Osun Defender Online Version of January 28, 2022

The Gutter Takes Over The State

Remains Of OAU MBA Student, Adegoke To Be P. 4 Buried Tomorrow

News Analysis P. 3

•Lawyer Wants Case Tried In Osun

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2022

VOL 17 NO 03

Thugs Increase Tempo Of Extortion In Osogbo, Use POS Machine •Egbatedo, Kolawole, Atelewo, Obalende, Arikalamu, Riverside As Blackspots •Yahoo Boys, Ladies As Soft Targets

By Our Reporter

FSS Saved 587 Lives, Rescue 260 Persons N18.9trn Properties In 2021 Page 7

PDP Fixes March 7 For Osun P. 4 Guber Primary Election •As Group Picks Holes In Sen. Adeleke’s Documents

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HUGGERY ac vi es are increasing unabated in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, inves gaons have revealed.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed the hoodlums who have mul plied in number, have been terrorising residents of the state capital with impunity.

The thugs had been notorious for extor ng prospecve house owners, as they go around various construcon sites in the state capital to demand for money from poten al landlords.

They collect between N20, 000 and N300, 000, depending on the size of the structures, land and status of each of the house owners.

But, according to inves ga ons by the medium, the thugs have included ‘full scale extor on’ and daylight robbery into their opera ons, targe ng the internet fraudsters (Yahoo boys) and ladies.

Findings revealed that the hoodlums are specifically targe ng the internet fraudsters, ladies and any young man that is well dressed in English a re.

Inves ga ons also reveal that the hoodlums are now using Point of Sales (POS) Machine to extort their vic ms in Osogbo who are unfortunate to come across them.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that areas where the heightened extor on and daylight robbery by the louts are rampant are: Egbatedo, Kolawole, Atelewo, River Side, Obalende, Arikalamu, Idi-Omo and Orita Ahmadiyyah, •Continued On Page 2

Oluwo Canvasses N100,000 Minimum Wage For Police

Page 6

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2022

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News

Thugs Increase Tempo Of Extortion In Osogbo, Use POS Machine •Continued from page 1

all in Osogbo.

Findings by the medium also indicate that some of the hoodlums disguise as commercial motorcycle operators (okada men), carry passengers and take them through the areas where they have their gang members wai ng to extort them.

According to findings, when the commercial motorcycle operators are passing through the area, they will slow down, allow the other hoodlums to stop the motorcycle, harass the passengers and dispossess them of their belongings.

Notorious for this kind of opera ons are Egbatedo, Kolawole, Obalende and Atelewo.

A student of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree who is currently undergoing Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), in the state capital, claimed he fell vic m of the hoodlums’ extor on at Egbatedo in the first week of January, 2022.

The student who pleaded anonymity said: “I took a bike at Old Garage to take me to Isale Agbara.

The bike passed through Egbatedo and suddenly, some guys came out. They quickly removed the key of the bike because he was moving slowly. The guys asked me to come down. They collected my phone and ransacked me.

They gave the bike man his motorcycle key and he le me there.

“I had N500 on me and I offered the guys but they said they wanted N5,000.

They collected my ATM and inserted it into a POS Machine with them. They discovered that I don’t have N1,000 in the account. They cursed me, and even threatened to kill me but I was begging them. I told them that I am a student and I was going to my place of SIWES. They returned my belongings to me a er that but they did not return the N500. They actually thought I am into internet fraud (yahoo-yahoo).”

A resident of Fagbewesa who simply gave her name as Alimat said her phone was collected at Kolawole area of Osogbo around 6:30pm when she was going home from Sabo.

Alimat said: “I was on the bike pressing my phone, I did not know

when we got to Kolawole.

I just discovered that some people jumped into the front of the moving bike and forced it to stop.

They collected my phone and the li le change in my bag. I did not know the exact amount.

“The bike man was pleading with these guys to let us go. He said he could not leave me there and they started slapping him. They said I should bring N10,000 if I want to collect my phone and I told them I don’t have that amount. They brought out a POS machine and I was forced to withdraw N5,000 for them. They allowed us to go a er that. That was about 6:30pm.”

When asked if she reported to the police, Alimat said she did not because of the impression that the police will not act on the case.

A male resident of Kolawole area of Osogbo, who is part of the ‘hard guys’ in the area said he was part of a team that rescued a lady from the two thugs who abducted her in the area.

He said: “About two weeks ago, I joined my people to rescue a girl who was abducted by some guys. Those guys do not reside in this area. Two of them came with a bike, pointed gun at this lady who was on another bike that was passing through this area.

“The lady’s bike was forced to stop. They collected the bag and phone of the lady and asked her to sit on their own bike.

They threatened to kill her if she refused. I know the guy that held the gun, his name is S.K. I was watching them from afar with two other persons.

We shouted on them and

•State Commandant, NSCDC, Emmanuel Ocheja, delivering his speech during the inauguration of Civil Defence Public Relations Committee, held in Osogbo, recently.

Photo: Shola

they sped off with the lady on the bike. We pursued them to Obalande area with two motorcycles and they dropped the lady and fled.

“Some of the guys terrorising this Kolawole are not from here. They will come here to commit crime and flee.”

It was gathered that commuters are always scared of passing through Arikalamu and Obalende because of the rampant incident of bag snatching and extor on by the hoodlums.

A resident of Gbonjubola area, Mrs. Nike Adeboye, told the medium that Arikalamu is not safe to pass any me from 7pm nowadays. She said: “The boys at Arikalamu have cons tuted themselves into government.

They always harass passerbys and commuters.

They will force you to give them money.

“At evening me,

around 7pm, you will see these guys from their hideouts, stopping commercial motorcycles and extor ng the passengers.

They also go about with POS machine.

“They are taking the advantage of the poor condi on of the road to perpetrate their evil act.

The government should do something about these hoodlums before they start robbing us at our various homes.

Experience at Riverside OSUN DEFENDER was at River Side, a popular joint in Osogbo between 9 and 10pm on Wednesday. It was noted that the hoodlums, some of which are members of cult groups, hung around the area, monitoring the movement of people.

Three persons, who were suspected to be into internet fraud (yahoo-yahoo) were accosted at different mes by the hoodlums.

One of their vic ms was about to enter his Lexus 350 car when he was accosted by the hoodlums.

Our reporters were hearing their Yoruba language conversa on from afar. The hoodlums said: “alaye, bawa mun. o gbope, jeki awa naa gbope. Ma lo lera rara o, Igboro lawa wa o” (Mr man bring it (money). You have hit jackpot, let us share from it. Don’t resist at all, we are on the streets.”

“The suspected internet fraudster dipped his hand in the pocket and gave them certain amount which the hoodlums rejected. He later added some amount to it before he was allowed to go.”

The second vic m was accosted right from when he stepped out of the Riverside building. He was a fair in comple on young man. He gave the hoodlums a parcel of N200

Flooding: Osun Begins Dredging Of Streams, Waterways In 25 LGAs

By Kazeem Badmus

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HE State government of Osun has commenced dredging of streams and waterways in 25 Local Government areas of the state.

The dredging exercise, according to report, would be carried out on major streams and mini rivers that are prone to incidents of flooding across the state.

Flagging off the dredging exercise in Edunabon, Ife

North Local Government on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sanitaon and Environment, Rufus Oyegbile said the exercise is a proac ve measure preparatory to rainy season when incidents of flooding are experienced.

Oyagbile disclosed that the dredging is being done by the government in collabora on with the Associa on of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) in the

state.

The lawmaker represen ng Ife North State Cons tuency at the House of Assembly, Hon. Lekan Olatunji said the fact that the flag off took place in Edunabon showed that the Governor placed so much value on his cons tuency and the state at Large.

He added that the Governor has made his job as a representa ve of the people of the cons tuency

easier for him in facilitating development and life impac ng projects to the area.

The Chairman of ALGON in the state, Hon. Samuel Idowu said: This dredging happens to be the fourth in the series and it is targeted towards eradica ng flooding in the en re state.

It is in prepara on towards avoiding flood when the rainy season comes. So, it is a good development.

(N20,000) and promised to see them some other day.

But the third vic m, who was with two ladies, insisted that he was not going to give the hoodlums a dime. He told them he gave N10,000 to some of them four days ago under duress. A er about two minutes conversa on, the hoodlums resorted to threatening the young man but he didn’t budge.

The hoodlums le him to waylay another person coming out of the place.

Two commercial sex workers who our reporters had engaged in discussion as prospec ve customers told the medium that the thugs were usually at the place on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

According to the women of easy virtue, the hoodlums have personal POS machine they use to obtain money from any of their vic ms who do not have cash to offer.

Asked why the louts have not been harassing them, the ladies said they had fought the thugs and met some of their leaders at the early stage of the extor on.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the police and opera ves of Osun Security Network known as Amotekun have arrested some of the hoodlums but others have con nued to terrorise residents of the state capital.

Thugs Are The New Govt. In Osun A broadcast media expert, Mr. Thompson Taiwo, shared his experience Continued on page 7

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2022

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Review & Outlook

BY KANMI ADEMILUYI Masterminds Of Fantasy

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HE recent controversies on the debt profile of the State of Osun makes one to recall the response of the cerebral late Democra c Party Senator from the State of New York, Moynihan, to a heckler at a campaign town hall mee ng in upstate New York.

Moynihan, an outstanding sociologist before going into poli cs, was exasperated by the heckler’s distor on of reality for poli cal gains, leading him to respond that, “you can own your opinion but you cannot OWN YOUR OWN FACTS”. He is absolutely correct.

He might have had the forerunners of the not very clever masterminds of alterna ve reality in mind as well. In an a empt to reinvent reality, the Masterminds seek to reinvent reality.

This is the height of intellectual dishonesty and should be called out.

One would have thought that by now, the issue of debt profile of the state would have been laid to rest. But it is unfortunate that the state government has not been truthful and sincere on the debt profile for poli cal reasons.

Since 2018, the administra on of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has con nued to play poli cs with the debt issue. We could not forget that Oyetola was the Chairman of Debt Management Office under the administra on of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Oyetola served as Chief of Staff to Aregbesola throughout his eight years tenure. All the facts and figures on the debts of the state are with him.

If the government con nues to say openly that he is repaying loan but refuses to men on what is being paid on what, that speaks volumes on the administra on. The people of Osun should not be in the dark on the debt issue. The Governor ought to have provided factual informa on on the debt profile. This would have kept away busy bodies.

However, the only acceptable figures to use in analysing the debt status of a state is that of the na on’s Debt Management Office (DMO). As at September,

“Reckless people are using the template of Hitler’s odious propaganda minister, Franz Josef Goebbels, who believed that ‘a lie repeated sufficiently often will eventually assume the position of the truth” 2018, Osun State’s indebtedness stood at N170.6 billion, made up of N141.1 domes c debt and N29.5 billion mul lateral (external) debt. Significantly, the same figure was quoted by Governor Oyetola during the 2018 governorship debate and he went further to say that the debt was sustainable. So, we encourage Governor Oyetola to respond to the call by a group to publish the debt profile of the state in the spirit of fairness, transparency and accountability.

Sustainability as well as increasing the revenue base is key since no government is known to have operated over the past 500 years and more without a debt por olio and a debt management strategy. For example, in the United Kingdom, the main por olio of the Financial Secretary to the government, a key cabinet minister, is debt management. About four Prime Ministers had earlier staked their claim to the main job because of their performance as Financial Secretary.

Reckless people are using the template of Hitler’s odious propaganda minister, Franz Josef Goebbels, who believed that ‘a lie repeated sufficiently o en will eventually assume the posion of the truth.’ It is not going to work and we will con nue to call them out and expose their a empt to distort reality. Hackery and poli cal jobbing cannot replace cri cal thinking which is the only way to proffer meaningful solu ons.

The Gutter Takes Over The State!

•The Challenge to the authority of the state takes a frightening dimension

A

“Thugs are the new government in Osun. They place levies on residents.

The government knows them but is not ready to confront them”

CROSS the country, there are profoundly disturbing recordings of breakdowns in the very defini on of the State. The trea es of Westphalia and perhaps even more important that of Utrecht laid the basis for the concept and accepted defini on of the modern na on state and its incontestable monopoly of the means of violence, in mida on and arms as its bedrock.

The monopoly of the State over the bedrock is now contested in many flashpoints. Two posts on facebook this week by cerebral astute analysts clearly states the magnitude of the crises. The highly respected director of programs of Rave FM, Mr. Thompson Taiwo wrote that, “Thugs are the new government in Osun. They place levies and other conniving state governments will do on residents. The government knows them but is well to embark on an historical excursion.

The Gu er has taken over and it did not hapnot ready to confront them”.

With the harsh lessons of history in mind Pe- pen by accident. The unfolding implosion was well ter Oshun gave a forewarning about the conse- worked out cra ily with German type precision quences of turning a blind eye to the rule of the engineering (the pun is deliberate). Uninterested mob and their control of the streets. “The street in sustainable development the Nigeria establishgangs in the words of Alan Bullock (author of the ment have created a low skills, low wages econdefining “Hitler: A Study In Tyranny) seized con- omy resul ng in mass dependence on gratuitous trol of the resources of a great modern na on crumbs triggering off a state of anomie. Such a state, THE GUTTER HAD COME TO POWER”. As it situa on is unsustainable. Sadly, the grim warnings arishas o en ing out of being statthe #Ended, the S A R S Germans debacle had themhas been selves to ignored. blame.

P re d i c tThe peoably so. ple of this The same country estabare allishment ready payignored ing a high the foreprice for boding of the conthe 1982 niving abJudicial dication panel of respon- •Non-State Actors On The Rampage! (Picture from the internet) of ensibility by quiry constituted authori es to street gangs, mobs and enforcers. into the Maitatsene riots. Because of this, Nigeria As with Germany in the 1930’s when the chick- is today spending 20% of its annual budget on ens eventually come to roost, a duplicitous self- security. The establishment in Nigeria like the seeking establishment will end up in the belly of Bourbons of revolu onary era France, “learnt the ger. The government of the State of Osun nothing and forget nothing”. This of course negates the principle of selfpreserva on necessary for the elite to survive and hold on to its privileges.

Governments should stop Publisher – Moremi Publishing this reckless abdica on of reHouse Ltd. sponsibility. Crime and crimiDeputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman nals have to be confronted (0805-121-2204) and not molly coddled. FunProduc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa damentally, as the Bri sh LaReporter – Yusuf Oketola bour Party once campaigned Reporter – Kazeem Badmus on, “we must be tough on crime and tougher s ll on the Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto causes of crime”. We should Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere be very careful about the OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing consequences of the sordid House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite seeds we are plan ng today Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, as an -democrats are being State of Osun unleashed effects which will ISSN : 0794-8050 further endanger the prosTelephone : 0805-121-2204 pects for sustainable developWebsite : www.osundefender.com/index.php ment and eventually become a e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com persistent existen al threat to osundefenderbank@gmail.com the rule of law and democracy All correspondence to the above email addresses. itself.

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2022

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News

PDP Fixes March 7 For Osun Guber Primary Election •As Group Picks Holes In Sen. Adeleke’s Documents

By Ismaeel Uthman & Yusuf Oketola HE Peoples Democra c Party Exemp on with Exemp on No: (PDP) has approved March 7, EXE/FRN/2021/722698 (Serial No: 2022 for the governorship pri- 00557090) is Adeleke Ademola Jackson. mary elec on in the State of Osun.

On his Voter’s card, the PDP This was contained in a press statement signed by the Na onal Or- members said, Adeleke’ name is writganising Secretary of the party, Hon. ten as ‘Adeleke Ademola Jackson’ while he wrote his name on the INEC Umar Bature on Wednesday.

The announcement came a er Form CFOOI as ‘Ademola Nurudeen the 544th mee ng of the Na onal Adeleke’.

The name on the provisional Working Commi ee (NWC) of the party in Abuja, where they approved clearance cer ficate given to the the reports of the Screening Com- aspirant a er the screening exermi ee and the Appeal Panel which cise of the party “is Senator Adcleared all the six gubernatorial as- emola Adeleke is Sen. Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke, said the PDP pirants.

Other ac vi es slated for the members.”

The PDP members also claimed primary elec on is Osun stakeholders Mee ng with the NWC in Abuja that Adeleke’s documents conon February 1, 2022, Ward Congress- tained different date of births.

According to the pe on: es to elect 3-Man Ad-Hoc Ward Delegates on February 16 and 17, 2022. “That there is no nexus between Also, Local Government con- Annexures 1-15 as it relates to his gresses to elect Na onal Delegate name, date of birth, admission per local government and Person number, name of the Ins tu on he Living with Disability on February 26, graduated and Party membership number.

2022.

“The names on the different OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the Appeal Commi ee cleared all the documents presented by Senator Ademola Adeleke are different and governorship aspirants on Monday.

Some members of the party in brandishing cer ficates and other the State of Osun intensified efforts documents that do not carry his to ensure that Senator Ademola name and using affidavits to assert Adeleke was disqualified from con- his ownership of the cer ficates tes ng the governorship cket of the and documents did so in error and fraudulently. party.

“It is one thing for a person to The members, who gathered under the auspices of Concerned Mem- bear mul ple names. It is another bers of PDP in Osun State, insisted however, when it becomes a legal that Adeleke was not qualified to problem when the mul ple names bear the flag of the party in the July appear on different official documents and the efforts to explain the 16, 2022 governorship elec on.

In a pe on sent to the Appeal contradictory names leads to more Commi ee of the party, the PDP contradic ons.

“That it may be uncanny for a members picked holes in the nominaon form and creden als of Adeleke, person not to be sure of his name, saying there were discrepancies in in- date of birth, number of O’ Level forma on and documents submi ed Subjects he sat for at WAEC, Adto the party and the Independent Na- mission number and name of the Ins tu ons he graduated from, it onal Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP members, in the pe - becomes an issue of fraud when a on signed by a re red officer of the man presents official documents Department of State Services (DSS), bearing conflic ng names.

“Date of birth, number of O’ Mr. Akin Adeyi, said the informa on supplied and documents submi ed Level Subjects, admission number to the party and INEC by Adeleke con- and name of the Ins tu on he tained different names which poses graduated from and his a empts to threats to the victory of the party at cover the conflicts are also conflicting, dubious and untenable.” the poll.

“It is a notorious fact known in They stated that the governorship aspirant has his named wri en Osun State today that because of differently as Adeleke Ademola and the controversy which surrounds Adeleke Ademola N on the State- the name of Senator Ademola ment of Result (2018) and School Adeleke par cularly his academic Tes monial (1988) respec vely by records which are controversial.

“We have painstakingly Ede Muslim Grammar, Ede. According to the PDP members, weighed the bright chances of the the names on the Register of Admis- Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) to sion of Ede Muslim Grammar School win the next governorship elec on is Ademola Adeleke, while the name in Osun State a er wai ng for 12 on the WAEC Ledger containing the years. We cannot afford to waste results of all the candidates (001 221) this chance again.

“The documents presented who sat for the WASSC at the school

by Senator Ademola Adeleke from bears Adeleke Ademola.

Also, the Penn Foster High 2017 ll date to the party are School Diploma result submi ed by marred with severe irregulari es as the 2018 candidate of the PDP bears enumerated above which cannot Ademola Jackson Adeleke, while the be glossed over.

“Therefore, it is my humble rename on the Atlanta Metropolitan State College which awarded degree quest that Senator Ademola Adeleof Bachelors of Science in Criminal ke should be disqualified from the Jus ce to him is Ademola Jackson forthcoming gubernatorial primary elec on in Osun State in the overall Nurudeen Adeleke.

The name on the Na onal interest of the Party and the Osun Youth Service Corps Cer ficate of State.”

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•Polluted Osun River, Osogbo.

Remains Of OAU MBA Student, Adegoke To Be Buried Tomorrow •Lawyer wants Case Tried In Osun

By Yusuf Oketola & Kazeem Badmus

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HE remains of Late Timothy Adegoke, the MBA student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, who was murdered at Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife will tomorrow, Saturday, January 29, 2022, will be laid to rest in his hometown, Eruwa, in Oyo state.

The burial arrangements, according to Eruwa Youth Movement, will begin with a candle light possession today, Friday, January 28, 2022 at New Garage, Sango, Eruwa.

Timothy Adegoke was suspected to have been murdered in his hotel room in Ile-Ife on November 6, 2021, where he had lodged.

•Late Adegoke

The Chairman of the hotel, Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin and six workers of the place were arrested by the police in connec on with Adegoke’s death and disposal of his remains.

The workers are: Adedeji Adesola (23), Magdalene Chiefuna (24), Adeniyi Aderogba (37), Oluwale Lawrence (37), Oyetunde Kazeem (38), Adebayo Kunle (35) while other suspects were s ll at large.

Following the comple on of inves ga on on the case, the Nigeria Police Force, on Tuesday, charged Adedoyin and the six workers to an Abuja High Court.

The police charged Adedoyin for unlawful

interference with a dead body by illegally disposing Adegoke’s body, altering and cancelling his payment receipt and the removal of the hotel’s CCTV cameras with intent to destroy evidence.

According to the case summary and proof of evidence filed by the Police, the workers were accused of murder, conspiracy, altering receipt, among other allegaons.

Lawyer wants Case Tried In Osun Meanwhile, counsel to the family of the deceased, Naim Adekilekun, has urged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, to ensure that the prosecu on of the accused persons take place in the state of Osun where the crime was commi ed.

In a le er sent to Alkali on January 18, 2022, Adekilekun argued that since none of the elements of the offence to be tried happened in the Federal Capital Territory, the case should not be tried there.

According to the counsel, the appropriate court to prosecute the case is the High Court of Jus ce, State of Osun where the actual crime was perpetrated.

He also stated that the case maybe technically knocked out or defeated if tried outside Osun, adding that Jus ce

may be hard to serve.

The le er reads in parts: “It must be stated here that the family never doubted the competence of the Police to prosecute this case to a logical conclusion. But as the solicitors to the family, we have our reservaon to the prosecu on of this case at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

“To start with, in criminal prosecu on, the Court in the territorial jurisdic on of the area of the alleged crime will be seised of the case and nothing more, although this may not be the case of some Federal offences triable at the Federal High Court of any judicial Division and the reason for, is not far-fetched this can be traced to the fact that the Law recognises Federal High Court of Nigeria to be one and single court irrespec ve of the Division.

“Criminal trials are ed to the jurisdic on of where the actual crime was commi ed, we are of the firm view that since none of the elements of the offence to be tried by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory happened or took place in the Federal Capital Territory, we shall be demanding that the case be tried at the High Court of Osun State, being the court with the requisite jurisdic on to try the case.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2022

Feature 5 Governor Oyetola’s Administration And Osun’s ‘Abandoned’ Mega School Project

•Oyetola

Following the abdica on of one of the mega schools in Iwo by Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administraon, stakeholders have described it as a ploy to whi le down the giant strides recorded by former Governor Rauf Aregbesola era. The stakeholders expect the incumbent governor to ensure speedy comple on rather than playing poli cs with the school project. FUNMI OGUNDARE reports HEN the policy to build mega schools across three senatorial districts in Osun under Governor Rauf Aregbesola was conceived in 2011, a few months a er assump on of office, it was informed by crucial need to cater for the collec ve interest of the masses and give hope of a be er future to the children.

By 2012, the administra on commenced the development of 11 mega high schools, which were part of the comprehensive educa on infrastructure reforms of the Aregbesola administra on, agreed upon a er an educa on summit chaired by Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka.

Based on the planning data and forecasts provided by the Ministry of Educa on and validated by external professionals, the interven on was to impact elementary, middle, high schools, teaching aids, teachers-tostudents ra o and facili es. At the end of Aregbesola’s eight years in office, 11 high schools with 876 brand new classrooms for senior secondary students were up and running.

Out of the 11 mega high schools, three of them were fabricated models located in each of the three senatorial zones; Iwo (Osun West senatorial zone), Ilesa (Osun East zone) and Osogbo ( Osun Central zone). Other interven ons under Aregbesola included construc on of 28 new storey buildings of middle schools consisting of 764 classrooms, 21 quadrangle buildings of elementary schools consis ng of 531 classrooms, construcon of 143 blocks of between two and 10 classroom buildings consis ng of 1,550 classrooms, mainly for rural se lements, as well as rehabilita on of 215 old school buildings to produce 1,213 classrooms across the state.

To complement the construc on and renova on of classrooms, the Aregbesola administra on, aside from

W

•Iwo High School under construction.

pu ng in place furniture and teaching aids, employed about 3,230 teachers on merit in 2013 into public elementary and middle schools by pulling together the financial resources from Osun’s treasury, bond issuance, capital receipts from federal government and the Na onal Assembly representa ves (in the first term), worth about N11 billion.

The whole idea of having such infrastructure is also to maximise resources as the government provides other facili es such as laboratories, standard football pitches, volleyball and basketball courts, and examinaon halls.

The educa on project was also predicated on a succession plan that would take care of the administra on/ maintenance of the new schools, the proper staffing and possible involvement of private sector par cipants in the area of accommoda on and transporta on of students with improvement in the quality of educa on. The seed capital was provided to acquire Omoluabi buses to test run the transport system for future expansion and modifica on required.

Sadly, one of the mega schools, Iwo Government High School (a two-storey building project si ng on 10,000sqm with 72 classrooms) meant to accommodate at least 3,000 students scheduled for comple on in May 2017, is a cause for concern. It is alleged that Oyetola’s government has abandoned it, despite ge ng to about 85 per cent comple on.

Some other mega schools, fully furnished and equipped laboratories, school hall capable of si ng 1,000 students for external exams, sickbay, bookshop, and car park are reported to be in disrepair and may be undergoing integrity test.

However, stakeholders have expressed fear that the huge educa onal infrastructure that gulped about N11 billion borrowed from the state’ Sukuk bond is being le to deteriorate and that taxpayers’ money is going down.

They accused Oyetola of playing poli cs with the school project since Aregbesola le in 2018. According to THISDAY checks, the infrastructure in Iwo, originally sited at Bap st High School Iwo, was moved to Iwo Grammar School a er the hijab crisis involving the Bap sts Conven on.

It took about six months to choose

another loca on agreed upon by community leaders. According to reports, the present administra on also passed a vote of no confidence on the structures at four mega schools to jusfy the depopula on of high schools while abandoning its maintenance.

In his submission, an All Progressive Congress (APC) chie ain in Iwo, Prince Yemi Abolusodun, told THISDAY that Oyetola chose poli cs above educa on infrastructure.

“I don’t know what excuse the government under Governor Oyetola would give for not touching that project. That was the biggest project cited in Iwo during his tenure, and we all know the crisis at Bap st High School that prevented him from comple ng the project,” he stated.

Abolusodun noted that a project that has reached about 85 per cent should not have taken Oyetola more than three years to complete. Asked why he thinks the present administra on is playing poli cs with the project, he said, “If not poli cs, what other excuse does he have? I see this as part of the whole grand design to whi le down the great strides that were recorded that have made the Aregbesola era unforge able in Osun.

You cannot obliterate that fact.”

A former member of Egbedore Local Government Caretaker Commi ee, Mr. Qamarudeen Idowu Adabanija, also accused Governor Oyetola of playing poli cs with the school project, explained: “I am not surprised that the school in Iwo which remained very li le to complete before Aregbesola le , has been in the same posi on. No one should be surprised because the governor has even prevented those hired to maintain the other schools to stop, and the result is clear to all of us.”

In a telephone interview with THISDAY on the issue, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, simply stated, “I am a tradi onal ruler, and Governor Oyetola is doing a great job in the state.”

The Asiwaju of Iwoland and former A orney General, Gbadegesin Adedeji, declined to comment but referred THISDAY to the Commissioner of Educa on, Folorunsho Bamishayemi. Mrs. Ti layo Laoye-Tomori, exDeputy governor, did not respond to calls and text messages.

The Commissioner of Informa on,

Mrs. Funke Egbemode, told THISDAY regarding Oyetola: “For someone who has li le or no resources to do anything and he keeps doing something new all the me, such as paying registra on fee all the me, and even paid for 751 indigents students, he is going to con nue to do more. When you talk about safe schools, you cannot say a school is safe if certain facili es are not there.”

She added, “He is doing perimeter fencing in different schools and buying furniture that will be useful for the teachers and students, as well as boreholes in schools. Billions of naira have been spent on infrastructure.”

She also men oned that the administra on renovated 68 blocks of 392 classrooms in less than three years despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We cannot say that those who are unhappy with a par cular school cannot complain. But for every school that needs a en on, we have done a hundred. We will get everywhere as the governor is not interested in you praising him,” the informa on commissioner stressed. “But in doing more and ge ng the schools to the standard, they should be. If there is a school in the Iwo area that has not got enough a en on, it is because we are working somewhere else. It is not because that school is par cularly singled out to be le like that.”

Asked about the mega school that seemed to have been abandoned in Iwo, Egbemode said, “There is no school project in Osun that is actually abandoned. Our resources are available on the ministry of finance website for all to see. Abandoned is an unfair word to use.”

The commissioner further disclosed that the state’s resources “have to be stretched across to ensure that the workforce is happy, that the primary health care clinics that we are renova ng are equipped, that the health insurance is in shape, so nothing is abandoned.”

She reiterated that Oyetola does not ignore assets and liabili es inherited from the previous government.

Asked to give a meline when the Oyetola government will start to complete the mega school projects, she said an exco mee ng would be held to decide that.

•Culled from ThisDay, January 26, 2022

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2022

6

News

Oluwo Canvasses N100,000 Minimum Wage For Police

By Yusuf Oketola

T

HE Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, has advised the Federal Government to increase the minimum wage of the Nigerian Police to N100,000.

Oba Akanbi said the welfare of the police should be adequately taken care of before blaming them for being corrupt.

The monarch said police is a noble job in many advanced countries, urging the Federal Government to encourage Nigerian youths to join police force by ensuring proper funding.

Oluwo who made the call at a one day town hall mee ng organised by the Police Service Commission, held in Ibadan, Oyo State, said the take home salary of police officers is discour-

•Oba Akanbi

aging.

He called for a review of their salary structure.

The tradi onal ruler pointed out that many of the police officers have to endure what he described as ‘delicate and poorly remunerated job’.

He said: “In some advanced countries, police is an enviable job to many. It is well funded. The Nigerian government are enjoined to promote the Nigerian Police Force through adequate funding and recruitment of more personnel.

Nigeria should be a police state to effec vely combat crimes.

“The poor remunera on couples with indiscriminate a acks on police officers is discouraging many. Nigerians should stop blaming corrupt police officers if the government refused to increase their salary.

“The minimum wage for the least police officer should be N100,000. It is only when these are done that we can courageously challenge police officers taking bribes. If not, we should blame them less.”

Osun Resident Calls For Govt. Regulation On Lending Organisations

By Kazeem Badmus

A

resident of Ikire in Ayedaade Local Government of the State of Osun, Mr. Ibrahim Oyekunle, has called on government at all levels, through the financial regula ons agencies to save poor Nigerians from the high interest and condi ons a ached to the numerous lending organisa ons in the country.

Oyekunle made the call on Tuesday in Ikire, during the dona on of materials worth millions of naira to support some indigent members of the community.

The materials, which was donated by him, included motorcycle, genera ng sets, medical kits and some basic drugs for some health centers, as well as payment of JAMB registra on fee for over 50 students, while about 40 women also benefited from cash dona ons to

support their businesses.

Speaking at the programme held at Ayedaade Grammar School, Ikire, the donor pointed out that numerous ques onable outlets spring up daily, providing quick and so loans for the low earners with very stringent condi ons.

Oyekunle noted that many had had their proper es illegally impounded and some publicly disgraced for failure to meet with the remi ance of

the loan.

He said: “Some of those affected went as far as commi ng suicide for fear of embarrassment that followed inability to meet up with remi ance date of such loans, which could be as low as twenty thousand naira.

“It is impera ve that government do the needful to address the ever-increasing lenders everywhere as their incessant loan facility kills the low-income earners rather than providing succour for their small businesses.”

He explained that his interven on had nothing to do with poli cs but a genuine desire to give back to the society.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Jimoh Anthony and Obisanmi James, appreciated the donor for the gesture which they described as the interven on they required to guarantee their source of livelihood.

Feature Museum An Harbinger Of Social Harmony

By S.O. Fayenuwo (Esq)

“

MUSEUM” is a very popular concept. Most people simply see museum as a special place to visit to behold ar facts, an qui es and cultural items that are not common in a contemporary epoch. Although right in a way, that kind of concep on is a parochial one excluding a lot of other func ons, meanings and uses of museum.

What is museum and what purpose does it serve?

Considering the etymology of museum, the concept derives from a La n word ‘Musea’ which was appropriated originally from a Greek word ‘Mousein’, deno ng a place or temple consecrated for the muses i.e, the patron divini es in the Greek mythology of arts. As the human socie es progress, the concept has acquired a vast number of meaning which will be considered in a short while.

1. Defini ons, meaning and func ons of museum. Museum can be variously defined by different authors as follows: At its deepest level, a museum is a collec ve memory bank of human achievement through a collec on of objects (Wateren J., 1999:4) A building in which object of ar s c, cultural, historical or scien fic interest are kept and shown to the public (Horuby As, 2005 7th edi on, page 966).

Museum is a “ permanent ins tu on in the service of society and of its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicate and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment, for the purposes of educa on study, and enjoyment” (Interna onal Council of Museums h p:// Icon. Museum / Statuteshtm#2. Retrieved 2008 – 04 – 05) Museums are ins tu ons that collect, safeguard and make accessible ar facts and specimen, which they hold in trust for society UK Museum associa on 1998 (h p://www.bri shmuseum.org/the museum/ history/generalhistory.aspx Retrieved 2008 – 04 -05) From these defini ons of museum, the embedded func ons can be highlighted.

1. Museum enables people to explore collec ons for inspira on, learning and enjoyment.

2. Museum helps to preserve and transmit integrated heritage which may be natural or cultural, tangible or intangible.

3. Museum provides documenta on on the objects within a specific museum. In this way, museum serve as a library and archive.

4. Museum func ons as an agent of social change on a wide scale.

This sounds paradoxically but the truth is that the cultural value a ached to some ar facts, an qui es, preserved monuments and ancient structures give some sense of cultural consciousness, pride and iden ty.

This does not only minimize an social behaviour but reinforce social cohesion and social integra on. It also boosts investment and discour-

ages crime. In this way, museum can also serve the purpose of social harmony.

5. Museums collect and care for objects of scien fic, ar s c or historical importance and make them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. (h p://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Museum 04 - 28 - 2010) 6. Museums help to keep history alive. For people that have penchant for history or that are interested in a par cular subject, museum is the appropriate center to interact with.

7. Museum have the prospect of offering an individual to regain his or her lost cultural – cum – historical values and ini a ves 8. Museums provide a veritable source of interest to tourists. The economic advantage that derives from tourism is also an added advantage for the operator of museum, although, museums are not originally set up for profit-making. Museums provide fun for the people.

Museum varies from one type of the other depending on the specialised object of coverage or the purpose for which it was established.

The following are the common types 1. Archaeological Museums. These are mostly excavated ar fact, discovered monumental an qui es. O en mes archeological objects are out there in the open air, not accommodated in a conven onal museum building although some archeological objects may be accommodated in a conven onal building called museum.

2. Art museum: Art museum could be called Art gallery. This kind of museum contains sculpture, pain ngs, ceramics, metal work and furniture. These have been in existence before the advent of Renaissance.

3. Historical Museum: Historical Museums are the museum that deal with historical event in me and in space especially that of man, in me because periodiza on is the hall mark of history, in space as well as the ac vi es that took place in the museum.

4. Natural History Museum: Natural History museums are the museums that deal with ar ficial material culture or ar facts, and allow people to have a knowledge of their past events.

5. Museum Library: Museum library are basically museums of basic studies which give room for research findings and documenta on.

6. Special Museums: These museums have direct focus on subject, object or culture. It is of a par cular focus on objects like youth, children, beads, crime and punishment etc.

7. Military and War Museums: The emphasis here is on war histories. War vehicles, weapon, uniforms and other military equipment are securely kept and displayed in this kind of museum.

8. Science Museum: this kind of museum contains exhibits of scien fic achievements and innova ons. They are alterna vely called technological centers. They usually consist of s mulated films of scien fic

marvel and history.

9. Living Museums (Zoological Parks and Botanical Gardens): An example of a living museum is a zoological park or botanic garden where different kinds of animals, birds and other creatures are kept. A botanic garden contains all kinds of trees that would have gone into ex nc on were it not that they are preserved in the garden.

10. Open Air Museum: This kind of museum collect and re-erect old buildings at large out door sites, usually in se ng of recreated land scales of the past. Most open-air museums are located where wooden architecture prevail. (iii) Concept of Social Harmony According is Lucia Astudilo, the chairperson ICOM, Ecuador and Director, Museo de los metales, (2005) ‘Social harmony is our individual wellbeing and our wellbeing rela on to other people and to nature’.

Exploring the defini on further, it is possible to dismember the concept into two, namely social and harmony. Social relates to the society, associa on, organized community, fellowship and companionship.

Harmony, however, refers to a coordinated cleaving together of different parts to form a systema c whole. It may mean the state of perfect agreement of parts. This may be in rela on to art, music, or any system and organism. Merging the two concepts together, social harmony implies a state of peace, coopera on, understanding, perfect working together of social groups, ins tu on or individuals even in a very compe ve and plural se ng.

According to Astudillo (2005;21) The main features of Social harmony are dialogue, tolerance, Coexistence and developments, which are based on pluralism, diversity compe on and crea vity. At its core is the ability to get on together whilst accep ng difference. The effort to find common ground without je soning dis nc ve iden es social harmony is mul - ered. It encompasses between all ethnic groups and cultures ( between the dommant culture and sub cultures and between the cultures of different social classes); harmony in the sense of respect for a country or a culture, harmony between different religions and harmony between man and nature… social harmony is most directly demonstrated by mutual trust and interac on between popula ons, socie es and cultures. This mutual trust springs from mutual understanding, which in turn results from the kind of mutual knowledge we arrive at by talking to each other. Museums provide a structured pla orm for interac ons between cultures, which make them ideal ambassadors for intercultural communica on. They make it easier to acquire knowledge of cultures and gain insight into them by presenting the facts about them and their histories in an objec ve way, thereby ins ga ng cultural conflicts arising from misunderstandings.

•continue online.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2022

7

News

FSS Saved 587 Lives, N18.9trn Properties In 2021

By Sodiq Yusuf

T

HE Federal Fire Service (FFS) saved proper es worth N18.9 trillion and 587 lives from raging fire in 2021.

This is just as it rescued 260 persons in the same year.

Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, made the disclosure at the decora on of newly promoted Deputy Controllers General (DCGs) of the Service in Abuja on Wednesday.

Aregbesola said in the year under review, the FSS responded to 2,845 SOS distress-calls in which 136 lives and property worth N3 trillion were lost.

He added that the FSS was also able to save 587 lives, rescue 260 persons and save property worth N18.9 trillion.

The minister said: “In sum, the stock of the FSS has grown in leaps and bounds as the agency has contributed significantly to na onal security – in the protec on of lives and property.”

Whilst sta ng reason the above achievements was made possible, Aregbesola noted that between 2015 and now, the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari commi ed more resources into the Fire Service than since its crea on in 1901.

He said: “The a en-

•A young man filling up potholes along Oke-Fia-Dada Estate road, Osogbo. on and resources devoted by the Buhari administra on since 2015 is more than whatever has been put into it since its establishment in 1901.

Between 2015 and 2020, the Federal Government provided 106 modern firefigh ng trucks to the FSS. “Last year, the Federal Execu ve Council also approved (and have since been procured and deployed) N10.4 billion infrastructure upgrade comprising of 44 firefigh ng engines, 15 water tankers, 15 rapid interven on fire engines (not conven onal ones)

that can go into the nooks and crannies to respond to distress-calls and 20 basic life support ambulances.

“Also, 17 firefighting officers were sent to Belarus for advanced trainer-training course.

These officers are the master trainers that will be training other officers on modern firefigh ng, disaster and emergency management.”

Aregbesola commended the immediate past Controller General of the Service, Alhaji Liman Ibrahim, for his visionary leadership and invaluable contribu on

to the service, saying he will miss working with him.

The Minister condemned the rising incidents of criminals,

on the extor onate acvi es of the hoodlums in Osogbo. He posted on his Facebook wall on Tuesday to lament the increasing rate of thugs in the state capital.

He wrote: “The prolifera on of thugs in Osogbo is a cause for concern but I guess the government of the day does not see it like that. Those boys are probable weapons needed to decimate opposi on and win elec ons. My medium, Rave FM, has repeatedly called the a en on of the government to the fact that Osogbo is becoming a den of hoodlums. In fact, they have their fieldoms where they collect ‘owo ile’.

“I had an experience with two of them today.

My son and I went to eat at a restaurant in town.

Unknown to us, these guys, riding on a motorcycle, had trailed us to the place and waited s ll we were done ea ng.

“As we entered the car to leave, I rolled down the window only to see them calling my a en on to what they had got to say.

They eulogised me for minutes and proceeded to their mission. ‘We need 10k (N10, 000) and we know you will give us’, they said. It was the audacity for me. I asked them why they were confident I had the money, they replied by saying: ‘ Baba, egun moni, eyan o mo’. They properly thought big car means big money.

“I told them that I did not have 10k. In fact, I insisted I had no money to give them. What service did they offer me that warranted the amount?

Hungry looking beasts looking for whom to devour. When they saw that I would not part with any money, they ranted for minutes and threatened to deal with me later. I laughed and they le .

“I o en see many of these thugs at different

junc ons. When they hail me in their usual way, I give them money. I give them because they are never going to impose any amount on me. I part with what I can afford. I have heard of how some residents were manhandled by those hoodlums because they refused to bow to their demands.

“Government knows these thugs but will it act?

Your guess is as good as mine.

“Thugs are the new government in Osun. They place levies on residents.

The government knows them but is not ready to confront them.”

By Yusuf Oketola

R

ESIDENTS of Ede and Apomu in Isokan Local Government of the State of Osun have registered their displeasure, following an announcement made by the state government to embark on reconstruc on of 10 major town-

When contacted, the Police Public Rela ons Officer (PPRO), Mrs Yemisi Opalola said the police are commi ed to protec ng lives and proper es of the people of the state, urging members of the public to provide informa on on the ac vi es of the hoodlums to the security agency.

Opalola said vic ms of the extor on and other residents of the state should report to the police whenever it happens.

She said the police would intensify effort at ripping off the state of crimes and criminal elements.

PUBLICATION OF NAME

MRS. EMMANUEL EBERE ANITA That I was formerly known and addressed as

MISS IKE EBERE ANITA

now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. EMMANUEL EBERE ANITA. All former documents remain valid.

Union Bank and General public should take note.

hoodlums and louts who a ack firemen and their equipment while a ending to fire emergencies, sta ng that the Service has now developed ca-

Apomu, Ede Residents Kick As Govt.

Approves 10 Township Roads

Thugs Increases Tempo...

Continued from page 2

Photo: Shola Aderinto

pacity to effec vely contain and deter them.

“One sad reoccurring phenomenon is louts and miscreants a acking firemen and their equipment whenever they respond to fire emergencies. This is deplorable and totally condemned. For this purpose, we have worked out modali es on armed escorts accompanying firemen on assignment, for the protec on of their lives and the equipment,” the Minister stated.

Aregbesola congratulated the newly decorated DCGs, stated that DCG Karibo Samson will con nue to lead in ac ng capacity un l a substanve Controller General is appointed.

Responding on behalf of newly promoted officers, Ac ng CG of the Federal Fire Service, DCG Karibo Samson thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the confidence reposed in them, sta ng they won’t disappoint Nigerians in discharging the statutory responsibility to the public.

ADEGBITE KAMILU ABIODUN That I was formerly known and addressed as ADEGBITE KAMIL ABIODUN now wish to be known and addressed as ADEGBITE KAMILU ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

ship roads in some selected areas of the state.

The residents of the two towns expressed their dissa sfac on over what they described as improper treatment of their areas by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola led administra on.

It would be recalled that the state government last weekend announced the reconstrucon of ten major township roads among which are 12km LAMECO- Ifon road, 3.9km Inisa township road, Baruwa, Iso Alata in Osogbo, Ilesa township, Okinni road, among others.

The government also approved the immediate spot rehabilita on of Ipetumodu - Ode-Omu road, Ondo road, Itamerim, Ifetedo, Wesley Guild Hospital, Oke-Iro road, Ilesa, School of Health Technology, Express Way, Orogboji - Ayegbaju - Iwikun- Iyinta - Iwara - Ifewara road, Itaakogun - Itaofa - General hospital - Isale General road, Ilesa among other towns.

Apomu, Ede, Ikonifin, Obaagun, Oluponna, Ejigbo, Oba, Oyan, Ora-Igbomina, Ibokun and towns and communi es were excluded in the new road reconstruc on and rehabilitaon approval.

Residents of the aforemenOYEYEMI OPEYEMI OLAWUNMI That I was formerly known and addressed as OYEYEMI OPE OLAWUMI now wish to be known and addressed as OYEYEMI OPEYEMI OLAWUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

oned areas have taken to the social media to complain about the poor state of the roads in their communi es, wondering why the government did not pay a en on to them.

Residents of Ede and Apomu specifically spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, urging the state government to fix their bad roads.

They accused the government of not priori sing their communi es in its infrastructure plan.

A resident of Apomu, Adesina Oyebamiji, said it is unfortunate that the town has been neglected for over 12 years, asking if the town does not exist on the state map.

Another resident of the town, Rabiu Ridwan, while expressing dissa sfac on on the poor condi on of the roads in the town, called on Governor Oyetola to consider the town in his road construc on project.

Mr. Ebenezer Adeshola, a resident of Ede, said: “The government should consider Ede in road construc on. Our roads are bad and are begging for atten on. We thank the governor for his interven on on Ogberin junc on because the road was already condemned.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a resident of Ikonifin in Ola-Oluwa local government, Oludare Oluremi noted that the Ikonifin - Ife-Odan road is currently in a bad condi on.

Oluremi added that the road links some villages and will be a serious challenge during the rainy season as farmers will find it difficult to convey their farm produce to the market.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28 - THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 03, 2022 VOL. 17 NO 03 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

News Governor Oyetola’s Administration And Osun’s ‘Abandoned’ Mega School Project Page 5

S

UBSIDY is a benefit given to an individual, business, or ins tu on, usually by government. It is given to remove some burden in the overall interest of the public to promo ng social good or economic policy. It could also be said to be a payment from government to private en es to ensure firms stay in business. Simply put, it is a direct or indirect payment, economic concession by government to private firms, households to promote a public objec ve.

Although United States operates a full blown free market economy - capitalism - its federal government subsidises some areas of economy. In fact, the biggest beneficiaries of subsidy in US are agriculture, energy and transport. The government subsidises farmers to assure supply of foods all-round the year especially corn, soy, wheat and rice. It subsidises green energy, oil and gas and electric cars.

In Nigeria today, as a result successive governments’ lip service to diversifying economy, oil has become the lifeline of the country and its people. However, things had never been so horrible. We’re blessed with avalanche of crude oil and have four refineries that could process it for our local consump on and excess sold abroad. Under this arrangement, while we could sell crude oil to the interna onal market at interna onal price, we could sell our crude oil at a subsidised local price to our refineries so that our refined petroleum products would be sold at a very affordable price. This alone will stabilise the prices of goods and services and checkmate infla on. In addi on, it will dras cally reduce agita on for increment in workers wage as increase in the price of crude oil interna onally will have no effect on the price of our local consump on.

However, over me, the ruling elite and their accomplices have wreaked all the four refineries. Under this condi on, as we sell crude oil abroad, we import refined products. Hence, we are suscepble to the vagaries of increase in the price of crude oil interna onally. Simply put, while an increase in the interna onal price of crude oil should be a blessing to us to cash in more dollars, the price of our imported refined oil products will jack up and cause untold hardship to us.

Hence, the regime of subsidy.

Already, the spate of insecurity in the land has led to the killings of many farmers on their farms and subsequently forced the lucky ones out of the farms which has immensely contributed to the prohibi ve price of foods and other consumables. Furthermore, we are yet to recover from Covid-19 socio-economic disrup on. As a ma er of fact, the Nigeria Labour Congress has been campaigning for upward review of workers’ wage as infla on has made nonsense of the current salary. Instead of bringing succour to lessen this heavy yoke, Na onal Economic Council (NEC) is set to chas se us with scorpion by recommending total removal of oil subsidy that will lead to increase in the price of fuel from between N162 and N165 to N302 per litre by June 2022 which will literally cut the throats of the mass of the people. Membership of NEC comprises 36 Governors, the Governor of the Central Bank and other co-opted government officials chaired by the Vice President. It meets monthly and

Fuel Subsidy Removal In Perspective

“Although the government has suspended the subsidy removal perhaps because of NLC and Civil Society Coalition threat to mobilise people for rallies and mass protests against the satanic decision, the youth and mass of the poor people should reject electoral bribe but vote in the forthcoming elections on concrete programmes and policies to be implemented; and having given out their mandate, hold these politicians accountable if they derail in fulfilling the promises”

call that President Muhammadu Buhari had, in 2021, set up a Na onal Steering Commi ee to oversee the development of the Nigeria Agenda 2050 and MediumTerm Na onal Development (MTNDP) to succeed Vision 20:2020 and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) with the plan to pulling 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030. We are already in a living hell. The old mantra that money saved from subsidy removal will be used for development of the economy can’t fly again. The children fuel subsidy removal will bear are chaos, poverty, penury and intensified crime.

Although the government has suspended the subsidy removal perhaps because of NLC and Civil Society Coali on threat to mobilise people for rallies and mass protests against the satanic decision, the youth and mass of the poor people should reject electoral bribe but vote in the forthcoming elec ons on concrete programmes and policies to be implemented; and having given out their mandate, hold these poli cians account-

able if they derail in fulfilling the promises Anyway, there seems to be a reprieve in sight as Aliyu Dangote Oil Refinery in Lekki, Lagos State, is poised for processing capacity of 540,000 barrels of crude oil per day by this September and full product by the end of 2022 with installed capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, which will meet Nigeria’s fuel demand and excess exported. The refinery will protect about $16bn Forex revenue and save $10bn yearly via domes c supply of petroleum products and create 250,000 jobs when completed. While Dangote will make his profit, cost of importa on of fuel and other miscellaneous will have been saved on the one hand. On the other hand, government should make some concessions to Dangote on crude oil sales, which are in tune with interna onal best prac ces. All these will lay subsidy to rest, stabilise and boost the economy and remove some yoke off the necks of the poor in the overall interest of the public to promo ng social good.

its mandate is to advice the President on economic ma ers of the na on.

By the virtue of their numerical strength in the council, the governors are major decision makers. Therefore, people should, first and foremost, in their respec ve states, hold their governors responsible for the decision to increasing fuel price. Why should the governors be so insensi ve to the plight of their people? Why should Nigerians pay for the dysfunc onal state of the refineries administered by the ruling elite who are profi ng from the oil importa on and subsidy scam?

Given the economic reality on ground, what is needed is more subsidy on oil and agriculture to cushioning the effect of soaring food prices and socio-economic disloca on associated with Covid-19. In fact, removal of fuel subsidy is a pointer to the fact that the President Buhari’s plan to pulling 100million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030 is a bogy and ordinary sloganeering as subsidy removal will condemn more into poverty and penury. Re-

STRIKER

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

For The Love Of Rules

R

ules are popularly defined as guidelines and instruc ons for doing something right. From the smallest unit of society, the family, all the way to na ons and the global stage, rules are made for orderly rela ons.

Whereas rules may be general and flexible, regula ons stringently and specifically detail out the rules, o en going further to specify penal es for default.

Whereas most rules are officially written and spelt out, a measure of the backwardness of so-called underdeveloped countries manifests in ci zens wanton ignorance and disregards for rules and regula ons. A clear demonstra on of this is seen in the way instruc on manuals for basic household gadgets are thrown away without a glance a er purchases; “I Agree” usually cliqued without reading Terms and Condi ons; rules of engagement on social media pla orms and groups disobeyed relentlessly. Such are the reasons why generator fumes in enclosed environments s ll kill ci zens in their sleep ll tomorrow!

If any reader casts his or her mind back in me, since our growing-up days callers-in to radio programmes are warned to move

away from their radio sets if they cannot put it off during phone-in programmes. Till today, that same plea is s ll being made without any end in sight! Wan ng to talk to the world on radio and wan ng to hear oneself on radio at the same me is a manifesta on of the crass opportunism and self-centredness that has come to characterise our lives based on love of shortcuts to gain undue advantages in disregards for rules of engagement and terms and condions. With the majority of ci zens tuned this way, it is only by miracle from above that we can produce service-oriented, lawabiding leaders for any organisa on.

This a tude, carried over into poli cs and governance is at the roots of our endangered democracy, the woeful status of public service ins tu ons, and bad governance, crime and insecurity that obtains today, as fear of deterrent measures disappears in the face of a jus ce system totally inept; only the most menial infrac ons are punished, o en severely, while the most atrocious crimes mostly go unpunished – that is even when perpetrators are apprehended at all. This is the founda on for a chao c society stranded in underdevelop-

ment and insecurity.

There are clear rules for poli cal party opera ons, interparty rela ons and electoral contests for a healthy and growing democracy. The reason why we forever keep saying our democracy is young, and why it may sadly remain forever “young,” is refusal to “grow” through obedience to rules by all stakeholders. Cu ng corners is the general order of the day via the deployment of all sorts of open-secret cons and strong hands.

It is what could occasion no less than 150 armed thugs heading for Eki in the dead of night for God-knows-what role in a scheduled intra party elec on!

In a land of serial contempt for the rules by majority of the “leaders” and the led alike, the Israelite’s tortuous and long-winded journey to the Promised Land is a child play compared to what inevitably lie ahead of us. If a change in a tude to rules and regula ons will not be championed by the elites who benefit the most from and are less punished by lawlessness, why should it not be championed by organisa ons of the masses that are the pawns and mainly at the receiving ends of disorder? The sooner we begin, the sooner we will be done.

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.

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