laid down approach which ensured that streams, drainages, waterways and rivers were channelised regularly.

Akanji called on Governor Adeleke to adopt Aregbesola’s approach or be er plan to prevent flood in the state.

He said: “Flood is natural disaster; it is preventable in some cases while it can only be minimised in some other cases. In Osun, we can prevent flood; a governor had done it before and it was not by magic.

“The major cause of flood is when erosion or water generally did not have free passage. We have been convinced by

the Aregbesola’s government that regular dredging of rivers and streams, clearing drainages and waterways and expanding water channels will prevent flood.

“I want to urge Governor Adeleke to adopt the Aregbesola’s approach or come up with a be er plan on flood control.”

Akanji also advised residents of the state to stop building in swampy areas and on waterways, describing it as an invitaon to disaster.

OSUN DEFENDER recalled that when Aregbesola’s administra on came into existence in 2010, one of its first areas of interven ons was flood and erosion control, because Osun had witnessed terrible devasta ng flood before its emergence.

In 2009 and 2010, floods wreaked havoc on residents of Alekuwodo, Rasco, Sasa,Gbonmi and other parts of Osogbo, leaving a lot of homes and families in pains and

sorrows.

But the Aregbesola administra on immediately took it as point of duty to do everything possible to protect the people from flooding, as millions of naira was released between 2011 and 2012 for the dredging of streams and notorious rivers which had over the years caused flooding in the state.

For over seven years, the Aregbesola administra on regularly dredge rivers and streams such as the Osun river, Okookoo and Ogbagba streams in Osogbo, and rivers in other towns like Ikire, Ikirun, Iwo, Ile-Ife, OdeOmu, Ilesa.

Running into about 75 kilometers, the water ways which the Aregbesola dredging machines worked on annually included; Esimirin, Agbara, Opa, Gbalefefe, Ogboku, Osun streams in Ile-Ife and ModakekeIfe axis.

Others are the Opopo, Ogbun, Amino, Akeri

in Ila-Orangun, Omiru, Olutokun and the Ade streams in Ilesa, Mogimogi and Aiba rivers in Apomu and Iwo respecvely.

A number of streams and rivers of not less than 30 kilometers in towns like Ipetu-Ijesa, Ejigbo, Yakooyo, Ipetumodu, Asipa, Ikirun, Iragbiji, Ede and Igbajo were also being dredged on an annual basis to avoid flooding by the Aregbesola’s administra on.

However, the tempo reduced dras cally when Mr Adegboyega Oyetola took over the governance of the state.

The state witnessed couples of floods in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

OSUN DEFENDER observed that drainages of many major roads across the state have been turned to dumping site by some residents.

This is just as debris has also choked streams in some communi es, especially in Okinni.

about the incident, Osun Police Commands Spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said the vic m was le in the care of Mustapha by her mother who went to farm.

Opalola said, “On 26/07/2023 at about 6:30 pm, the complainant reported at Garage Olode Division that, on 25/07/2023 at about 11:40 am, she le her three years old daughter at home under the care of Adewale Mustapha, that when she returned home at about 3:20 pm of the same date, she discovered that the suspect had forcefully had carnal knowledge of her daughter.

“Police carried the vicm to the Police Hospital for medical examina on and treatment. The suspect was subsequently arrested and will be charged to court upon the compleon of inves ga on.”

Also, a 25-year Hussein Mumini was paraded for allegedly trying to kidnap an eight-year-old boy around Power Line area of Osogbo.

According to Opalola, Mumini, an indigene of Iresi town, on the 5th of August, 2023, at about 12 noon was apprehended.

Opalola added that the suspect confessed that he wanted to kidnap the child and had been involved in serial cases of kidnapping within Osogbo metropolis.

•Some of the PDP protesters at Olaiya, Osogbo.

REPUBLIC of the Niger is a Francophone West African country with about 26 million people and land mass area of 1,267,000sq km, making it the largest landlocked country in West Africa. It is the world 7th biggest producer of Uranium. Uranium is used as fuel for nuclear power plants and nuclear reactors that run naval ships and submarines; it is used in nuclear weapon; it produces electricity and Isotopes used for medical, industrial and defence purposes. Uranium is the 2nd largest source of low-carbon electricity and Niger has the highest grade in Africa. NigerUranium is cheaper, environmentally friendly and more efficient source of electricity than fossil fuel. Like Nigeria which has one of the best crude oil in the world but does not produce fuel for its people local consump on, Niger does not produce electricity for its ci zens. Aside Uranium, Niger is blessed with other resources like crude oil and natural gas. However, despite the sales, exploita on and explora on of these resources, they do not necessarily translate into be er life to its people as over 40% of its populace live in abject poverty. Where does money derived from sales of these resources go?

Apart from the tradi onal corrup on of the Niger ruling elite, France, which was the Colonial Master of all the francophone countries has technically designed draining pipes with which it bleeds all its former colonies since the collapse of its Fourth Republic when it granted independence to all its colonies from 1960. For instance, every of these independent states repays, at a cost determined by France, cost of infrastructures built while being colonized; it must deposit its financial reserves with France Central Bank. France has the right of first refusal on every natural resource discovered in these former colonies with priority to it on interests and companies in public procurement. Put differently, France owns and controls companies in all public services like ports, air transport, construc on, major banks and agriculture. France has exclusive right to provide military equipment and training of officers of its former colonies; it has right to deploy troops in these former colonies to defend its interests. And what are these interests? Milking these countries dry! For instance, SOMAIR, a company in charge of extrac on of Uranium in Niger is 85% owned by French Atomic Energy Commission and two French companies while Niger government owns just 15%. This is not peculiar to Niger; it’s same almost everywhere you go in Francophone West Africa par cularly. As West Africa is home to numerous natural resources, it is domiciled with largest number of poor people and

Niger: War Is Counterproductive

the least developed in terms of infrastructures. This unfortunate situa on is mainly caused by massive corrup on and pro-imperialist orienta on of its ruling elite. As a ma er of fact, most governments in West Africa, civilian or military, are puppets of one imperialist power or another.

On the 26th July, 2023, President Mohaned Bazooun, Niger civilian government was sacked by a military coup. Although, the ousted President Bozooum had just been in power since 2021, his party – Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism - had been in power since 2011 with ravaging corrup on, unemployment, poverty, insecurity, terrorism amongst others. In response to the coup, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on 30th July held its extra-ordinary summit in Abuja and eventually issued a one week ul matum to the coup plo ers to hand over power to democra cally elected government or risk military interven on aside other sanc ons. ECOWAS was founded on the

28th of May, 1975, by 16 of the 18 West African countries with the sole interest to promote economic integra on across West Africa. These countries are Nigeria, Niger, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Benin, Liberia, Togo, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Cape Verde and Mauritania but in 2000, Mauritania pulled out.

Because of mass of people hatred for Bazooun neo-liberal policies and French imperialism which had ghtly held them in the jugular, the Niger military junta is presently enjoying mass support of the populace as hungry people with empty pocket will embrace any immediate alterna ve even if it will eventually turn to be from fry pan to fire. This is understandable as Niger military junta will most likely not be different from their colleagues in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea who have not ini ated and implemented radical progressive programmes that could change the precarious living standard of the people for be er. The best it

Where Are The People?

DEMOCRACY has been more specifically defined as “majority rule.” However, its most popular defini on, availed by Abraham Lincoln, remains “government of the people by the people and for the people.” Empha cally men oned thrice in that defini on, “the people,” or “the majority,” remain centrally cri cal to democra c ideals and prac se. It is the goal of democracy that the wishes of the majority will prevail and that for such to be the case, the majority of the people will be instrumental.

All democra c governments are founded on the above principles and the cons tu ons that guarantee the rule of law start out unequivocally in their opening statements with “We, the people...,” not only to demonstrate basic consensus but to further reiterate the place of “the people” in the opera ons of democracy.

However, democracy and good governance that it supposes to deliver are not automa c reality simply derived upon proclamaon. They are desire and goal that must be achieved by no other party in the deal than “the people,” “the majority.” Herein lays the duty and responsibility of ci zens of any naon, ahead of the guarantee of their rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

The tendency in most democracies in so called underdeveloped countries is to blame the visible operators of the democracies, the government and the poli cal elite without a deeper look at the major stakeholder - the ul mate beneficiary or vic m, as the case may be - the people. The maxim – every peo-

ple get the kind of government they deserve – simply highlight the ul mate responsibility of the people in a democracy. Their ac ons, inac ons and general disposi ons to governance are the key indicators of how the ruling elite relate with them, either by taking the people seriously or taking them for granted a er the people have periodically surrendered their sovereignty in elec ons to public officers.

Periodic changes in personali es in government amongst those paraded by the poli cal par es, good for democracy as it is, guarantee li le or no changes to the system of governance and dividends delivery unless “the people” ensure that those promises of changes for the be er are delivered. They must demand accountability and delivery on promises and oaths taking by execu ves, legislature and the judiciary, including heads of all agencies of government. When undelivered, they must ensure there are consequences, just as they need to applaud when delivered.

When serious issues that legi mise and compound criminality and corrup on (and consequent decay and underdevelopment of society) are trivialised into comic skits and the culprits go away unpunished, the ruling elite are only emboldened to con nue in their reckless, destabilising and impoverishing policy choices and carefree responses to devasta ng results.

In Nigeria, it appears there is no elasc limit in tolerance of suffering and misery. Majority of ci zen simply groan under

could do is building a bonaparte regime that will con nue with business as usual but collaborate with other power blocsChina and Russia.

Although Nigerian Senate has rejected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposed military interven on in Niger as the Chairman of ECOWAS, war ini ated by ECOWAS, which will likely be supported by France and US, will be counterproduc ve as it won’t be a walkover. Other military regimes in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea have declared solidarity for their comrades in Niger. Algeria has promised to restore electricity supply which Nigeria switched off for Niger. Don’t forget that Algeria has one of the largest armed forces in Africa with sophis cated tanks, fighters, ship and submarines. It is arguably Africa top spender on defence. Other power blocs like Russia and China also have vested interest. War in Niger could, therefore, turn regional and escalate beyond expected calcula on. Again, lives of the soldiers, civilians that will perish and destruc on of property and infrastructures will not be jus fiable. While the military coup is condemnable, decapita ng is not an an dote to headache. Only Nigerien could solve their problems. They should not lose their guard. What they need is a mass poli cal party that has pro-peoples programmes that can upli people out of poverty and is prepared to break the parasi c links with the French and other imperialists so that resources of their land can be harnessed to develop the country and make life be er for majority as against the present mass poverty, misery and squalor in the midst of plenty. And this applies to other West Africa countries.

heavy tribula ons from an -people policies. Those who cannot wait it out ll sad deaths simply resort to nega ve self-help engagements - basically criminali es. “If you can’t beat them, join them,” or “japa” is the widespread nega ve mentality. Protests are reduced either to wailings on media pla orms, trivialised into comic relieves, or spontaneous, disar culated outbursts of violence that harm the ordinary people more than it shakes the oppressive system. The people, as an organised mass, hardly finds a coherent, lo y, inspired and effecve rising against tyrannical onslaughts by the powers-that-be, which is within their legi mate democra c rights and du es as ci zens. Indeed, many unwi ngly facilitate and cooperate with their vic misers!

Of course, individual ci zens have limited powers of impac ul protest. However, the people, the majority (women, children, and youths) exist in numerous socie es, organisa ons and associa ons (trade and professions, students, cultural, social, community, etc). Members of these organisaons must hold leadership of the mass groups accountable to rela ng with social and na onal reali es cri cally and ac vely by all means necessary to right almost every wrong and achieve the promise of democra c dividends. Un l “the majority” swing into organised ac ons on this basis rather than agonising, the only prospect will be increasing misery and misfortune amongst the majority since there is much to profit from bad governance and people’s misery and tribula ons by the an -democra c and mean minority that have taken charge of the democra c process.

“Because of mass of people hatred for Bazooun neo-liberal policies and French imperialism which had tightly held them in the jugular, the Niger military junta is presently enjoying mass support of the populace as hungry people with empty pocket will embrace any immediate alternative even if it will eventually turn to be from fry pan to fire”

STRIKER Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above