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ORTHY winners h a v e emerged a er the primaries conducted for the selec on of the flag bearers of the major and ‘minor’ poli cal par es. Including the minor par es is
Front Page Comment
After The Primaries •Reconciling The Factions not trite. The 2023 presiden al elec on is shaping up to be a departure from the route taken since the restora on of democracy in 1999, which was largely based on the contest between duopolies. With new entrants snapping at the
FRIDAY, JUNE 10 - THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
heels a brand poli cal calculus is emerging and the dominant par es will be compelled to factor this in. This strategic considera on is reflected in the calls to close ranks and the expan•Continued on Page 3
Aregbesola stated that “On behalf of my family and associates I heartily congratulate you on this deserved victory. Congratulations”
VOL 17 NO 22
IGP Queries Osun CP Over Killing Of 28-Yr-Old Abiola
•Olokode
Ar
•Abiola
Owo Massacre: Yorubaland Can’t Be Overrun, Says Ooni Page 6
Public School Pupils Resort To Open Defecation In Ile-Ife
Page 4
Aregbesola Congratulates Tinubu, Says He is A Dogged Page 6 Fighter
FRIDAY, JUNE 10 - THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
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News
IGP Queries Osun Police Commissioner Over Killing Of 28-Yr-Old Abiola Ismaeel Uthman
T
HE Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has queried the Commissioner of Police in the State of Osun, Mr Olawale Olokode, over the killing of a 28-year-old man, Abiola Afolabi, by policemen. In a le er referenced CZ: 7050/IGP.SEC/ABJ/ VOL 145/23, the IGP asked Olokode to ‘review and respond’ to the issues, allega ons and claims contained in a pe on sent to his office on Afolabi’s death. Afolabi was shot by the police during a raid on the residence of his friend, Mathew Adedokun, at Zone II, Osogbo, around 1am on Monday, April 4, 2022. The police had earlier, through a press statement by its Public Rela ons Officer, Mrs Yemisi Opalola, claimed that Afolabi, his friend, Adedokun and a lady were armed robbery suspects who engaged the police in gun duel which resulted to his death. However, in a pe -
on directed to the IGP by a legal prac oner, Mr Mu au Abiodun, the family of the deceased accused the police of unlawfully and gruesomely killing Afolabi. Afolabi’s family accused the State Commissioner of Police, Olokode, of a emp ng to cover the case up and compromise inves ga ons on the matter. The family asked the IGP to takeover the case and order discreet invesga ons on the ma er with a view to bring the perpetrators to book. The pe on dated April 10, 2022 was is tled: Unlawful, Unjus fied and Gruesome Murder of One Olufemi Abiola Afolabi by men of the An -Thuggery Squad of the State Criminal Inves ga ons Department, Osun State Command And The A empt Of The State Commissioner of Police To Cover It Up And Compromise The Inves ga on. Abiodun, counsel to the family stated in the pe on that: “The ac ons of the aforemen oned
•President Muhammadu Buhari presenting APC flag to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after his emergence as the presidential candidate of the party. policemen are not only extra-judicial, it is also callous and criminal, to put it in subtle ways. Abiola Oluremi Afolabi, a promising and vibrant young man, who had been mur-
dered in cold blood by the policemen commi ed no offence, and was accused of none. “The most curious and disheartening aspect of the whole incident was
that, instead of the Osun State Police Command to swing into ac on, purge its belly of bad eggs by making iden fying and bringing the policemen who a acked and grue-
Demolition: Property Owners Lament Nonpayment Of Compensation Ismaeel Uthman
S
OME property owners whose buildings were demolished for road construc on in Osogbo, State of Osun have lamented that the state government did not pay them compensa on since 2013. One of the property owners, Mrs. Funke Afolabi who spoke to OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday in Osogbo, said the state government was yet to honour the agreement it reached with the property owners as regard paying compensa on for demolishing their property. Afolabi who spoke on behalf of other property owners said many of those affected have died while many are sick and other are facing serious financial challenges. It would be recalled that the state government demolished some buildings, including petrol sta ons for the dualisa on of Old Garage-Machine Tools road in Osogbo in 2013. Also, some structures on both sides of Fakunke area, Olaiya junc on and MDS area were ‘separated from the road during the Urban Renewal project of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administra on. According to Afolabi, the compensa on to be paid to the property owner is over one billion naira. She said: “We members of MDS Shop Owners Asso-
cia on wish to express our displeasure over the unfair treatment meted out on our members on the issue of compensa on for the demolished structures.” “The structures flanking both sides of MDS road, stretching from Old Garage, MDS, Olaiya Junc on to Fakunle area were demolished by the State Government for dualisa on. Enumera on and valua on exercise were carried out by officials of the Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning for payment of com-
pensa on. “Unfortunately, the compensa on was not paid by Mr. Rauf Aregbesola administra on in spite of series of le ers of reminder and visits paid to the then Governor. “On assump on of office in 2019, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola made a commi al statement that compensa on would be paid in trenches to all the claimants. “It is disturbing to note that approval has been given for compensa on to
be paid to a sec on of the claimants with the exclusion of claimants from Old Garage, MDS, Olaiya Juncon and Fakunle Area. This development negates the principle of equity, jus ce and fairness. “To this end, we appeal to Governor Oyetola to revisit this issue with a view to giving every claimant a por on of the compensaon as earlier promised.” The owner of a demolished petrol sta on, Alhaji Suaibu Agboola begged Oyetola to pay their com-
pensa on without delay. Also speaking, Mr Lasisi Adewale, a property owner, said Oyetola promised to pay the compensa on, pleading with him to fulfill his promise. However, the Commissioner for Works and Transports, Engr. Remi Omowaye said the state government has not paid any one among the property owners. He urged the affected property owners to exercise more pa ence with the government.
Monarch, Group Urge Govt. To Beef Up Border Security Kazeem Badmus
T
HE Orangun of OkeIla, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, has appealed to government at all level to beef up security at border communi es in the country in order to forestall invasion by criminals. Oba Abolarin made the appeal on Monday in Oke Ila-Orangun during the handing over of a patrol vehicle donated by an indigene of the town to the Southwest Security Network, codenamed Amotekun. According to the monarch, the killing of some Chris ans inside a catholic church in Owo, last Sunday, was a sign that calls for vigilance and preparedness. Oba Adedokun said: “What happened last year in Igangan and on Sunday in
Owo is a sign that we must be very vigilant. It is important that the government help the boundary communi es and beef up the security in those areas. “Without security, we cannot get anything done. If there is no peace, we cannot do anything. We have a lot to do in terms of our security and I pray God will assist us”. Similarly, a Civil Society group in the State of Osun, Centre for Social Jus ce and Public Protec on (CSJPP), has called on the state government to strengthen the State Southwest Security Network (Amotekun) in order to for fy the state against criminals. The group made the call in a statement signed by its Coordinator, Akin Akanji, and made available
to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday in Osogbo. According to the statement, the present administra on has not been doing well in the area of security when compared to the immediate past administraon of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. The statement urged the government and other stakeholders to work with all the security agencies for the security of lives and property of Osun people. The statement reads: “The security situa on of the country is worrisome and as a civil society group, we hold it a duty to call the a en on of the governments to their shortcomings. “What happened in Owo on Sunday was sad and we commensurate with the
families of the vic ms. We pray not to witness such again and as the same me wish the survivors quick recovery. “However, the incident was a sign that we have to be ready in the SouthWest. Those criminals have penetrated us and government must rise up to the challenge. “We urge the state government of Osun to work with the stakeholders and the security agencies to forestall invasion by these criminals. “The security architecture of the state is not too good unlike what we have during the past administraon. Osun South-West Security Network (Amotekun) needs to be adequately backed in other to protect our land”.
somely killed Abiola Oluremi Afolabi to book, the Command is heartlessly turning the table on the dead boy and his friends who were lucky to be alive, claiming they are armed robbers. What a cruel way to give a dog a bad name to willy-nilly hang it! “It is, therefore, on the strength of the foregoing that we call on Your Honour Sir, to use your good offices to intervene in this ma er, by ordering a discreet inves ga on into same under Your Honour’s personal supervision with a view to bringing the erring policemen who murdered Abiola to book. “In a not distant past, the country, par cularly, the South West of Nigeria witnessed an avoidable but unfortunate protest that rocked the en re naon: the immediate cause of that protest was police brutality. We are all living witnesses of the ripple effect of the avoidable protests. “The country cannot afford to witness a repeat of such a protest so soon again. We are confident that Your Honour will do everything lawfully necessary to ensure that the erring policemen answer for the aforesaid unlawful acts of theirs.” Responding through a le er dated April 22, 2022, the IGP forwarded a copy of the pe on to Olokode and asked him to review and furnish response not later than May 20, 2022. A copy of the le er which was sighted by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads: “The Inspector General of Police directs that you review and furnish response not later than 20/05/2022.”
PEOPLE FIRST
FRIDAY, JUNE 10 - THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
3
Review & Outlook
BY KANMI ADEMILUYI Game On!!!
After The Primaries •Continued from Page 1
siveness being shown by the winners. Contested elec ons within poli cal par es are inevitably keenly contested and o en divisive. Poli cal par es are not monolithic, as they evolve tendencies, fac ons, and sub-groups emerge. This is the nature of democracy and the right to expression. The need for reconcilia on was expressed most succinctly by a key player in the far from monolithic All Progressives Party (APC), the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola. Congratula ng Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on his emergence as the presiden al standard bearer of the APC, Aregbesola stated that “On behalf of my family and associates, I hear ly congratulate you on this deserved victory. Congratula ons”. This tone of reconcilia on is an unambiguous tes mony of the desire to close ranks and is reflected in the other congratulatory statements issued. This is desirable and sensible. A flag bearer to present the case of the progressives has emerged and there must be a closing of ranks around the progressive banner. The forces of retrogression have not yet been vanquished and the country must avoid a return to the root causes of today’s discord and discontent. The country needs a decisive progressive victory in next year’s elec ons. It can only be achieved when all hands are purposefully on deck. Nigeria today faces existen al threats on a myriad of fronts. The progressives are best suited philosophically and by ideological orienta on to present and implement posi ve solu ons. For example, the security situa on is best tackled within the prism of the adop on of the prescrip on that “we
“The need for reconciliation was expressed most succinctly by a key player in the far from monolithic All Progressives Party [APC] the interior minister Rauf Aregbesola” must be tough on crime and tougher on the (root) causes of crime”. The country must je son ephemeral jobless “growth” without development for real sustainable development based on the provision of living wages as a way of achieving “life more abundant” for the overwhelming majority of the popula on and their families and not just a few. In this regard, it must be accepted that macroeconomic stability is the only way to a ain and sustain social jus ce. In addi on, the trajectory of social interven on programs was pioneered in states controlled by progressives such as Osun, star ng with the government headed by Rauf Aregbesola. The list is endless. At a cri cal junc on, the country needs a progressive government to maintain the momentum. It will be dangerous to, through acts of commission, hand over the reigns once regressively again to the conserva ves. We desire a vigorous campaign of enlightenment and wish the flag bearer of the cause of the progressives Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu a momentous and decisive electoral triumph next year.
•Should Be A Pivotal Campaign
•Tinubu
•Atiku
I
T had be er be. Of course, poli cal campaigns ride on the trajectory of the calculus to put together a winning majority, a lot of effort and certainly money is involved nevertheless, this should be a defining elec on. Defining because we are in a decisive nay make or break decade for the na on. For example, current and projected economic growth rates measured alongside popula on growth rates cannot but induce a feeling of foreboding as well as unease. It is alarming when one reflects that a lot of this it is more about ill-defined growth as opposed to jobs propelled sustainable development. Furthermore, we are not turning the demographic bulge into an opportunity for advancement. To compound ma ers, the none resolu on of the issue of the na onali es (the na onal ques on) acts as a brake on development. Spending on defense is currently at twenty percent and is bound to increase. Increased expenditure on defense will take place within the context of the terms of trade turned against us and the lack of preparedness of our manufacturing sector for the coming into the reality of the Africa Free Trade Agreement. Whoever wins next year takes possession of a poisoned chalice. He (sadly un-
•Kwankwaso
likely to be a she) had be er be prepared. It appears that the tradi onal APC and PDP duopoly will be challenged with vigour. Disenchantment and the registra on in rela vely large numbers of the first- me preponderance of who are youths are factors. Unlikely as it is a first-ever run - off cannot be completely ruled out. The currents propelling Kwankaso and Peter Obi reflect a momentum against the establishment and cannot be wished away. The choice of running mates by the duopolies will take this into effect and It will affect the permutaons and scenario planning for a pathway to the electoral calculus to achieve victory. Now that they have been given the party ckets the contestants should avail the electorate of real well costed programs with implementa on melines a ached. Any candidate that cannot by November this year produce a preliminary 2023 to 2026 medium term economic framework is clearly not serious about governance. The republic is in peril and the myriad of crises must be responded to with “the fierce urgency of now”. This is not the me for vacous sloganeering. It is the me for vigorous debates by the candidates accros the six geopoli cal zones with an emphasis on local concerns. The candidates all look well prepared but they go further and show the electorate that they are Publisher – Moremi Publishing made of the real deal to House Ltd. handle the crisis and turn Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman the country around. For (0805-121-2204) what the country desires Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa is a ‘turn around’ manReporter – Yusuf Oketola ager very much like what Reporter – Kazeem Badmus a failing corporate en ty Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto desires. Ideally, a er it’s Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere all over there should be OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing a government of na onal unity which will galvanise House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, poli cal and civil society around a program of reState of Osun ISSN : 0794-8050 construc on.This is not goTelephone : 0805-121-2204 ing to happen of course so Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php we might as well make the e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com best of what we have. osundefenderbank@gmail.com It’s game on and good All correspondence to the above email addresses. luck to us all.
OSUN DEFENDER
FRIDAY, JUNE 10 - THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
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News
‘Yahoo Boys’ Responsible For Hike In House Rent In Osun, Residents Claim the rent is, in as much as they have the money to pay instantly. He said landlords and caretakers prefer le ng their houses to Yahoo boys because most of them do not stay long in their house. “Accommoda on fee is now unbearable in Osogbo as we speak. Yahoo boys have made everything so difficult for the aver-
Yusuf Oketola
R
ESIDENTS of Osogbo and Ikirun in the State of Osun have a ributed the hike in house rent to the flamboyant life being lived by internet fraudsters known as yahoo boys in the state. Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that between January and May this year, there have been arbitrary increment in house and shop rents by landlords in Ikirun and Osogbo, a situaon that does not go down well with current and prospec ve tenants. It was noted that the property owners are using the standard of yahoo boys to measure financial strength of the tenants and other people seeking accommoda on. The medium learnt that the yahoo boys do not price down house rent and other charges when they want to get accommoda on. Some tenants who spoke with the medium yesterday decried the arbitrary increment, saying it was coming at a me people were feeling the fangs of hard mes in the state and the country at large. Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a resident of Ikirun, Mr. Banji Abraham, said he had been paying the sum of N60,000 for a room and parlour for the past five years, but the caretaker no fied him recently that the rent has been increased to N120,000. He said: “For the past five years, I have been paying N60,000 annually as house rent for a room and parlour in my area, but to my surprise this month, I got a no ce from the caretaker that the rent has been increased to N120,000 which is 100 per cent increment. “All the tenants in other apartment
•A scene of accident at Ọlá-Iya fly over.
were also given noce of increment of the house rent. We appealled to the landlord to reduce it but he didn’t, blaming it on the economic situa on of the country. “I wonder why house rent in ikirun is now becoming unbearable for the tenants in our community. “You can’t imagine that a standard two-bedroom flat which was N270,000 has been increased to N300,000 and a room apartment of N120,000 to N170,000. Ikirun is not Lagos or Osogbo, the state capital. “The hike have forced some tenants to vacate and move into their uncompleted buildings and why those that doesn’t have are s ll ba ling with the situa on. “Property owners are increasing the house and shop rent because of the money which these yahoo guys are paying them. Rather than making things affordable and comfortable for their tenants, the landlords will want to drive them out to give accommoda on to yahoo boys.” A resident of Osogbo, Mr. Hamzat Kolawole, also stated that the internet fraudsters are major factor for increment in the the house rent. Kolawole stressed that yahoo boys do not care of how much
age residents of the state capital. The issue is that landlords and caretakers prefer to give their accommoda ons to the yahoo boys because of money. “More so, many of these guys do not stay long in such house before they move out. So, the landlord and caretakers have the chance to give out the house to someone else”, he said. Kolawole urged the government to intervene in what he described as extor onate tendencies of the landlords and caretakers in the state.
Public School Pupils Resort To Open Defecation In Ile-Ife Yusuf Oketola
C
OMMUNITY Primary School, IreAkari, Kosere, along Ifewara road, Ile-Ife, is currently in need of urgent renova on. The school which was established in the year 2004 by the administraon of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola is now a shadow of its former self. Pupils of the school have resorted to open defeca on while teachers use neighbourhood toilets because there is no toilet facility in the school which presently has over 120 pupils. The school is only exis ng with two buildings with five classes, one which was built by the administra on of Governor Oyinlola at the me
•One of the dilapidated classrooms. of establishment while the second block was donated by a parent. Inves ga on by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that Primary one and two pupils share same class
•The abandoned toilet built by Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).
while other four classrooms are being used by primary three to six. OSUN DEFENDER visited the school on Tuesday and noted that the two blocks of classrooms in the school were in a dilapidated condi on. Findings by this medium revealed that teachers in the school make use of neighborhood toilets while pupils resorted to open defeca on or go to their respec ve homes to answer calls of nature. Some of the classrooms also lack enough chairs as students were seeing si ng in three instead of one on a seat. A source in the school who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under condion of anonymity pleaded with the state government to take swi ac on in renova ng the school. The source claimed that all teachers in the school resorted to selfhelp by sourcing for fund to cement the floor of the primary one and two class few weeks back. She said: “This school was built in 2004 by the administra on of former
Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola with a single block of three classrooms, while the second block with two classrooms was solely built by a parent. “The condi ons of the two buildings are nothing to write home about as we speak. We have to source for fund on our own to fix the floor of primary one and two class few weeks back. The toilet is also not in a good shape. Teachers find alterna ve from our neighborhood while pupils go home to defecate or find a place in the school environment for open defeca on. “The school is also short of staff. There supposed to be at least one teacher for each of the classrooms but we do not have enough teachers. Also, we have to merge primary one and two together in a single class. “There is no potable water for use as well. The school has wri en different le ers to the state government on the situa on but nothing has been done yet”.
FRIDAY, JUNE 10 - THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
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Feature
Murder In The Cathedral, Blood On The Altar Ismaeel Uthman
N
OISOME odour oozing out from the cathedral. The ground was stained with innocent blood. The floor was li ered with human flesh. Clothes, shoes, sandals, slippers, wristwatches and other belonging of worshipers sca ered around, unclaimed. The owners had been gruesomely killed. The pulpit was not in its usual diness; it was filled with wreckages of explosion, stained with blood. Here are some bibles, soaked in blood. The chairs and wall had been perforated by bullets. Some bullets were stuck in the thick wooden entrance door. Pellets of expended ammuni on on the floor look like that of sophiscated weapon. It was 24 hours a er gunmen unleashed terror on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa Street, Owo, Ondo State. The a ack occurred around 11am on Sunday, June 5, 2022. Many people were killed, while some others sustained gunshot injuries. The following day, Monday, OSUN DEFENDER was part of other concerned people who visited the church. Some could enter the church, many could not; because it was a gory site. Those who entered were mindful of their steps; there was blood everywhere. Individual’s feet were cau oned not to step on human flesh and blood clot. Lifeless human brain, skull and leg were part of the dirts on the floor of the church. The leg was that of a child between five and seven years of age. People were holding their breath; many mouths were filled with unswallowed saliva. Security opera ves were everywhere. Emo on was flowing freely, with curses on the perpetrators of the dastard act. It was not a happy or laughing scene at all. People were trooping in and out of the church premises. Some residents were peeping through the perimeter fence of the cathedral. All the shops on the street were shut. And the street was even deserted, except for security opera ves who were around the place.
Who Carried Out The A ack?
While at the church premises, OSUN DE-
FENDER engaged some residents of the area in deep conversa ons. One of the residents who claimed to have seen the assailants said they were four in number. They rode on a motorcycle, they said. According to one of the residents who refused to men on his name, the assailants were slim and of average heights. Three of them wore black T-Shirt while the fourth person put on green T-Shirt. They kept their guns inside ‘bacco’ bag (sack bag) and removed them at the entrance of the church, the source stated. He said: “The gunmen came with a motorcycle; they were four on it, including the person that rode the motorcycle. The rider dropped the three assailants and went back. The gunmen wore black and each of them carried a sack bag. They approach the gate of the church, loosed the sack bags and brought out guns. At thr me, a small boy, an orphan, who was a hawker, attempted to run when he saw the gunmen. But he was drawn back. The fourth assailant who put on a green T-Shirt joined them and he was le with the li le boy, while the three other gunmen went inside the church. The fourth assailant shot the boy on the head and chest, and he remained at the entrance gate. “Suddenly, we heard a loud noise; we did not know it was an explosion inside the church. The three other gunmen that went inside the church threw dynamite at the people who were trying to hide inside a small space in the church. The gunmen shot at people directly. The people that died are
•The Church’s altar. not less than 40. We did not know the number of people in the hospital.” Asked why they did not report to the police on me, the source said: “The police sta on is close to this place. It is few metres away. We rushed to the sta on but the gate has been locked. There was no police officer in sight. The gunmen operated for about 40 minutes and no security person, including Amotekun opera ves showed up. The gunmen escaped through the Achievers University road. They snatched a two-door car when they le the church to escape.
ISWAP Responsible For Owo Killing – FG
The Federal Government has said that the a ack on the church was carried out by the Islamic State, West African Province (ISWAP). Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, stated this a er a mee ng of the Na onal Security Council in Abuja, yesterday. The minister disclosed that security agencies, par cularly the police, have been directed to apprehend
the perpetrators. He noted that the a ack has no ethnicreligious connec on, affirming that the group’s ac vity has nothing to do with religion. In his remarks, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba stated that the imprints of the perpetrators of the Owo killings have been iden fied, saying that security agencies are now zeroing in on them. Aregbesola had during a condolence visit to Owo, on Monday, described the killing of the worshipers as devastating and senseless. The minister who conferred with the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin on the attack, called for collabora ve efforts between tradi onal ins tu ons and law enforcement agencies in arres ng the fleeing criminals, saying that any piece of informa on on the a ack is important. The former governor of the State of Osun said it was worrisome that the a ack happened in the South-West that has a measure of peace and tranquility. Aregbesola who was also joined by the host
•Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, during his visit to survivors of the attack at Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State.
Governor, Ro mi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State to visit the church. They were received by the church’s assistant officia ng priest, Rev Fr Andrew Abayomi. He said the Federal Government is outraged by the a ack and will leave no stone unturned in ge ng to the root of it.
How It Happened By Priest, Survivor
The Assistant Parish Priest of the church Rev. Fr. Andrew Abayomi, narrated how the unfortunate incident happened. According to him, the a ack came at end of the service, when people were about to leave for their various homes. The priest said: “From what I can s ll recall, towards the close of the mass, in fact, I had told the people, ‘Go forth, the Mass is ended’, and they responded. It was at that moment we heard a loud noise; within me, I thought somebody fell but when I looked at the sanctuary, I saw one of us who could have seen the gunmen from outside. “So, he quickly closed the door. From that moment, a message got to me on the sanctuary that armed gunmen were around. I told the people to enter the Sacred; it is a place behind the sanctuary, to have an escape route. I ran to the inner room with some children and they were saying, ‘Father, pray, pray!’ And I told them to calm down. So, within that moment, I heard about four explosives. “I didn’t see their faces because already, some of us had moved inside the other part of the church where people were using as escape. A er over 20 minutes, where I was, I
was able to pick up my phone, then called the pastor in-charge, because I am an assistant. ‘Father, where are you?’ He said he was s ll at this other place where he had gone to celebrate Mass. I told him, ‘This is what is happening, if you have the contact of security agencies, please call them.’ Then, I called the first assistant too. “So, a er 20 minutes, I got to know that the gunmen have gone. That was when I came out and saw our people lying on the floor. Some were dead and some were wounded. So, I called members who s ll have courage to let us take our brothers and sisters to the hospital. “When I was going to the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, I was told that St. Louis Catholic Hospital, Owo was already filled and rejecting people. Even when I got to FMC, they were already rejec ng people and I had to beg them that even if it is to attend to them outside.” A survivor, Ezenma Kingsley, who was inside the church when the incident happened, said most of the vic ms were women and children. Kingsley said: “I was in the church and I heard gunshots at the gate side; I came out and I saw a tall man with a long face cap, he shot the gun at my side but I guess he didn’t see me. He shot another one again, then I told myself, who is this foolish man shoo ng a gun here? He shot another one; so, I knew there was danger. “I went back inside and I locked the entrance door. Before I could peep through the window, the man was already going through the right side of the church and entered through the other door and he started shoo ng. The shoo ng was too much. “Then, I heard another sound like bomb, a er I regained myself, I looked up and I told myself that the church has not fallen because I was thinking that the bomb will bring it down. They repeated it again with several gunshots. I wanted to jump through the window but I thought some of them could s ll be outside. Some minutes later when I didn’t hear the sound of gun again, I stood up and saw the lifeless body of some of the church members.”
FRIDAY, JUNE 10 - THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
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News
Owo Massacre: Yorubaland Can’t Be Overrun, Says Ooni Sodiq Yusuf
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HE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has said that Yorubaland cannot be overrun, warning that any group planning to destabilise the South-West should desist from such plot immediately. According to the Arole Oodua, the Yorubas have the capacity to defend themselves even though they are peace loving. Ooni stated this in the wake of the a ack on St. Francis Catholic Church, Owa-luwa, Owo, Ondo State, on Sunday, by some gunmen. Oba Ogunwusi who condemned the ‘barbaric a ack’, described it as a gruesome massacre dastardly targeted
•Decries Nigerians Vulnerability at turning Yorubaland to a war zone. In a statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Otunba Moses Olafare, Oba Ogunwusi decried the vulnerability of Nigerians, especially the poor who he said are o en vic ms of violent attacks. He said: “We should all be reminded that Sunday, 6th of June, the day the Owo massacre happened, made it exactly one year when an invading gang of killer herdsmen killed at least over 20 people in Igangan, Ibarapa North local government of Oyo State on Saturday night. Several houses, the palace of the Asigangan and a popular petroleum sta on were burnt
•Oba Adeyeye in the a ack when people were asleep. Exactly a year ago!” Ooni who is the Cochairman of the Na on-
al Council of Tradi onal Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), explained that there have been reports that some criminals are
currently working to invade and wreck-havoc on Yorubaland like the one that just happened in Owo. The Arole Oodua decried lack of intelligence gathering on the part of Nigerian security agencies. He stated: “When calami es like this befalls us without a single trace, the interpreta on is that the intelligence unit of our country’s security architecture is probably faulty or completely missing. “However, we the descendants of Oduduwa cannot be overrun in our own home as we are prepared and ready to defend ourselves against external invaders. “Rather than discouraging us, this will rather strengthen us especially in our resolve to deploy manpower, resources
and technology towards the protec on of lives and property. “The six governors across the South-West region and their brothers na onwide as well as President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government should live up to their oaths of securing Nigerians and ensuring safety for the ci zenry.” Ooni however commiserated with the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III, the en re Owo kingdom, Governor Oluwaro mi Akeredolu, Ondo State Government, the people of Owo, the Priest and parishioners of St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa, Owo, families of all the vic ms, and the en re people of Ondo State over the tragic and senseless killings.
Oloyan Congratulates New OAU VC, Bamire Aregbesola Congratulates
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HE Oloyan of Oyan, Oba Kelani Adekeye, has congratulated the new Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire, on his appointment and inaugura on as the 12th substan ve VC of the university. Bemire’s inaugura on took place on Tuesday at the Oduduwa Hall, OAU Campus. Oba Adekeye, in a congratulatory message on Tuesday, said he was happy that Bamire, an Oyan indigene, became VC in his life me. He described Bamire’s appointment as a reward for hard-work, resilience, integrity and dedicaon to the university’s progress. The tradi onal ruler said he is proud of Bamire’s feat, maintaining that his appointment is nothing but an addi onal value to Oyan. Oba Adekeye said: “On behalf of the people of Oyan, I congratulate my son; a son of the soil, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire,
on his eleva on as the Vice Chancellor of the great Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. “Your appointment is no doubt a reward for dedica on, resilience, integrity and unquan fiable hard-work which are the symbols of every son and daughter of Oyan. “There is no doub ng the fact that Prof. Bamire will not only excel in his new assignment as the OAU VC, he will also make us proud more in character and service delivery.” Adequate Funding, Only Solu on To ASUU Strike – Bamire Speaking a er his inaugura on, Bamire appealed to the Federal
Government to give adequate funding to Universi es, saying it is the only solu on to the incessant industrial ac ons of Academic Staff Union of Universi es. According to him, enhancing the facili es within the system will improve teaching and learning in universi es. He said: “The solu on to ASUU challenges is for the union to be given the opportunity to enhance the facili es within the system, and enhancing the facili es within the system requires that adequate funding is provided for educa on”. Speaking further, the VC promised to improve
PUBLICATION KAYODE YETUNDE DEBORAH I Kayode Yetunde Deborah, wish to state that my date of birth was wrongly written as 13/05/1991 on my WAEC Certificate and during my JAMB registration. I now wish to state that my correct date of birth is 13/05/1993. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public should take note.
•Oba Adekeye
•Bamire
on his predecessor’s achievements as well as increase the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the ins tu on to support government funding. Bamire admonished the OAU students to be pa ent and hope for a speedy resolu on to the ongoing strike. He said: “To the students at home. I am hopeful that the ASUU strike will be called off soon. I want to urge them to be pa ent but at the same me, they should try to learn skills. They should come back to the university with value addi on and that will help alot”.
Tinubu, Says He is A Dogged Fighter Kazeem Badmus
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INISTER of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has congratulated the presiden al candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his emergence. Aregbesola described Tinubu as a dogged fighter who in his quest for the establishment of a democra c society, is willing to go the whole hog. The former two term governor of the State of Osun also charged him to ride on the crest of the momentum and lead the party to victory at the next general elecons. Aregbesola disclosed this in a congratulatory le er personally signed by him and sent to Tinubu on Wednesday. The le er reads in part; “I write to felicitate with you on your hard fought victory at the just concluded Presiden-
•Aregbesola al Primary elec on of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). “You have demonstrated once again that you are a dogged fighter and in your quest for the establishment of a democra c society, you are willing to go the whole hog. “It is my prayer that you will ride on the crest of the momentum of this triumph to lead our party to victory in next year’s General Elec ons. “On behalf of my family and our associates, I hear ly congratulate you on this well deserved victory”.
PUBLICATION OLADEJI ADEYEMI SIMEON MRS. DAHUNSOLA SADE CHRISTIANA That I was formerly That I was formerly known and addressed as known and addressed MISS ADEYEMI as OLADEJI SIMEON SADE OLUFUNKE now wish to be known but now wish to be and addressed as known and addressed OLADEJI ADEYEMI as MRS. DAHUNSOLA SIMEON. All SADE CHRISTIANA. former documents All former documents remain valid. General remain valid. General public should take note. public should take note.
FRIDAY, JUNE 10 - THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022
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News
Osun PDP Spits Fire Over Destruction Of Adeleke’s Campaign Billboards Yusuf Oketola
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HE Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) in the State of Osun has described the destruc on of Senator Ademola Adeleke campaign billboards in several parts of Osogbo and other parts of the state as barbaric and dangerous plot to cause poli cal crisis. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Caretaker Commi ee Chairman of the PDP, Dr Akindele Adekunle, warned that ‘the resort to violence and despera on to prevent Osun people from making their leadership choice in the upcoming governorship elec on will backfire. According to Adekunle, the people are more than ready to ensure that their rights to choose who administer their affairs is not tampered with. He stated that the plot is to in mate and coerce the good people of Osun from vo ng for the PDP in the coming gubernato-
rial elec on. The Chairman said the ac on will be matched not necessarily by equal measure of violence but by whatever it takes legally. He said: “We must inform the whole world of a clandes ne plan to unleash violence on Osun state by those who already feel rejected by overwhelming number of voters, thinking that this will scare them away from exercising their franchise on July 16. “One of such plot is the willful destruc on of Senator Ademola Adeleke billboards to reverse the increasing acceptability of the PDP candidate in all parts of the state. “Let us, for the purpose of emphasis, warn those behind this plot that they will be matched, not necessarily by equal measure of violence but by whatever it takes legally to resist such attempt as to in midate the good people of Osun State or coerce them into submission.
“This will mean we will not hesitate to mobilise Osun people against the violence that is being promoted by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). “It is on this note that we want to urge the whole world to hold the APC responsible for any breakdown of law and order in Osun as we will no longer watch destrucon of our Candidate’s billboards or any other a ack on our campaign materials go without a response. “Osun people can a est to the fact that our campaign has been peaceful so far. “In all our campaign so far, we did not involve in any kind of destrucon or a ack, but kept focus on our message of hope and revival of Osun state and the suffering masses. “However, Let the APC not mistaken our peaceful disposi on for cowardness, just as we warn that we will no longer condone their
•One of the destroyed billboard in Osogbo. deliberate provoca ons. We are peace loving but will not be cowed by those who think the only route to leadership is vi-
olence. Osun people will not accept this barbarity anymore.” The party called on security agencies to rise
up to their primary responsibili es and ensure that poli cal thugs do not have a field day in their act of destruc ons.
Journalist Shot by Osun Policeman Accuses CP Of Twisting Facts Kazeem Badmus
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HE correspondent of The Na on newspaper in the State of Osun, Mr. Toba Adedeji, who was shot by a policeman last week Tuesday, while covering a protest in Osogbo, has accused the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Olawale Olokode of a empt to twist facts of the incident. Adedeji stated this just as he claimed that some unknown faces have been trailing him since the incident happened, calling on the Department of State Security and other security
•Adedeji
agencies to inves gate the development and protect his life. Addressing newsmen on Wednesday, Adedeji expressed his displeasure over reported claim by Olokode that none of his men shot live bullets while dispersing protesters. The Commissioner of Police had reportedly said on a radio programme that it was not a bullet that injured Adedeji but a metal scratch. Olokode claimed that he had obtained a medical report from the Osun State University Teaching Hospi-
tal, Osogbo, which allegedly revealed that Adedeji had metal scratch, as against bullet wound report. But Adedeji said: “I want to state it empha cally here that CP Olokode lied. He said when he came to pay me visit at home that I told him that I was not shot, this is a lie and it
is so unfortunate that it is coming from a senior police officer because we never had such discussion. I told him that I was shot at the scene by policemen led by DPO Oyegade of Dugbe police sta on. “In fact, Olokode was trying to change the narrave as he told me that the
police and hoodlums had shoot out at the scene but I refuted the claim, saying there was no confronta on with the protesters that warranted shoo ng that day. He could not talk ll he le my house that day. “The outburst of lies by the Osun State police further entrench that police should
July 16: We’re Not Moving Out Of APC, Nor Negotiating With stoop low to engage in exercises and the inability Another Party - TOP not contractual poli cs. to declare results ll now David Osundeyi
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HE Osun Progressives (TOP), a caucus of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun, has restated its decision to stay put in the party, saying it will not yield a space to the fairweather poli cians who currently held the party by the jugular. TOP, at its stakeholders mee ng held on Thursday at Oranmiyan House, Osogbo, denounced the rumour making the rounds that the caucus is forging a working rela onship with different par es ahead of the July 16 governorship elec on. The group disowned any individual or group using its name or that of its Patron, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, to nego ate, no ng that the caucus will
Chairman of the caucus, Rev. Lowo Adebiyi, in a press statement, said anybody who is holding discussions with or negoa ng with other poli cal par es is doing it at his own risk. Adebiyi reiterated TOP’s focus of reclaiming the party from the current cesspool of abyss. He urged members of the group all over the state to remain steadfast and resilient in the pursuit of the noble goal. He said: “At least, they should be proud of themselves for the mismanagement of the primary elec ons into the state and na onal assemblies and be convinced that our posi on is ra onal, reasonable and sacrosanct. “The disgraceful protests that followed the
is a vindica on of our posi on that Osun APC is in a mess. “We will always be proud of our inheritance in progressives poli cs hallmarked by life more abundant for the generality of people of Osun. “The Osun Progressives once again called the a en on of the Naonal Chairman of the APC, Senator Adamu Abdullahi to the degeneraon of affairs in Osun APC and stressed the need to put an end to it before it is too late.” The group congratulated Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his emergence as the APC presiden al candidate for the 2023 general elec ons, just as it felicitated with the party and its na onal execuves for the success of the special conven on.
not be trusted for any reasons again because the people of the state are not safe again. Residents of Osun fear policemen more than they fear armed robbers. “Some strange faces who have been trailing me to hospital since the issue happened must also be checked by Directorate of State Services and other security agencies”. Adedeji asked the police commissioner to tender an apology and also provide the officer who shot him. He also demanded an independent inves ga on into the medical report allegedly obtained by the police commissioner. The journalist added: “The Commissioner of Police should tender a public apology for lying that I told him that I was not shot but sustained mere injury. He must retract the statement which are all lies against my personality. “The Police in Osun have lost its leadership and IGP must look for a way to address this before another wind of #EndSARS take over the state. “There should be independent inves ga on into the alleged medical report which the CP claimed was obtained from UNIOSUNTH with a view to finding out the author of the said report”, he demanded.
ISSN : 0794 - 8050
FRIDAY, JUNE 10 - THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2022 VOL. 17 NO 22 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
Crime Murder In The Cathedral, Blood On The Sanctuary
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RADITIONALLY, a poli cal party is supposed to be the vehicle for the people of like minds and same ideology to win elec ons into government with the ul mate agenda to influence public policy in tandem with their party ideological disposi on. It is this ideological leaning that determines whether a poli cal party is progressive or conserva ve. In today’s Nigeria, especially with respect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the major opposi on Peoples Democra c Party (PDP), there is no clear demarca on between the two. In fact, poli cians jump from APC to its Siamese PDP twins and vice versa any me there is poli cal quarrel on who gets what towards eleconeering, since there is no strict binding ideology in the two par es apart from being a pla orm to actualise personal poli cal ambi ons. Mostly across the world, people vote on ideas, principles which define right, le and centre. The agenda is to move society forward by forcing contending par es when in power to implement its policies in order to retain or lose power at the subsequent elecon. Right wing par es enrich sec ons of the middle class and upper layers of the working class to create mass base while le wing pares redistribute wealth to galvanise the poor. In our own case, the two enormously right wing billionaires will be contes ng under the pla orm of two biggest par es on the basis of rota onal presidency without any ideological difference, as over centralisa on of power at the centre has become the central plank. This ar ficial North and South demarca on has replaced le /right wing poli cs, pu ng elecons on regional and parochial issues instead of contending developmental principles. The incumbent PDP Na onal Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, emanated from the defunct Social Democra c Party (SDP) and was elected a Senator and emerged as Senate President under that pla orm in the third Republic (1992-1993). He joined PDP in 1999 where he assisted in campaign to elect General Olusegun Obasanjo which fetched him various ministerial posi ons between 1999 and 2007. In April 2007, he switched to Ac on Congress (AC) as the head of the campaign to elect former Vice President A ku Abubakar as the President under AC pla orm. The incumbent APC Na onal Chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, was a pioneer member of the defunct Na onal Party of Nigeria (NPN) and in fact, first Secretary-General of the party in Plateau State in December 1978 and the party chairman in the state from 1982 to 1983 when the military struck. He became a founding member of PDP in 1998 where he emerged as Nasarawa State Governor for two terms (1999-2007) and in
“There is no iota of ideological leaning from the two leadership. No discerning mind can see any difference between the two leading parties. But democracy is not about logic or reasoning; it is about rule of the majority. If the majority are foolish, the society is jinxed as it will be ruled by their representatives ”
Dollarized Primaries And Conventions 2007 when he le office, he won elec on into the Senate on the PDP pla orm to represent Nasarawa West Senatorial District. He, with other 10 PDP Senators, therea er joined APC on January 29th, 2014. Nasarawa was carved out of old Plateau State on 1st October, 1996 like Osun was carved out of old Oyo State on 27th August 1991. There is no iota of ideological leaning from the two leadership. No discerning mind can see any difference between the two leading par es. But democracy is not about logic or reasoning; it is about rule of the majority. If the majority are foolish, the society is jinxed as it will be ruled by their representa ves. This, however, plays out where democracy is allowed to thrive. Here, the majority is manipulated from the incep on by the very few leadership in the par es who impose their parochial unpopular personal wishes and aspirants on the people through manipulaon of delegates lists and buying of delegates
STRIKER
votes with humongous money, mostly in US Dollars, and other inducements, decep vely making it look as if it is the wish of the majority.This arrangement has kept us in perpetual stagna on and backwardness. Simply put, poli cal par es are not platforms for members to actualise their ideas in government anymore; they are private fiefdoms of party leadership for exclusively personal agenda. What played out in the na onal conven ons of both PDP and APC in choosing their presiden al candidates for 2023 general elec ons was instruc ve. The price tag placed on nomina on form and expression of interest clearly shredded the poor and middle class elements that are deceiving themselves by claiming to be members of these par es. For APC, presiden al nomina on form and fee for expression of interest are N70million and N30million respec vely, totalling N100million; N50million for governorship aspirants; N20million and
Pg. 5
N10million for Senatorial and House of Representa ves aspirants respec vely; and N2million for State House of Assembly aspirants. APC conjoined twins, PDP, fixed its presiden al nomina on form and expression of interest form to N40million, governorship N21million, Senate N3.5million, House of Representa ves and State House of Assembly respec vely N2.5million and N600,000. Without doubt, if it had been a ruling party, its nomina on form could have surpassed that of the APC. The whole process to contest under the pla orms of the two par es was so mone sed, designed and schemed that no decent Nigerian who has genuine interest to contribute to the development of our society could aspire to contest on the one hand and emerge as the candidate on the other, except those who have appropriated our collec ve wealth to their private pockets when they were/are in government. Under this situa on, it doesn’t ma er whichever party wins – PDP/APC – as either will con nue to wreck the country and worsen the miserable life of the poor people. Interes ngly, the poor people who will be largely nega vely affected will also sell their right to good governance over a morsel of bread by collec ng their own bribes to selling their votes to both par es during elecons and submit themselves as willing tools for electoral violence and manipula on. Except this trend is reversed via placing good men with correct idea and orienta on at the leadership of a poli cal party with egalitarian principles and massive social protec on programmes for the poor people, we shall con nue to roll on barber’s chair with development elusive in our society.
Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above
We Can Make It Work
“
WE, The People...” is how the cons tu on always begins; going forwards to itemise how society is to be organised and governed for the a ainment of security of lives and property above all, then freedom and prosperity for all ci zens. The most fundamental ques on in that document is the FORM of that governance structure, and whereas the buck of responsibility stops on the table of the man holding the highest office in land, it is clear that the most essen al responsibility lies with the majority of the ci zens - WE, THE PEOPLE. In the case of Nigeria, “we, the people” clearly stated at the very crea on of Nigeria that our form of government will be that of Federalism: a voluntary, united federa on of autonomous regions, taking into considera on our diversi es as African peoples living in the Niger Area. Since the incursion of the military in January 1966, and over the course of their lengthy, destrucve stay, and inescapably due to their unitary chain of command, a centralised, unitary system of government has been imposed upon the country. Each cons tu on supervised by them and wri en at the beginning of every return to civil rule by their cronies connue to state the truth of the founding ideal, “we, the people... in the Federal
Republic of Nigeria” while living a lie as an over-centralised unitary state. To worsen a very bad status, our unimagina ve and indolent ruling elite became completely dependent for their extravagant living on oil money receipt from crude sales, consequently killing all forms of crea vity, produc vity and industry over a few decades, making poli cs the most lucra ve business from sure access to oil money flowing into the federa on accounts. All other professions and sector of life and the economy come under the mercy of poli cs as poverty and ignorance becomes prevalent. With the civilian poli cal elites’ refusal to revisit the issue of form of government on account of the benefits they reap from the present unitarised system of oil money control and sharing at na onal and state levels, the struggle amongst them to be in charge of the accruals from the federa on alloca on accounts, as presidents and governors (and their hangers-on legislatures) has taken the nas est turn ever, as the country sinks into its most nightmarish level of insecurity, poverty and aliena on, which they care less about. Nothing is spared as tools of poli cal manoeuvre to be in charge of oil money control: banditry, terrorism, religion, bullion vans, ethnicity, thug-
gery, corrup on of the judiciary and jus ce system, lack of internal party democracy, nepo sm, et cetera. Firstly, when democracy becomes as such perverted and useless as a system of delivering security of lives and property, freedom, jus ce and prosperity, democracy s ll remains the most effec ve and efficient means of seeking remedy; all other means lead to violent conflicts and no guaranteed just end. Secondly, when ignorance, poverty and primordial sen ments like tribe and religion become the dominant reali es of society, even the basic assump on of majority rule is undermined when the majority are poor, ignorant, primi vely sen mental and consequently disposed to irra onality in their choices. Accordingly, we are returned to where the founding fathers started, and must work back to “we, the people” in order to achieve our historic des ny. Therefore, it is clearly the me NOW for patriots across all religion, tribe, and poli cal divides, to unite around the founding fathers ideal of a federal republic, and do what needed to be done to return Nigeria to it, outside of but not ignoring current democra c, local and interna onal poli cal reali es. That remains Nigeria’s only saving grace.
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