Osun Defender Online Version of December 17, 2021

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

VOL 16 NO 49

Akande Demystifies Omisore

•Says Ex-Dep. Gov. Was Impeached For Alleged Fraud • IleriOluwa Camp Grumbles Our Reporter

Teachers’ Recruitment: Knocks As Govt. Conceals Names of Successful Candidates Page 4 Mining: NGO Raises The Alarm Over Contamination Of Osun River

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NSCDC Nab Two For Illegal Mining

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HE governorship candidate of the Social Democra c Party (SDP) in the 2018 governorship elec on in the State of Osun, Senator Iyiola Omisore, has been at the centre of poli cal discourse in the state and the country at large in the last one week.

This is as a result of the gale of revela ons espoused by his former boss and second civilian governor of Osun, Chief Adebisi Akande in his autobiography, “My Par cipa ons,” presented to the public in Lagos last week Thursday.

Akande, in the book, explained the roles played by Omisore before and during his tenure as the state governor, as well as acvi es which led to his impeachment in December, 2002.

The former Interim Na onal Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said Omisore crept into his life as a silent malignant cancer and later turned to a Wolf in Wolf’s Clothing with his alleged fraudulent deals and efforts to impeach him.

Akande also alleged in his book that Omisore led thugs to harass and remove the cap

from the head of former Minister of Power and Steel and A orney General of the Federa on, Chief Bola Ige when he came for a programme in Ile-Ife.

How Omisore Became Akande’s Deputy

In chapter 19 of the book, (page 255-268), Akande narrated how he met Omisore in August, 1998 through his late Personal Assistant, Biyi Adedotun-Yekini in

•Omisore

•Akande Lagos, who was suppor ng the Ife born poli cian on his governorship ambi on under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in prepara on for the January 1999 general elec ons.

Akande stated that he se led for Omisore’s choice for Deputy because of his popularity in Ife and his background of Engineering which gave him an edge

over Mr. Niyi Owolade, a lawyer and Prince Damola Aderemi - the son of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi.

He said: “Iyiola Omisore crept into my life like a silent malignant cancer. He came in full force. In a few months, I thought I knew him.

I regret I did not know him in his true colours.

“On the evening of Thursday, August 13, 1998, Omisore accompanied by Yekinipopularly known as Biyi Adedotun, came to my house at Adetola Street, in Aguda Quarter of Surulere, Lagos.

“Yekini introduced his companion for me as Otunba Iyiola Omisore – alias Chrisore - the doyen of engineering, from Ile-Ife, Osun State.

There was an aura of sweet and calm smile on Omisore’s face. He appeared to me young and a rac ve, about the age of some of my children, but looked decep vely shy and poli cally innocent to me.

“Since then, he started visi ng me regularly in Lagos and Ila, and calling me Baba while I called him Iyiola. Every place in my home, including my bedrooms.

•Continued on Page 2

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

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News

Akande Demystifies Omisore •Continued from Page 1 Was made accessible to him even though I did not bother to know his house or wherever he might have been coming from.

“Having been nominated by the Alliance for Democracy as governorship candidate, I had to choose a running mate from Ife/ Ijesa Senatorial District, according to the cons tu onal zoning arrangement.

“Certain things finally influenced my decision. I was over 60 years of age and preferred a much younger person as my running mate.

Niyi Owolade, Damola Aderemi and Iyiola Omisore were similarly so young. Even though all of them seemed sufficiently educated, I had assumed, as I was told, that lyiola Omisore read engineering at the Imperial College, London.

“Engineering, being a contrast to my own training in Finance and Accounts, seemed to me more unique than law, which Aderemi and Owolade read. And I wanted to experiment such combina on of engineering and financial experts in governance.

By that theory of elimina on, I was already developing preference for lyiola Omisore.

“On Monday, December 28, 1998, I called Iyiola Omisore and his friend, Kunle Alao alias ‘Lele’ to my cousin’s pharmacy store named Adetola Chemists at Igbona area of Osogbo. I made it clear to Iyiola that the general percep on of the party leadership was that he was a suspected advanced fee fraudster and a cerficate forger. I made references to some of the cases against him in courts, including that of Col. Laoye from Ede. “I said however, that no one had told me if he had ever been convicted of any crime. I declared to him that I was prepared to let him be part of the AD governorship cket but warned him to ensure that he completed the necessary forms with honesty and sincerity, I begged him to include and a ach only his genuine educa onal qualifica ons and cerficates. ‘If it is only Primary Six cer ficate you have, that is the one you should use’, I told him. ‘please, don’t use any cer ficate that is forged’, I pleaded.

•Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, with students of Treasure Trove International School, Jedidiah Ojo-Kayode, whose campaign video for the position of Head boy went viral and Moyosore Faniran who later won the election.

“He said his cer ficate were burnt during the Ife-Modakeke crisis. Then, I told him to please use the one that was not burnt. Thereafter, having commi ed myself to Otunba Iyiola Omisore, I began to rebuff all subsequent protests against his choice.

“When I nominated him as my running mate, I had banked on him that he would be my successor and that I only needed to groom him properly for the daun ng task of governance. As I was mentored by Chief Ige, I thought I had a duty to also mentor Omisore.

“I had planned to spend only one term in office and I believed that, with four years of proper exposure and mentorship, he would be ready. But Omisore was ready right from the start for something less noble. By the me we came to government, all the pretences were off. I knew I was dealing with a wolf in wolf’s clothing. I was alarmed by his way of spending money.”

of Brigadier Theophilus Bamigboye who Omisore was close to but was not implemented before he took over.

He said: “I was quick to conclude, shortly a er we came into office, that Iyiola Omisore would be a big problem for my government. His spending propensity was ravenous. His ambi on was inordinate and he was prepared to go to any extent and employ any weapon no ma er how dastardly or devilish to achieve his objec ves. He showed his hands early enough during the transi on period.

“I became very suspicious of him and his inten ons, and I was on my guard.

“One day, he walked into my office. He took a blank sheet on my table, wrote 85 boldly at the centre and circled it. ‘Sir, please take. That is N85 million,’ he said.

I didn’t understand it.

Then, he le my office.

Omisore And The $1.5m Water Chemical Contract

Akande, however said things went sour between them when Omisore wanted him to partake in an alleged contract fraud of the supply of water chemicals to the Ministry of Water Resources to the tune of $1.5 million which he refused.

The former governor of the state disclosed that the contract was awarded under the military administra on

•Akande.

Choosing his me and words carefully a er all these preliminaries, that was how Omisore brought to my no ce, in piece-meal, the matter of this contract of $1,500,000.00, which the out-gone military administrator, Col. T.O. Bamigboye, awarded.

“He said the contract of $1.5 million was approved by the former military administrator for the purchase of chemicals for the use of Osun State Ministry of Water Resources. He said even though Chrisore Engineering was the official agent of Hybart, all of us would benefit from the largesse. He promised me N85 million as my own share. He said my predecessor, Brigadier Bamigboye, would also have a share of $300,000.00. There was no way I could verify this, since he might just be men oning names in order to impress me.

I did not buy his story.

“I made him realise that it was unfortunate that the military did not conclude the business by fiat, in their tradi onal wont, before they le . I explained that in the spirit of the 1999 Nigerian Cons tuon, the Governor was not in a posi on to approve payment of such huge amount without the concurrence and express authorisa on of the State Execu ve Council.

“I therefore advised him to present his claim on the ma er in the form of a memorandum to the State Execu ve Council. He therea er submi ed a memorandum dated August 23, 1999 to the state execu ve Council.

The memorandum was taken by the council on September 22, 1999.

“He was ge ng agitated by my insistence on taking the cons tu onal steps to safeguard the resources of Osun State. At the State Execu ve Council, a cabinet commi ee headed by the A orneyGeneral was mandated to advise government on how to handle such delicate transac ons.

“In the commi ee’s findings, it was reported that in a le er referenced SSG/27/T/1 dated November 10, 1998, the Military Administrator of Osun State, Col. T. A. Bamigboye, made applica on to the Head of State and CommanderIn-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for foreign exchange approval for the sum of US $2,998.129.75 for procurement of water

treatment chemicals.

“The approval was granted for only $1.5 million instead of $2,998,129,75 by the Federal Military Government on November 29, 1998. On March 15, 1999, a letter dated March 5, 1999, together with a UTB Banker’s Dra for N33,330,000.00 dated March 8, 1999, and a Proforma Invoice for water chemicals from Hybart/Chrisore Ltd. dated December 7, 1998 was handed to the State AccountantGeneral - Elder Remi Adegbola, by a staff of Chrisore Engineering Limited. The Proforma Invoice carried a total price of $1,426,803.36.

“Already, a Le er of Credit had been opened in Hybart Limited’s name. In the contract, Messrs. Hybart Limited were purported to be situated at 133 Pread Street, London, in the United Kingdom. Alas, the address in London was impossible to locate! Also, the available photocopy cer ficate of the company indicated that the company was registered somewhere in the Archipelagos of the Caribbean Sea called Bri sh Virgin Island.

“On further invesga on, Virgin Island was reported to be notorious for drug pushing and financial frauds.

Chrisore Engineering Ltd, which was said to have been owned by Iyiola Omisore, claimed to be the agent of Hybart Limited with regards to the contract between Osun State and the firm.

“Consequent upon the recommenda on of the Cabinet Committee, it was decided that in the public interest and for the sake of prudence, accountability and transparency, the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit be changed from Hybart/Chrisore to any other person whose terms and condi ons were acceptable to government.

“In the end, the total cost of these water chemicals, as required by the Ministry of Water Resources, was N86,854,119.45 including import du es, warehousing and other ancillary charges as against N230,553,654.00 which the products would have cost if imported

by Hybart/Chrisore under the original Le er of Credit. This repre•Continued on Page 7

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

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Review & Outlook

BY WALE BOLORUNDURO Depopulation Of Osun Mega Schools, Integrity And Consistency Matters! Reason For Conjecture Of Building Defects N the weeks ahead, there

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will be lots of hopeful considered reviews and commentaries on the autobiography of Chief Bisi Akande, “My Par cipa ons”. Hitherto, autobiographies in Nigeria have centered around self-adula on and intellectual dishonesty, hopefully higher standards will be demanded and set henceforth. That in itself will be a significant advance.

In “My Par cipa ons”, a lot of observa ons were made about key poli cal players, some of who have held and, in some cases, s ll holding strategic posi ons. There is a compelling reason for them to response to allega ons about their comportment and integrity. They owe it to prosperity to response, refute the allegaons or go through the legal

I

“In “ My Participation “ a lot of observations were made about key political players some of who have held and in some cases still hold strategic positions”

processes to clear their names.

We insist that integrity matters. For a country to perform op mally, it must at all mes put its best foot forward. In asking people to refute allegaons, we are insis ng that the republic must seek at all mes for higher standards of probity in par cipa on in public office.

This is as it should be.

Open Letter To Governor Oyetola

am quick to praise your government, specifically for embarking now on tarring the road into Oroki Estate, Osogbo, star ng from the Osogbo-Iwo Road almost opposite Osogbo Grammar School.

Kudos sir!

For your administra on to embark on the rehabilita on a er perhaps 45 odd years of its original tarring is an appreciated feat!!

Works observed thus far suggest that rehabilita on will cover a part of Oba Oyewale Matanmi Way, turning into Dapo Adegoke Street, leaving the upper part of Oba Matanmi Way and turning into Olagunju Street untouched.

Our observa on also is that the present works are doing away with the original width of the roads, being about 15m as well as it’s exis ng drainage channels.

The new works also seem to be narrowing the roads’ width to just about 7.3m straight into newly dug drainage without shoulders.

Such a great work as your government is embarking on there may be even more appreciated if two sugges ons may be kindly taken and incorporated into the execu on of the works viz: 1. The exis ng lines of drainage channels may be maintained, just making them deeper and wider as may be required. This will

From The Social Media definitely save costs of fresh digging ongoing now, and help maintain the original width of road for future purposes of increased traffic envisaged by original design of the roads.

As Former Chairman of the Osun State Property Development Corpora on, OSPDC, from years 2000 to 2003 under the Bisi Akande administra on, our plan then was to either start with tarring one lane (about the same 7.3 metres width) draining it properly to one side, with the other lane untarred but also well drained and separated with mid-road kerbs (for future tarring too someday); or tarring the 7.3 metres width in the centre of the roads, having shoulders between 2.75 to 3.0 metres wide on either sides for future tarring too.

Making the roads narrower now than originally designed would make residents “priva se” addi onal land in their frontages, that may forever be difficult to

take back for the roads!

Having a 7.3 metre wide road flanked by open drainage channels without shoulders would also create unnecessary traffic jams, once a visitor’s/resident’s car is parked along it.

It is not yet too late to adjust the design now, sir, and a ract even more accolades and sincere apprecia on from the people plying the roads.

2. The upper part of Matanmi Way turning into Olagunju Ola Way may also be kindly incorporated into this great gesture of rehabilita on (it’s perhaps less than one kilometre long), and the overall effect would be simply amazing.

As a believer in good governance delivery by every administra on that God establishes in Osun State, I pray that you kindly consider my humble sugges ons above, that I earlier discussed a couple of days ago with Engineer Remi Omowaye, Osun State Honourable Commissioner for Works.

Please accept the assurances of my best regards always.

•Rev. Goke Omigbodun Deputy Chairman, Social Democra c Party, SDP, Osun State, Nigeria.

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CCORDING to Warren Bennis, “If I had to reduce the responsibili es of a good follower to a single rule, it would be to speak truth to power”, especially, when the power this me around is very hos le to them. Honestly, when you look at how the followers of former governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, have risen to defend him on the issue of mega schools, you will be convinced that he is indeed blessed with cult-like followers.

It is no longer a news item that the current government of Osun is depopula ng the mega schools meant for secondary school students, which poli cal pundits have linked to a deliberate a empt to efface Aregbesola’s legacy. The legacy, which is portrayed by the imposing monuments, the high school buildings surnamed Osun Mega Schools located in the highly populated and urbanised towns.

When the news first broke, the tension generated, the resistances and the mild drama put up by the Osun people, portend what can happen if the government should dare the people and go ahead with its ini al clandes ne plan.

Twice within one month, the current administra on of Mr Gboyega Oyetola (the former Chief of Staff of Aregbesola for eight years) was compelled to respond via press releases that it would zero-in on only four schools, explaining that not all the schools were going to undergo integrity test, which has turned out to be an undercover, cynical and fault-finding mission. The press releases were made a er the government had been bursted and exposed for invi ng and shopping around for any jejune professional body that was willing to give credibility to its preconceived bellicose disposi on of passing vote of no confidence on the engineering structures of the four mega schools, so as to jus fy the depopula on of high schools and the abandonment for eventual demoli on. Apart from trumping up structural defects, safety concerns and blah-blah-blah, what else could be the government explana on for its ini al depopula on of the high schools in the three major towns, which have high popula on of people and students? One mega school per senatorial district with one more addi onal high school in Osogbo were selected surrep ously to make the target of four schools and to create so much poli cal racket across the state.

This was a er abandoning the maintenance of the school buildings for about three years and a er depopula ng all the high schools, simultaneously and stealthily for two years. How else can someone be poli cally incorrect, not to see the smoking gun?

Dead Giveaway Definitely, the crying over spilled milk is be-

“Nobody is trying to trivialise the maintenance challenge of the high school buildings now, the fact is that it is a self-inflicted injury, occasioned by gross abuse of public trust, when the maintenance of the high school buildings was abandoned, after the current government came into office”

cause of the failed a empt by the fi h columnist in the past administra on of Aregbesola to subvert the progress and to stall those high schools at construc on stage. Their ambivalent roles were prominent and noted during the second term of Aregbesola, when the contractors being paid with proceeds of already funded Sukuk bonds, suddenly deserted the construc on sites. Aregbesola asked me and the independent consultant to find out the reason for the stoppage. We found out that none of them was being owed by government as posited by the fi h-columnist and when we held project mee ngs with individual contractors; to the chagrin of everybody present, one of them was bold enough to say, “someone high up in government ” advised them to leave their construc on sites because other stakeholders could a ack them. This was a dead giveaway. The statutory revenues from the federa on accounts had fallen and the Governor had just dissolved the poli cal boards. There are some red flags you respond to, while there are others, you just submit to God because in Yoruba adage; “kini ikan to ma hun pa Okunrin bi pata idi e” meaning “nothing kills a man much more than his pant”. Aregbesola had to assure the contractors and later provided addi onal security to enable them complete their works. The rest is history.

Infrastructural interven on The interven on in the educa on sector by Aregbesola was borne out of a necessity and a clarion call to restore the lost dignity of the Yoruba race in which our school environments were the most serene, most a rac ve and most conducive for learning. It was a deliberate renaissance of Western Nigeria’s educa on, which gave the region a compe ve edge in public and private sector, then. The interven on, which was based on the planning data and forecasts provided by the Ministry of EduPublisher – Moremi Publishing ca on and validated by external House Ltd. professionals, was to impact the Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman Elementary, Middle and High (0805-121-2204) schools; their buildings, securies, teaching aids, teachers to Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa students ra o and facili es in Reporter – Yusuf Oketola succession.

At the end of the Reporter – Kazeem Badmus eight years of Aregbesola, there Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto were 11 High Schools containing 876 brand new classrooms for Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere senior secondary students. Other OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing interven ons under Aregbesola House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite include the following: Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, •Read full article on State of Osun www.osundefender.com ISSN : 0794-8050 •Wale Bolorunduro, Ph.D, a former Telephone : 0805-121-2204 Commissioner for Finance, Budget Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php and Economic Planning, State of e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com Osun writes from 6B, Lase Ogunleye osundefenderbank@gmail.com Street, off Fadahunsi Avenue, Ilesa, All correspondence to the above email addresses.

State of Osun.

OSUN DEFENDER

•Kayode Odewuyi, Otan-Ayegbaju.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

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News

Teacher’s Recruitment: Knocks As Govt. Conceals Names of Successful Candidates Yusuf Oketola

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OME applicants for the 2020/2021 teachers’ recruitment in the State of Osun have tackled the state government for not publishing the names of successful candidates in the exercise.

It would be recalled that the Commissioner for Educa on in the state, Hon. Folorunso Oladoyin, in a press statement on December 2, 2021 promised to release names of 1,000 successful applicants out of 3,170 shortlisted candidates.

But the government failed to publish the names of the successful candidate as promised by Oladoyin.

Instead of publishing the names, the government, on December 9, 2021, according to a press statement signed by Oladoyin, said it had sent congratulatory messages to the 1,000 successful applicants.

Reac ng to the development, one of the applicants, Abidemi Adegbaju who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday described the recruitment exercise as the worst ever in the history of Osun.

Adegbaju reiterated that 31,280 applicants obtained the recruitment form with each applicant paying N3,000.

He said: The Osun teachers recruitment is the worse in history. A total of 31,280 applied while the form pin was sold for N3,000.

“When you mul ply 31,280 with 3000, that is N93,840,000. It is on record that Osun State government collected N93 million plus by trick from unemployed youths in the state.

“At the end, the government claimed that it has sent messages to 1,000 successful applicants for English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Agric Science and Mathema cs subjects. If they are sure of this, let us see the names of the successful candidates as earlier promised by the commissioner.

Another applicant

who prayed not to be men oned, said it was unreasonable for any government or organisa on to finalise recruitment exercise without revealing names of the successful candidates, saying such recruitment is fraudulent and poli cal.

She said: “Why is the list of the successful candidates not pasted and made public as promised by the Commissioner for Educa on. How are we sure that the acclaimed 1,000 successful candidates really received the congratulatory message? Other ques ons we should ask is that when will the so-called successful candidates start their training?

“What is the essence of the phone calls to some applicants who did not receive the congratulatory messages? The government should show us the evidence that the so-called successful candidates are the best candidates that scored the highest marks in the exam and interview.”

According to an of-

•Cross section of participants at Senator Adelere Oriolowo empowerment training programme held in Iwo, State of Osun, yesterday. ficial of the Ministry of Educa on who spoke with this medium under the condi on of anonymity, the names of the 1,000 successful applicants will not be published.

The official, however, said it was true that that government has been sending congratulatory messages to the successful candidates.

Mining: NGO Raises The Alarm Over Contamination Of Osun River Sodiq Yusuf

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Non-Governmental Organisa on, Urban Alert, has alerted residents of the State of Osun on an impeding danger of the inges on of heavy metals arising from the contamina on of the Osun River,

Correctional Reforms Yielding Positive Results, As Ex-Convict Empowers 134 Youths Yusuf Oketola

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HE reform of Nigeria Correconal Service embarked upon by the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Interior, has been yielding posi ve results.

This is evident in the successful story of an ex-convict, Abdullahi Abare, who served at the Gombe Correc onal Centre for standing as a surety for an accused person.

Abare is part of the 870 inmates pardoned by the Federal Government under the correconal service reform championed by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Speaking with newsmen, Abare said the best thing that happened to him was acquiring skills at the Correc onal Centre, which he said had made him influenal to youths in his community in Kumo, Akko Local Government area of Gombe State.

He stressed that he was able to empower 134 youths in his community a er acquiring tailoring, designing and knitng clothes which he knew nothing about before he was convicted.

Abare said some of the youths he had trained were now useful to the society, saying: “many of them now have shops and are mak-

ing meaningful contribu ons to their lives and families.

He stated further: “Two of my trainees are at the University of Maiduguri and are using the skills I taught them to sponsor themselves in the school.

“I used my money to buy materials and trained them free of charge because I learnt it without paying.

“I am so happy today; in fact, I can say that going to the correc onal facility was a blessing in disguise.”

Abare stressed that skills acquision, if enhanced and strengthened, would make inmates huge assets to society.

due to ongoing mining opera ons in Ijesaland.

Urban Alert expressed fears that if the situa on is not urgently addressed by the relevant authories, residents of the state may be suscep ble to various health issues in no distant me.

The NGO in a no fica on message posted on some social media pla orms on Monday, said despite the setup of the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Commi ee (MIREMCO) by state government eight months ago, Osun river remains polluted and defaced.

Its Team Leader, Toni Adejuwon, said the organisa on had taken the Osun river water to award winning researchers in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, for examina on.

According to Adejuwon, the result of the laboratory test showed that the water is highly contaminated with mercury, lead, cyanide, and other harmful microbiological elements.

Urban Alert invesga ons also revealed that more than 20 communi es are faced with the high-level chemical contamina on, while the government and other stakeholders have kept mute over the development.

Adejuwon wrote: “The

scary part is that water from the Osun River is used for tradi onal, domes c and industrial purposes every day.

“Our study shows that the Osun River is a source of water to a bo ling company whose products are consumed by millions in the South-West and a brewery that produces beer consumed by many in the South-West and North-Central.

“The Osun River also houses water dams owned by the Oyo and Osun State Governments. You may wish to ask yourself if the water is well treated for heavy metals before use by these private and public ventures.

“Even if you are far away in Ondo, Eki , Lagos, Kaduna, Niger and Delta, you may not escape the effect of the heavily contaminated Osun River.

Are you aware that many sachet water factories are located close to the Osun River? Do you know that mercury, lead and cyanide can find their way into the boreholes of those sachet water factories?

“Communi es, businesses, dams and the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove located at the bank of Osun River are exposed to heavy metals. Refusal to save Osun River now is an invita on to serious health challenges in few years to come.”

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

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News

RLG-Adulawo Technology To Shut Training Centers As Govt. Refuses Partnership Yusuf Oketola

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HE management of Rlg-Adulawo Technology Ltd. has planned to move out its equipment and property from all training centers across the nine federal cons tuencies in the State of Osun over the refusal of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administra on to partner it.

Inves ga on by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that since the expira on of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s tenure, the company has not received any further partnership from the state government of Osun.

The company which specialises in designing and manufacturing of customised electronic devices, with products such as back-up power, phones, speakers had been training Nigerians youths, especially those residing in Osun, on relevant technical skills which include assembling and repairs of mobile phones.

According to report, the company had trained about 5,000 indigenes of Osun on Informaon and Communicaon Technology (ICT) as sponsored by the Aregbesola administra on.

The company, which is based in Ghana, was established in Ilesa through a partnership with the state government during Aregbesola’s administra on in 2014.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the Chairman of the company, Mr. Rasaq Animasahun, said the company would be withdrawing its equipment and property from all training centers across the nine federal cons tuencies in the state since the training programme is no more ac vated.

He said: “We are not moving out of Osun.

What we are doing is to withdraw our equipment and proper es at all our training centres in the state since the training programme is no more ac vated.

“We had wri en letter to the governor in that regard. We have a huge investment in Osun and we intend to make things work in the very near future. We just

• Members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in a group photograph after their Sensitisation on Student Bullying and Sex Education in Osogbo on Tuesday.

Photo: Shola Aderinto need to ensure that our equipment and property are not ro en in those training centres.

“Training is not the only aspect of our business, we do assembly and marke ng. Even if

the state didn’t connue the training programme, we s ll have our hands full.

Animasahun stated that he has been dealing directly with the Chief of Staff to the

Governor, Dr. Charles Akinola, his personal friend, hoping that the company’s le er would receive due a en on.

The Produc on Supervisor of the company, Mr Abdulrasaq Oshidipe, said the company was a support facility to aid government’s plan on OYESTECH, an Informa on and Communica on Technology branch of the widely accepted Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme (OYES) during Aregbesola’s tenure.

The Rlg Adulawo company has a mobile phone assemblage plant in Ilesa and had trained 5,000 beneficiaries of the OYES scheme with an addional training of 100 young individuals for advanced tutoring at the company’s headquarters in Ghana under the immediate past administra on.

How Akande Escaped Omisore’s Impeachment Plot •Continued from page 2 sented a saving to government of a total sum of N143,655,534.55.

“In the mean me, government decided to refund the sum of N33,330,000.00 sourced by Chrisore Engineering Ltd. in favour of Hybart, from Universal Trust Bank being the 10% deposit that served as a condi on to facilitate the opening of the original le er of credit.”

How Akande Escaped Omisore’s Impeachment Plot

Akande retorted that the ripples from the canceled contract and crea on of Modakeke Area office, heightened the disagreements with his deputy and resulted into the eventual attempt to impeach him by the lawmakers in the state House of Assembly as plo ed by Omisore.

He disclosed: “Unfortunately, the following month, a decision to create Modakeke Area office was taken by my government on October 30, 2000. Soon after these two incidents, on November 1, 2000, the Osun State House of Assembly began proceedings to impeach me as governor.

“It was a period of heavy na onal poli cs and our party, the AD, was figh ng for its soul.

The party was subvert-

ed from within and attacked from without.

The plot to remove me through impeachment or other means was ge ng thicker.

“I learnt that Omisore was receiving a lot of support and comfort from Governor Adefaraand some other centres outside Osun State.

He believed it was only a ma er of me that I would be impeached and he would become the Governor.

“Governor Niyi Adebayo of Eki State called and said he would like to see me on the matter. He came to the Government House, Osogbo, with Omisore.

He said the two of us should agree to stop the impeachment. Omisore was boas ng that I had offended him and that impeachment was my punishment. Adebayo stared at him. Omisore was apparently drunk or under some influence.

“The House of Assembly may have found common cause with Omisore because of money. The members complained that we did not give them money and cars. We could not because we simply did not have money. Besides, the budget for 1999 had been prepared by the military before we came and it was handed over to us.

“What occurred to me when I received

the no ce of impeachment was to pack my load and personal effects and leave Government House. We had 23 members of the AD in the 26-member House and 24 members signed the No ce of Impeachment. Only one opposed. The lone one was Prince Omolaoye from Egbedore.

“I was not perturbed by all the in mida ons and I was prepared to fight on principles and if the impeachment was carried out, I was prepared to go home.

“Yekini Adedotun, the man who introduced Omisore to me, was now the Chairman of Ila Local Government. He wanted to see me, but I was reluctant to see him. I finally received him at the government house. Adedotun remonstrated with me that I should call some of his friends in the House of Assembly to find a way out of the impeachment threat.

I told him I would not beg anyone to remain in office. Finally, I agreed to meet five of them: Sooko Lekan Omidiora from Ife, Kamaru Lawal from Olorunda, Femi Popoola from Boluwaduro, Engr. Moshood Olayiwola from Osogbo and our man from Ila, Joshua Adediji.

“Our mee ng was brief. They wondered why I did not invite the House members for an

amicable se lement.

I told them my mind was already made up to vacate and that I had packed my things out of the government house. ‘Did you see any load here anymore?’ I asked them. They were surprised. ‘are you prepared to go?’ ‘Did I want to come in the first instance?’

“I dawned on them that once I le , Omisore would become the governor as s pulated by the cons tu on.

They said if they failed to toe his line, might he not be sending thugs a er them? If that is your lot, did I have any other choices?’ I asked them.

“They said they had only planned to ra le me and expected to reach them and nego ate. They remonstrated me that I should call the Speaker. I called the speaker and we agreed to meet the following morning. He came with the original team of five. We discussed extensively and they advised that I should write to the house to suspend ac on for a further task.

“I wrote a one paragraph le er and handed it over to the speaker.

The speaker promised that they would take the issue to the house at plenary session if their caucus disagree.

The issues became acrimonious at the cau-

cus. They disagreed and split. At the house plenary mee ng, in the end, 13 voted in my favour. Twelve voted for my impeachment. The 12 brought thugs to the house and the 13 were beaten up and their vehicles destroyed.

“The a empt to impeach me was finally frustrated by loyal and patrio c members of the house.”

Why Omisore Was Impeached

Akande explained in the book that Omisore was impeach for alleged fraudulent ac vi es on the water chemicals contract narrated earlier in this report.

The former governor said: “There was a published statement in the Comet newspaper of Tuesday, January 30 2001, tled, ‘My Case against Akande by Omisore, where Omisore granted a press interview to accuse Chief Bola Ige of scheming a second term bid for me. He also accused me and the Commissioner for Finance Chief Lere Adebayo, of mismanaging the $1.5 million allocated to Osun State in March 1999 by the Federal Military Government for the procurement of water chemicals. He alleged that both of us allowed the contractor to dupe the government •Continued on page 7

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

6

Religion

A

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

By Killing is one of the major sins and SHEIK MUHAMMAD signs of the last hour. Islam views murABDULALIMI der as both a crime by law in this world and as major sin punishable in the afterlife as well. The Prophet said: “The greatest sins are to associate something with Allah and to kill human beings.”

In another hadith, the Prophet was asked the major sins, he said: “To kill a person whom Allah has forbidden to kill, i.e. to commit the crime of rights of the vic m’s next of kin. murdering.

With regard to the rights of Allah: if you repent It is forbidden in Islam to kill oneself, or another, sincerely to your Lord, then Allah will accept your although the Prophet has foresighted years ago repentance, because He says: “Say: “O ‘Ibaadi (My that killings will be rampant in the world but will be slaves) who have transgressed against themselves one of the minor signs of the last hour, warning any (by commi ng evil deeds and sins)! Despair not living soul not to kill himself not to talk of another of the Mercy of Allah, verily, Alaah forgives all human soul. sins. Truly, He is O -Forgiving, Most Merciful” [alMurder (killing a person deliberately), if the vic- Zumar 39:53] m is a believer, is one of the major sins, because With regard to the rights of the vic m: he is not Allah says in Suratul al-Nisaa’, verse 493: “And who- alive so you cannot put things right with him. The ever kills a believer inten onally, his recompense ma er has to wait un l the Day of Resurrec on, is Hell to abide therein; and the Wrath and the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him.”

It was also narrated that the Prophet said: “A man will con nue to be sound in his religion so long as he does not shed blood which it is forbidden to shed.”

There are three rights which are inter-connected to show how much Islam preaches against commi ng murder or killing someone deliberately: the rights of Allah, the rights of the vic m and the

JUMAT SERMON

Islam Perspective On Murder, Killings

Allaah says in Suratul al-Nisaa’ 493: “And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein; and the Wrath and the Curse of Allaah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him”

i.e., the se ling of scores with you on behalf of the vic m will take place on the Day of Resurrec on. It is hoped that if your repentance is correct and is accepted by Allah, then Allah will compensate the vic m with what He wills of His bounty un l he is sa sfied, and you will be reprieved.

With regard to the rights of the vic m’s next of kin, which is the third right, you cannot be absolved of this un l you hand yourself over to them. Therefore, you have to hand yourself over to the vic m’s next of kin, and tell them that you are the one who killed him, then they have the choice. If they want, they can exact vengeance upon you, if the condi ons of qasaas are met; or if they want, they may take the diyah (blood money) from you; or if they want, they can forgive you.

The Noble Quran in no way jus fies murder; it unequivocally states, “Whosoever killed a person ... it shall be as if he had killed all mankind” (5:32).

From all quota ons from the Holy Quran and the sayings of our noble Prophet, killing is not in anyway part of the teachings of Islam and whoever proclaims that should be seen as an enemy of Allah, His angels and the en re human race. Killing unlawfully which has become rampant in our society has nothing to do with Islam. It is a crime and it must be treated as such, irrespec ve of who is involved. Allah says: “Fear calamity that would not only affected those who created or caused it”.

May Allah make this sermon a beneficial one for me, the writer, the readers, and the en re Muslims.

And our last prayer, is praise be to Allah Almighty, the Lord of the worlds.

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

Crime

NSCDC Nab Two For Illegal Mining Ismaeel Uthman

A

S parts of its mandate to crackdown on illegal mining ac vies in the country, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Osun command, have arrested two persons for Illegal encroachment and mining in the state.

The suspects are Joshua Ogunmokun (24), a na ve of Iperindo in Atakumosa East Local Government area of the state and Amos Danjos (26), an indigene of Ka a Local Government, Kaduna state.

Public Rela ons Officer (PRO) of the NSCDC, Osun Command, Mr. Daniel Adigun, made this known in a press release issued on behalf of the State Commandant, Mr. Emmanuel Ocheja.

According to Adigun, Ogunmoko and Danjos while carrying out the alleged illegal

mining ac vi es, were arrested on Sunday, December 12, 2021 at Iperindo.

He stated that the suspects made a confessional statement to have been culpable of the offences levelled against them.

The PRO said the suspects will be charged to court at the expira on of in-

ves ga ons.

According to him, illegal mining denies the government of revenue that could be used for socio-economic development of the state.

He warned all criminal minded persons in the state to relocate from Osun or face the consequences of their despicable acts.

Man Bags A Year Jail Term For Encroaching NYSC Land In Osun Kazeem Badmus

A

state High Court in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, has sentenced one Sulaimon Abodunrin to 12 months jail term for forceful entry and building a house on a land belonging to the Na onal Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Ede.

Driver Arraigned For Crushing Motorcyclist To Death In Osogbo Yusuf Oketola

T

HE Police in the State of Osun has arraigned a 25-year-old man, Adefisayo Adetayo before an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly causing the death of a motorcyclist, Dapo Olugbodi, through reckless driving.

Adetayo, a driver in charge of a Toyota Corolla car with Registraon Number: OSUN PMD 612 AA was said to have crushed Olugbodi, a resident of Ade nki Estate, Osogbo to death while riding his motorcycle.

According to the charge

sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, the accused person committed the offence on December 10, 2021 at Sasa Area, Oke-Baale, Osogbo.

The offence contravened Sec ons 18, Cap 146, Vol. II, Laws of Osun, 2002 and Sec on 27 of RTA, Cap 548, Laws of Nigeria.

But the defendant pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of dangerous driving and manslaughter levelled against him.

Defence counsel, O.T. Idowu, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail, no ng that he would provide a reliable surety.

Idowu stated that the accused person needed urgent medical a en on as he was lynched by the people when the accident occurred which made him to sustain various degree of injuries.

However, police prosecutor, Mr. Jacob Akintunde objected the bail applicaon, saying jus ce needs to be served on the ma er.

In his rulling, the presiding Magistrate, Dr. Olusegun Ayilara admi ed the accused person to bail in the sum of N200,000 with a surety.

The case was adjourned ll February 1, 2022.

Abodunrin was charged with six-count charge of conspiracy, forcible entry, malicious damage and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

According to a report by the Informa on Officer, Ministry of Jus ce, Opeyemi Bello, Abodunrin had earlier been discharged and acqui ed by a Magistrate court on September, 12, 2018, where he was first arraigned.

But the state’s Ministry of Jus ce appealed the judgement on four grounds of appeal before a High Court, headed by the Chief Judge of the State, Jus ce Adepele Ojo. State prosecu on counsel, Mr. Moses Fare-

mi, told the court that the convict forcefully entered into the NYSC land, destroyed the fence of the said land and set ablaze an economic tree some mes in 2006.

Faremi said Abodunrin, having gained entry into the land, started a house founda on and removed pillars and signpost put in place by the NYSC. The prosecutor said the offence, which likely to caused breach of peace, was at variance with Secons 517, 81, 451 and 291(2)(d) 2 of Criminal Code, Law of Osun State.

Delivering her verdict on Tuesday, Jus ce Ojo said the prosecu on counsel proved his case beyond reasonable doubt and found Abodunrin guilty of the charges preferred against him.

Abodunrin was therea er convicted and sentenced to 12 months jail term, with an order to pay a compensa on of N765,000 for the cost of the erected fence he demolished.

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021

7

Feature

Folklore - A Museum Pedagogy Of Instruction For Pre-School Children Helen Ayetigbo

F

OLKLORE is oral history that is preserved by the people of the same culture, consis ng of tradi ons belonging to a specific culture. It is in form of belief from legend, myths, songs, values, tales, taboos, stories, history, etc. It is passed down from genera on to genera on and is kept by the people in the culture.

Folklore make use of the things found around the environment it serves, that allows people to give meaning to their lives and surroundings.

In recent years, much has been made by folklorists and others around the globe of the need to preserve our intangible as well as our tangible cultural heritage. In 1989, the UNESCO General Conference adopted the recommenda ons on the safeguarding of tradi onal culture and folklore.

Museum are considered cri cal to cultural tourism and cultural economic development. This adop on can be sustained by giving instrucon to children through folklore.

Children can be used as a mechanism of iden fica on, marke ng and connec ng local cultural assets to global audiences through their experiences gained in the museum using folklore.

Folklore is an ac ve agent in

this realm of ac vi es not only by iden fying assets, but also by trying to triage and impact knowledge in the ways that are posi ve for transmission from genera on to genera on.

Understanding oral tradi ons and beliefs handed down from genera on to genera on without the use of wri ng are certain traits that are signature of folklore. Animals stories and stories of divinaon are characteris cs of folklore.

Prac ces for curing, educa on on survival, morality, iden ty, community empowerment and preserva on of cultural values are all common elements of folklore. It is a notable form of entertainment as traits are known to manipulate emo on through performance aspects that are richly based in narra on and audience par cipa on.

The role of playing and exploring the objects and ideas as part of learning process is important but o en overlooked feature of learning. The playful atmosphere in the use of folklore in the museum helps

many children develop skills and exploring their environment. Play is necessary in the development of affec ve, cogni ve and psychomotor domains. It leads to the development of skills in observa on, experimenta on and the tes ng of ideas. It provides an opportunity for children to independently discover order of nature.

Benefits Folklore embody the hopes and inspira ons of the children and serves as a means of transmission and preserva on of cultural values. It helps to show how society view itself and also convey their no ons of jus ce, rights and social obliga ons of its ci zens.

Laziness, greed and selfishness are therefore portrayed as negavely as possible with the offending characters always suffering for their stupid and unwise behaviours. This can help inculcate fear to the children. Folklore can be used to transmit informa on without personalising issues or pinpoin ng certain individuals for

“Folklore is told in order to educate children into cultural values of the society as well as give them motivation and a sense of well-being”

rebuke.

The use of animals as human characters is done to highlight attudes and behaviours of people in a way which pokes fun at their awkward ac ons in real life. In addi on, animal imaginary makes it possible for children to easily understand the relevance of the story being told due to the simplified character of the animal. Folklore is told in order to educate children into cultural values of the society as well as give them mo va on and a sense of well-being. In stories where small animals seem to beat the odds and overcome bigger ones both physically and mentally, the children learn the important lesson that anybody is able to achieve great things in the society no ma er how small, different or inexperienced he or she may be.

Also, the use of various vocal tones, miming and body gestures are done to emphasise important themes and ideas which the children need to remember long a er the story have been told.

Folklore can be used to highlight democra c process and the importance of unity and agreement in the society. Example are folklore that portray animals gathering and discussing issues that affect them as a group.

Disquiet In Ilerioluwa Camp

•Continued from page 2 of about $2 million.

“In a rejoinder to this press blackmail submi ed to the Honourable Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, the Commissioner for Finance, Chief Lere Adebayo wondered if it were possible for any government to be duped of $2 million out of a total business of $1.5 million!

“In a suit No HOS/28/2001 of Hybart Limited and Chrisore Engineering Ltd. (Plainffs) versus Osun State Government and others, before his Lordship, Honourable Jus ce O.Oluborode - Chief Judge of Osun State, on Tuesday, the 24th day of July, 2001.

The court agreed with the defendants that the whole transac on was illegal and tainted with fraud.

“The court thereby ruled (according to Companies & Allied Ma ers Act 1990) that Hybart Limited had no legal existence to enter into contract in Nigeria and that there was no evidence before the

court to show that Hybart entered into the contract through Chrisore Engineering Ltd. as an Agent.

“This case was eventually inves gated by the House of Assembly as part of its oversight func ons and Iyiola Omisore was indicted and consequently impeached by the House in December 2002.

“The Osun State legislature served Omisore the necessary noces of impeachment.

All the legislators on our side were taken to lyin Eki and lodged in the country home of Governor Adebayo’s father, General Adeyinka Adebayo, who was once the military governor of the defunct Western State.

“We had to do this because some of the legislators were afraid that they could be assassinated. They alleged that Omisore had a squad of eight fully armed men who were always in his entourage. We learnt that the eight non-uniform men were given instruc on to harm some people on the day of the

impeachment so that there would be chaos and nothing could be done.

“We ensured the safety for the movement of the lawmakers from Eki to Osogbo and they arrived in town around 4 a.m. and moved to a rendezvous provided on the premises of Senator Bayo Salami’s residence.

“There, they had breakfast and lunch.

The Speaker moved to his office early in the day to prepare the necessary documents. The impeachment panel headed by the judge submi ed its report that Friday. Most people, including Omisore, were not aware that the lawmakers were in town.

“The news of the submission of the report was on the radio when the legislators moved to the Assembly chamber and impeached the Deputy Governor. The process was handled very smoothly.

“Omisore thought the impeachment would be done on

Monday. He was seen driving round Osogbo that Friday with his long convoy, including his armed thugs. President Obasanjo tried to stop the impeachment. He was shocked when confronted with the impeachment documenta ons to enable the police arrest and inves gate Omisore on Bola Ige’s assassinaon.

“For more than three weeks a er his impeachment, Omisore s ll had the full complement of armed policemen following him. The Commissioner of Police was helpless about the situa on knowing the posi on of the Presidency.”

Disquiet In Ilerioluwa Camp

Since the launch of the book, there has been a growing disquiet in the Governor Adegboyega Oyetola led-IleriOluwa camp of the APC in the State of Osun as members of the group including Omisore, a powerful member of the group are yet to speak on the allega ons levelled against the former

Deputy Governor in Akande book.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that leaders of the group are unse led with Akande’s revelaon of Omisore who is an ally of Governor Oyetola.

According to findings, Oyetola facilitated the induc on of Omisore into the APC Elders Caucus, known as Agba Osun.

It was gathered that neither the Governor, the Ife born poli cian nor their followers could react to Chief Akande’s posi on bearing in mind that a response may cause a fric on between Oyetola and the elder statesman.

The medium learnt that members of the IleriOluwa camp have con nued to grumble over the development which they said was needless owing to the current poli cal calcula ons.

They lamented that Akande’s posi on on Omisore has jus fied why the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has con-

nued to distance himself from the former senator.

According to some of them who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under condi on of anonymity, Akande has done a damage to Omisore’s integrity, wondering if such man could lead elec on campaign for Oyetola in 2022.

However, some members of the APC who do not belong to the Governor’s camp and were privy to the incidents Akande narrated in his book backed his posi on, lauding him for summoning the courage to speak the truth about Omisore in spite of being a member of his party, APC. PUBLICATION ADEYEMO OLUWATOBI ISAIAH That I was formerly known and addressed as ADEYEMO TOBI ISAIAH, with former Date of Birth 04/08/1983. Now wish to be known and addressed as ADEYEMO OLUWATOBI ISAIAH, with original Date of Birth 04/08/1994.

All former documents remain valid. Banks and General public should take note.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

News

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2021 VOL. 16 NO 49 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

RLG-Adulawo Technology To Shut Training Centers As Govt Refuses Partnership Page 5

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T is not for nothing that the primary purpose of any government is security of lives and property. It is on this that other things are built – peace and progress, law and order, etc. Once this core responsibility is compromised, nothing is guaranteed. Although, there had been threats and actual a acks on the lives and proper es of Nigerians since President Goodluck Jonathan’s administraon, things have degenerated from 2015 when President Muhammadu Buhari has held sway.

The regime has done a lot to tackle insecurity but its best is not good enough. Between 2015 and 2019, there were 100 reported cases of attacks on schools in Nigeria which have risen between 2020 and 2021 which resulted to shutng down many schools by the government.

For instance, in January 2021 to 23rd, November 2021, 25 schools were a acked with 1,440 students abducted.

These spates of a acks have chased farmers out of their farmlands, which has contributed in no small way to the rise in the prices of food and hunger in the land, which in turn fuels violent crimes and insecurity. The security agencies who are supposed to tackle the insecurity are not immune from a acks. In South-East states alone (Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu and Anambra), 21 police sta ons were a acked by hoodlums with 15 officers killed between October 2020 and April 2021. On August 24, 2021, what was thought to be impossible happened: suspected bandits a acked Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), killed 2 officers and kidnapped Major Stephen Dantong who didn’t regain his freedom un l having spent 3 weeks in the custody of the bandits.

On Wednesday, September 15, 2021, there was an a ack on Abuja-Kaduna bound moving train around Rijana village, close to Kaduna, destroying the rail tracks, disrup ng train services and leaving the passengers with varying degree of injuries as they were trying to run for safety. There are too numerous cases of attacks as a result of insecurity. If one were to list cases of a acks in the North-East, New Year will meet us in the exercise.

Only President Buhari knows why he is yet to declare bandits and others terrorists, as they seem to perpetrate similar atroci es. Terrorism is defined as “acts of violence inten onally perpetrated on civilian non-combatants with the goal of furthering some ideology, religious or poli cal objec ve.” Agenda of the terrorists is to make society ungovernable for the legi mate government and in fact, incite people against the government as live becomes miserable, living with fear and uncertainty, with nobody safe any longer. As this write up is being prepared, Hon. Lirwan Aminu Gadagau, a member of Kaduna State House of Assembly was shot and killed along Zaria-Kaduna Expressway on Tuesday, December 14, 2021.

This same scenario plays out on the a acks on custodial centres. What has happened in our custodial centres is no jailbreak; it is an attack from outside. Jailbreak is an escape or an a empt to forcibly escape from prison, especially by several inmates. There was only a singular case on Thursday, 22 October, 2020 when a jailbreak was a empted in Ikoyi prison, Lagos but was contained by the combined team of Nigerian Army and Police who also confronted some hoodlums who were around the correconal centre to aid escape of inmates.

Between 2004 and 2015, there were 15 external a acks on prisons; and 2015 ll date, 15 external a acks. However, those who are calling for the head of Honourable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, over these criminal a acks are simply myopic, parochial or mischievous. The Interior Ministry was obscure before Rauf Aregbesola’s emergence.

Rescuing The Soul Of Osun APC

Aregbesola: The Price Of Being An Enigma He is the one whose crea ve ideas and a enon to details have radically transformed the Ministry to making Departments under it more produc ve in their services to the people. Federal Fire Service has been more proac ve in figh ng fire in every state with newly acquired modern equipment; Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has been more proacve in crime preven on, arrest of suspected criminals with good rela onship with other security ou its for service delivery; Immigra on Service has tremendously improved in issuance of passport and border control amongst others while a lot of transforma on is taking place at the correc onal centres. 3,000 capacity custodial centres are being built across the six geo-poli cal zones to tackle overcrowded centres with special programmes of rehabilita on and re-integra on of inmates back into society. There is a radical change from colonial feeding of inmates to a more dignified one

STRIKER

I

with improved feeding system as a hungry man cannot be reformed. Under his watch, two annual retreats have been organised in Osun and Kwara to review the Ministry’s ac vi es with the view to improving its services to the people. With Aregbesola’s foresight and crea vity, there were systemic deconges ons and management of the centres during COVID-19 pandemic and as we speak today, there has been no single incidence of COVID-19 recorded in the custodial centres na onally.

Rauf Aregbesola is controversial but a master poli cian, passionate and du ful public servant with bagful of innova ve ideas.

As a acks on custodial centres are now being singled out for calumny campaigns out of thousands of various a acks on schools, army bases, INEC offices, court houses, police staons, NDA, farmlands in the North-East and everywhere today, so was Osun and Governor Aregbesola singled out in 2015 when there was

“The Interior Ministry was obscure before Rauf Aregbesola’s emergence. He is the one whose creative ideas and attention to details have radically transformed the Ministry to making Departments under it more productive in their services to the people” financial quagmire where 23 states, including Osun, were owing at least 6 months workers’ salaries as a result of con nuous daily the of crude oil, missing oil money and consequent crash in the crude oil price at interna onal market under President Goodluck Jonathan’s watch as crude oil sales accounts for about 70% of Government revenue and 95% of foreign exchange. Perhaps, that is the price to pay for being enigma c; rather than situate Aregbesola’s challenges within the context of a larger Nigerian challenge, any of his par cular issues is pe ly poli cised, forge ng that it is such short-sighted, malicious poli cisa on of serious security issues in the first place (as with Chibok Girls) that triggered a downwards slide into the hell we find ourselves in today. Time will tell, anyway.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

Popular Participation

T is no longer news that the autobiography of Chief Bisi Akande “My Par cipa on” was glamorously presented to the public at the Eko Hotel and Suite on Thursday, December 9, 2021. The book, though a personal point of view but a fearless chronicle of the good, the bad and the ugly in Nigeria’s contemporary poli cs, has opened up a floodgate of responses that will keep flowing for a long me. For its cri cal ming ahead of the elec on cycle star ng early next year and concluding in the presiden al elec on of 2023, the book offers, yet again, one big lesson and reminder to the common people: the level of popular par cipa on in democra c processes has direct, propor onal consequences on the value of private/personal par cipa ons by the poli cal elite.

According to Wikipedia, popular par cipaon “can be defined as the process whereby the majority of the ci zens in a state or country show interest in partaking in the affairs and decision making of the state.” The underlying assump ons and principles of popular par cipaon are that those who are affected by a decision have a right to be involved in the decision making process. Applied to democracy [government of the people, by the people, and for the people], who else should be the major determinant of the processes and outcomes other than the people? And who are the people other than the majority of the masses of working people, students, ar sans, women and youths? The extent (quan ty and quality) to which they directly par cipate determines the value they get out of elite private par cipa on.

Whether they admit it or not, by birth,

background, training and personally adopted ideology, the elite (irrespec ve of and across all religions and tribes) are split basically into two: an -masses, self-centred, conserva ve elite AND pro-masses, egalitarian and progressive elite. Though they may gather to make merry socially in so called “saner climes,” the elites, poli cally, hardly ever mix or get muddled up: from the far right to the far le , there are ranges le and right of the centre BUT you can always tell who is who and which is which, AND THEY FORM AND JOIN POLITICAL PARTIES ACCORDINGLY! The programmes and policies of these par es and how they affect the masses, and how the masses respond to them, are clear-cut.

The tragedy in Nigeria, a er centuries of conquest, slavery, colonisa on and military rule a er independence, are: one, the majority of elite in Nigeria have abandoned commitment to noble and humanitarian ideals, especially a er the aborted 3rd Republic; two, the a empt by the remnants of progressive elites to resuscitate progressive party poli cs in 1999 suffered consistent, unremi ng setbacks and adultera on in the face of overwhelming mone sa on of poli cs and the unabandoned ambi on for the progressives to rule at the centre AT ALL COST. Rather than learn from the Awolowo adventure in power, se le and FIGHT FOR GENUINE FEDERALISM AND A TRUE REPUBLIC, they got enchanted with the ruinous lucre of the unitary monster feeding fat on oil rent money. The outcome of that reality and the power play among the majority self-centred elite and minority peoplecentred ones is what account for the contents of “My Par cipa on.”

Par cipa on by millions of youths, women, workers and the common masses cannot and must not be allowed to be limited to periodic mee ngs, ceremonial gatherings and elec on rallies and vo ng. Popular par cipa on is for the people to systema cally and organisa onally engage every social and poli cal ins tu on, including ins tu ons of government, consistently and on a daily basis from one elec on all the way to the next elec on, and forever. That is why it is said that “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty!”

The unruly #EndSARS movement offers an example, albeit a tainted one, of popular engagement of the powers-that-be. Government exists only on account of the people, to serve the people, and never above the people, for self and cliques. It is said that “no country can progress if its poli cs is more profitable than its industry.”

Although that is precisely the type of country that we find ourselves in today, the challenge to popular, focussed, democra c par cipa on is simple and clear: how the youths, as vanguards, will rise up and rally themselves to overcome today’s terrible contamina on of social and human values as it impacts them; overcome the awful influences of thorough mone sa on of poli cs and governance amidst widespread poverty and ignorance; then achieve the clear perspec ves and dynamics needed to build a triumphant, unifying pla orm that can clean off the na onal Aegean’s stable, and thereby deliver the na on from stress and sorrow in the hands of depraved, bankrupt elite. It looks like a tall order today but that is it, “it always looks impossible un l it is done.”

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

All correspondence to the Deputy Editor, ISMAEEL UTHMAN, Telephone: 0805-121-2204, usmanismail001@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.

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