FRIDAY, JUNE 03 - THURSDAY, JUNE 09, 2022
VOL 17 NO 21
July 16: Protest Votes Imminent In Osun APC
Osun West APC Members Protest Alleged Manipulation Of Senatorial Primary
•Manipulation Of State, National Assembly Primaries Sparks Fresh Crisis •Delegates, Members Protest Imposition Of Candidates Page 2 •12 Aspirants Call For Cancellation Of Exercise •Govt. Officials Change Delegate List In Aiyedire LG To Perfect Imposition
Pg. 4
Ooni Unveils Initiative Towards Child Education Pg. 4
Osun 2022: Traditionalists Invoke Sango’s Wrath On Violent Politicians Pg. 4
•Some of the APC delegates who angrily left the government house after refusing to sign blank result sheets for the State and National assembly primaries on Tuesday.
NUJ, CSOs Call for Redeployment Of Police Commissioner Kazeem Badmus
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Tinubu, Oyetola Can’t Win Presidential Primary, Guber. Election – Prophet Pg. 5
HE Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in the State of Osun has demanded for immediate redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olawale Olokode, over the shoo ng of its member by men of the state command. This is just as the union directed its members to put coverage of ac vi es of police in the state on hold. Toba Adedeji, a reporter with The Naon newspaper, was shot by the police while covering a protest at Olaiya, Osogbo, the state capital on Tuesday. The protesters, mostly youths, gathered under Olaiya flyover to protest alleged killing of their colleague, Abiola Afolabi. The protesters were coming from Afolabi’s burial in Ilesa. Afolabi was reportedly shot by the police during a raid on the residence of his friend, Mathew Adedokun, at Zone 11, Osogbo, around 1am on Monday, April 4, 2022.
Narra ng how Adedeji was shot, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of NUJ, Mr. Shina Abubakar, while speak-
•Olokode
ing on Wednesday on Rave FM’s Frank Talk programme disclosed that the police officers that shot the journalist were led by the Division Police Officer (DPO), Dugbe Police Sta on, Mr. Oyegade. According to Abubakar, the police officers first shot into the air before one of them (officer) aimed at the protesters who were already running away from the scene and in the process, shot at Adedeji and one uniden fied school girl. He said, “Some few minutes to 1:00pm, an elderly journalist who was also a member of correspondents chapel, Mr. Joshua Dada of leadership newspaper called our a enon that something was happening under the Olaiya flyover. We came out of the office and went straight to the scene. “When we got there, we saw young men and women returning from Ilesa where they went to bury Abiola who was allegedly killed some mes in April by the police. They were in black; we asked them ques ons and they were showing their grievances that up ll that moment, the police were yet to make public, the man that allegedly fire the shot
•Continued on Page 4
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News
July 16: Protest Votes Imminent In Osun APC ernment House. “The impression that there was no elec on in the ward led Eleniyan to organise his people to waylay me at the Government House. I was beaten by them. Their allega on was that I doctored the result of the elec on. Unknowingly for Eleniyan and his people, he was the one that won the primary in the result with me. but his impression was that I was working for another aspirant. “I was rescued and taken to the hospital by my people – Hon. Funsho Oyewunmi, Tobi Omolaoye, Fatai Olaore, among others. “I have dumped the party for now but I have not wri en a le er to that effect.”
Ismaeel Uthman
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OVERNOR Adegboyega Oyetola might find it difficult to mobilise majority members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to vote for him on July 16, 2022 governorship elec on in the State of Osun. This is a result of the dissa sfac on of the APC members on the party’s primaries to produce State and Na onal Assembly candidates in each of the State and Federal Cons tuencies. Manipula on and imposi on of candidates characterized the primaries, a development that have resulted to protests from members of the APC. Some members of the party threatened to take their own pounds of flesh from Oyetola on the elecon day for imposing candidates on them. It would be recalled that the APC held its controversial primaries for the State Assembly and House of Representa ves on Thursday, May 26 and Friday, May 27 respec vely. OSUN DEFENDER noted that there was no security officers, Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, accredita on, elec on materials, party register, result sheets, among others in every local government where the purported primaries took place. In some wards where the direct primary took place under a high compromised system, the votes scored by each of the aspirants were recorded on a plain sheet of paper. The medium gathered that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and few of his loyalist in the IleriOluwa group, had penciled down the names of aspirants to be used as the party’s candidates in each of the state and federal cons tuencies. Findings revealed that APC local government chairmen were asked to submit a doctored result of the primary in each of the local government to the Government House. As at the me of filing this report, the APC leadership has refused to declare winners of the primaries in each of the state and federal cons tuencies.
Delegates Refuse To Sign Blank Result Sheets Some members of the All Progressives Congress who are delegates in each of the local government of the State on Tuesday said they rejected a move by the party leadership to impose House of Assembly and Naonal Assembly candidates on them.
•APC members protesting at Famodun’s house over alleged manipulation of primary in Ila/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro Federal Constituency . OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the delegates who were called to the Government House on Tuesday morning were asked to sign blank result sheets for the State and Na onal Assemblies primaries in their various local government. But the delegates reportedly refused to sign the blank result sheets, asking the State Chairman of the party, Prince Gboyega Famodun, to declare who the party chose as candidate in each of the state and federal cons tuencies. But Famodun refused to disclose the candidates of the party for the State and Na onal Assembly, insisting that the delegates must sign the result sheets. Some of the delegates who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER said they thought the party leadership wanted to tell them the outcome of the primary elec ons in their various cons tuencies. However, their expectaons were dashed as they were reportedly asked to sign blank results sheets, a development that infuriated the about 500 delegates. The delegates threw decorum into the wind to register their grievances about the move, describing it as undemocra c. One of the delegates said: “The party Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun asked us to sign documents, which supposedly is the results sheets, but no names were on it. We refused to sign the result because we sensed that they wanted to impose people on us, and signing the blank result sheets will give them the opportunity of perfec ng the imposi on plot.” The development suggested that the party lead-
ership was a emp ng to change the primary mode into indirect, having failed to achieve its aim on the direct primary system. Speaking with the medium, another delegate said: “We the delegates did not vote in the primary. We held direct primary elecons. Why asking us to sign results sheets? They are thieves. They want to manipulate the results and we will con nue to resist that.” At the mee ng was the Director General of Oyetola’s Campaign Council, Dr Ajibola Basiru, a former Director General of IleriOluwa campaign, Hon. Ajibola Famurewa and Special Adviser to the Governor on Poli cal Affairs, Sunday Akere, among others. But Akere dismissed the delegates’ claim, saying nobody presented them with blanket documents to sign. He said: “They were only invited to come and ra fy the results which some of them are ready to
do but were disturbed to do so by those who perceived their chances were not auspicious in the exercise.”
Egbedore APC Chairman Beaten Inside Govt House
The Chairman of the APC in Egbedore Local Government, Mr Fawande Oluwole was beaten inside the Government House, Osogbo on Thursday, May 26 evening by supporters of the lawmaker represen ng Egbedore State Cons tuency, Hon. Ibirogba Eleniyan. Oyewole who confirmed the a ack on him to OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday, accused Eleniyan of leading his supporters to beat him when he was about to submit the result of the House of Assembly primary in the local government. The APC Chairman said he was a acked because Eleniyan thought that he had lost the primary to his opponent.
He said: “May 26 was the primary elec on for House of Assembly aspirants in Osun. Ward Chairmen were saddled with the responsibility of conducting the primary. My duty as the APC Local Chairman was just to collate the result and take it to the situa on room at Government House in Osogbo. “A er the colla on of the result, the local government party secretary, Salam Rasak and I took the result to the government house. But I was a acked by the lawmaker represen ng Egbedore State Cons tuency, Hon. Ibirogba Eleniyan who thought he had lost the elec on. “Eleniyan was told that there was no primary elecon in a ward at Ido-Osun, whereas there was elec on there. I was not the one that conducted the elec on, it was the ward chairman. It was the result submi ed to me by the ward party chairmen that I took to the Gov-
Police Teargas Aggrieved APC Members At Famodun’s House
There was pandemonium at the Osogbo residence of Osun APC Chairman, Famodun, as police opera ves dispersed some aggrieved members of the party who stormed the area to protest the alleged manipula on of primary elec on results in Ila/Ifedayo/Boluwaduro federal cons tuency held last week Friday. OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the aggrieved APC members were led by a House of Reps aspirant in the federal cons tuency, Mr Ismail Kolawole. Kolawole and his supporters said the party rigged the elec on in favour of Commissioner for Tourism, Adebisi Obawale, who was declared winner a er the former House of Reps member had reportedly won the primary. The protesters threatened to leave the party if its leadership refused to allow the will of the people prevail on the federal cons tuency primary. However, the protesters were dispersed by the police who fired teargas to them.
State, Na onal Assembly Primaries A Sham – Aspirants
•Members of the APC protesting over the allege manipulation of Senatorial primary in Osun West senatorial district.
Some State and Naonal Assembly aspirants of the APC in the State have jointly called for the cancella on of the House of Assembly and Na onal Assembly primary elec ons of the party, describing it as a sham. The aspirants, who include ten House of Assembly and two House of Representa ves aspirants, accused Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of impunity and total disregard to democra c principles on the conduct of the primaries.
•Continued on Page 7
PEOPLE FIRST
FRIDAY, JUNE 03 - THURSDAY, JUNE 09, 2022
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Review & Outlook
BY KANMI ADEMILUYI Fear And Loathing On Time For Action On The Campaign Trail Police Reform! •Imaging The Twists And Turns
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T is most unfortunate that the #EndSARS protests against police brutality were hijacked by hoodlums. We should not however throw out the baby with the bath water. Even before the protests, it had for long been the conven onal wisdom that reforms to the policing system are impera ve and urgently needed. Events reoccurring across the country con nue to emphasis the impera ve of reform. For amongst other things, countries need strong independent ins tu ons to protect democracy and to be compe ve. Nigeria cannot buck the trend and defy logic. Reflec ve of recurring decimal is the shoo ng of The Na on newspaper’s Correspondent in Osun, Mr. Toba Adedeji and one other person, by officers of Osun State Police Command. Another reporter, Fatai Akanji was arrested. All of these happened during a protest a few days ago. We are relieved that Mr. Adedeji who was rushed to a medical facility and that the others who suffered collateral damage are also recovering. The country cannot go on like this. The current policing system is not operated in any other country professing federalism. It is an illogical outcome of decades of centralised military rule reflec ng the unitary command structure of both the command structure of the military as well as the nomenclature of an authoritarian state. The structure is well past its sell-by date and should have been discarded at the onset of the restora on of democracy in 1999. This is the sensible route taking by Dr. Nelson Mandela when on becoming President reconstructed a new policing system to reflect the new
“Modern methods of crowd control and the supervision of demonstrations without the use of lethal force must be developed in line with international best practices” democra c post-apartheid state. We should do the same with “the fierce urgency of now”. We are in alignment with the statement issued yesterday by the Nigeria Union of Journalist, directing it’s members to stop coverage of Osun Police command ac vi es, while calling for the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olawale Olokode. This posi on is correct and must be non-nego able. We simply cannot go on like this. We once again call for wholesale policy reforms whose opera onal framework will reflect accepted federalist standards. The methods of recruitment and selec on must reflect the technology-driven world of today. Furthermore, the forensic science applica on into the system must be revamped, strengthened and modernised. Modern methods of crowd control and the supervision of demonstra ons without the use of lethal force must be developed in line with interna onal best prac ces. We have to discard an antediluvian system rooted in colonial incursion and military rule. We must do so now.
???
•Atiku
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HE sadly departed American poli cal journalist Hunter Thompson redefined the coverage of poli cal events. Momentous works such as “Fear and loathing in Las Vegas”, and “ Fear and loathing on the campaign trail” defined an era of poli cs. Famously he turned President Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandals into an object of ridicule and exposed him for what he really is a “man of talent without character”. It will be fascina ng to work out just what Hunter Thompson will have made out of Donald Trump. That will have been a treat. Thompson’s coverage of the hidden plots in the “ poli cs” as the theatre of the absurd currently playing out in Nigeria will have been rive ng. For example, the just concluded elecve conven on of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) portrayed the country as a postcolonial en ty bere of the very needed “independent ins tu ons of the state” (in the words of the cons tu on of the Republic of South Africa” ) which ought to form the bedrock of the modern na on-state. As light relief, the hardly independent Economic And Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC} belatedly stated that they were looking into the industrial-scale bribes in hard currency used to procure delegates at the conven on. This is as ludicrous
“The absurdity highlights the utter stupidity of repudiating the 1963 Republican Constitution which was based on the generation of production leading to revenue.”
as it gets. All the ins tu ons of the state stood arms akimbo as the laws of the country covering financial transac ons were brazenly violated. And of course, the less said about the inac ve tax authori es the be er. Unfortunately, taxa on which should be of a progressive nature ma ers. The na on’s treasury is in dire need of revenues paradoxically it cannot find the poli cal will to collect taxes from low hanging fruits like people with unexplained (unexplainable?)sources of wealth. The absurdity highlights the u er stupidity of repudia ng the 1963 Republican Cons tu on which was based on the genera on of produc on leading to revenue. Since then it has been downhill all the way. Revenue sharing and alloca on has replaced producon. This is reflected in the nomenclature of the Special Purpose Vehicles[SPV’s], which in another era were known as poli cal par es. Mirroring the framework of the rent collecting state which gave birth to them the SPVs are not based on ideology but on how to drink from a diminishing trough. Nothing different should be expected when the APC stage their own theatre tomorrow. Note that the emphasis is always on elecve conven ons nothing on policies in a country faced with existen al threats on a myriad of fronts. For instance the warnings about the debt situa on, the consequences of primi ve trade facilita on system and a constantly deprecia ng currency can no longer be ignored. Publisher – Moremi Publishing The disaster is foretold. NiHouse Ltd. geria today is a classic case Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman straight out of a nineteen(0805-121-2204) six es textbook on “growth without development” and Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa the “development of underReporter – Yusuf Oketola development” all mo on Reporter – Kazeem Badmus and no movement. Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto Whatever the outcome Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere of the APC’s corona on cerOSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing emony tomorrow only the House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite fringe candidates are likely to Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, present a rigorously workedState of Osun out alterna ve to get us out ISSN : 0794-8050 of the morass. The situa on Telephone : 0805-121-2204 has become dire. Without a Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php response from the duopoly e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com controlling the poli cal landosundefenderbank@gmail.com scape, we should be proAll correspondence to the above email addresses. foundly disturbed.
OSUN DEFENDER
FRIDAY, JUNE 03 - THURSDAY, JUNE 09, 2022
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Osun NUJ, CSOs Call For Redeployment Of Police Commissioner ple were shot at a rally held by some people who were protes ng the killing of a young man, Abiola Afolabi by the police. Abiola Afolabi was shot dead by the police on April 4, 2022. He was buried today. “As if that is not enough, the police went ahead to arrest another journalist, Fatai Akanji, for performing his lawful duty. “We condemn the acon of the police and the lackadaisical a tude of the Commissioner of Police, Mr Wale Olokode, who appeared helpless on the misconduct of his men.
•Continued from Page 1 that killed Abiola. “We were there with them for about 40 minutes. By that me, some of the protesters had already le . Suddenly, a mini bus (korope) and a police van arrived. The team was led by the Dugbe Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Oyegade. Most of the officers were not in uniform, the moment they arrived, they shot into the air twice and that dispersed the protesters, including the journalists. “One of the police officer was aiming at protesters who were already running away from the scene. We had to hide in a shop near our office and that was when I saw Toba limping on one leg. I ini ally thought that he fell down and was just trying to get himself together but someone shouted ‘Toba was shot.” Reac ng to the incident, the Chairman of NUJ in the state, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu, gave the police seven days ul matum to redeploy Olokode on the grounds of gross indiscipline and unprofessional conducts of the men and officers of the command under his supervision. According to Ajadosu, the ac on of the officers was barbaric, uncivilized and demeaning, especially in a democra c environment where ci zens possess the rights to ven late their grievances through protest. He said: “The ac on of the police is best be described as unfortunate, barbaric, uncalled for, unwarranted. How could you imagine shoo ng a life bullet at a ci zen? How could somebody in a uniform become an agent of harassment? We cannot con nue this way. That is why we are going to ensure that the police man that shot Toba is
Ooni Unveils Initiative Towards Child Education Yusuf Oketola
•The spot where Adedeji was shot by the police. iden fied, prosecuted and jailed. We are not going to take it lightly.” However, the NUJ in a press statement jointly signed by Ajadosu and his Secretary, Comrade Bukola Elufadejin, asked its members to suspend coverage of every police ac vity in the state, following an unremorseful statement by the command over the incidence. The union condemned what it described as impenitent statement made by the police, saying the import of the statement did not indicate any regret over the barbaric act. It added that the command’s statement was not be er than a threat to journalists in the state and failed to men on that the policeman who shot the journalist would be idenfied, arrested and pros-
ecuted. The union said it would not rest on its laurel un l jus ce is served on Adedeji’s case . In the same vein, Osun Civil Socie es Coali on has also called for the removal of the Commissioner of Police, Olokode. According to the OCSC, Olokode has demonstrated incompetence in the management of security of lives and property of the people of the state, with total disregard to the fundamental human rights of the people. The Chairman of the OCSC, Comrade Waheed Lawal, in a press statement issued on Tuesday, accused Olokode of inability to manage policemen under him, saying the police in Osun have not learnt from the #EndSARS protest. Lawal said police bru-
tality, harassment, illegal arrest and deten on, and in mida on of innocent ci zens of Osun State have con nued unabated. He said: “A er the last #EndSARS protest across Nigeria in which Osun State was ac vely involved, police brutality, in mida on, harassment of innocent ci zens and extrajudicial killing have con nued unabated in Osun. “As of today, we have a record of about five persons killed extra-judicially by the police under the leadership of CP Wale Olokode. “The men of the Nigeria Police Force in Osun State are at it again, as they shot a journalist, Mr. Toba Adedeji, a correspondent of The Na on Newspaper, alongside a primary school pupil whose name is yet to be known, in Osogbo. “The two innocent peo-
Osun 2022: Traditionalists Invoke Sango’s Wrath On Violent Politicians Yusuf Oketola
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RADITIONAL Religion Worshippers Associa on in the State of Osun, on Wednesday, warned poli cians against fomen ng trouble during the forthcoming governorship poll in the state. The group said whoever that foments trouble during the elec on would face the wrath of Sango and Ogun, calling on the stakeholders to shun violence in the overall interest of the state. This was contained in a statement signed
“The Commissioner of police and his men have demonstrated enough total disregard to the fundamental human rights of the people of the state. “We call on the Inspector of Police to redeploy Olokode from Osun. He is a poor manager of policemen and security system of Osun. The Police have remained reckless under Olokode’s watch. “However, if a er 24hours the police do not meet our demand we shall mobilize the public and commence ac ons against the Nigerian police”.
by the TRWASO President, Dr. Oluseyi Atanda, in commemora on of his first anniversary in office as the leader of the group. Atanda, who admonished other religious groups in the state to also begin prayers to ward off violence, said poli cians and their supporters must be law-abiding and refrain from acts that could jeopardise the peace of the state. The statement reads in part: “As we approach the climax of poli cal interplay in Osun, we as spiritualists will connue to pray to God
almighty and make supplica ons to the terrestrial to have a peaceful elec oneering ou ng. “Let me state that it is likely that some desperate poli cians will a empt a do-or-die approach and a empt to set Osun on fire, God Olodumare will not allow this to happen. “I want to enjoin all other religious groups to embark on prayers for a peaceful transi on in Osun and admonish trouble makers to stop, otherwise they will incur the wrath of Sango and Ogun. Osun is peaceful and we want peace for all.”
While reviewing acvi es of the group in the last one year, Atanda said his administraon has strengthened its local government branches, while work has been progressing on the secretariat complex of the organisa on. PUBLICATION SALAHUDDEEN ABDURRASAQ OLASIGUN That I was formerly known and addressed as SALAU-DEEN ABDUR-RASAQ AND SALAUUD-DEEN ABDUR-RASAQ (ALHAJI) but now wish to be known and addressed as SALAHUDDEEN ABDURRASAQ OLASIGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.
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HE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has unveiled some ini a ves targeted at children educaon, capacity building and empowerment. This is just as the foremost African monarch called on the government at all levels and other stakeholders to create conducive atmosphere for the growth of children in Nigeria. Oba Ogunwusi, in a press statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare, on Wednesday, stated that it is every individual’s greatest obliga on to invest in young children and build significant resources for them, saying that remains the surest legacies anyone can leave behind. He noted that through some of his ini a ves, he is promo ng child educa on, fostering healthy living through regular healthcare provisions, providing expanding feeding schemes through primary schools, and reloca ng street kids to safer designated centres through different welfare packages. Ooni who is co-Chairman of the Na onal Council of Tradi onal Rulers of Nigeria, made the disclosure recently at his Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife, during the annual Children’s Day celebra on, organised by his NGO, Hopes Alive Inia ves (HAI), according to Olafare Quo ng Olafare, Ooni said: “Through some of my ini a ves, I’m promoting child educa on, fostering healthy living through regular healthcare provi-
•Oba Ogunwusi sions, providing expanding feeding schemes through primary schools, and reloca ng street kids to safer designated centres through different welfare packages. “It’s our greatest obliga ons to invest in young children and build significant resources for them as that remain the surest legacies we can leave behind. “The security of the future starts with the seeds sown today. We, as a naon, need to begin sowing the right seeds and cul va ng them towards the be erment of humanity. “Our greatest resource capital is our children, as they stand to con nue the several legacies we leave behind. We must begin to build and sustain the right founda ons for our beloved children and our naon. They are the bedrock of our existence” School children across the city of Ife took part in several compe ons including a debate with the topic, ‘Yoruba Tradi onal culture is be er than Western culture”, a er which several gi items including cash prizes were given to the par cipants.
FRIDAY, JUNE 03 - THURSDAY, JUNE 09, 2022
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Academics Urged To Embrace Technology To Boost Educational Standard Kazeem Badmus
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NIVERSITY lecturers have been charged to key into the far-reaching benefits of 21st-century technology to build an effec ve rela onship with their students and engender innova ve strategies that will make teaching, research and assessment easy. A Professor of African Literature, Oral poe cs And Performance, Ademola Dasylva of the Department of English, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, stated this on Tuesday at a Workshop on Teaching, Research and Professional Ethics held at the College of Humani es and Culture, Osun State University, Ikire. Rephrasing the Registrar, Na onal Teachers Council, Professor Olusegun Ajiboye who was seen on a video speaking on professional ethics, Dasylva, who was the Keynote Speaker at the event, also charged the academics to blend with the current wave of knowledge and develop the abili es to teach all learners with different needs. He noted that to ef-
fec vely get the best from the students, periodic and strategic evalua ve methods must be put in place to mi gate the effects of poor learning outcomes. Professor Olusegun Ajiboye had in the said video maintained that “as a 21st-century teacher, you must be able to implement technologies in teaching so that you can ul mately deploy the tools to teaching and deliver effec ve learning. “Teaching and Learning warrants a high level of professional knowledge and skills. Teachers must adapt the new trends to make products that can effec vely compete, the world over.” He likened students to raw materials and added that those who are expected to turn them into products (graduates) must be mindful of what they do, their a tudes and how they teach, stressing that “premium must be placed on con nuous assessment and evaluaon to establish a sordid framework to facilitate quality assurance and products a er exi ng the University system. In his presenta on tled, “Pathfinding the
Scholar,” the Head of Department, History and Interna onal Studies, Osun State University, Ikire Campus, Dr Tunde Decker, encouraged the scholars to uphold the tenets of ethics, integrity, originality and raise the bar to be able to compete favourably with their counterparts across the globe. He said: “There is no
doub ng the fact that we are faced with a re nue of challenges as academics in Africa. We have a lot to do. That is not to say we are not doing anything. Let us con nue to do our best in research and ethical considera ons. We must con nue to give our best despite the hindrances that we have. “Teachers in the Facul-
ty of Arts and Humani es must inculcate the right norms, values and ethics to the students so that they can be be er placed in knowledge, character and culture. We have a lot to do. “The strength of every academic is in what they deliver and churn out to their students. We must be ethical, professional
and diligent in what we do. We must not fail in our responsibility to bring out the best in the people we teach. “We must be conscious of what we say and do, as authori es in our fields of endeavour. Our discipline and high sense of commitment to whatever we do are highly important.”
•Prof. Ademola Dasylva, delivering the lecture.
Govt. Begins Fixing Of Potholes Af- Tinubu, Oyetola Can’t Win Presidential ter Osun Defender’s Report Primary, Guber. Election – Prophet Kazeem Badmus
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HE government of the State of Osun has commenced fixing of some potholes on major roads in Osogbo, capital of the state.
OSUN DEFENDER had in its April 15 edion reported that majority of the net-working roads in Osogbo were filled with potholes while some had metamorphosed into craters.
•7up turning of Ogo-Oluwa road being patched by workers of the State Ministry of Works and Transport on Wednesday. Photo: Yusuf Oketola
Some of the reported places with potholes and craters include Zarah spot and 7up turning of Ogo-Oluwa road, Ojurin at Old Garage, Capital, Gazal Hotel, Reverside, Osogbo Grammar School and Ofatedo junc on spots of Dele Yes Sir-Oke-Fia road. Others are; Agunbelewo, Tes ng Ground, Kola Balogun, GRA, Oke-Onitea, Prime, Ofatedo, Oja-Oba-Oke Baale. However, the government through the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Remi Omowaye in a public announcement a er the report, stated that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has directed the ministry to fix all the potholes with immediate effect. Visit to some of the affected areas yesterday by OSUN DEFENDER reporter showed that the government has followed through to its promise as most of the roads have been fixed.
Yusuf Oketola
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ATIONAL Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, may not win the presiden al cket of the party, if the prophecy of a Lagos based prophet, Bisi Olujobi, is anything to go by. Olujobi of Wisdom Church Interna onal in Lagos said Tinubu will
•Oyetola and Tinubu.
lose his presiden al bid, adding that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola will also lose the July 16, 2022 governorship elecon. He declared in a statement on Wednesday that: “Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not clinch the APC presidenal primary elec on. “Tinubu will be shocked as there are strong conspiracies wait-
ing for him. “I see Tinubu cheaply humbled and humiliated. His plan to shi tent to another party will also not work, as it is not in the mind of God for him to rule this na on. “Tinubu’s health is not in order and the conspiracy against him is too heavy for him to bear”. On the Osun governorship elec on, he said the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) candidate, Ademola Adeleke will defeat Governor Adetola of the APC. “I hear Jimoh Ibrahim is struggling for Ondo senatorial seat. The man should stay back and enjoy his money. He will be shocked. “Pastor Tunde Bakare has le the needful and busy chasing shadows. The spirit of God has le him long ago and that is why he fumbles up and down.” Olujobi said Bakare cannot win a local government councillor elecon, let alone become Nigeria’s President.
FRIDAY, JUNE 03 - THURSDAY, JUNE 09, 2022
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News
Osun West APC Members Protest Alleged Manipulation Of Senatorial Primary Sodiq Yusuf
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OME members of the All Progressives Congress in Osun West Senatorial District have protested against alleged manipula on of the party’s primary elec on to produce candidate for the 2023 naonal assembly elec on in the district. The APC members claimed that Senator Adelere Oriolowo who is currently represen ng Osun West at the Senate won the Saturday, May 29 senatorial primary of the party. But, according to the APC members, the result of the primary has been manipulated at the Government House in a bid to deny Oriolowo the return cket. The protes ng APC members called on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and leadership of the party in the state to give the party’s cket to OrioIowo, who they said is the real winner of the primary elec on. The protesters who converged in front of the Government House, OkeFia, Osogbo, around 3pm on Wednesday, were armed
with placards with various inscrip ons such as ‘’Osun West is safe with Oriolowo, if he is not abusing Aregbesola, it does not mean he is not suppor ng Oyetola’, ‘Return Oriolowo to the Senate’, ‘Oyetola please beware of bad advisers, Oriolowo deserves to be returned’, ‘The electorate should decide Osun West Senatorial cket and not Peculiar contractor’. Addressing journalists, Comrade Salami Ajibade, one of the protesters, said there is no lawmaker in the na onal assembly from Osun that has done tremendously well like Senator Oriolowo since he became the Senator of Federal republic of Nigeria. Ajibade described Oriolowo as a silent achiever, saying his track records can guarantee APC massive votes in Osun West for the July 16 gubernatorial elec on. He explained that the essence of the protest was to expressed their dissa sfac on on the alleged manipula on of the Osun West Senatorial District primary elec on result, insis ng that OrioIowo remains the choice of majority of the people.
ful protest because we are reliably informed that some people have manipulated the result of the APC primary elec on for Osun West Senatorial District. We were told that Oriolowo will be denied return cket because he does not belong to the IleriOluwa caucus of the party. “We want everybody to know that Oriolowo won the primary elec on. He
•Oriolowo Ajibade who recalled that since Saturday that Osun APC held its senatorial primary, the party members are yet to know who the winner is. He noted that for Osun APC to con nue to wax stronger, OrioIowo must be considered with returned cket to the red chamber. The APC stalwart noted that if his counterpart from Osun Central, Senator Ajibola Basiru can be returned unopposed and Hon. Israel Famurewa could be given the cket unopposed, there was nothing stopping the party to give a return cket to Oriolowo as well. Ajibade said: “We decided to stage the peace-
is the choice of majority of APC members in Osun West. The fact that he is not abusing Aregbesola as some people wanted does not mean he is not committed to the second term ambi on of Governor Oyetola. “Sen. Oriolowo has performed excellently well at the Senate within the space of three years in office. Because of the fact the he’s not a noisemaker lawmaker
Ayedire Delegates List Changed, As APC Members Warn Against Manipulation Kazeem Badmus
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HE delegates list of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ayedire Local Government of the State of Osun has been changed in an a empt to manipulate the House of Assembly primary in the local government. OSUN DEFENDER reliably gathered that the names of the elected delegates have been changed by some top government officials in the local government. Findings by the medium revealed that the delegates list was changed on Wednesday morning in
Ileogbo and have been submi ed to the fac onal Secretary of the party, Mr Alao Kamoru. According to some of the APC members, the names of the real delegates were changed when they refused to sign a doctored result of the party’s primary for Ayedire State Cons tuency. The move, it was learnt, was to deny the current Deputy Chief Whip of the State Assembly, Hon. Abidemi Ogunkanmi, return cket, having won the primary elec on of the cons tuency. Some of the delegates in the local government
July 16: Protest Votes Imminent In Osun APC •Continued from Page 2 According to the aspirants, the direct primaries was conducted without any elec on material or party document like membership register, result sheets, among others. The aspirants are: Hon. Waseeu Gbola Adebayo (Olorunda State Cons tuency) Mr Owoade Ademola Adeyemi (Irewole/ Isokan State Cons tuency), Mr Wahab Kazeem Olanrewaju (Ifelodun State Cons tuency), Mr Babalola Iqmal Opeyemi (Ede South State Cons tuency) and Mr. Kolawole Olalere Victor (Ilesa East State Cons tuency Others are: Mrs. Adesola Arawole Adegbite (Odo-O n State Cons tuency), Mr. Olaoye Abdulhakeem (Osogbo State Cons tuency), Mrs. Olaniyi Shariat Olanike (Ayedaade State Cons tuency), Mr Kasali Nurudeen Adelaja (Iwo State Cons tuency), Mr Opadola Abdullahi Amobi (Olaoluwa State Cons tuency), Hon. (Dr) Mr. Komolafe Akinlabi Richard (IjeshaSouth Federal Cons tuency) and Mr Ibrahim Oyekunle (Ayedaade/
Irewole/Isokan Federal Cons tuency). Addressing a press conference on Monday, the aspirants said results of the primaries were not announced at the various ward and local government colla on centres by the fac onal APC Ward Chairmen who were appointed as Colla on Officers by Oyetola. They claimed the result sheet of each of the State and Federal cons tuencies were kept in the Government House where the ‘Governor’s people’ were allocating figures to their preferred aspirants. According to the aspirants, the failure of the party leadership to declare winner of the State House of Assembly and Federal House of Representaves primaries in each cons tuency was as a result of the fraud and manipula on of the results as directed by the Governor. Reading the text of the press conference, Hon Adeboye, a twoterm state lawmaker, said: “On behalf of other aspirants to the State House of Assembly and Na onal Assembly posi ons, we wish to bring to the fore, indeed the
a en on of the whole world, the charade and sham that Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his ilk called primary elec ons in the state. “An autocra c and dictatorial regime couldn’t do worse in dragging democracy on the floor than what Governor Oyetola and his collaborators have done on the House of Assembly and Na onal Assembly primaries of our party. The late dark goggle general didn’t bring as much odium to democracy as Governor Oyetola. “Our people were at the various colla on
•Famodun
like others does not mean he had not done well. “If Senator Ajibola Basiru can be returned unopposed, and Hon. Israel Famurewa can be given the cket unopposed, we know there is no excuse for the party not to also return Oriolowo as well. Oriolowo should enjoy return cket like other candidates from Osun Central and Osun East Senatorial Districts.
centres and nothing was happening un l around 5pm when some faconal Ward Chairmen from the Governor’s camp surfaced, claiming to be the Presiding Officer for the primary elec on. These chairmen did not come to the colla on centres with any electoral materials like APC membership register, results sheets, e.t.c. They just asked the party members to raise up their membership cards, queue and without any proper accredita on, did the coun ng, wrote the results on a PIECE OF PAPER and le . “Even with such
fraudulent and reprehensible conduct, our supporters were more than those of our opponents and we had the highest number. In some wards, there was no coun ng of APC members at all. “May we note that with the high level of impunity and manipula ons involved in the process and shenanigans engaged to get rid of us, the joke has now turned on Governor Oyetola’s group, as all its aspirants in various cons tuencies are laying claims to victory and confirming it with concocted figures aimed to suite their fraud. “It is unheard of, even a shameful experience, that four and three days a er the primaries have been held, the Governor and his collaborators in the party are unable to declare winner in the contests. “Therefore, we call on His Excellency, the Na onal Chairman of our party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu to use his good office to correct the current act of impunity and rape of democracy being displayed by Governor Gboyega Oyetola before it is too late.”
said: “We are delegate in Ileogbo, and we were told that some people have signed on our behalf on the result sheet we rejected at the Government House on Tuesday. “We are using this medium to inform the whole world that those who sign on the APC result sheet for House of Assembly primary elec on in Ayedire are not the real delegates. They are fake people gathered together to manipulate the outcome of the party’s primary.” Other members of the party have expressed their dissa sfac on on the refusal of the APC leadership to announce the winner of the primary in Ayedire Cons tuency. The APC members alleged that some party leaders in the state were plo ng to manipulate the result of the primary. According to reports, majority of the party members voted for the incumbent lawmaker represen ng the cons tuency, Ogunkanmi in a clear compromised direct primary. Ogunkanmi reportedly won in Ward 1 and 3, Oluponna, Ward 4, Okeosun, Ward 5, 6, 7 and 8, Ileogbo, and Ward 9 and 10, Kuta. But the result of the primary, according to the aggrieved APC members, has been manipulated at the Government House, Osogbo, to favour Ogunkanmi’s opponent, Mr Wale Ajiboye who is being supported by a moneybag poli cian and some state actors. Ajiboye was the Personal Assistant to Ogunkanmi when he was the Caretaker Chairman of Ayedire local government between 2011 and 2014. A party member who spoke to newsmen under the condi on of anonymity said: “The development is shocking and sad to us. We had voted for Ogunkanmi in the elec on and knew the results before we later heard that the person we voted for was not declared. We will not accept it. For every reason, we will not allow this impunity to scale through. The party is divided already.
FRIDAY, JUNE 03 - THURSDAY, JUNE 09, 2022
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Sport
Nigeria vs Ecuador: Eagles Eye First FIBA Throws D’Tigress Out Of 2022 Friendly Win In Three Years Today World Cup After FG’s Withdrawal Kazeem Badmus
Yusuf Oketola
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IGERIA’S Super Eagles will hope to end their four consecuve games without a win when they play Ecuador in a friendly game at the 25,000capacity Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey today. It is the first mee ng between the West African giants and the South Americans. Since their last 1-0 win over Egypt in Asaba in March 2019, the three- me African champions have failed to record a victory in 10 consecu ve friendly ou ngs, losing five and picking up five draws in three years. The Super Eagles started their tour of the United States on a losing note as they fell to a 2-1 to Mexico at the AT&T stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday. A er falling behind to San ago Gimenez’s first-half opener, Feyenoord forward Cyriel Dessers restored parity nine minutes into the second period before Wa ord defender William Troost-
Ekong scored an own goal to hand El Tri a slender victory. Prior to their defeat in Texas, the Eagles watched as their qualifica on for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar went up in smoke when they were beaten on the away-goal rule by archrivals Ghana back in March. Nigeria have now failed to win any of their last four games across all compe ons, picking up two draws and losing two since January’s 2-0 victory over Guinea-Bissau in Group D of the Africa Cup of Na ons. Meanwhile, their opponents, La Tri also head into the game on a run of five
consecu ve games without a win. Both sides will look to put an end to their unwanted record when they clash in what promises to be an interes ng friendly. According to the Nigeria Football Federa on media team, a total of 20 players are now available to Jose Peseiro ahead of the game. Midfielder Innocent Bonke is unlikely to play any part in Thursday’s session, but home-based professional Chiamaka Madu, who saw ac on in the second period against Mexico’s El Tri, could be given another playing me.
The world governing body for basketball, FIBA, has replaced Nigeria’s female basketball team, the D’Tigress, with Mali for the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 in Belgrade. Nigeria was disqualified a er the Federal Government suspended the country from par cipa ng in all interna onal basketball compe ons and ac vi es for a period of two years. The President’s withdrawal is said to be aimed at revamping the sports from the grassroots in Nigeria. A statement from FIBA reads: “FIBA was informed about the decision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to withdraw the Nigeria Basketball Federa on (NBBF) from all interna onal basketball compe ons and ac vi es for a period of two years,” “In subsequent communica ons with the NBBF, and despite FIBA’s request, it has become clear that
against the circumstances created by the government’s decision, the NBBF is unable to confirm its par cipa on in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022. “Given the mul ple strict deadlines that cannot be postponed in order to ensure the successful staging of a major interna onal event (visa procedures, schedules, cket sales, accommoda ons, friendly games, preliminary rosters, flight ckets, accreditaons, etc.) and to protect the integrity of the compeon, the FIBA Execu ve Commi ee has decided as
follows; “Nigeria’s withdrawal from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 is confirmed. Mali, as the next ranked team from Group B of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, is invited to par cipate in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022. “FIBA will announce whether there will be any other decisions related to the NBBF’s par cipa on in other FIBA compe ons and any poten al disciplinary measures in due course.”
Crime
Father Sues Police, Seeks N50m For Torturing Son To Death In Osun Kazeem Badmus
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R. Olumide Adesina, the father of a 21year-old man, Olufemi Oriyomi, who died in police deten on in Osogbo, State of Osun, has filed a lawsuit against the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, over the death of his son. Joined in the suit are the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Wale Olokode, SUPOL Omoyele, Inspector Omoboriowo, Inspector Lekan and Officer “Baba Bolu”. Adesina, in the suit filed before a State High Court in Ile-Ife, seeks an order of the court directing the respondents to pay the sum of N50m for subjec ng his son to illegal arrest, torture, inhuman treatment and deten on leading to his death. In the suit registered HIF/30/2022, Adeshina also wants the court to declare that the refusal of the respondents to release the corpse of his son to the family to bury is a con nuous denial of the late Oriyomi’s cons tu onally guaranteed
freedom to dignity of person. Police Public Rela ons Officer, Osun Command, Yemisi Opalola had earlier in a statement said Oriyomi alongside two others; Olayade Kehinde and Raimi Sheriff were arrested in possession of human heart by the police in Safejo Area Ile-Ife on April 7. Opalola said Oriyomi fell sick and was taken to hospital for treatment but unfortunately died while on admission, while his corpse was deposited
at the State hospital for autopsy. But in a 46-paragraph of affidavit in support of the Origina ng Mo on, Adesina said Olayade who was detained with his son, told him that the police subjected them to torture and dehumanised them. He added that Olayade told him that Oriyomi’s condi on got worse to the extent that he (Oriyomi) defecated on himself without knowing and the officers did nothing about it.
The bereaved father said: “Kehinde Olayade informed me and I believed him as follows: “that without asking ques on from them, the 3rd respondent said they should go and torture them. “That they took them to the backyard, placed containers, materials and all sorts of items they did not recover from their house in front of them. “That they tore their clothes, dehumanize them, asked them to carry some of the containers
containing some items they could not understand, started snapping them with their phones. “That virtually all the men in the sta on beat them, even, with s cks and freely used machetes on them, saying they must confess to be yahoo boys. “That they were handcuffed and put in cell, even with blood coming out of their bodies. “That Femi could barely sit, as he was in pains, but the policemen would not care to listen
Suspected Cultists Remanded Over Death Of Two Persons In Osogbo
David Osundeyi Two suspected members of Aiye confraternity have been remanded in Ilesa Correc onal Centre by a Magistrate Court over the death of two persons in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun. The suspects, Yusuf Olamilekan (27) and Joshua Adenle (19) were accused of killing one Babatunde Olamilekan and Sarafadeen Azeez by using big stone to break
their head. According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the accused persons were also said to have unlawfully inflicted machete cuts on the head of one Saka Quadri during a clash. They were arraigned before the Osogbo Magistrate court on a fivecount charge of conspiracy, murder, membership of unlawful society and
breach of peace. The accused persons commi ed the offence on February 20, 2022 at Latona area, Osogbo. The alleged offence, according to the police, contravened Sec ons 516, 316, 320(1), 64 and 517 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, 2002. But the plea of the accused persons was not taken by the court lacks jurisdic on to tried mur-
der related case. The presiding Magistrate, Adekanmi Adeyeba, directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and send it to the Ministry of Jus ce for Director of Public Prosecuon’s advice. He therea er ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Ilesa Correc onal Centre. The case was adjourned ll June 21, 2022 for men on.
to his complaints. “That the boy could not eat, would wee and pass excreta on himself, even ll Wednesday, 13th April, 2022. “That he as a person, started crying and shouting that the boy must not die o, but none a ended to him. “That on the morning of the 3rd day, all of them in the cell started shouting and cursing the men, for their inhumanity. “That on that night, Femi could not sleep and everyone in the cell, even those they met there were crying, seeing the great agony the boy was experiencing, even with handcuffs. “That when Femi’s situa on would not improve, he personally would start to shout that the boy must not die, as they refuse to release them to their brothers who were coming to seek their bail and would not take them to court. “That later in the afternoon of Thursday, 14th April, 2022, when Femi would not stop groaning under pain, he was taken out again, but was not brought back, as usual”.
ISSN : 0794 - 8050
Crime
FRIDAY, JUNE 03 - THURSDAY, JUNE 09, 2022 VOL. 17 NO 21 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
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O you know the food crisis has no respect for borders? Have you heard the news that there is an infant formula shortage in the US? Can you imagine that many babies in the United States are no longer having enough to eat? Do you know that baby and toddler formula shortages across the United States are dispropor onately hur ng vulnerable infants and low-income families who do not have the resources to travel long distances or pay marked-up prices for cri cal nutrients? What exactly is causing this crisis? How could the wealthiest country in the world not have food for its youngest and most vulnerable? When will shelves get stocked again? Do you know the US is the only high-income country in the world that does not guarantee paid maternity leave? A er weeks of building pressure from his own party, do you know President Biden promised to invoke the Defense Produc on Act that would allow formula producers to have priority for ingredients, and to accelerate flying in formula from overseas suppliers? Are you aware that on 18th May, 2022, World Bank announced planned ac ons for Global Food Crisis Response by making $30 billion available for implementa on to address food insecurity over next 15 months? Do you know World Bank Group President David Malpass said food price increases are having devasta ng effects on the poorest and most vulnerable? Do you know that on Friday 21st May, 2022, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank (AfDB), announced the provision of a $1.5 billion Africa Emergency Food Plan to secure food security? Why are the interna onal financial ins tu ons are falling over each other to provide emergency funds for the provision of food? You care? Come along! Are you a civil servant public servant? How long can you fast? Have you read about hunger-strike? Do you know a hunger strike is a method of non-violent resistance in which par cipants fast as an act of poli cal protest, or to provoke a feeling of guilt in others, usually with the objec ve to achieve a specific goal, such as a policy change? Do you know most hunger strikers will take liquids but not solid food? Do you know that in cases where a country is able to obtain custody of the hunger striker, the hunger strike is o en terminated by the custodial en ty through the use of force-feeding? Do you know Fas ng was used as a method of protes ng injus ce in pre-Chris an Ireland and the fast was o en carried out on the doorstep of the home of the offender? Can you imagine allowing a person to die at one’s doorstep, for a wrong of which one was accused, was considered a great dishonor in
“Do you know that mass hunger has metamorphosed into terrorism in Nigeria? Are you aware that on Thursday 19th May, 2022, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State during the presentation of the first quarter security report for 2022 by the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the presence of Ansaru terrorists and other insurgents in the State and was responsible for the March 28 attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train in which nine people were killed and 62 others kidnapped? ”
Father Sue Police, Seeks N50m For Torturing Son To Death In Osun Pg. 7
PERSPECTIVE BY OLOWGBOYEGA OYEBADE
If We Don’t Feed People, We Feed Conflict that civiliza on? Do you know that in India, the prac ce of a hunger protest, where the protester fasts at the door of an offending party (typically a debtor) in a public call for jus ce, was abolished by the government in 1861? What did that suggest? Do you know it connotes that the prac ce was prevalent prior to that date? From the view of Medicine, in the first three days of hunger strike, it is stated that the body is s ll using energy from glucose and a er that, the liver starts processing body fat, in a process called ketosis? A er deple ng fat, do you know the body enters a “starva on mode” and at this point the body “mines” the muscles and vital organs for energy, and loss of bone marrow becomes life-threatening? Do you know there are examples of hunger strikers dying a er 46 to 73 days of strike? Do you know that popular hunger-strikers in the 20th and 21st centuries include: Marion Dunlop, Mary Clarke, Alice Paul and many others? Do
STRIKER
you know Bobby Sands was the first of ten Irish republican paramilitary prisoners to die during the 1981 hunger strike to draw widespread sympathy? Do you know the ten men survived without food for 46 to 73 days, taking only water and salt, before succumbing? Have you read about Guillermo Farinas who did a seven-month hunger strike to protest against the extensive Internet censorship in Cuba? Do you know that Reporters Without Borders awarded its cyber-freedom prize to Guillermo Farinas in 2006? Do you know Arcle 8 of the 1975 World Medical Associaon Declara on of Tokyo states that doctors are not allowed to force-feed hunger strikers? While some people elect to fast for spiritual purpose, and some others go on hunger-strike to press home a demand, do you know many people in our world are now on compulsory hunger-strike as a result of food insecurity? Do you know the primacy of food in Psychology?
Do you know we are cour ng disaster as a na on as the basic need of common people which is food are fast diminishing and in short supply? Are you aware that on Wednesday 18th May, 2022, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ made powerful remarks to the Global Food Security Call to Ac on ministerial mee ng, in New York and warned that if we fail to feed people, then we shall feed conflict? Do you know he warned that mass hunger looms? Do you know that mass hunger has metamorphosed into terrorism in Nigeria? Are you aware that on Thursday 19th May, 2022, Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State during the presenta on of the first quarter security report for 2022 by the state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, confirmed the presence of Ansaru terrorists and other insurgents in the State and was responsible for the March 28 a ack on the Abuja-Kaduna train in which nine people were killed and 62 others kidnapped? Do you know he further said the deteriora ng security situa on in the North West was far worse than what the country experienced in the North East because members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram elements had moved into the State? Do you know in his remarks, Aruwan said 360 people, 305 males, 45 females and 11 minors, were killed between January and March 2022 across the State and 1,389 others, 350 males, 420 females and 79 minors, were kidnapped, while 3,251 ca le were rustled within the period under review? Do you know this is the me to answer the food ques ons in your office, personal life and marriage? God bless Osun! God bless Nigeria!
Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above
Where Are Our Popular Organisations?
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OPULAR Organisa ons are generally described as ins tu ons or groups of people with the same interest or ideology who come together to par cipate in the democra c process of a country or are united on certain professional, community, poli cal, cultural or socio-economic goals. From charity, philanthropy, healthcare, emergency management to human rights and poli cs, there are thousands of civic organisa ons, otherwise called Civil Society Organisa ons (CSOs), as well as labour, students and professional organisa ons in Nigeria today. Under repressive military rule, especially the last tranche of 15 years between 1984 and 1999, we witnessed the blossom and full impact of popular organisa ons in their truest standing as pressure groups. Strangely, return to “democracy” for the last 23 years - since 1999 - has done devasta ng damage to popular organisa ons. How and why so is serious scholarly theme for the intellectually inclined. The fact today is that apart from commendable and up-and-doing Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), and to a lesser extent, the Academic Staff Union of Universi es (ASUU), all our glorious popular organisa ons and NGOs need a Jesus to raise their Lazarus from the grave, minding that Saint Lazarus of Bethany though was dead only for four days before encountering Jesus! Democracy is concretely about the people, not about poli cians and government; and that is why it is popularly said that people get the type of government they deserve. Whenever you have “demonstra on-of-craze” instead of
democracy and you are delivered pathe c governance instead of good governance, the common place but shallow thing is to blame poli cians and the government, forge ng that a people not in good standing as per values and orienta on cannot birth poli cs, poli cians and government that is either good or for the people. Poverty and ignorance have terrible negave impacts on individual and social values without doubt. However, “dark days reveal the sterling worth of men and women.” Things only get worse, the “good old days” when men and women rose up against tyranny and injus ce were li le be er than today in terms of miseries and want; only the quantum and context has changed. Where are the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Na onal Associa on of Nigerian Students (NANS), Nigerian Medical Associa on (NMA), Nigerian Bar Associa on (NBA), Civil Liber es Organisa on (CLO), and Commi ee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) of those days, and many more that space will not permit men on? There were and s ll are cultural associa ons, community organisa ons, trade unions, professional associa ons, and democracy and rights groups dedicated to securing the welfare of ci zens. Where are they now in a season demanding clear ar cula on, intransigence, chivalry and heroism for the redemp on of a na on fast sliding into the precipice? What accounts for the silence and shameful capitula on? Surely, the vacuum created by their coma is responsible for
deadly, inar culate and destruc ve outbursts against oppression and injus ce, as nature abhors such vacuum. The least that can be done by them is a coming together to very loudly clarify the na onal situa on in an unbiased, popular context, and table their demands for those that have the responsibility to move Nigeria forwards rather than into hell. They can do so in such a manner that grabs na onal a en on, fires popular imagina on and inspires collec ve pressure and construc ve engagement of the powersthat-be. Not every popular ac on implies hos lity and confronta on with the government or the state, not to men on violence. No. Indeed, most produc ve engagement of inordinate power, with firm resolve and full pressure, are always civil, non-violent mass ac ons born of coordinated ac vi es based on well enunciated posions and demands around which there is mass mobilisa on. We need our mass and popular organisa ons back from the grave now. One and all ci zen has a role to play in their resurrec on and rejuvenaon. Their role is simply to recreate and forge together a people whose views, values, disposions and choices are purified be er than it is today, and quickly reorganise them accordingly. It is such a people that will not allow any poli cs, poli cian or government to lead them down the drain through visionless, parochial and divisive poli-tricking and vile governance. Like the Late Murtala Muhammed said donkey years ago, “it is me to reflect, to rethink and to act!”
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarnaty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the Deputy Editor, ISMAEEL UTHMAN, Telephone: 0805-121-2204, usmanismail001@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefemder@yahoo.com