Osun Defender Online Version of January 14, 2022

Inside Osun School Where JSS1-SS3 Students Share Four Classrooms Page 5

‘Devotees, Over 2million People At Risk of Terminal Diseases Over Polluted Osun River’ Page 2

Pantami, Aregbesola Commission Digital Centre In Ilesa Today Page 4

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022 VOL 17 NO 01

Osun APC Crisis:

Adeoti, Salaam Reject Tinubu’s Invitation Page 2

Inside: •What Asiwaju Told Osun NASS Members

•Tinubu

Oyetola Chasing Shadows, Reaping Where He Did Not Sow - APC Chieftain

•Why There’s Disagreement On Reconciliation Terms •Oyetola Can’t Be A Judge In His Own Case - APC Spokesperson •TOP Demands Unreasonable - Akere

Page 7

Igbaye Crisis Has No Religious Undertone - Osun Muslim Community Page 7

•Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the kick-off of Federal Constituencies tour held in Ejigbo, yesterday.

Osun Guber: PDP Screens 6 Guber Aspirants

Page 6

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

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News

Osun APC Crisis: Adeoti, Salaam Reject Tinubu’s Invitation

By Ismaeel Uthman

T

HERE seems to be no end in sight on the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, few months to the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on in the state.

One of the last straws that some people had believed would break the camel’s back of the crisis is the interven on of the Na onal Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is a poli cal son and one of the staunch loyalists of Tinubu, while Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is his cousin.

Un l events started unfolding, it was believed that both Aregbesola and Oyetola would answer Tinubu’s call any me and the crisis would be resolved the moment he intervenes.

But the hope of getng the crisis resolved from Tinubu’s end is gradually ge ng dashed.

Inves ga ons by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the three poli cal gladiators in the APC, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representa ves, Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuff, former Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeo and former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salaam, have resolved not to backdown on their ‘rescue mission’ for the APC. It was gathered that Adeo and Salaam last week turned down an invita on to Lagos by Tinubu.

The invita on which was conveyed to the two poli cians by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico, Hon. Adejare Bello, was aimed at talking to the APC chie ains to drop their ‘Osun West’ agenda and their governorship ambi on to support the second term ambi on of Oyetola, according to sources.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that Bello called Adeo on phone on Thursday, January 6, to fix an appointment with him to deliver Tinubu’s message.

But Adeo , according to the impeccable sources, insisted that the message be discussed on phone and quickly turned down the invita on.

A close friend of the former SSG who was privy to the phone conversa on said: “I was with Adeo when Adejare Bello called him. He (Bello) wanted to come to visit Adeo but Alhaji insisted that he should be briefed on phone.

“I did not know what Adejare Bello was saying at the other end but I heard Adeo saying: ‘Tinubu said I should see him in Lagos? I cannot go and see him. Tell him I said I am not mee ng

him. Besides, he knows how to get across to me directly. I am not visi ng him. There is nothing for us to discuss.’

“Adeo was not ready to be persuaded. He was blunt and direct. I think because of his response, Bello felt it was not necessary to visit him again.”

When contacted, Adeo refused to comment on the ma er.

The medium gathered that Tinubu also invited Najeem Salaam who also re-

jected the invita on.

According to some of Salaam’s aides, the former Speaker told Bello that if Tinubu wants to see him, he should come through his leader, Aregbesola.

The aides said: “Speaker told Hon. Bello that he was not ready to meet Tinubu. He said he cannot be deceived like 2018 again. He recalled that it was the same Tinubu that persuaded him to drop his governorship ambi on for Oyetola in 2018. And the

same Tinubu had refused to call Oyetola to order since the crisis began.

“Speaker said if Tinubu was desirous of seeing him, he should come through his leader, Aregbesola.”

What Asiwaju Told Osun NASS Members About Aregbesola

Tinubu’s invita on to Adeo and Salaam came few days a er all the Osun APC members of the Na onal Assembly visited the former

Lagos State governor.

The Osun APC NASS members, according to one of them, visited Tinubu to persuade him to wade into the ri between Aregbesola and Oyetola.

According to the member, who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under condi on of anonymity, Tinubu told them that he was not ready to talk to Aregbesola but needed to get both Adeo and Salaam to support Oyetola.

•(R-L) Osun NUJ Chairman, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu, Prince Kayode Adedire, Former Deputy Director, OSBC, Alhaji Kunle Jimoh and other dignitaries during the first year remembrance and launching of Late Mrs. Folakemi Alonge Endowment Fund, organised by the Nigeria Union Of Journalists, Osun State Council held yesterday.

Photo: Shola Aderinto

‘Devotees, Over 2million People At Risk Of Terminal Disease Over Polluted Osun River’

By Ismaeel Uthman

D

EVOTEES of Osun goddess and other people of the state of Osun who directly or indirectly consume water from Osun River are at the risk of having serious health crisis as a result of the pollu on of the river.

According to a civil society, Urban Alert, Osun river has been contaminated with heavy metals - Lead, Cynaide and Mercury as a result of indiscriminate mining in Ijesaland.

The group, in a press release made available to OSUN DEFENDER, said the current state of the river is capable of resulting to public health crisis for states in South-West.

Execu ve Director of the group, Mr. Anthony Adejuwon, said the ac vies of gold miners in Ijesaland polluted the water which has the poten al of jeopardising the health of over two million people residing in 20 communies in the state.

He said the people are at the risk of having varying health complica ons such as brain and kid-

•Mercury, Lead, Cyanide Now Present In Water - Group ney failure, hearing loss, growth retarda on, anaemia, impaired vision, paralysis and death.

Adejuwon noted that the situa on which has persisted for over three years is yet to be addressed by the State Government, despite inaugura ng a Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Commi ee MIREMCO, nine months ago.

He called on stakeholders in Osun to call the atten on of government to the situa on, especially pu ng an urgent stop to the ac vi es of the gold miners which has led to the current state of the water that also serves three major bo ling companies in Osun and Oyo states.

He said: “As an organisa on driven by facts with a founda on firmly rooted in data, we carried out Geographical Informa on Analysis and Laboratory Tests to ascertain the cause of Osun River pollu on and affirm the elements present in the water.

“Our scien fic examina ons revealed that the

Osun River is being polluted by the ac vi es of gold miners in some parts of Osun State. Further physicochemical and microbiological test has revealed that the Osun River has been heavily contaminated with mercury, lead, cyanide and other injurious elements.

“No doubt, the harmful contamina on of the Osun River due to mining ac vi es has put the lives of over two million residents of Osun State in danger. Tradi onalists, Osun devotees, local and foreign tourists of the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove and over 20 communi es making use of the Osun River are exposed to cancer and other deadly ailments like brain and kidney failure, hearing loss, growth retarda on, anaemia, impaired vision, paralysis and death.

“It is disheartening to state that the government at all levels has remained incapacitated, claiming various reasons why it is difficult to end this life-threatening situa on

whose nega ve impacts would lead to the death of many in few years, if not currently happening.

“We are saddened by the destruc on of the iden ty of Osun State, the cultural iden ty of the people of Osun State and the ecosystem, with no regard for the tradi on, business and wellbeing of millions of Osun State residents.

“We, therefore, call on the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Osun State Government, civil society organiza ons and the interna onal community to save the lives of over 2 million residents of Osun State whose lives directly or indirectly depend on the 213km river, which currently houses five (5) water dams, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove (UNESCO World Heritage Site and Na onal Monuments).

“We urge all stakeholders to add their voices to Save Osun River to protect the environment, iden ty, heritage, lives, and genera ons yet unborn,” Urban Alert stated.

The source said: “We went to Asiwaju to persuade him to resolve the ri between our two leaders, Aregbesola and Oyetola. We had the believe that it is only Asiwaju that could resolve the ma er. But, I am not a pessimist, the ma er cannot be resolved again. It is bigger than we thought.

“Asiwaju said a lot of things that cannot be said outside. We were all surprised because we did not expect such from him. He said he was not willing to talk to Aregbesola. That scared me because I did not know the ri has go en to that extent.

“He is prepared for the second term ambi on of Oyetola. He told us that he has the money and power to prosecute his second term.

He said he needed to gain Adeo and Salaam to Oyetola’s side. I think he wants to poli cally undress Aregbesola by taking influen al poli cians away from him.

“The fight is actually between Aregbesola and Asiwaju. With what he told us that day, the ri between the two of them is not unconnected with the 2023 presiden al ambi on of Asiwaju which he believes Aregbesola is also interested in.”

Poli cal analysts had earlier observed that the rela onship between Tinubu and Aregbesola is frosty.

According to the poli cal analysts, Oyetola would not have and does not have the capacity to wage war against Aregbesola without the support of his uncle, Tinubu.

The analysts pointed out that the ri between the Governor and the Minister would have been se led had Tinubu not taken side with his cousin.

It was gathered that Asiwaju felt threatened with the warm recep on being given to Aregbesola by the northerners, making him to believe that the northern poli cians might use the Minister to scu le his presiden al ambi on.

OSUN DEFENDER authorita vely gathered that a statement made by the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai during Aregbesola’s virtual birthday programme in 2020 is part of what is working against the former governor of the state.

Speaking at a webinar in commemora on of the 63rd birthday of Aregbesola, on May 30, 2020, El-Rufai noted that Aregbesola remained his man any day but that Tinubu was not his man.

El-Rufai said, “I want to congratulate my brother, on his birthday. You know I’m your man any day. I’m not Asiwaju’s man and you are Asiwaju’s man, but I am your Continued on page 7

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

3

Review & Outlook

BY KANMI ADEMILUYI The Politics OF Poverty Maximising Diaspora Contributions And State Capture

T

HE inten on announced a couple of days by President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a Diaspora Trust Fund is belated, but nevertheless very much welcome.

Nigeria has an outstanding diaspora; it is therefore, unfortunate that we have not made the full use of it. We seem to think of diaspora contribu ons as limited to yearly remi ances of about $22 billion, according to the figures of the Central Bank of Nigeria. We should be grateful for this because without it, our balance of payments disequilibrium and current accounts deficit will be even more precarious.

However, compared to a country like India, we are only scratching the surface. India is not just talking of about $70 billion annual remi ances; it is sensibly

T

extrac ng the synergy and mulplier effect needed to make their diaspora into a major driving force indeed a trajectory for the economy. We must follow the same path.

Nigeria must now codify and segment its diaspora skills, access to knowledge and capital into a formidable economic pillar. Everything ma ers now. We need skills and exposure to interna onal best prac ces as much as we need capital. The two are interwoven.

Capital is of course essen al and at a me when returns on financial instruments are so low in the West. We must go all out to create the atmosphere to a ract diaspora and other capital looking for higher returns. The president has stressed that the ini a ve will be private sector-led. This is important to avoid bureaucra c stul fica on. We take it that “private sector” led includes both local and diaspora private sector interlinked. This is an important ini a ve it must be diligently pursued. Kudos to the Federal Government for this.

E Gbò Oun Tì Émì Nso Fùn Íjo

HROUGHOUT the gospels of Ma hew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus said “He who has ears, let him hear.” This statement by him is not a general one- meant for everybody. He was calling on those who have cri cal minds and are sincere to their conscience.

Like Jesus Christ’s expression, this video excerpt warns all poli cal grandstanders and the ONLY FOCAL SPECTATOR regarding an imminent poli cal tragedy.

It, simultaneously, flags the reality that both the SPECTATOR and his impressors and a en on seeker pretend is not possible.

According to the electoral rule, 353 votes were not substanal for the INEC to formally give the win to Ademola Adeleke of the PDP over Alhaji Isiaka Oyetola of the APC in the Osun 2018 gubernatorial elec on. So INEC declared the elec on inconclusive. Hence, there was a rerun.

The rerun, however, turned

From The Social Media out to be the slim opportunity for Alhaji Oyetola to become the governor with a mere 482 votes. This figure included the ballots creditable to Senator Omisore’s “colabo.”

This poli cal narrow escape happened when the APC team had its formidable strikers, coach, and manager in a bond.

As a ma er of fact, the stress that the party experienced was majorly due to the exit of the former Secretary to the State Government - Alhaji Moshood Adeo , who polled over 49,000 votes in the same gubernatorial elec on, and Engineer Lasun Yusuf who felt cheated at the APC primary where Alhaji Oyetola got the flag.

So it beats imagina ons how some individuals try to make Governor Oyetola think that the results of the 2022 gubernatorial contest would be anything close to the 482 votes that made him a governor in 2018.

It was difficult to galvanise up to 500 people to make him a clear winner in 2018 when Ogbeni Aregbesola, Engineer Lasun Yusuf, Hon. Najeem Salam, and other poli cal hulks were in one fold.

From this background, the possible outcome of the next Osun governorship elec on looks clearmore so now that all that Governor Oyetola has around him today are grandstanders who would later play to another person, the same acts they are playing now to enthuse him, the moment they know power walks away.

•Adebayo Rasheed Mabayoje, posted on Facebook, yesterday.

Awolowo

Abiola

W

E are in the season of poli cal jockeying and all bets are off.

With so much at stake, the hardpressed economy stunted with diminishing purchasing power will see a s mulus as spending on poli cal ac vi es revs up a gear. The relief will be temporary of course, but thank God for small mercies.

The real issue should be, “Where is the beef?” An inconvenient ques on, but poli cs in a country at our level of growth without development should ask for something more than vacuous u erances and just spending on “poli cs”. It is more pernent now at a me when the country is faced with existen al threats on so many fronts. The daily carnage of terrorists is directly linked and is indeed founded upon a distorted economic founda on. The absence of genuine, sensibly structured Development Plans to be used as a roadmap highlight this. Disturbingly, a forewarning of impending disaster had being foretold by the report of the judicial commission of enquiry into the Maitatsene riots in 1982.

Governments, both civil and military just ignored the warnings. The consequences of so doing are now dire with the country devo ng roughly 20% of its budget on military expenditure. The figure is not going to

come down any me soon; on the contrary, it will go up because the root causes of the crisis is not been tackled. To paraphrase the elec on winning slogan of the Bri sh Labour party under Tony Blair, “We should be tough on terrorism, tougher s ll on the causes of terrorism”.

To be tough on the causes of terrorism requires both a rethinking of strategy and crucially the poli cal will. In a brilliant campaign in 1993, the late Bashorun MKO Abiola of much cherished memory captured the mood with his emphasis on saying a “Farewell To Poverty “. He meant it and certainly had the management nous and the intensity of purpose as well the commitment to have pulled off. Abiola’s manifesto was a reminder of the central thrust of the Ac on Groups 1950s emphasis on making “ Life more abundant “. They pulled it off with beneficial game changing effects which con nues to resonate.

Nearer to now Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola reignited the progressive thrust by placing the role of the state in beneficial social interven on at the center of the poli cal discourse. Aregbesola lived up to the posi on of the Italian poli cal philosopher, Antonio Gramsci, that the clear essence of poli cs is to shi the territory of the discourse in the direc on of one’s own posion. Aregbesola redirected both thought and prac ce and has deservedly earned a posi ve place in history.

Publisher – Moremi Publishing The country is in dire House Ltd. straits. We must seek soDeputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman lu ons by looking at the (0805-121-2204) valiant efforts made in the Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa past by reexamining the Reporter – Yusuf Oketola thoughts of people like Reporter – Kazeem Badmus Obafemi Awolowo, Abiola Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto and Aregbesola. It means Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere je soning the inadvertent OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing (it is to be hoped) glamorisa on of poverty as a poHouse Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, li cal weapon. This must be discarded and replaced State of Osun in this season with a clear ISSN : 0794-8050 Aregbesola styled “AlternaTelephone : 0805-121-2204 ve Perspec ve “ to break Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com Read full article on osundefenderbank@gmail.com www.osundefender.com All correspondence to the above email addresses.

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

4

News

Earned Allowance: OAU ASUU Threatens Strike, Accused Management Of Favouritism

By Kazeem Badmus

T

HE Academic Staff Union of Universi es (ASUU), Obafemi Awolowo University, on Tuesday, threatened to embark on industrial strike over the school management’s refusal to pay its members earned allowance.

A resolu on issued a er its mee ng, which was signed by the branch Chairman, Dr. Adeola Egbedokun, stated that the union would embark on indefinite strike, once it gets permission from the headquarters.

Egbedokun said the January 7, 2022 ul matum given the varsity management to pay the allowance to deserving ASUU members had lapsed, because of the school’s stance to set up a commi ee to verify claims submi ed by ASUU members.

Speaking on Wednesday during a phone-in programme, Egbedokun accused the University management of favouritsm towards their counterpart, Congress of University Academics (CONUA).

According to Egbedokun, ASUU had made it known to the management that for anyone to benefit from the money, the person must key into the principle of the union.

He said: “We have had about two meetings with the management and we have made it clear that for everybody to benefit from the money we are talking about, that person must necessarily fill the form that was rolled out by ASUU. It was ASUU who fought for this money and we didn’t collect salaries for six months when we went on strike concerning this.

“CONUA members didn’t join us then but we are not even looking at that. We accepted that in war, there are victors and vic ms. We were the vic ms at that me, but today, we are victors. What we are saying is that for them to benefit from this money, the simplest thing to do is just to fill the form that we have rolled out for them to fill and that is all.

“We suggested to the university that as long as they are ready to make them fill the form, we are going to make the form avail-

able so that they can fill it and we compile and compute their own composi on also and they would be paid.

“A father should be a father at all mes.

He should not be a father because there is a par cular circumstance aligning with his interest. You must be a father from the beginning to the end and that is one of the issues that we are having on our hands. If we have had a father, honestly, this ma er will not be the way it is at the moment.

“If the Vice-Chancellor is correctly disposed

to us, this would not be happening. We made it known to the university management themselves when we had the second mee ng that there is an issue of favouri sm”.

ASUU Blackmailing ManagementCONUA

Meanwhile, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Obafemi Awolowo University, had rejected the claim by ASUU that it was currying the favour of the university management, adding that it was the academic staff that is using instrument of coercion and black-

mail to put the university under pressure.

The chairman of the union, Dr, Niyi Sunmonu, described the form provided by ASUU as a ‘Yahoo Form’, disclosing that the form lacks transparency and cannot be used.

Responding to the claim by ASUU that it fought for the allowance, Sunmonu said the claim is funny as the money is not meant for a par cular union but all academic staffs.

Sunmonu said: “What we had in the last congress was how the academic earned allowance will be distributed to everyone

without being bias. The money has been released by the Federal Government and all the academics that deserve to be paid this money are included.

“The form that was released by our colleagues from the other side lacks transparency. When we were in ASUU, there is this form we used to fill, that form s ll subsists and it has not changed and that is the form which was transparent and based on the union agreement with the Federal Government as at that me. So, it was a surprise to us that we saw a Yahoo Form being

•Osun APC Chairman, Alhaji Rasaq Salinsile and his Vice, Alhaji Azeez Adesiji addressing APC faithful during a special prayer organised by the party at Oranmiyan house, Osogbo, on Wednessday.

Pantami, Aregbesola Commission Digital Centre In Ilesa Today

By Kazeem Badmus

T

HE Minister of Communica ons and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami and his counterpart in the Ministry of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, will today (Friday), commission a Digital Nigeria Centre (DNC) project in the State of Osun.

The project, located at Ijesa Muslim Grammar School, Ilesa will be the first to be commissioned in the State since the modifica on of the project as DNC. The project, is aimed at giving concrete expression to the underlining principles and fundamental philosophy of the emergent digital culture in Nigeria.

A statement by the Director, Public Affairs of the Ministry of Communicaon and Digital Economy, Ikechukwu Adinde, said the DNC, hitherto known as School Knowledge Centre (SNC), targets students and youth for skills acquisi on in order to increase Infor-

ma on and Communicaon Technology (ICT) literacy among school teachers and students.

He said the project also provide a pla orm for accessing online educa onal resources; equip students with ICT skills; facilitate ICT adop on in teaching and learning; and increase pass rate in Mathema cs, English Language and science subjects.

APC Welcomes Ministers

Meanwhile, The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state has expressed excitement at the proposed unveiling of a Digital Naonal Centre slated today.

The APC, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon. Rasak Salinsile, thanked the Federal Government for considering Osun fit for the first unveiling of the centre as part of its overall digital economy culture under the President Muhammadu Buhari administra on.

Salinsile thanked Pantami and Aregbesola, for the gesture to ensure that Osun does not lag behind in the digital culture revolu on.

He said: “We must express apprecia on to the Federal Government for considering Osun worthy of this centre and it is our hope that it would contribute immensely to the overall equipment of Osun youths with the new digital resources needed in the pursuit of their educa on, businesses and other live challenges.”

The APC state chairman said incidentally, the Aregbesola administra on in Osun had pioneered the idea of digital revolu on especially in the educa on sector.

He said: “It must be noted that the Aregbesola administra on witnessed a novel idea in the crea on of the one-stop digital device called Opon Imo which ini ated Osun secondary school students to the ben-

efits of digital devices for learning.

“We recall that the introduc on of the Tablet of Knowledge produced great results in the performance of Osun students in public examina ons to the point that an Osun student emerged one of those with highest scores in the Joint Administra on and Matricula ons Board Examinaons (JAMB).”

The statement also recalled that the Aregbesola administra on ensured the introduc on of skills acquisi on along the digital revolu on with the se ng up of the OYESTECH scheme through which about 5,000 Osun youths were trained and empowered.

Salinsile added, “This is why we in Osun recognise and appreciate the enormity of the new digital centre to be unveiled and we believe that will go a long in further enhancing the chances of the youths of our state in the years ahead.”

sent across by our colleagues from the other side.

“I can say categorically that the University has not favoured CONUA. What the University has done actually was to try to pander to our colleagues on the other side and our colleagues on the other side are using the instrument of Coercion to put the University under pressure. Just some kind of blackmail so that the proposal we give to the University, which is transparent will be overlooked”.

Union Cannot Dictate For the ManagementOAU PRO

The management of the ins tu on in its reac on said Unions cannot dictate who to give and who not to give money.

According to the Public Rela ons Officer of the ins tu on, Abiodun Olanrewaju, the Federal Government had released the money for the en re members of staff.

Olanrewaju, however expressed op mism in resolving the issue, saying that the University enjoys good rela onship with all the staff unions in the campus.

He said: “I want to say it loud and clear that the University administra on enjoys good rapport with all the staff unions on campus, ASUU inclusive. When money is involved in some areas, one has to be careful in the sense that everybody involved must be carried along.

“The management and members of ASUU would of course have to come back to round table again and resolve this issue. It is a family ma er and we are determined to resolve it in a family way.

“The insinua on that the management is favouring CONUA is not correct. Both unions are members of Academic and they are doing everything they could to make sure that the academic ac vi es of the University are sustained.

So, I wouldn’t want a situa on where in order to kill a dog, you are calling it bad names.

“Unions cannot dictate to the management who to give and who not to give money. The Federal Government released that money for the en re members of staff. Let us get that clear.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

Feature

5

Inside Osun School Where JSS1-SS3 Students Share Four Classrooms •Four Teachers Take All Subjects For About 500 Students

By Ismaeel Uthman &Yusuf Oketola

I

T will sound unbelievable to readers and members of the general public that in the State of Osun, where success had been made in educa on infrastructure, there can s ll be some schools whose condi ons do not jus fy the huge investment in the educa on sector.

Some of the schools in remote areas of the state are lacking classrooms, teachers, water and toilets, according to inves ga on.

While successive governments of the state have been giving priority to educa on sector in the state, some schools are totally forgo en, apparently because of their loca on.

One of the schools that is currently begging for government’s a en on is Community Grammar School, Ikonifin, a town in Ola-Oluwa Local Government of the state.

Constructed in 1979 by Chief Bola Ige in the old Oyo State, the school served as a former educa on centre for 10 communi es in the area. The communi es are: Obamoro, Odoran, Isero, Sade, Gogooru, Gaa-Seidu, GaaAdamu, Gaa-Baabo, Olaala and Ikonifin town itself.

The school buildings, which are about five in number are dilapidated, except one which was built by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administra on. All the others buildings are now threat to safety of the school children and teachers.

OSUN DEFENDER visited the school on Monday and noted that the new school building constructed by the Aregbesola administra on is the only structure being used to house and teach students from JSS 1-SS3. The building has just four classrooms, two offices for teachers and Principal, and two toilets.

The number of students in the school could not be verified but a teacher who prayed anonymity, said the student popula on was about 500 with just four teachers and a principal.

The school does not have teacher for any science subject as at the me of filing this report, according to the teacher.

To accommodate members of the Na onal Youth Service Corps (NYSC) posted to the school, the Chief Bisi Akande administra on built a ‘Corpers Lodge’ very close to the school. The corpers lodge which is just an apartment is now a shadow of its former self.

•The abandoned corpers lodge.

•The new school building constructed by Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration.

According to an old student of the school, Hon. Kayode Omoniyi, since 1979, the only administra on that ‘remembered’ the school was that of Aregbesola, which erected a new building to be used by the students and teachers.

Omoniyi said: “We are facing infrastructure challenge in this town. Part of it is the bad condi on of our school.

The school and the Corpers lodge are the main projects executed by successive governments in Osun. Chief Bola Ige was the one who established the school in 1979 in which I was part of the first set, while the Corpers lodge and a borehole was built by Chief Bisi Akande.

“Due to lack of maintenance, the Corpers lodge and the classrooms have dilapidated. The only building the whole students are using is the one built during the me of Aregbesola.

“Go to the principal’s office, it is nothing to write home about. When the corpers lodge was s ll in a good shape, at least, we do see up to 12 Corpers coming to serve in the school because they were aware that they will get a good accommoda on. But now, no corps member is coming here to serve anymore.

“Our road was constructed by the administra on of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and was later rehabilitated during the me of Aregbesola.

“The only thing that the current Governor Adegboyega Oyetola administra on has done is the renova on of the Health Centre here. There is nothing other than that.

“There is no administra on in the state that could say it did not receive support of this town as APC has been winning this ward since 2011.

Also, speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, the President, Na onal Associa on Of Ola-Oluwa Students, Comrade Idowu Ola doye, said that most schools in Ola-Oluwa Local Government have no chairs and good buildings.

Ola doye said: “I have gathered enough fact that Ola-Oluwa has always been sidelined in developmental projects, and that is evident in our educa on system.

“There is no enough school buildings and the available ones are very disgus ng. Our learning environment in the local government is not conducive. Corps members are no longer being posted to schools which had always been receiving corps members for years. Obviously, the environment is not conducive for them to stay.”

Some of the old students of the Ikonifin Community Grammar School who accompanied OSUN DEFENDER to the school during the visita on also lamented its poor state, recalling that the school was s ll in a good shape some years back.

OSUN DEFENDER also learnt that the Community Grammar School in Ajagunlase, the hometown of the lawmaker represen ng Ola-Oluwa Cons tuency in the State Assembly, Hon. Adirullahi Abefe, shares similar fate with that of Ikonifin Community Grammar School.

Some of the school buildings are dilapidated, while some classrooms are

without window.

OSUN DEFENDER observed that palm-front was used to ceil the roof of the school hall in which there was no chair, forcing students to sit on bear floor and hang on the window.

Besides the hall, there is no enough chairs in each of the five classrooms in the school.

According to a teacher in the school, four students share a chair which is meant for just two persons. The popula on of students in the school was said to be over 300.

According to inves gaon, four teacher and a principal were originally in the school. One of the teachers was redeployed to another school recently, making the total number of teachers to be three with a principal. Th available teachers in the school teaches English Language, Yoruba and Geography, while the principal takes artwork for JSS1-JSS 3 students.

One of the teachers of the school said: “We have four classrooms; the other one the students were occupying was built during the me of Chief Bola Ige. The roof of the building was done by the former principal but it is now blown off. Now, JSS 1 and II are using one class, while teachers are teaching JSS 1 students, JSS 2 students will be there si ng down. While JSS II students are being taught, JSS I students will be asked to put their heads on the knocker. So, we are swapping classes for them. JSS 3 are maintaining a class because of their promo on exams, and SSS students are making use of one because of the final exams. SSS I and II students share a class together.

“We have five teachers, a Vice-Principal and a Principal. We don’t have corps member anymore because of the condi on of the Corpers lodge. We don’t have a standard science; Mathema cs and English teachers. All of us are just making up.

“Students are now withdrawing from the school to go to Ife-Odan. The students have to trek from Ikonifin to Ife-Odan everyday because the Community Grammar School is nothing to write home about again. We are fed up. Ikonifin was a standard school some years back.

•Students receiving lessons at the hall of Community Grammar School, Ajagunlase in Ola-Oluwa LG, State of Osun.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

6

P

RAISE and adora on is due to Allah, the Lord of the world, who created the heaven and the earth. He created night and day each in an orbit swimming without disturbing one and other. May the blessing and mercy of Allah be upon

Religion roads, hospitals, educa on system?

Every aspect of human life was okay then. What we are witnessing today is very short of the goodies in the olden days.

According to a scholar, “For everything that tends to end must be diminishing.” It seems the world has

JUMAT SERMON By Imam Ibrahim Oladejo Raji

the noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW), His household, companions and all followers of Islam ll the day of judgement.

The most revered word is the word of Allah and his Prophet which have been in existence many centuries ago and s ll stands the test of the me. Happenings today have been prophecised by the creator and his messenger (S.A.W). The past leaders of the world tried their best to ensure that the lives of their subjects were meaningful in projec ng the future, as well as execu ng policies that would increase the standard of living. Though, as we have benevolent leaders, we also have callous leaders. The duo would strive to provide things either good or on the contrary for the people they govern.

However, the people always expect good governance from their leaders and always find it difficult to make comparision from the past and the present regime. The past

The World Is Gradually Moving To An End leaders seem to be be er and sa sfiable to the present one. Lives get more difficult juxtaposing with the present regime. This is applicable to all na ons of the world.

We may, therefore, conclude that the beau ful ones are yet to be born in the midst of our leaders. When should we expect the beau ful ones? The prophet Muhammad (SAW) had said in one of his priceless messages: “A year or a day shall never come on you except that the one a er will be very difficult un l you meet your God.” Today, every country of the world is clamouring for be er day but it seems to be a mirage. Sixty-seventy years and above narrates how life was so simple and easy to live then. Should we talk of good

reached the zenith and starts dwindling gradually.

Allah says in the Holy Quran 103: 1-3: “By me, indeed mankind is in loss, except Those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to paence.”

So, where are those quali es among people today? The world is gradually moving to an end. The two quotes from the Quran and the saying of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) are the evidence why mankind should not expect midnight miracle from the world leaders.

May Allah Subuhanahu Watahaallah grant us a life well spent in His course and give us good ending.

Ameen.

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

News

Microfinance Bank Staff Remanded For Alleged N3.3 Million Fraud

By Yusuf Oketola

A

N Osogbo Magistrate Court has remanded a 27-year-old man, Oluwatosin Ajayi, in Ilesa Correc onal Centre for allegedly conver ng a sum of N3, 300,000 belonging to his company to his own personal use.

Ajayi, a staff at ASHA Microfinance Bank, Osogbo, was said to have forged the company’s cheque and fraudulently withdraw the sum from the company’s Zenith Bank account under the pretence of withdrawing the money on behalf of the company.

He was also accused of unlawfully falsifying the company’s statement of account which he presented as genuine.

According to the charge sheet obtained

by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the defend-

ant commi ed the offence between October 8 and December 2021.

The alleged offence, according to the police, contravened Sec ons 516, 467, 419 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun state, 2002.

But the accused person pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, fraud and stealing levelled against him.

Defence Counsel, Oladipupo Olatunbosun, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on a liberal term, no ng that he would provide a reliable surety.

In his ruling, the Magistrate, Mr Adekanmi Adeyeba ordered that the accused person be remanded in Ilesa Correc onal Centre.

The case was adjourned ll February 16, 2022 for hearing.

Osun Guber: PDP Screens 6 Guber Aspirants

By Yusuf Oketola

T

HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday screened six governorship aspirants for the cket of the party to contest the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on in

the State of Osun.

The screening commi ee was headed by a former Minister of Jus ce and A orneyGeneral of the Federa on, Mohammed Adoke.

Senator Ademola Adeleke, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, Hon. Olu-

sanya Omirin, Mr. Dele Adeleke, former Secretary to State Government, Alhaji Fatai Akinbade and Mr. Dotun Babayemi were aspirants screened for the PDP governorship cket.

Adoke, while addressing newsmen

Osun APC Begins Fed. Constituencies Tour

By Kazeem Badmus

T

HE State of Osun Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday, commenced its Federal Cons tuencies tour.

This is as it urged party members to get their voters card ready towards the upcoming governorship elec on in the state.

The tour, aimed at familiarising and sensi sing party members across the state, took off at Ede Federal Cons tuency, comprising of Ede North, Ede South, Ejigbo and Eg-

bedore Local Governments of the state.

Speaking in Ejigbo, the State Chairman of the party, Alhaji Rasak Salinsile, urged party faithful to work towards the success of the party in the coming elec ons.

Salinsile, who is of The Osun Progressive fac on of the party, while thanking party members who came en-mass to a end the programme, admonished those who are yet to get their voters card to do so, adding that APC is the party to move the state for-

ward.

He said: “I am happy to be here today and I want to congratulate our party members for coming out in large number for this tour.

“This is the beginning and I know by the grace of God; we will be victorious come in the coming elec ons.

“My appeal to you is that, you should all come out on the elecon day, vote for our candidate and I also want to urge those who are yet to get their voters card to do so on me”.

a er the conclusion of the screening on Wednesday, said the commi ee would submit its report in 48 hours (today).

Ogunbiyi, Omirin and Akinbade expressed confidence in the ability of the screening commi ee to do jus ce.

Also, Dele Adeleke, one of the screened aspirants said that the idea of having a consensus candidate was not bad, but the party must do it democra cally.

Adeleke also described himself as a credible poli cian with grassroots support, who could win the elec on for PDP in the state.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that one of the screened aspirants, Senator Ademola Adeleke snubbed journalists by refusing to grant interview at the end of the screening.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022

7

News

Oyetola Chasing Shadows, Reaping Where He Didn’t Sow – APC Chieftain

By Yusuf Oketola

A

chie ain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Alhaji Fouad Oki, has said that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the State of Osun, has been chasing shadows since he became the governor of the state over three years ago.

Oki while commen ng on the crisis of the party at the na onal level on a private radio programme, Frank Talk in Osogbo, yesterday, said APC might lose the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on to opposi on if care is not taken.

The former DirectorGeneral of the campaign organisa on for Akinwumi Ambode and Babatunde Fashola, both former governors of Lagos State, said the APC at the na onal and state is in the hands of people that do not know anything about party management.

He said: “Our party in Osun will lose to the opposi on, which opposion, I don’t know. You know why, because of

greed. Because some people think it is our turn. The point is that the minority, no ma er how powerful they are, they will not overcome the majority.

So, the minority in government does not understand something that very clearly, if care is not taken, they would find their way out.

“When you are in charge, you must be magnanimous. You don’t go out chasing shadows. You must situate what is happening in Osun to Nigeria, you will get it very clearly where we have go en our party to. Osun should be seen as a mirror of SouthWest poli cs.

“In life, par cularly in poli cs, you must understand that you win some and lose some. You don’t create enmity. You must be careful while in posion of power. When you are in power, you need three things: the grace of God, magnanimity and inclusion.

“You must have an inclusive system where those that you perceive to be your enemy from your house would want to sit

•Zakariyau Bello, President Old Students of St. Marks Secondary Modern Commercial School, Osogbo I979 SET, Mr. Mustapha Waheed, Mr. Tiamiu Fatai and Mrs. Adesina Magaret during MARKIAN 79 general meeting, held at ANSARUDEEN Central Mosque recently.

down with you. That is the way to go, not by chasing shadows. For three year, the Governor (of Osun) and his cabinet have been chasing shadows.

‘You must remember as an individual, also a faithful and a believer in God, that if it’s not predes ned, you would not be there. So, when you are there, the first thing

to do is to be forgiving. If someone renders a li le assistance to you and later hurts you, you should consider the li le help more worthy than the evil. If anything, someday, one day, Rauf Aregbesola was there for him (Oyetola).

“When Aregbesola was to be picked by the progressives to take over Osun, brother Gboyega

Osun APC Crisis: Adeoti, Salaam...

Continued from page 2 man any day. Asiwaju and I have differences but you and I have no differences.”

That statement, according to poli cal analysts, was the beginning of the frosty rela onship between Tinubu and Aregbesola.

Disagreement Over Reconcilia on Terms

There has been disagreement over the reconcilia on terms presented to the Na onal Reconcilia on Commi ee by Hon. Rasaq Salinsile-led APC fac on.

Speaking on the visitaon of the reconcilia on commi ee of the party, the State Publicity Secretary of the party, Comrade Abiodun Agboola, said only jus ce and fairness can guarantee peace in the party.

Agboola, who is of the Salinsile led fac on of the party, said if the reconcilia on commi ee and the na onal secretariat of the party, tow the path of jusce, equity and fairness, the crisis in the party will be exnguished.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday, Agboola said: “We met the Senator Abdullahi Adamu led naonal reconcilia on com-

mi ee last Saturday and we presented our grievances and demands. We told the commi ee how the governor has bastardised the party through poli cs of bitterness, marginalisa on and exclusiveness.

“On how to resolve the crisis, it is simple. The impunity of the Governor and his group, IleriOluwa should be addressed. The governor has been using his posi on to cause problem in the party. And since he has declared inten on to contest for second term, he should resign as member of the Caretaker Commi ee.

“I think that is the honourable thing to do. He cannot be a judge in his own case. The na onal secretariat, in which Oyetola is part of, is to conduct primaries for the governorship aspirants of the party and Oyetola is also contes ng.

How do you guarantee fairness in that case? And we know how the governor has been using his posi on to nega vely influence and compromise the party officers sent for assignment in Osun. We cannot allow that to happen again.

“The congress that produced our own ward, local and state party officials should be recognised

because we were the only eligible people who par cipated in the congress. Let the IleriOluwa people, right from the former Chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun, tell us the teller with which they purchased each and individual’s form for the congress. We are the real party execu ves.”

Reac ng to Agboola’s submission, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Poli cal Affairs, Chief Sunday Akere, dismissed the two demands of the Hon. Rasaq Salinsile-led APC facon, describing it as unreasonable.

Akere, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said: “We believe there is end in sight on the crisis in the party. Senator Abdullahi Adamu was here to meet the TOP people, the party and the government of the state. The two sides have tabled their matter before the na onal reconcilia on commi ee and we believe and hope to see an end to the crisis.

“However, I must say that the ques on as to if there is end in sight on the crisis should be thrown to the TOP people. This is because their demands before the reconcilia on panel is unreasonable.

“The reconcilia on panel was not here to review the congresses we had done in the state. It was here just to listen to grievances of the party members and see to amicable se lement. For TOP people to ask for recogni on of their own ward, local government and state congresses is out of place and laughable.

“Secondly, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola was nominated to be member of the APC Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Conven on Commi ee by the na onal leadership of the party and he is represen ng the SouthWest, not just Osun State.

Asking him to resign from that posi on as demanded

by TOP people is illogical.

“The na onal reconcilia on commi ee was here to se le our differences and not to look at the party congresses or the Governor’s membership of the Caretaker Commi ee. TOP people are trying to shi the goalpost in the middle of the game.

“We are for peace.

Every APC member in the state should be concerned on how the progressive government will con nue in the State of Osun. The party belongs to every one of us.”

was not there. He was at Falomo in Lagos here.

Even if that person truly wrong you and God has answered your request, you need to move on.

You won’t begin to take everyone as your enemy.

Nobody knows what will happen in Osun.

“I’m saying this because I’m a progressive and I know what we all went through for progressive to take over Osun. So, two individuals will not take us back, what’s happening in Osun is not about Osun, it

is about South-West, by extensive, Nigeria. Whatever happens in Osun is a mirror of what will happen in Nigeria.

“Quote me anywhere, the present Governor of Osun is reaping where he did not sow, he was in Falomo in Lagos when the struggle was going on, I was the auditor general of the campaign that me. I was involved. I was in Osogbo at the Oroki Day, we almost got killed and I can count many other incidents like that.”

Igbaye Crisis Has No Religious Undertone - Osun Muslim Community

By Yusuf Oketola

T

HE state of Osun Muslim Community has debunked the rumour that the recent unrest in Igbaye town, Odo-O n Local Government area of the state does not have religious undertone.

In a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, the President of the Muslim group, Alhaji Mustafa Olawuyi said the crisis has no religious correla on as some people portrayed it, describing Islam as a religion of peace.

Olawuyi called on the par es feuding the crisis to allow peace to reign in the town.

The statement reads in part: “This is to no fy all

Muslims and other lawabiding people of Osun State that the unrest in Igbaye town has no religious undertone whatsoever as some people want us to believe.

“Therefore, the Osun State Muslim Community hereby calls the feuding par es to allow peace reign to aid rapid development of the ancient town of Igbaye. We appeal to the community to allow government swi interven on and security opera ves efforts to yield good results.

“Islam is peace and nothing should be done to negate this. Anyone caught using religion to cause mayhem and disturbance should be made to face the wrath of the law”.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

FRIDAY, JANUARY 14 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2022 VOL. 17 NO 01 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

Osun APC Begins Fed. Constituencies Tour Page 6

T

HE die is cast, there is no turning back. This expression was first used

by Julius Caesar in 49BC when he led his troops across the Rubicon, a river in northern Italy, in viola on of Roman law.

As Caesar was reflec ng on his decision, he said in La n, “aleajectaest” - “the die is cast.” Apart from Council elec ons in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in February 12, 2022, staggered gubernatorial elec ons will hold in Eki and Osun in June 18 and July 16, 2022 respec vely – a month apart. Again, 2022 is a forerunner to 2023 general elec ons as electoral processes and ac vi es that will snowball into determining candidates of all poli cal par es at all levels up to the presidency will be decided this year.

To have free and fair elec ons where votes count and electoral processes are not to be in doubt, stakeholders must play their roles. The foremost is the Electoral Act which s pulates guidelines and procedures for registra on of voters, conduct of elec on, registra on and regula on of poli cal par es, electoral offences, conduct of party’s primaries, amongst others. However, because of provision of direct primaries for all poli cal par es, President Muhammadu Buhari has refused assent to 2021 Electoral Act Amendments. His reasons, among others, are that direct primaries will be too expensive, suscep ble to li ga ons and manipula on. I don’t want to dwell on the veracity or otherwise of Mr. President’s posi on; what ma ers is party internal democracy where the transparency and credibility of processes leading to elec ng party candidates are not based on imposi on via thuggery and violence.

If direct primary is expensive but will surely get us to the “promised land,” let it be. Over me, we shall nurture it and get acclima sed to it. While educa on is very expensive to acquire, we agitate for free and qualita ve educa on for all.

Though, we are far from achieving it, we cannot take ignorance as an alterna ve to expensive educa on.

Interes ngly, there are other fundamentals in the 2021 Electoral Act Amendments like electronic transmission of results, strengthening of INEC, etc, which are suffering because of “direct primary” provision. These essen als need urgent a en on and procurement of equipment on me for test run, for efficient delivery. If the President refuses assent, the Na onal Assembly should do the needful by veto or amend the grey area and represent to the President. As such, I recommend an addendum that a cer ficate of psychiatric status of every aspirant to execu ve posi on from a renowned psychiatric hospital to determining his or her psycho c order/ disorder. This should be included in the amendments as some of our ruling elite pa erns and methods seem to suggest mental disorder. Delay is unhealthy.

In this electoral year, party faithful should not allow their personal urge and stomach override their sense of right choice. If you want freedom, you can’t deprecate agita on; if you want crops, you must not refuse to plough the soil; if you want rain, you must not hate thunder and lightning. It is be er to genuinely collec vely make a wrong choice than allow personal benefits becloud our judgement. Time will definitely make up for a be er choice as poli cians

2022: A Decisive Electoral Year in posi on of power will want con nuity, right from the hal ime to the expira on of their term. This is the juncture where party faithful strength of choice will be rejigged. A wrong choice of candidate is not only a disaster for the party and its programmes, it is a monumental disaster to delivery of democra c dividends to the society at large.

As foods and other essen als are inevitable to man, so is poli cs as we shall con nue to organise our society. The era of saying, “poli cs is a dirty game” is over. If it is dirty, we should all be involved to cleaning it up. Otherwise, we allow fools and charlatans to dictate and determine our economic policies and social wellbeing. We have collec vely

STRIKER

suffered for leaving conven onal poli cians to poli cs. Now is me for popular par cipa on. A voter should not just go, vote and return home; he/she must be beau fully involved in every elec oneering programme, campaign, etc. He/she must vote, monitor the processes ll the end to make sure his/her vote counts.

Already, the poli cians, especially, ones seeking re-elec ons, would have warehoused money to buy voters votes.

“If you want the present to be different from the past, study the past.” - Baruch Spinoza. We cannot con nue in the old way of misery and penury, poverty and unemployment which conven onal policians have tailored our lives and society.

A mistake of four years tenure and char-

“We cannot continue in the old way of misery and penury, poverty and unemployment which conventional politicians have tailored our lives and society. A mistake of four years tenure and characteristically, the politician will want 4+4.

Two terms of eight years in five times is forty years wasted life under bad governance occasioned by wrong choices! ” acteris cally, the poli cian will want 4+4.

Two terms of eight years in five mes is forty years wasted life under bad governance occasioned by wrong choices!

We must wake up and struggle to chase away those poli cians who have con nued to deceive and take us for granted.

Who does not know how to award contract with public fund and ge ng rebate from contractors at the end under the guise of doing us a favour? Our fortune or misfortune is in our hand. It is the type and quality of leadership we submit our mandates to that will determine the type and quality of life we live. We must shine our eyes this me around in making a right choice.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

People, Power And Return To Federal Republic

I

N a year likely to determine so many fundamentals for Nigeria and Nigerians, let us start off with a solid understanding of democracy, state of the na on, our powers as common people with decisive votes, and what we can do, individually and collec vely to salvage the situa on at hand and achieve some forward mo on developmentally, rather than the current “one step forwards, ten steps backwards.”

Experience basically determines our conducts and ul mately our values, for the majority. As far as governance is concerned, our past experiences have not been good enough for democracy. For hundreds of years, we lived under the absolute rule of monarchs, when one man (or woman) reigned supreme. Between 1960 ll date when democracy was introduced by the depar ng colonisers, more than half that period we lived under brutal military dictatorship, almost worse than the reign of kings and queens.

The last 23 years offered the longest sustained experience of “government of the people, by the people and for the people.” However, previous experiences robbed off badly on the “civilian rule.”

The poli cal elites, majority of who were buddies of the military brass and inherited civilian government and the warped cons tu on from them, simply carried on with that military mentality. In an underdeveloped country with so much poverty and ignorance, with mone sed poli cs,

religion and ethnic fault lines and suffoca ng corrup on, genuine patriots and democrats (who fought for and achieved the return to democracy in the first place) as well as their various organisa ons and progressive poli cal par es came under sustained brutalisa on from various dictatorial cabals posing as democrats but firmly against restructuring for genuine federalism and blindly, greedily, solely after the oil rent dollar money.

With deepened poverty and ignorance amidst ethno-religious manipula ons and ins tu onalised corrup on, violent crimes and extremism that led to terror organisa ons took root and spread relentlessly. Without a policing and jus ce system that can rise to the occasion, we are where we are today with complex insecurity challenges and divisions that threaten not only democracy survival but the very existence of the country.

The ul mate solu on is to return Nigeria to a genuine Federal Republic with all the implied content and context – with every state on its own (with all it has!) to cooperate however it likes with states in its region, and all contribu ng to the federal towards only na onal agenda uni ng us, Nigeria is finally redeemed for greatness; it is the final panacea for produc vity, prosperity, unity and peace. However, with the military-mentality of civilian poli cal elites majorly united against that choice, the choice of the people in all upcoming elec ons (star ng this year and

ending next year), beyond party poli cs, is to iden fy aspirants and candidates that are against that choice and reject them, within all par es! By their reputa ons you shall know them! The simple thing to do with peoples’ power of vote is to vote out all elites opposed to restructuring to achieve genuine federalism and all elites without democra c disposi on (internally within party and in government).

The task of popular organisa ons is therefore clear as far as mobilisa on is concerned, aware that they are once again up against the usual suspects, ul mate Kingmakers and an -federalist nondemocrats: OBJ, IBB and Abdulsalami.

There are poli cal par es that will dominantly emerge, with a lesser 3rd op on.

Despite the scarcity of genuine poli cal elites who are federalists and democrats within them, the fundamental task is to work passionately to get enough federalists and democrats into the state and na onal assemblies, as many such governors, and most cri cal of all a President of such disposi on. A er all the elec ons come the popular ac ons to demand implementa on. It is a daun ng mobilisa on task but it is not unachievable, realising that unless it is achieved, bring the Holy Prophet or The Christ to run the present system, it can never deliver democra c or good governance, can never deliver development, prosperity, peace or unity.

The slide into the abyss will only con nue for another four years.

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

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

Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefemder@yahoo.com