Osun Defender Online Version of July 30, 2021

Ward Congress: APC National Officials Incommunicado, Group Alleges

Osun Police CP Spits Fire, Vows To Take Battle To Criminals’ Den Page 4

Page 7

Community Leaders Pledge To Work With Security Agents To End FGM In Osun Page 5

FRIDAY, JULY 30 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 05, 2021 VOL 16 NO 28

WARD CONGRESS: OSUN APC IN DILEMMA OVER MODALITIES

•Famodun

•Salisinle

•Over 10,000 Aspirants Obtain Forms

INEC, Political Parties Disagree On CVR In Osun •As Group Calls For Scrutiny Of Process T Ismaeel Uthman

HE Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) and some poli cal par es in the State of Osun have expressed divergent views on the recorded number of fresh eligible voters who have so far par cipated in the ongoing Con nuous

Voters’ Registra on Exercise.

Some poli cal par es, under the auspices of Forum of Progressive Poli cal Par es (FPPP) in the state, said it is suspicious that Osun is leading the en re states of the federa on in the CVR with close to 300, 000 fresh eligible registrants.

According to FPPP, it is surprising that Osun

could record over 259,000 fresh eligible voters, a figure it said is higher than the total registra ons in North-West, North-East, South-South and SouthEast geopoli cal zones combined.

Addressing a press conference on Monday, the poli cal group called on the Na onal Chairman of •Continued on Page 7

Foundation Donates Car, Laptop, Printer To Support Osun Govt Essay Competition Page 4

FRIDAY, JULY 30 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 05, 2021

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News

535 Inmates Undergoing Undergraduate, Postgraduate Programmes Ismaeel Uthman

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IGERIA’S Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said that many inmates have accessed various formal and informal educa onal opportuni es available in the custodial centres across the country between 2016 and 2021, in order to improve themselves.

Aregbesola said a total of 535 inmates are currently studying undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Nigerian universi es.

According to Aregbesola, 498 inmates are studying various degree programmes such as Peace Studies and Conflict Resolu on, Criminology and Security Studies, Poli cal Science and Law, among other courses.

He disclosed further that 37 inmates are undergoing postgraduate programmes, comprising two PhD, 22 Masters and 13 postgraduate diplomas.

The Minister stated this while speaking at the commissioning of the newlyconstructed State Headquarters of the Nigeria Correc onal Service, Osun Command, in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, last week Friday.

Aregbesola also revealed that 95 inmates in Ogun State have graduated from Yewa College of Educa on, with Na onal Cer ficate in Educa on (NCE), while 80 others are currently undergoing studies in the same ins tu on.

Also, a total of 277 inmates have acquired First School Leaving Cer ficate (FSLC) while in custody, according to Aregbesola.

The former governor of the State of Osun added that a total of 1,487 wrote Senior School Cer ficate Examina ons (SSCE); in which 698 passed with five credits, including English Language and Mathema cs.

The added that 4,890 inmates enrolled for Adult Educa on programme and 1,300 graduated, while another 370 inmates made up of 338 males and 32 females acquired Trade Test Grades III, II and I in sundry voca ons like woodwork, welding, shoemaking, barbing, dress-making.

He further stated that the NCS is working out a Public-Private Partnership, under the aegis of which the custodial centres will become a huge enterprise park, where manufacturing, voca onal training and agricultural ac vi es and all ar sanal trades will take place.

The Minister said the target is to make inmates

•95 Graduate From College, 277 Acquire FSLC that passed through the correc onal system to be economically viable and equipped with be er skills and character, compared

to anyone, when they complete their terms and are back in the society.

Speaking on the conges on of the custodial

centres, Aregbesola called on the state governments to ensure quick delivery of jus ce, support the NCS by building more holding cent-

ers, just as he called on the State Governors to summon the will to do the needful on death row convicts.

Aregbesola said: “We

•Protest by some commercial motorcycle operators (a.k.a. Okada riders) in Osogbo on Tuesday, over alleged shooting of one of their members by a trigger-happy mobile policeman.

Photo: Olushola Aderinto

NYSC Coordinator Charges Camp Officials On Unity, Peaceful Co-Existence Yusuf Oketola

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HE Coordinator of the Na onal Youths Service Corps (NYSC), in the State of Osun, Mr. Ayodele Adegoke, has charged members of staff and all collabora ng agencies on camp to always promote unity and peaceful coexistence amongst themselves and prospecve corps members as the orienta on exercise begins.

Adegoke made this statement on Monday at the NYSC Permanent Orienta on Camp, Ede, during the tradi onal maiden mee ng in prepara on for the 2021 Batch B, Stream I orienta on exercise.

According to him, the Nigerians’ diversity as a people must never be emphasized, saying that focus must be on what unites the country and her people to make substan al

progress.

Adegoke stressed the need to observe COVID19 protocols at all mes and to enforce same on corps members, even as they carry out various camp ac vi es.

He encouraged the staff members and NYSC corps member to be security conscious, report all suspicious movements, confront strange personali es and always put on

Symbol’s Quote

“The bottom-line is that a delayed justice is a denied justice. There should be a deliberate judicial action that will lead to acceleration of trials with strict deadlines set for the conclusion of investigations, trials and delivering of judgments in all cases, as we see and admire in other, especially developed countries, where trials and judgments are wrapped-up in one week”

name tags for easy iden fica on.

Adegoke told the social commi ee that corps members to be crowned in any social event must appear in their ceremonial uniforms, saying that the corps members should be encouraged to put on their na ve a res for cultural events like the carnival, which will depict the various cultures in their true form.

He also enjoined all officials to employ best pracces in the discharge of their du es and shun any act capable of den ng the image of the scheme, urging them to ensure they treat the prospec ve corps members well so they can have a memorable camping experience.

Adekoge reminded them of the Director-General’s zero tolerance for corrup on, extor on and negligence of duty, calling on them to ensure they leave good impression on the new members.

“The corps member you extort today may be in a posi on to determine your fate or that of the scheme tomorrow. Therefore, do not do anything that can bring the good name of the scheme to disrepute”, he added.

The Camp Commandant, Capt. P.M Egbe and the Residence Officer, Mrs. Jummia Adebayo, harped on the importance of discipline, charging the officials to always ensure they take their assignments serious.

are also working on ins tuting non-custodial sentencing in form of suspended sentence, community service and home sentence for first offenders and light crimes.

“However, we will need the coopera on of state governments in addressing this challenge. The overwhelming majority of offenders are state offenders being tried by their respecve State Governments.

The State Governments can therefore do three things.

“The first is to accelerate the wheel of jus ce. A lot of inmates have been in custody for a period longer than the maximum sentence their alleged offences carry.

This fundamentally is a miscarriage of jus ce. So many factors are responsible for this, including but not limited to tardy inves ga ons and prosecu ons, personnel shortage in courts, movement of suspects to court, health challenges for the suspects and deliberate delay tac cs or sheer incompetence by counsels on both sides, leading to unending adjournments and prolonged stay in custody.

“But the bo om-line is that a delayed jus ce is a denied jus ce. There should be a deliberate judicial ac on that will lead to accelera on of trials, with strict deadlines set for the conclusion of inves gaons, trials and delivering of judgments in all cases, as we see and admire in other, especially developed countries, where trials and judgments are wrapped-up in one week.

“A lot of people commit crimes by sneering at our judicial system, in the belief that they would frustrate and weary the prosecu on.

An end should come to such shenanigans.

“This reform should also include the introduc on of the parole system that subject to good behaviour and evidence of reforma on, a convict can be released before the comple on of the original sentence. This should also include that a convict should have a meline for parole review. This is a strong mo va on for good behaviour and confidence building among convicts.

“The second way the states can share in the burden of deconges ng custodial facili es is to join in building holding centres.

All the states need to do is to build the facili es to specifica on and set aside •Continued on page 7

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, JULY 30 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 05, 2021

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Review & Outlook BY ALIYU MOMODU BDCs And Forex Sales: CBN Is Right

APC Of Nine Lives I “However, the time has

A

fresh controversy has erupted in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nigeria. The storm in the tea cup of the party is the legality or otherwise of the seven-monthold Governor Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker/Extraordinary Convenon Planning Commi ee (CECPC).

There appeared to be no issue on the legality of the commi ee un l the Supreme Court ruled two days ago on the pe on of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democra c Party in Ondo State, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, against Governor Ro mi Akeredolu’s victory in last year elec on.

A poli cal ac vist who is now the Minister of State for Labour, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, has boldly ques oned the legality of Governor Mai Mala Buni’s chairmanship of the CECPC. Other members of the party have also expressed opposing views on the ma er.

However, the me has come for the APC as an act of self-preserva on to save itself. The APC must go back to appreciate that the modern poli cal organisaon is constructed on democra c centralism and it should avoid the repe on of the Zamfara State ugly scenario, where all the elecve offices won by the APC were cheaply handed over to the PDP by the court because of the intraparty crisis in the state.

A ruling party has everything in its possession for guidance and direc on. In advanced places, issues on the competence of the Governor Mai Mala Buni chairmanship of the CECPC would be given to poli cal and legal consultants who will objec vely advise the party on the path to tow.

This is not the me for the expression of who gets what, who wins or who loses. It is a cri cal me

come for the APC as an act of self-preservation to save itself. The APC must go back to appreciate that the modern political organisation is constructed on democratic centralism and it should avoid the repetition of the Zamfara State ugly scenario”

to salvage the broom from scattering and avoidable loss.

A note of cau on should also be served on the APC in the State of Osun on the Ward Congress billed for tomorrow, Saturday.

APC cons tu on is clear on how to go about congress. The guideline for the congress reads, “All party posi ons prescribed or implied by the party’s cons tu on as above stated for the congresses shall be filled by democra cally conducted elec ons at the respec ve congresses.

“However, for peace and harmony, the party encourages emergence of candidates through consensus in the first instance; provided that where a candidate has emerged by consensus for an elec ve posi on, a vote of “Yes” or “No” by ballot or voice shall be called.

“Utmost transparency is required in all elec ons. Therefore, in all respects, votes must be counted and results announced and recorded on the spot.”

We submit that the guideline prescribes elec on before encouraging consensus where achievable. In a place where consensus is not achievable, like Osun, we canvass for elec on for the congress. That is the democra c norms.

N a rare act of courage, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, recently announced immediate discon nua on of sale of Foreign Exchange (forex) to Bureau de Change (BDC) operators in the country.

Mr Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor, who has shown capacity and pluckiness managing Nigeria’s reserve bank these past years of global cum local economic crisis, made this announcement on Tuesday, July 27, while presen ng a communique from the Monetary Policy Commi ee (MPC) mee ng. He cited unwholesome business prac ces of the BDCs which run contrary to the rules of engagement thus pu ng much strain on the naira.

While discon nuing sale of forex to BDCs, CBN will henceforth sell to Nigerians through commercial banks. Emefiele menoned a tragically disturbing aspect in the illicit opera ons of BDCs, to wit: they have become cheap fiscal conduits for terrorists by fuelling the fatal ques ng of terror merchants.

It’s important to situate what BDCs are, their roles, desirability and contribu on to the larger economy. They are established as intermediaries between the apex bank and the public in ma ers of buying and selling forex. They have been of old parcularly in the days of the military when they played major role in the huge disparity between official exchange rate and the parallel market rate.

Truth be told, BDCs have not been noble in their conduct historically. They haven’t. And this explains why many analysts have con nued to commend Emefiele for pulling the rug on the BDCs especially at this moment when the naira is under crippling weight of other currencies in the forex market. Again, the ac on of CBN is jus fied by the open show of forex larceny and primi ve viola on of extant rules by the BDCs. Whereas BDCs were created to cater for low forex hunters not exceeding $5000 per day, most BDCs have constantly violated this agreement and have reportedly sold forex in tens and hundreds of thousands

per day far above the official threshold. It has become the fastest way to making easy money. Now you know why there has been a boom in the birthing and licensing of BDCs. In year 2,000, there were only 74 BDCs. It shot up to 2,000 in 2010 and today, we are coun ng 5,000 BDCs and more. Nigeria is coming from a military background, an era when a huge gulf existed between official exchange rate and parallel market exchange rate. At a me in 1989 under the military, the naira traded like a yoyo in the forex market.

A swirl of round-tripping defined the forex market. Privileged officials of government would get dollar alloca on from CBN at N22 to one dollar only to sell such alloca on that same day at the rate of N88 to a dollar. This created a clique of super-rich who became nothing but economic parasites. Nigeria must never go back to that era.

And whereas the rule says no BDC should sell above a maximum of 5,000 dollars per day, CBN says they have since been flou ng that regula on and selling millions of dollars per day. But even without CBN sounding the gong, it’s common knowledge that some privileged BDCs are financial adjuncts and associates of many government officials and sundry poli cians. BDCs have made a fortune from ac ng as conduits for poli cally exposed persons, drug barons and other economic saboteurs who profit from the mess and miasma created by the same poli cians and public office holders.

The CBN also noted that the BDCs aid illicit financial flows and other financial crimes, especially serving as forex conveyor belts for terrorists, their sponsors and sympathisers.

This illicit devia on to the path of ignominy has also made the decision of the apex bank not only inevitable but jus fiable.

The sole aim of establishing BDCs has been defeated and the privilege abused.

They hoard forex and deny ordinary Nigerians access to forex as part of their travel requirements. The direct impact of this selfishness by BDCs is a con nual trouncing of the naira at the forex market. When BDCs hoard forex for their special clients (poli cians, public officers, terrorists and others) they create scarcity and this pushes up the value of foreign currencies against the naira. This has resulted Publisher – Moremi Publishing in both scarcity of forex House Ltd. and low value of the naira Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman in spite of all the efforts of (0805-121-2204) CBN to shore up the naira.

Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa Give it to CBN, the apex Reporter – Yusuf Oketola bank has never shied away Reporter – Kazeem Badmus from defending the naira.

At a me it had to ban forex Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto financing for the importaComputer Graphics – Zainab Olalere on of over 40 items. That OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing masterstroke by Emefiele House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite not only helped to boost loGuarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, cal produc on of the items, State of Osun it also saved the na on bilISSN : 0794 – 8050 lions of dollars in capital Telephone : 0805-121-2204 flight.

Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php Just reflect on this: The e–mail : osundefender@yahoo.com CBN sells $110 million weekosundefenderbank@gmail.com ly to over 5,000 BDCs bringAll Correspondence to the above email Addresses. ing total annual sales to $7.2 OSUN DEFENDER IS NOT AFFLIATED WITH ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER, billion. This is an anomaly in •Continued On Page 7 MAGAZINE OR ANY PUBLICATION WHATSOVER

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, JULY 30 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 05, 2021

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Osun Police CP Spits Fire, Vows To Take Battle To Criminals’ Den Kazeem Badmus

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HE State of Osun Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wale Olokode, has declared criminals and people with criminal intents persona non grata in the state.

Olokode said the Police would con nue to flush out criminals in every nook and cranny of the state to ensure that it is not habitable for evil men and those coming to the state with inten on of commi ng crimes.

According to Olokode, the Police are ready to be taking ba le to criminals’ den, to ensure that security of lives and property of the people of the state is not jeopardised.

He stated this on Tues-

day, while parading some suspected criminals at the Police Headquarters in Osogbo, capital of the state.

Olokode said: “The State of Osun Police Command is using this medium to send a note of warning to criminals to turn a new leaf or relocate, as the Command is more prepared and ready to take the bull by the horns and take the security ba le to their dens.”

Among the paraded suspects were some suspected members of Aye confraternity and armed robbers.

The suspected cul sts are Ridwan Alawode (Raddo), Okiki Sikiru (SK), Rasaq Adebayo (Abefe) and Olalekan Afeez (Fisco).

Police Public Rela ons

Foundation Donates Car, Laptop, Printer To Support Osun Govt Essay Competition Kazeem Badmus

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HE State Government of Osun has said that it had secured the commitment of Rachel Adebimpe Sowande Founda on (RAS Founda on) to donate a Toyota Corolla car, brand-new laptop and printer to winners of the Essay Compe on lined up to celebrate the 2021 Nigeria’s Independence Day. According to the Commissioner for Regional Integra on and Special Du es, Mr. Olalekan Badmus, the Chairman of the founda on, Mr. Oluwakayode Sowande, was a major sponsor and donor of laptops and Samsung tablet at the maiden edi on of the essay compe on held last year.

Badmus, in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, appreciated Sowande for partnering the State Government to upli the standard of educa on by encouraging the budding talents in wri ng.

He appealed to students in public and private secondary schools and ter ary ins tuons to par cipate in the compe on, saying that he was very hopeful that many more mouth-watering prizes will be won by winners in this year’s edi on of the programme.

The government had last week called for entries for the 2021 edi on of its annual Na onal Essay Compe on in commemora on of Nigeria`s Independence Day. The essay compe on is meant for students who are either ci zens or residents of the state.

This year’s edi on of the compe on, according to Badmus, had been modified to accommodate students from public and private secondary schools opera ng and located within the state.

Badmus added that the choice of topics for the 2021 edi on in both categories was carefully scripted to promote crea ve and analy cal thinking in students, while helping them become problem-solvers.

The topic for the secondary school students is: “Using SWOT analysis, discuss extensively Osun State 30th Anniversary and the future ahead: My Perspec ve”.

The entries must not be less than 1,200 words.

For ter ary ins tuon students, the topic is: “Unveil the security architecture and daunting challenges in all the geopoli cal zones of Nigeria and proffer working solu ons towards a peaceful, sustainable and indivisible Nigeria”.

Entries must not be less than 1,800 words.

Officer, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola, who spoke on behalf of Olokode, said the suspects were arrested on July 25, 2021 in Osogbo, while planning to carry out nefarious acts that could jeopardise the peace of the state capital.

Opalola said the Police arrested the suspects with one cut-to-size locally-made pistol and one black-belter with ‘77’, Logo of Aye”.

The paraded suspected armed robbers are: Sefiu Adeboye (22), Adekunle Odekanyin (21) and Simon Adewale (37).

Opalola said the suspects, allegedly armed with cutlasses, axe and dane guns, broke into Anglican Mission House, Akiriboto Area, Gbongan and carted away valuables, among which was a car.

She said the first two suspects were arrested in Ogun State with the stolen vehicle, which later led to the arrest of the third suspect.

Opalola said all the suspects had confessed to the crime and will be charged to court a er the comple on of inves ga on.

•A bad portion of road at Prime Area, Ofatedo, State of Osun, as captured by our cameraman, OLUSHOLA ADERINTO on Thursday.

Residents Bemoan Excessive Refuse Dumping By Traders In Oja-Oba, Osogbo Yusuf Oketola & Idris Idowu

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ESIDENTS of Laoge Compound of Isale Osun area of Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, have bemoaned what they called excessive dumping of refuse by traders in Oja-Oba, the Central Market within

the metropolis, into the sewage linking the community with the market.

The residents said the prac ce has turned the area into a dumping site for other people living close to the community.

According to the residents, the community has

•School-age children, resident in the area, clearing refuse from the drainage.

been polluted due to the excessive refuse dumping by traders from the Central Market, sta ng that the situa on had led to serious crises between some people in the area.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, Mr. Bolarinwa Akintunde, a school proprietor in the community, said the indiscriminate dumping of refuse had been causing misunderstanding between him and members of the community.

Akintunde said: “I have been ba ling with this menace for over two years, since I moved my school here. Anyme there is rainfall, it usually comes with heavy wastes and garbage, which usually stop in this community. Every resident will try to push it away from his side to other people’s place, which has generated enmity between the people living here.

“But as a public figure, I always try to pack every waste that comes with the flood to avoid any form of ins ga on from any member of the public. Lots of people in this community have even tried to sabotage my efforts by saying that I am making use of my pupils to do the cleanings, which is not so.

“I do the cleanings alone with my staff. So, we are red of this and we have on several occasions complained to the state Ministry of Environment to come to our aid, but nothing has changed”.

A Chie ain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who lives in the community, Mrs. Sarat Ibikunle, stated that the refuse is being dumped in the drainage for erosion to

carry it by traders in Oja-Oba (Central Market).

Ibikunle said: “The flood here always comes directly with huge refuses from Oja Oba, Oluawo Compound and Aweso Compound to this place, and it is affec ng us all in this area. It is we people living in this area that use to come out and pack all the refuses to somewhere else, just for us to have a healthy environment.

“I have personally gone to market area to warn and fight them over this issue, but they are not coopera ng.

We are using this moment to call on the Ministry of Environment to come to our aid.

We have been ba ling with this issue for a long period of me.

“When the rain starts now, you will see huge refuges in the drainage, hanging at different spots and both old and young ones will come out a er the rain to clear wastes.”

However, the Iyaloja of Oja-Oba, Mrs. Wosilatu Kasali, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER, said she is not aware of the issue, just as she denied that the traders were dumping refuses in the drainage.

Kasali said: ‘’Nobody from our market is throwing garbage into the drainage and if you look at it, it does not connect us together.

But, what I will say is that, the community should be on alert, anybody they catch from this market dumping refuse in the drainage should be made to face the consequences “.

FRIDAY, JULY 30 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 05, 2021

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Ward Congress: Osun APC In Dilemma Over Modalities Ismaeel Uthman

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EMBERS of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun are in dilemma over the mode that the Ward Congress bid to hold tomorrow (Saturday) will take.

There has been a heated disagreement between the leadership of the APC and some of its stakeholders on whether to adopt consensus or elec on for the party execu ves at ward levels.

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, who is a member of the Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convenon Planning Commi ee (CECPC) and Caretaker Chairman of the APC in the state, Prince Gboyega Famodun are said to be pushing for consensus modality for the Ward Congress.

The Caretaker Secretary and Deputy Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Rasaq Salinsile and Alhaji Azeez Adesiji respec vely; and former Chairman of the party, Reverend Adelowo Adebiyi, were also leading other notable members of the party to demand for elec on modality for the congress.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the two camps were, as at the me of filing this report yesterday, pulling their strings at the Na onal Secretariat of the APC, Abuja, to make sure that the congress goes their way.

The mode of the congress, as stated in the guideline released by the Na onal Secretariat of the APC, shall be elec on or consensus where convenient.

Signed by the Naonal Secretary of the CECPC, Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe, Ph.D., the guideline reads, “All party posi ons prescribed or implied by the party’s cons tu on as above stated for the congresses shall be filled by democra cally conducted elec ons at the respec ve congresses.

“However, for peace and harmony, the party encourages emergence of candidates through consensus in the first instance; provided that where a candidate has emerged by consensus for an elec ve posi on, a vote of “Yes” or “No” by ballot or voice shall be called.

“Utmost transparency is required in all elecons. Therefore, in all respects, votes must be counted and results an-

nounced and recorded on the spot.”

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, Salinsile explained that consensus could only be possible where there is agreement between/among stakeholders of the party, maintaining that the current situa on in the Osun APC does not accommodate consensus.

He said: “The cons tu on of the party states that there are three ways through which you can elect candidates: The first one is Consensus, the second is Direct Primary and the third one is Indirect Primary – Delegate System.

“By my understanding, consensus means agreement. If that is correct, stakeholders have to be invited and discuss over it and take a com-

•Over 10,000 Aspirants Obtain Forms mon posi on. But in this instance, in spite of the fact that I am the State Secretary of Osun APC, nobody ever informed me or discussed with me on anything consensus.

“I was telling the Chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun when we were discussing on Tuesday that this is not how to go about it and they have gone wrongly over this issue. If we are going for consensus, we have a list of stakeholders of APC in Osun, they should have called those stakeholders to sit down and deliberate on whatever we want to do.

“Each of us would be commi ed, make sugges ons and at the end

of the day, we will come with a way out. However, in this instance, they just selected IleriOluwa members and assigned them with the duty of going about and canvassing for consensus congress.

“In each federal cons tuency, they selected some people who are substan ally members of the Governor group, IleriOluwa, to the extent that myself, as the State Secretary of the party, was not carried along and anybody that is not a member of IleriOluwa was not consulted or invited. Where is the consensus here? I told him it can never fly.

“If consensus means agreement, there is no agreement between/

among us. Any me from now, we are expec ng the Congress Committee.”

The medium gathered that over 10,000 members of the APC who are interested in the poli cal offices at the ward level in the state have purchased the interest forms.

But the Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy of the APC, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, said the congress might likely be consensus in modality, just as he assured the party members of free, fair, credible and transparent conduct of the exercise.

Oyatomi, in a press release yesterday, said: “The APC in the State of

•Community leaders and security agents with AHI Programme Officer, Miss Abdulrasheed and UNFPA FGM Analyst, Uzoma Ayodeji (at the centre) during the Consensus Building Meeting at the Osun State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in Osogbo, on Thursday.

Community Leaders Pledge To Work With Security Agents To End FGM In Osun Ismaeel Uthman

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RADITIONAL rulers and community leaders in 15 communi es in the State of Osun have resolved to collaborate with law enforcement agents to end Female Genital Mu la on (FGM) prac ce in their locali es.

At a consensus building held at the State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in Osogbo yesterday, the tradi onal rulers and community leaders expressed their commitment

to abandon FGM, just as they pledged to cooperate with security agents to ensure strict enforcement.

The communi es include Aduramigba, Ayo Olorun, Tiwadayo, Ifeoluwa, Oke Mokin, Oke Eran, Temidire, Ayeloja, Ganga, Olorunsogo, Kusi, Oye, Kuye, Mogaji and Asawo in Egbedore, Irepodun and Ede South Local Government Areas of the state.

The consensus building among the stakeholders was facilitated by a NonGovernmental Organisa on,

Ac on Health Incorporated (AHI), in collabora on with the State Ministry of Health and Women and Children Affairs, with the support of the United Na ons Populaon Fund (UNFPA).

The tradi onal ruler of Ganga community in Ilobu, Chief Bello Yekeen, who spoke on behalf of the par cipants, said the community leaders have been sufficiently educated on the danger of FGM prac ce and that they have willingly dumped their prac ce and vowed not to return to it.

The AHI Programme Officer, Miss. Abdulrasheed Nuriyah, said the objec ve of the exercise is to secure full commitment of the communi es on FGM abandonment in their areas and ensure coopera on among stakeholders and security agents for strict enforcement.

FGM analyst with UNFPA, Uzoma Ayodeji, commended the community leaders and the security agents for their coopera on towards total eradica on of FGM in the communi es.

Osun has urged a poli cal group - The Osun Progressives to remove its doubt on the congress of the party, beginning tomorrow (today, Friday).

“It will be conducted peacefully, successfully and transparently for everyone to see. Those who take pleasure in cri cising the leadership of the party and government are themselves crea ng confusion.

The Osun Progressives should be truthful and stop its wild lies against the party, claiming “the APC did not carry along other stakeholders.

“Mee ngs were held at various levels in the wards, local governments and state, with respect to the congress, and all in the open. Where did TOP expect the mee ngs to be held? And who is marginalising who?

“The Osun Progressives are advised to go to their wards and be part of the beau ful demonstra on of democracy.”

“Everyone is accommodated, a symbol of a crisis-free poli cal party.

“TOP also rejected an arrangement of consensus to select party leaders at all levels. But we ask: why, if the system is approved cons tu onally in line with Ar cle 20 of APC Cons tu on? APC is one solid party and TOP should not a empt a division where none exists.

“The congress is most likely to be a consensus one, most likely.”

The Osun Progressives (TOP) had on Sunday declared that the state leadership of the APC and government would make nonsense of the laudable inten ons of the Na onal Secretariat to have consensus arrangement in the congress.

According to the group, Famodun had refused to carry along the state Secretary, Deputy Chairman, Auditor, Publicity Secretary and some other members of the state execu ve who do not tag along with the evil idea of selling the party ideals to the Governor’s group, the IleriOluwa.

The group said it does not have confidence in consensus arrangement that will be superintended over by APC leaders, who it accused of selling their souls to IleriOluwa group without giving cognisance to feelings of other party members.

FRIDAY, JULY 30 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 05, 2021

6

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Religion

LL praise is due to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be upon the final Messenger, His pure family, noble companions, and all those who follow them with righteousness un l the Day of Judgment.

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

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

Tawheed begins by saying the word of confes- security, etc, and that is Allah.

(B) Tawheed-al-Ibaadah – Maintaining The Onesion, that is, “Laa Ilaaha Illallah, Muhammad-urRasuul-Allaah” (None has the right to be wor- ness of worship of Allah. This is to believe convincshipped truly but Allah, and Muhammad is His ingly that none has the right to be worshipped (e.g.

Messenger). Allah says: “And your Ilaah (God) is praying, invoking, asking for help from the unseen, One Ilaah (ilaahun waahidun) (God — Allah), Laa swearing, offering sacrifice, giving charity, fas ng, Ilaaha illa Huwa (there is none who has the right pilgrimage) but Allah.

(C) Tawheed-al-Asma’ wa Sifaat – Maintaining to be worshipped but He), the Most Gracious, the oneness of the Names and A ributes of Allah: This Most Merciful” Quran 2:163.

“Surely, disbelievers are those who said: ‘Allah is to believe that: (1) We must not name or qualify is the third of the three (in a Trinity).’ But there is Allah except with what He or His Messenger has no Ilaah (god) (none who has the right to be wor- named or qualified Him, (2) None can be named shipped) but One Ilaah [ilaahun waahidun] (God or qualified with the Names or Qualifica ons of Al—Allah). And if they cease not from what they say, lah; e.g. Al-Kareem, (3) We must believe in all the verily, a painful torment will befall on the disbeliev- quali es of Allah which, as stated in His book (the Quran) or men oned through His Messenger Muers among them”. Quran 5:73.

It has been no ced that most mankind, who hammad, without changing their meaning or ignorembrace Islam, do not understand the reality of the ing them completely or twis ng the meanings or meaning of the first fundamental principle of Islam likening them (giving resemblance) to any of the which is Tawheed. So, I consider it essen al to ex- created things.

It is also essen al to follow Allah’s Messenger, plain its meanings and types of Tawheed.

Tawheed (Islamic monotheism) has three as- Muhammad and it is a part of oneness of the worship of Allah. This is included in the meaning, “I pects: (A) Tawheed-ar-Rubuubiyyah – Maintaining The tes fy that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger and Oneness of Allaah -: This is to believe that there is this means “None has the right to be followed a er

JUMAT SERMON

Tawheed (Islamic Monotheism)

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

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

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

If they agree to that, then take it from them but avoid the best of people’s wealth.”

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

What is meant by Tawheed in all these texts is affirming the meaning of the tes mony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, which is the essence of the religion of Islam with which Allah sent His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) May Allah make this sermon a beneficial one for me, the writer, the readers and the en re Muslims.

And our last prayer, is praise be to Allah Almighty, Lord of the worlds.

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

Crime

Police Arraign Dealer Over Alleged N9.6m Vehicle Scam Yusuf Oketola

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31-year-old man, Gbenga Sokunbi, has been arraigned before an Osogbo magistrate’s court over an alleged N9.6 Million car scam.

Sokunbi, a car dealer, was alleged to have defrauded three persons under the pretence of impor ng vehicles for them from the United States of America.

According to the charge sheet made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, Sokunbi commi ed the offence somemes in the month of May, 2021 in Osogbo, State of Osun.

The charge sheet disclosed that Sokunbi obtained a sum of N3,800,000 from one Wasiu Usamot, with the pretence of assis ng him to purchase and import one Lexus Jeep from the USA. Sokunbi also allegedly collected a sum of N3,400,000 from one AbdulRasheed Jamiu on the pretence of assis ng him to purchase and import one Toyota Corolla car from the USA and another sum of N2,475,000 from one Lasisi Kazeem on the pretence of assis ng him to purchase

and import one Toyota Camry car.

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

State 2002.

But, the defendant pleaded not guilty to a twocount charge of fraud and stealing levelled against him.

Defence counsel, Ola-

tunbosun Oladipupo, prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on a liberal term, no ng that he would provide a reliable and credible surety if admi ed to bail.

The presiding Magistrate, Dr. Olusegun Ayilara, admi ed the accused person to bail in the sum of N5, 000,000 with two sure es.

Ayilara added that the sure es must deposit a sum of N2,000,000 to the Court Registrar to show their seriousness.

Suspected Burglar Remanded For Allegedly Stealing N2.5m Worth Properties Yusuf Oketola

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magistrate’s court si ng in Osogbo, State of Osun, has remanded a 28-year-old suspected burglar, Jubril Olarewaju, in Ilesa Correc onal Centre for alleged burglary and stealing.

Olarewaju and others at large, according to the charge sheet read in court on Wednesday, were said to have burgled four different houses and stolen properes worth N2,579,500.

The charge sheet stated that Olarewaju commi ed the alleged offence between December 20 and 27, 2020, usually at about 8:00am, at Housing Estate, Oke Onitea, Osogbo.

Olarewaju and others

at large allegedly burgled the house of one Ruth Ojo, where they stole property worth sum of N989,000 and also stole property worth N276,000 from one Aminat Oyedele’s house.

According to the charge sheet, the accused persons also broke into the houses of Rafiu Salaudeen and Ademola Rukayat, where they stole property worth N915,000 and N440,500 respec vely.

The alleged offence contravened Sec ons 516, 390 and 411(1)(2) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

But, the accused person pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and steal-

ing levelled against him.

Defence counsel, Mrs. Bose Dada, prayed the court to release the defendant on bail.

However, Police prosecutor, Mr. John Idoko, opposed the bail applica on on the ground that the accused person might jump bail if granted.

The presiding magistrate, Mr. Abayomi Ajala, directed the defence counsel to file a formal bail applicaon to the court before the adjournment date.

Magistrate Abayomi ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ilesa Correconal Centre.

The case was adjourned ll August 27, 2021 for menon.

•CP Olokode CHANGE OF NAME AZEEZ RASHEED TEMILOLUWA That I was formerly known and addressed as A B D U L A Z E E Z ABDULRASHEED Now wish AYOFE. to be known and addressed as AZEEZ RASHEED TEMILOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

MRS. OMOLOLA CHRISTIANAH OLUWATOSIN OLADOKUN ODEJIDE That I was formerly known and addressed as ODEJIDE OMOLOLA CHRISTIANAH. Now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OMOLOLA CHRISTIANAH OLUWATOSIN OLADOKUN ODEJIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.

PEOPLE FIRST

News

FRIDAY, JULY 30 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 05, 2021

7

INEC, Political Parties Disagree On CVR Figure In Osun

•Continued from front page INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and other stakeholders in the electoral process to conduct forensic audit of the CVR in Osun, saying that there are possibili es that the exercise had been compromised.

The press conference was jointly addressed

by Chairmen of Labour Party (LP), African Democra c Congress (ADC) and Young Progressives Party (YPP), Comrade Bello Adebayo, Dr. Idowu Omidiji and Comrade Remi Ayanlade respec vely.

The group said: “We have observed with se-

rious concern the geometric and skyrocke ng figures emana ng from the website of INEC on a weekly basis on the ongoing CVR in Osun State.

“The registra on figures as copied from the INEC website indicated that as at 26th of July, 2021, Anambra State that is having elecon later this year has 65,014 fresh eligible voters while Eki state which elec on is coming up in June 2022 has just registered 19,043 new and fresh voters, while our own Osun State has registered, miraculously and amazingly, 259,450

fresh voters.

“We daresay that there is no sufficient, logical, poli cal or economic jus fica on for such an outrageous figure.

“Forum of Progressive Poli cal Par es in Osun State is greatly worried by the connuing skyrocke ng of fresh registered voters in the ongoing CVR and we hereby demand that an immediate forensic audit be conducted on the generated figures of Osun State to reveal the true posi on of things.”

But INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State of Osun, Mr.

Olusegun Agbaje, dismissed the suspicion of the poli cal par es, describing it as baseless.

According to Agbaje, there is nothing wrong in Osun leading the CVR exercise, saying that it is normal based on the widespread and persistent sensi sa on and awareness of eligible voters embarked upon by the commission in the state.

Agbaje said: “There is nothing wrong in those figures; it is normal, based on the sensi saon and awareness we have done. Seventy-five per cent of the people that registered online

are youth and we cannot rule that out in a state where we have close to 20 ter ary ins tu ons.

“We have less than a year to the 2022 Governorship Elec ons, maybe that is why people are anxious to register.

“When we start physical registra on, we will know those who are not supposed to register as fresh voters. We will check their status to know those who want to transfer or replace their voter cards. Those set of people are not supposed to register as fresh voters. Those are the things we will sort out.

BDCs And Forex Sales: CBN Is Right •Continued from page 3 the sense that Nigeria is the only country where the central bank sells forex directly to BDCs. This is prac cally unsustainable and it is only a ma er of me and the bubble will burst.

Besides, the concept of BDCs is outmoded, long discon nued by countries around the world. Some even argue that Nigeria remains the only country in the world s ll prac sing the BDC forex transac on roune. The global standard is that such transac ons are now done by banks. This, again, puts the CBN on a high moral prop in abolishing forex sales to BDCs. The implica on of the CBN decision is that a huge $7.2 billion will now be channeled to the banks annually for onward sale to the public. This is smart but it calls for a great deal of monitoring because even the commercial banks have been known to engage in round-tripping and arbitrage, the same offence that cost BDCs their place in the forex ecosystem. But we can draw confidence

from Emefiele’s very strong warning to banks to either play by the rule or be ready for the apex bank’s sledge hammer. CBN should ensure that banks open dedicated tellers to process valid requests for forex and to make room for strict monitoring. Trust is key here and banks should be named and shamed when they veer off the lane.

Expectedly, the market has reacted with naira

shut out any form of terrorism financing.

For a country like Nigeria with serious terrorism challenge, what CBN did is commendable. Day by day, the fire of terror defined by kidnapping, banditry, maiming and killing of innocent Nigerians, keeps spreading with fatal fury. No responsible government should stand and stare while terrorists wax bolder including shoo ng

down a fighter jet. The decision of Emefiele is in the public interest. Any effort to weaken the terrorists should be appreciated.

The focus should now be on the banks to do what is right. CBN should not look away a er selling forex to banks. It must monitor usage closely and dispense appropriate punishment to errant banks.

•Momodu writes from Auchi, Edo State.

Ward Congress: APC National Officials Incommunicado, Group Alleges Idris Idowu group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, the Progressive-Minded People, has alleged Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and the Caretaker Chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun, of shielding officials from the Na onal Secretariat of the party who came to the state to sell forms for aspir-

A

535 Inmates Undergoing Undergraduate...

•Continued from page 2 a sum for the maintenance of inmates. The service will provide the personnel to man and run the facili es efficiently.

“The third way is for State Governors to summon the will to do the needful on death row convicts.

There are presently 3,008 condemned criminals waiting for their date with the execu oners in our meagre custodial facili es. This consists of 2,952 males and 56 females.

“In cases where appeal has been exhausted and the convicts are not moun ng any challenge to their convic on, the state should go

losing by some margins to the dollar. But with proper monitoring by CBN, things are expected to stabilize sooner than expected. This also offers the banks a rare opportunity to create a viable forex interbank market with transparent bid and offer rates that Nigerians can access via the exis ng inter-banking pla orms.

The mo ve of CBN is not only to stabilize the volale forex market but also to

ahead, one, to do the needful and bring closure to their cases; two, set some others free on compassionate ground, especially those who have grown old on account of the long me they have been in custody, those who are terminally ill and those who have been reformed and demonstrated excep onally good behaviour; and three, commute others’ sentences to life or a specific terms in jail. This can be done by pu ng in place a system of amnesty and preroga ve of mercy that will review all cases of convicts on death row periodically.”

ants in the Saturday, July 31, 2021 ward congress.

According to the group, the officials who reportedly arrived Osogbo last Saturday, were first camped at the Government House and were not allowed to relate with APC members, including the Secretary of the party, Alhaji Rasaq Salinsile.

The group, in a statement made available yesterday in Osogbo, stated that the officials were later moved to an unknown hotel where they were also placed on surveillance.

Signed by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Mr. Sunday Oriowo, the statement reads: “Our party at the na onal level sent commi ee members led by one Abdullahi down to Osun since last week Saturday to begin sales of form and prepara ons for the congress.

But ever since they arrived, the commi ee members are nowhere to be found. They are not either at the State Party Secretariat or any other place carrying out their na onal duty.

“Upon enquiries, sources within the party revealed that the team

was ini ally quartered in the Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo, before they were later lodged at an undisclosed hotel under surveillance on the instruc on of the Governor to prevent them from selling the forms at the party secretariat.

“As we speak, the commi ee is s ll incommunicado. Many of our members have paid the amount required according to the guidelines and ready with their tellers.

However, we are yet to

receive our forms or get modali es on when the forms will be given to us and how the congress will be conducted on Saturday.

“The Governor has hijacked the forms and other materials meant for the congress for his poli cal group, IleriOluwa.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari and other na onal leaders of the APC to intervene and call Governor Oyetola and Prince Famodun to order.”

“We will disclose the number of those who have registered physically on quarterly basis. And finally, the registered voters will be verified at the na onal headquarters of the commission. So, if you have registered twice or thrice, it will be detected and the person will even be arrested and prosecuted.

“Those poli cal pares that are raising issues should have come for informa on when they know that they did not understand the process.”

However, a Non-Governmental Organisa on, the Transparency and Accountability Group, cau oned INEC against dismissing the suspicion of the poli cal par es in its en rety.

The spokesperson of the group, Mr. Ayo Ologun, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, called on INEC to pay a en on to the registra on and scru nise the process.

Ologun said: “Following the outcry of some poli cal par es on the high number of online registrants in Osun State par cularly, we call on INEC to scrunize and pay a en on to the registra on, to avoid double registraon, underage registraon and padding of the voters’ register.

“This is to avoid any par cular party taking undue advantage of the process for poli cal gains ahead of the Gubernatorial Elec ons in the state in 2022.

“INEC has the singular responsibility of making sure that the electoral process is not compromised; which starts with the registraon of voters.”

YEAR

NO. OF REGISTERED VOTERS IN OSUN

2014

1,407,222

2018

1,682,495

ONGOING REGISTRATION (26/07/2021)

259,450

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

News

FRIDAY, JULY 30 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 05, 2021 VOL. 16 NO 28 www.osundefender.com,

Perspective

I

T is fallacious and mirage-like to make reference to Nigeria as a na on. The country has lost the status of na onhood. A na on is the conglomera on of a people with a sense of shared iden ty, beliefs and values. The ability to transform a sovereign state irrespec ve of its diverse nature to a na on serves as a founda on for its survival and development.

A country rooted in diverse ethnic groups, cultural heritage, religious prac ces, socio values and mindsets such as Nigeria only stands a chance against disunity when a sense of oneness and belongings lingers across board. The spirit of na onalism is the stepping stone to revert Nigeria back on the right track. No country can stand the test of me when its people are at war with one another.

The embers of discord being fanned between the Northern and Southern Nigerians is currently being underplayed by the poli cal elite, religious leaders and tradional rulers. The mutual distrust between these two sec ons is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf. The disunity has disproporonately reached the level where a sec on publicly celebrates the killings, kidnappings and other misfortunes ravaging the other.

Although the tension between North and South is also being fuelled by some influen al individuals in their quest for poli cal powers. This asser on could not be disconnected from the fact that many of the non-state actors currently advoca ng for restructuring, supremacy of the Rule of Law and entrenchment of the dividends of democracy contributed immensely to the devasta ng state of the country during their dispensa on as poli cal office holders.

Nevertheless, there is urgent need to address a par cular concern among others raised by these elder statesmen which is “restruc-

“The issuance of executive order by the Buhari-led administration granting financial autonomy to both the legislature and judiciary across all states in the country is highly commendable though the state governors are yet to implement the directive”

email: osundefenderbank@gmail.

Residents Bemoan Excessive Refuse Dumping By Traders In Page 4 Oja-Oba, Osogbo

By Binzak Azeez Road To Nigeria’s Greatness In Turbulent Period turing.” The issuance of execu ve order by the Buhari - led administra on gran ng financial autonomy to both the legislature and judiciary across all states in the country is highly commendable though the state governors are yet to implement the direc ve.

In a bid to guarantee and complete devolu on of power for effec ve administra ve dispensaon, the Buhari-led government, alongside the Na onal Assembly, must take a second step to facilitate the devolu on of more con-

STRIKER

s tu onal responsibility to the states of the federa on similar to Nigeria’s 1963 Republican Cons tu on.

The reforma on will give birth to a new Nigeria where each governor of the federa on would be directly responsible to their people. It would therefore expose the state governors who shy away from their responsibility and regularly cover their inep tude and misgovernance through blame game. Over the years, the state governors have been diver ng

people’s a en on from their contribu on towards the backwardness of Nigeria.

Despite the poli cal turbulence of the First Republic, the Nigerian masses were reportedly living with dignity unlike the moment where millions of people have been stripped off human dignity due to bad governance. And no specific authority to directly hold responsible. Both the federal and state governments o en play blame game. The devolu on would enable people to go for the jugular of a specific authority in pressing for good governance.

The merchants of doom who proclaimed Nigeria’s disintegraon if properly restructured are the poli cal elite who benefit from the current administra ve architecture which has subjected Nigerian people across North and South into abject poverty, insecurity and other predicaments. Rather, restructuring has more tendency to guarantee na onal integra on, collec ve spirit, prosperous states and healthy compe on among the states of the federa on.

•Binzak Azeez writes from the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above

Politics Versus Poli-tricks

P

oli cs is the art and science of taking and managing power in any social space. Power is sought principally in order to be in charge of key decision-making (government) in that space: family, locality, state, region, na on, or global. Power-seeking is at all mes driven by interest – self, clique or collec ve good. For whatever interest, however, poli cs everywhere is agreed to be played according to rules. It is the alterna ve to anarchy.

A er the long, tortuous journey of humanity from barbarism to civilisa on, the consensus as per rule for taking power today is that all adults (18 years and above) should have their say and the resul ng majority should have their way – Democracy. Each democracy may have its unique variables but the constant is that the wishes of the majority of people in any social space should be paramount.

Accordingly, rules and regulaons have been elaborated for every ac on at every stage of the democra c process: from party forma on and registra on to announcement of elec on results. Today, the struggle is between those that are willing to play by the rules and those hell-bent on not playing according to the rules. By not playing according to the rules, poli cs becomes poli-tricks and democracy becomes demo-crazy – demonstraon of craze -apology to the late Afrobeats legend, Fela AnikulapoKu .

Human lives, from birth to death, are all about daily exer ons by individuals to sa sfy their material, emo onal and spiritual needs. The produc ons, distribu on, exchange and consump on of the goods and services that sa sfy those needs and aspira ons are largely determined by governance: poli cs and the occasioned government. That is what makes poli cs all-important, affec ng and impac ng one and all, willy-nilly.

The elites, being the most “successful” members of any society, do not always share the same wishes and aspira on as the majority of the masses, materially, emo onally and spiritually. Humanism demands that they nevertheless concede to governance that at least guarantees the basic human rights and needs to the majority. Unwillingness of majority self-centred elites to accept this is why they work against rules and processes capable of producing a true government of the people, by the people, and for the people and that is the origin of politricks and demo-crazy.

Nigeria is heading into another full season of elec ons, which are the basic fes vals in democracy, also governed by rules. It commences with choices of party officials, then choices of delegates and then choices of party candidates from many aspirants. Right from these men oned exercises, politricks begin to suffocate poli cs as the conserva ve, self-seeking elites begin to manipulate and sidestep clearly

stated party rules and regula ons!

This is typical of conserva ve pares but most reprehensible within progressive par es, a label that the All Progressives Party (APC) prides itself with.

All over Nigeria this weekend, and especially in Osun where the APC ruling party has, as an unforced error, run itself into the forest of a thousand daemons, the Ward Congresses of APC will take place and test the party’s true spirit and choice: between poli cs (which is a noble and progressive endeavour) and politricks (which is the dirty game that makes honest men and women distance themselves, unprofitably though, from poli cs).

In Osun, all the signs of cliqueism, manipula ons and rulesbreaking by the party’s powersthat-be had always been thereas open-secret in the public space, as no different from Kwara and most other states. However, it is in the interest of one and all, in APC and all other par es, to realise and accept that the survival of democracy and indeed Nigeria, in these trying mes, depends largely on playing poli cs according to the rules from now ll 2023. Choosing demonstra on of craze over democracy will be a dreadful choice that might lead into a situa on where there is no space again, as presently known, to play either poli cs or politricks beyond 2023; and may God forbid, apology to Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.

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: 0805-121-2204, usmanismail001@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.

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