Osun Defender Online Version of February 17, 2023

Osun APC Approaching Gen. Elections With A Divided House – Findings

Ismaeel Uthman

THE internal crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the State of Osun is yet to be se led, findings have revealed.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that former governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s camp known as IleriOluwa and loyalists of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, are yet to close ranks a week to the general elec ons.

This is happening in spite of the dissolu on of The Osun Progressives (TOP), a group populated by Aregbesola’s loyalists in December 2022.

Findings revealed that while some of the Na onal and House of Assembly candidates of the APC are reaching out to members of the defunct TOP individually, the APC leadership has not made moves to integrate Aregbesola’s loyalists into the party.

According to inves gaons, the leadership of the party has not also reached out to the former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeo , as of the me of filing this report yesterday.

The medium noted that comments and reac ons of younger members of both IleriOluwa and defunct TOP camps on the January 27 tribunal judgement exposed the yet-to-be resolved differences among leaders of the party.

“There is s ll this sharp division within the party, and I am afraid it is not going to end soon”, said an APC chie ain who craved anonymity.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday, the Chairman of defunct TOP, Rev’d. Lowo Adebiyi claimed that nothing much has changed since the dissolu on of the group, noting that Aregbesola and his loyalists were s ll being

treated as outcast by the leadership of the party.

Adebiyi noted that APC leadership in the state has not been rela ng with Aregbesola’s tendency before and a er The Osun Progressives was dissolved.

“Ever since we dissolved TOP, the party has not reached out to our tendency, not to talk of inia ng any integra on process. There has not been any mee ng between the leadership of the party and our tendency since we dissolved TOP in December 6, 2022 ll now.

“The party did not invite us to anything, including the campaign ac vi es for the presiden al candidate pf the party. Some few weeks back, I was called by somebody who informed me that my name had been added to the Presiden al Campaign Council in Osun. That is the only thing I know about that, nothing more since then.

“What are we even talking about? The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was not even included in the campaign team, not to talk of invi ng him to par cipate in any of the party’s ac vi es.

“TOP was dissolved to create pla orm for genuine reconcilia on, with the hope that the leadership of the party will embrace the posi ve move and begin poli cs of inclusiveness, but that is not happening. The party is not rela ng with us at all.”

Reac ng, the Director of Media of the APC, Chief Kola Olabisi, dismissed the report that the party is approaching elec on with a divided house.

According to Olabisi, Osun APC is a united house and everybody is being carried along in the party programmes.

He said: “Everybody saw the dissolu on of TOP as a welcome development. But the party at the State level said anybody returning to

the mainstream of the party should go back to his/her ward.

“There is no ques on of not carrying anybody along. Everyone is welcome. Poli-

cs is a game of numbers. There is only one party Secretariat in Osun and anyone who is a member should approach the Secretariat. Nobody will turn them back.

“I didn’t agree that APC is approaching the elecon with divided house because the party is one in Osun. There was never a me APC was divided in

the state.

“Whoever claim he is not being carried along should show up at the party secretariat or ward mee ng.”

Cash Crunch: Ooni Solidarises With Nigerians, Postpones Aje Festival

Yusuf Oketola

THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has postponed the 2023 annual Aje fesval indefinitely over scarcity of new naira notes.

A statement by Ooni’s Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare, on Tuesday, indicated that the decision was taken a er a mee ng of the Ife Tradi onal Council, in rela on to the current challenges facing the country.

The statement reads in part: “The decision to postpone the prominent Aje fes val is in solidarity with Nigerians especially the scarcity of naira notes, fuel and other basic needs that should have made life be er for all.

“The Ooni is concerned as a father and he has held mee ngs with Iyalaje Oodua, Princess Dr Toyin Kolade who is the Fes val Coordinator and other relevant stakeholders

to ensure that things get fixed as he connues to pray for the country.

“A new date will be announced to the public shortly a er the forthcoming presiden-

al elec on.”

Aje fes val is a prominent fes val in Yoruba land par cularly Ile-Ife, to celebrate and enlighten the people about the spirit of wealth and prosperity.

720 Osun Central Students Receive Bursary Awards

TSodiq Yusuf students will go a long way to improve educa on and encourage knowledge and research in the area.

HE candidate of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) in Osun Central Senatorial District in the forthcoming general elec ons, Olubiyi Fadeyi, on Wednesday, doled out bursary award worth N18.5m to 720 students across the 10 local governments of the district.

Beneficiaries of the award were drawn from students in 100 level, final year undergraduates, masters and those on their doctorate degree programmes.

Fadeyi while speaking at the programme noted that the gesture was to assist the students, par cularly in their various researches (projects), during the final lap of their respec ve programmes.

The senatorial candidate reassured the students and other residents of Osun Central Senatorial District of his resolve and pledge to deliver on his manifesto for the common good of the people.

He said: “This ini a ve is part of my agelong wish to deliver the mandate of qualita ve and effec ve representa on to the people of Osun Central Senatorial District. I am of the firm belief that assis ng these

“The essence of this bursary is to assist the people to acquire the best legacy, educa on. You have to be well read and properly educated to be whatever you may want to be in life.

“If elected, 200 students from each of the 10 local governments of Osun Central Senatorial District will receive bursary awards.

“This programme is inspired by the fact that my father himself was a teacher who also strived to touch and impact lives when he was alive. This is the thread I’m going on.

“If elected, we will facilitate more dividends of democracy for our people in health, employment opportuni es, yearly bursary, empowerment for women and children as well as support for sectors of Osun Central.”

In his remarks, the Personal Assistant on Poli cal Ma ers to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Hon. Babatunde Badmus urged the people of Osun Central to support Fadeyi’s ambi on, sta ng that the PDP is commi ed to delivering good governance to the people.

Badmus assured that a vote for PDP candidate is a complement to the mandate of Governor Adeleke to rapidly develop Osun State and make government work for them.

Other speakers at the event including Alhaji Muniru Raji and Barrister Kolapo Alimi also re-echoed the need to vote for PDP, saying that will bring succour to the hardship being faced by Nigerians.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, four beneficiaries of the bursary award, Mrs Cecila Aroyehun, a Master’s Student studying Parasitology at the Osun State University, Micheal Adio who is on his Ph.D in Computer Engineering at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Ayobami Adebisi, a final year student of Philosophy Department, Obafemi Awolowo University and Rofiyat Awotayo, a final year undergraduate of Poli cal Science from Osun State College of Educa on, Ilesa, appreciated the senatorial hopeful for the gesture.

They promised to make judicious use of the award, while urging the people of Osun Central Senatorial District to vote for Fadeyi in next week’s general elec on.

•Governor Ademola Adeleke in a group photograph with members of the State of Osun House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Timothy Owoeye, during a courtesy visit to the Governor, on Monday

•Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi

EACH genera on must discover its mission, fulfill it or betray it, in rela ve opac - Franz Fanon

The observa on of the psychiatrist poli cal analyst, Franz Fanon, comes back to the fore as we navigate a decisive week ahead and understand the import of the address by President Muhammadu Buhari to the na on yesterday.

The speech was more of a na on of the address rather than a rou ne broadcast, it edified the authority of the president and soothed the frayed nerves of a na on on edge. Kudos to Mr President.

The president was honest enough to admit that there is a lot wring and apologised to the na on. The intellectual honesty shown is highly commendable and the media team should emulate.

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday morning, in a na onwide broadcast, Thursday, February 16, 2023, directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to release old N200 notes into circula on to co-exist with new N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes for 60 days.

The president, however, said old N500 and N1,000 banknotes are no

Because if the absence of scenario planning as well the inadequacy of project management what should have been a currency swap is now been interpreted as a confisca on of the medium of exchange demonstra ng a pathe c communica on muddle up.

Things must change and strategic ins tu ons of the state have to be rebuilt, star ng with the methods of recruitment and selec on.

ment’s monetary policy and on the other hand naviga ng the twists and turns of the poli cal season. The two of course are interwoven.

longer legal tender in Nigeria.

The president in his address was taking on issues as it were on two fronts. In the first instance, he was jus fying the thrust of the govern-

The president as a pointer to the future should have focused on and indeed emphasised the failure of ins tu ons. Ins tu ons and regulatory agencies in par cular have not lived up to expecta ons. The painful unintended circumstances of this is the misdirected aggression which has led to mayhem on the streets in several states, resul ng in the loss of lives and economic disloca on. All of this should have been avoided.

The president correctly emphasised that all ci zens should be up and doing and exercise their civic responsibili es in next week’s elecon. He is right, next week should be a decisive turning point for the na on, it is an opportunity for a rebirth by examining the op ons available to achieve a more equitable society anchored on social jus ce.

The President’s Speech Review and Outlook Notes And Observations On A Week Ahead

As we match on those who might wish to use the current dishevelment to truncate the democra c process must be prevented from doing so. The security services must be eternally vigilant and proac ve. We wish the republic well in the momentous weeks ahead and advise eternal vigilance to safeguard our hard worn democracy.

IT has not been an inspiring presi-

den al campaign in any way. This does not come as a surprise. The poli cal economy that is entrenched now is based on a patron and client rela onship, the poli cal forma ons (they can hardly be described as poli cal par es) are a reflec on of this.

Not based on ideologies or any discernable thrust of philosophy, they postulate the established “it is our turn to eat” veneer garnished with seasonings of tribe and religion. All of which represents the perennial fault lines.

Mercifully, hard daun ng reality has seeped in influencing the direcon of the discourse. There is now a general (reluctant?) acceptance that the state in Nigeria as presently cons tuted is unsustainable. In the conven onal wisdom pharos borne out of self preserva on, other is now an acceptance of the need to move from consump on which includes primi ve accumulaon into produc on. For this belated awakening we should be grateful.

The fog of uncertainty reflects our very backward uncompe ve framework. Unlike the Republic of South Africa and Kenya for example, the country does not have established structured and reputable opinion polling companies to guide those observing the trend and the current. This tells its own story about an uncompe ve economy dominated by oligarchs, poli cal merchants and cozy relaonships all interwoven in - restraint - of - trade fleecing the consumer.

The sort of economy we have cannot develop data-driven mar-

•Tinubu.•Atiku•Obi•Kwankwaso

ket research that will lead to acceptable, respected opinion polls. What we have now is a reflecon of this, guess es mates in the place of opinion polls. In so many ways we are so very much behind.

The winner of the elec on is unlikely to get more than 34% of the vote. Once the cons tu onally required spread is obtained across the geo-poli cal zones it’s all over bar the shou ng.

A run-off is certainly not on the horizon. This is because the two dominant par es have the structures on the ground across the country to get the desired “spread”.

All well and good? The lacuna is the inconvenient proposi on of having to take brutal unpopular but inevitable decisions with such a ny mandate. As is now the conven onal wisdom whoever wins will be inheri ng a poisoned chalice.

In such a situa on, alliances

should be formed to achieve na onal cohesion. Unfortunately, our spoils sharing system precludes this. Which

OSUN DEFENDER

Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd.

Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman

Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa

Reporter – Yusuf Oketola

Reporter – Kazeem Badmus

Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto

Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere

means that there will be no popular front or a government of na onal unity. Decisions long delayed and postponed will now have to be taken without the necessary naonal cohesion. Let’s brace up for bizarre twists and turns ahead with luck we might avoid a cataclysm. It will be stormy weather.

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

ISSN : 0794-8050

Telephone : 0809-301-9152

Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php

e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com osundefenderbank@gmail.com

All correspondence to the above email addresses.

The campaign has not answered the queson “wherein the crises in Nigeria lie” star ng from li ga on and disputes a er the day if the elec on and with a frac ous Na onal Assembly it will have to be answered in full measure. It is going to be a na onal awakening to painful reality.

“As we match on those who might wish to use the current dishevelment to truncate the democratic process must be prevented from doing so. The security services must be eternally vigilant and proactive.”

Kanmi Ademiluyi

4 Cash Crunch: POS Business Crumbling, As Petty Traders Lament Low Patronage

Ismaeel Uthman

THE Mobile Money business popularly known has Point of Sales (POS) is crumpling in the State of Osun, inves ga ons have revealed.

Majority of the people in the business have abandoned it following their inability to access cash, owing to the lingering cash crunch induced by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

OSUN DEFENDER observed that many kiosks and containers being used by the mobile money operators have been shut in Osogbo, Ikirun, Iree, Ilesa, Ife, Ede and Iwo.

This is just as few of the POS operators have been placing high charges on their transac ons, ranging between 10 and 25 percent on the amount being given out.

Besides, inves ga ons have revealed that some traders, supermarkets, wholesale business owners and others who are being paid in cash by their customers are selling the money to needing individuals.

According to reports, some Hausas in Osogbo were sending their cash as goods to their rela ves and other persons in the northern part of the country.

Before the prac ce, OSUN DEFENDER learnt that the Hausas were collec ng N5,000 on N100,000 cash being given to POS operators.

Findings by this medium also revealed that some filling sta ons a endants and managers were collec ng ‘charges’ on the cash being given out to the mobile money operators.

However, the unavailability of cash and the stress associated with ge ng from the few in circula on have forced majority of the POS operators to shut down.

A POS operator in Ede, Mrs. Dorcas Agboola, claimed that she has suspended her business because of the cash cruch.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, Agboola, said, “We don’t have access to money again. Unlike before that we can get cash at banks, filling sta ons and traders, there is no money anywhere to run the business again. We spend hours at bank just to get N10,000 which is not even enough to buy things for myself.

“Ever since the scarcity of naira begun, I have not for once operate my terminal. I have suspended the business for now. Withdrawal transac on is the heartbeat of POS business and when you don’t have money to pay people, it is be er you close your shop.”

Speaking with the medium, another POS operator in Ila, Mr. Segun Akintayo, said

•95 Percent Of Mobile Money Agents Don’t Have Cash To Work Again – Chairman

he goes to Osogbo everyday to get cash from his friends and rela ves who are traders. He said: “There is no gain in the POS business again. This cashless policy is killing the business. We have no cash again to give to the people. I go to Osogbo everyday to get cash from my people there, at the end of the day, I will be returning with N60,000 or N70,000. It has never exceeded that. Now tell me, how do you want to survive such situaon?

“People should just stop blaming POS operators for their current charges on transac on. In my own case, how do I get my transport fare and make profit if I do not increase the charges?

Some people are even selling money to us. It is that bad. “Our own case is even worse; we don’t have banks at all here. The few filling sta ons in the town are not making sales. We don’t have anywhere to get cash.

“Go round Ila, you will see that almost all the POS

kiosks and containers are closed. The operators have shut down. Few of us that are opera ng are just roughing it, hoping that things will change. POS business is now in a mess.

Agents with cash for transac on, because these agents are the one supplying cash to the hinterlands.

will return to the society.”

Pe y Traders Lament

Low Patronage

she refused because she did not have a bank account.

95

Percent Of Mobile Money Agents Not Working

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, the Chairman, Associa on of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria, State of Osun chapter, Comrade Alli Akeem, lamented that the POS business was on the verge of total collapse.

Akeem said: “The cash crunch has badly hit our business. The Central Bank of Nigeria does not get this policy right because it does not carry necessary segment of the financial society along. Most of our agents are not opera ng now because they have no access to cash.

“The CBN needs to come up with plan on how to be providing the Associa on of Mobile Money and Bank

“As am I talking to you, 95 per cents of agents in Osun are not opera ng due to the cash crunch. We don’t have access to cash and that has crippled our business. The people are lamen ng too.

“However, we are holding mee ngs with CBN and we hope that our deliberaons will be posi ve at the end of the day.”

Speaking on the high charges on transac ons by few POS operators, Akeem said: “Our agents are not the one over-charging the people. Those over charging people are money merchants. We have condemned that prac ce.

“Some people have access to cash and they sell it to those you called POS operators. Those are the persons making it difficult for their fellow men and women. The solu on is that CBN should allow us to have access to cash and normalcy

The scarcity of cash has taken away smiles from the face of pe y traders whose daily ac vi es revolved around exchange of money.

Foodstuffs sellers, hawkers and other traders whose capitals are bellow N50,000 have lamented that the cashless policy has reduced their sale as their customers no longer have cash to patronize them again.

Some of the pe y traders at Oluode, Igbonna, OjaOba, Sasa, Akindeko and Otaefun markets in Osogbo, urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to release enough money to the circula on, saying that their trades and livelihood are being threatened.

A tomato seller at Otaefun, Mrs Bamiwo Akinrinade, said her daily sales of between N8,000 and N11,000 have reduced to less than N5,000.

According to her, some of her customers wanted to pay through transfer which

NPC Seeks Media Partnership In Creating Awareness, Success Of 2023 Census

Sodiq Yusuf

THE Na onal Populaon Commisssion (NPC) has declared that the 2023 Popula on and Housing Census will meet up with expecta ons of the people and produce desirable results.

A Federal Commissioner of the NPC in Osun, Sen. Mudasiru Husain, on Wednesday, maintained that the PHC will be a total departure from that of 2006 census, promising that the exercise will be hitch free.

Husain who was represented by the Head of Administra on of the commission in the state, Mr. Saka Fatade, at a One-Day State Level Capacity Building Workshop for Journalists in Osun on Effec ve Repor ng of the 2023 Popula on and Housing Census, urged the media to partner the commission in enabling the people to fully key into the headcount programme.

The former federal lawmaker assured residents of Osun that the NPC has put all logis cs in place to ensure a seamless exercise.

“We are ready to give to Nigerians a credible and transparent Na onal Popula on and Housing Census. As I speak, we have secured all necessary logis cs and materials to make the 2023 census a

hitch-free exercise. We have trained and s ll in the process of training our adhoc and full- me staff on the exercise. We are sure that the census will be a successful and acceptable one.

“We have the mandate of Mr. President and our Chairman, Hon. Isa Kwarra to give Nigerians credible sta s cs needed for naonal planning. We must however not let them down. This is a fully digital census and we are not sparing any effort to do things the way Nigerians would want and accept it.

“We want the media to partner with us. We urge you to be fair, balanced and accurate in your reportage of the census exercise. We want you to also educate our people the more on the processes involved so as to ensure that all of us are on the same page”.

The workshop featured five papers which centered on History of Popula on Census in Nigeria, How to Generate Media Contents for the 2023 P.H.C, Processes and Methodologies for the 2023 P.H.C, Enumera on Area Demarcaon for the 2023 P.H.C as

well as Technological Innova ons in the 2023 P.H.C.

The Head of the Technical Department of the NPC in Osun, Mrs Moradeyo Adeoye noted that the commission has aligned with all network providers in the country to ensure a hitch-free exercise.

Adeoye added that the commission is fully ready for the exercise, while adhoc staff will be recruited electronically.

The 2023 Na onal Popula on and Housing Census holds from March 29 to April 1st, 2023.

She said: “This policy is affec ng us; we don’t make sales again. The unavailability of cash is crippling our trade; people don’t have money to buy things again. Majority of our customers and other people will want to pay you through transfer, even when they buy less than N1000 goods.

“Unfortunately, some of us don’t have banks or POS machines. Some that received transfers from their customers are complaining that it did not drop. It is difficult for us to account for our money at the end of the day, and we don’t have cash to go and buy goods as we used to do.”

Mrs. Folashae Bello, a provision seller at Oja-Oba, Osogbo, lamented that the cash crunch has reduced her sales.

She said: “Ini ally, I was receiving transfer from people but it got to a point that I did not have cash to go to market again. So, I decided not to be accep ng transfer as method of payment again, and that has made me to lose some customers, but what can I do.

“Transfer payment is stressful because the internet and individual’s banks services are also frustrating. My account may not be credited for almost a day a er transfer was made. I have lost about N15,000 to dispute on transfer transacon and I cannot con nue in that way. The bank charges are also killing.

“The government should please release enough money to the circula on. People are hungry; we are not making sales again because there is no cash.”

Lamen ng what she describe as ‘temporary joblessness’ , a food vendor, Mrs. Kafayat Ilori, said her business has folded up because of the unavailability of cash.

She said: “I hawk food around the neighbourhood in the a ernoon and I have been doing that for the past five years. But it is unfortunate that this scarcity of cash has forced me to disconnue the business. Majority of my customer ate food and said they would pay me when they have cash. This is the second week and some of them are yet to pay. The money I collected from others have been spent on another thing.

“I cannot be accep ng transfer; how do you collect transfer from a person that ate N300 food? I don’t even have a bank or POS. so, for the past one week, I have been si ng at home; there is no money to buy foodstuffs to cook.

•(L-R) Mr. Saka Fatade (H.O.D Admin), Mrs. Moradeyo Adeoye and H.O.D, Technical, Mrs. Omolara Fadele, (State Accountant), during the Capacity Bulding Workshop, on Wednesday

Osun Central In The Eye Of The Storm Special Report Report

Ismaeel Uthman

THE Na onal Assembly elec on is scheduled to hold next Saturday, February 25. In the State of Osun, a total of 12 na onal assembly seats of three Senatorial Districts and nine Federal Cons tuencies are being contested. The contest is largely between the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC).

Currently, APC has two Senators (Osun Central and Osun West) while PDP has just one, Senator Francis Fadahunsi from Osun East. The APC also has six House of Representa ves members while PDP has three (Ife Federal Cons tuency, Ede/Egbedore/ Ejigbo Federal Cons tuency and Ijesa South Federal Cons tuency).

However, there are possibili es that the PDP might have more seats at the naonal assembly going by the result of the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on and the lingering controversies surrounding the selec on of candidates of the APC.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that of the three senatorial district, Osun Central appeared to be a hopeful ground for the APC. Though the party won just two local governments of Ifedayo and Boripe, Senator Ajibola Basiru has put up a spirited effort to ensure that he returns to the red chamber for second term.

Basiru, the Spokesperson of the Senate, hails from Osogbo which has the highest number of voters in the state. He defeated the PDP candidate in the 2019 general elecon, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa with 26,042 vote margin. Basiru polled 132,821 (54.33%) votes while Olaoluwa got 106,779 (43.67%) votes. Olaoluwa is also an indigene of Osogbo, Olorunda local government.

The PDP candidate for the forthcoming elec on, Olubiyi Fadeyi is from Ila, Ila local government. In 2019, APC had 11,197 votes against PDP’s 8,766 votes.

According to poli cal analysts, APC might not have a smooth running in the senatorial district, but the party may manage to win eventually if its candidate, Basiru, con nues to work on the factors responsible for the poor show of the party in the 2022 governorship elec on.

However, OSUN DEFENDER noted that Osogbo might not produce the same amount of votes given to Basiru in 2019 in the forthcoming elec on. The two local governments in Osogbo (Osogbo and Olorunda) produced 50,680 votes for Basiru in 2019. The votes, according to poli cal analysts might reduced for some reasons, among which is the ‘palace’s opposi on’ to his return.

The Ataoja of Osogbo,

•Fadeyi•Basiru

Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, has openly canvassed votes for the PDP senatorial candidate, Fadeyi, declaring that ‘Ajagunla is coming to reward me and Osogboland’. Oba Olanipekun had before the 2022 governorship elecon been suppor ng the PDP.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that some prominent indigenes of Osogbo are making fran c effort to ‘humble Basiru’ at the poll. Some other indigenes of Osogbo were also reportedly angry with Basiru for allegedly suppor ng former governor Adegboyega Oyetola on the posi oning of Airforce base to Iragbiji instead of Osogbo.

Besides, some members of the APC who have axe to grind with Basiru since he was the man of the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola when the la er was the governor of the state, were also working against the

senator’s return to the senate.

However, Basiru’s electoral fortune might increase in Olorunda local government in the coming elec on. Findings by this medium revealed that the PDP does not have a strong campaign presence in the local government for the senatorial elec on. According to some members of the party, the 2019 Osun central senatorial candidate of the party, Alhaji Gani Olaoluwa, was not commi ed to the party’s campaign. It was learnt that Olaoluwa was s ll holding grudge against the PDP leadership for allegedly manipula ng the senatorial primary to favour Fadeyi.

The medium also noted that Basiru has closed ranks with some members of defunct The Osun Progressives and other aggrieved members of the party in both Osogbo and Olorunda local government, a development that may increase his winning

chance.

It would be recalled that APC lost both Osogbo and Olorunda local governments to the PDP in the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on.

APC, according to findings, was facing serious challenge in mobilizing majority of voters to vote for its candidates in Irepodun and Orolu local governments. Though the House of Representa ves candidate of the APC for Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu, Mrs Abosede Ogo-Oluwakiitan is from Ifon, PDP was posing serious threat to the electoral fortune of the party. PDP won the local governments in the 2022 governorship elec on in spite of having a prominent Ilobu indigene, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representa ves, Hon. Lasun Yusuf, in the race. Yusuf has decamped to the PDP and indicated that the chances of PDP have been brightened. Also, a former commissioner for Local Government and

Osun Central Senatorial District Election Results In 2019

Chie aincy Affairs, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, has been mobilizing massively for the PDP. The medium noted that Hon. Bukola Oyewo, the current federal lawmaker from the cons tuency, has not been ac ve in the campaign programmes the APC’s candidates.

Oyan, Asi, Asaba, Faji and Ila Odo. Some electorates who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER said Basiru was the only candidate that made himself available to them. They complained that the PDP candidate, Fadeyi, was not accessible. Okuku and Inisa was s ll daisy for both party as of the me of filing this report.

APC will win Boripe local government massively. Both the APC and PDP did not have any candidate from the local government. However, the sen ment of Iragbiji being the ancestral home of the Presiden al candidate of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has swayed electorate in the town to vo ng the APC in the presiden al elec on. This will no doubt affect the senatorial elec on result posi vely.

2022 Governorship Election Result In

OSUN DEFENDER also noted that APC may lose Ifelodun local government in Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-O n Federal Cons tuency. The party, as of the me of filing this report, lacked leadership and coordina on and direc on. In the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on, PDP defeated APC with 1039 votes. The medium noted that the House of Representa ves candidate of the party in the federal cons tuency, Chief Moshood Oluawo, has been mee ng and pleading with aggrieved members of the party. However, some of the APC members who are loyal to the current lawmaker represen ng the federal cons tuency at the green chamber, Hon Rasheed Afolabi, were s ll holding grudge against the party for allegedly robbing him of his second term cket. A strong factor that might likely work against the APC in the local government is the alleged imposi on of a new Akinrun of Ikirun on the town. Majority of Ikirun elite and other indigenes have not forgiven former governor Adegboyega Oyetola for allegedly imposing Oba Olalekan Akadiri on them. A sizeable number of Ikirun indigenes believes that the APC House of Reps candidate, Oluawo, was responsible for the manipula on of the selec on process that produced Akadiri.

In Odo-O n local government, it was observed that some members of the party are already working with the PDP. The aggrieved members of the party, it was gathered, were protes ng their alleged marginalisa on and vic misa on by some APC stalwarts during the Oyetola’s administra on. However, the APC Senatorial candidate, Basiru, has a brighter chance at

Boluwaduro local government may be won by the PDP. Members of the APC in the local government are aggrieved, it was observed. Aside being a stronghold of the PDP, the local government was allegedly robbed of House of Reps cket by the APC, a development that dampen the morale of the party members.

Ila local government will be won by the PDP. The senatorial and House of Reps candidates of the PDP are from Ila, the hometown of former Na onal Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande. PDP won the local government in the 2022 governorship elecon with 13,036 votes against APC’s 11,163 votes. Besides, some APC leaders in the town have reportedly embarked on “siddon look” a er the House of Reps primary which was allegedly manipulated in favour of the current candidate of the party, Dr Adebisi Obawale.

Ifedayo local government is a ba le ground for both APC and PDP. Though APC won Ifedayo with 286 votes in the last governorship elecon, PDP has aggressively been mobilizing electorate to vote for its candidates in the forthcoming elec on.

However, a former Commissioner for Regional Integra on and Special Du es, Hon. Lekan Badmus expressed op mism that Basiru, the APC’s senatorial candidate will win the elec on.

Badmus hinted that Basiru and his campaign team have been working assiduously on iden fied lacunas that may cost him victory in the elec on.

The Chairman, Campaign Council, Ajagunla for Senate, Hon. Akin Ti loye, said PDP will defeat APC in the senatorial elec on.

According to Ti loye, the PDP will win nothing less than eight local governments, nothing that the last governorship elec on was a pointer to what should be expected at the general elec on.

The turnout of votes in Osogbo and Ila is a deciding factor for the senatorial elecon.

ALL 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.

Brothers and sisters in Islam, we shall be talking to one another on Tawheed, the Islamic monotheism, which is the firm belief in the oneness of Allah. Tawheed is the pillar of Islam, the founda on of its ethics and philosophy of life and the basis of its systems and ins tu ons.

Allah’s Book (the Qurann), but Allah’s Messenger, may the peace and blessing of Allah Almighty be upon him”. Allah says: “And whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatsoever He forbids you, abstain (from it). Quran 59:7.

By Sheik Muhammad Abubakr Makanjuola

By Sheik Muhammad Abubakr

Tawheed simply means believing in Allah alone as God and Lord and a ribu ng to Him alone all the a ributes of Lordship and divinity. It is explained as believing that Allah is One with no partner or associate in His Lordship (ruboobiyyah), divinity (uloohiyyah) or names and a ributes (al-asma’ wa’l-sifaat).

Tawheed begins by saying the word of confession, that is, “Laa Ilaaha Illallah, Muhammad-urRasuul-Allaah” (None has the right to be worshipped truly but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger). Allah says: “And your Ilaah (God) is One Ilaah (ilaahun waahidun) (God — Allah), Laa Ilaaha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right to be worshipped but He), the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful” Quran 2:163.

“Surely, disbelievers are those who said: ‘Allah is the third of the three (in a Trinity).’ But there is no Ilaah (god) (none who has the right to be worshipped) but One Ilaah [ilaahun waahidun] (God —Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall on the disbelievers among them”. Quran 5:73.

It has been no ced that most mankind, who embrace Islam, do not understand the reality of the meaning of the first fundamental principle of Islam which is Tawheed. So, I consider it essen al to explain its meanings and types of Tawheed.

Tawheed (Islamic monotheism) has three aspects:

(A) Tawheed-ar-Rubuubiyyah – Maintaining The Oneness of Allaah -: This is to believe that there is

TawheedMonotheism)(Islamic

only one Lord for all the universe, Who is its Creator, Organizer, Planner, Sustainer, and the Giver of security, etc, and that is Allah.

(B) Tawheed-al-Ibaadah – Maintaining The Oneness of worship of Allah. This is to believe convincingly that none has the right to be worshipped (e.g. praying, invoking, asking for help from the unseen, swearing, offering sacrifice, giving charity, fas ng, pilgrimage) but Allah.

(C) Tawheed-al-Asma’ wa Sifaat – Maintaining oneness of the Names and A ributes of Allah: This is to believe that: (1) We must not name or qualify Allah except with what He or His Messenger has named or qualified Him, (2) None can be named or qualified with the Names or Qualifica ons of Allah; e.g. Al-Kareem, (3) We must believe in all the quali es of Allah which, as stated in His book (the Quran) or men oned through His Messenger Muhammad, without changing their meaning or ignoring them completely or twis ng the meanings or likening them (giving resemblance) to any of the created things.

It is also essen al to follow Allah’s Messenger, Muhammad and it is a part of oneness of the worship of Allah. This is included in the meaning, “I tes fy that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger and this means “None has the right to be followed a er

UNIOSUN Students Appeal To Govt. To Fix Sasa Road

Kazeem Badmus

STUDENTS of Osun State University, Osogbo campus have called on the state government to fix the deplorable Sasa road which leads to the university.

The students who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, said the untarred road is a nightmare for them and vehicle owners plying it, urging the state government to see to the construc on of the road on me.

A student who iden fied herself as Oluwaseun Olatunji, at Physiology Department of the university, the road has recorded about 10 accidents in just eight weeks in 2023.

Aside the accidents, Olatunji said the students and other residents of the area have not been

having clean air as a result of dust from the untarred road.

She said: “Since I gained admission to the university, this road has been like this and it is ge ng worse everyday.

“Accident is now a regular thing on the road. Just this year alone, we have recorded about 10 accidents involving both car and motorcycles.

“The most annoying part of it is that we students using this road are always covered with dust when we are going or coming from campus. There is no fresh air for us to breathe at all.

Another student, Afolabi Adegoke, said residents of the area were finding it difficult to use the road, urging the state government to come to their aid.

She said: “I want

to appeal to the state government to help us fix this road. The road is bringing a lot of hardship to the residents of this area.

“This is the road the students in this area use when going to the campus and it is very unfortunate that the road is as bad as this. I hope it will be fixed soon”.

Allah also says: “Say (O Muhammad to mankind), if you (really) love Allah then follow Me, i.e. accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Quran and the Sunnah, i.e. legal ways of the prophet, Allah will love you and forgive you of your sin”. Quran 3:31.

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him), as narrated in Saheeh al-Bukhaari (7372) and Saheeh Muslim (19), said: When the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) sent Mu’aadh ibn Jabal to Yemen, he said to him: “You are going to people from among the People of the Book, so let the first thing to which you call them be belief in Allah alone (Tawheed). If they accept that, then tell them that Allah has enjoined on them five prayers every day and night. If they pray, then tell them that Allah has enjoined them zakaah from their wealth to be taken from their rich and given to their poor. If they agree to that, then take it from them but avoid the best of people’s wealth.”

Islam is built on five (pillars): belief that Allah is One, establishing regular prayer, paying zakaah, fas ng Ramadan and Hajj.

What is meant by Tawheed in all these texts is affirming the meaning of the tes mony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, which is the essence of the religion of Islam with which Allah sent His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)

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, Lord of the worlds.

Women With Multiple Sex Partners Prone To Cervical Cancer, Doctor Warns

Yusuf Oketola

Amedical expert at Osun State University Teaching Hospital (UNIOSUNTH), Dr. Ademola Adeniran, has warned that females with mul ple sex partners have higher risk of having Cervical Cancer.

Adeniran, a gynecologist, also noted that Cervical Cancer could be hereditary, just like other forms of cancer.

He spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on Monday, during an awareness campaign

and free screening organised by the Ibadan Electricity Distribu on Company (IBEDC), Osun Region, to mark this year’s World Cancer Day.

The screening, tagged “World Cancer Day 2023: Let’s Defeat Cervical Cancer, IBEDC Awareness Inia ve,” was held at the Pathology Department, UNIOSUTH, Osogbo.

Adeniran who conducted the screening, explained that: “Women of reproducve age were of higher risk

of having cervical cancer. Cervical cancer, which affects the cervix, part of the reproduc ve organs of woman, is one of the challenges facing women today.

“Women with mul ple sex partners and those with high sexual behaviour were at higher risk of having cervical cancer. This type of cancer could be hereditary, just like other form of cancer”.

He advised women, par cularly those of reproduc ve age to get screened for cervical cancer, at least once a year, stressing that early detec on could help in trea ng and managing the disease.

IBEDC Regional Head, Osun region, Mr Oluwatoyin Akinyosoye, said that the free screening was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).

“This is just to encourage the women to know their status and the next steps to take. IBEDC is providing free cervical cancer screening for 20 women, as part of giving back to the society.

“However, people should endeavour to know their health status, not only screening for cervical cancer, but for general medical check-up,” he said.

•Staff of IBEDC, Osun region with the beneficiaries of the cancer screening exercise during the programme

Makanjuola

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

Sacked Teachers To Adeleke: We Are Dying Of Depression, Have Mercy On Us

THE 1,500 primary and secondary school teachers recruited by the immediate past administraon of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola have again pleaded with Governor Ademola Adeleke to rescind his execu ve order that nullified their appointment.

The teachers said depression is se ng for some of them, pleading with Adeleke not to push them back to unemployment.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo on Monday, the affected teachers noted that their ap-

pointment followed due process, stating that they all followed all laid down rules and procedure during the recruitment process.

The sacked teachers were yet to be paid their salaries, it was gathered.

Speaking on behalf of her colleagues, Mrs. Eunice Isola, pleaded with the Governor to consider and allow them to con nue working as employees of the state government.

She said: “We have done everything possible to get his (Governor Adeleke’s) a enon but we have not been able to get his response. We are dying of depression because a

Traders Will Not Accept Old N200 Note - OAU Don

Kazeem Badmus

Alecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, State of Osun, Dr. Tunji Ogunyemi, yesterday, said ordinary Nigerians, most especially pe y traders, will con nue to reject the old N200 notes even a er the direc ve of the Federal Government.

The economist, who spoke on Rave FM’s ‘Frank Talk’ programme in Osogbo, said the nega ve impression already created when the Central Bank said the money would no longer be accepted by the banks, will not allow people to obey the direc ve.

Ogunyemi who said the new naira policy was a perfectly sound economic logic, however, berated the Federal Government and CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, about the ming.

He said the currency redesign was like a programmed failure aimed at some group of people.

He said: “The policy is a perfectly sound economic logic. You can’t fault the logic but what about the ming? For a president who is leaving in four months me and he is taking a monumental decision without consulting the Council of State and the Na onal Assembly.

“The truth of the ma er is that this currency redesigning is like programmed failure. It is aimed at some group of

people, so that they are so vilified and belated to the extent that their vehicles will not be usable in terms of convincing the public for anything.

“The policy is malicious and badly med. At any rate, even if you are taking a decision that is wrong, can you not do a reversal, especially when the Na onal Assembly in its separate chambers appealed for a reversal?

“It is too late for the government to ask ordinary Nigerians to start accep ng the N200 old note because the nega ve impression had already been created that the money will no longer be accepted by the banks a er some me.

“That nega ve impression, I tell you, the man selling locust beans or the woman selling pepper in the market which accounts for 60% of the informal sector anyway, will never take that naira again.

“If you like, go and call mobile police, they will not accept it. The damage is just too far. Except the

president says for the next one year, they will not accept the old notes”.

great number of us had resigned from our former places of employment.”

Corroborating what Isola said, another affected teachers, Em-

manuel Adedeji, explained that their recruitment exercise started in 2020 while they were issued appointment le ers on September 30,

2022.

Adedeji submitted that it does not speak well of the government to force them back to the street as jobless individuals.

NAPTIP, Amotekun Move To Ends Human Trafficking In Osun

TYusuf Oketola the Commander of Osun Amotekun Corps, Brig. Gen. Bashir Adewinmbi in Osogbo, on Wednesday.

HE Na onal Agency For The Prohibion of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has shown readiness to collaborate with the State of Osun Security Network codenamed Amotekun, in ending human trafficking and other related offences in the state.

Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Osun, Ondo and Eki Command, Mr. Effe Ekirika, made the agency’s readiness known during his visit to

Effe appreciated the corps commander for hos ng the agency, just as he applauded the corps for what he described as wonderful accomplishment in tackling criminals and marauders in the state.

According to Effe, the achievements of the corps encouraged NAPTIP to collaborate with Amotekun in tackling human trafficking in the State, South West

and Nigeria at large.

Effe said that NAPTIP was ready to partner with the relevant stakeholders to reduce the rate of human trafficking, child labour, sexual exploita on and other related offences to the bearest minimum in the state.

He asserted that the agency is commi ed to the preven on of all forms of human degrada on and exploita on through the coordinated use of the na on’s crime prevenon and law enforcement resources, to stamp out human trafficking and to liberate and upli the vulnerable.

He said: “As we all know, NAPTIP is a focal agency of the federal government saddled with the responsibili es of coordina ng all trafficking in persons law, arrest and prosecu on of offenders.

“We also rehabilitate vic ms and prevent occurrence through sensisa on and partnership.

“We are more determined for synergy and collabora on to collecvely eradicate these heinous crimes across the board.”

Responding, Adewinbi, the Osun Amotekun Commander, said the corps was ready to collaborate with NAPTIP in curbing trafficking and illegal migra on.

Adewinbi said: “We collaborate with the police any me we arrest criminals, we do necessary documenta on and hand them over to the police.

“We would collaborate with NAPTIP in the areas of intelligence sharing and any other assistance within our reach.

“As a security agency, we cannot do it alone, but with synergy, we will kick human traffickers and other criminals out of the state”.

•Ogunyemi

•The protesting teachers

•Officials of NAPTIP with Brig. Gen. Adewimbi during the visit

Yusuf Oketola

“THE rich and highly placed are running a dreadful risk in their callous neglect of the poor and the downtrodden.”- Obafemi Awolowo.

Suddenly, we found ourselves where we are or we are where we found ourselves. In all of Nigeria’s tragicomedy, we need to sought out the comic relief in our Na onal life. Laughter they say is the best medicine and if teardrops doesn’t complete laughter then we have not laughed well enough. Honestly today, the new Naira has gained 75 per cent over the old Naira in local exchange market, despite its seeming look of being an error of produc on, especially the king of them all, “Robbin blue”N1000. I have not a empted to google search the cost of min ng currencies in other climes to answer the Nigerian ques on, especially because each me I had tried to in the past, I came back with a bleeding heart. Our Naira was not redesigned, same prin ng block virtually all features are same just stained with ink of every poor shade of its jaded colour. Lacks aesthe c beauty and worst of all weakest link in strength and capacity. Definitely not why we need the song, “Don’t worry be happy”...

ECOWAS countries wanted to construct

Amaechi kind of derailing railway, Chinese company; same company and its cost of construc ng light rail, locomo ve rail and what have you around the world. Is just a replica of the unanswered Nigerian queson. Se won fi se wa ni- Are we cursed?

At some point in my very reserved personal life, I chose to look on the sunny side of life. To sought merit and applaud same. I discovered indeed, that the ever pulsa ng posi on of Late Chief Gamaliel Onasode, of blessed memory that in Nigeria, Role Models were in short supply, I then started looking for the ones sca ered and bringing them on a page. Every single good Nigerian I see, or encounter I will stand with even if I stand alone. In this piece therefore, I will copy from the last bas on of hope of the Nigerian masses, The Judiciary, even if they judi once in a while, either to nice music or swerving of the truck of jus ce dishing out judgement in serving jus ce. Also equally exploring comic relief, if judges can embellish jus ce, oh! judgement with music, should I not be able to do same? Today we will look at songs telling our lives with the dirge killing us so ly with the words. Today I will look at a model long gone, who gave us insight unrivalled about the capsizing ship of state ; Prophet Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo. I will look at songs in my head and mind that spoke about Nigeria.

On the march again, looking for Mr President, .....is our man o. Halleluyah somebody...Fela also just strolled in singing Austerity, na him be ma er now, austerity, I no fit laugh....babanla nonsense baba nla a nonsense.... Interim government, Same thought s ll Crossing some minds in

PERSPECTIVE

BY LANRE FADAHUNSI

2023 Elections: Saving The Tilting Ship Of The Nigerian State

our disjointed dissonance. Fela, Awolowo, Sonekan, Ogun state ma er in Yorubaland we will look at some day soon. Awon lokan...

Let’s bring our minds back to this musical construc on....out of every gadem, church., Cherubim and Seraphim...suffer suffer for world, Amen, enjoy for heaven.... open your eye everywhere Archbishop na miliki, Pope na enjoyment Imam na gbaladun... Pastor’s wife na him dey fine pass... who slap me? Okay na house Fela talk say fine pas no be wife...I don hear.

Second stanza, Fela WETIN you go sing about Dem go worry me....the me wey I dey for prison….no be outside judge dey beg I no do nothing....

Obafemi Awolowo, the sage stands out and his name has become the ATM for poli cal space hijackers. In the whole of Africa, I doubt if there is any leading polician that chronicle their mindset as Awo did and this makes it horrendously difficult

to deceive the le ered about Awo. He has it all wri en for all to see. Hear him:

“ Nigerian leaders should posses comprehension, mental magnitude and spiritual depth.

“By comprehension, we mean the ability of a man to appreciate and grasp the salient details, as well as most of the praccal and temporal implica ons of a given problem and the solu on.

“If the leadership of a country is sufficiently disciplined that is, ac ng according to given rules of behaviour, it will necessarily perform the role of a focal ins tu on- A center of moral authority- from which other parts of society take their bearing....one quality of a good leader is to let his yes be yes and his no be no.”

In 1980, Awo spoke about probity in public life as a mark of spartan leadership. “Absolute devo on and dedica on to the cause of the masses of our people are indispensable to the successful prac ce of

Where Are The People?

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

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

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

The tendency in most democracies in so called underdeveloped countries is to blame the visible operators of the democracies, the government and the poli cal elite without a deeper look at the major stakeholder - the ulmate beneficiary or vic m, as the case may

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

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

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

In Nigeria, it appears there is no elas c limit in tolerance of suffering and misery.

democracy.”

To him, “by all means every able bodied person must be put to work and must be accordingly rewarded -in the name of all that Is just.

To him, Awolowo, the remaking of Nigeria is a task that calls for probity, dedica on and courage of a very high order to remake and recreate ourselves. Those who offer to lead this country aright must strive constantly to lead themselves out of the unruly promp ngs of the ins ncts and liberate themselves from the tyranny of the flesh in all its octopod dimensions.

Disease of tenacity of office, that is once you are in office you want to remain there un l you die, because you are going to do everything in your power, legi mate and illegi mate to remain in power.

Nigeria is blessed; blessed in both human and material resources. The only problem is lack of good leadership. Suddenly we have wi ngly or otherwise created a na on of incongruent innuendos. A na on of bed-robe Napoleons whose conquest remains visible in the other room only. Whose flesh had conquered up onto their wits end.

The lack of passion by the hijackers of poli cal leadership can never give verve to posi ve growth and development. It all cascaded to the crea on of a banana empire. Nothing republican in the whole drama. Everyday, we see leadership sell out on their oath to the people before God.

Read full article on www.osundefender.com •Comrade Lanre Fadahunsi. meritap- plause@gmail.com) Southwest Zonal coordinator of the Big Tent. Osun state Coordinator of the NcFront (Third Force).

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

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

“Great ideas lacking carriage. If you put your ideas on all fours at best it will crawl, if you put it on its feet it will walk or at best run and if you put the ideas on wings, it will fly. The choice now is ours”