Osun Defender Online Version of December 16, 2022

Rumpus Over 13% Mining Derivation To Osun

GOVERNOR Ademola

Uthman that he has surrogates in the mining industry in the state.

Adeleke of the State of Osun has s rred up a hornet’s nest, revealing that the state is being robbed of its lawful benefits and revenue from the mineral resources deposit of the state.

According to Adeleke, the 13 per cent deriva on due to the state has not been paid by mining operators using the state’s mining licences for over 25 years.

Adeleke, while inaugura ng revenue and solid minerals commi ees on Monday in Osogbo, said: “Osun state according to extant laws is en tled to 13 per cent deriva on from every ounce of gold extracted from our gold and other solid mineral fields. Segilola and other operating companies are expected by law to pay Osun state 13 percent deriva on on the value of gold and other solid minerals produced in the last 25 years.

“Till date, we have no record of any payment made by Segilola and other mining companies to Osun state. My administra on is determined to recover every penny owed Osun state by companies opera ng in Osun gold fields.

“Osun state has been subjected to intense environmental degrada on arising from ac vi es of mining companies. River Osun has been polluted and our people are dying as related sicknesses are spreading.

“These are sad reali es which none of the mining companies has raised a finger to address. My administra on will insist on the companies paying for the cleaning up of our rivers and environment. Segilola and other companies opera ng in our state should take note that cleaning up of our environment is going to be a con nuous exercise and the resul ng expenditure is to be borne by the companies. I will not allow Osun people to con nue to be exposed to polluted river water and the state to be so cheated.”

The governor’s statement generated reac ons from members of the public, par cularly supporters and followers of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP), in the state.

Some commentators took to their various social media handles to call out former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, accusing him of deceiving the state on his reform and revenue from the mining sector.

They alleged that Oyetola had been using his office to deny the state of her statutory benefit from the mining sector, saying

This is just as Oyetola’s supporters cau oned Adeleke against recklessness, urging the governor to focus on governance.

According to some supporters of the former governor, Adeleke is being vindic ve, hence his resolve to smear Oyetola’s image.

In a statement issued by the Ac ng Chairman of the APC, Prince Tajudeen Lawal, the party said Adeleke was being mischievous on his claim.

Lawal said Adeleke’s claims that the state governments in the last 25 years have either mismanaged returns on mining or failed to recover derivaon due to the state were fraught with ignorance.

He said: “The claims made by Governor Ademola Adeleke during the inaugura on of the Revenue Commi ee and Solid Minerals Commi ee set up by his government are ones made out of ignorance and mischief designed to embarrass previous governors of the state.

“Contrary to Governor Adeleke’s claim that Segilola Company and other opera ng companies in the state are expected to pay Osun State 13 per cent deriva on on the value of gold and other minerals resources produced in the last 25 years, the correct informaon is that miners don’t pay deriva on to state.

“The miners pay royalty, ranging from three per cent to five per cent of every ounce of gold or solid minerals extracted in the state to the Federal Government because mining is under the Exclusive List or authority of the Federal Government.”

Responding, the Peoples

Democra c Party (PDP) accused APC of colluding with those depriving Osun state of legi mate returns from her huge mineral deposits.

PDP chas sed APC for protec ng Segilola and other mining companies over the alleged chea ng and pillaging of Osun resources.

According to the PDP in a statement signed by its Caretaker Chairman, Dr. Akindele Adekunle, APC was holding brief for the mining companies to protect exposure of its com-

plicity in mining banditry.

Adekunle said: “We are not surprised as there are credible reports on how the mining companies regularly se le top officials of the APC and its government. When the People’s Governor now exposes the nest of corrup on, the state APC cannot even disguise to manifest its complicity. Osun people have taken judicious note of APC condoning and facilita ng the fleecing of Osun natural resources.

“The 13 per cent deriva on payment was openly announced by the Federal Government in 2019 and whatever names anybody called it, Osun deserves billions of returns from her God-given natural resources. Even APC in advancing her hatchet job, confessed that 13 per cent deriva on was to be paid to solid mineral states from royal es by mining companies.

“Is APC saying mining companies should con nue environmental degrada on

Job Creation, Health, Commerce, Education Needs Urgent Attention In Osun

non-governmental organiza on, Urban Alert, has disclosed that job crea on, health, commerce and educa on need urgent a en on in line with the demands of residents of the State of Osun.

According to the group, press freedom, water supply, environment, sport and youth development and mining were ranked ‘slightly urgent’ issues by the residents.

Urban Alert, in a statement signed by its Communica ons Officer, Oluwatosin Olarewaju, said the demands of the residents was highlighted in a survey it conducted across all the local governments of the state.

The group tasked the

A copy of the statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday reads in part: “Urban Alert engaged residents, professionals, poli cians, journalists, and other stakeholders to set a robust agenda for the new government of Osun in a bid to ensure that the government focus on the cri cal needs of people and foster a bo om-up development.

“The agenda-se ng which also serves as needs assessment exercise, was done through a ci zen’s survey in the 30 local government areas of Osun State and a focused group.

“All the 17 issues and sectors ranked during the exercise were ranked between ‘extremely urgent’, ‘very urgent’, ‘urgent’ and ‘slightly urgent’ by respondents of the survey and par cipants of the focused group discussion.

“According to the survey, job crea on, health, commerce, and educa on ranked as the areas seeking ‘extremely urgent’ a enon from the new government. Recall that the Naonal Bureau of Sta s cs (NBS) published 37.3% as the unemployment rate in Osun State in April 2022.

“Residents of Osun State yawn for the government’s serious a en on in providing quality primary and ter ary healthcare services to vulnerable residents who cannot afford the state’s Osun Health

Insurance Scheme as it were.

“With the miserable state of educa on in Osun State, the new government must declare a state of emergency on public educa on, ensure the appointment of capable hands into the sector and embark on repairing school infrastructures.

“Press freedom, water supply, environment, sport and youth development, and mining were ranked the ‘slightly urgent’ issues in the Osun People’s agenda for the new government. With Osun State Government owning 64% of the gold mining licensed areas in the state through its business venture, residents await the new government’s move on responsible mining devoid of environmental degrada on”.

without paying for cleaning up? Is APC happy that Osun People are reeling under sicknesses and dying due to the ac vi es of Segilola and other companies.

Adeleke Suspends Operators of State Mining Licences

Besides, governor Adeleke has suspended all mining firms opera ng the state’s mining licences.

A public announcement made by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Teslim Igbalaye, on Tuesday, indicated that the suspension direc ve was in furtherance of the Governor’s bid to reform the state’s Solid Mineral sector.

According to Igbalaye, all operators are to report to the Commi ee on Assets Verifica on and Recovery chaired by Dr B.T Salami with copies of their Memorandum of Understanding which governs their relaonship with the state government.

Igbalaye said Adeleke has reiterated his resolve to recover all fund owed the state government and stop the reaping of state assets from mining to revenue collec on.

“The suspension of the operators is to remain in force un l the conclusion of the ongoing review of the MOU between the state as the owner of the licences and the operators”, he stated.

•Members of the Transportation Management Committee appointed by Governor Ademola Adeleke at their inauguration, on Tuesday

AKazeem Badmus State Government to declare a state of emergency on educa on, ensure the appointment of capable hands into the sector and embark on repairing school infrastructure.

Ismaeel

NEWLY elected governments normally begin their tenure fixated on revenue projec ons. This is understandable for o en outlandish elec on promises have to be fulfilled.

The ra onal star ng point is to block leakages, duplica on and wastages. Giving the nature of our poli cal economy, it is a herculean task requiring great poli cal skills and the poli cal will to step on the toes of vested interests. It is easier said than done.

The recommenda ons of the Oronsaye panel on the costs of the machinery of the government at the federal level has been gathering dusts for over a decade. Had it been implemented; the country will have gained a more ra onal fiscal balance. We are paying a terrible price now for not doing so.

In view of past disappointments and promises unfulfilled, a pall of cynicism hangs over the inaugura on of commi ees to

Review Of The Revenue Process

eas of leakages outlined by the governor are well known, some of them alarmingly borders on criminal complicity. They have to be tackled and we cannot con nue to postpone the evil day. The choice of personnel to serve on the commi ee gives us hope that serious work will be done; they represent more of a technocra c bent than an amalgama on of poli cal hacks and career. It is in the interest of the new government that they do diligent work devoid of par sanship.

review revenue leakages by the newly elected administra on of Governor Ademola Adeleke. There is a feeling of deja vu im-

plying that we have heard it all before. However, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The key point is that all the ar-

THE DISCOURSES

The Adeleke government must extend its coast and deepen the avenues for revenue genera on. There is no alterna ve to doing so in the present ght fiscal situa on. Imagina on will be important here to tap new and hitherto neglected sources of revenue and focusing a enon on the most valuable resource which is human capital. It is in the interest of the state that they do diligent work and get it right.

Bridging The Gender Gap In The Political Arena: A Case Of Nigerian Women

through the weaponiza on of poverty, epitomized by vote buying and acts that disenfranchises women. These are facts that puts women at a disadvantage. Economically, we are already disadvantaged. We do not have access to large caches of cash, like men. In addi on, the poli cal par es do not have the ideological anchors that are assuring enough to promote affirma ve ac on for women. Without ques on, there is patriarchal domina on of our poli cs. All things considered, the benefits of money, power and privilege are in the hands of men. Therefore, giving women a chance, is a challenge to patriarchy and its privileges.

WOMEN have been unfairly treated in the exposi on of the poli cal history of Nigeria. Our history has been wri en, largely by men. There are descripons of the valiant role played by women in the Aba women’s riot, but the chronology of their ac vism has been relegated. Mercifully, the outstanding roles of Funmilayo Ransome Ku , as an emancipator and Ac vist, have not been airbrushed out of the history of the naonalist struggle, against colonial rule. Margaret Ekpo, the first female Senator in the first republic, Iyalode Wuraola Ẹsan, the first female member of the Nigerian Na onal Assembly, have been correctly applauded as superb mobilizers and strategists. Mrs. Ẹsan and Ekpo blazed the trail in the six es, since then, women are s ll grossly underrepresented in the Senate, and the legisla ve houses, at every level. It bears no telling that as women, we s ll have a long row to hoe.

To understand our predicament, we have to look into our poli cal economy. Poli cs in Nigeria is non-ideological, and mone zed

My people, the sta s cs bear witness and the facts are incontrover ble, Nigeria is not making concerted efforts at closing the gender gap in the poli cal arena. It can be argued that a greater effort is manifes ng itself in the corporate sector. Women CEO’s in hitherto forbidden territories, such as financial services are becoming increasingly common. Membership in corporate boards are looking more representa ve and diverse, but gender disparity in poli cs s cks out like a sore thumb. Even though we now have female CEOs of banks, no one is really going to be so daring, as to bet the ranch on the emergence of female governors next year. How about female Senate President, the President of the Republic of Nigeria? Perish the thought. At this point I will like to give some credit to my leader, our own Arakunrin Oluwaro mi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON who has given us a voice in the state by appoin ng the first female Secretary to the State Government, Princess Oladunni Odu, and having more women in the Execu ve Council. This is in addi on to suppor ng women candidates in the party primaries. Who knows, a woman as Deputy Governor may soon be our por on. Kudos to Eki State, a woman has emerged as their speaker, and to former President Obasanjo who maneuvered Patricia E eh’s shortlived tenure at the Federal House of Representa ves as the Speaker.

The Two Problems

For us to become a force in poli cs, we

must take a look at two things and change it. One, we must examine our contribu on to failure in the poli cal arena. What is our contribu on? We fail because we do not build power from bo om up, we, women o en build power from top to bo om. Power must be organic to be sustained. No solid structural founda on are ever built from the top. Poli cs is about numbers and having a base. Mathema cally, numbers have base, and base are building blocks. Men build their base throughout life. They connect the numbers from kindergarten, through primary school, secondary school, through university, Church groups, township development associa ons, those they play tennis with, their beer drinking buddies, alumni associa on etc. What do we, women do? Once we get to secondary school, we abandon primary school friends. At the University, we forget those we knew from secondary school. At every step up, we leave the steps below una ended. No one builds power that way. No one wields influence by dealing with the present alone. The past may

come with baggage but there is a lot to gain from it, to navigate the present and plan for the future. Founda ons are fundamental to building anything of value and enduring. Disnguished ladies, look around you, women who have become leaders have mastered how to build power. Learn from them.

The second problem is that poli cal pares have managed to put us in silos. To understand this, think about the thing called “Woman Leader”. Why don’t we have “Man Leader”? Woman Leader is a clever crea on of otherness. In effect it is peripheral and a fringe label, useful as cheerleaders but not skilled enough to play. With the “Woman Leader” toga, men have created a debilitating bar on how far women can aspire within the party. To move forward, we must push for that concept to be reviewed and reinterpretated.

Does it ma er?

Yes! We ma er! Women ma er! How can there be progress, growth and development, where half of the popula on are deprived of opportunies? Closing the gender gap in the poli cal set up of Nigeria ma ers. The country’s perennial underachievement cannot be explained, or redressed, without factoring in, the gender gap. Increased female representa on is key to tackling the issue. If we take a deep dive into the fundamentals, the paucity of representa on has resulted in iner a. For example, the number of out of school females is staggering. Female child labor has a direct bearing on the burgeoning popula on growth rates, leading to increasing

“The Adeleke government must extend its coast and deepen the avenues for revenue generation. There is no alternative to doing so in the present tight fiscal situation. Imagination will be important here to tap new and hitherto neglected sources of revenue and focusing attention on the most valuable resource which is human capital

•Bamidele

Adeleke Laments Bad State Of Public Infrastructure In Osun

THE Governor of the State of Osun, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, has expressed shock on the poor state of public infrastructure in the state, promising to launch a 100-day infrastructure upgrade in due course.

Adeleke, who embarked on a tour of some schools and healthcare facili es in Osogbo on Monday, said he observed the deplorable condi ons of the infrastructures in many of the facili es visited.

During the tour, the Governor visited John Mackay Government Primary School in Oke Ayepe, whose access road was completely cut off

Adeleke had to trek to access the school where he found out that classrooms and other facili es were in shambles.

He decried the state of the school and wondered what could have happened to the reported expenditure that the past administra on claimed to have spent on upgrading infrastructure in public schools.

The Governor expressed his dissa sfacon on the fact that staff and students of the school were forced to stay under such terrible situa on, declaring that his administra on is ready to address the situa on and ensure conducive learning environment.

Adeleke also expressed his displeasure over the condi on of a Primary Healthcare Centre in Ota-Efun, Osogbo. The road leading to the PHC was inaccessible.

Also, bedding for pa ents was scanty, even as the ones in the healthcare centre were not in good shape. The healthcare centre is also lacking elementary testing kits and medicines.

The Governor promised to put in place mechanism to get the healthcare centres and every other public infrastructures in the state under be er condi ons to cater for the health need of the people of the state.

Adeleke said he has ambi ous programme

to upgrade the infrastructures in health, educa on, roads and water supply.

He said: “I have an ambi ous programme to upgrade Osun infrastructures across health, educa on, roads and water supply. This government will prove that good governance is possible with sincere leadership. My inspecon is to have a firsthand view in addi on to the field reports from my team.

“What I found in places visited are unacceptable. Our ci zens deserve be er in all respect. I am taking up that responsibility with clear goals and targets. We will fix Osun public infrastructures.”

Osun APC Loses Chieftain To PDP In Boripe LG

Aformer chie ain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, Prince John Abidoye, has defected to the ruling Peoples Democra c Party (PDP).

Abioye resigned his membership of the APC in a le er sent to the party Chairman in Ward 05, Aagba, Boripe Local Government.

Highligh ng some of the reasons why he le the APC, the legal luminary accused the immediate past governor, Adegboyega Oyetola of causing disunity in the party.

He noted that Oyetola delegated poli cal power to his beloved surrogate who brazenly and contemptuously used and abused the same across the state and in his Ward 05, Aagba in par cular.

A copy of the le er made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads in parts: “It is worthy to state that the reason for my resigna on ranges from unresolved division and disunity in the party across the State; blanket delega on of poli cal power by theformer Governor to his beloved surrogate who brazenly and contemptuously used and abused same across the state, Boripe Local Government and Ward 05, Aagba in par cular.

“This was to the extent of singlehanded removal of Ward 05 Chairman, Women Leader, imposi on of Councilor and other office holders against the decision and consensus of Ward lead-

ers.

“Worst of all was the shortchange and denial of Aagba of chairmanship slot a er Ororuwo based on the exis ng rota onal arrangement despite the resolu on of all the communi es including the Obas; technical disbandment of Boripe North LCDA Elders Caucus; nepo c and maltreatment

policies against Aagba in terms of substan ve poli cal appointment and slots into teaching, civil service, O’ Meal and O’ Yes under the immediate past government, including non-a endance of a single Aagba Day by any State representa ve in the last 12 years.

“For the above reasons and a er extensive

and due consulta ons with requisite leaders, stakeholders, my family members and supporters across the State, Boripe Local Government/LCDA and Ward 05, Aagba, I hereby resign and withdraw my membership from All Progressive Congress”.

In his no ce of return to the PDP, Abidoye said:

“I am wri ng to inform you of my return and reunity with Peoples Democra c Party. It is noteworthy to state that I was an ardent member of this great Party where I once served as a Special Adviser to the Governor on Legisla ve ma ers and State Assistant Legal Adviser of the Party before my sojourn”.

Akande Urges Osun APC Ag. Chairman To Embrace Aggrieved Members

FORMER Na onal Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, has urged the Ac ng Chairman of the party in the State of Osun, Prince Tajudeen Lawal, to embrace and unite all members of the party.

Akande charged Lawal to brace up and

face the challenges before him and the party to ensure that it bounces back in no distance me.

The former governor of the State of Osun gave the charge during a courtesy visit of the party chairman to his country home, in Ila-Orangun, last weekend.

Akande congratulated Lawal on his eleva-

on, just as he urged him to work hard and ensure all aggrieved members who are ready for reconcilia on are brought back into the fold.

OSUN DEFFENDER learnt that Akande and Lawal held a closeddoor mee ng which lasted for about three hours to discuss how to resolve the crisis in the

APC and way forward to achieve the stolen mandate of the party in the last governorship elecon.

Speaking with journalists a er the meeting, Lawal said his first point of call a er his announcement as the acting chairman of APC in the state was Akande.

He said: “I came to greet my father and to pay him a visit a er my pronouncement as ac ng chairman of the party in the state, and a lot were discussed concerning development of our party in the state and other poli cal issues.”

The ac ng Chairman said he will therea er be consul ng other leaders of the party on his task to reposi on the APC and unite his members.

He appealed the people of the state to be calm, saying that their party will come back victorious at the elecon pe on tribunal.

•Students of John Mackay Primary School, Osogbo, cheering the Governor during the his visit, on Monday

•Lawal with Chief Akande, after the meeting

Yusuf Oketola

Kazeem Badmus

Yusuf Oketola

There’s No State Of Anarchy In Osun, Group Declares

Yusuf Oketola

THE Coali on for Good Governance (C4GG), has dismissed the claim by a civil society group, Human Rights Writers Associaon of Nigeria (HURIWA), which claimed that there was anarchy in the State of Osun.

According to C4GG, there was no indica on that anarchy looms in Osun, as there was no breakdown of law and order in the state.

The group accused HURIWA of execu ng “a baseless hatchet job by falsely claiming that Osun is in a state of anarchy.

C4GG, in a statement by its Convener, Adetayo Adegbenle, on Tuesday, said HURIWA was reputed as “a blackmail pla orm which has commercialised advocacy ac vi es in favour of the highest bidder.”

The group wondered why an Abuja based group

can claim imminent break down of law and order in a peaceful state like Osun.

The statement reads

Adeleke Hopes High On IGR Improvement, Suspends Consultants

THE Governor of the State of Osun, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, has promised to block all leakages, no ng that the Internally Generated Revenue of the state must be improved.

Adeleke stated this during the inaugura on of the revenue committee set up by his administra on in Osogbo, on Monday.

He said his administra on will not condone a situa on whereby revenue agents are earning more than the state, tasking the commi ee to bring sanity into the revenue genera ng sector.

The Governor said: “At a me of moun ng cost of governance and high debt profile, the State cannot allow further loss of revenue to various economic parasites. I am, therefore, opening up on the following reali es to the good people of Osun state.

“My administra on will not condone a situa on whereby revenue agents are earning more than the state. All revenue inflow must go to the coffers of the state. We must then decide what will be the collecon fees to be paid the

revenue agents.

“Consequently, all revenue agents operating on behalf of the state must report to the commi ee immediately for new terms of engagement.

“I have reports of extensive illegal logging of precious woods without permit from the state government. Consequently, all logging permits such as hammer and concession permits are hereby suspended pending review by the commi ee.”

The Governor added that his administra on is in possession of report detailing low revenue returns and corrupt pracces across the control posts.

“Consequently, all consultants manning the control posts and collec ng haulage revenue are hereby suspended pending review by the revenue commi ee.”

“My administra on is direc ng a review of the Osun State Internal Revenue Service. The commi ee is therefore expected to review the opera ons of the agency and submit appropriate recommenda ons to increase internally generated revenue by substan al percentage.”

in

ernment that is restoring normalcy to Osun state.

“Osun residents are aware of the reign of ter-

ror imposed on the state by former government of Oyetola through his leading thug, Asiri Eniba.

“Residents of Osun state are aware of how daily raids on banks led to most major towns not having banking services and how Osogbo, the state capital, has many no-go areas. Osun witnessed glorifica on of thuggery to the extent that known thugs regularly featured on state boxes during state events.

“HURIWA, a one-man blackmailing pla orm did not bother to fact check Osun before accep ng an image laundering contract. The fact is that Osun was a war zone under Oyetola; the situa on only calmed down when Governor Ademola Adeleke took office.

“To confirm HURIWA’s shameless conduct, this is the first me a supposed human right group will ques on a police chief for exercising the powers of his office.”

My Life In Danger, Osun Traditional Ruler Cries Out

Ismaeel Uthman throne.

THE Olunlosin of Eko Ajala in Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State of Osun, Oba Sunday Akinwale, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba and the state government to protect him from some criminal elements who want to kill him.

Oba Akinwale said his life was in danger following incessant a acks on him by hoodlums and harassment by policemen.

The tradi onal ruler who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview on Thursday, accused a tradi onal ruler in the local government of complicity in what he called serial in mida on, harassment and a acks.

According to him, his life became threatened when he challenged his purported dethronement as the Olunlosin of Eko Ajala by the Elende of Eko-Ende, Oba AbdulRauf Olaniyan Ajiboye.

He said: “Last year, Elende said he removed me as Olunlosin and I went to the High Court to challenge that. Though he is the assenting authority, he lacks the power to dethrone any monarch. Only the government could de-

“Jus ce Ayo Oyebiyi was the presiding judge and he declined jurisdicon on the ma er. So, the case was struck out. I filed a stay of execuon and no ce of appeal immediately and every necessary person and authority was served.

“On December 19, 2021, precisely 3:17pm, some thugs, including Ekoende chiefs invaded my palace. I asked them what their mission was and they said they wanted to take over the palace. They said the court had already ruled against me, so I needed to vacate the palace.

“I told them I had appealed the High Court judgment and there was stay of execu on order; and that if they wanted to take over the palace, they should come with court order and police. They a acked me that day and inflicted injuries on me and my wife.

“I reported to the police and a er that, some people on Oba Ekoende side wrote a pe on against me to Zone XI. On December 23, my lawyers also wrote a pe on to Zone XI. Policemen arrested three suspects and those suspects were bailed by Oba Ekoende immediately a er their arrest.

“In May this year,

those people went to collect a court order from a Magistrate Court in Ikirun and they went to pack my property when I was out of the palace. I have been leaving in my personal house at Eko Ajala since then.

“I filed a case against them at the same Ikirun Magistrate Court to challenge their ac on. One of the people that came to pack my property out is s ll using my clothes and shoes ll now.

On November 27, around a er 12am, some policemen from anthuggery squad invaded my houses with guns and cutlasses. They entered through the ceiling. They ransacked my house, ar-

rested and handcuffed me behind.

“I was taken to a police sta on in Oke Onitea, Osogbo. At about 5am, a police officer came to have my statement. The police said the person occupying the Olunlosin palace now accused me of planning to a ack him during his corona on and I told them there was nothing like that. Hours later, the former Commissioner of Police called and told them to release me on bail.

“I have sent a memorandum to the chieftaincy commi ee set up by Governor Ademola Adeleke. The police are threatening me. My life is in danger.”

•Alhaji Murtala Agboola, former Administrative Manager of Moremi Publishing House Limited, Osogbo and his wife during the convocation of their daughter, Hikmot Agboola at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, recently

Kazeem Badmus

part: “We note with disgust HURIWA’s newest hatchet job to defend a police commissioner on

transfer with false narraves and with unfounded allega ons and insinuaons against a new gov-

•Oba Sunday Akinwale

Religion

INFINITE

thanks to Allah ta’ala for His blessings and favours over His creatures. May all prayers and blessings be upon Muhammad (SAW), who is His Prophet and the most beloved of His born servants, and who is in every respect the most exalted of all mankind that ever lived.

JUMAT SERMON JUMAT

SERMON

Faith Is Imperfect Without Morality Faith is such a power that keeps men away from low attributes and mean acts, and encourages him to achieve high attributes and clean morals. That is why whenever Allah calls his slaves towards virtue or whenever He wants them to hate evil, He declares it as an essential requirement of the Faith in their hearts. For example when He; in Surah Taubah, commands men to adopt righteousness and to speak truth, He addresses them as “O you who have faith” (or “O you who believe”) Fear Allah and be with the truthful people.” (Taubah 119).

By Imaam Raji, Musa Oladapo

By Imaam Raji, Musa Oladapo

Weakness Of Morals

Allah’s Messenger has nicely explained it that when faith is firm and belief is strong, then strong and lasting moral will be developed, and if the moral character is low, then faith will accordingly be weak. A man, who is immodest and ill-mannered and who adopts bad habits without caring for others, is like the person about whom the holy Prophet has said: “Modesty and faith are twins. One who gives up one has to lose the other too.”

Once the Prophet passed by an Ansari who was scolding his brother about his immodesty. The Prophet advised him to let him go as modesty was a branch of faith. A man who harasses his neighbour and makes him suffer any kind of damage is called cruel and stonehearted by the religion. In this connection, the decision of the Prophet is: “By God, he cannot be a Momin; by God, he cannot be a Momin; by God, he cannot be a Momin. He was asked: ‘who’ He answered: “He from whose misdeeds his neighbour is not safe.”(Bukhari).

The holy Prophet advises his companions to keep away from the talk that is trash, the acts that are wicked, and the deeds that are senseless. He says: “A person who believes in Allah and the Hereafter should speak about good things or else should keep quiet.”(Bukhari).

In this way, through the truth of faith and by means of its perfection, noble qualities are nurtured and developed and they are guarded and kept secure till they bear fruits.

Rows Disrupted, Hearts Sad, Prayers Tasteless

However, you will also find such people, who will be calling themselves Muslims, yet they will be lazy in offering compulsory prayers, and will be posing in the public as if they are very keen on establishing these prayers. But they will not lag behind at the same time in acting in such a way that will be contrary to the demands of the noble character and perfect faith. Such people have been warned by the holy Prophet and the Ummah has been asked to be careful of them.

A man who commits the mistake of performing the various forms of worship without understanding their significance can only be a man who had not understood the spirit of the worship or has been unable to rise to

that standard.

Many times, even a child can copy the movements of Salat and is able to repeat what is recited during the prayer. Sometimes, an actor also offers prayer with all humility and concentration and performs all the necessary rites.

But these kinds of movements do not benefit belief or meet the purpose. There is only one way of offering prayers in the best manner or performing other forms of worship that will never bring out wrong results, and that is: high moral character. Any person who has this attribute in him, his prayer is useful. But one who is deprived of this attribute, his worshipping is useless.

It is narrated by Imam Ahmed: “One person asked the Prophet: ‘O Messenger of Allah, a certain woman is very famous for her prayers, fasting and many charities, but she talks rudely with her neighbours. Tell me, what will be her fate?’ He replied that she would go to Hell. Then that person asked: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Another woman does not do much by way of prayers and fasting; gives pieces of cheese in charity and does not harm her neighbours.’ He replied: ‘She is of the Paradise.“

This reply gives an idea of the high value attached to good character. It also shows that charity is a collective prayer whose benefit reaches the society. For this reason, there is no room for any reduction in them. As Salat and Fasting are apparently individual forms of worship, a little relaxation-to a very little extent-is allowed in not making very elaborate arrangements about them.

The holy Prophet did not merely answer a casual question that explains the relationship between morality and the religion, He explains its connection with the correct forms of worship, and forms the basis of reform and improvement in the world and salvation in the next world. They are connected with each other and none can separate them. Who Is Poor?

One day, the Prophet asked his dear companions whether they knew who was poor. They answered that poor was one who had no dirham or

2023: Osun APM Sen. Candidate Promises Agricultural, Youth Empowerment Policies

AHEAD of the 2023 elec on, the senatorial candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement( APM), Osun Central Senato-

rial district, Wale Adebayo, has said he will priori se policies that will see to enhancement of agriculture and youth empowerment.

Adebayo, who is also the South-West Chairman of

Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), during the presenta on of his manifesto on Wednesday, in Osogbo, said his vision is to offer effec ve representa on.

The candidate said his policies will focus on agricultural and educa on reforms, youth development and ini ate policies to recalibrate governance.

According to him, in a bid to promote agriculture in his cons tuency, bills to support specialised training of farmers on contemporary farming techniques in rela on to tapping the

wealth lock within the agro, cash crop and animal husbandry value chains, will be presented for legisla ve scru ny and passage.

Adebayo also promised to seek support for farmers at the local government level by decentralising supply and as well distribute farming inputs and seedlings, improved grains, tractors, ploughs and irrigators.

He further added that part of his plans is the reforma on of educa on and electricity in his senatorial district.

dinar (money)’ He said: “In my Ummah, the poor is that man who would appear on the Day of the Judgment before Allah; he had offered prayer; he had paid Zakat; he had observed fast; but he would have abused somebody, he would have falsely accused someone; he would have unjustly taken someone else’s property; he would have murdered someone; would have hit somebody. All his virtues would be given to his victims. If his virtues are finished before his wicked deeds are finished, then the errors and sins of the victims would be given to him and he would be thrown into the Hell.” (Muslim). Such a man is really poor. His condition is like that trader who has goods worth one thousand rupees but he is a debtor for two thousand rupees. How can such a man be called rich?

A religious man who offers certain prayers or performs certain forms of worship, but even after that performs certain evil deeds, behaves rudely with the people, treats poor and helpless people cruelly, how then can such a man be called righteous?

The Prophet has explained by quoting an example. He said that the best moral character melts errors like water and bad morals spoil man’s record as vinegar spoils honey.

Identification of hypocrite

When wickedness is nourished in the self, and the loss caused by it has become manifest and the danger has increased, then that man has come out of his religion like a nude who has come out of his garments. At that time his claim of righteousness or faith would be false.

What will be the value of religiousness without good morality! How is it possible that a man should belong to Allah and at the same he should be a victim of corruption?

This relationship between faith and morality is clearly shown in the hadith of the holy Prophet: “The man who has these three habits is a hypocrite even if he observes fast, offers prayers, performs Umra (pilgrimage), and calls himself a Muslim: when be talks, he speaks untruth, when he makes a promise he does not keep it, and when he is given something in trust, he commits dishonesty.”( Muslim ).

In another narration, he has said:“There are three signs of a hypocrite: when he talks he speaks untruth, when he makes a promise he does not keep it, and when he makes a contract, he deceives, although he may be offering prayers, observing fast and calling himself a Mus1im.”

He has also said: “There are four habits, in whosoever they are, he will be a complete hypocrite. If anyone of these habits is found in a man, he will have one habit of disruption till he gives it up. When something is given to him in trust, he commits dishonesty, when he talks, he tells lies, when he makes a contract, he deceives, and when there is be quarrels, he starts abusing. (Bukhari).

•Shaykh Imam Zakariyah Sarumi is the Grand Imaam of Ipetu-Ijesa.

Crime

40-Yr-Old Man Arraigned For Allegedly Stealing IBEDC Prepaid Card In Osogbo

AAyomide Ibrahim pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him.

40-year-old man, Orji Uzor Kanu, has been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing a Prepaid Meter Card owned by the Ibadan Electricity distribu on Company (IBEDC), Osogbo office.

Kanu was arraigned before the court on a two-count charge of breach of peace and the

According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, the accused person commi ed the offence on September 2, 2022 at Awosuru area in Osogbo.

According to the police, the alleged offence contravened Sec ons 390 (E), 249 and 390 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Volume II, Laws of Osun State, 2003.

But the defendant

Defence counsel, Kasia Mobi Ngwoke prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on a liberal term, no ng that the offences he was charged with were bailable under the law.

In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, Abayomi Ajala, admi ed the defendant to bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety.

He therea er adjourned the case ll January 17, 2023 for hearing.

•L-R: Member, Osun Intercontinental Club, Mr. Tajudeen Solagbade; another member and Secretary to the Osun State Government, SSG, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye and president of the club, Alhaji Moshood Abioye, at the swearingin ceremony of Igbalaye as SSG, recently, in Osogbo

Suliyat Mustapha

OJO AYODELE ADENIKE That OJO AYODELE ADENIKE and ADENIYI AYODELE ADENIKE are the same, but now wish to be known and addressed as OJO AYODELE ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

•Adebayo

Sports

Six Players That Have Dominated World Cups

Sodiq Yusuf

ARGENTINA face France in the World Cup final on Sunday, with Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe, inspiring their respec ve na ons throughout the past month in Qatar.

Will the compe on be remembered as the ‘Messi World Cup’, with the Argenne finally li ing the trophy that has eluded him, or will Mbappe guide France to successive triumphs, following on from four years ago in Russia?

Here is an analysis of six other players who were instrumental in their country’s successes in previous years.

PELE, BRAZIL 1958

Pele was only 17 when Brazil went to the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, looking to win the tournament for the first me. Le out of his country’s opening two games, the forward then impressed in a 2-0 success over the Soviet Union and scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Wales in the quarter-final.

From then on, Pele was unstoppable. He grabbed a hat-trick in a 5-2 semi-final victory over France and two more goals in the 5-2 win over Sweden in the finalincluding a brilliant effort when he flicked the ball over a defender who had tried to cla er him with a knee-high challenge and then volleyed into the net.

That was to be the first of three World Cup tles for Pele, although he only featured in the opening two matches in 1962, before injury ruled him out. In 1970, though, he was at his very best, scoring four mesincluding Brazil’s first goal in the thrilling 4-1 final win over Italy.

MARIO KEMPES, ARGENTINA 1978

Argen na have won the World Cup twice and, on both occasions, one player has played a huge part in their triumph. In 1978, on home soil, it was Mario Kempes.

The Valencia striker had gone into the tournament on the back of being the top goalscorer in La Liga in two successive seasons and was the only player in Argenna’s squad not playing his football in the country.

Kempes failed to score in the first group phase, but in the second phase he shone with both goals in a 2-0 win over Poland, and the first and third in a 6-0 victory over Peru.

That took Argen na into the final and Kempes ne ed twice more, in a 3-1 win over the Netherlands in Buenos Aires, as he not only helped his country to their

first success, but also ended up as the tournament’s top goalscorer and its best player.

PAOLO ROSSI, ITALY 1982G

Going into the 1982 World Cup in Spain, Italy striker Paolo Rossi had only just returned to ac on a er a two-year ban for his part in a match-fixing scandal in Serie A, with na onal manager Enzo Bearzot cricised in the Italian media for selec ng him.

But a er a poor start, the striker sparkled against Brazil by scoring a brilliant hat-trick in a match Italy had to win to reach the semi-finals. He followed that with both goals in the 2-0 semi-final victory that saw off Poland, and ne ed Italy’s first in the 3-1 final win over West Germany.

Rossi’s six goals saw him clinch the Golden Boot as the top goalscorer and the Golden Ball for player of the tournament.

DIEGO MARADONA, ARGENTINA 1986

Captain Diego Maradona led by example in 1986 as he helped Argen na win their second World Cup in the Mexico showpiece. A first goal came against Italy in a 1-1 draw to help Argen na win the group.

In the quarter-finals, he scored twice to eliminate England 2-1. The first was the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal - when Maradona punched the ball past Peter Shilton - but the second is regarded as one of

the best World Cup strikes of all me, as he picked up the ball inside his own half, before producing an incredible, weaving run through the England defence and bea ng Shilton.

He followed that with two more stunning goals in the 2-0 semi-final win over Belgium, and was then instrumental in the drama c 3-2 final win over West Germany.

With five goals and five assists to his name, Maradona was a runaway winner of the Golden Ball for being the compe on’s best player.

ZINEDINE ZIDANE, FRANCE 1998

Skilful midfielder Zinedine Zidane was the poster boy for France’s

1998 World Cup, which they hosted.

He made a great start with an assist for his country’s first goal of the tournament, scored by Christophe Dugarry in a 3-0 win over South Africa.

Zidane was then instrumental as they took the lead against Saudi Arabia, but later sent off in the 4-0 win and missed France’s third group game against Denmark, as well as the nervy 1-0 extra- me victory over Paraguay in the last 16.

But he returned in style, scoring in the penalty shootout to see off Italy in the quarter-finals and then helping his side to a 2-1 semi-final win over Croa a.

In the final, Zidane scored two headers in a

3-0 win over Brazil, and his performances earned him a place in the team of the tournament. Two years later, he was named the best player at Euro 2000, which France also won.

Ronaldo, Brazil - 2002

That 1998 final was expected to be the greatest moment for Brazil striker Ronaldo. However, he suffered a seizure before the match and was originally not named in the line-uponly to then start, but fail to make an impact in a 3-0 loss to France.

A serious knee injury in 1999 threatened to end his career, but what followed was one of football’s greatest comeback stories. In the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan, Ro-

naldo was sensa onal as he put his nightmare of four years earlier behind him, with eight goals in seven matches.

He got four goals in the three group matches - one in a 2-1 win over Turkey, another in a 4-0 thrashing of China and two in an easy 5-2 win over Costa Rica. Then came one in the 2-0 last-16 victory over Belgium, the only goal in the 1-0 semi-final success against Turkey and both in the 2-0 win over Germany in the final.

Ronaldo ended up as top goalscorer and no player has scored more in a World Cup since, although both Messi and Mbappe remain in conten on to do that this year.

Oyetola Took N18bn Loan After Losing Election – Adeleke

Kazeem Badmus

GOVERNOR Ademola Adeleke of the State of Osun, yesterday, alleged that former governor Adegboyega Oyetola took a Bridge Facility Loan of N18bn a er losing the July 16 governorship elec on.

Adeleke stated this just as he said the official debt profile of the state submi ed by the Accountant General as of November 30th, 2022, was N407.32bn.

Adeleke made this known while hos ng tradi onal rulers at the State Secretariat, Abere, State of Osun.

According to the governor, N331bn was borrowed in the name of the State with no obvious infrastructural development to jus fy it.

He noted that the state owes N76bn in salaries and pension despite the last administra on

collec ng N50bn Salary Bail Out Loan from the Federal Government.

Adeleke added that his administra on inherited eight loan facili es apart from the salaries and pension debts, noting that most of the loans were taken a er the immediate past governor lost his re-elec on bid.

The Governor said: “My administra on inherited eight outstanding loan facili es, apart from salaries and pension debts, from Governor Oyetola’s administra on. The repayment period ranges from 16 months to about 28 years.

“Governor Oyetola must explain how the N331bn borrowed in the name of Osun State was expended, with no obvious infrastructural development to jus fy this huge debt.

“Governor Oyetola must explain how the N18bn bridge loan taken

a er he lost the elec on on July 16, 2022, was expended.

“Governor Oyetola must also explain why Osun state is owing salaries and pension to the tune of N76bn a er collec ng N50bn Salary Bail Out Loan from the Federal Government”.

Reac ng to the development, Oyetola’s Media Aide, Ismail Omipidan, said the former governor

did not borrow a dime throughout his four years tenure, saying the news further exposed Governor Adeleke’s lack of understanding of governance.

He said Oyetola’s government got N3bn from the federal government as budget support, which according to him were never loans.

“I insist for the umpteenth me that my prin-

cipal never took any loan facility for the four years he used in office. The claim by the new governor shows clearly that he lacks understanding of how government is run.

“If you go to my principal welfare address he stated it clearly, that like every other state, we benefi ed N3billion on monthly basis for six months from the Federal Government as budget support. This money was given to all the 36 states of the federa on without reques ng. You can not categorize that as loan”, he stated.

PUBLIC NOTICE

MRS. ODETOLA DEBORAH ANUOLUWAPO That I was formerly known and addressed as MISS DARAMOLA DEBORAH ANUOLUWAPO. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. ODETOLA DEBORAH ANUOLUWAPO. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

•Adeleke.

40-Yr-Old Man Arraigned For Allegedly Stealing IBEDC Prepaid Card In Osogbo

AS a people, we had for a very long me ignorantly assumed that only those who wear rags and display psycho c disorder in public were mad and that those who properly dressed and going about their “normal ac vi es” were sane. However, available facts and figures have negated such assump on. As a ma er of fact, there are corporate luna cs who dress and look beau ful but their eccentric value has no border.

On Sunday, September 11, 2022, in an interview granted to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the President of the Associa on of Psychiatrists in Nigeria (APN) and Chairman, Faculty of Psychiatry, West African College of Physicians, Nigeria Chapter, Taiwo Obindo, said, “Mental healthcare is in a sorry state given that we have more than 60 million Nigerians and the fact that only about 10% suffering from various mental illnesses are able to access appropriate care.” He submi ed that the number of mental health prac oners was very low as it fell very below World Health Organisa on (WHO) recommended rao and that the socio-economic situaon, insecurity among other factors, have con nued to force these few to be leaving Nigeria in droves for be er pay abroad. Before Obindo revela on, WHO had said in 2019, “One in four Nigerians suffers from mental illness.”

While this ra o one to four (1:4) is alarming, situa ons on ground suggest that it will con nue to rise except some immediate measures are taken to arrest it. For instance, Na onal Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) rou nely intercepts illicit drugs substances like heroin, methamphetamine, codeine syrup, pills of tramadol, diazepam, rohypnoletc being consumed by a significantly disturbing percentage of the youth, especially. Meanwhile, there are eight federal neuropsychiatric hospitals in Nigeria with dire budget and grossly under staffed as there are less than 150 psychiatrists in the country of over 200 million people. Li le wonder that there are daily increasing reportage of various vices and cases of depression and suicides across the country. Only last weekend, 10 December, 2022, Nigeria Police arrested one Isa Nana Okpoku, a 75 years old man at Daddare Development Area, Obi Local Government Area in Nasarawa State for raping his FOUR years old niece. The Police Command Public Rela ons Office, DSP Ramham Nansel in Lafia said the suspect took ad-

“If more than one-fourth of our population could be suffering from various mental illnesses, the propensity of a Governor, Senator and even President emerging from the crazy segment is very high”

Nigeria: Probing Mental Illness

vantage of his innocent niece residing in the same house, lured the vic m into his room and willfully had unlawful carnal knowledge of the baby with doctor confirma on of broken hymen when she was taken to the hospital. On the 3rd September, 2022, Ogun State Police Command arrested Amoda Bola, a 49year-old father for impregna ng his 14 years old biological daughter. According to the Command PRO, SP Abimbola Oyeyemi, the suspect, a resident of Idi Oro street, Ode Remo, but an indigene of Isara-Remo, was arrested a er his pregnant daughter made a report at Ode Remo Divisional Headquarters. There are numerous reported and unreported cases of such vices by private ci zens on a daily basis across the land.

On the highways, crazy behaviours of the motorists and cyclists to traffic rules and regula ons have resulted into unnecessary accidents and deaths and more o en. Increasing and widespread incidences of alterca ons on very flimsy

ma ers, which could result to violence, are confirma on of Obindo and WHO asser ons.

Behavioural pa erns of majority of the ruling poli cians who are wrongly called leaders a est to our mental health challenges as how could they be deriving happiness in inflic ng avoidable pains on the people who voted them into power contrary to their promises when seeking their mandates and oaths of office? How could they be increasing poverty index via stealing of public money meant for public welfare under their care on a regular basis and same voters con nue to vote for them having taken s pends of their stolen money before vo ng? Stealing money could be understood and be labeled as the but stealing humongous propor on that their four genera ons could not exhaust while majority of the people whose money they con nue to steal and largely responsible for their pathe c situa on could hardly afford a meal per day is a demonstra on of mu-

tual craze. The maddening behaviour is stretched to the extent of reported cases of warehousing public stolen money in soakaway and sep c tanks deliberately built for such madness. More o en, the money gets mu lated and rendered useless!

If more than one-fourth of our popula on could be suffering from various mental illnesses, the propensity of a Governor, Senator and even President emerging from the crazy segment is very high. Hence, the Independent Naonal Electoral Commission (INEC), must henceforth, make part of its condi ons for a candidate of all poli cal par es, cer ficate of mental worthiness from any of the eight federal neuropsychiatric hospitals in Nigeria. Whereas obtaining a cer ficate of road worthiness for road unworthy vehicle is possible by Nigerians, obtaining cer ficate of mental worthiness fraudulently by mentally sick poli cians must be made prac cally impossible. The electoral law must be amended to accommodate this with s ff penalty of long term imprisonment without op on of fine for violators of this condi on either by the psychiatrists, poli cians/poli cal par es or conspiracy by both. It is easier for an upright leadership to manage mad people; it is a disaster to have luna cs in leadership. In the long run, more neuropsychiatric hospitals should be built, well funded with adequate staff. Any society with neuropsychiatric status like ours without fran c efforts to reverse it is doomed as development and be er life will elude it.

The Wages Of Alienation

“ HOW e take concern me?” is one of the popular sayings of the typical Nigerian. Another prominent one, a selfish prayer, is “however much they sell it, May God just provide me with the means.” These are signs of loss of hope in social processes and tendencies towards self-help in pursuit of “happiness” largely to the detriment of others. We forget that no man is an island in the society and the consequences of individual disposi ons and ac ons, even at the family level, inevitably reverberate all around the community and the na on at large.

Arriving at this nega ve, self-centred temperament did not happen in a day. In summary, government not based on taxaon but almost en rely on oil money is basically the cause. Government ought to be based on taxa on on the produc ve efforts of its empowered ci zens at the local government level, which is supposed to be the founda on of state and na onal government. Two factors, the discovery and explora on of crude oil and military rule that centralised the federa on into a unitary state, did devasta ng damages to democracy and produc vity. The civilian elite, dominated and redesigned by the military juntas, became reliant and selfsa sfied to centrally collect the oil rent money and simply distribute to selves and spend as they wish at the federal, state, and local government levels.

Whatever projects they deem fit to

throw around in their “magnanimity” are seen as “government” projects: government schools, government roads, government stadia, government transformers, government houses, government this and government that; there is neither sense of ownership by the ci zens (as individuals or as community). Oil money was used to execute them and not taxes from people’s produc ve engagement. The oil money is not seen as proceeds from the explora on of our common patrimony, oil money belongs to government and not the people; and the elite sustained that false narra ve.

A er military rule, their civilian twins - along with fellow military brass now in flowing robes - ins tuted a democracy based on a cons tu on that retains all the elements of unitary and dictatorial rule in which THE PEOPLE (men oned three mes in the popular defini on of democracy) are removed from having a voice in determining government policies but reduced to mere voters in pre-manipulated elec on processes. The end result remains the same as under military rule, with only the grace of absence of naked brutality.

THE MAJORITY can be subs tuted for THE PEOPLE in defining democracy. However, the import remains the same. The majority in any society remains the workers, students, women, children, ar sans, farmers, traders, etc - the masses in gen-

eral. The elite who are the most connected, exposed, successful, educated and rich cons tute a minority whose interests also ma er BUT WHOSE INTERESTS HAVE NOW BEEN TURNED TO THE DOMINANT INTEREST against the spirit and le ers of democracy. The clear outcome is underdevelopment and na onwide distress.

Democracy, however disfigured, s ll offers the best opportunity for THE PEOPLE to redress the social contract of Democracy. Of course, widespread poverty and ignorance make the goal challenging indeed. Nevertheless, organisa ons of the masses need to wake up from their slumber and take on the challenges of redefining democracy - in form and content. The wages of aliena on are increasing poverty and ignorance with consequent escala on in crime and violence to the propor on of insecurity challenges worse than even what is being witnessed today.

Only a return to true federa on (in which every federa ng state is autonomous with what it owns); ci zen producvity on a massive scale; and taxa on for governance by a government elected truly by the majority; can restore prosperity and guarantee law and order. Only then can we say bygone to the days of ethnicity, religious bigotry and all forms of extremism and, as a genuine FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, finally realise the goal of our na onal mo o: unity and faith, peace and progress.

STRIKER Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above