Osun Defender Online Version Of June 16, 2023

Exposed: Omisore, Oyetola In Cold War

Oyindamola Talabi

THERE is a cold war between the Naonal Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Iyiola Omisore and former governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, OSUN DEFENDER learnt.

The cold war, it was gathered, is not unconnected with the struggle to control APC in the state and the alleged misappropria on of the funds released by the na onal secretariat of the party for Omisore for the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on.

Credible sources confided in OSUN DEFENDER that Oyetola was bi er and found it disappointing that Omisore could allegedly corner 70 per cent of the funds released to him to prosecute the governorship elec on.

According to the sources, Oyetola was also alleging Omisore of posioning himself to contest the 2026 governorship elec on under the APC, and thereby allegedly worked against him during the lifespan of his pe on against the declara on of Sen. Ademola Adeleke as the winner of the governorship elecon.

The sources disclosed that Omisore’s governorship ambi on infuriated Oyetola and some loyalists of the President-elect, Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who have all reportedly made moves to ‘humble’ the former deputy governor of the State of Osun.

They confided in the medium that the ‘Tinubu’s camp’ of the APC are behind the call for Omisore’s removal as the na onal secretary of the party by the Na onal Vice Chairman of the APC, North-West, Dr. Salihu Lukman.

Lukman had been accusing Omisore of destabilising APC further in the State of Osun, instead of uni ng members of the party.

He alleged that the party scribe mismanaged the campaign funds handed over to him by the party for last year’s governorship elec on and also refused to give account of the money, maintaining that Omisore has failed in terms of stabilising Osun and uni ng the people.

Lukman submi ed that Omisore needs to vacate his seat in order to stabilise APC in the state.

Two top members of the IleriOluwa camp of APC in Osun told OSUN DEFENDER that Oyetola is sensi ve to every po-

li cal move of Omisore and did not want to give a chance for him to own the party.

“Omisore is a empting to takeover the party, and oga (Oyetola) is very aware of his move. Oye-

tola is the leader of the party in Osun, but Omisore is trying to outsmart everybody because of his 2026 governorship ambion. We will be stupid to just allow him rob us of the party structure”, said

a Thank You visit to the Governor Ad-

one of Oyetola’s loyalists.

However, Omisore, according to some of his poli cal followers, was not happy with the way Oyetola is running the affairs of the APC in the state.

According to them,

Oyetola has not been giving due courtesy to Omisore in the administra on of the party.

One of Omisore’s staunch supporters who iden fied himself as Sunday said: “One thing we

find difficult to believe is the claim that Oyetola is the leader of the APC in Osun, that is where the problem lies. How would you say a former governor is a leader of a party when a na onal secretary of that party is alive and func oning well?

“All of us are one but the way these people are doing things, it is like they are feeling threatened by Apesin. As far as party hierarchy is concerned, Apesin is the leader of APC in Osun. He is the na onal secretary of the party; he should be given due respect.

“Oyetola has been running the party’s affairs without consul ng him (Omisore), that is wrong. We need to work as one family.”

OSUN DEFENDER noted that supporters of the former governor have taken to their various Facebook accounts to declare him as the leader of the party in the State, while some of Omisore’s followers have also declared him as the leader of the APC in Osun.

Osun Govt. Activates Flood Control Plans

Ismaeel Uthman

THE State Government of Osun has ac vated preven ve measures to control flooding in every part of the state amidst downpour.

Part of the flood control plans include clearing of waterways, streams, rivers and blocked drainages across the state.

The Director of Floods and Engineering Services, Ministry of Environment and Sanita on, Engineer Kamorudeen Odesanmi, disclosed this on Tuesday in Osogbo, according to a report by the Informa on Officer of the Ministry, Olubunmi Badiora.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that the ac on of the

government came on the heel of the flood incidents that occurred in some parts of Osogbo, the state capital, last weekend.

Part of the areas ravaged by flood included Rasco, Alekuwodo, Awosuru, Alie, Sasa, among others.

In response to the incident, the state govern-

ment has begun dredging of streams at Okoko, Alie and Gbonmi as well as capital area, Ikire, Ile-Ife and Iwo.

Odesanmi said Adeleke was deeply touched by the wanton destruc on of property by the flash floods, and as a result commissioned the ministry to immediately ac vate the

Census: Postponement Gives Room For Perfection - NPC

Kazeem Badmus

THE Na onal Popula on Commission (NPC) has said the postponement of the 2023 Popula on and Housing Census, earlier scheduled to hold between May 3 and 7, 2023, has given room for the commission to perfect its processes and system needed for the conduct of the exercise.

The commission also said some of the devices needed for the conduct of the census were not ready at the me of postponement.

NPC Federal Commissioner in the State of Osun, Sen. Mudashiru Hussein, stated this during a mee ng with newsmen in Osogbo, the state capital.

Hussein said the task before the commission was to ensure that all the resources expended so far were preserved so that the country will not need to start all over when the census is to be conducted.

He said: “Former president Muhammadu Buhari

postponed the main census in order to give the new government the opportunity to have input but the ac vi es are s ll ongoing.

“The postponement also gives the commission the opportunity to further perfect the processes and system for the conduct of the first general digital cen-

sus.

“It is a blessing in disguise because if we were to hold the census then, we may be short of devices to be used by our ad-hoc staff

“The commission has acquired personal digital assistance for the 2023 census. About 500,000 of these devices have been deliv-

ered in the 36 states and FCT and configured for the exercise. We are s ll expecting 350,000 devices which have been approved before the exit of former president Muhammadu Buhari.

“Conscious of the enormous human and material resources that have been expended in the implementa on of these preparatory ac vi es, the most important task before this commission is to sustain and re-enforce the relevance of these ac vi es for the successful conduct of the 2023 census.

“This will ensure that the na on does not have to start afresh with the conduct of the census, thereby, saving cost.

“The focus of the commission is to ensure that all the resources expended so far are safeguarded and the na on does not need to start all over when the census is to be conducted.”

He added that adequate arrangement was made for the storage of the equipment to be used to prevent damage and the

state’s flood control plans.

He said: “The Government is on top of the situa on. As I’m talking to you, our machines are at work at various towns within the state.

‘’Our teams are opening up some waterways in some areas and we are not going to stop un l we have concluded it.

“Every nook and cranny of the state will be cleared and no efforts will be spared at protec ng lives and property of the residents. That is the mandate given to the ministry by Governor Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke”.

In his reac on, the Spokesperson to the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, who also doubles as the Chairman of Osun Govermor’s Advisory Council on Environment, disclosed that the state has a flood preparedness plan to put a permanent stop to flooding in every part of the state.

Olawale called on residents of the state to play their part by avoiding indiscriminate dumping of refuse inside drainages, waterways and streams.

“His Excellency said the populace must try as much as possible to avoid dumping of refuse in waterways and drainages because when you block drainages, there is bound to be flood and when that happens, proper es are lost to the flood water”, he stated.

•The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Tajudeen Abass, paid

emola Adeleke yesterday

IN the end, it was an an -climax, the outcome of the elec ons of the principal officers of the Na onal Assembly went very much as expected. Nevertheless, the race for the President of the Senate was disturbingly close. The new Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, won by a margin of just thirteen votes. This implies that a high number of the Senators were impervious to the need for sensi vity as well as diversity in the composi on of the principal officers, the insensi vity is bothersome!

Now that it is all over, they must se le down to work. The prospects are daun ng; however, the new government has started with a determined gait. The new na onal assembly must deepen the new thrust not by being the subservience “rubber-stamp” but in the spirit of what the French depict as cohabita on. This indicates a respect for the doctrine of the Separa on-OfPowers while maintaining rigorous scru ny and the oversight of the execu ve without being obstruc onist or going into legisla ve gridlock.

The new principal officers must up the ante on the technical efficacy of the legislature. The me is overdue for example to put together a Congressional Budget Office (CBO); this will allow the legislators to have

persona will have been confirmed as the Governor of the Central Bank. Lessons of a painful kind must be learnt from this debacle. It must be averted in the future; this means that the odious charade of “ bow and go confirma ons “ must stop! Diligent, rigorous scru ny is now unavoidable.

A lot of people will be scru nised in the next few weeks, the assembly must insist that por olios be attached to the names of the nominees to facilitate proper assessment. Without a aching the intended por olio what is the purpose of the exercise?

research facili es and technical backup to scru nise more diligently.

A CBO is necessary to avert the sort of disasters we are ge ng used to, the most recent been the disastrous use of the instruments of ways

and means. The complexity of a modern economy in the digital age makes it impera ve for parliaments to be more technically empowered and the largest economy in Africa must not be le behind, it must be at the forefront!

We are at an extraordinary intersec on and the Na onal Assembly will be crucial in the an cipated redirec on of the na onal ethos.

The recent Emefiele debacle is a forewarning about the need for diligent appraisal of the capacity and character of prospec ve poli cal appointees. Had a sensible confirmaon process been undertaken, it is unlikely that a clearly inadequate

Not Yet Uhuru Maintaining The Moment

THE new government has started with vigour and is demonstra ng the capacity to take the necessary hard decisions which have been long delayed at the detriment of the na on. This is admirable and must con nue.

The decision taken on Wednesday to in effect merge the exchange rate is commendable. Of course, it contains an ele-

ment of evalua on which us inevitable.

Mul ple exchange rates of the kind which has now ended was propelled and sustained by corrup on. It never made any economic sense and was destruc ve to the country’s economy and stalled the inflow of desired foreign investments, it was ruinous.

The new alignment will now make

the country a more desirable investment des na on and make the economic climate more desirable as well as predictable. A situa on in which airlines had 800 million dollars trapped in Nigeria which is the highest in the world did not portray a country with a ra onal economic management, thank God the nightmare is over.

The Discourse

In the United States of America which we claim to emulate, confirma on hearings are conducted in the most serious manner, not for the faint of heart. For example, former governor of the State of Massachuse s, William Weld, a er two years of being nominated as ambassador to Mexico by President Obama, had his nomina on stalled in the Senate. It had to be withdrawn and he was then renominated as Ambassador to Poland which was then approved. Mexico and Poland are different from each other, requiring different personnel to be sent to represent the USA as Ambassador, we should learn from this.

We wish the tenth Na onal Assembly well and hear ly congratulate the new principal officers.

Speculators of course will try to manipulate the situa on for immediate gains, this will however be temporary as we saw when fuel subsidy was removed.

The pain will be temporary and the government must be resolute in the face of saboteurs.

It is a long overdue policy thrust and must be supported.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola: A Titan With A Difference (Part III)

Olalere Fagbola

WHO could have imagined that God had predes ned Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as a Governor whom he was protec ng, and preparing for the seat but whose iden ty was not revealed clearly to me un l his elec on for the second term in office 2014?

What God gives He keeps.

In 2006, God specifically directed me along with a team of intercessors who are my friends and colleagues in Ibadan District Prophe c Council to intercede for a Commissioner in Lagos whom we later iden fied as Rauf Aregbesola so that he would protect him from danger. This was contained in my Yearly Revela on magazine for year, 2007, published on page 12 of The Watchman Magazine “special souvenir edi on. The account stated thus: “For the first quarter of the year, 2007, however, God is calling for serious prayer-intercession for a foremost tradi onal ruler in South-West for sound health, El-Rufai for protec on against the adversary and a strong poli cal stalwart in Ibadan against serious ill health that may aggravate in the second quarter of the year.

“Others for whom the Lord is calling for persistent prayer intercessions included... a Commissioner in Lagos State.

We prayed sincerely through the first

quarter of the year and it fell out that Aregbesola escaped death by the whiskers on April 7, 2007.

In his book, “Guerilla Journalism”, Kola Olabisi had wri en his encounter with death face to face, adding that “The crowd that had dispersed when the marauder came calling reemerged and it was then that the mission of the hired killers was to silence Engineer Aregbesola, his running mate, Otunba (Mrs) Grace Ti Laoye-Tomori because it was observed that the snipers succeeded in shoo ng into Aregbesola and Laoye-Tomoris offices but without hi ng their intended targets as the two frontline poli cal figures were not around when the agents of death came.

According to the author; “the saving grace for Aregbesola on that day was that he had a ended a marriage ini a on of one of the daughters of Otunba Jumoke Ogunkeyede and that by ins nct, Rauf headed for Lagos instead of coming to where hell could have been let loose on him.

As I had always stated in some of my yearly

revela on books, “I have not controlled events but confess plainly that events have controlled me.

Few weeks to the August 9, 2014 governorship E=elec on in Osun State, I saw in my dream that people whose houses were demolished to pave way for road projects in the State were

the same people embracing Aregbesola and cas ng their votes for him. I could not believe my eyes. From then on, I knew interpreta vely that it meant victory for him.

OSUN DEFENDER

Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd.

Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman

Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa

It was in 2006 that God first gave me a trance experience on Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for whom he asked me to organize a team of intercessors towards warding off certain danger looming along his way. It was not un l 2014 that the vision of his re-elec on for a second term cket came home vividly to me even without any shadow of doubt that he is indeed God- chosen.

Reporter – Yusuf Oketola

Reporter – Kazeem Badmus

Photo Journalist – Shola Aderinto

Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, State of Osun ISSN : 0794-8050

Telephone : 0809-301-9152

Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php

e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com osundefenderbank@gmail.com

All correspondence to the above email addresses.

It has taken me eight years altogether to understand and key into the prophe c fulfilment of God’s plan for him. It was the same thing with Alhaji Lam Adesina whose vision the Lord showed me in 1991 that he would become governor but whose fulfilment came to be in 1999, taking eight years of wai ng. Why has it taken eight years to acvate his words of prophecy?

“A lot of people will be scrutinised in the next few weeks, the assembly must insist that portfolios be attached to the names of the nominees to facilitate proper assessment. Without attaching the intended portfolio what is the purpose of the exercise?”

“The Lord told me, Aregbesola is the titanic tree and that He would not allow his adversaries to prevail against him”

•Welcoming the new principal officers

MURIC Under Attack Over ‘Bias Comment’ On Aregbesola, Oyetola Feud

•Osun Muslim Community, Grant Mufti Of Yorubaland, Scholar React

Ismaeel Uthman

THE Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has come under a ack over its comment on the feud between President Bola Tinubu and immediate past minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as well as the former governor of the State of Osun, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola.

Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the Execu ve Director of MURIC, had last weekend declared that Aregbesola offended Tinubu and Oyetola and Muslim community in the South-West for allowing the state to slip away from a Muslim governor as of then.

Akintola was responding to Aregbesola’s statement where he said: “We didn’t offend anyone and we don’t believe anyone offended us but they may believe we offended them, that’s why we are apologising to them”.

However, in a swi reac on, he Khalimul Muslimeena of Oyo Kingdom, Sheik Daud Tijani, popularly known as Igi-Ogun, berated Akintola for his comments, declaring that it was wrong of him and his organisa on to have commented in such manner without adequate informa on.

Tijani wondered why an organisa on like MURIC, which is expected to be apoli cal on issues, was taking sides and cas ng aspersions on personali es without taking steps to either resolve or preach peace.

He spoke in a short video obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday.

Tijani cau oned Muslim organisa ons and religious leaders to be fair and objec ve and follow prescribed injunc ons in the holy books before dabbling into issues, so as not to incur the wrath of Allah.

The Khadimul Musleemena of Oyo kingdom said Akintola’s statement on the feud between Aregbsola and Tinubu shows how par san his organisa on is on the ma er, sta ng that in line with prac ce, MURIC is not even in the right posi on to comment on such ma ers.

The erudite Islamic scholar queried why MURIC which did not join his and other clerics efforts to resolving the feud with the interven on of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, would suddenly take a posi on on a ma er it did not make efforts to find a solu on to.

He said: “As Muslims, we must play a vital role in conflict resolu on. Therefore, in the conflict between

Asiwaju and Aregbesola, the TMC and MSSN all over Nigeria played a vital role in ensuring that peace reigns once again between the two because they both need our prayers.

“So, for MURIC to condemn one person in the newspapers shows they are just looking for what to eat. If someone listens to what MURIC is saying, it shows he is a fana c, and he can also be referred to as a mere journalist. Therefore, he can’t be referred to as a scholar.”

This is just as the the Grand Mu i of Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta, Sheikh Daood Imran Molaasan, called on Tinubu to reconcile all tendencies in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun.

Reconciling the tendencies, Molaasan said, will unite not only the immediate past Minister of Inte-

NDLEA Arrest 18 Suspected Drug Dealers In Osun

Yusuf Oketola

NO fewer than 18 suspected drug dealers have been arrested by Osun command of the Na onal Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), at different loca ons in the state.

According to the Public Affairs Officer of the command, Charles Odigie, the suspects were arrested between May 26 and June 5, 2023.

Odigie, in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, noted that the suspects included 14 males and four females.

Some of the suspects were arrested at Sabo and Atakunmosa markets while the one of the female suspects was apprehended at Araromi Oke-odo in IfeSouth local government in an opera on that lasted for four days.

Odigie disclosed that the suspected drug dealers engaged the team of the NDLEA who carried out the

opera on in a gun ba le at Sabo, Ilesa before they were arrested.

According to Odigie, parts of the exhibits recovered are; cannabis sa va, tramadol, diazepam and otter dangerous drugs.

He said: “The mop up opera on for NDLEA Osun State command which lasted for four days resulted in the arrest of 17 persons which includes 14 males and 3 females. The team encountered some hoodlums at

Sabo in Ilesa who engaged the officers in a gun duel.

“Inves ga on is going as regards the arrested persons who were found with different types of drugs which included cannabis sa va,Tramadol Diazepam and other dangerous drugs, of special men on is the sale of hard drugs inside Sabo and Atakumosa markets in Ilesa.

“Also, on Monday 5th of June, 2023, a team of operaves conducted a raid opera on at Araromi Oke-Odo in Ife-South LGA where one Adewole Abidemi ‘F’, 31yrs was arrested with dried weeds suspected to be cannabis sa va weighing 75kg”.

Reac ng to the arrest, the State Commander of the NDLEA, Chidi Nnadi, commended the efforts of the officers and also warned drug barons and peddlers to stop their illegal business or be ready to go to jail.

Nnadi reiterated his commitment to rid the state of drug barons and peddlers while advising them to relocate from Osun, no ng that the heat will be too much for them to bear.

rior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and former governor of the State, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, but also put a stop to misinforma on and bi er poli cs being played by certain individuals and organisa ons.

Molaasan, in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER in Iwo, on Tuesday, chided MURIC for what he described as unguided statement and uninformed comment on the ri between Aregbesola and Oyetola.

The cleric urged Muslims in Osun and South-West in general to ignore the statement released by the Execu ve Director of MURIC, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, where he declared that Aregbesola was guilty in the ri between him and Oyetola.

According to Molaasan, Akintola’s comment was unbecoming of a professor, an informed personality and somebody who want to broker peace between two warring Muslim brothers.

He said: “On what went wrong between Aregbesola and Oyetola, nobody understands it be er than us. I was ac vely involved. Aregbesola was not at fault. It was those suppor ng Oyetola, because of their interest, that led him astray. And in Osun today, Aregbesola is a factor.

“How can you be asking whoever is seeking an appointment or any government opportuni es to swear to make an enemy of Aregbesola before he or she can be considered?

“We are the ones thinking of Islam, many of their supporters were only thinking of poli cs. And as Aregbesola has said, “We didn’t offend anyone and we don’t believe anyone offended us but they may believe we offended them, that’s why we are apologising to them”. This is the best statement ever for someone offended and yet apologizing.

“Oyetola offended so many Muslims, and many of his policies upturned many things Aregbesola did for the benefit of Muslims when he did not know the ideology behind them.

“Neither Aregbosola nor Oyetola represents the Muslim Ummah. They represent their party. If Muslim Ummah wants relevance, let them be ac ve in poli cs. So, on Osun, blame Oyetola, not Aregbesola.

“It is unfortunate that Prof. Ishaq Akintola of MURIC could come out to make comment on something he does not know about. His comment on the ri between Aregbesola and Oyetola shows that he is not informed, or rather being economical with the truth. That is unbecoming of a profession, or an informed personality or somebody who want to broker peace between two warring Muslim brothers.”

Also, the Osun Muslim Community decried what it described as ‘complete misinforma on’ from MURIC on the personality of Governor Ademola Adeleke of the State of Osun.

MURIC had in its comment on Aregbesola and Oyetola feud said the ex-minister handed over the state to a Chris an (Adeleke) on a pla er of gold.

Responding to MURIC, the Osun Muslim Community, in a press statement on Monday, expressed displeasure on the organisa on’s statement.

Signed by its President, Mustafa Olawuyi, the statement reads in part: “Osun State Muslim Community notes with displeasure, the posi on expressed by MURIC which is based on complete misinformaon on the person of Governor Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke.

“We wish to affirm without fear of contradic on that our Governor is a Muslim and no one has any right to think otherwise of someone who pronounces the Kalimah and never denies the faith in the belief of oneness and supremacy of Allah.

“We affirm that the feud between former Governors of Osun State, Ogbeni Abdul Rauf Aregbesola and Alhaj Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola is being addressed at the appropriate higher levels and that should be very much appreciated and supported.

“We seize this opportunity to assure His Excellency, Governor Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke and generality of Muslims in the State that we give full support to Governor Nurudeen Adeleke as a good, hardworking and trustworthy brother Muslim who is performing posi ve wonders in the State every moment.

“We appreciate MURIC’s effort and sincerity in advoca ng for social jus ce in Nigeria. However, we would advise that the source of any informa on to be disseminated should be carefully verified from appropriate sources and organiza ons on ground to always prevent such embarrassment in the future.”

•Prof. Akintola

Osun Assembly Election: Tribunal Okays Action Alliance’s Petitions

Yusuf Oketola

THE elec on pe ons tribunal, si ng in Osogbo, Capital of the State of Osun, has given the Ac on Alliance (AA) the go ahead to con nue with its pe ons against the outcome of the House of Assembly elec on held in the state on March 18 this year.

Earlier, counsel to the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) had urged the court to dismiss the pe ons based on some reported irregulari es.

The Ac on Alliance is challenging the results of the elec on in 22 cons tuencies won by candidates of the PDP.

However, when the case came up on Tuesday, the tribunal dismissed both PDP and APC’s objecons to the AA’s pe ons, saying that the party has right to challenge the outcome of the elec on.

The tribunal also declared that the party has the right to change its

counsel as the law allows pe oners to change counsels whenever they deem fit.

This was borne out of the AA’s request to discon nue the service of its former counsel, Mr Muhydeen Adeoye, and present Onyinye Nweze as the new counsel.

Adeoye who was represented by Kafayat Sanusi at the tribunal alleged that the law firm was yet to be paid.

But the Na onal Chairman of the party, Dr. Adekunle Rufai Omoaje who was also present in court, denied the Sanusi’s claim, telling the tribunal that his party engaged the services of Kunle Adegoke, SAN and no other person.

Omoaje said the transfer of the legal services was not known to him, no ng that his party prefers the services of Nweze.

The tribunal granted AA’s request to change his counsel, just as it adjourned the case to August 15, 2023 for hearing.

•Approves Change Of Counsel

Subsidy: Commercial Drivers Lament Alleged Extortion By Police On Osogbo Roads

Kazeem Badmus

COMMERCIAL mini-

bus (korope) drivers in Osogbo, State of Osun have alleged some police officers of extor ng them on some networking roads in the state capital.

They lamented that in spite of the economic hardship occasioned by removal of fuel subsidy, the police have con nued to extort money from them.

The drivers who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at different loca ons in Osogbo, said the police officers had sta oned themselves in many parts of the state capital, to extort them and harass anyone who declined to give them money.

Some of the loca ons where the commercial drivers are allegedly being extorted by the police are: Oke Baale, Isale Osun, Old Garage, Ayetoro, Lameco, Tes ng Ground, Agunbeelewo, Kola Balogun and Technical.

According to the drivers, the police officers were always at the spots every day except Sunday, a situa on the medium confirmed.

They appealed to the Commissioner of Police in the State, Mr Kehinde Longe, to prevail on the officers, saying that the effects of the fuel subsidy

removal were already hitng them.

A driver, Abiodun Omololu, while speaking with the medium, said he spent between N500 and N600 a day as se lement for the policemen, noting that they (police) will delay him if he refused to path with money.

According to him, the police officers were not bothered about checking their papers or what they have inside their buses but the money they wanted to collect from the drivers.

He said: “This is what we are passing through everyday from the police officers. Osogbo roads are now witnessing more police officers than before but they are not doing their job.

“I am not against police officers on our roads but they are not meant to be extor ng us, par cularly at this hard period when everybody is just trying to survive.

“Daily, I give out between N500 to N600 to these police officers. That does not include the money we give to transport unions and other road agencies. I don’t know how they want us to survive.”

Another driver who iden fied himself as Adisa Kabiru told the medium that the police officers always delay him whenever he refused to give them

Abandoned Telecom Masts Threaten Lives In Osun Communities

Yusuf Oketola

money.

Kabiru said the policemen collected between N50 and N100 at different spots from each of the commercial drivers daily.

He called on the State Government and relevant stakeholders to come to their aid and stopped the officers from their alleged extor onate prac ce.

“If you are going to Agunbeelewo from Ota Efun, you will meet police officers at about three to four places before ge ng to your des na on.

“They are at Ayetoro, Old Garage, Lameco and Agunbeelewo and what they are a er is the money they wanted to collect from us.

“Failure to pay them will lead to delay. You can only be lucky if you have a friend among them. The amount they charged is N50 and N100.

“I want to appeal to the State Government and the relevant stakeholders to help us talk to these officers on the need to stop extor ng us. Everyone knows how the country is now”, he lamented.

When contacted Police Public Rela ons Officer, Osun command, Mrs. Yemisi Opalola said she was not aware of the alleged act of the police officers.

Opalola promised to make findings on the allega on.

RESIDENTS of Tooto, very close to Iwo in the State of Osun, has raised the alarm over abandonment of a highrise three-legged telecommunica on mast in the community.

According to the residents, the mast has been abandoned for more than seven years without any move from the owner to remove it.

The Baale of Tooto, Chief Lukman Lawal, explained that the mast had been le inac ve, lamenting that all his efforts to prevail on the service provider to remove it fell on deaf ears.

He disclosed that the mast had been vandalised many mes.

“We have told the company that owns it (the mast) many mes to come and pack all their belongings here, par cularly the

mast, but they have refused to do so.

“The community feels unsafe with this gigan c structure which might have been deteriora ng,” Lawal told journalists.

In a report by Foundaon for Inves ga ve Journalism (FIJ) there is another abandoned mast at Tes ng Ground in Iwo.

The mast is said to belong to the defunct radio O.Y.O., a radio sta on owned by the old Oyo State government.

It was gathered that since the radio sta on became moribund more than two decades ago, the mast has been standing unused on a vast stretch of land.

OSUN DEFENDER learnt that some people had turned the building housing the mast to a home.

The medium also gathered that there is an abandoned telecom mast on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-

Ife.

According to the sta on’s site ID IHS_ OSU_1011B, the network infrastructure is a property of IHS Towers, a network infrastructure provider. IHS confirmed ownership of the mast in OAU and promised to improve the outlook of the site for future use.

“We confirm ownership of the site on the grounds of Obafemi Awolowo University. This site is not acve, and we have been assessing its future use.

“The safety and security of all IHS sites is our key priority and appropriate measures are in place at this site.

“In the immediate term, we are taking steps to dy and improve the presenta on of the site. We appreciate you reaching out to us on this matter,” the company said in an emailed response to FIJ.

•Members of Osun Civil Societies Coalition in a processional walk to mark this year June 12 celebration

Photo: Shola Aderinto

African Child Day: Imole Foundation To Honour Osun Gov’s Wife

AS part of this year’s celebra on of African Child Day, a nongovernmental organisa on, Imole Founda on, under the auspices of the Spectacular Interna onal Magazine, will today (Friday), honour Mrs Ti lola Adeleke, wife of the Governor of the State of Osun.

Osun Labour Party Suspends N’tnl. Legal Adviser, State Women Leader

•Continued from Page 1

“We cannot shy away from the fact that some members of the party have been a emp ng to take advantage of the crisis at the na onal level to cause confusion and division in Osun State Chapter of the Labour Party. We equally acknowledge the presence of members with inordinate ambi on, which is gradually leading to the fac onalisa on of the party.

“The public should note that the en re drama of indignity going on in Labour Party is being sponsored by an electoral bandit whose main aim is to use fake Labour Party Na onal Working Commi ee to scu le the weighty pe on that the party and its presiden al candidate, H.E Mr. Peter Obi tabled before the Presiden al Elecon Tribunal.

“We observe that if the ac vi es of these undemocra c persons is not checked on me, it will either weaken the Labour Party structure in Osun or collapse it totally.

“Based on the foregoing, the State Execu ve Council of the Labour Party met on Thursday, May 11, 2023 to address all the issues and forge a way forward.

“We affirm and assert our loyalty, support and commitment to the Na onal Working Commi ee of our great party led by our lawfully recongnised

Na onal Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure.

“For the records, the Chairman of the Labour Party in Osun State remains Prince Adebayo Bello. Any other person parading himself in the above posi on is blatantly commi ng impersona on and may face the wrath of the law.

“All iden fied cardcarrying members of the Labour Party who were part of the so-called NEC meet-

ing that took place in Bauchi, Bauchi State on Wednesday, 3rd, May 2022 hereby suspended from the party.

“Among those idenfied and affected by this decision are Barr. Samuel Oyelekan Akingbade (Na onal Legal Adviser) and Mrs. Suzan Ojo (State Women Leader).

“These two members stand suspended for an party ac vi es and gross misconduct.

This decision will be forwarded to the Naonal Working Commi ee of the Labour Party and other relevant bodies for further ac ons.”

Adebayo called on members of the party and the general public to disregard anyone or group parading him or themselves as state officials of the Labour Party in Osun outside the duly cons tuted and recognised State Exco led by himself.

The event which will hold at the Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo, by 10:00 am, has the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba, (Dr) Adedokun Abolarin as the Royal Father of the day.

A statement by the Convener of the founda on, Hembadoon Babatunde, described Mrs Adeleke as an icon of hope and a mother whose unwavering commitment and reless efforts in championing the cause of the children’s rights are unequalled and commendable.

It added that the interna onal magazine

would officially launch its non-governmental organisa on, Imole Founda on, and present to the public its first book tled “Wounds That Time Won’t Heal” authored by the founder.

The Head of the Legal Unit of the University of Osun Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Barr. Abimbola Olopade is going to deliver a paper on “Maintaining Zero Tolerance Against Any Form of Abuse, Neglect or Exploita on of Osun State Child “at the occasion.

Ataoja Not Behaving Like A Royal Father – Basiru

Kazeem Badmus

SENATOR Ajibola Basiru, the immediate past Spokesperson of the Nigerian Senate, has taken a swipe at the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, describing him as a par san monarch.

Basiru, who represented Osun Central Senatorial District at the 9th assembly, said Oba Olanipekun had ceased to act like a royal father and has given himself out to par san poli cs.

He berated the monarch; saying he has been ac ng like a card-carry-

ing member of the Peoples Democra c Party.

The senator stated this during a valedictory press conference at his office in Osogbo, on Wednesday.

Basiru claimed that Oba Olanipekun was subservient to the Adeleke dynasty in

Ede, while his palace has been turned into a mee ng point for the PDP.

The Osogbo born poli cian said the Ataoja’s claims that he (Basiru) didn’t do anything for the palace as a senator was not true.

He said: “To put on

record, I won in Osogbo and Olorunda local government. I won in Ward 1 unit 15 which is adjacent to the palace of Ataoja.

“I did not go to campaign in the palace of Ataoja because as far as I know him, he has ceased to act as a monarch. He is ac ng as a card-carrying member of the Peoples Democra c Party.

“I know today that it is his palace that they are doing mee ng of PDP. I don’t have any personal quarrel with him.

“As a senator, I put a 45kv generator in his palace, I put electrificaon and I supported the palace beau fica on project with a huge sum of money. I would not have men oned it if he had not said I did not do anything for him.

“If he now feels that he wants to serve his masters in country home, Ede, he is free to do so. If he wants to be a poli cian, let him connue to do his poli cs.”

Kazeem Badmus

•Mr. Israel Afolabi and his wife in a group photograph with members of Osun State House of Assembly Correspondents after the naming ceremony of their children on Wednesday

Photo: Shola Aderinto

•Ajibola Basiru

•Titilola Adeleke

•Oba Olanipekun

Osun Athletes Protest Poor Welfare, Seek Restructuring Of Sport Council

Yusuf Oketola

ATHLETES in the State of Osun, on Tuesday, protested against alleged poor welfare and lack of mo va on by the state government, lamen ng that they were suffering.

The protesters occupied the front gate of Osogbo Township Stadium, blocking some workers in the Sports Council from entering the premises.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, the athletes said, despite winning several internaonal and na onal awards, they have not been receiving mo vaon from the state government, adding that most of them were already exi ng Osun to other states.

The athletes called for the total restructuring of the state sports council.

One of the athletes, a Commonwealth medalist, Islamiyat Yusuf, told the medium that there were no facili es and equipment available for them to train.

Yusuf explained: “I have won medals in a lot of compe -

ons at both interna onal and na onal levels. The last one was during the Commonwealth held in Birmingham last year where I won the bronze medal in weightli ing.

“We are here to express our

feelings and fight for our rights regarding the award, facili es, equipment and employment level. We, the athletes are suffering here. Majority of us have le for other states.

“As a Commonwealth me-

dalist, if you see where I am training, you will pity me. We don’t have enough training facilies there.”

A Paralympic powerli ing athlete, Rasaq Olawale, said the state government of Osun

in very poor in apprecia ng and mo va ng the athletes.

According to him, the sports council needed to be restructured, saying they were s ll using the same training kits bought during the old Oyo State.

Madrid 2023: Real Building A Scary New Team

WITH the addi on of Jude Bellingham, and expected signing of Kylian Mbappe, los Blancos are construc ng another winning team ahead of the new season.

That of Jude Bellingham sorted, then. Real Madrid are set to officially announce the signing of the best young midfielder in world football, bringing in the 19-year-old for an ini al €103 million (£88m/$110m).

A er taking a measured approach to player recruitment for a few years, Madrid are back with another marquee signing.

And, remarkably, this could just be the start of a special window for Floren no Perez.

Kylian Mbappe could be on his way to the Spanish capital this summer a er telling PSG that he does not plan on signing a contract extension.

The star forward now has only one year le on his deal,

and the Parisians have insisted that they will sell him if he refuses to commit his longterm future to the club.

This has all been set up perfectly for Madrid to swoop in. Mbappe won’t come cheap, but Real have always wanted him - a feeling that is very much mutual.

The fact that Karim Benzema departed for the Saudi Pro League two weeks ago makes Mbappe a necessity, too. This summer will be both

busy and expensive, then. But this is Real Madrid. The spending will con nue next year.

The Galac co concept has died off at this point - the glitzy side Perez put together

during his first spell at the Sanago Bernabeu didn’t actually win that many trophies. But the concept of making one big signing every summer seems to be back.

Olawale noted, “The last me those of us represen ng Osun State got an award was in 2012, and it doesn’t give us mova on. Other states are not like that. For example, in Ogun State, whenever they (athletes) come back from any compe on, the state government will award the athletes as a sign of encouragement.

“Most of us here, especially, persons with disabili es, do not have any other thing we are doing except sport, but, unfortunately, those begging for alms in the street are almost be er than us. Since 2012 when former governor Rauf Aregbesola gave us an award, we haven’t received any other.

“Nobody recognised us for all the championships we have par cipated in. We are just working without any encouragement. We want restructuring in our sports council. The kits we are using to train are the ones we have been using since the old Oyo State.

“Our lives as athletes are not safe because the stadium we used in training welcomes everybody and there is no proper security for us.

“We don’t have good facili es and enough equipment. Some mes, we sponsored ourselves to compe ons. We want posi ve and total restructuring.”

No Nation Can Beat Super Eagles - Awoniyi

TAIWO Awoniyi is adamant that the club success enjoyed by his Nigeria teammates will be vital in their AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone.

The No ngham Forest

Lionel Messi Didn’t Get Respect He Deserved At PSG - Mbappe

PARIS Saint-Germain forward, Kylian Mbappe, has slammed the treatment of team-mate, Lionel Messi, during his two years in the French capital.

The mercurial Argenne announced last week that he would be leaving the capital club when his contract expires this month.

He will start a new jour-

ney in MLS with Inter Miami, thus pu ng an end to a tumultuous spell in Paris.

Despite being considered by many to be the greatest of all me, even Messi wasn’t immune to the torrents of abuse hurled from the club’s hardline fanbase - something which Mbappe has deplored.

The 24-year-old Frenchman has told La Gazze a

dello Sport: “We are talking about poten ally the best player in the history of football. It’s never good news when someone like Messi leaves.

“Personally, I don’t understand why so many people were so relieved that he was gone. We are talking about Messi. He needs to be respected, and instead he didn’t get the respect he deserved in France. It’s

a shame, but that’s how it happened. We will have to do what we can to replace him.”

With Messi gone and Neymar seemingly with one foot out the exit door, there could be a summer of genera onal change at PSG. However, it has been reported that Mbappe may not s ck around either.

Despite the player’s insistence, he will see out his current deal through to 2024, the Parisians are thought to be unwilling to let him leave on a free transfer next summer.

PSG could, therefore, start the next campaign with an en rely new front three - one of whom looks to have already been signed.

For that to happen, though, a suitable club would need to come in with the funds to lure the Frenchman away from his homeland.

That seems likely to be Real Madrid, who are reportedly willing to fork out up to €200 million (£174m/$216m).

forward was included in Jose Peseiro’s Nigeria team to play Sierra Leone.

Awoniyi played a crucial role in helping the English side escape relega on from the Premier League, scoring five goals in the club’s last three matches.

Samuel Chukwueze had a good season with Villarreal winning the Best African Player Award in La Liga, while Ademola Lookman excelled with Atalanta. Alex Iwobi delivered for Everton and helped the Toffees survive the axe in the Premier League.

The highlight of it all, however, was Victor Osimhen who became the first African to win the Serie A Golden Boot as Napoli clinched their first Scude o in 33 years.

Awoniyi now believes the club’s achievements can help the Super Eagles beat the Leone Stars.

“This is a game against Sierra Leone that is very important to the country because you have to play it once, it’s not a league game where you have an opportunity to play again,” Awoniyi told Soccernet.

He added: “That is how I see every Super Eagles game, and that’s the kind of spirit I will take to the game if I get to Liberia.

“This is a game that you have to put in your best because you only have 90 minutes to play. Perhaps, the next me you play again in

September or thereabout.

“Of course, Nigerians should not expect anything other than victory. Because looking at the caliber of players that we have in the team, these are players that have done well for their club sides, and I hope that we can bring home the same spirit that we have from our club sides.

“If we can bring it back, there is no na on that can beat the Super Eagles.”

The 25-year-old is making a return to the na onal team for the first me since September 2022.

However, he will face s ff compe on from the inform Osimhen, and Kelechi Iheanacho for a starting berth.

Nigeria top Group A with nine points and a point will be enough to send them to the finals to be held in Ivory Coast in January 2024.

The Super Eagles won the ini al mee ng against Sierra Leone 2-1 and will be aiming at comple ng a double on Sunday.

IN his inaugural speech on the 29thMay, 2023 as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu said, “the fuel subsidy is gone” as its con nuous payment is no longer jus fiable aside the fact that there’s no provision for it in the 2023 budget onwards from end of June. Two days a er, 31st May, a new regime of subsidy removal commenced with Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol star ng to sell for N500 against the earlier N195 per litre. Subsidy is a benefit given to an individual, business, or ins tu on, usually by government. It is given to remove some burden in the overall interest of the public to promo ng social good or economic policy.

It is a direct or indirect payment, economic concession by government to households, private firm to promote public objec ve. This is a standard global prac ce. United States government, for instance, subsidises energy, transport and agriculture. It par cularly gives subsidy to farmers to guarantee foods supply all round the year especially corn, soy, wheat and rice. It subsidises green energy, oil, gas and electric cars.

Yes, I agree to the fact that subsidy on PMS in Nigeria is a scam that must go, as sharp prac ces of oil marketers have made con nuous subsidy on petrol unreasonable. For instance, it is es mated that average petrol consump on in Nigeria is 60 million liters per day but the marketers of the products would load it up to as much as 100 million liters per day. To keep the product at N195 per li le, the government subsidises the marketers claims of 100 million liters which amounts to N1.2 trillion per month. They argue further that the marketers, having collected money for subsidised fuel from government, will divert large quan ty of it to the neighboring countries to resell at interna onal market price, as if they had not go en subsidy, making the product scarce in Nigeria. Hence, as they make money from FG, so they make from neighbouring countries. Instead of giving this huge money to these unscrupulous oil marketers who feed fat on Nigerian money, why not do away with it? But in doing away with the subsidy, there must be a system in place that will jealously guide the throats of already choked and impoverished Nigerian people from being cut. A er all, they are not responsible for the socalled scam.

As 2021 was winding up, the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, had announced that by July 2022, it would remove oil subsidy so that the blind market forces would determine how much we would be paying per liter of fuel, based on same scam. Sensing the agonies FG was designing for Nigerians, especially the poor working people who were already living in hellfire, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Civil Society Coali ons swung into ac on, mobilising for rallies and mass protests that were to commence from 27 January, 2022 against this satanic decision. Realizing the consequence of impending mass protests, FG, through the immediate past Minister of Finance, Hajia Zainab Ahmed, said it would hold the fuel subsidy removal forthwith and work on the 2022 budget to provide fund for that purpose having realised that the “ ming of the subsidy removal” would worsen the suffering of the people. It should be noted that Zainab Ahmed had earlier said FG would only make provision for subsidy from January to June, 2022. Based on the aforesaid, the Buhari led administra on retained the N195 per liter of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) as it made budgetary provision for oil subsidy ll end of June, 2023.

As a President elected under a party

Before The Bubble Bursts

Sport

same for sales to neighboring countries? Are they ghosts that could not be arrested and prosecuted for socio-economic sabotage? Why do we have to put our fuel business in their hands? What has become of our four refineries which have gulped about $6billion as Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) between 1993 and 2023 without producing or refining any oil which has made the oil marketers to fill the gap? Why should the poor people pay with their blood for fuel simply because of marketers’ fraud as a result of conspiracy and negligence on the part of ruling elite to arrest and prosecute the culprits, as well secure the boarders? What can be immediately done to reduce the humongous cost of running government and relentless embezzlement of government fund? Emerging stories reveal that the money stolen from government coffers with impunity and without consequences makes child play of the subsidy amount.

It is importa on of refined products, which is a sustained act of gross irresponsibility by the ruling elites over decades, that is responsible in the first place for subsidy. There would have been no subsidy issue if our four refineries are working. They are not working and no person is held responsible for that despite billions being spent on them. Why? Nevertheless, there are several op ons opened to soonest local refining, especially if a specialised deal is done with Dangote that we are made to believe is almost set for local refining. Contrarily, the emerging news is that Dangote itself is set to join in importaon, now armed with a license to so do, a story that is be er disbelieved!

that claims to be progressive, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu should have simply said in his inaugura on speech, “There is no appropria on made for PMS subsidy a er June 2023. However, since petrol, in Nigeria, is not like every other commodity as it affects every sphere of our lives, while recognising that subsidy is a scam indeed and must go, I’ll call all the stakeholders within this one month meline – independent Petrol Marketers, NUPENG, PENGASAN, NLC, TUC – to a round table to discuss and agree on modality to salvage the situa on so that the subsidy scam, which enriches the rich at the expense of the poor must go.” A progressive President cannot say since budget provision was not made for it beyond June ending, it is therefore gone. No! A people-oriented government with egalitarian principle needs deep thinkers to look before leaping. For instance, what will happen to June subsidy appropria on provision in 2023 budget when Mr. President inaugural proclama on has prompted new price regime in a month in which there is s ll provision for subsidy? The fuel is so central to our lives that a responsible and responsive government must make it available and afford-

able. Before new price regime, for instance, I used to fill up my Sienna bus tank with 70 liters weekly with N13,650. Now, I will have to bleed out N35,000 for same 70 liter making N140,000 every month! This is simply not sustainable as I cannot afford it. Under this circumstance, my business of running around to put food on the table for my family and sending the children to school will be negavely affected! It is unfair for Mr. President to unilaterally inflict more pains on the people via petrol subsidy removal in the way it was done; it is against the le ers and spirit of the preamble of 1999 Cons tu on of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which he sworn to uphold. It states, “We the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, having firmly resolved, to live in unity and harmony as one indivisible…..for the purpose of promo ng good government and welfare of all persons in our country….do hereby make, enact and give to ourselves the following cons tu on..” Mr. President should revert to the old price of N195 per liter while searching for las ng solu on to the problem as soon as possible. For instance, who are these marketers inflating imported subsidised fuel and diver ng

“There would have been no subsidy issue if our four refineries are working. They are not working and no person is held responsible for that despite billions being spent on them. Why? Nevertheless, there are several options opened to soonest local refining, especially if a specialised deal is done with Dangote that we are made to believe is almost set for local refining.”

Some state governments have announced to their workers and students to only come to work and school three mes a week as the cost of transport has risen beyond the reach of the people. Majority of the people will inevitably be prevented from traveling to their villages for IleyaId el Kabir - which is two weeks away. For those who could not commit suicide or “Japa” because of this unsustainable high cost of fuel, they will be condemned to perpetual misery and the poverty index will skyrocket; crime and criminality will increase; their frustra on and anger with the government will be bo led like a keg of gunpowder that can burst any me. Arab spring which began in Tunisia in 2010 is a pointer to this avoidable se ng of bo led frustra on, anger and agony that looks like an okay situa on. Government should not be deceived that people have adjusted to the new killing fuel price as it is simply not sustainable, especially since there is no outlined ac on or defined meline for delivering regular power supply or local refining of crude.

There is no arguing the fact that Subsidy on Petroleum Products must go and that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is right and deserves support to end it. The basic issue is how? Of all the hows, it seems that the best has not been embraced, having been impa ent not to even wait for the June end deadline in the budget, and having not exploited the benefits of wide consulta on on prac cable and more humane methods of ending the subsidy without punishing the masses for the inefficiencies and crimes of the ruling elites and their fraudulent business associates.

Democracy is supposed to translate to sustainable development and economic growth and infrastructures for happiness and wellbeing of the majority of the people and not subjec ng them to more misery that will increase poverty in the midst of abundance which could escalate the already widespread turmoil.

•Warri Refinery