FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024
2
News
Famodun, Akadiri, Ademola Evicted From Palace installa on of Prince Yi•As Govt Nullifi es Aree, Owa of Igbajo Selection Processes nusa Olalekan Akadiri as HE Osun State Govthe Akinrun of Ikirun and ernment has nulliwhite paper further rec- suit before the Supreme Prince Oluponle Ademo•Declares Akinrun Stool Vacant fied the selec on ommended compliance Court.” la as the Aree of Iree.
Ismaeel Uthman
T
processes that produced the emba led Aree of Iree, Prince Oluponle Ademola and the Owa of Igbajo, Prince Gboyega Famodun. This is just as the government declared the Akirun stool vacant, direc ng that all the pares involved in the selec on of a new Akirun should wait for the outcome of the case before the Court of Appeal. The decision of the state government was contained in a white paper adopted by the State Execu ve Council on the recommenda on of the Commi ees on Chieftaincy Ma ers set up by Governor Ademola Adeleke to review all the appointments made by former governor Adegboyega Oyetola from July 17, 2022. According to the Commissioner for Informa on and Public Enlightenment, Barr. Kolapo Alimi, fresh selec on processes should commence immediately for the emergence of a new Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo respecvely. Alimi, in a release made available to newsmen yesterday, said, the white paper overwhelmingly prio sed compliance with legal requirements as a basis for final decisions. The release reads in part: “On the report on the chie aincy ma ers chaired by Honourable Bunmi Jenyo, the white paper overwhelmingly prio sed compliance with legal requirements as a basis for final decisions. “By the report of the White Paper, all previous steps taken in relaon to the installa on of Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo stands nullified. And that all-inclusive selec on process (es) for a new Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo, respecvely, should commence immediately. “Specifically on Aree of Iree Chie aincy, the substan ve chiefs are enjoined to withdraw their suit before the Court so as to allow for commencement of the selec on process denovo in line with due process and tradi on. “And on the stool of Owa of Igbajo, the White Paper nullified the previ-
ous selec on process which produced Prince Gboyega Famodun and directed an all-inclusive selec on process for a new Owa nominee. “On the disputed Akirun stool, the White
Paper directed that the par es await the outcome of the case before the Court of Appeal. And that the stool remains vacant. “On other disputed kingship stools, the
with the requirements of the law as in the Alawo stool where the government accepted the commi ee recommenda on that the government should await the outcome of the pending
OSUN DEFENDER had in its April 28, 2023 edion exclusively reported that the Chie aincy Review Commi ed had recommended nullifica on of the processes that led to the appointment and
•Governor Ademola Adeleke with Hon. Bamidele Salam at the final of the 4th edition of Otunba Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke Memorial Football Competition held at Osogbo Township Stadium on Monday
However, it took the state government a year to release white paper on the report of the commi ee. The commi ee had on January 3, 2023 submi ed its report to Adeleke. Adeleke had earlier on November 28, 2022 issued an Execu ve Order direc ng the security agents to take over the palaces of Owa of Igbajo, Aree of Iree and Akinrun of Ikirun. The Execu ve Order birthed the review of all appointments of tradi onal rulers made by the Oyetola’s administra on a er July 17, 2022. OSUN DEFENDER gathered that there were jubila ons in Iree, Igbajo and Ikirun, following the release of the white paper and the announcement of the nullifica on of the selec ons processes of the Aree and Owa of Igbajo stools, and the declara on of Akinrun stool vacant yesterday.
Armed Robbers Invade Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill Osun Govt Sets Up Task Force S To Retrieve Vehicles Carted Away Yusuf Oketola
OME armed robbers invaded the defunct Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill, presently known as Integrated Steel PLC of Dangote Group, located along Ikirun road, Kobongbogbe, Osogbo at the early hours of Tuesday in an attempt to steal electrical installa on. The armed robbers who came in large number, according to police sources, had pillaged electrical installa ons at the premises of the company before their presence was no ced by security personnel. The armed robbers were engaged in a gun duel with the police and members of Nigeria Forest Security Service. The Osun State Police Command confirmed that some of the armed robbers lost their lives in the shootout. According to the spokesperson of the Command, Yemisi Opalola, the armed robbers were engaged by the hunters on ground before policemen were mobilised to the place. “The robbers came in large numbers and engaged the hunters. Police later mobilised to the scene and they were subdued”, she said.
OSUN DEFENDER, however, gathered from a police source who craved anonymity that three of the armed robbers were killed during the gun duel. He also revealed that five other members of the armed robbery gang sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to the Osun State University Teaching Hospital (UTH), Osogbo for
medical treatment. According to the source, “A gang of over 20 armed robbers laid siege on the defunct Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill, presently known as Integrated Steel PLC of Dangote Group, located along Ikirun Road in the early hours of the day and pillaged electrical installaons on the premises. “The robbers had
•The arrested suspected armed robbers
entered the premises through the back, bea ng security men posi oned at the main entrance and were already cu ng cables and electrical installa ons when the hunters got wind of their presence in the compound. “They came in more than three vehicles and entered the premises through the back. They were already inside the premises when security men at the entrance, who were mainly hunters, became aware of their presence. “The hunters later engaged the robbers in a gun duel. While engaging the robbers, the hunters called for police assistance and men from the Osun police command were immediately deployed. “During the exchange of gunshots, three robbers were shot dead, while five others were injured. “A police van later came in the morning and evacuated those injured to UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, for treatment. “Corpses of those that died were deposited at the morgue of the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.”
Ismaeel Uthman
T
HE Osun State government has directed the setup of a task force for the recovery of government vehicles allegedly carted away by officials of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administra on. According to the Commissioner for Informa on and Public Enlightenment, in a statement yesterday, the direc ve followed the adop on of the white paper on the report of Assets Inventory and Recovery Commi ee set up by Governor Ademola Adeleke. The commi ee had claimed that not less than 580 vehicles, landed proper es and other valuables, including the state-owned helicopter were allegedly taken away by officials of the Oyetola administraon. The commi ed had in February, 2023 submi ed its report to Adeleke.
PEOPLE FIRST
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024
3
T
HE families of those who perished as a result of the explosion in Ibadan need not just heart-felt commiseraons but compensa on. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace. Unfortunately, sympathy as well as compensa on cannot bring back the dead. What must be done is to salute the courage of the departed souls is to carry out a full scale commission of enquiry into the root course of the disaster to ensure that such a thing never happens again. The tragedy was foretold, and there has been forewarning for over two decades, ar sanal and unregulated mining ac vi es have turned parts of Nigeria into a reckless fron er reminiscent of the California gold rush of the 1800s. Predictably, all the early warning signals were ignored which makes today’s crocodile tears shedding rather hypocri cal and offensive. Before the carnage in Ibadan
“The carnage in Ibadan is warning for all the State in which unregulated minning is going on. The State government of Osun must be proactive. The environmental consequences of minning is already a treat in Osun and a disaster must be averted. Prevention is better than cure.”
Horrible Day In Ibadan must be done now And A Wake Up Call withThisfears o urgency. Pieceisla ve list.
took place, the Federal Government had commendably announced the forma on of special forces to patrol mining areas. Special forces are very much needed across all borders in Nigeria whether it is illegal or legal. We must dig deeper. The country is paying the price for a defec ve misinterpreta on of federalism. Solid minerals should have been on the concurrent as opposed to
the exclusive legisla ve list. When this is done, the subna onals will have the wherewithal to police the industry, discourage criminals, and ensure rigorous regula on of the sector, including vitally protecting the environment. The ruling party at the center is commi ed to a federal system; it must now walk the talk. The Cons tu on needs a revamp to take scores of items out of the exclusive leg-
meal thinking can no longer do the job. The carnage in Ibadan is warning for all the State in which unregulated minning is going on. The State government of Osun must be proac ve. The environmental consequences of minning is already a treat in Osun and a disaster must be averted. Preven on is be er than cure.
The Discourse Unemployment, Culture And Mental Health
W
ORK, unemployment and specific condi ons at work have been shown to have considerable influence on mental health and mental illness, and u liza on of mental health services. Rates of mental illness are higher in the unemployed than in people at work. There is evidence from longitudinal studies that unemployment, actual redundancy itself and the threat of redundancy cause mental illness. The Nigerian situa on is increasingly alarming as our higher ins tu ons keep turning out graduates with different kinds of cer ficates into the job market. A good number are psychologically immobile and apparently redundant which provides the breeding ground for mental distress and possibly mental illness. High rate of unemployment derives principally from poor mental capacity development which renders our graduates unemployable. They are o en mes not proficiently available for the jobs their cer ficates advocate for them. There is a fundamental disconnect between the educa onal or voca onal training they have received and the poten al specifica ons of employment opportuni es that exist in our polity. Usually, we blame the government for the rising unemployment while we fail to interrogate the social facili es that are responsible for developing employable capaci es in our youths. In the pre-colonial mes, educa on was principally by oral tradi on through appren ceship augmented by folklores that reinforce values that guarantee sound attude in a career. The unemployment is due to the disconnect between available capacity and the poten al job opportunies and inability to create such opportuni es. A perusal of the MBA program of the Lagos Business School managerial anthropology as one of the courses which could help banish the neocolonialism argument as basis for rising unemployment. There is virtually no sociocultural milieu that has not been affected by globaliza on; Dubai emirate is an eloquent tes mony of a crea ve synergy of the western model of
Dr Adeoye Oyewole development and conserva ve Arab emirate culture without loss of iden ty. I will describe this as the ul mate goal of educaon; crea ve assimila on of new ideas into an exis ng sociocultural facility without loss of iden ty. The colonial mandate of educaon was ini ally self-serving but with me, the inherent capacity of educa on liberated our na onalists who paraded one of the most sophis cated challenges to colonialism in Africa. Educa on liberates, empowers and confers economic value through service. This is the fundamental principle of mental capital as superior to ordinary mental health. The intellectual class failed to tailor the colonial educa onal structures to our peculiar sociocultural needs. The Chinese economy has benefi ed strongly from the ideas of others that they have taken me to assimilate into their own culture. The Nigerian intellectuals have wasted too much me in the blame game without looking inwards and synergizing our tradional educa onal philosophy with the colonial model. Our lectures, our curriculum orienta on and the procedure of conferring professorship is essen ally devoid of crea vity and elegant contribu on to knowledge. The philosophy of ivory-towerism is characterized by sigh ng societal problems from a vantage posi on and crea vely deploying intellectual resources in finding solu on to them. The rising rate of unemployment
Educa on is not just about literacy and competency alone; but a process of inculcaon of values that equips a person to be an asset to the society rather than a menace. The oil wealth entrenched mediocre values on the polity that overtook the intellectuals and the priesthood who should have safe guarded our value. Our economy that is basically primi ve surviving on the chance fortunes of oil but not in any way linked to produc vity. Our religious systems parade a brand of prosperity that is not traceable to produc vity that can inspire the young unemployed ones. They are encouraged to come for prayers so that they can move into a posi on of affluence not derivable from among our college graduates is an indict- crea vity but crass opportunism. I describe ment of their produc vity. The pre-colonial this as delusion rather than faith. Faith aprulers’ hip cultural so ware overtook our praises the situa on and takes a ra onal inacademicians who viewed intellectualism as ventory of the situa on and systema cally a means of social class ascent and exploita- lays claim to the power of omnipotence on of the vulnerable. The raging menace in the process of developing capacity and of book haram derives from the perceived crea ng wealth. Delusion fuels fantasy in evil that western educa on has caused these youngsters who are rendered psychorather than build employable capacity. logically immobile, redundant, unemployed and unemployable who may later come down with mental illness when they discover that there is a disconnect between their delusions Publisher – Moremi Publishing and real-life experiences. House Ltd. I counsel our young unDeputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman employed graduates to look Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa inwards and take an obReporter – Yusuf Oketola jec ve stock of what their Reporter – Kazeem Badmus strengths are irrespec ve Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto of their cer ficates.; study Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere the environment and move OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing into the available opportuniHouse Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite es no ma er how modest Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, and commence the process State of Osun of wealth crea on through ISSN : 0794-8050 service. This is definitely an Telephone : 0809-301-9152 enormous mental capital. Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php •Dr Adeoye O. Oyewole is a e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com consultant psychiatrist, life osundefenderbank@gmail.com coach, mental health advoAll correspondence to the above email addresses. cate, author, theologian and anthropologist
“I counsel our young unemployed graduates to look inwards and take an objective stock of what their strengths are irrespective of their certificates.; study the environment and move into the available opportunities no matter how modest and commence the process of wealth creation through service”
OSUN DEFENDER
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024
4
Interview
Osun To Reintroduce Monthly Enviromental Sanitation - Adejonrin The Environment and Sanitation sector is a critical segment of government which has attracted knocks and criticism in Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration. The six-month old Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon. Mayowa Adejonrin, has been on cool and hot seat in sustaining the cleanliness of the state and responding to criticism. In this interview with Kazeem Badmus, Adejonrin explains the challenges and prospect of maintaining a clean environment. Excerpt:
H
OW would you describe your sixmonth experience as the Commissioner for Environment and Sanita-
on? My tenure has been very challenging. I started working on my first day in office. There were lots of calls and messages on environmental issues that had to be addressed. People call from various towns and communi es to inform me about flooding, indiscriminate dumping of refuse, bushy environment and many other environmental issues. However, I thank God I have been able to address some of these challenges. God have been wonderful and I enjoyed the maximum support of Governor Ademola Adeleke. So far, we have been able to make the best out of the worst we met on the ground. I will not be economical with the truth. The situa ons we met on ground were not palatable. It is the duty of the government to care for the health of the people which we are doing in the li le way we can for now. We are trying our best to make use of what we met on the ground but the problem is that we have limited vans. The vans we met on the ground can’t even sa sfy Osogbo alone not to talk of the en re state but the government is already planning on how to address this to achieve a cleaner environment. When we came in, we needed to address many things at least to change the narra ve. We want to make Osun a cleaner state, especially in the South-West. We are trying our best but the a tude of our people most me is not good. We engage the Private Support Partnership to park refuse and manage the
“We have been meeting with environmental officers from the local governments and we have agreed in principle to start monthly environmental sanitation and you know we can’t do that without the input of the local government”
waste in our communi es, we have had mee ngs with the Waste Management Board Agency on how to keep Osun clean. The law is that every household must have where they dump their own refuse, if you don’t have a refuse beside your house, you have to have a waste bin where you put your refuse. Are the people complying with the law? That is where the issue is. Our people know what is right but they are not doing it. Are we to say we don’t know the implicaons of a dirty environment? We do but we chose to ignore it. When you go to the major market in the state, they have Execu ve Officers whom we hold periodic mee ngs with alongside the Local Government Officers but with all the mee ngs, the traders s ll go ahead to dump refuse on the road. They know what they are doing is wrong that’s why they do it at night. How much will it take the market people to buy a waste bin and make life easier for those packing it? What Is The Government Doing To Those Viola ng The Law? Government is a process. We can’t just wake up one day and tell the task force people to go and arrest people who are duping refuse indiscriminately. What we want to do is to form a synergy with the security and relevant agencies so that we can have a consensus on how to go about it. Although, you can’t compare what we have now to what happened in the last two to three months. Things have improved and we are not going to rest even a er we achieve our aims. I just want to appeal to our good people to stop the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on our road. Health they say is wealth. How many vehicles is the state government using for packing refuse as of today? We have five vehicles which are not even enough for Osogbo, not to talk of the en re state. Some people are of the opinion that Osogbo is gradually becoming the dir est state capital, do you agree with that? Not at all. It is poli cal. I was in Ibadan recently and when I saw some areas there, I said to myself; but some people say Osogbo is the dir est capital? This is not true at all. I think that is poli cs. The state government is trying and this ministry is also trying to do so
•Adejonrin
many things. God will help us. Apart from the market execu ves, is there a synergy between the ministry and local governments? Of course, we have been mee ng with environmental officers from the local governments and we have agreed in principle to start monthly environmental sanita on and you know we can’t do that without the input of the local government. As we await the governor’s approval to commence the ini ave, we are also doing what we can to make our society clean. The environmental officers have been going out to various communi es in their local government to sensi se them on what we are planning to do. The local government chairmen have been supervising them too, and the officers are enlightening our people about what the law says. A er this, we will start properly and anyone who contravened the law may have his or herself to blame. Apart from the local government chairmen, we also have some business consultants who have been coming to us on how they can help us in clearing our environment. We are already engaging them and by the me we come up with our resolu ons very soon, things will change for the be er. It is to our own advantage if we have a cleaner environment. We should not expect the government to do everything for us. You can’t expect the government to be coming to your doorstep to pack refuse. That is why we have the PSP and they are not charging more than N1000 in a month. it is not good enough if we can’t use N1000 to keep our environment clean in a month. The government cannot force the residents to have a cleaner environment. I will advise our people to listen to government direc ves and to love themselves. They should know that government cannot love them more than themselves. The government will do its own job to make sure that we have a very clean environment but we should also assist the government in achieving a safer, cleaner environment.
News
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024
5
JUSUN: SAN Accuses Adeleke Of Stoking Crisis Kazeem Badmus
A
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo has accused Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke of stoking the crisis in the state judicial arm of government, following the ongoing strike ac on of the the state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN). JUSUN had embarked on an indefinite strike a er its members were allegedly a acked during a peaceful protest at the State High Court Complex. The union had accused the state Chief Judge, Jus ce Adepele Ojo, of highhandedness and withholding of wardrobe allowances of some judicial workers, among other allegaons. Speaking on Rave FM programme on Monday, Awomolo alleged Adeleke of holding the judiciary hostage by not allowing it to perform its
•MTN Subscribers whose lines were barred due to non-linkage with National Identity Number (NIN) besieged the company’s office at Dada Estate Osogbo, on Wednesday, for the validation of their SIM cards Photo: Shola Aderinto
func ons. Awolowo who is the Vice Chairman of the Body of Benchers, asked the Governor to leave the judiciary alone and
allow it to perform its du es. He said, “My appeal to our poli cians is to leave our judiciary alone. Judiciary is the
only ins tu on in this country that is deepening democracy. Judiciary is the only one that is helping to stabilise Nigeria economically,
Ignore OSIEC’s Directive On Submission Of Details, IPAC Tells Parties Sodiq Yusuf HE Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Osun State has called on poli cal par es in the state to ignore the direcve of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) for the submission of their details. OSIEC had on Tuesday issued a guideline to poli cal par es to furnish the commission with details of their poli cal par es. But IPAC, in a statement issued by the Chairman and Secretary of the Council, Hon. Wale Adebayo and Dr. Tosin Odeyemi in Osogbo, on Wednesday, said the OSIEC Chairman, Barr. Hashim Abioye, erred in asking for details of poli cal par es he has not met nor discussed with. According to IPAC, Abioye should have gone through the proper channels and followed the correct procedures before
T
•Abioye
making the request. The council berated the OSIEC Chairman, saying he is ‘grossly incompetent.’ The statement reads in part: “The release of electoral guidelines through newspaper publica ons, coupled with the request for details of our na onal chairmen for a local elecon, is not only insul ng, but also a clear indica on
that he lacks capacity to conduct a credible elecon. “The Chairman hasn’t called for a mee ng to familiarise himself with chie ains and stakeholders of each poli cal par es. “OSIEC has no jurisdicon to ask for par culars of poli cal party. There should be a stakeholders mee ng between the
Chairman and poli cal pares. “Leadership of a poli cal structure requires learning. Even in a military government, there are s ll consulta ons, this is democracy for crying out loud. “Our members have been instructed not to honour the body un l the needful has been done.”
poli cally, socially and in every respect. If we destroy the judiciary, we will be in trouble. “Let me also appeal to the Governor and government of Osun State, please, leave the judiciary alone. Leave the judiciary alone, let them prosper. Let them do their work. Why is that a small labour unit is disturbing the whole of the judiciary of Osun State? The A orney General is looking, the Governor is looking, everybody is looking. What are you looking? The common people of Osun State, what are you looking?
People are taken to jail everyday, there is no court to sit over them. “There are communal fights here and there over land, over chie aincy, over property. What is the government and people of Osun State doing? Help us, leave the judiciary alone. Let the judiciary in Osun State perform its func ons. Follow the due process of law. Osun State Judiciary deserves her independence. Please, leave them alone.” But the state government denied having any hand in the crisis rocking Osun judiciary. The Commissioner for Informa on and Public Enlightenment in the state, Kolapo Alimi, while reac ng on the programme, said, “The Osun State Government, in no way, have hand in the current imbroglio going on in Osun Judiciary. The issue is basically between those who peoned the Chief Judge of the State, my Lord Jus ce Adepele Ojo and the NJC on one hand, on the other between Judiciary Staff Union of Osun State and the Chief Judge.” “In fact, the governor has held series of meetings with JUSUN and has tried to pay some arrears to resolve the issue but the issue keeps on lingering. So, we have no hand in it and we don’t want anybody to drag us into it,” he maintained.
Osun Residents Call Out Lawmaker Over FG Rice Palliative Kazeem Badmus OME residents of Odo-O n/ Ifelodun/Boripe Federal Cons tuency of Osun State have called out the lawmaker represen ng them at the House of Representa ves, Hon. Soji Adetunji, over the rice palliave received on their behalf from the Federal Government. There have been controversies on the pallia ve rice given to lawmakers by the Federal Government to be shared to cons tuents during the recent yelu de period. OSUN DEFENDER noted that only three lawmakers have disclosed and distributed the FG pallia ve rice to the cons tuents in Osun. The Odo-O n/
S
Ifelodun/Boripe Federal cons tuents have asked the lawmaker to provide informa on on the 1,240 bags of rice he reportedly received from the FG. The residents under the umbrella of Ikirun Reformers’ Genera on, explained the need for the lawmaker to come out clean on the status of the bags of rice and how it would be distributed accurately. In a statement signed by it Coordinator, Mr Ogundare Olatunji, the group urged Adetunji to emulate some of his colleagues who had provided informa on to their cons tuents on the pallia ve rice. The statement reads, “We seek this public accountability
call in recogni on of the release of 1,240 50kg bags of rice to each of the 360 members of House of Representa ves, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, to be distributed to the most vulnerable people in their respec ve cons tuencies. “According to the Federal Government, the main purpose of the 1,240 bags rice package to members of House of Representa ves is to be distributed to the vulnerable ci zens and deserved families in each clusters and locali es, as one of the short-term measures at addressing the aftermath hardship,
which subsidy removal has caused to the ci zens of Federal Republic of Nigeria. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal Government chose federal lawmaker, as points of contact for this distribu on, because they are regarded as representa ves of the people across the country, simply because the government at the centre believes they are closer to their people. It is for this reason that Hon. Soji Adetunji is the point of contact for Odo-O n/ Ifelodun/ Boripe Federal Cons tuency 1,240 bags of rice. “Therefore, we are calling on Hon. Soji Adetunji to come out without
any further delay, to provide a clear, factual and straight forward informa on on the current status of Odo-O n/ Ifelodun/ Boripe Federal Cons tuency 1,240 bags of rice and the me the distribu on will commence, with trackable distribuon template, for accountability and prosperity sake. “The main ingredient of good governance is accountability from the leaders to the ci zenry. Hence, we must ensure accountability is maintained and sustained in our polity, in order for democracy to con nue to be meaningful to us as government of the people, by the people and for the people.”
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024
6
News
Ibadan Explosion Raises Concern Over Indiscriminate Mining Activities In Osun Ismaeel Uthman
T
HE explosion that rocked a part of Ibadan, Oyo State, as a result of stockpiled explosive devices being used for mining ac vies has further alerted residents of Osun on the danger of the indiscriminate mining ac vi es going on in some parts of the state. It would be recalled that there was an explosion at Dejo Oyelese Street, Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija, Ibadan, on Tuesday evening, killing and injuring unspecified number of people, while proper es were destroyed. Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had declared that the explosion was a result of some explosive materials being used for mining. OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the miner that stockpiled the explosive device is a Malian who had been opera ng in Ibadan for years. The Ibadan explosion has further raised concerns about the safety of the people in mining areas in Osun State, as stakeholders have expressed worries on the materials being used for mining in the state. According to the stakeholders, the Ibadan explosion is an eyeopener to the looming danger of indiscriminate mining in communi es in Osun, no ng that both legal and illegal miners must be checked for the safety of the society. OSUN DEFENDER noted that explosive materials are being used at quarry and some mining sites where core mining is taking place in the state. A non-governmental ini a ve, Urban Alert, a ributed the Ibadan explosion to the weakness of Nigeria mining laws and the inadequacies of public ins tu ons, noting that is exposing Nigerians to greater dangers. The group in a press release by its Communica on Associate, Ti lade Alayande, opined that weak mining laws and the inadequacies that exist in Nigeria’s public ins tu ons create a conducive environment for illegal mining and uncontrolled mining. According to Urban Alert, all the states in Nigeria must learn from the Ibadan explosion and must work with relevant federal government agencies to ensure
•IMRAF Demands Control Of Miners Using Explosive Devices •Weak Mining Laws Exposing Nigerians To Danger - Urban Alert compliance for the use and storage of essen al mining materials that have the capacity to cause havoc before and a er usage. Speaking on the danger of indiscriminate mining in Osun, the group said: “Quarry and mining sites carrying out core mining ac vi es may not escape the use of explosives for blas ng rocks and hard surfaces. “Therefore, we cannot wash off the hands of both licensed and illegal miners in Osun State from the use of explosives too. This is evident in communi es like Iperindo, Odo-Ijesa, IwoyeEde and Obaagun where quarry and core gold mining ac vi es exist. “The Osun State government must as a ma er of urgency liaise with relevant federal government agencies like the Mining Cadastre Office and the Na onal Environmental Standards and Regula ons Enforcement Agency to carry out a health and safety audit to ensure that there is compliance in the storage and use of harmful materials “It is essen al to emphasize the gravity of engaging in mining ac vi es and the poten al risks associated with improper handling of mining materials like the explosives. Weak mining laws and the inadequacies that exist in Nigeria’s public ins tuons create a conducive environment for illegal mining and uncontrolled mining, leading to significant lapses in public safety. “The weak mining laws and weak government agencies open windows for illegali es and miners (licensed and illegal) o en exploit the system. “We call on the government to priori ze the safety of Nigerians by sincerely probing the ac vi es of miners and avert a repeat of this incident. “We must safeguard the environment and fulfil our responsibility towards protec ng Nigerians.” Reac ng to the Ibadan explosion, the Ijesa Mineral Resources Advocacy Forum (IMRAF), called on security agencies in the state to inves gate miners us-
•Aerial view of the explosion site at the Bodija area of Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital
ing explosive devices in Osun state and bring them under control. The Advocacy Coordinator of the group, Mr. Wale Idowu, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, said it is high me the government gave priority to the safety of people rather than pecuniary gains. Idowu stated: “We must be concerned about the mining system in Ijesaland and other parts of Nigeria. We have since 2020 been advoca ng sustainable mining. “When you talk about sustainable mining, you are looking at the need to stop the use of heavy metals in mining because of their influence and consequences of such heavy metals. “The incident in Ibadan signposted the need for ci zens in Osun state, corporate ci zens as well as ordinary people, to be very cau ous; and the government should put the ci zens interest above the pecuniary gain. “The government should put on thinking cap on how to genera ng revenue without jeopardizing the future of the people they are governing. The interest of the people and keeping a safe environment should the uppermost. “The Ibadan experience has bu ressed the point that both the ci zens and government have role to play in protec ng the environment. The tradi onal leaders also have serious role to play in ensuring a clean, healthy and safe environment, and
in ensuring that the interests of their people are well protected. They don’t have to nego ate their future on the altar of naira and kobo. Those are the lessons we need to learn from the Ibadan explosion.” Asked about the materials being used for mining ac vi es in Ijesaland, Idowu said: “Certainly, the miners use explosive devices, not only in Ijesaland but everywhere where mining is taking place. At our end in Ijesaland, we conducted soil and water test, and the results showed that some of these miners, par cularly the ar sanal miners, engaged in the use of heavy metals. That is
responsible for the pollu on of some rivers in Osun. “Apart from the fact that the miners use explosives for unearthening the minerals, they also engaged in the use of heavy metals in washing them, and as a result the water underneath got polluted. The vascular impact of such prac ce is kidney, liver, skin and other severe disease. We have been also warned before that pregnant women will start to experience s llbirth and it will be er to a end to such issue in earnest. “Mining in an interna onal business; it is because of who we are at the part of the world
that sees us doing things adversely. Mining has its own process that must be duly followed. “Government needs to sensi se the people on health mining ac vies. Government must engage the miners at regular intervals and verify who among them have authen c approval. Above all, there must be advocacy arrangement between government and various organiza on involved in mining ac vies. “There is need for security agencies to invesgate the miners using explosive materials and heavy metals and bring them under control to forestall any sad occurrence.
Shortage Of Teachers May Increase Out Of School Children – Osun NUT Chair
Yusuf Oketola HE Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Osun State, Comrade Muritala Fatade has said the shortage of teachers in public schools will con nue to contribute to the number of out of school children in the state. Fatade, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, noted that there was shortage of teachers in public schools in both rural and urban areas. According to Fatade, though the case of rural areas was worse, but the urban areas as well are grossly in need of teachers. He disclosed that no school in the ur-
T
ban areas have Ass istant Headmaster(s), which amounts to the shortage of teachers. The NUT Chairman said: “We have been telling the government since incep on that they inherited shortage of teachers and lack of infrastructure but they promised to intervene. We applaud the government of Adeleke for the job they’re doing. “In the urban areas, where we have headmaster or headmistress, we should have an assistant who will fit in when the HM is unavailable. As I’m speaking, there is no assistant HM in schools in the urban areas which amount to shortage of teachers.
When we came into the Civil Service, we do have two HM in schools in the urban areas. “But I’m a witness that the government is doing their possible best to recruit more teachers in the public primary and secondary schools. I witnessed such a meeting last month. “Definitely, where there’s no good environment for learning, the pupils or students won’t be mo vated to go to school. And believe me, these children will go home to report to their parents. “These will allow parents to stop sending their children to school or students will not get to school when they already know there is no teacher to teach them.”
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024
7
Sport/News
‘I Will Pack My Bags’ If Barcelona Henderson Close To Ajax Move After Players Lose Faith In Me - Xavi Terminating Al-Ettifaq Contract
B
A R C E L O NA Manager Xavi, on Wednesday, said he will pack his bags and leave the club if his players lose faith in him. He said this while commen ng on his team’s 4-1 defeat to rival Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday. Barcelona are also fourth in La Liga, eight points behind leaders Girona. The former Barcelona midfielder returned as coach a er leaving Qatari side Al Sadd in November 2021. He li ed them from ninth to second that season, before guiding them to the tle in his first full campaign in charge in 2022-23. He said, “I love this club. I’m here to bring something to it. If I don’t do it, I’ll go home. “If I hadn’t won La Liga last year I
wouldn’t be here.” He added: “The day my players no longer follow me, I’ll pack my bags and leave. When someone tells me there’s a problem, I’ll leave.” “They face thirder side Unionistas in the last 16 of the Spanish Cup on Thursday and have also reached the last 16 of the
Champions League, where they will meet Napoli. “When the owners signed me from Qatar, they said it was one of the worst moments in the club’s history and we’re in the process of changing things.” “I’m calm. I have three tles to win. We’re closer to success than failure.”
F
ORMER Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson, is close to joining Ajax in a permanent move, with his contract at Saudi club Al-E faq set to be terminated. The 33-year-old England midfielder le Liverpool in a £12m deal in July and signed a three-year contract
worth a reported £700,000 a week with Al-E faq. However, reports have suggested he is unhappy and wants to return to Europe. Henderson linked up with ex-Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, who is Al-Etfaq manager, but appears to be heading back to Europe, having made just 17
appearances in the Saudi Pro League. Henderson was a prominent supporter of the LGBTQ+ community during his me at Anfield, was cri cised by many for moving to Saudi Arabia, where same-sex sexual acvity is illegal. He was however cri cised by some fans for moving to Saudi. In an interview with The Athle c, Henderson said about his reported salary: “The numbers just aren’t true.. it’s good money and it was a good deal but it wasn’t the numbers that were reported.” Ajax have endured a difficult campaign so far and find themselves in fi h place, 23 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven. Should the deal be concluded swi ly, Henderson could make his debut for the Dutch giants against RKC Waalwijk in the Eredivisie on Sunday.
Super Eagles Defeat Ivory OCSC Calls On Adeleke To Pay 12-Month Salaries Of Osun Job Center Workers Coast, Now 2nd In Group A The coali on argued have not been relieved tre was in existence.
T
HERE was jubilaon across Nigeria yesterday as the country’s na onal team, Super Eagles, defeated host na on Ivory Coast at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Na ons (AFCON). Both Nigeria and Ivory Coast failed to score in the first half. Victor Osimhen missed a good chance to give Jose Peseiro’s side the lead in the first half as he kicked the ball over the bar following a fine through pass from Samuel Chukwueze. However, in the second half, Super Eagles captain William TroostEkong gave Nigeria the lead via a powerful pen-
Ismaeel Uthman
alty. The match eventually ended 1-0 in favour of the Super Eagles. The result moved Peseiro’s side to second posi on in Group A with four points from two games. Ivory Coast are in third posi on with 3 points from the same number of games. Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea are on top of the group with goals difference ahead of Nigeria, while Guinea-Bissau are in fourth posi on with no point. Nigeria will now face Guinea-Bissau in their last group game in the coming days.
T
HE Osun Civil Socie es Coali on (OCSC) has called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to see to the payment of the 12month salaries of workers of Osun Job Center which his administraon has shut down. According to the OCSC, the argument of the government statement that the Adeleke administra on didn’t inherit the Job Centrer and that the workers there were contract staff did not hold water. The coali on, in a statement by its Chairman and Secretary, Comrades Waheed Lawal and Emmanuel Olowu, on Thursday, said available record showed that the Job center was in existence ll December 2023. OCSC maintained that the workers were also paid their November and December 2023 salaries by the Adeleke’s administraon.
that even if the workers of the Job Centre were contract staff, official communica on should have taken place for their disengagement. According to OCSC, since the government didn’t inform the workers of their disengagement, it is assumed that they are s ll ac vely engaged, meaning that the Adeleke administra on is liable to the payment of their salaries. The statement partly reads: “The fact that somebody is a contract staff doesn’t mean the employer so treat them shabbily. They are en tled to dignity of labour and decency. “The Osun Job Centre staff were engaged with a formal le er. Courtesy and rules of engagement also demand that you communicate them officially when their service is no longer needed. But that is not the case; it is assumed that the workers are s ll ac vely engaged by the state government since they
formally. So, the Adeleke administra on is liable to the payment of their salaries. “Governor Adeleke came on board on November 27, 2023 and the Osun Job Centre workers received their Salaries for November and December same year. This actually means that cen-
“We called on the Governor to release the 12-month salaries of the workers. He has so far demonstrated his compassion for the welfare of the general workforce of the state. The Osun Job Centre workers are humans with families and dependants.”
Aregbesola Graces Event In Osogbo Tomorrow
T
HE immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, will be in Osogbo tomorrow, Saturday to grace an empowerment programme. A social-economic group, Osun Economic Development Team, has announced its plans to empower some residents of the state during its 4-in-1 program coming up tomorrow. The group will also be commissioning some Solar Panel lights during the event.
The Coordinator of the team, Prince Basiru Hassan, in a statement on Thursday, noted that Aregbesola who is the Patron of the group will be gracing the event. Hassan noted that the Solar Panel light would be commissioned at Ajegunle, Igbonna and Oluode areas of Osogbo. He further stated that the main empowerment programmes would follow at Olumehin Grammar School, Isale Osun.
ISSN : 0794 - 8050
News
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2024 VOL. 19 NO 01 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
Armed Robbers Invade Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill
I
T is unreasonable and illogical to be repea ng the same thing over and over again and expec ng different result. Almost a year to July 16, 2022 governorship elec on in Osun, I had warned, in my column on this medium, on the 13th August, 2021 tled, “July 16 Osun Governorship Elec on Postula on.” Therein, I stated, “If the situa on is not radically addressed on me, either of these two will happen. On the one hand, if Oyetola uses his incumbent execu ve power to manipulate the game and emerge as APC candidate for the 2022 governorship elec on without the support and coopera on of other caucuses in APC, a worse repeat of 2018 will happen which clearly means he will lose the governorship elec on. Winning an elec on is not all about money, goodwill and general acceptability play more significant role. On the other hand, if the conglomera on of the caucuses in the party succeeds in having an APC gubernatorial candidate other than Governor Oyetola, a lot of yeoman job will be required to win at the elec on as a lot of havocs have been wrecked. Head or tail, APC is in a thorny situa on.” Under normal circumstance, a poli cal party that found itself in such abysmal defeat not only in the said gubernatorial elec on but in later held elec ons - State House Assembly, Na onal Assembly and Presiden al - would have reviewed its previous ac vies vis-a-vis what went wrong and fashion out ways to reposi oning itself for future engagements. However, in its characterless arrogance and pomposity leading to the shoddy primary, July 16, 2022 gubernatorial elec on and 2023 general elec ons, Osun APC is poised to inflic ng, in the coming period, an irreparable damage onto itself two and a half years to another governorship elec on in the State. A er the dissolu on of The Osun Progressive (TOP), a caucus within APC and return of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to Osun a er expira on of his ministerial engagement in the last administra on wherein he apologised and asked for forgiveness from whomever he could have offended in the intra-party poli cking in rela ons to last electoral dispensa on, a pro-
Osun APC Orchestrating Its Obliteration
Pg. 2
“However, in its characterless arrogance and pomposity leading to the shoddy primary, July 16, 2022 gubernatorial election and 2023 general elections, Osun APC is poised to inflicting, in the coming period, an irreparable damage onto itself two and a half years to another governorship election in the State”
thesise them to strengthening the party. Leadership of an acclaimed progressive party who fails to subscribe to this has a big ques on mark on its orienta on and creden als as to what progressivism means and entails. Li le wonder it has been running very fast to nowhere in the last three years. If the truth must be said repeatedly, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola is an asset to progressive poli cs, especially in Osun and Lagos. •Aregbesola •Oyetola •Lawal His loud posi on, silence and body language are compass to measuring electoral pendulum; gressive poli cal party leadership real progressive poli cs, especial- not because he is a magician but commi ed to be er working and ly as exhibited in his policies and because he has earned the love living condi on for the majority programmes throughout his eight and trust of the common people should have accepted it in good years administra on as governor that he will always champion their faith, embrace him and his follow- in the state which earned him course. When electoral direc on ers to its fold and set up genuine love and solidarity and endeared was ge ng awry in Lagos in the reconcilia on commi ee to heal him to the people – students, ar- last general elec on especially on the old wound and brace up for sans, workers, market women, gubernatorial contest, Aregbesola mass mobilisa on to spreading etc. Instead of embracing this as- interven on contributed in no the leaves and branches of a pro- set and conver ng it to rebuilding small measure to make Lagos APC gressive family. Instead, the Osun the party, the reac onary party coast to victory. APC leadership has restricted its leadership loyal to Oyetola is jitExcept Osun APC halts its associa on to Oyetola caucus and tery and poised to behead itself. shambolic walk into perdi on and kept its long distance to OmoluFor instance, there were re- reverts to genuine reconcilia on abi caucus. Over a period of me, ports in mainstream and social on me with hard work and coAPC which claims to be progres- media that APC state leadership opera on among various groupsive is peopled by unprincipled has dragged Aregbesola and INEC ings within, making its fold cohepoli cians who stand for nothing to Federal High Court in Osogbo in sive and recrui ng more people other than what they will person- a suit marked FHC/OS/CS/1/2024, to its folds, having consolidated ally benefit. praying the court to make “an its house, it will thoroughly mess To rekindle its reputa on and order of perpetual injunc on re- itself up again in 2026. Average re-orientate its members on char- straining” INEC from a ending or voters, who are not card-carrying acter and virtue of progressive recognising any congress or con- members of any poli cal party poli cians, Omoluabi metamor- ven on to be held by Omoluabi and are the majority electorate, phosed as a caucus within the caucus led by Aregbesola, main- and are studying a tude and disOsun APC and it has been growing taining that the caucus is a fac on posi ons of poli cal gladiators of and spreading its tentacles within of the party. both ruling and opposi on parthe party. Yes, the caucus is loyal Tradi onally, progressive party es to determine who they vote to Aregbesola as the harbinger of poli cs is a seedbed of caucuses. in next elec on. It is instruc ve to That is why there are Jus ce Fothat their votes ul mately “truth must be said repeatedly, Ogbeni Rauf rum, Mandate Group, Legacy state determine who wins or loses. IleriOluwa Group, OranmiNobody or party plays hardball Aregbesola is an asset to progressive politics, Group, yan Group, The Osun Progressives in bourgeois poli cs and succeeds; especially in Osun and Lagos. His loud posi- and Omoluabi group, among oth- it is the tolerance, coopera on, in APC in Lagos and Osun, for hard work and good percep on tion, silence and body language are compass ers instance. As with Lagos and Osun, of the electorate that ul mately for other states and par es glo- yield desired victory. A tree does to measuring electoral pendulum; not because so bally. What the party leadership not make forest. It is a cohesive he is a magician but because he has earned the does is aggrega on of their vari- party that can canvass popular posi ons as their objec ve votes before the elec ons and delove and trust of the common people that he ous remains the same – building of an fend its votes from being manipuegalitarian society for the great- lated via its commi ed members will always champion their course.” est good of the majority; and syn- for ul mate victory. OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the Deputy Editor, ISMAEEL UTHMAN, Telephone: 0809-301-9152. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefender@yahoo.com