Govt. Begins Reclamation Of Osun River

Ismaeel Uthman

THE State Government of Osun has begun the reclama on of the Osun river which has for years been polluted by mining ac vi es in Ijesaland.

The reclama on process began at one of Osun river’s tributaries at Idominasi, on Monday, as part of the ac vi es lined up to commemorate this year’s

World Environment Day.

Professor Lukmon Jimoda, Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Solid Minerals and Environment, who flagged off the process on Monday, warned miners in the State to desist from improper excava on of mining sites.

Jimoda who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Sanita on,

Mr. Oladele Olawuni, lamented that mining ac vies was responsible for the pollu on of Osun river.

He said the State government has observed that the ac vi es of the miners have con nued to have adverse effects on some tributaries that run into Osun River, thereby making it necessary for the reclamaon of the river.

Jimoda urged the min- ers to always follow procedures for mining in order to make the communi es around the excava on sites safe for living.

He disclosed that the government will con nue to monitor the miners, saying any miner found to have gone against the rules and regula ons set for them will be fined, sanc oned and if possible, get his or her contract terminated.

TYusuf Oketola biyi Fadeyi; Senator-elect for Osun East, Senator Francis Fadahunsi; and House of Representaves member-elect for Ede North/Ede South/ Egbedore/Ejigbo Federal Cons tuency, Hon. Bamidele Salam, among others.

HE Elec on Peons Tribunal, sitng in Osogbo, Capital of the State of Osun, has dismissed five peons filed by the Ac on Alliance (AA) against five lawmakers-elect of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP).

The Ac on Alliance had filed the pe ons against PDP and its candidates who won Senatorial and House of Representa ves seats in the February 25 general elecon, on the grounds that it was omi ed from the ballot.

But the five pe ons were dismissed on Monday.

The pe ons were against the Senator-elect of Osun Central, Mr. Olu-

At the tribunal sit- ng on Monday, PDP’s counsel, Oyewole JimiBada, moving an oral applica on and ci ng the provisions of Schedule One, Paragraph 18, subparagraph 1 (A) of the Electoral Act, said failure of the pe oners to appear for the pre-hearing trial should automa cally amount to the dismissal of the pe ons.

Similarly, counsel to the first respondent, the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Bukola Durojaye, argued that neither the pe oners, nor their representa ves or their counsels were in Court, which indicated that they had abandoned the case.

Also, one of the counsels to the PDP, Mr Kolapo Alimi, applied for an order of the tribunal to compel the pe oners to pay a cost of N1m to the respondents.

In a short ruling on all the cases, Chairman of the Tribunal, Jus ce V. O Eboreime, dismissed the pe ons based on the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The judge noted that “In view of the clear provisions of paragraph 18 (11) (a) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act and the Non-Compliance of Peoners, to wit: non-appearance of the pe oners and their counsels to obey this scheduling for pre-hearing, the case of the pe oners is hereby dismissed.”

Jus ce Eboreime, however, refused the applicaon for the award of cost and directed par es to bear their costs.

•Alimi

In his remarks, the Director, Environmental Health, Ministry of Environment and Sanita on, Mr. Biola Oni, said the reclamaon of Osun River was the best way to start this year’s World Environment Day.

Oni stated that State Government, having been aware of the danger caused by the ac vi es of the miners, is ready and keen on bringing back Osun River to its actual state.

He commended the State Government for giving the contract to the consultant who has started blocking all the tributaries being created by the miners through the use of alluvial bars thereby making it safe for the people in the State.

A consultant, Mr. Shamsudeen Alabi, said the reclama on exercise will make sure that Osun river returns back to its original state, saying its brownish colour is discouraging tourists from coming to fetch the water.

Alabi equally advised the miners to work with known best prac ces around the world and do it sustainably, so that the State will not only have the mining ac vi es supporting her economy alone, but will also have the environment suppor ng her economy.

THE melodrama played out over the threat of strike ac on relating to the fuel subsidies removal says a lot about our out-of-date format of labour rela ons. It has to change.

The labor movement had no defined strategic imperave; this is reflected in the seven-point memorandum of understanding agreed with the government. Preferably it is all rather ad hoc.

Given past experience the emphasis on immediate mon-