Osun Defender Online Version of June 24, 2022

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 - THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022

Osun APC Secretly Gives INEC Form To House Of Assembly Candidates Pg. 4 NEWS Tinubu’s Ambition Prevented Him From Resolving Osun APC Crisis - Kolapo Alimi

July 16: Inducement Of Voters Begins In Osun Three Weeks To Poll Page 2

NEWS

VOL 17 NO 24

Pg. 4 POLITICS

Osun 2022: A lot of People Will Die Politically When APC Loses - Yussuff Pg. 7 NEWS

NIS Personnel Exploiting Passport Pg. 5 Applicants Will Be Dealt With - Aregbesola

POLITICS

OIL & GAS

Why Fuel Scarcity Resurfaces In Osun, Other States - IPMAN Chairman Page 5

Osun APC Gov’norship Ticket: Court Adjourns Suit Against Oyetola For Definite Hearing

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FRIDAY, JUNE 24 - THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022

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News

July 16: Inducement Of Voters Begins In Osun Three Weeks To Poll Ismaeel Uthman Kazeem Badmus HEAD of the July 16 gubernatorial elec on in the State of Osun, both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposi on Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) have resorted to voter inducement, inves ga ons have revealed.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that APC and PDP have been dishing out various kind of gi s, including money to electorate across the length and breadth of the state to curry their favour on elec on day.

Among the material gi s being given to the electorate are branded white beans, matches, bread, garri and sachet pepper.

The medium noted that the white beans, sachet pepper and matches which was branded with ‘Oyetola 4+4’ was sighted in Osogbo, capital of the state.

The bread and garri were branded with Senator Ademola Adeleke’s picture.

According to inves ga ons, different poli cal groups of both the APC and PDP were responsible for the voter inducement.

The inducement materials, according to findings, were being distributed during campaigns of both par es.

Members of the two dominant par es have resorted to mocking one another on the social media on the quality of gi items being given to the electorate.

Inves ga ons revealed that in some areas in Atakumosa West Local Government, some poli cians have been purchasing Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) with amount ranging from N2000 to N5000.

It would be recalled that a leading elec on observer group, Yiaga Africa, had in its Pre-Elec on Observa on Report (PREO) released on June 13 noted the prac ce of voter inducement by both APC and PDP. In the report, Yiaga said: “Long Term Observers witnessed and heard of the distribu on of money and food items by candidates or their supporters while campaigning in Boluwaduro, Ejigbo, Ife North, Ifedayo, Ilesa East, Ilesa West Irepodun, Isokan, Odon-O n and Orolu local governments.

“Also, poli cians distributed food items like rice, beans, garri, and semolina; and money ranging between N2,000 and N5,000 per voter”.

APC, PDP Trade Words

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•Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, during the commissioning of newly built Office for Nigeria Immigration Service Enhanced Passport for Benin, Warri and Asaba Passport Centre, on Tuesday.

However, the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democra c Party have been trading words over which of them embarked on voter inducement ahead of the elec on.

The APC had in a press conference addressed by the Director General of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s campaign council, Sen. Ajibola Basiru, on Monday in Osogbo, called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to inves gate Senator Ademola Adeleke, the PDP’s governorship candidate, for making

comment tending towards vote buying and voter inducement.

Basiru said EFCC should challenge Adeleke and his party to explain what he meant by his comments that he had arrived with hard currencies to prosecute the elec on and to approach the elec on “fire for fire”.

The Senate Spokesperson argued that for an individual to have declared publicly his uncontrolled and insa able appe te for power to the extent of boas ng to financially induce electorate, he needed to be inves gated

and prosecuted by the an -gra body to stop him from compromising the electoral process and fledgling democracy.

He called on the EFCC and other an -gra agencies to beam their search light on the ma er and summon the PDP candidate in the state for a thorough inves ga on and ques oning to unravel what he meant that he has brought pounds, dollars, euros and other hard currencies to buy vote.

Basiru said: “I expected the EFCC to have invited Senator Ademola Adeleke to give account of what he

meant by coming to the state with hard currencies for the Osun State guber elec on.

“Certainly, inducement of voters is a great offence.

So, for Senator Adeleke to manifestly declare an inten on to induce voters, it warrants criminal invesga on by EFCC. “EFCC should summon him for inves ga on for ques oning by what he meant that he has brought pounds, dollars, euros and other hard currencies to buy vote.

“That clearly is a manifest inten on to commit the offence of inducement

Osun APC Gov’norship Ticket: Court Adjourns Suit Against Oyetola For Definite Hearing Ismaeel Uthman

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suit filed by a governorship aspirant of the All Progressive Congress (APC), in the State of Osun, Alhaji Moshood Adeo , against Governor Adegboyega Oyetola on the governorship cket of the party has been adjourned ll June 29, 2022 for definite hearing.

The case which came up before Jus ce Ekwo of an Abuja Federal High Court on Monday was adjourned for definite hearing a er all exis ng applica ons had been taken, including the counterapplica on against the forgery allega ons raised by counsel to Oyetola.

Before the adjournment, Jus ce Ekwo had asked for the date of the Osun governorship elecon and he was told it is July 16.

The judge therea er adjourned the case ll June 29 for final address with a warning that any counsel that failed to ap-

pear in court on the adjourned date will have his address taken and adopted.

Adeo is challenging Oyetola’s eligibility to par cipate in the governorship primary elec on on the ground that he did not resign his membership of the Caretaker and Extra Ordinary Con-

•Oyetola.

ven on Planning Commi ee.

It would be recalled that Adeo , an aspirant, came second in the highly compromised governorship primary elec on held on February 19, this year.

The former Secretary to the State Government who felt cheated in the

•Adeoti.

primary approached the court to seek redress as regards Oyetola’s eligibility to contest with a prayer that he (Adeo ) be declared as the APC candidate for the July 16 governorship elec on.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that the court might deliver its judgment on the case before the elecon day.

of voters which is clearly an electoral offence under the Nigerian law.”

In a swi reac on, Adeleke Campaign Organisa on, accused the APC of chasing shadows and specialising in unproducve propaganda to mask Oyetola’s failure and distract a en on from the imminent defeat of the APC come July 16.

In a statement signed by the Chairman, Media & Publicity Commi ee of the campaign organisaon, Prince Diran Odeyemi, on Tuesday, the party said Adeleke at no me boasted of planning to buy votes.

The statement said what the PDP candidate promised was the availability of funds to cover his elec on expenses.

The statement read in parts: “At no me since this campaign commenced has our candidate boasted or men oned plan to buy votes. He was not Senator Bola Tinubu who publicly told Eki voters to vote APC so as to collect money.

“He never claimed before a first-class Oba that he is richer than the monarchy and Osun state as a whole. Never has Senator Adeleke relied on voters’ monetary inducement as his local government tour has a racted an unprecedented crowd of voters all over the state.

“Oyetola and his team specialise in deliberate misinforma on and misinterpreta on of Senator Adeleke because they have nothing to show as jus fica on for the governor’s re-elec on bid.

Osun people are however wiser than agents of dark propaganda whose stock in trade is to deceive the public while inflic ng untold hardship on the populace.

“All over the world, elecon costs money in terms of logis cs, media, and printable. Senator Adeleke is right to promise the availability of funds to cover his elec on expenses based on contribu ons from family and friends. Our candidate’s funding capacity is a product of legi mate private-sector earnings, not a corrupted, ill-go en wealth from state covers. The public knows the truth and the shamelessness demonstrated by Oyetola’s campaign Council is legendary.

“We urge Osun people not to be distracted and shun the propaganda of the APC. The APC is doomed to fail on July 16 and we urge Osun people to remain focused on ge ng our state back on track for good governance and sustainable democracy”.

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 - THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022

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Review & Outlook

BY KANMI ADEMILUYI Post Retirement Poverty Continuous Extension Of The Franchise

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specter haunts Nigeria and it should be depicted as post-rerement poverty. It is real, debilita ng, immoral, and has unacceptable social and economic consequences. It is reflected in flashes of protests in various states across the na on. And with the increasing fiscal dysfunc on at all levels, it Is going to be on the front burner for a long me Pension reforms have helped, unfortunately there is persistent maladministra on and fraud. It is also unacceptable that Nigeria does not have infla onadjusted pensions which some less endowed African countries have. This should now be a key demand.

It is disheartening that the pressure groups agitat-

“It is disheartening that the pressure groups agitating for the rights of pensioners and the aged have not formed themselves into the highly effective movements we have seen elsewhere” ing for the rights of pensioners and the aged have not formed themselves into the highly effec ve movements we have seen elsewhere. They should.

Poli cians seeking reelecon are vulnerable and a block vote of determined pensioners is not to be sniffed at. In this electoral cycle, they should become more asser ve and be er organised.

A Time Of Dishevelment

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T has been a difficult me na onwide with the ongoing glitch in the supply chain for Petroleum Motor Spirits (PMS). Very dispiriting to observe sagging morale as ci zens line up for fuel na onwide.

The issue remains “what is to be done”. We have postponed an answer for far too long and we must face daun ng reali es now.

For a start, the daun ng fiscal paradox can no longer be ignored.

It must be that elec on cycle paradigm but the government is looking rather unrealis c in insis ng on a N165 per liter end-user sales price. Cynical observers depict this as a valiant effort to defy both the law

of demand and supply as well as defying gravity rolled into one. The sustainability of this balancing act is suspect.

An accommoda on must be forged with the marketers who are not narcissists or saboteurs. The convenonal wisdom is that they are trying to balance the books and for this, they appear to have widespread sympathy. Common sense dictates that a compromise is urgently needed to prevent widespread dislocaon. The populace deserves a respite in this season of discontent.

In the long run the next government will have to take the vital and peharps brutal decisions.

•Still A Lot To Be Done

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OST of the independent observers such as YIAGA Africa et al have awarded a presumably tenta ve pass mark to the conduct of last Saturday’s governorship elec on in Eki State. In the conven onal wisdom, warts and all it represents the expressed wishes of the electorate.

However, by a long mile, it is not yet Uhuru. The allega ons of vote buying should be inves gated. There is a reason to do so. The ‘weaponisa on ‘ of poverty is intrinsically linked with the ‘development of underdevelopment ‘ which has become the driving force of Nigeria’s poli cal economy. With the passing of every decade a higher propor on of the popula on are driven. below the poverty line.

It says a lot that an oil producing country has such abysmal standards of living that the purchasing of votes has become ins tu onalised and socially acceptable.

The consequences are dire. Under this framework there can be no incen ve for the ruling elite and the poli cal establishment to have a structured program to take anyone out of poverty. Safer to give out once every four years handouts, it’s also cheaper than for example, the thrust with which Brazil’s then President Ignacio Lula da Silva pulled out forty million Brazilians out of poverty in eight years in a democracy. With popula on growth rates perennially outstripping “economic growth” rates the country is really up and against it.

It is temp ng to look at this from a cynical perspec ve. Perhaps the ruling elite in Nigeria is savvier than thought. Vladimir Illich Lenin the pivot of the Bolsheviks noted in the pamphlet “What is to be done?” that “revolu ons do not occur during mes of mass grinding poverty they occur at mes of rela vely rising prosperity”. Could this be the compelling calculus? Possibly, how-

“Nigeria’s democracy is in stagnation and should be revamped. Actually The Economist newspaper disparaged it over a decade ago as a “ semi - democracy” sadly the phrase has stuck and is not about to be replaced anytime soon”

ever, the hijack of the #EndSars protests should offer a reason for a rethink and sober reflec on.

It could turn out to be a high risk strategy which with the rise of a declasse and the entrenchment of the social media could backfire big me.

Nigeria’s democracy is in stagna on and should be revamped. Actually The Economist newspaper disparaged it over a decade ago as a “ semi - democracy” sadly the phrase has stuck and is not about to be replaced any me soon.

Whatever the feeling of relief the voter turnout in Eki compared to four years ago actually dropped. This is a clear indica on of disenchantment with the system. It is clear that the voters were not convinced that they are be er off today than they were four years ago. They are not enthused about their future prospects either.

It is not just disillusionment alone that is behind low voter turnout. The process of registra on is seen as cumbersome and hardly user-friendly. Online registra on has helped but the actual manual bit of collec ng the PVCs is s ll stressful. Voters’ registra on should be con nuous; a er all obtaining passports, driving licenses, and so forth are not cyclical. Furthermore, as we deepen the process we can work towards same-day registraon registering and vo ng on the same day. And of course the diaspora who Publisher – Moremi Publishing remit $22 billion annually House Ltd. (an underes mate in my Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman opinion) to support our Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa economy should be given Reporter – Yusuf Oketola the franchise.

Reporter – Kazeem Badmus At the end of it all as a Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto means of self-preserva on Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere the ruling class must acOSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing cept that the poli cs of House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite poverty has ran its course Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, and exhausted the limits of State of Osun it’s possibili es in addi on ISSN : 0794-8050 they have to accept the inTelephone : 0809-301-9152 trinsic link that binds the Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php deepening of democracy e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com and sustainable developosundefenderbank@gmail.com ment. Out of self-preservaAll correspondence to the above email addresses. on they should do so.

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 - THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022

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News

Osun APC Secretly Gives INEC Form To House Of Assembly Candidates Ismaeel Uthman

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MIDST fear of protests from members of the party, the All Progressives Congress in the State of Osun, has secretly issued nominaon form to its chosen candidates for the State House of Assembly elec on coming up next year.

According to sources, the form was given to each of the candidates on Sunday evening with a warning that they should not disclose it to members of the party.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that nine current lawmakers were denied return cket by the party.

The Chief Whip of the House of Assembly, Hon. Lekan Olatunji (Ife North), his deputy, Hon. Gbenga Ogunkanmi (Ayedire), Hon Adenike Abioye (Ifedayo), Hon. Adebayo Usamot (Iwo), Hon. Michael

•Chief Whip, Deputy, 7 Other Lawmakers Dropped Adetoyi (Odo-O n), Hon. Adekunle Oyekunle (Ejigbo), Hon. Maruf Olanrewaju (Irewole/ Isokan), Hon Benjamin

Ogundipe (Ife South), and Hon Taiwo Adebusola (Ife Central).

According to some party leaders who are

close to Governor Oyetola, Ogunkanmi, Abioye and Oyekunle were denied return cket because of their perceived

loyalty to the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Olatunji who is serving his second term in the assembly and five lawmakers failed to get their return ckets because of the zoning arrangement in their various cons tuencies.

Findings by the medium revealed that some of the candidates have been submi ng their

Osun Poll: INEC Recruits Corps Members With Disabilities as Ad-Hoc Workers Kazeem Badmus

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•Zonal Pastor of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Christ Life Parish, Pastor Odesola celebrating with church children and teenagers after their convention on Sunday.

HE Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) has recruited corps members who are Persons With Disabili es(PWDs) as ad-hoc staff for the July 16 governorship elec on in the State of Osun.

Resident Electoral

Tinubu’s Ambition Prevented Him From Resolving Osun APC Crisis - Kolapo Alimi Yusuf Oketola

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HE Deputy DirectorGeneral of Senator Ademola Adeleke Campaign Council, Mr Kolapo Alimi, has asserted that the 2023 presiden al ambi on of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu prevented him from finding las ng soluon to the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun.

Alimi noted that Tinubu tried his best to reconcile the aggrieved members of the party in the state but those involved refused to be reconciled which made the Na onal Leader of the APC to pretend as if everything was fine due to his presidenal ambi on.

The former Commissioner for Local Government in the state stated on Wednesday in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER newspaper.

He said: “For those who are not aware of what is happening in Osun APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu tried to intervene in the crisis but the pares involved refused to be reconciled and there is a limita on to what he could do. At the end of the day, he pretended as if everything was okay with the party in Osun because of his 2023 presiden al ambi on.

“He does not want to

forms and creden als to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, who is coordina ng the prospec ve lawmakers.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that in spite of several protests and appeals, the APC leadership refused to make official announcement of supposed winners of the controversial House of Assembly primaries held on May 26, 2022.

offend some people and anyone who is close to Asiwaju well, even when he was the governor of Lagos state, will tes fy that whenever anyone offend him, he do look away and forget some things. That’s how a leader should be.

Asiwaju is also not sa sfied with the present situa on of APC in the state “Asiwaju is our leader but I will not be involved in any an -party ac vi es in the 2023 presiden al elec ons. I’m a bonafide member of PDP now and I won’t do anything to work against my party.

But if it is the resolu on of the party to work for a Yoruba president, that’s the only way we can work for him.

“That has actually played out during the me of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, all Alliance for Democracy governors were directed to work for him while he was a PDP candidate. It was only Asiwaju as governor of Lagos state that didn’t buy the idea”.

Speaking on his defec on to the Peoples Democra c Party, Alimi explained that Senator Adeleke saw a poten al which Governor Adegboyega Oyetola refused to see in him as a result of his performance at the 2018 Osun governorship elec on tribunal.

Alimi stressed that

the difference between Adeleke and Oyetola is that the Governor and his camp do not appreciate what they experienced at the tribunal in 2018.

He said Adeleke later discovered his values and contribu ons to Oyetola electoral and legal victory and approached him to work for the success of his governorship ambi on.

The former APC stalwart said: “The difference between Oyetola and Senator Ademola Adeleke and some of other people in the All Progressives Congress is that they don’t know what we experienced during the 2018 elec on and at the elec on tribunal.

“However, Senator Adeleke witnessed all our performance at the tribu-

•Alimi

nal and he then saw the poten al in us, he discovered us to be a great material to his cause. He approached us to help him on his mandate.

“It’s not how long but how well. You can be with someone for long and if he/she refused to recognise your efforts, it is nothing. That I decided to join PDP, I wasn’t alone.

I decamped with over 3000 people across 19 local governments in the state.

Commen ng about Oyetola’s governance style, Alimi stated that local government administra on under the current administra on has been bastardised.

He said: “It is under Oyetola government that local government admin-

istra on was bastardised.

When I was there as commissioner for local government, we constructed 3klm roads across all the 30 local governments and one area office in the state and that’s the only things that is visible today.

“Some people do argue that local government administra on has func oned in the past, I asked them that, is some of these towns no more in existence? Where are the boreholes, drainages and roads you claimed past administra on before Aregbesola constructed?

“But the one we built under Aregbesola are s ll in existence. And we create LCDAs. When the LCDAs were created, we observed that the cost of running administraon would be expensive, so we introduced Parliamentary System, so as to reduced cost and to have more money in the government treasury.

“Oyetola came and said the parliamentary system is not suitable and they want to introduce presiden al system. So, you will see those who is more prudent in term of administra on. You can compare what we have in local governments during Aregbesola’s administraon to what the present administra on of Oyetola is doing”.

Commissioner, Professor Abdulganiy Raji, made this known while speaking during a Town hall Meeting held in Osogbo on Tuesday for PWDs on Osun elec on.

The commissioner also disclosed that 95 per cent of ad-hoc staff who will be deployed during the elec on are corps members.

He explained that immediately a er the 2011 general elec on, the process of inclusivity began in the commission as INEC introduced braille ballot guide, provision of magnifying glasses, reloca ng all the polling units that are not PWDs compa ble to a be er place so that they can have access to the units.

Raji said: “95 per cent of those who will work for us, we have go en their informa on ranging from people with physical disabili es, albinos, people with hearing impairment, people with visual impairment. We are going to engage all of them as ad-hoc staff for Osun state governorship elec on. We will ensure that we post them to places that will make life so comfortable for them at the end of the day.

“They will get used to the exercise and will get to a level where they can even be posted anywhere as we are ge ng matured as far as elecon is concerned. We are star ng now and that will remain and it will be part of the elec oneering process.”

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 - THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022

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News

Community Seeks Govt. Intervention On A Month Blackout Yusuf Oketola

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ESIDENTS of Aduramigba-Jericho area of Osogbo, State of Osun, have sought the interven on of the State Government to end their onemonth blackout as a result of faulty transformer.

According to the residents, there is need to procure a new transformer for the community’s electricity to be stable.

The residents told OSUN DEFENDER that the community had been sharing a transformer with Onibueja, a neighbouring community for the last two years.

They added that Aduramigba-Jericho residents have been unable to raise fund to get transformer for the community.

It was gathered that Onibueja community disconnected electricity supply to Aduramigba-Jericho as a result of breach of monetary agreement.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that each house in Aduramigba-Jericho were billed the sum of N30,000 by Onibueja community before allowing them to connect to the transformer.

In an interview with a resident in the area, Habibat Olajide, she stated that the community could not afford

the price of a transformer which made them to be solici ng the government’s assistance.

Olajide stressed that some businesses in the community are now dead as a result of the blackout while sigh ng her own example as frozen fruits seller.

She said: My community used to share transformer with Onibueja, a community close to us. When we first

got here, most houses paid a sum of N30,000 to connect electricity. But as years runs out, we have more houses here and we decided to form our own community, though we s ll shared transformer with them.

“We decided to stand on our own mainly because they don’t partake in building our community, what is important to them is to just take our money and don’t

render any development.

“For almost two years now, we have been ra oning the electricity at night.

It is usually two-day on and one-day off because they said the transformer is weak and we were living with it like that.

“At some point, we decided we are not paying Onibueja community again and just used our money to develop our own community

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HE Chairman, Independent Marketers Associaon of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ibadan Depot, Alhaji Mu u Bukola, has attributed the fresh scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called Petrol to the short fall of supply from the Nigerian Na onal Petroleum Corpora on (NNPC).

Bukola also disclosed that the five fuel depots situated in the South -West are not func oning, adding that members of the associa on have to buy PMS from private depots with an exorbitant price.

He made this known while featuring on Rave FM’s ‘Frank Talk’ program in Osogbo, on Tuesday.

According to the IPMAN chairman, members of the associa on were buying the commodity at the rate of N167 per liter from the depot without cost of

days ago; and here we are, no electricity and no hope.

“The price of a transformer is too much for us to bear, that is why we are solici ng to the government to please get us a transformer.

“We have contacted our lawyer and he had serve a le er to the Ibadan Electricity Distribu on Company (IBEDC), informing them of the situa on so as to stop bringing bills”.

NIS Personnel Exploiting Passport Seekers Will Be Dealt With - Aregbesola •Says 625,000 Passports Produced This Year Kazeem Badmus

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•Motorists on queue at Matrix filling station, Aregbe bus stop, Osogbo, Yesterday.

Photo :Shola Aderinto

Why Fuel Scarcity Resurfaces In Osun, Other States - IPMAN Chairman Kazeem Badmus

because we have lots of bad roads and so many poles to be bought.

“Last year was when we decided to stop paying them but they later agreed to work things out with us. Unfortunately, they didn’t. We sent our balance to them and yet nothing was done, so some month ago we made final decision not pay them anymore and as such they decided to drop our lines 26

transporta on.

He added that the cost of transpor ng petroleum products to Osogbo and its environs was between N18N20 per litre, saying the product cannot be sold at the rate of N165 considering the landing cost.

Bukola said: “The scarcity of fuel is due to the short fall of supply from the NNPC and we are not ge ng it as and when due. We have been going from one private depot to the other before we can get a truck loaded and they are increasing the cost day-by-day. Right now, our members are buying at N167 per liter from the depot without transport.

“If you add another N18-N20 transport cost to it, the landing cost to Osogbo and its environs will be around N180-N187 per liter. On the other side, to run a sta on, you have to have a standby generator, whether Petrol or

Diesel engine. Mostly, we use diesel engine and this morning, there is no sta on that will sell diesel below N850 per liter. The problem is coming from le and right and we are just managing them.

“We have five depots within the SouthWest (Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Ondo, Kwara) and as I am talking this morning, there is no single one that is working out of the five. When those depots are working, we had some money paid to load fuel and ll now, we have not go en our products. Our members are dying everyday.

“Since January, 2022, Ibadan depot has been under lock and seal. No fuel there. There is a problem with the pipeline that brought fuel from Lagos to Ibadan depot to service all other areas. In lieu of that, they could not pump us and the product that supposed to serve Ibadan depot will be diverted to private de-

pots. Because of that, we will go and buy at a high price”.

Mu u said the monopoly of NNPC on the importa on of fuel and regula on of the pump price of petrol is a cause for concern, adding that the associa on has about a billion-naira worth of fuel which the NNPC has not supplied.

The chairman urged government at all level to assist the associa on out, saying: “We want to use this avenue to call on the federal and state government to bail us out. Osun government had done it in the past and we s ll want them to do it now.

“If NNPC Ibadan is working and we have product there, we have no right to tell the masses that we want to sell above the regulated price. If NNPC depots are not working, this problem will connue and the masses will be suffering from what they suppose not to suffer for”.

HE Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday declared that any Nigerian Immigra on Service (NIS) personnel involved in passport racketeering will be sanc oned without delay.

Aregbesola stated this just as he said, the en re passport issuance process will be digi zed by the end of year.

He spoke in Benin City, Edo State, while launching the Enhanced e-Passport and the Commissioning of the Central Passport Produc on Centre which would serve Edo and Delta states.

Aregbesola said despite the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the NIS was able to produce about 3million passports within the period, adding that this year; the NIS has produced 625,000 passports out of the 750,000 applica ons it has received.

The Minister said: “Our enhanced passport is the real deal in passport making. The most important is making the enhanced e-Passport available to the good people of Edo and Delta States.

“The enhanced ePassport comes in various categories, including the 64-page-10-year validity Passport which is quite convenient for frequent travellers. It is a product of the latest technology in passport administra on and issuance.

“This year alone, we have received about 750,000 applica ons out of which we have provided 625,000. The difference could have been due to many reasons, including failure of applicants to provide the correct informa on about themselves and matching their data with NIN. “We could not contact them because they ap-

plied through touts who provided their own addresses or wrong ones altogether. But 625,000 is a huge and unprecedented figure, in less than half of the year, by any stretch of the imagina on.”

Speaking further, Aregbesola noted that President Muhammadu Buhari was indeed worried about the hassles Nigerians go through in securing the passports, sta ng that the role of the Nigerian Immigra on Service is to make Nigerians desirous of ge ng the passport do so with ease and without stress The Minister disclosed that there were 10, 000 e-passports available on the pla orm for applicants that would take at least five weeks before it would be exhausted hence the issue of scarcity would not be an excuse.

He said: “President Muhammadu Buhari’s charge is very explicit to make life easy on ge ng a passport. So, what we are doing now is to remove all the hurdles. We have 10, 000 passports on this platform so every Nigerians desirous should be able to get it.

“For our men who are quick to tell people that there are no passports just to exploit them, those who give unkind and harsh treatment to passport seekers will be dealt with henceforth.

“Very soon, there will be signposts in all passport offices all over the country where numbers that the public can easily call when they are treated shabbily by men of the NIS. “I can assure you that

by December this year, the en re passport issuance process will be digi sed.”

Aregbesola added that the enhanced e-passport carries 25 addi onal security features and is rated to be among the best in the world in terms of durability and quality.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 - THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022

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

We give glory to Allah for sparing our lives to witness another Dhul-Hijjah, the twelfth

Religion days.” Narrated by Imam Ahmad, 21829; Abu Dawood, 2437; classed as da’eef in Nasab al-Raayah, 2/180, but classed as saheeh by al-Albaani.

However, fasting on the day of Eid is haraam, as indicated by the marfoo’ hadeeth of Abu Sa’eed alKhudri (may Allah be pleased with him): “He (the Prophet (SAW) forbade fasting on the day of (Eid) al-

JUMAT SERMON By Sheik Muhammad Muhammad Abubakr Makanjuola Makanjuola

month of the Islamic calendar, during which the Muslims perform Hajj. This is a period when every Muslim must strive hard to perform good deeds (worships, charity, good talks, etc) no matter how small.

There are certain times of year during which even small acts of worship are rewarded in abundance. These periods of the year are, in reality, gifts from Allah (SWT) that He has given to us. And from those blessed times in which worship is abundantly and hugely rewarded are the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah. There are no other days that are rewarded like these ten days. Sadly, many Muslims do not realise the greatness and superiority and virtues of these ten days, and treat these days like any other day.

It behooves Islamic scholars, Imams and alfas to enlighten every Muslims on the virtues of the ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

Good deeds during the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are more beloved to Allah than righteous deeds in the last ten days of Ramadan. One of the good deeds is fasting nine days of the month, which is mustahabb. This is indicated by the words of the Holy Prophet (SAW), as narrated in the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah

Virtues Of The Ten Days Of Dhul-Hijjah be pleased with him): There are no days in the year more beloved to Allah (SWT) than the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah and the last ten nights of Ramadan, as they combine acts of worship in a way unlike any other time. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “There is no deed that is better in the sight of Allah or more greatly rewarded than a good deed done in the (first) ten days of Al-Adha”. It was asked, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?” The Prophet (PBUH) replied, “Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out himself for Jihad taking his wealth with him and does not come back with anything.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 969.

And it was narrated from Hunaydah ibn Khaalid from his wife that one of the wives of the Holy Prophet (SAW) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (SAW) used to fast nine days of Dhu’l-Hijjah and the day of ‘Ashoora’ and three days of each month – the first Monday and two Thurs-

Fitr and the day of al-Nahr (the day of sacrifice, i.e., Eid al-Adha).” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, No. 1992; Muslim, 827. The scholars are unanimously agreed that it is haraam to fast on these days.

Righteous deeds on these ten days are better than the others. With regard to fasting, that should only be done on nine of them; the tenth day is the day of Eid when it is haraam to fast. Based on this, what is meant by the virtue of the ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah is fasting nine days only, even though they are called ten days.

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah is here and we should not miss out on a single blessing. Even if we are not going on Hajj, there’s plenty good deeds to make.

We should perform and increase our Dhikr and Takbeer, night prayers, fasting all nine days especially the Day Of Arafah, make sincere repentance, recite the Holy Quran regularly and give Sadaqah and Charity.

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

News

Yahoo Boy To Wash School Toilet For Eight Months Yusuf Oketola

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Federal High Court, si ng in Osogbo, capital of the State of Osun, has convicted and sentenced an internet fraudster known as Yahoo boy, Amusa Abdulhakeem Oluwasegunfunmi.

Oluwasegunfunmi, according to a press statement by the Ibadan Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was sentenced to eight months of community service for fraudulent impersona on.

The sentence requires him to clean the toilets of Ataoja School of Science, Osogbo.

Also, the court ordered that the convict’s a endance register be kept by the School Principal and submi ed on comple on of his term.

Oluwasegunfunmi was part of the five convic ons secured by the EFCC before the Federal and State High Courts in Ibadan, Oyo State and Osogbo.

At the State High Court in Ibadan, four cyber fraudsters, Ajisafe Sodiq Olaide, Lawal Samuel Morenikeji, Osuolale Abdullahi Abiodun, and Olamilekan Ridwan Taofeek were convict-

ed on separate one-count charges each for offences rela ng to cyber-fraud.

According to EFCC, all the convicts pleaded guilty to the charges against them

when they were arraigned in court.

Jus ce Iyabo Yerima of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, sentenced Olaide to six months of commu-

nity service for obtaining money by false pretence.

In a different judgment, Jus ce Omolara Adeyemi of another Oyo State High Court convicted and sen-

tenced Morenikeji to six months of community service; and Abiodun and Taofeek to one week of community service respecvely.

The courts ordered that the convicts res tute their vic ms and forfeit all items recovered from them to the Federal Government.

Osun Assembly Extends Tenure Of LG Caretaker Committees David Osundeyi

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HE State of Osun House of Assembly, on Thursday, reconfirmed and extended the tenure of Caretaker Management Commi ee in the Local Government Councils and Local Government Development Area Councils.

This is just as the House of Assembly got another request from Governor Gboyega Oyetola for reconfirma on and re-appointment of Commissioners and Special Advisers to fill vacant posi ons in the State Execu ve Council.

The Speaker of the house, RT. Hon. Timothy Owoeye who read out the request of the Governor on the confirma on of the Caretaker Commi ee Management held that the request is in tandem with Sec on 3(A)(i) (ii) (III) of the State of Osun Local Government Administra-

•Sets To Screen New Commissioners on and Amendment 7 Law,(2021).

The request le er read in part, “This is to bring to your no ce that the 6 months term of the Caretaker Management Commi ee in the Local Government ,Councils,Local Government Development Area Councils will Expire on the 12th of July,2022.

“I hereby request the Dis nguish State House of Assembly, Osun State to confirm the Appointment of the Caretaker Management to run the affairs of the Councils for another period of 6 months “.

The speaker while commending the Governor, emphasised the need to prevent a vacuum in Local Government being the closest er of government to the people, harping on the insecurity level across the country. noted

that it is expedient to have a structured government at the Local Government Level.

Owoeye enjoined the Caretaker members to improve on their rela onship with the assembly.

While reques ng for the confirma on and reappointment of Commissioners and Special Advisers, Oyetola said “In line with the provisions of Sec on 192(2) of the Cons tu on of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as Amended, I hereby Present the under listed nominees for considera on and confirma on by the House of Assembly into the Posi on of Commissioners/Special Advisers in the state of Osun with a view to filling the vacant posi ons in the State Execu ve Council “.

The nominees are Mrs Giwa La fat, Barr. Ola-

boopo Olubukola, Hon. the House of Assembly on Solagbade Oladepo, Hon. or Before Monday 27th Henry Olaonipekun, Hon. June,2022.

The House of Assembly Bakare Akande Aleem and Hon. Olanike Omoworare. however cons tuted a 7 The Commissioners/ man Commi ee headed Special Advisers desig- by the Deputy Speaker, nates are to Submit 35 Hon. Simeon Popoola to copies of their resume to Screen the nominees.

PUBLICATION SALAHUDDEEN ABDURRAZAQ OLASIGUN OMOBORIOWO AISHAT TEMILOLA That I was formerly That I was formerly known and addressed as known and addressed as SALAU-DEEN ABDUR-RASAQ A B D U L A Z E E Z AND SALAUUD-DEEN AISHAT TEMILOLA ABDUR-RASAQ (ALHAJI) but now wish to be but now wish to be known and addressed known and addressed as OMOBORIOWO as SALAHUDDEEN AISHAT TEMILOLA. ABDURRAZAQ OLASIGUN. All former documents All former documents remain valid.

General remain valid. General public should take note. public should take note.

OYEWALE WAIDI OMOOYE That I was formerly known and addressed as R O Y E W A L E WAHEED WAHEED FO T but now wish to be R known and addressed E E as OYEWALE AC V WAIDI OMOOYE. P S D All former documents remain valid. General A public should take note.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 - THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022

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News 2Face Meets Oyetola, Adeleke, Ogunbiyi, Solicits Free, Peaceful Election Sodiq Yusuf

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IGERIAN hip-hop star, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2face, on Wednesday called for peaceful, fair and transparent governorship elecon coming up on July 16, 2022 in the State of Osun.

Pursuant to his peace ‘Vote Not Fight’ advocacy, Idibia met with candidates of three major par es parcipa ng in the elec on on Wednesday, urging them to prevail on their supporters to eschew violence during the poll.

Idibia met with Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) and Dr Akin Ogunbiyi of the Accord Party.

He made the three governorship candidates sign a peace pact where they all pledged their commitment to a peaceful poll.

Speaking at a mee ng he held with Adeleke in Ede on Wednesday, Idibia called on the candidate to promote messages that would deter perpetrators of electoral vi-

olence and violence against women during the elec on.

He said: “We are hopeful that as a man of peace, you will make a commitment to run a peaceful campaign and encourage your supporters to be peaceful before, during and a er the Osun governorship elec on.

“We call on you to amplify the VNF and Stop-VAWIP campaigns by speaking out frequently against youth-incited/perpetrated violence, hate speech, vote buying and electoral violence targeted at women.

In his remarks, Adeleke pledged commitment to a peaceful poll and called on members of other par es par cipa ng in the elec on to also keep to their promise of a violence-free elec on.

Oyetola who hosted Idibia at the Government House on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to a free, fair and violent-free elec on.

The governor emphasized the need for poli cians to play according to the rules of the game, saying that elec on shouldn’t be seen as a do-or-die affair.

•Gov. Adegboyega Oyetola (middle), 2face Idibia (2nd right) and members of his team during vote not fight advocacy to the governor, on Wednesday.

PDP Has No Alliance With Aregbesola – Adeleke Ismaeel Uthman

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HE candidate of the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) in the July 16 governorship elec on in the State of Osun, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, has dismised insinua ons that his party is in alliance with Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

According to Adeleke, it is untrue that the PDP is in talk with Aregbesola

to solicit his support and that of The Osun Progressives (TOP) a caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, on the coming gubernatorial elec on.

He stated this yesterday in an interview on Rave FM, a private radio sta on in Osogbo.

The governorship hopeful said: “I don’t have any alliance with Aregbesola. Neither me, nor my party, the PDP is

in talk or alliance with Aregbesola. The last me I spoke or met with Aregbesola was in 2014 when my late brother, Senator Isiaka Adeleke and I defected to the APC. A er that, I have not talked to Aregbesola.”

Adeleke absolved the former governor of the state of involvement in the defec on of some APC members to the PDP, saying “those people leaving APC to

PDP are doing that on their own. Aregbesola does not know anything about it. The people are leaving because they are aggrieved.

“Members of TOP are grown up adults. They can decide on their own.

I am happy that they are coming to join PDP; it is a plus for me and the party. However, they are not joining because Aregbesola directed or signaled to them. They are leaving APC because they were not treated fairly.”

Ogunbiyi Raises Alarm Over Osun 2022: Alot Of People Will Die Politically After APC’s Yussuff, a former Deputy treated badly, advising any- down and there is nobody Political Motivated Attacks In Osun Defeat - Yussuff Speaker of the House of Rep- one who wants to be relevant amongst those contes ng poli cally to disassociate him- in Osun today that is worth

•Accuses APC, PDP Of Breeding Thugs Kazeem Badmus

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HE Akin Ogunbiyi Campaign Organisaon has raised the alarm over the spate of poli cally mo vated attacks on ci zens of the State of Osun, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) of breeding thugs who are all out to cause infrac on in the security of the state.

The organisa on also frowned at the destrucon of the campaign billboards of its gubernatorial candidate, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, across the state by hoodlums suspected to be working for the APC and PDP. In a statement signed by the Sub-Chairman of the New Media of Akin Ogunbiyi Campaign Organisa on, Stephen Owolabi, the party described the destruc on of the billboards as barbaric and uncalled for.

The statement which was obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads: “Our party has been known as a peace-

ful party. We have been going around with our campaigns with serious cau on and tried as much as possible to avoid any physical encounter with any other poli cal party.

“We know our opponents are ji ery seeing how the electorate have rejected them and are now pledging their unalloyed supports for our candidate, Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi and are out to cause distrac on for us.

“It is known across the state that both the APC and PDP are engaged in breeding, rearing and funding of thugs and we can see how they waylaid each other.

We are sure that agents of these rejected poli cal par es are all out to cause infrac on in the security of this state”.

Owolabi called on the police and other security agencies in the state to nip in the bud what can degenerate into free for all, saying the party will not fold its arms and see the damaging of its proper es going on unchallenged.

Kazeem Badmus

T

HE gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party in the forthcoming July 16 governorship elec on in the State of Osun, Rt. Hon. Lasun Yussuff, has said a lot of people will die poli cally once the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is defeated.

resenta ves, also described chie ains of the APC in the state as ‘human haters’ who do not act like fathers.

He made this known yesterday in Osogbo while featuring on Rave FM ‘Frank Talk’ program.

According to him, most of the founding members of the APC in the state have been

NCoS Organises Retreat Yusuf Oketola

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HE Nigerian Correconal Service has put in place a twoday Controller-General of Correc ons retreat.

Themed, ‘The Nigerian Correc onal Service: Mee ng the Public Expecta ons’, the retreat will be declared opened by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Monday, June 27.

According to a le er signed by the Controller General of Correc ons, Aliru Nababa, the retreat is aimed at reviewing and reflec ng the service’s performance, including challenges in recent mes.

“Moreover, the retreat is designed to acquaint the NIGERIA correc onal

Service management and staff with the outcome of the ministerial retreat, held in Ilorin, Kwara State in 2021, as well as se ng the service’s five-year strategic plans”, said Nababa.

The retreat holds between on Monday, June 27 and Tuesday, June 28, in Sokoto, Sokoto State.

self from the party.

The Ilobu born poli cian said: “We were the grandfather of APC in Osun and they treated everybody badly. I won’t wish anybody that has a future that is relevant to his environment to stay back in APC. “A lot of people will die when APC loses the coming governorship elec on. They will die poli cally because they are not relevant poli cally and they have also made so much enemies and they are just ground-standing.

“Almost everybody in PDP at the top level in Osun are either our fathers, uncles and friends. I can describe them as that. But in APC, people hate one another a lot. There are supposed to be fathers, friends, uncle, but when you describe them like that, parcularly APC, they are human haters”.

On the rumour that he is planning to step down for another candidate to scu le the winning chance of the APC gubernatorial candidate, Adegboyega Oyetola, Lasun said it is far from the truth, describing it as insane, just as he boasted that nobody among the contestants worths stepping down for.

He said: “Nobody has ever approached me to step

stepping down for.

“I am a veteran in poli cs.

In 2011, I had 72,000 votes and in 2015, I had 73,000 votes for the House of Representa ves seat. So, for someone like me who gathered such vote in four local governments, I will now be going into an elec on to step down for people who struggle to score about 250,000 votes in 30 local governments. It is insane. That is the only way I can explain that.

“It shows that in the polics of Osun today, if you take elec on results, I am probably one of the most popular because to have 72,000 votes in 2011 elec on in four local governments and 73,000 in 2015 and for people who are ground-standing now that I’m going to step down for them, the best of them in 2018 had just 255,000 votes.

“I have been deputy speaker of Nigeria for four years. As at today, amongst everybody that are contesting, I am the highest office holder. That is the highest posi on anybody contesting is either holding or must have held”.

The Labour party candidate boasted of coming out victorious in the coming governorship elec on.

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

FRIDAY, JUNE 24 - THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2022 VOL. 17 NO 30 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

News Yahoo Boy To Wash School Toilet For Eight Months In Osun Pg. 6

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N 15th October, 2010, the Appeal Court si ng in Ilorin, Kwara State, headed by Jus ce Salami with four other judges, unanimously ousted Mr. Segun Oni of Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) as Governor of Eki State and replaced him with Dr. Kayode Fayemi of Ac on Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Almost six weeks later, 26th November, 2010, an Appeal Court si ng in Ibadan, Oyo State, headed by Jus ce Clara Ogunbiyi with four other judges, unanimously sacked Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola of the PDP in Osun and replaced him with Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola of Ac on Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The similarity between the two landmark judgements was the reclaim of stolen 14th of April, 2007 gubernatorial mandates. Hence, since 2014, Eki and Osun governorship elec ons have always come one month apart and are the two standing elec ons before general elec ons.

However, since 2014, results of elecon in Eki State, which comes before the Osun, do not necessarily determine Osun outcome. Preparedness of the party and its cohesiveness, its candidate grassroots popularity and support base are real determinant factors.

In 2014, for instance, PDP under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan was in power at the centre and desperately needed to win Eki and Osun governorship elec ons as forerunners to 2015 general elec ons.

Every unethical thing with the use of federal might was done to have Eki State for Ayo Fayose. Having succeeded in Eki , the Federal Government was more voracious to overrun Osun.

A week to the elec on, hundreds of thousands of plain clothe security men with facemasks were everywhere in Osun, in mida ng the ci zens. Before the 2014 re-elec on, Governor Aregbesola and his party were one and intact with no fac on. In fact, Aregbesola had already won major PDP opposi on leaders to his fold - Late Isiaka Adeleke,

“Right from the inception as the Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola had begun unprovoked aggressive attacks against his predecessor’s person and his legacy projects and alienation of any party member who is suspected to be Aregbesola’s associate, loyalist, supporter or sympathisers”

Osun APC: Getting Political Sense Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola who Aregbesola succeeded, Peter Power to Peter Ac on, etc were some of the people already won to APC. And based on his social protec on programmes which had direct posi ve impact on communi es and grassroots people, Aregbesola massive support at all levels was crystal clear. Again, Ogbeni leadership quality emboldened the people not to be in midated but to all go out to vote. In addi on, he directly instructed his men on the field to prac cally make rigging impossible and make people’s votes count. In his words, Ogbeni said, “I am not afraid of losing genuinely but I don’t want to lose to rigging. Make sure rigging is made almost impossible.” At the end of the elec on, Ogbeni of APC defeated Iyiola Omisore of the PDP by 394,684 to 292,747. With the over hundred thousand votes defeat, Omisore and his party did not bother to contest it in court.

This is 2022, almost eight years later. APC has won in Eki and Osun elec on is exactly three weeks away.

Right from the incep on as the Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola had begun unprovoked aggressive a acks against his predecessor’s person and his legacy projects and aliena on of any party member who is suspected to be Aregbesola’s associate, loyalist, supporter or sympathisers. In furtherance of this, Oyetola administra on ostracised Aregbesola people from every party and government posi on, trea ng them like lepers and main opposi ons. This eventually gave birth to fac ons within the party – Oyetola/Famodun and Aregbesola/Salinsile. While Oyetola/ Famodunis hell-bent on manipula on and imposi on of candidates on the party through any fraudulent means, Aregbesola/Salinsile is poised for democra c internal democracy that is inclusive and representa ve. The contest between the two fac ons was demonstrated on July 31, 2021 Ward Congress and 19th February, 2022 primary to elect gubernatorial candidate for July 16 governorship elec on. In those two charades, Oyetola/Famodun led APC did not partake in any elec on but imposi on of its candidates on the party.

On 19th February, 2022 primary, the party membership register with which the primary was based was domiciled with Oyetola/Famodun APC based on last party registra on and revalida on exercise which it refused to avail other

contestants or displayed at all the Ward Colla on Centres before the primary.

In all ward coali on centres, there was no INEC presence, no accredita on of voters or result sheet to enter the figures while most people were disenfranchised for being associated with Aregbesola as their names were deleted from the register. Again, the serving Chairmen and Councillors of Local Government Caretaker Commi ee appointed by Governor Oyetola were the presiding officers used for the conduct of the primary as against tradi onal ad hoc Youth Corps and teachers.

Having won the primary despite the glaring inadequacies here and there, instead of closing ranks and assuage those aggrieved by bringing everybody to the house, Governor Oyetola again chose to look away and further went for the heads of his perceived enemies in the party. Just like 19th February 2022 charade tagged primary, exact scenario played out in the May 26, 27 and 29 primaries for the aspirants contes ng State House of Assembly, House of Representa ves and Senate respec vely. As I write, Osun APC is yet to announce winners of State House of Assembly primaries which never took place but the pa ern is clear - write out preferred names of “loyalists” and submit to the na onal secretariat and INEC as the APC candidates. Oyetola/ Famodun leadership must be living in self-delusion that holding the list of those it imposed on the party members ll a er July 16 elec on will be a face-saving triumph. No, it won’t! People are no fools. Right from the 19th February charade, some APC members have been constantly defec ng to PDP. This latest House of Assembly kangaroo with which form was bought at N2million, refusal to conduct primaries and imposi on of candidates on the people, especially without refund of their money cannot boost party fortunes. This latest ac on has forced a lot of APC members, again, especially those aspirants who felt cheated with the kangaroo primaries, to seek other poli cal par es to contest the State Assembly elec on. These Protestants, with their supporters in droves, will definitely vote for their new par es on July 16. This is a poli cal haemorrhage for APC. Despite that, some hardcore progressives who find it difficult to be comfortable anywhere else passively remain in APC, it has lost and con n-

“Oyetola/Famodun leadership must be living in self-delusion that holding the list of those it imposed on the party members till after July 16 election will be a face-saving triumph. No, it won’t! People are no fools” ued to lose so many grassroots mobilisers and canvassers to feeling of disdain from the party leadership as some are being treated like common criminals for no jus fiable reason.

Oyetola should learn from Asiwaju.

Despite bickering, hue and cry against some perceived “ingrates” and “disloyal allies” before the 8th June, 2022 APC presiden al primary, immediately he won and became the APC presiden al candidate, Asiwaju immediately visited all his co-contestants and closed ranks with them that his winning is a collecve project. In bourgeois poli cs, a smart leader will do almost everything to win every member of his/her party people to his/her side and try to genuinely recruit from the opposi on if opportunity presents itself rather than aliena on and persecu on of grassroots party members on an alleged loyalty to a perceived enemy within who is a poten al ally. Three weeks is a very long me in poli cal calcula on and permuta on. In the July 16 governorship elec on, no poli cal party will have monopoly of votes buying, use of thugs and other an -democra c tendencies.

What will ma er most is party structures, dedica on of members at grassroots, and the implacable logic of the non-aligned majority of the electorates who had witnessed the nega vi es of the disrup ve proceedings for over three years.

“In the July 16 governorship election, no political party will have monopoly of votes buying, use of thugs and other anti-democratic tendencies”

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: 0809-301-9152 or . ISSN: 0794-8050.

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