Osun Defender Online Version of February 24, 2023

2 News Ooni Cautions Politicians Against Violence, Tasks Monarchs To Be Neutral On Election

Ismaeel Uthman

THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has warned poli cians against violent conduct before, during and a er the forthcoming 2023 general elec ons.

Oba Ogunwusi who is the Co-chairman of the Na onal Council of Tradi onal Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), made the call yesterday, during a ‘State of the Na on’ broadcast which he hosted at his Ile Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife, State of Osun.

In a statement signed by the Director, Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Otunba Moses Olafare, the foremost tradi onal ruler said no poli cian can force his or herself on the people, urging the poli cal actors to shun despera on.

He said: “No poli cian can force him or herself on Nigerians and this is why our poli cians should avoid being desperate in their quest for power. If you don’t win today, it may be your turn tomorrow and this is why I am imploring office seekers not to destroy tomorrow with inac ons of today.

“I call on Nigerians, especially the youth popula on which is the largest to partake in the polls not to violate any of the processes. The country

has already been through a lot, including the recent fuel scarcity among others, we cannot afford more trouble.

“The umpires, especially the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) must work to give Nigerians a free, fair and credible polls, while the security agents should maintain their status as defender of our cons tu on by crea ng enabling environment and not bully electorate.

“To we tradi onal rulers, I implore us to remain apoli cal and neutral as fathers that we are to all poli cians and electorate. We must not be seen promo ng poli cal pares or poli cians.”

The Ooni had on Wednesday during an interac ve session with poli cians in Ifeland declared that he has no preferred candidate in the forthcoming elec ons.

He condemned the reported poli cal violent a acks in some parts of the country par cularly in Ile-Ife, stressing that Nigerians must be patrio c in their conduct always.

Oba Ogunwusi charged the security agencies to ensure the arrest of perpetrators of violence and other criminal ac vi es before, during and a er the polls in the interest of law and order.

Osun NSCDC Deploys

4,520 Personnel For Tomorrow’s Elections

Ismaeel Uthman

THE Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Osun Command has deployed 4,520 personnel for tomorrow’s elecons.

State Commandant of the NSCDC, Mr. Sunday Agboola, disclosed this yesterday, sta ng that the officers have been deployed to the 3,763 polling units in the state.

According to Agboola, the security agency has also deployed its personnel to 664 wards across the state, adding that eagle–eyed patrol teams have also been sta oned in the three senatorial districts of the state for effec ve monitoring and to migate threats.

He warned miscreants to desist from engaging in ac vi es that may threaten the peace-

Cash Crunch: Police To Investigate Violent Protests In Oyo, Osun

TYusuf Oketola der their custody during the elec on, no ng that the police will deal ruthlessly with any individual who perpetrates violence before, during and a er the elec ons.

HE Ac ng Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11, Mr Kayode Akande, has directed the Commissioners of Police in Osun and Oyo states to commence inves ga ons into the violent protests in some parts of the states as a result of the cash crunch.

ful atmosphere of the 2023 general elec ons, maintaining that anyone caught would be dealt with according to the electoral law.

Agboola assured the electorate that his personnel will not violate the code of conduct expected of security personnel, just as he promised the NSCDC’s neutrality, respect for human rights and dignity in the discharge of its duty.

“I want to assure you that NSCDC personnel will discharge their dues with high degree of professionalism for us to witness free, fair and credible elec ons,” he reiterated.

He urged electorates to report electoral cases and emergency ma ers before, during and a er elec ons to the NSCDC on the following numbers; 08055555644 and 07041300031.

Police Public Relaons Officer (PPRO) for the zonal command, Mr. Ayeni Benjamin, in a statement released on Tuesday, said the zone will soon clampdown on all criminals and miscreants who took advantage of the scarcity of cash to break into government and private proper es.

Benjamin hinted that the zone has already commenced analysis on all the video given to it on violent protests in some areas.

He stressed that the zone will not allow miscreants to take over public space.

The PPRO disclosed further that the ac ng AIG has directed the Commissioners of Police in the zone to acvate their Intelligence bureaus to start picking all the thugs and miscreants involved in the past violent protests.

This is just as the ac ng AIG has warned against any form of violence in Saturday’s elec ons, according to Benjamin.

Benjamin said the police boss advised parents and guardians to ensure that their children are kept un-

He stated that the police are prepared to prevent the breakdown of law and order during the elec on.

“Violence has never helped any na on and it is never a solu on to the problem confronting our na on.

“In view of the current situa on in the

country, people should remain calm and go about their legi mate businesses as the Zone

will not allow the breakdown of law and order within its jurisdic on,” he stated.

Osun, 31 Others Among High Flood Risk Areas In 2023, FG Warns

Yusuf Oketola risk areas.

THE Federal Government has warned that the State of Osun and 31 other states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja are on the high risk of flooding in 2023.

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

Adamu said 178 local government areas in 32 states of the federa on and FCT fall within the high floodrisk areas.

He said: “The forecasts for 2023 show that 178 local government areas in 32 states of the Federaon and the FCT fall within the high flood

“While 224 LGAs in 35 States including FCT, fall within the moderate flood risk areas. The remaining 372 LGAs fall within the low floodrisk areas.

“The high flood risk states are as follows; Adamawa, Abia, AkwaIbom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, CrossRiver, Delta, Ebinyi, Eki , Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory.

“High flood risk areas between the months of April and November 2023, and the level of floods in this category is expected to be high in terms of impact on the popula on, agriculture, livelihood, live-

stock and infrastructure.”

He added that parts of 66 LGAs across the country fall within the highest flood areas in April, May and June while parts of 114 LGAs fall in July, August and September with 100 LGAs falling in October and November 2023.

Adamu maintained the 2022 flood was the worst recorded in the country in terms of impact, as it affected nearly all 36 states, including the FCT with severe devasta on and destruc on of proper es, infrastructures, farmlands, agriculture and livestock.

He stated that over 1.4 million people were affected, 616 persons killed and thousands of people displaced by flood in 2022.

•The Re-elected Chairman, Osun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu and other members of the executive, taking their oath of office, after an election held at the NUJ Press Centre, Osogbo, last Friday

THE pun is deliberate, for every vote will count in one of the most pivotal electoral decisions made in Nigeria pre and post independence. Ironically, the first elec ons; the legisla ve elec ons in the Lagos Colony a sin Calabar were held a century ago in 1923. Since then, our journey has been a tortuous excursion full of twists and turns. this is why tomorrow is crucial and every vote must count.

The various campaigns mounted by poli cal actors has sadly not been inspiring or imagina ve. The age of the new technologies should have ushered in a different form of campaigns. It has not and this will be debilitating for the future.

The future will definitely be rocky. Reflec ng general reserva ons about the tep-

Tomorrow Counts!

•Go Out And Vote

idness of the campaigns report published by the financial analysts Bloomberg was unambiguous in sta ng that none of the leading candi-

dates has indicated the much desirable resolve to tackle Nigeria’s fiscal crises. This is alarming because it is becoming the conven onal wisdom not least disturbingly in the financial, bond and insurance markets worldwide. A er the euphoria of the elec ons, a very daun ng reality will sober up all and sundry.

A er tomorrow, whichev-

er way it goes, acts of statesmanship will be required. Elec ons by their nature are divisive but a erwards the need to “rally the republic” around a common purpose becomes impera ve. For this to happen, poli cians must transfer into statesman fixated on the sustainable development of the next generaon and not on the electoral calculus for the next elecon. Nigeria is at a cri cal juncture requiring the unity of civil and poli cal society that can no longer be postponed.

We implore our esteemed readers to go out in record numbers tomorrow to exercise their civic responsibility and defend their hard won democra c rights by ensuring that all votes are counted. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

A View From The Diaspora Nigeria Missing The Globalisation Train

NIGERIANS born in the 21st century will ask how their country went from being wealthier than China un l the mid-1990s to becoming poorer and home to the world’s largest number of people living in extreme poverty. When Asia’s most populous na on embarked on liberalisa on reforms in 1979, its GDP per capita was five mes less than Nigeria’s. By 1993, it had overtaken Nigeria and today is nearly five mes wealthier and a global economic powerhouse.

Some analysts will explain the divergence by arguing that corrup on crippled Nigeria’s progress. But this is a simplis c view. In the early years of China’s economic transforma on, its ruling elites were not much less inclined to abuse public power for private gains. For instance, in Transparency Interna onal’s 1997 Corrup on Index, Nigeria ranked the most corrupt out of the 54 countries surveyed, but China was only a li le be er at 50th place.

The differences in the economic experience of Africa’s and Asia’s most populous na ons were not the varying levels of honesty of their ruling elites but their understanding of economics, par cularly the role of monetary policy and price signals in wealth crea on.

A er decades of failed a empts to grow China’s economy through central planning and in isola on from the rest of the world, the ruling communist party realised that development requires large amounts of foreign capital, especially machines, equipment and tools and knowledge. They also realised that the most crucial form of capital is money. Though it cannot directly produce anything, money can buy all the inputs of produc on.

China’s leaders knew that foreigners, especially materialist western capitalists, were not about to provide capital out of the goodness of their hearts. Reliance on aid was not an op on. The

country had to trade for what it needed.

The answer was to promote exports. The state pursued policies to facilitate and reward domes c companies to do business abroad. It encouraged them with subsidies, tax and tariff concessions and export credits. The most important strategy used to help Chinese companies to penetrate global markets was managing the na on’s currency, the renminbi, to limit or halt its apprecia on.

By undervaluing the currency, the government made Chinese goods cheaper and more a rac ve than those of other na ons. China’s strength was in its ability to produce low-cost goods by exploiting its abundant supply of cheap labour. Western importers and investors flocked to the country despite its communist ideology because they got more value for their money compared with other markets. This advantage was mainly because of China’s currency policy and other financial support given to the export sector.

In contrast to China’s policy of subsiding export businesses, government monetary policy in Nigeria taxed them. Following the import-subs tu on industrialisa on theory, the Nigerian state has endeavoured to channel resources to

firms producing for domes c consump on, supposedly to reduce reliance on imports. The state also maintained an overvalued na onal currency, the naira, ostensibly to direct cheap hard currencies to local indus-

tries producing for domes c consump on.

While exporters and foreign investors in China received more Yuan for foreign currencies sold to regulated banks than they would without government interven on, in Nigeria exporters and investors received fewer naira for their hard currencies than obtainable in the free market.

OSUN DEFENDER

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Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman

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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

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The government’s currency system effec vely taxes exporters and other earners of foreign exchange to subside imports for socalled import subs tu on businesses that generate no foreign exchange.

The result was the consump on of scarce foreign capital without being used produc vely to generate

•Continued on Page 7

•Tunde Obadina, is a former Editor of Sunday Punch and was on the Editorial Board of National Concord, wrote from London.

Tunde Obadina

“Exporters and foreign investors in China received more Yuan for foreign currencies sold to regulated banks than they would without government intervention, in Nigeria exporters and investors received fewer naira for their hard currencies than obtainable in the free market”

“We implore our esteemed readers to go out in record numbers tomorrow to exer cise their civic responsibility and defend their hard wonn democratic rights by ensuring that all votes are counted”

•Dateline - London

How I Escaped Attempt On My Life – Owoeye

Ismaeel Uthman Kazeem Badmus

SPEAKER of the State of Osun House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye has narrated how an a empt on his life was thwarted by security operaves a ached to him.

Gunmen had at the wee hour of Wednesday laid siege to Owoeye’s hotel located at Oke Opo, GRA, Ilesa and riddled the building with bullets.

Narra ng how the incident happened, the Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr Kunle Alabi, said the assailants purposely came to assassinate Owoeye.

Alabi said: “Some gunmen besieged the hotel in the midnight. They came with unregistered tainted white bus and started shooting sporadically. They made a empt to enter the hotel premises but they were prevented by security aides of the Speaker. The security opera ves were at the hotel premises and they engaged the assailants in gun duel.

“While the police concluded and established that it was an assassina on attempt on the Speaker is that the assailants came with sophis cated weapons, among which are AK47 gun. They also came in large number and got the building surrounded. They were shoo ng from every direcon.

“They knew the Speaker was inside the building and they obviously came for him. There is a par cular spot where the Speaker do sit regularly; these assailants shot directly at that spot and the bullet pierced the block and hit the chair at a si ng level.

“Also, the expended pellets recovered by the police were not just and ordinary pellets. They were AK47 pellets. That foreclosed the

suspicion that the assailants were thugs, because thugs do not have access to AK47.

“We thank God that the security team of the Speaker were fully loaded and were able to repel the a ack. The police were correct to conclude that it was assassinaon a empt because the assailants fired gunshot like professionals, unlike thugs.

“The reason the a ack was ascribed to PDP is because the Bukateria of the lawmaker represen ng Ilesa West Cons tuency, Hon. Wale Adedoyin, was attacked and the whole place was destroyed by some hoodlums few hours to the a empt on Speaker’s life.

“The car lot of former lawmaker in the same cons tuency, Hon. Folarin Fafowora, was also destroyed. Vehicles were vandalised and they sca ered everywhere. It was coordinated a ack.”

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that no fewer than six

suspects have been arrested by the police in connec on with the a acks.

Among the arrested suspects is Akinwumi Akerele, known as Ekaino, the elder brother of the PDP’s House of Assembly candidate in Ilesa West Cons tuency, Mr Wale Akerele.

Confirming the a ack, Police Public Rela ons Officer, Osun Command, Mrs Yemisi Opalola said the police prevented an a ack on the speaker and engaged the suspects in gun duel.

According to Opalola, the assailants fled when they could not withstand the force from the police, adding that the officer chased them and arrested some of them.

Owoeye had on Wednesday addressed a press conference a er the a ack, declaring that he escaped being assassinated by people suspected to be poli cal thugs.

The speaker said about

IBEDC Decries Assaults On Staff, Facilities, Appeals For Caution

Suliyat Mustapha

THE management of Ibadan Electricity Distribu on Company (IBEDC) Plc has warned members of the public against a acking its employees and facili es.

IBEDC cau oned those a acking its staff and facilies to refrain from engaging in such acts of violence, sta ng that the company and its property do not deserved any a ack from members of the public.

The company was reac ng to some a acks on its business loca ons and employment in last few days.

A statement signed by the Managing Director of

the company, Engr. Kinsley Achife, said electricity distribu on companies provide an essen al service, which is cri cal to the daily lives of ci zens.

Achife said the a ack on the IBEDC offices will not only cause damage to the property but also disrupts the provision of electricity, which affects the livelihoods of many people and throws communi es into darkness.

He said: “We understand that these are trying mes for us all, but attacking staff who are also Nigerians and destroying electrical installa ons will further exacerbate the challenges.

“We therefor urge the

public to maintain law and order and refrain from engaging in any form of assault against electricity workers who are primarily there to support you, your homes and businesses.”

The Managing Director also assures customers that IBEDC is commi ed to providing quality services and improving its infrastructure and opera ons.

He explained that the company has strengthened its non-cash based payment channels to reduce customer pressure.

“We are also open to feedback and sugges ons from the public, and will work to address any issues raised speedily”, he stated.

five members of the APC had been killed in gruesome manner across E Oni in Atakumosa East local government, Oke Aga and Ilesa.

Owoeye said: “Recall that last week, I released a press release to in mate the world about the killings of Ebenezer Alaro, a member of our party whose only crime was to drive a cabstar truck used to convey the public address system we used for our rally from Monday through Thursday. The guy was trailed home a er

2023:

the Thursday rally and was killed in front of his parents’ house.

“I was also informed this morning that the electrifica on project which I have expanded over N15m on at Oke Aga has been destroyed and riddled with bullets. I sympathise with the community who will be thrown into darkness because of this senseless poli cs.

“The recent happening in Osun is becoming worrisome and needs proper a en on from every well-

meaning ci zens, the return of poli cal thuggery a er about 12 years of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administra on in the state now gives residence and ci zen sleepless nights.

“It will not be wrong to say that the change of baton in the government in the state has actually encouraged the return of that dark era of when ci zens cannot sleep with their two eyes closed.

“I therefore called on the police to inves gate the assassina on a empt on my life, the gruesome murder of Alaro and others with a view to ensuring that those involved are brought to jus ce.

“I want to believe that such heinous crime, if not quickly inves gated and perpetrators docked, could aggravate an already tensed situa on that will lead to breakdown of law and order in the State before and during the forthcoming elecon.

“The Nigerian police and other relevant security agencies must be seen to be alive to their cons tu onal responsibility of protec ng lives and property. A quick inves ga on into the attempted murder, murder and other hooliganism will serve as deterrent to people who are hell-bent on distrus ng the peace of our society”.

UNIOSUN VC Warns Students Against

Kazeem Badmus

THE Vice Chancellor, Osun State University, Osogbo, Prof. Clement Adebooye, has warned students of the ins tuon who are of vo ng age against selling their votes and involvement in thuggery during the forthcoming elec on.

Adebooye made the warning on Tuesday during the 16th matricula on ceremony of the university, where 6,750 new students were formally admi ed as

Thuggery, Vote Selling

undergraduates.

The VC, who also warned the new students against projec ng the instu on nega vely on social media, charged them to always make use of available communica on channels, whenever there are issues they want the management to work on.

Speaking on his expectaon from the students during the elec on, Adebooye said: “Our students should vote their conscience. They should not be involved in

vote buying and selling because it is a crime.

“Let us make this country work. The way we can make this country work is to shun all acts that can bring down the tempo of the na on.

“We have to make the na on work. Make Nigeria project work. Don’t engage in violence during the elecon. Don’t allow any polician to conscript you into thuggery group to terrorise other human beings during the elec on.”

He further advised the new students to be serious with their studies and prepare well ahead of their examina ons with an assurance that the university’s management would remain focused on their welfare.

“I must assure you that the thrust of our student administra on policy is to provide an environment that is completely conducive for effec ve learning.

“We take our students as cri cal stakeholders, and we consistently ensure they have sweet memories and high level of sa sfacon in their sojourn within our walls,” the VC added.

•A bullet riddled window of the hotel

Special Report Report

2023: State Of Play Of APC, PDP Candidates In Osun

•PDP Likely To Win 6 Reps, 2 Senatorial Seats

•Osun Central, 3 Fed. Constituencies As Battlegrounds

dium were PDP members who believed that it is Yoruba’s turn to produce the next president.

However, it was not certain whether the sen ment will take Tinubu far in the elec on.

This is just as some electorate have vowed to vote against Tinubu because of their impression that his emergence would further put a threat to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s mandate.

The electorate alleged that the tribunal judgment that nullified Adeleke’s mandate was influenced, adding that “If Tinubu emerges as the President, both Appeal Court and Supreme Courts will be manipulated to declaring former governor Adegboyega Oyetola as the winner of July 16, 2022 governorship elec on.”

OSUN DEFENDER noted that Tinubu’s large chunk of votes will come from Osun Central Senatorial district, while it was expected that his votes in Osun East and Osun West senatorial districts will be abysmally low.

Inves ga ons by the medium revealed that APC’s campaign structure is weak in both Osun West and Osun East senatorial districts.

Besides, the medium noted that the no ceable disunity among members of the APC will tell on the electoral fortune of the party’s presiden al candidate.

The medium had in its last edi on reported that the internal crisis rocking APC is yet to be se led.

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 as of the me of filing this report.

THE much an cipated 2023 general elec ons will hold tomorrow, February 25.

Tomorrow’s elec ons are for Presiden al, Senatorial and House of Representa ves candidates.

Osun has three senatorial districts (Central, West and East) and nine House of Representa ves seats.

A total of 30 candidates are contes ng the senatorial elec on across the three senatorial districts of the state.

Also, a total of 78 candidates are contes ng for the nine House of Representa ves seats.

All the 18 poli cal par es have candidates for the Naonal Assembly elec on, according to the final list of candidates released by the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, few of the poli cal par es have no ceable presence in the State of Osun, as the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) have consistently remained dominant par es in the state.

Labour Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM) are part of the no ceable par es in the state.

OSUN DEFENDER observed that the presiden al candidates of the APC, PDP, LP and NNPP, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Alhaji A ku Abubakar, Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Kwankwanso are the most popular in the state.

But the presiden al elec on is largely between the APC and PDP candidates, while either of the LP and NNPP candidates will come a distant third.

The medium noted that there are some prevailing factors that will shape the outcome of the presiden al elecon for both APC and PDP.

Besides, each poli cal party and their candidates need extra effort to mobilise the electorate down to their various polling units to avoid low turnout of voters, according to findings.

The current cash crunch and fuel crises have dampened the morale of some of the electorate, especially those that need vehicles to convey them to their various polling units.

Presiden al Elec on

OSUN DEFENDER noted that ethnic sen ment favours Tinubu, the presiden al candidate of the APC, to some certain extent among the electorate in the state.

The medium noted that some electorate who are not members of the APC have decided to vote for Tinubu for being their kinsman.

Some of the poten al voters who spoke with the medium in Osogbo, Ife and Iwo on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, said: “We are vo ng for Tinubu because he is a Yoruba man. We don’t want another Fulani man to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Among the poten al voters who spoke with the me-

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

It was noted that the Presiden al Campaign Council in the state are dominated by the IleriOluwa camp of the party, while Aregbesola’s loyalists were not being carried along in the campaign.

A poli cal analyst, Segun Akinola, said the presidenal elec on may go the way of the July 16 governorship elec on, sta ng that Tinubu will not win Osun.

In 2019, President Muhammadu Buhari polled 347,634 votes to defeat his closest contender, A ku Abubakar of the PDP who had 337,377 votes in Osun.

Na onal Assembly Elec on

A no ceable factor that will affect Tinubu’s electoral fortune in Osun is the strength of his party’s candidates for the Senate and House of Reps elec on.

The votes for each of the na onal assembly candidates will also shape the outcome of the presiden al elec on in the state.

Findings by this medium revealed that PDP will retain its current three House of Reps seats (Oriade/Obokun, Ife and Ede/Ejigbo/Egbedore Federal Cons tuencies).

The PDP is also likely to win Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu, Ifelodun/Boripe/Odo-O n and Ila/Ifedayo/ Boluwaduro federal cons tuencies.

However, Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan federal cons tuency is a ba leground for APC and PDP. Hon. Taiwo Oluga, the incumbent lawmaker represen ng the cons tuency is a member of APC and she is a candidate to beat. But Irewole local government was, as of the me of filing this report yesterday, posing a threat to her return to the green chamber.

The Osun West Senatorial candidate of the PDP, Akogun Lere Oyewumi, is from Ikire, headquarters of Irewole local government of the state, while the House of Reps candidate of the party, Mr. Akin Oladebo, is from Apomu, Isokan local government.

In 2019, Oluga polled 36,876 (48.78%) votes to defeat PDP candidate, Bukola Adebisi who had 31,956 (42.27%) votes. Also, the total number of votes for the APC in the federal cons tuency during the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on was 43,558 (51.45%) while PDP had 38,373 (45.33%) votes. APC won Ayedaade with 14,527 votes, Irewole with 18,198 votes and Isokan with 10,833 votes.

Permuta ons of poli cal analysts as to who wins Ayedire/Iwo/Olaoluwa federal cons tuency, was s ll dicey as of the me of this report, yesterday. The APC candidate, Hon. Yinusa Amobi, who is currently represen ng the cons tuency, is facing a serious challenge in Iwo, headquarters of Iwo local government. Amobi’s major contestant, Mr. Mudashiru Lukman of the PDP, is from Iwo and his campaign structure spreads across the nook and

cranny of the ancient city.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER also revealed that the APC in Ayedire local government is engulfed in internal crisis which may nega vely affect Amobi’s electoral fortune. But Olaoluwa local government is a promising ground for Amobi. He defeated Lukman in 2019 with 7621 vote margin. Amobi polled 29,229 (42.82%) votes against Mudashiru’s 21,608 (31.66%) votes. But the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on result indicated that PDP and APC were neck-to-neck in Ayedire and Iwo local government. APC polled 17,421 (48.89%) votes while PDP got 16,914 (47.47%) votes in Iwo local government. In Ayedire local government, APC got 7,868 while PDP polled 7,402. But APC defeated PDP with 1,918 votes in Olaoluwa local government. APC polled 9,123 against PDP’s 7,205.

Ijesa South Federal Cons tuency (Atakunmosa East/ West/Ilesa East/West) is also a ba le ground for the PDP and APC. The incumbent lawmaker represen ng the cons tuency, Hon. Babatunde Ayeni, is from Ward 10, Ilesa West local government while his opponent, Sanya Ominrin is from Ward 10, Tobalase village, Atakunmosa East local government. Both Ayeni and Ominrin are grassroots poli cians who have their campaign structures across the federal cons tuency. Ayeni polled 41,867 (57.65%) votes to defeat PDP candidate, Dapo Adelowokan, who had 30,760 (42.35%) votes in 2019. But PDP won the federal cons tuency in the 2022 governorship elec on. The total number of votes got by PDP was 39,480 (49.10%) while APC had 38,279 (47.60%) votes. PDP won in Atakunmosa West and Ilesa West while APC won in Atakunmosa East and Ilesa East local governments.

However, the scale of poli cal violence in the federal cons tuency could reduce the turnout of voters in the Saturday’s elec on. The APC and PDP had been trading words on the trend of poli cal violence in the federal cons tuency. OSUN DEFENDER noted that no fewer than seven persons have been killed by poli cal thugs in the federal cons tuency.

On the senatorial elec on, PDP will retain Osun East Senatorial Districts and likely to win Osun West Senatorial District. Findings by this medium revealed that the incumbent Senator Francis Fadahunsi is a leading candidate in Osun East. Besides, the APC candidate, Hon. Ajibola Famurewa, has a very weak campaign structure in Ife federal cons tuency and Oriade/Obokun federal cons tuency, according to observa on. In 2019, Fadahunsi polled 114,893 (50.49%) against Famurewa’s 105,720 (46.47%) votes. However, APC defeated PDP in the senatorial district with a margin of 1,793 votes in the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on. APC won in Atakunmosa

•Continued on Page 6

•Atiku

•Tinubu

Ismaeel Uthman

20,973 NSCDC Officers Paid 8 Months After Ekiti, Osun Gov’ship Elections

THE 20,973 personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) who par cipated in the Eki and Osun states governorship elec ons have been paid their elec on assignment allowances on Friday, February 17, 2023.

The payment came eight and seven months a er the elec ons had been held.

NSCDC had deployed 9,747 officers for the Eki state governorship elec on conducted on June 18, 2022.

The security agency also deployed 11,226 personnel to provide security during the governorship elec on held on July 16, 2022 in Osun.

Inves ga on by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the delay in the payment of the elec on allowance was unusual, a development that got the personnel worried.

A highly placed source within the agency who confirmed the payment to the medium yesterday said it was a

first me their payment would be delayed after the elec on assignments.

She said: “Based on our previous experience with security deployment for elec ons, it

was expected that latest a day to that elec on, we would start ge ng alerts. This Osun and Eki elec ons, in the history of the organisa-

on, is the only one that personnel were not paid months later.

“To make ma ers worse, while on duty in polling booths around

the country, our colleagues from other agencies were ge ng alerts and would share the news with us; so it was quite depressing.”

ment.

RESIDENTS of Redeemed Chris an Church of God, Province 1, Ogo-Oluwa area, Osogbo, State of Osun, have called the a en on of the state government to a foamy smelly water in front of the church.

The s nking water, according to the residents, has been pollu ng the air and threatening their healthy living.

OSUN DEFENDER visited the water yesterday and no ced that it has foam and was having many used bo les and nylons in it.

The medium also noted that the flowing path of the water has been blocked by bush as a result of the bushy environ-

Speaking with the medium, a resident who idenfied herself as Bolanle Adewoyin, said the offensive odour coming out from the water had become unbearable, calling on relevant authori es to come for the inspec on of the water.

According to Adewoyin, people staying near the smelly water are prone to disease due to its unhealthy nature.

She said: “I just want to urge the state government and the ministry of environment to come to our aid concerning this smelly water.

“The odour coming out of the water is becoming unbearable and if not urgently looked into, may cause disease for the people living in the area.

Environmental Hazard: Residents Alert Osun Govt. Over Smelly Water At Ogo Oluwa Special Report

“The pathway for the water to flow had been blocked, leaving it to store in one place for a long period”. Another resident, Olufemi Oloyede, said:

“We have complained about the s nking water in this area since last year but the people who are in charge did not answer us. Imagine water that has been there since the rainy

period.

“I hope the authories will see this and find a las ng solu on to it before it causes health issues for the people living in this area.”

2023: State Of Play Of APC, PDP Presidential, NASS Candidates In Osun

•Continued from Page 5 East, Ilesa East, Ife Central, Ife East and Ife South while PDP won in Ilesa West, Ife North, Atakunmosa West, Obokun and Oriade local governments.

In Osun West Senatorial district, findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the APC candidate, Dr Amidu Tadese, was as of the me of filing this report, finding it difficult to convince aggrieved members of the party to support his ambi on. In spite of having the incumbent Sen-

ator Adelere Oriolowo as the Director General of his campaign, Tadese, it was observed has a no ceable weak campaign structure in Ede/Ejigbo/Egbedore Federal Cons tuency. This is just as his chances in winning the elec on in Iwo and Isokan are very slim. His opponent, Akogun Lere Oyewumi is contes ng for the second me. He was defeated by Oriolowo in 2019 with 4,863 votes. Oriolowo polled 102,157 (41.38%) votes against Akogun’s 97,294 (39.40) votes. But PDP won the senatorial

district with 27,698 vote margin in the last guber poll. The total number of votes go en by the PDP was 144,558 while APC had 116,860 votes. PDP won Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo and Egbedore while APC won in Ayedaade, Ayedire, Irewole, Isokan and Iwo local governments. But PDP is likely to win Irewole and Isokan this me around because of the Senatorial and House of Reps candidates in the two local governments.

The PDP and its can-

didate for Osun Central Senatorial district, Olubiyi Fadeyi, popularly known as Ajagunla, are confident of winning the senatorial elec on, while incumbent Senator Ajibola Basiru is struggling to return to the Senate. OSUN DEFENDER noted that PDP’s confidence was built on the result of the 2022 governorship elec on in which the party won in eight local governments. The party won in Boluwaduro, Ifelodun, Ila, Irepodun, OdoO n, Orolu, Olorunda and Osogbo local governments

while APC won in Boripe and Ifedayo local governments.

However, it was noted that complacency has set in for the PDP and its candidate, Fadeyi. There were complaints from electorates who spoke with the medium that Fadeyi was not accessible and does not make himself available for them.

But Basiru, popularly called SRJ, is running an intensive campaign, having realised the weakness of his poli cal party. This is

just as the Senate Spokesperson is facing an homebased challenge, as the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji and some other prominent indigenes of the state capital are not suppor ng his ambi on. The turnout of voters in Osogbo for one of them will go a long way in determining Basiru’s fate.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that the power of incumbency will assist the PDP in ge ng more votes in all the elec ons.

•The smelly water

•Ajibola

Yusuf Oketola

Kazeem Badmus

•Tadese

•Fadahunsi

We Are In Contact’ - Xavi Would Love Messi Back At Barcelona Ronaldo Put Up Luxury Manchester Mansion For Sale

BARCELONA Manager, Xavi Hernandez, said he is “in permanent contact” with Lionel Messi and would leave the doors open for a return to his boyhood club.

The Argen ne superstar was forced to leave Barcelona in 2021 due to the club’s financial situa on.

He subsequently secured a move to Paris SaintGermain, where he has been involved in 55 goals in 61 matches in all compeons.

With his contract expiring in the summer and no renewal agreed, Xavi says he would welcome a move from Messi back to “his home”.

“I have already said that this is his home and the doors are open to him. He is a friend, we are in constant contact,” the Spaniard said in a press conference.

He added: “It will depend on him, on what he wants to do in his future. This is his home, there is no doubt. The best footballer in history would always fit in.”

Rumours of a poten al return to Catalonia have been further ignited by the news that Messi may have to quit the na onal team to con nue in Paris.

CRISTIANO Ronaldo has reportedly put his luxury mansion in Manchester up for sale for £5.5 million, having moved to a new home in Saudi Arabia.

Ronaldo le Manchester United behind in November, 2022 and he clearly doesn’t have any plans to return to the area.

He is now looking for a figure close to £5.5m for his old mansion in the Alderley Edge area – a leafy Cheshire village on the outskirts of Manchester.

The estate agent Jackson-Stops, who have been charged with selling the property, describe the mansion as a “masterpiece of modern design”

The mansion has its own indoor swimming pool, a state-of-the-art gym, paddle and tennis courts, spa area and a massive cinema room, as well as seven bedrooms and 23 acres of land.

Stakeholders Applaud Amusan After Laureus Award Nomination

STAKEHOLDERS in Nigeria athle cs have applauded world 100m hurdles champion and record holder, Tobi Amusan, for her Laureus Sports Awards nomina on and believe it will serve as a big mo va on for the 25-yearold Commonwealth Games record holder, who had an excep onal year 2022.

Amusan is the first Nigerian woman to be nominated for the award.

The 25-year-old hurdler became the first Nigerian world champion in an athle cs event, when she won the 2022 World Championships 100m hurdles gold medal in Oregon, se ng the current world record of 12.12secs in the semifinals, followed up by a wind-assisted 12.06secs in the final.

She also won gold again at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, be-

fore retaining her Diamond League Trophy in Zurich in a new meet record of 12.29secs. The previous record, which stood for 22 years, was held by American legend, Gail Devers.

African Games gold medalist, Deji Aliu, is confident that the nomina on will mo vate Amusan for a better 2023 ou ng.

Aliu said: “Tobi Amusan has everything working for her, it will be to her advantage and probably do be er than what she did last year.

“Right now, she has all the support she needs to excel and that will propel her to do be er than what she did in 2022. We should be expec ng much bigger things from Amusan in 2023.”

The head coach of the Athle cs Federa on of Nigeria, Seigha Porbeni, is confident that Amusan will get stronger in 2023.

“It (nomina on) will definitely inspire Amusan to

break more records in 2023, being the first Nigerian, and it carries that euphoria of the joy of celebra on of 2022 into 2023, “ Porbeni said.

“This will rekindle the fire in her not to rest on her laurels and achieve more records and I am confident she will get be er and stronger in 2023 and 2024.”

Amusan is the first Nigerian sportswoman to be

It seems an eternity ago that Ronaldo le United under a cloud.

A er a controversial

Talk TV interview with Piers Morgan in which the Portuguese striker claimed he was “betrayed” by Erik ten Hag and other key figures at Old Trafford, his contract

was terminated by mutual consent.

Ronaldo played for Portugal at the World Cup without having a club to his name, before agreeing an eye-watering financial deal to join Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr on a two-and-ahalf-year contract.

Osimhen N64m Richer After 20th Napoli Goal

NIGERIAN striker, Victor Osimhen, has ac vated the goals bonus in his contract a er scoring his 20th goal of the season which obligates Napoli to pay him a bonus of €130,130 (N64m).

earn more than his basic salary of €4.8m (N2.3bn) and one of which mandated Napoli to pay Osimhen €130,130 should the Nigerian forward score 20 goals in a season.

nominated for the greatest sports award a er Vitalis Lanshima was nominated in the Sportsperson with a Disability category in 2004, which he lost to a Canadian.

The pres gious award was first held in 2000, honours the greatest and most inspira onal spor ng triumphs of the year, and showcases the work of Laureus Sport for good.

Nigeria Missing The Globalisation Train

•Continued from Page 3 more capital. Successive governments have paid lip service to diversifying Nigeria’s export trade away from dependence on oil sales, but their monetary policy has discriminated against exporters. Even the oil sector, the primary dollar earner, has suffered decades of government underinvestment, leading to the cur-

rent decline in Nigeria’s oil produc on capacity.

Nigeria’s endeavour at industrialisa on over the past half century is a story of the collapse of most of the importsubs tu on companies fed with subsidized foreign exchange. Their demise was not simply because of poor management, but mainly insufficient supplies of foreign exchange to import essen al capital goods. Most of these industries, including

tex les, automobiles, and pharmaceu cals, were highly reliant on imported capital inputs.

That a low-technology society like Nigeria can industrialise and be self-sufficient is a fallacy. Whichever party wins the 2023 elec ons should urgently shi the direc on of government monetary policy away from s fling exports and reducing foreign exchange inflows.

Nigeria’s powerful rentseeking elites will resist

the reforms, including the floa ng of the naira and ending unproduc ve subsidies.

The Nigeria internaonal scored in Napoli’s 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League round of 16, to take his tally for the 2022/23 season to 20 and unlock the €130,130 bonus (N63.6m).

Osimhen is in the third and easily the best year of his five-year contract with the Neapolitans.

Napoli made Osimhen the most expensive African player in history when the Italians paid LOSC Lille €75m and included a couple of players in the deal that saw the total fee go above €80m in 2021.

Included in his five-year contract were milestones that would see Osimhen

Osimhen only scored 10 league goals in his first term in Naples and followed it with 18 goals (14 in Serie A, four in Europa League) in his second year.

The 2022/23 campaign has, however, seen an extraordinary Osimhen tearing defences apart and netng spectacular goals with incredible regularity.

Despite missing a month due to injury, Osimhen is the top scorer in Serie A with 18 goals in 19 appearances. He has also scored twice in the Champions League, bringing his tally to 20.

The 24-year-old a acker has found the net in his last seven appearances in Serie A, the latest being a stunning strike in Napoli’s 2-0 win over Sassuolo.

The U-17 World Cup winner and record top scorer, who was asked earlier in the season if the bonus in his contract would mo vate him to score more goals, said his aim was to first help the team.

“I’m very happy, it was very important to start well. We have to feel the same as last year and start in the best way. I’m not the type of player who sets a goal target, I want to score to help the team. I put the collec ve in front,” he said.

AGBAJE KAYODE

That I was formerly known and addressed as AGBAJA KAYODE SAMSON, now wish to be known and addressed as AGBAJE KAYODE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

Yusuf Oketola

We Are In Contact’ - Xavi Would Love Messi Back At Barcelona

FEBRUARY 24 - THURSDAY, MARCH 03, 2023 VOL. 18 NO 07 www.osundefender.com, email:

ALTHOUGH there were some reported pocket of protests in some states over scarcity of new naira notes, Nigerians are special people with thicker skin and capacity to persevere unbearable condi ons. They have wherewithal of ‘suffering and smiling.’ Otherwise, the hard and harsh socioeconomic condi ons they have been subjected, especially from last year December ll now, with no end in sight, are enough to set any country ablaze.

On 1st December, 2022, electricity distribu on companies (DisCos) quietly increased electricity tariffs by 18.5% without addressing epilep c electricity supply. It implies that Nigerians pay more for poor services rendered. Till date, there is no official or unofficial statement from electricity distribu on companies to inform the public consumers of the tariff increase.

Before waking up from this daze, another heavy blow had been struck –scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called Gasoline or Petrol. Its unavailability made the price per litre jump to between N350 and N450 from the official N165 per litre. As long queues for hours con nue unabated in very few fuelling sta ons with the product, so the new naira design came in with its ar ficially created piercing claws, making life unbearable for the poor people.

The Federal Government via the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had, last year, introduced new naira design and had urged Nigerians to go to their respec ve banks to drop the old notes but gave direc ves to banks on how much new naira an individual and corporate organisa on could withdraw. The FG seems to have good inten on. The CBN, for instance, knows how much naira that is supposed to be in the system. Unfortunately, the currency in circula on is grossly lesser. Put clearly, out of N3.5 trillion that is supposed to be in circula on, only N700billion was within the banking system. This implies that some elements have warehoused the balance in various loca ons which is not good enough for the economy. CBN’s inten on is to pull these monies back into system if the owners have capacity to convert them into new ones or render them invalid a er the expiraon of set date which was 31st of January, but was later extended to February 10, 2023 due to the public outcry.

It is instruc ve to note that the commercial banks operators are in the industry solely for profit. Before the new naira design, they had always gone all out to woo moneybags to deposit in

“Most of these stored old monies were targeted at votes buying. To these moneybags and politicians, this is a wrong time to change old currency into new. As frustrating as this situation is for the poor, the moneybags, most of whose riches are responsible for pervasive poverty are crying silently as their warehoused old currencies have become illegal tender”

How Long Will These Sufferings Endure?

their banks. As a ma er of fact, banks were allegedly accused of encouraging pros tu on in the industry by recruiting beau ful girls to chase these moneybags for deposit, giving them target to meet otherwise be fired. The banks profit is not based on millions of poor depositors of N20,000 to N200,000 but on mul -millions and billions of few moneybags. With the new naira design and stringent CBN direc ves to commercial banks on conversion of old to new notes, withdrawal limit among others, it is a herculean task for these moneybags to convert all their stored old notes to new ones. Hence, it is me for payback. The bankers would, therefore, do everything to protect these moneybags and make them smile. As such, new naira in huge quan ty must first get to them with ease. Meanwhile, CBN is regula ng new notes it is circula ng via commercial banks. Hence,

very li le quan ty of new note is made available for the ordinary people. This partly explains the background of new naira scarcity.

Yes, CBN is a regulatory body to commercial banks. Its reliance on them alone for circula on of the new naira is faulty. It should have thought outside the box by tac cally having a back up of its own ATMs at head office in every state, including FCT, dispensing new money 24/7 with security logis cs required, while regula ng commercial banks circula on of the new notes, using an -corrup on agencies instrumentality and dangling prohibi ve fine for any erring commercial banks compromising its direc ves.

The trauma c experience of poor people who assemble in the banks’ premises very early and every day, picking numbers from 1 to 750 and awai ng banks officials to open for

After The Election

NIGERIANS will be out to elect House of Representa ves members, Senators and a President this Saturday, 25th February, 2023. Governors and State Legislators elec ons are slated for March 11. Nigeria should not only be the Giant of Africa but a global power respected and leading the way into the future of humanity. All Nigerians, except perhaps those who for selfish interest have brought her down to a nonen ty in the comity of na ons, are perplexed that this is not so; rather, Nigeria is close to a pariah in global reckoning as Nigerians groan under unremi ed misery and tribula ons.

These reali es have led to widespread individualism, wanton religiosity without piety, and retreat into primordial ethnic cuddle as well as self-help enterprises in violent criminality as survival/prosperity ventures for those not running away from the country as a bat would run out of hell. Most depressingly, it has occasioned resigna on into messianic mentality; that saviours in persons of certain governors and a president will one day come to their rescue. Therefore, elec ons of governors and president have become a much expected event that they fran cally look towards for deliverance, making the ruling elites, who care less about people, play them as pawns in the desperate scramble to be in control of oil money; thereby turning elec on into a game of death.

Eight years ago, the sound of “Change” rented the air and made possible the defeat of an incumbent party and president for the first me in Nigeria’s history, ushering in a Buhari messiah. Four years went by and “Next Level” became the chant a er not witnessing all the an cipated changes. Almost eight years now, four major candidates are selling varie es of fresh illusions to the masses that are themselves disturbed by poverty, ignorance and an a grossly distorted understanding of life.

There are several prayers and wishes for us as a people, and a few words for those who have ears to hear and heart to assimilate wisdom, without which “my people perish.”

One, as tense as the social environment is (no thanks to fuel and naira scarcity), we pray that the elec ons come and go peacefully. We must all, as common people, back this prayer with work, correct a tude and good conduct to avoid the needless disturbances and casual es that characterise all previous elec ons. Clearly, we should have realised by now (based on the Buhari experience) that no messiah is coming with any plan to resolve the problems of the country: that the masses will have to struggle by themselves to obtain the best from any government in power, which is their duty a er every elec on.

Two, as much as bad leadership is a problem in Nigeria, the real problem of

opera ons, including weekends would have been avoided. Most banks praccally shut down for alleged lack of new currency which could provoke frustrated people to revolt. Already, there have been some reported cases of a acks on banks and their officials.

The most annoying thing is that transac on via electronic money transfer is also very frustra ng as the network has been very erra c. And this has become daily frustra ng rou ne. On 14th February, there was no network at all for any transac on and even for telephone call for six hours! This has caused untold hardship to small scale traders and ar sans, majority of whom earnings are daily.

And trust Nigerians, most Point of Sale (POS) operators are feeding fat from this situa on. They charge as much as N300 to N400 on every N2000 and N1,000 on N5000 as against N100 before this crisis. And their defence is that the higher charges are based on many inconveniences they undergo before accessing the new money. But we should con nue to persevere as this situa on may improve a er the general elec ons. Most of these stored old monies were targeted at votes buying. To these moneybags and poli cians, this is a wrong me to change old currency into new. As frustra ng as this situa on is for the poor, the moneybags, most of whose riches are responsible for pervasive poverty are crying silently as their warehoused old currencies have become illegal tender. It is like a Yoruba adage, “He who masquerader chases should persevere; as he/she is ge ng red, so does masquerader.”

Nigeria is not bad leadership but structural. It is this woeful structure that nothing good can be built on that even allows bad leaders to outnumber and overwhelm the few good ones. The bad leaders then produce bad governance – and so on. Accordingly, no change of personnel at the presidency or governorship level can ever produce anything good, SO LONG AS NIGERIA IS NOT RETURNED TO A GENUINE FEDERAL REPUBLIC. A er the elec on, irrespec ve of who are the new personnel in charge, our duty as the common masses, the majority in this democracy, is to struggle and challenge the powers for a restructuring of the country. Otherwise, in four years, we will be worse off, disappointed and searching for new Messiahs!

Finally, having realised the fact that elec ons and change of captains are good democra c rou nes meaningful only when the structure of any country is right, we should all be unwilling as ordinary people (even for the money and material gains anyone is targe ng from the elecon) to allow ourselves be used as tools of electoral violence of any sort. The masses should concentrate all their energy in seeking deeper knowledge of why changes upon changes through elec on only make their lives worse. A er knowledge comes organisa on and struggle to right all the wrongs, no ma er which party or individuals emerge a er the elec on. It is a er the elec on that the people have responsibilies to demand from the powers-that-be the kind of country they want. Nothing will ever change un l that is done.