Osun Defender Online Version of March 18, 2022

Osun 2022: About Page 4 300,000 Page PVCs Yet 2 To Be Collected In Page 5 Osun - REC

Confusion Over SDP Governorship Candidate In Osun

Ogunsua Of Modakeke Joins Ancestors

P. 7

P. 5

•Omigbodun Accuses APC of Compromising Party’s Primary •As Adejumo Claims Party’s Ticket

P. 7

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 - THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022 VOL 17 NO 11

Review Privatisation Of Osogbo Steel Rolling, Nigeria Machine Tools,

Stakeholders Urge FG •Say Abandonment Hampering Development P. 5

IN OSUN: TWO SCHOOLS SHARE SAME BUILDING OVER DILAPIDATED STRUCTURES P. 4

Party Crisis: PDP Drags Another Osun Judge, Justice Aderibigbe Before NJC Page 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 - THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022

2

News

Buhari Commissions 72-Unit Federal Mortgage Housing Estate In Osun

•L-R: Timi of Edeland, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, Representative of President Muhammadu Buhari, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Zonal Director (South West) National Housing Programme, Dr. M.K. Muhammed and Director, Urban and Regional Development of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr. Olasunkanmi Dumoye, at the Commissioning of Inumidun Federal Housing Estate, Abere, Ede, Osun State on Monday.

Ismaeel Uthman Kazeem Badmus

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said his administra on is providing solu on to the country’s housing challenge through the Na onal Housing Programme.

According to the president, the scheme which was ini ated in 2016 to address the naon’s housing deficit, is now coming to frui on with the comple on and inaugura on of the housing schemes across the states of the federa on.

The president stated this during the commissioning of Na onal Housing Programme, Phase 1, Abere, state of Osun.

Represented by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the president said the project has impacted posi vely on the microeconomic businesses involved in the construc on of the houses, thereby posively affec ng Nigerians at the bo om of the pyramid such as ar sans, builders, skilled and unskilled workers and food vendors.

The first phase of the house consists of 33 units of block of flat and 28 units of two bedroom, 20 units of three bedroom, all totaling 72 units of houses.

The president also said he was ready to redeem the promise made to the 1994 African Cup of Na ons team with an approved alloca on of Na onal Housing Estate located in their state of choice.

He said: “This housing estate is an instance

of the fulfilment of that promise. We are not unaware of the challenge of housing in the country, especially in the urban areas, many of which are overcrowded in unhealthy ways. It is our firm resolve to surmount the challenge in every way possible. This housing estate, as constructed in all the states of the federa on, is one of the ways we are addressing the challenge.

“With the support of the State Government of Osun which provided the

land, this place which was once an unused piece of land, amounting to not more than idle capital, has come alive and will now provide shelter for Nigerians. I must therefore thank the then governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for partnering the state with the Federal Government on the project, the success of which we are celebra ng today.

“Though our desire is to meet every one of those Nigerians in person, if possible, but our

economic policies and investment in infrastructure such as this Na onal Housing Programme and others will reach and posi vely impact a lot of them.

“Our desire and commitment towards improving the human condi on and our message of change, have another facet beyond job creaon.

“It responds to those who have long aspired to own a home. Their dream has now come true with this project.

“It provides an opportunity to remember our heroes, the valiant Super Eagles, to whom our country made a promise of providing housing for winning the 1994 African Cup of Na ons, which has remained unfulfilled before now.

“On behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, it is a great honour for me to redeem the promise Nigeria made to these patrio c Nigerians, even if belatedly.

“As the saying goes, it is be er late than never and I have approved alloca on to redeem the outstanding alloca on to 22 members of the Super Eagles in Na onal Housing Estate located in their state of choice, and their keys and tle documents will be handed over at the commissioning in their state while the remainder of the housing is allocated to willing members of the public”.

In his remark, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Raji Fashola, represented by Olasunkanmi Dunmoye, Director, Urban and Regional Development, said a similar project was replicated in 34 states of the federa on in line with the administraon’s pledge to ensure adequate housing for Ni-

Party Crisis: PDP Drags Another Osun Judge, Justice Aderibigbe Before NJC Ismaeel Uthman

T

HE People’s Democra c Party (PDP) in the State of Osun has dragged another judge of a state High Court, Jus ce Adeyinka Aderibigbe, before the Na onal Judicial Council (NJC).

Oke is the second judge to be dragged before the NJC by the PDP in the lingering legal ba les between the Adeleke dynasty and Hon. Soji Adagunodo fac ons.

It would be recalled that the former Deputy Naonal Publicity Secretary of the party, Prince Diran Odeyemi, had in July 2021 pe oned the NJC, asking the judicial body to direct Jus ce S.A. Oke who was handling a suit filed by Adagunodo then to recuse himself from the case.

The PDP has also pe oned the NJC, accusing jus ce Aderibigbe of High Court II, Ile-Ife, of judicial misconduct, imper nence in the discharge of his judicial du es.

OSUN DEFENDER noted

that the party lodged pe on against Jus ce Aderibigbe because of two orders he granted which recognised ward excos produced by the Adagunodo fac on of the party as those eligible to par cipate in the governorship primary.

The second order was the recogni on of Omooba Dotun Babayemi as the governorship candidate of the party with a direcve that the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) should not recognise Senator Ademola Adeleke as the candidate of the party.

It would be recalled that the party produced two governorship candidates for the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on in the state at parallel primaries held on March 8, 2022 in Osogbo.

A fac on loyal to the Adeleke dynas c held its primary elec on at Osogbo Township stadium in which Sen. Adeleke emerged the flagbearer while Adagunodo’s fac on held different primary at WOCDIF centre, Osogbo and produced Ba-

bayemi as the candidate of the party.

The PDP decried the way and manner Jus ce Aderibigbe was handling suits ins tuted by Adagunodo’s fac on, sta ng that the party would explore all means to get jus ce on the ma er.

In the pe on signed by the State Chairman, Secretary and Legal Adviser of the party, Hon. Sunday Bisi, Prince Bola Ajao and Barr.

Taofeeq Tewogbade respecvely, the party said Jus ce Aderibigbe has failed as an arbiter and commi ed misconduct in discharge of his duty.

The pe on reads in part: “Following the removal of Hon Olasoji Adagunodo as the Osun state Chairman of the People’s Democra c party by the Na onal Working committee on 29th September, 2020, he ins tuted Suit No. HIK/25/2020 by way of origina ng summons dated 30th October, 2020 before the Osun State High Court, si ng at Ikirun Judicial Division wherein, he sought

various declaratory reliefs against the party (PDP) and other individual members of the party”. Prince Bola stated.

“On 11th March 2022,Hon jus ce AA Aderibigbe granted another interim injunc on recognizing the Osun state Governorship primaries conducted by the state/zonal officers of PDP, as against the special state Congress which was organized, conducted and supervised by the Naonal Execu ve Commi ee of the 2nd Defendant on 8th March, 2022 in accordance; sessions 77,82(1) (5) (b) (1)&(2),(12) and 153 of the Electoral Acts,2022,Sec ons 221,222,and 229 of the 1999 cons tu on ( as amended), ar cles 12,13,25,29(2),(50) (1),(2) and (e) of the cons tu on of the People’s Democra c party, 2017 (as amended).

The party called on the NJC to inves gate some of the cases handled by Jusce Aderibigbe, adding that the competence of the jurist should be subjected to scru ny.

gerians.

He said: “We have offered all these housing units to members of the general public in a non-discriminatory way by opening the Na onal Housing Portal at h ps:// nhp.worksandhousing. gov.ng/ to ensure that those interested are not inhibited by any ar ficial obstacles and alloca ons will be made on the basis of those who apply and pay on a first-come, firstserved basis”.

In his own goodwill message, the governor of the state, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, appreciated the federal government for the good gesture, calling on the people of the state to key into the project as it is first come first serve.

The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Hon. Nathaniel Agunbiade, said: “In 2016, when our revered leader, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was the governor here, in suppor ng a federal government ini a ve, the state ministry of land through our governor provided 10.266 hectres of land for this housing scheme and today, we are here to commission the first phase of this laudable project”.

He appealed to the federal government through the federal ministry of housing to help complete phase II of the project in no distance me.

In his words, The Timi of Ede, Oba Muniru Adesola Lawal, commended the federal government for providing the houses at an affordable price for Nigerians.

Oba Lawal said: “First all, we want to express our sincere gra tude to the federal government knowing fully well that, one of the basic needs of every human being is adequate shelter. If you look at the hierarchy of needs as given by Maslow, the basic need rank first among the needs given

by Maslow, are food, shelter and cloth.

“The status of any family is measured by type of house he is living.

Also, the development of any na on hinge on the provision of houses by that government. No wonder the federal government now decided to have housing scheme at affordable prices for Nigerians”.

PEOPLE FIRST

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 - THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022

3

Review & Outlook

BY ADEMOLA YAYA Reviewing The Privatisation Of A Basic Industry

S

INCE the advent of the industrial revolu on, no process of development using any ideological framework has been done successfully without the development of Basic Industries such as iron and steel, machine tools amongst others underpinning it.

Indeed, even a foremost oil producer like Saudi Arabia has famously efficient largely stateowned Basic Industries as a bedrock of its economy and a guarantee for the vitally needed transi on to a non-fossil based economic future. Nigeria cannot buck the trend and it will be self defea ng to do so.

Without the benefits of hindsight, the priva sa on of the Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills and the Nigeria Machine Tools were ill advised. Many patrio c sources expressed grave reserva ons at the me and con nue to do. The present comatose state of the two strategic industries vindicates their inhibi on.

The Obasanjo administra on which oversaw and approved the priva sa on should have shown greater thoroughness. Ques ons should have been asked. For example, there was a need to get cast iron wri en guarantees about the financial strength, access to capital and the technical capabili es of those who won the bids. Sadly, the economy has being imperiled due to the absence of thoroughness and me culousness. It is now clear that the winners were “asset-strippers” in search of quick short term gains as opposed to what was needed for the sake of the sustainable development of the economy.

We ought to be more aware of

“Osogbo has lost over thirty thousand quality jobs that would have sprung up through the activities of the companies propelled by the inevitable springing up of ancillary industrial and commercial processes” the importance of the Basic Industries in developing our underperforming economy. A good example is the Saudi Basic Industries company (SABIC) which is 70% owned by the Saudi government.

The company is the 218th largest company in the world with assets es mated at $90. 4 billion.

The call for reexamina on of the priva sa on goes beyond the horrendous job losses. It I’d about the stul fica on of the economy. The economy cannot develop without these industries. For the people of Osogbo, the losses have been horrendous.

Osogbo has lost over thirty thousand quality jobs that would have sprung up through the ac vi es of the companies propelled by the inevitable springing up of ancillary industrial and commercial processes.

It is a ma er of na onal urgency that the industries must be revitalised. The Na onal Assembly, the Federal Government, State Government of Osun and the private sector must work out a realis c ac on plan with fixed melines to get them up and running.

Frankly for the sustainable development of our country there is no choice.

Security Architecture For Osun July 16 Election

E

LECTION Day also known as Polling Day is a day when general elecons are held. It is the day that the electorate handover affairs of their lives to a party and its candidate. This day of mandate transfer is supposed to be a poli cal fes val for the electorate to choose the poli cal par es and candidates they prefer to pilot their affairs for a specific period of me, mostly four years, a er the poli cal par es must have rigorously campaigned to sell their programmes and manifestoes to the electorate with a view to harvest it on elec on day.

Preceding the general elec ons, poli cal par es would have ins tuted their internal par es’ machinery to choose their flag-bearers from various aspirants.

The process in determining the candidate could be through consensus, open primary or delegate primary. Whatever process taken, the rules for nomina ng candidates for elec ons must be transparent and known to party members and not limited to preferences of a clique within the party. This is what internal democracy in party means. In the process of subverting internal democracy, poli cians, especially of the right-wing tendency, make use of unethical means like use of thugs and violence to suppress internal democracy and impose minority and unpopular candidate on the party. Under this milieu, the party may fac onalise between those who want internal party democracy and those who want imposi on of unpopular candidate. Over me, balance of forces will ul mately determine final resolu on or outright breakup if it is not well managed. This is the true x-ray of what played out in Osun APC. As the struggle to rescue the soul of such party ensued, the police were expected to be neutral by a ending both fac ons mee ngs, especially state congresses, where party leadership would be chosen via whatever procedure adopted by each of the fac ons so as to maintain law and order which is their primary re-

“Politicians will do everything to bend the rules and engage in foul activities to gain underserved advantage over another; they will do everything to compromise electoral laws, INEC and their ad hoc staff and the security officials in their desperation to win at all cost”

sponsibility. Instead of playing neutrality, Osun State Police Command under the leadership of CP Olawale Olokode a ended only Oyetola/Famodun state congress of 16th October, 2021 to provide security but ignored Aregbesola/Salinsile State Congress slated for same day but different venue.

To claiming his neutrality, the Osun State Police Command via CP Olokode, called a press conference on Sunday, February 6, 2022 to refute allega on of par sanship and deliberate refusal to honour Aregbesola/Salinsile parallel congress for same day but different venues. According to the CP at the press conference on why his men were not present at the Aregbesola/Salinsile State congress, “It is a known fact that the congress of the APC was a na onal affairs and a le er was sent to the Inspector General of Police. The venue of each State was stated and no other venue other than the Osogbo township stadium was stated in the le er I received. The Commi ee from Abuja, including INEC officials were at the stadium and that’s why we mobilized our men to the stadium to provide security. No other le er was sent to my office by any other group.”

The CP concluded that allega ons of TOP against him and his command were a acks to malign his name and bring his command to disrepute. However, Napoleon Bonaparte said, “The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people.” As Publisher – Moremi Publishing far as CP Press Conference House Ltd. was concerned, one thing Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman was very clear: it was ei(0805-121-2204) ther the CP outrightly lied Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa or he was being sabotaged Reporter – Yusuf Oketola in police administra ve ofReporter – Kazeem Badmus fice not to have availed him Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto the received copy of the Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere Aregbesola/Salinsile conOSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing gress invita on le er. As I write, I have with me a letHouse Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, ter of invita on addressed to the Commissioner of PoState of Osun lice, Osun State Command, ISSN : 0794-8050 dated 15/10/2021 with refTelephone : 0805-121-2204 erence OSAPC/123/07/49 Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php signed by Rasaq Ayobami e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com Salinsile, Secretary APC as osundefenderbank@gmail.com All correspondence to the above email addresses.

•Continued on Page 6.

OSUN DEFENDER

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 - THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022

4

News

Exposed: How Govt Sponsored Civil Attacks On Aregbesola Failed Ismaeel Uthman

T

HERE was a reported a empt to embarrass the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, by some people allegedly sponsored by the State Government in Osogbo, on Monday.

According to a sociopoli cal group, Progressive Minded Forum (PMF), some government officials had mobilised some individuals to disguise as pensioners and stage a protest against Aregbesola when the minister was in Osogbo to commission the 72-unit Federal Mortgage Housing Estate in Abere, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.

But the plot failed because informa on about it leaked few hours to the programme, said the group.

The PMF, in a press release signed by its Coordinator, Sunday Oriowo, on Tuesday, said when the protest could no longer hold, the same government officials sponsored a civil society group, ‘The Osun Masterminds’ to address a press conference to a ack

Aregbesola.

The press release reads in part: “The Progressives Minded Forum brings to the a en on of the general public a failed government sponsored a ack on the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday in Osogbo, Osun State.

“The a ack was not violent this me, unlike the previous one where the convoy of the Minister was a acked by poli cal hoodlums who made a empt on Aregbesola’s life at Orisunmibare, Osogbo.

“The Monday failed attack was malicious civil acons sponsored by some aides to Governor Gboyega Oyetola. We believed this government officials were ac ng on behalf of the governor, who is determined to carry on his bi er polics against his benefactor, Aregbesola. This first civil ac on failed why the second did not get the desired a en on.

“The first malicious acon sponsored by the government against the minister was the mobiliza on of some people who were to disguise as pension-

ers in the state to protest against the minister during the commissioning of the 72-unit Federal Mortgage Housing Estate in Abere.

“But the plan failed because security agents had been duly informed ahead.

The informa on leaked out when the Special Adviser to the Governor on Educa on, Mr Jamiu Olawumi, was confidently telling some people on WhatsApp platforms on Sunday evening that “pensioners will welcome Aregbesola tomorrow”.

“The informa on was processed and it was discovered that the government had paid some people to disguise as pensioners and protest against the former governor of the State of Osun. Security agents were duly informed and the plan was thwarted.

“Having failed in the first plan, the government ac vated its second plan by engaging ‘The Masterminds’, a group known for its hypocrisy, money-driven opinion and financially induced press conferences, to launch a ack on the Minister, in a desperate bid

•L-R: Ademola Oladosu, Tajudeen Solagbade, Abiola Abioye, Kazeem Durodoye, Teslim Igbalaye, Sikiru Adetona and Ajibola Adekanle, all members of Osun Intercontinental Club, Osogbo, at the burial ceremony of Teslim’s late mother, Alhaja Igbalaye, in Osogbo, recently. to discredit his official assignment in Osogbo.

“It is important to note that The Masterminds is a group of four or five disgruntled elements who are willing tools in the hand of the government. No wonder the PDP described them as group of people with in-

In Osun: Two Schools Share Same Building Over Dilapidated Structures

S

OME schools in Ile-Ife, State of Osun are without classrooms while others are managing dilapidated buildings to accommodate their students and pupils, according to findings by OSUN DEFENDER. One of the schools that is currently begging for government’s a en on is Ethiopian Grammar School, Abiri, Ogudu road, Aganhun, Ile-Ife. The school was established in 1980 at Okeyidi in Modakeke before it was relocated to IleIfe during the Ife/Modakeke crisis between 1997 to 2002.

Five of the six classrooms in the school are dilapidated while the remaining block was reported to have been destroyed by rainstorm in May 2021. This le the school without a single classroom for learning.

OSUN DEFENDER visited the school on Monday and noted that the students of Ethiopian Grammar School were sharing a building of a nearby school, Bolorunduro Community Primary School for learning.

The students were also said to have been taught by their teachers under a tree for a while before moving to the primary school.

It was also observed that the only exis ng block in the school was constructed by the PTA which is being used as Staff room and Principal Office. However, part of the block has been converted to a classroom.

According to a source who do not want his name in print, students in the school as at last year were over 300 but the

Yusuf Oketola number has reduced to about 100 students due to the condion of the school.

The source also disclosed that a private radio sta on had earlier did a report on the school, but the state government reportedly threatened to sack the school principal who spoke with the private medium.

The source said: “We had over 300 students in the school as at last year but the number begin to reduce dras cally due to lack of classrooms for learning. Now we have just about 100 students. Parents have begun to withdraw their children to another school.

“A month ago, a private radio sta on in the state capital came to do a research on the school, but we later heard that the state government issued a threat to the principal for revealing the deteriora ng condion of the school.

“This ma er has been reported to various concern quarters. We have wri en to State Universal Basic Educa on (SUBEB), the local government and others. The community leaders have also gone to see the gov-

•Students receiving lessons outside the PTA building. Inset: Building of Bolorunduro Community Pry School.

ernment officials but that have not yielded a posi ve result.

“For a while, the students were being taught under a tree before we moved them to the primary school”.

OSUN DEFENDER also noted that there are 16 teachers in the school, but teachers for Fine Art, Basic Tech, Home economics, among others were lacking.

According to a resident of the community, Boyede Olowookere, the government has pledged the construc on of new

•The dilapidated building of Ethiopian Grammar School, Ile-Ife.

classrooms for the students which it has been done.

Olowookere stressed that the school shouldn’t be in that condi on considering the alloca on coming to the local government from the Federa on Accounts Alloca on Committee (FAAC).

He said: “The government has pledged to swi ly construct new classrooms for the students and I hope it keeps that promise soonest. Kindly google the FAAC alloca ons to that Ile-Ife for the past 48 years, you will be amazed and flabbergasted to see millions of naira coming to that local Govt every month”.

Reac ng to the development, the state Commissioner for Educa on, Hon. Folorunso Oladoyin said the State Universal Basic Educa on (SUBEB) has visited the school for inspecon and captured the place in this year construc on/renovaon plan.

glorious ac vi es and followers of many mushroom CSOs with which they used to dupe poli cal par es, governments and unsuspec ng individuals.”

“The procured group called selected journalists to a press conference yesterday where one Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli read out a script prepared for him by one of top media aide to Governor Oyetola.

“The group, as usual, shamefully raised issue on the debt profile of the state, accusing Aregbesola of plunging the state to debt which was responsible for the minus alloca on to the state from FAAC. The group asked Governor Oyetola to address the people of the state and tell them the kind of government he inherited from Aregbesola.”

However, the PMF asked Governor Oyetola to tell the people of the state the actual debt profile of the state when he took over power in 2018, the repayment method and projects that the loans were expended on.

PMF also urged the Governor to disclose ‘other deduc ons’ which made Osun to receive nega ve alloca on from the Federal Government and the actual amount being generated as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).”

“Mr Governor sir, members of the public would like to know “other deducons” which put the state into nega ve in the February alloca on. The people will also like to know how you have been funding the li le projects you have embarked upon since all your claim is ‘there is no money in the state.’ The Governor should speak as requested by the deluded Masterminds”, it added.

The release further reads: “Besides, it is pathe c that a supposed ob-

jec ve group would close its eye to the nondisclosure of N11.9bn refund to the Osun State government on federal government project executed by Aregbesola, but rather con nue to blame the former governor for the debt.

“May we ask the selfstyled group why it has refused to talk on the assets le behind by the Aregbesola’s administra on that have increased the IGR of the state.

“The Masterminds should ask Oyetola why the projects he inherited have been fallen into ruins under him. The group should genuinely serve the interest of the people by asking why social programmes like Osun Ambulance Service, O’Clean and Freedom Park, have not been func oning well under Oyetola.

“The general public should ask The Masterminds why it has refused to speak on the insecurity in the state, in spite of the incessant killings, cult clashes and violent thuggery ac vi es that have taken over the state. The Mastermind should explain why it has refused to issue a press release on the death of OAU student, the cult clashes in Ilesa and Osogbo, the violence in Ede, armed robbery and ritual killings in Ile-Ife. “We note that members of The Masterminds cannot raise voice against the Oyetola’s administraon because it is their ‘pot of soup’. The group is procured by the government to con nue a acking Aregbesola, but the more the a acks come, the more the popularity of the Minister.

“The general public should know that The Mastermind is Oyetola’s sponsored group and nothing serious could come out of it.”

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 - THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022

5

News

Review Privatisation Of Osogbo Steel Rolling, Nigeria Machine Tools, Stakeholders Urge FG Ismaeel Uthman

S

TAKEHOLDERS in the state of Osun have bemoaned the abandonement of Osogbo Steel Rolling and Nigeria Machine Tools, calling for the review of the priva sa on of the industries.

Echoing the voice of the stakeholders, the lawmaker represen ng Osogbo/Olorunda/Irepodun/Orolu Federal Cons tuency at the House of Representa ves, Hon. Olubukola Oyewo, has called for the review of the priva sa on of Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills and the Nigerian Machine Tools.

Both companies and other na onal assets were sold to private investors by the administra on of former President Olusegun Obasanjo through the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), chaired by the former Vice-President Alhaji A ku Abubakar.

Oyewo who is the Deputy Chairman, House Commi ee on Water Resources, noted that due to the priva sa on of the na onal assets, most of them, especially the Osogbo Steel Rolling Mill and the Nigerian Machine Tools have further remained moribund.

The lawmaker said this in a mo on on the floor of the House of Representa ves, sta ng that there is need to review the priva sa on for the benefit of the Nigerian populace.

He said: “Aware that without func onal steel companies in Nigeria, the dream of manufacturing vehicles in the country and other machine equipment might be a mirage.

“Further aware that the neglect of these companies which provided jobs for over 20,000 people is having a se-

rious nega ve effect on the people and the economy of the na on. The sales of these companies should be reviewed on these premises.”

The lawmaker asserts that many jobless youths will find something to do if the sales of the na onal assets are reviewed towards op mal u liza on.

In his response, the House urged the Commi ee on Priva sa on and Commercialisaon to inves gate the process of the priva sa on of these companies.

The House further urge the Commi ee to liaise with the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) with a view to work on modali es to revert the priva sa on of the companies.

Senate Spokesperson, Dr Ajibola Basiru had on December 10, 2019 presented a pe on by a social cultural group, Egbe Osogbo Oroki Parapo, to the Senate on the abandonment of the industries.

Egbe Osogbo Oroki Parapo’s pe on sought among many other demands, the immediate interven on of the Na onal Assembly on the resuscita on of the two companies purportedly bought by the acclaimed Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.

The group said in the peon that since the priva zaon of the two companies, nothing has happened to them despite their capacity and ability to create jobs and contribute to the industrial development of the country.

The pe on signed by Engineer Maruf Bolarinwa and Elder Adewale Adewumi on behalf of the people of Osun Senatorial District prayed the Senate to revisit the Report of the Ad-hoc Commi ee on Priva sa on during the 7th

•Abandoned Osogbo Steel Rolling.

Senate and find out among other issues, why it has been “buried” over the years.

Speaking in the same direc on, the pioneer president of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Hassan Sunmonu, said the abandonment of the two companies is hindering the progress and development of Osogbo and the State of Osun.

Sunmonu, a prominent indigene of Osogbo, decried what he described as arbitrary priva sa on of public assets, no ng that most of the companies that were priva sed

have fallen into ruins.

The labour leader who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER in a telephone interview yesterday said: “I support the call for the review of Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills and Nigeria Machine Tools. I have talked with the representa ves of Osogbo at the Na onal Assembly a er a pe on wri en by Osogbo people on the condi on of the companies.

“The abandonment of those companies has resulted to loss of employment for thousands of people of Osun.

It has deprived the govern-

Osun Gov’ship Election Under Threat As Yoruba Groups Ask Court To Stop Poll Ismaeel Uthman

T

HE July 16, 2022 governorship elec on in the State of Osun is under threat.

About 17 Yoruba selfdetermina on ac vists who are leaders of various Yoruba groups, have approached a Federal High Court in Osun to stop the conduct of the elec-

on.

The ac vists also want court to stop Eki State governorship elec on.

Led by the leader of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Prof.

Banji Akintoye, his Deputy, Prof. Wale Adeniran; Chief Bayo Orire and 14 others, the ac vists said the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) could not con-

OSSCOED Financial Saga: Osun Assembly Summons Auditor General For Contempt Kazeem Badmus

T

HE State of Osun House of Assembly has summoned the state Auditor General, Mr Folorunso Adesina for alleged contempt on the ongoing inves gaon of reported financial irregulari es in the financial statement of Osun State College of Educa on, Ila. OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the summon came a er Adesina issued a 21day ul matum to the Bursar of the College, Dr Olarewaju Oyedeji, asking him to refund the missing funds into the College’s coffers or face the full weight of the law.

Adesina in a le er dated March 14, 2022 and addressed to the

ins tu on’s Provost, indicted Oyedeji, saying he allegedly commi ed financial misconduct and infrac ons which have resulted in huge loss of funds to the State government as revealed by the audit reports.

According to Adesina, the alleged missing funds were to the tune of over N412m which were proceeds of financial misconduct and infrac ons.

He advised the Bursar to produce some concealed documents before the last date of the ul matum, even as he accused him of disposing some documents that would have revealed more missing funds.

The le er reads in part: “It is my strong opinion that Mr. Rasheed Olarewaju Oyedeji, the Bursar of Osun State College of Educa on has

ment of Osun revenue genera on from the companies and employees. It has also deprived Nigeria of produc on industries to create employment for the people.

“One of the instabili es we are facing in Nigeria today is because of unemployment, high rate poverty and others.

“The ques ons to ask is that: are their no condi ons for the priva za on of the companies? It is clear that the buyers of those company have not met the condi ons and if that is the case, the priva saon has to be reviewed.

“The Nigeria Machine tool and Osogbo S ll Rolling Mill are almost stripped naked. Nothing is happening there. The buyers just acquired and abandoned them.

What has the buyers done to prove the new ownership of those places? The essence of priva sa on is to put the companies into proper use.

But that is not the case in Nigeria. Almost all the priva zed companies have fallen into ruins. What are we gaining from the priva za on of the power sector? Darkness!

“No country can develop without viable industries like Nigeria Machine Tools and Osogbo Steel Roling Mills. Industries guarantee produc vi es which will result to economic stability. Nigeria’s produc vity is low because there is no industrial revolu on. That is why we are where we are.

“Nigeria would not be impor ng 90 per cent of materials if the government allows our industries to be func oning well. But we have ended up in giving employment to foreigners instead of employing our own people.

“The Federal Government should look into the priva zaon of the Machine Tools and Osogbo Steel Rolling Mills for func onality.”

commi ed financial misconduct and infrac ons which have resulted in huge loss of funds to the State government.

“The audit is of the opinion that release of documents as required will expose more losses and irregulari es.

“In line with Financial Regula on 3702, the Bursar has the opportunity of twenty one (21) days within which to refund all the funds and make available the demanded records, failure of which the full weight of the law will be brought down on him.”

However, the House of Assembly, which has been probing the alleged misappropria on of funds contained in the Auditor General’s report, had directed that both par es (the school and its Bursar, and the Audi-

tor General) should stay all ac ons un l the comple on of inves ga on.

The House, it was gathered, summoned the Auditor General for allegedly viola ng its direc ve by indic ng the Bursar and issuing ul matum to him when it has not completed its findings.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that a summon le er was given to the Auditor General on Thursday, asking him to appear before the House Commi ee on Public Accounts on Monday.

When contacted, the Chairman of the commi ee, Hon. Abidemi Gbenga Ogunkanmi, declined comment on the ma er, asking the reporter to contact Chairman, House Committee on Informa on, for briefing.

duct elec on with the 1999 Cons tu on which validity is being challenged in court.

The ac vists had prayed the courts to declare that the current 1999 Cons tu on of Nigeria (as amended) is illegal, invalid and of no effect whatsoever because no referendum was conducted before it was enacted.

According to a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday by the Communica ons Secretary of Ilana Omo Oodua Worldwide, Mr. Maxwell Adeleye, the suit was filed on behalf of the acvists by their lawyer, Mr. Tolu Babaleye.

Adeleye said the A orney General of the Federa on (AGF) and INEC are defendants in the ma er.

He said: “The ac vists prayed the courts for a categorical order that, against the

backdrop that the current cons tu on is illegal and invalid because no referendum was conducted before it was enacted, INEC does not have the law that can be used to conduct elec ons anywhere in Yorubaland, a region within Nigeria, thus, the forthcoming Eki and Osun governorship polls and all future elec ons should be stopped in Yorubaland un l a referendum is held for the Yoruba people to decide on the system they want for themselves within Nigeria and whether they even want to remain as Nigerians.”

Adeleye urged all Yoruba people, especially self-determina on ac vists in Eki and Osun states, to mobilise themselves and ensure that they are present in courts in Osogbo and Ado-Eki whenever the cases are called for men on.

Ogunsua Of Modakeke Joins Ancestors

T

HE Ogunsua of Modakeke, Oba Moses Oladejo Oyediran, Ajombadi III, has joined his ancestors.

Oba Oyediran, according to palace sources, died early this week.

He mounted the throne in October 2018 at the age of 92.

Official announcement about his death is expected to be made today, according to sources.

•Oba Oyediran

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 - THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022

6

A

Religion

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 un l the day of Judgment.

It is said in the olden days that ‘chose a friend before the road’, this refers to the importance By of choosing the right friend, a loyal person, who Imam Muhammad does not betray, and does not harm his partner, Abdulalimi and in Islam there are founda ons for choosing a friend, in accordance with Allah’s law.

The first basis is to be a righteous person: One of the criteria for choosing a friend, which may differ from one person to another, is that he should be a righteous person. The founda ons of choosing a friend in Islam require righteousness in the Islamic concept.

Therefore, choosing a good friend in Islam is a very important ma er. The one described in Islam as a righteous person, is the person who establishes the obliga ons of his a friend who is morally upright individually not to care about Lord, preserves them, refrains from corrup on, misguidance, his friend’s uprightness. Here is a missing important condiand devia on, and forbids indecency and evil, and avoids on which is advice. A friend is to call his friend to order sins as much as possible. A corrupted person affects others when he commits a sin or a mistake, or any ma er in which without them realizing it. he deserves advice and guidance.

The second basis is to be honest: The second founda on The Messenger of Allah (SAW), narrated on the authority of the founda ons of the friend’s choice in Islam is men- of Tameem al-Darii, said: “Religion is sincerity.” We said to oned by Allah in the following two verses below: “Surah Al- whom? He said: (To Allah, His Book, His Messenger, the leadAnfal, Verse 27-28: “O you who believe! Betray not Allah and ers of the Muslims and their common folk).

His Messenger, nor betray knowingly your Amanat (things The Fourth Founda on Is Loyalty: Loyalty between entrusted to you, and all the du es which Allah has ordained friends is important, no ma er how far the distances are, for you), And know that your possessions and your children and the days between them, they must maintain covenant are but a trial and that surely with Allah is a mighty reward.” and loyalty. Even if one of them dies, the other remains loyal, Trust has many forms, entrus ng someone with money, remembering the covenant of his/her partner, and in him he secret, honour, word, and others. Somebody who is entrust- lives and dies, for his memory, children and parents. If any, ed with a work must be inves gated and punished for not reminds him in his life of the good invita on, and in his death performing his du es; likewise somebody who took he is not he does not forget to pray. en tled to.

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) , said, “Guarantee for me Keeping people’s secrets is also an act of honesty. If six from yourselves, and I will guarantee you Paradise: be true someone else keeps secrets with you, he will keep yours, just when you speak, fulfill when you promise, fulfill when you as the way you have kept his secret. Honesty is also in return- are entrusted, guard your private parts, lower your gaze, and ing what people entrusted to you, whether money or a moral restrain your hands.” [Narrated by Ahmad and Al-Haakim. ma er, such as the one of husband and wife. Whoever does The hadith of the Prophet about choosing a good friend not take care of being honest towards his son, or his partner The Prophet (SAW) has several hadiths about friendship in the family will not take care of the honesty of a friend. and friends and other narrators narrated them from him.

The Third Basis Is To Be An Advisor: It is not enough for Among those hadiths are the following:

JUMAT SERMON

The Foundations Of Choosing A Friend In Islam

He said: “Allah Almighty said: Those who love each other for my glory will have pulpits of light that the prophets and martyrs will envy. Narrated by AlTirmidhi, and he said Hassan Sahih.

On the authority of Anas bin Malik, may Allaah be pleased with him, a man was with the Prophet (SAW) and another man passed by him and said, “Oh, Messenger of Allah: I love this.” The Prophet, said to him: Did you know him? He said: No. He said: I know. He said: So he followed him and said: I love you for the sake of Allah. He said: I love you by Allah, for whom you loved me. Narrated by Abu Dawood and authencated by Shaykh Al-Albani.

A ributes Of A Good Friend As it was previously shown, the founda ons of choosing a friend in Islam include goodness of a friend. So, how can a friend be good, how is it known, and what are the characteris cs of righteousness.

One of the characteris cs of a righteous friend is that he does not commit major sins and disobedience, does not steal, does not commit adultery, does not brag about it, and covers himself if he falls into it, and he does not take precedence over indecency, lowers his gaze, guards his tongue, takes care of the rights of his parents, and does not hinder them.

Among the characteris cs of a good friend are honesty, speaking the truth, fear of Alaah, avoiding tempta on, enjoining good and forbidding evil, accep ng advice, giving advice, supplica ng for his friend, suppor ng him in his worries, sharing in his joys, and overlooking the mistakes of a friend as long as they are not in the right. Accep ng cheerfully, keeping secrets and fulfilling covenants and promises.

Among the characteris cs of a righteous friend is the one who does not keep pace with his friend in wrongdoing, injus ce, and corrup on, and does not fear the blame of the blamer in truth, and restores his friend to the right path, grants him support, and does not abandon him as much as he can, and terrifies for his fear.

May Allah make this sermon a beneficial one for me, the writer, the readers, and the en re Muslims. And our last prayer, is praise be to Allah Almighty, Lord of the worlds.

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

Crime

Police Arraign Teenager Over Alleged N1.5m Theft Bolanle Lasisi

T

HE police in the State of Osun have arraigned a 19-yearold boy, Victor Odejide before an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing the sum of N1,560,000 in Owena-Ijesa in Oriade Local Government Area of the State.

Odejide was said to have conspired with oth-

ers at large to steal the sum which belong to one Bashiru Kazeem.

According to the charge sheet obtained

by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the defendant commi ed the offence on February 22, 2022, at Owenna-Ijesa town.

The alleged offence, according to the police, contravened Sec ons 517 and 390 of the Criminal

Code, Cap 34, Vol.ll, Law of Osun State, 2002.

However, Odejide pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and breach of peace levelled against him.

Defence counsel, Mr. Israel Adelakun prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on liberal term, sta ng that Sec on 365 of the 1999

Cons tu on as amended presumed the defendant to be innocent un l the contrary is proven.

Adelakun told the court that a fundamental human ac on had been filed against the police on the par cular case at a High Court in Ilesa where an order of release was made.

He stated that the police did not want to

release the defendant, which led him to court on Wednesday.”

The defence counsel disclosed that the accused person has used 21 days in police custody before his arraignment.

Reac ng, the police prosecutor, ASP Abiodun Fagboyinbo, faulted the claim of the defence counsel, claiming that the accused person fled to

Kwara state immediately he commi ed the alleged offence before he was apprehended.

Fagboyinbo said the defendant didn’t spent more than 10 days in police custody.

In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, A.A Adebayo, ordered that the case be transferred to Ijebu-jesa Magistrate Court.

Security Architecture For Suspected Burglars Arraigned For Alleged Theft Of Property Osun July 16 Election •Continued from Page 3 at then, ci ng the venue of the congress at Open Space, opposite LADSOL Pure Water Factory, OgoOluwa area, Osogbo. This said le er was received with signature and received stamp of Police Headquarter, Osogbo, Nigeria on 15th October, 2021.

As a result of police absence at the said congress, hoodlum used the opportunity to a ack the congress and shot two party members - Ismaila Akinade and Dolapo Atobatele, who were quickly rushed to the hospital. But for prompt interven on of Nigeria Se-

curity and Civil Defence Corps, many more casuales would have been recorded.

In the run up to 16th July governorship elec on in the state, poli cians will do everything to bend the rules and engage in foul acvi es to gain underserved advantage over another; they will do everything to compromise electoral laws, INEC and their ad hoc staff and the security officials in their despera on to win at all cost. Police and other security agencies should be professional in their line of duty; they should not take or be seen taking side; they should be fair to

all as anything short of this will generate atmosphere of fear and tension, which may discourage electorate from coming out en mass to fulfilling their civic and cons tu onal responsibili es. We don’t need soldiers for elec ons as it is no war. Police have capacity to get it right, once its leadership is impar al and incorrup ble. Hence, there is need for Police and allied security agencies to develop an impressive security template for Osun July 16 governorship elec on. A single drop of human blood does not deserve to be shed on Elecon Day.

Bolanle Lasisi

A

31- year-old man, Tunde Olatunji, has been arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing proper es worth N1.2m.

Olatunji was said to have broken into the shop of one Bisi Salawudeen where he allegedly stole one Top cylinder, four alternators, kick starter, two air bank jackets, totaling N1.2 Million.

According to the

charge sheet obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, the defendant commi ed the offence on March 13, 2022 at Agunbelewo area, Osogbo.

The alleged offence, according to the police, contravened Sec ons 516 and 509 and 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol.ll, Law of Osun State, 2002.

But the defendant pleaded not guilty to a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, burglary and stealing levelled against him.

Defence counsel, T.B Ayodele prayed the court to admit the defendant to bail on a most liberal, saying that he would provide reliable surety.

Ayodele also assured the court that the accused person would stand his trial a er granted bail.

The presiding magistrate, A.A Adebayo, admi ed the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000 with a surety.

The case was adjourned to March 28, 2022.

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 - THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022

7

News

Osun 2022: About 300,000 PVCs Yet To Be Collected In Osun -REC Kazeem Badmus

A

S the July 16, 2022 governorship elecon in the State of Osun draws nearer, the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that about 300,000 Permanent Voter’s Cards were yet to be collected in the State.

This is just as the commission said eligible voters in the State of Osun have ll the end of March to register for PVC to enable them par cipate in the governorship elec on.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Prof AbdulGaniy Raji, stated this on Monday at a voter educa on programme organised by the Joint Muslim Ac on Forum (JOMAF), in Osogbo.

He described the non collec on of the PVCs as not good for democracy, saying it means that majority of people would not par cipate in the process of choosing who governs them.

Raji said the end of

•Says PVC Registration Ends March Ending

•(R-L) Pastor Kehinde Ajibade, Osun NUJ Chairman, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu, Bishop Seun Adeoye and others, during the tribute and service of song in hounour of Late Tunde Adeyemo, held at NUJ Press Centre, Osogbo, yesterday.

Photo: Shola Aderinto March marks the end of 3rd Quarter for INEC’s registraon of PVC, adding that

though 4th Quarter would begin shortly a er, the exercise would be discon n-

ued in Osun owing to the forthcoming governorship elec on.

Confusion Over SDP Governorship Candidate In Osun Kazeem Badmus

T

HERE is confusion over the governorship candidate of the Social Democra c Party (SDP) in the State of Osun.

The SDP held its gubernatorial primary elecon last week Saturday in Osogbo where a former Chairman of Odo-O n Local Government, Mr Rasaq Adejumo, was announced as the candidate of the party by Secretary of the governorship primary commi ee of the SDP, Hon Femi Ogunbemiru.

But the Chairman of the commi ee, Barr.

Joseph Achilles Abu, said he did not announce anybody as winner of the primary a er the exercise.

Abu in a le er signed by him shortly a er the primary said the party could not announce the result at the venue due to the dangerous and volale invasion of the venue by unaccredited persons and non-members of the SDP. The le er which was obtained by OSUN DEFENDER yesterday reads: “Our a en on has been drawn to false informaon circula ng in the social media purpor ng to be the result of the Osun State Governorship primary elec on of the Social Democra c Party earlier conducted today, 12 March 2022 in Osogbo.

“The public should take note that even though the said primary elec on was smoothly conducted by

•Omigbodun Accuses APC of Compromising Party’s Primary party.

•As Adejumo Claims Party’s Ticket According to Olade-

the appropriate committee set up by the Na onal Working Commi ee of the SDP, the result could not be announced at the venue due to the dangerous and vola le invasion of the venue by unaccredited persons and nonmembers of the SDP. “Fortunately, the breach of security did not affect the conduct or outcome of the exercise which was conducted in line with the Approved Guidelines and the Cons tu on of the SDP. A report has been submi ed to the Na onal Working Commi ee of the party which contains the actual results of the primary elec on conducted at the venue in the presence of INEC officials. The na onal leadership of the party will brief the public on further details shortly.

“In the mean me, the general public is advised to disregard any false reports and fake result issued in the name of the Committee. The false report in circula on did not emanate from me or any member of the Osun State Governorship Primary Committee and is therefore, null and void”.

Commen ng on the outcome of the primary, a governorship aspirant of the party, Arch. Goke Omigbodun alleged the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of Osun of hijacking the exercise.

Omigbodun, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, also accused the chairman of the SDP in the state, Mr. Sola Oladehinde of being a mole for the APC. According to Omigbodun, the primary was going on smoothly before some agent of the APC came to disrupt the process.

He said: “The primary elec on was going on peacefully un l the APC agents led by Bade Falade tried to hijack the process, bringing in an aspirant and delegates who are members of the APC. “I had instruc ons from the Na onal Secretariat to be calm and just watch them and report back, which I did.

“So, when a fake report was submi ed by the State party chairman, Sola Oladehinde, who is a mole of the APC, the naonal secretariat reacted promptly and said it was a fake result and that the party will come out with the official report soon.

“We are s ll awai ng the official report from the Na onal Secretariat and whenever it comes out, I doubt the headquarters will endorse a candidate of the APC”.

Reac ng to the allegaon, the chairman of the party in the state, Oladehinde said the le er written by Abu is not from the Na onal Secretariat of the

hinde, only the Chairman of the primary elec on commi ee le the venue of the exercise while other members waited and announced Adejumo as the winner.

Oladehinde said Omigbodun lost the elec on because his (Omigbodun) people worked against him due to his incompetence.

He said: “The le er is not from the Na onal Secretariat. The le er emanated from the so called chairman of the primary elec on commi ee and there is a divided opinion on that because the secretary of commi ee made the announcement.

“It was the secretary of the commi ee who announced the result of the primary elec on and it is even wri en in the new cons tu on of our party that whenever there is elec on, the coun ng must be done immediately a er the vo ng.

“If he accused us of working with the APC, it means he too is working with the PDP because he told me personally that he would resign if Akin Ogunbiyi can contest under our party.

“If I’m guilty of such accusa ons, then he too is guilty. He thought he was going to win the elec on but unfortunately for him, his own people worked against him because he is not competent”.

He appealed to those who are yet to register to do so in order not to disenfranchise themselves, saying it is important for all to par cipate in choosing who become their leaders.

The REC encouraged those who want to update and or correct the data in their PVC to visit the com-

mission’s website, saying the process has been made easy.

Speaking on the newly created addi onal polling units across the state, Raji disclosed that the purpose is to ease the vo ng exercise, coun ng and colla on processes on the day of elec on.

He said it is important for those who want to transfer to the new vo ng units to take the advantage as it would help them to be closer to their polling unit and also reduce queue as well as saves their me on elec on day.

Raji said: “We have created new polling units, we used to have 3010 polling units, now we have created 753, making 3763 polling units in Osun State. However, the new polling units that were created, we do not have too many people transferring their registraon or registering there.

“We want people to move their vo ng right to those new polling units which are now closer to their residences. It has several advantages. One, we will have very few people on the line, the queue will be short, and so we can complete the elec on within a very short period and at the end of the day, we will now be able to count and collate during the day light”.

How OAU Student Died By Pathologist Fatai Salawudeen

A

Consultant Pathologist from Osun State University Teaching Hospital (UNIOSUNTH), Dr. Waheed Oluogun has explained how Timothy Adegoke, a postgraduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, died.

Oluogun who tes fied before an Osogbo High Court I where suspects on the death of Adegoke are being tried on Wednesday, said the postmortem examina on conducted on the corpse of the deceased revealed that he died of severe haemorrhage and trauma c injury.

The pathologist, who was the prosecu on witness 5, told the court that the examina on revealed a cut with a sharp object on the le side of the chest of the deceased, close to his le armpit.

Tes fying before the Chief Judge of Osun, Jusce Adepele Ojo, Oluogun said he conducted the autopsy with other six pathologists, no ng that the cut on the body of the deceased measured 6/4cen metre.

Oluogun who was led in evidence by the prosecutor, M. O. Omosun,

further told the court that the body of the deceased was wrapped in blood stained clothes when he got to the site where it was exhumed.

He said: “External examina on showed there was a circumcised clean cut wound on the le side of the chest wall measuring 6/4cen metre close to the le armpit. The so ssue around the area showed marked ssue reac on measuring 32/13 cen metre.

“I cer fied the corpse of death to be severe haemorrhage (loss of blood), secondary to severe trauma c injury.”

However, during cross examina on by the defence counsels, K. K. Eleja (SAN), Muritala AbduRasheed (SAN), Rowland Otaru (SAN) and Okon Ita, Oluogun said the cut injury discovered was done by a sharp object before the death of Adegoke.

He added that the body was par ally or moderately decomposed in some parts, and there was intense decomposion in some parts, adding “it was during the autopsy that it was discovered that all the internal organs are intact.”

ISSN : 0794 - 8050

News

FRIDAY, MARCH 18 - THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022 VOL. 17 NO 11 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

T

HE a empts, the objec ves and the inconsistencies of “sexing up” the loan repayment figures at different mes have been presented in Part I of this ar cle. The trend from the concocted figures has been presented equally and summarised in the previous part I. The modus operandi and the nexus between the social media spinners or the jejune writers and the media handlers in the current government of Osun have been established.

At mes, some low-level self-serving local civil socie es cum-traders, who lack governance ideologies subs tute themselves for the spinners in the loop by using their amorphous agglomerated pla orm to “republish” and to escalate mischievously, the falsehood.

God saves your soul, if you use their publica on(s) as your primary sources like one of my brilliant sisters did and had to face so many legal ba les. Some of those civil society leaders, who gave her the falsified data to publish are now in the government of Oyetola. She obviously did not know they were working with the fi h columnist in Aregbesola’s government then. She has distanced herself from them, but many people do not know that the group has now morphed into “The Osun Mastermind” comprising of night crawlers, who cringe at night before the current Governor of Osun for crumps, patronage and posi ons. Previously, the N13bn was being bandied around as the debt financing on airport but immediately we exposed them on radio programs that the total leverage finance on MKO Abiola Airport was N2.6bn and that the total investment (including debt finance) was N3.5 bn, their tantrum changed.

This is the vicious circle, created by the axis of evil, comprising of the insiders, the spinners and their civil society collaborator. Knowing fully well that Governor Oyetola will not answer them officially, no one is going to get into that rat race again.

Therefore, I will advise them to call Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Council of Registered Engineers (COREN) to value the work done and to help them to value the earthworks of the airport projects (not groundwork as ignorantly stated)) of more than 12 meters height and over 3km distance. They have now picked on Opon-Imo by alloca ng an outrageous N8bn to the Tablet of Knowledge. This is libelous and I will encourage Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola to seek redress in the court of law on this. No more volunteering of informa on for this “huffy-goofy” bunch of jesters to feed on. Let Governor Oyetola answer them, he was in that government of Aregbesola as the “Governor in wai ng” for eight years and the project coordinator of Opon Imo, then, was one of his staff. Even the commi ee set up by Oyetola to reverse Aregbesola’s policies on educa on recommended Opon Imo for con nuity. So, what is the heck?

Why can’t media be used to project the programs or projects of government? Is it because there are no much yet? or is it because it lacks intensity and magnitude to impact all facet of lives of the people of Osun as witnessed under Aregbesola? Why can’t the media be used to give hope to the hopeless and to communicate the vision of the Governor and the paradigm to get there? Why and why? Nigerians are scandal-loving people, so the modus operandi of the media handlers of Governor Oyetola is get a cheap-skate as a writer, who will not ask ques ons, get the falsehood uploaded unto the cyber, let it go viral and the deal is done. Some careless journalists, commentators or self-serving civil socie es fishing for news items or issues will

“Governor has honourably and publicly admitted that the domestic debt of Osun was N141 billion and when the external loan is added to it, it becomes 171 billion”

Osun Gov’ship Election Under Threat As Yoruba Groups Ask Court To Stop Poll Page 6

BY WALE BOLORUNDURO Don’t Go That Route Again: An Admonition To Governor Oyetola (Part II) fall for it.

It will be good to roll back to the previous jaundiced figures, published by the social media spinners of Osun current government, those who go to the government offices to collect the ignominious data monies and the figures parroted previously by his Commissioner for Works on the local radios.

Star ng from the previous figure released by their jejune writer as loan repayments for 29 months (November 2018 to March 2021), which was purported to be N55bn, a trend has been established, which is very revealing as it seems their loan repayment figure is just racing towards a predetermined end to prove some ulterior mo ves.

A comparison of the 33-month loan repayment figure, published on the social media with the 29month figure revealed that a whopping sum of N12bn loan repayment was added in four months, i.e, at an average of N3bn monthly. This is simply a fussy mathema c to stain Ogbeni Aregbesola.

Haba!! Who is piling up new loans for Oyetola that His Excellency does not seem to know, since he said he has not added a single loan? I don’t want to assume that all the contract finance transac ons backed by promissory notes are not being reported to the Federal Government Debt Management Office as required by the law, as part of the na onal public debt. My assump on is based on the fact that government is supposed to be the most honourable. As much as I have a precogni on that fresh obliga on has been added, I want to assume that Oyetola has not taken any debt including the N18.22 bn budget facility recently availed to each state as favorable as it is and already taken by many states, including Lagos, the most buoyant state.

Therefore, we will have to drill down on the hilarious and scandalous loan repayment figure, confirmed by Oyetola’s Commissioner for Finance for the 33-month period (November 2018 to July 2021). This is to lay a basis for future extrapola on, knowing that it is going to be a running gag in the months to come because of the renewed efforts to stain Aregbesola. The loan por olio bequeathed on Oyetola’s administra on by Aregbesola and the corresponding repayments on its components are as follows: 1.The loan deduc on on the 1st bond (N30 bn) was N640m monthly and it had ceased since July 2019. So Governor Oyetola must have borne the burden for only nine (9) months. So, I expect total repayment on this to be about N6bn.

2.The loan deduc on on the 2nd bond (N11.4bn) was about N320m monthly and it had stopped since March 2020. So Governor Oyetola couldn’t have borne it for more than 17months. So, I expect the total to be about N5bn.

3. Monthly deduc on on external loan, when I was in the office was N100m. Therefore, the total loan deduc on for 33 months will be about N3.3bn.

4.The FGN restructured bond for the state’s loan has a monthly loan deduc on of N1.14bn monthly.

Instead of backing out the local government poron, which is usually se led through inter-agencies transfer, I choose to give all the N1.14bn to the state government and then total deduc ons will be N37bn. This loan segment contains over forty (40) projects and programs, including salaries/pension

shor all financing. We will be publishing the make up soon and if push comes to shove, the contractors and promoters will be listed.

5. Deduc ons on CBN backed salary bail-out facility and CBN infrastructure, totaling about N350m monthly was deferred since April 2020 and deducons made erroneously by Accountant General of Federa on during forbearance period were refunded to Osun General Revenue account. Therefore, Governor Oyetola must have borne this for only 17 months, totaling N6bn.

6. Budget Support Facility given to all the states in 2017 through the CBN to help cushion the impact of dwindling resources and help meet their various obliga ons. At the expira on of the two-year grace period, the deduc ons were suspended for one year to enable states to stabilise their finances following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even at that, I will award N1bn to the Government of Osun as the loan repayment on this.

Therefore, the total loan repayment made by Oyetola in 33 months, from 1 to 6 items above, couldn’t have been more than N56 billion naira except there have been some addi onal debts, which I may not know un l Governor Oyetola publishes his current debt figure and breakdown, as masterminded by his “friends”, “The Osun Masterminds”.

It will be helpful to the public which the Governor serves, if the components of the inherited debt por olio as at 27th November, 2018, can be published. Un l then, let them contradict my submission here on the total loan repayment figure of N56bn for the 33 months period, ending July 31st, 2021. Any clandes ne submission to jejune writers that omits reversals made as a result of loan forbearances by Federal Government and cash adjustments by the office of Accountant General of the Federa on shall not be honourable and shall be further exposed.

By comparing the above actual figure for 33 months to their publishers’ conjecture of N67bn then, there is a clear overstatement of N11bn that serves as a feast for the yellow envelope journalists and the jobless social media commentators. The N11billion difference, therefore represents a “fudge factor” in the fussy mathema cs, but unfortunately, unlike the truth, which is constant, the fudge factor has been moving up and down like a yo-yo. When the repayment figure for 29 months was thrown up on the social media, parroted by the Commissioner for Works on the local radios, the Fudge Factor was about N10bn and for 33 months, which was covertly confirmed by their Commissioner for Finance, it was N11bn. The ulterior mo ve of throwing data up and down blindfolded them to the extent that their fudge factor could not be held constant, as sacrosanct in logic.

The recent shenanigan of the “data boys” is to throw up another figure as loan repayment fas at December 2021, i.e, 38 months in office. According to them, it has now jumped up to N72bn from N67bn of July 2021. Since we have laid a basis for comparison, it will be interes ng to expose them and to check the extent to which this has been “sexed up” too. Between August 2021 and December 2021, is a five month period and by using the N1.5n as monthly loan repayment, the addi onal loan repayment made by Oyetola in the last five

HIGHLIGHTS: ⁃The modus operandi and the axis of evil, comprising of the insiders, spinners and the so called Civil Society collaborator, exposed ⁃Drilling down the loan repayment figures ⁃The fuzzy mathematics on loan repayment and the use of fudge factor to push up the alleged figures months of 2021 is N7.5bn and when this is added to the N56bn (analyzed above), it would be N63.5bn, and not N72bn as published by the compromised newsprint. The actual figure of N63.5bn has been overstated by about 15 percent, another fuzzy mathema c. The fudge factor has changed again to N8.5bn!!. Only the truth is constant. May God help us in Osun.

Part III of the ar cle will be less of calcula on but we will be dealing with the “bogey man” created by the social media rats of the current government of Osun by their various frivolous claims on the loan amount. If space permits, we will remind the Governor of some salient points, peradventure, His Excellency has forgo en.

In conclusion, I am happy for the governor for bea ng his chest that he has been able to pay full salary despite the drop in February revenues from federa on account. Honestly, nobody will burst his bubble on this, but he should remember the following: a) that the restora on of full salary payment was done by Aregbesola since July 2018 and the same fiscal mechanism used to restore the full salary then, under Aregbesola is s ll available to him and much more available now, when his revenues have gone up for the past two years, b) that he needs to fish out those people in his administra on, who are giving frivolous figures, “salted” with some government figures to jejune writers and such elements should be dealt with as saboteurs of his government. The reading public now knows his government is always pu ng “Fudge Factor” in its loan repayment figures and it is not logical for the fudge factor to be changing all the me, from N10bn addi on to N12bn, etc. c) that the Governor has honorably and publicly admi ed that the domes c debt of Osun was N141billion and when the external loan is added to it, it becomes 171billion. So recent efforts by his men (including some cabinet members) to sex up the figure to N200bn is not adding up. We get to hear all these rackets; the voodoo accoun ng ranging from adding principal amounts to expenditures that never got to mobiliza on stage of the due process. Mr Governor, if it doesn’t add up, they should leave it. d) that maybe it is high me, we brought back the Omoluabi Conserva on Fund, established by the law of the state in 2012 to save for the rainy days like the shor all in revenues accruing from Federa on Accounts. Without going into the details of what happened, when the fund and the law were repealed during Aregbesola’s second term in Office. I also know that some elements in your government have unjustly accused Aregbesola of profligacy, despite his efforts to direct more than 50 percent of capital receipts to capital expenditures and to create the laudable Omoluabi Conserva on Fund; a saving vehicle. To err is human, to forgive is divine, this can be the beginning of the res tu on and then, the reconcilia on can begin to follow.

Osun a dara o.

•Wale Bolorunduro, PhD, Former Commissioner for Finance, Economic Planning and Budget writes from 6B, Lase Ogunleye Street, off Fadahunsi Avenue, Ilesa, State of Osun.

OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarnaty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun.

All correspondence to the Deputy Editor, ISMAEEL UTHMAN, Telephone: 0805-121-2204, usmanismail001@yahoo.com. ISSN: 0794-8050.

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