Osun Defender Online Version of March 17, 2023

Osun: Vote Buying, Violence May Mar Assembly Election

•Continued from front page

“Opera ves of the commission retrieved a list of names and phone numbers of voters from Adewale Teslim at Polling Unit 07, Ward 07, Ile Aganna in the Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State.

“The officers also recovered a list of people who had voted with their phone numbers and account details from Yemi Adebiyi at Polling Unit 06, Ward 04 at Ikirun junc on, Ikirun, while Shake Idris was arrested at Polling Unit 6, Ward 10, Ofatedo area of Osun State with a notebook containing over 100 names and account numbers.”

A resident of Osogbo who received the ‘votebuying’ payment alert confided in OSUN DEFENDER that his account details was collected by agent of the PDP at a polling unit at L.A Primary School, Adenle, Osogbo, on the elec on day and was paid a sum of N1,500 on Sunday, March 5.

The voter who did not want his name in print said: “I thought the party would not pay us again un l I received the alert of N1500 last week Sunday. I believed the party must have thought of the implica on of not paying us because of tomorrow’s House of Assembly elecon.”

Mrs. Bolanle Akinrinde, who claimed to have voted at the last general elec on in Ilesa told the medium that she has been paid by APC whose agent collected her account details.

She said: “I voted at a polling unit close to the Central Mosque in Ilesa during the presiden al and na onal assembly elec on. I voted for the APC because the party’s agent had collected my account number and promised to pay me and other voters that day.

“My account was credited on Tuesday, March 7 with N1,500 and the agent called me to confirm the payment.

“I don’t think I will go and vote tomorrow because I cannot spend N2,000 as transport fare to Ilesa from Osogbo and be paid N1,500 at the end of the day. Let them hold their money; I am not going to Ilesa to vote tomorrow.”

However, findings revealed that both the PDP and APC have changed tac cs and concluded on inducing the voters with cash.

But the amount to be paid to each of the voters could not be ascertained

We’ll Descend On Vote Buyers, Sellers – ICPC

When contacted, the State of Osun Resident Commissioner of the ICPC, Mr. Demola Bakare, vowed that the commission will descend on everybody involved in vote buying and selling, warning poli cians, their agents and electorate against any malprac ce.

He said: “We have strategies in place to address the vote buying matter. Part of our strategies is to do pre-elec on intelligence gathering, monitor the elec on and act on the informa on gathered. We will con nue our work, including arres ng suspects a er the elec on day. We have perfected our strategies before, during and after the elec on.

“We are aware that some par es are already paying the electorate and

some of their agents and the voters are on our radars. We are not res ng on our oars.

“We are also collabora ng with security agencies to ensure that the elec on is violent free. I can assure you that the elec on will take place in a peaceful environment.”

When asked about the four suspects arrested in Osun by the commission during the last general elec on, Bakare said: “Those we arrested for vote buying in the last elecons have been released on bail and inves ga ons are s ll ongoing on their case. The items recovered from them are helping our inves ga ons.”

Possible Violence In Boripe, Irewole, Isokan, Atakunmosa East, Others

Besides, the elec on might also be characterised with violence in some

local governments, based on the personality of the candidates of the two pares, their supporters and poli cal environment.

Inves ga ons revealed that both the PDP and APC are determined and desperate to win majority seats for the coming 9th assembly.

Candidates of the pares, it was gathered, have mapped out strategies to weaken their opponent’s strength at their strongholds.

The two par es had been exchanging words on allega ons of plots to unleash violence on indi-

vidual’s members.

According to inves gaons, issues of harassment of voters, disrup on of vo ng process and ballot box snatching might happen in Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Irewole, Ife East, Ilesa West, Ilesa East and Boripe local governments.

Poli cal violence had been prevalent in Atakunmosa East, Atakunmosa West, Ilesa East and Ilesa west local governments before the conduct of the presiden al and na onal assembly elec ons.

Poli cal thugs working for both PDP and APC

Ooni To Unveil Ojaja University In Kwara State

Yusuf Oketola

THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, is set to unveil a University in Kwara State.

Official unveiling of the University named Ojaja University, according to the monarch, is coming very soon at Eyenkorin, Ilorin, area of the state with all courses fully accredited.

Oba Ogunwusi made this known through a statement on his Facebook page, on Tuesday.

He said: “Today, 14th March 2023,

marks another landmark in global history as I redeemed my pledge in bringing

smiles into the faces of our greater tomorrow; the youths.

“Finally, we got the

have not ceased from unleashing mayhem on the people, especially in Atakunmosa East and Atakunmosa west local governments.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that there are grand plots to disrupt elec ons in Iragbiji and Iree of Boripe local government, Ikire and Apomu of Irewole and Isokan local governments respec vely.

Why PDP, APC Are Desperate To Have Majority Seats In 8th Assembly

The House of Assembly elec on is peculiar in Osun. Aside of being another test of popularity for the PDP, the party is also aiming to have firm control of the assembly to secure a smooth sail for Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administra on.

“We are not taking any chances; we want to clear (win) all the assembly seats as we did during the naonal assembly elec on, so that both the Appeal and Supreme Courts will know that Adeleke actually won the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on”, said Alhaji Tunde Sanusi, a PDP chie ain in Egbedore local government.

While the PDP is aiming to control the assembly, the APC is also targeting to have majority of the lawmakers at the parliament.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that former governor Adegboyega Oyetola had been mee ng stakeholders of the APC to rally round all the candidates of the party.

Unlike the presidenal and na onal assembly elec ons, Oyetola has made efforts aimed at facilita ng electoral victory for the APC in tomorrow’s elec on.

results of the November/December 2022 Accredita on of Academic Programmes of Crown-Hill University (now Ojaja University).

“The official unveiling is coming very soon, Eyenkorin, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, with all our courses fully accredited.

“We glorify Eledumare for gran ng this request, as it reinforces my commitment to humanity and affirming my long- me desire to own a citadel of learning. Many thanks to our new Ac ng Vice Chancellor - Prof Jeleel Ojuade”.

It was noted that Oyetola is looking forward to returning to office on account of the pe on he filed against Adeleke on the last governorship elec on result, hence the need for his party to have majority seats at the assembly.

It would be recalled that the elec on pe on tribunal had declared Oyetola as the winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on, a judgement that was appealed by Adeleke.

The Appeal Court had on Monday adjourned the case for judgment a er counsels to the par es have submi ed their final addresses.

As of the me of filing this report, it was feasible for the APC to win Osogbo, Boripe/ Boluwaduro, Ife Central, Irewole/Isokan, Ilesa East and Ife North cons tuencies.

•Adekunle•Lawal

•Customers waiting to cash their money at the Automated Teller Machine point of a commercial bank, along Gbongan Road, Osogbo, on Thursday Photo Shola Aderinto as of the me of filing this report.

•Oba Ogunwusi and Prof. Ojuade, Acting VC

FRIDAY, MARCH 17 - THURSDAY, MARCH 23, 2023

HAVING had an offseason governorship elec on, ci zens of the State of Osun must take tomorrow’s legisla ve elecons very seriously. The fact that legislatures across the country have not exerted their independence should not be an excuse for iner a.

The quality of representaon ma ers if diligent input is to be provided by the legisla ve arm for the overall well-being of the populace. To put it mildly, the quality of recruitment and selec on into the legisla ve arm at the moment is very low, nevertheless tomorrow provides the opportunity to begin to ask for be er representa on. The voters must be more discerning and use their franchise as a quality control mechanism. This is a must and voter fa-

gue due to a long polical season is not an excuse.

Sadly, the elec oneering

has not been inspiring, on the contrary, it has been a damp squid. The par es have not elucidated clearly thought out legisla ve agendas for scru ny by the electors. This in itself is an indictment of the par es’ lack of an ideological framework. For the legisla ve arm should also be involved in se ng the agenda for development in addi on to scru nising the func ons of the execu ve.

Sadly, even the much-touted oversight func on is not diligent. The mechanisms are not there! Star ng with the na onal assembly at the center, we have not developed let alone ins tu onalised the Congressional Budget Offices which are so vital to carry out vital oversight work. They have worked very well in the United States whose system we claim to be emula ng. They func on as both research departments, forecasters as well engage in forensic audits of public expenditure. The establishment of Congressional Budget Offices must now be given the highest priority. We urge our readers to go out tomorrow and vote en masse for a pro-people legislature which in line with our mission statement will put the people first.

Go Out And Vote Tomorrow! Review & Outlook Lessons From Tinubu’s Victory

VICTORY , they say, is sweeter when it is a product of a hard fight. Of course, there is no victory that could be as sweet as the one that has the phrase “Against all odds’ accompanying it. No doubt this phrase aptly describes the eventual victory of our president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who emerged victorious in Nigeria’s latest presiden al elec on in spite of all the obstacles placed on his way by his detractors and fake friends alike; chiefs amongst which are unprecedented cash crunch and fuel scarcity aimed at making his emergence as president impossible.

How can we forget also in a hurry all the pre-presiden al elec on plots, shenanigans, character assassina ons and other nega ve campaigns exhibited against Mr. Tinubu; as if he snatched their wives or stole their goats?

But against all odds, the enigma c poli cian crossed the river and

laughed last. And he, who laughs last, surely laughs best, as the saying goes. In fact, no victory can be sweeter than this. For in the words of Thomas Paine; “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph”. This is why Asi-

An Observation Of The Master In Action

THE mely intervenon of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Nigeria Minister of Interior through his unusual doggedness in canvassing of votes for the incumbent Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwolu at various community mee ngs with Party faithfuls in the coming Gubernatorial elec on in Lagos on Saturday, March 18, 2023, is highly commendable.

Apart from being a party stalwart in the ruling APC, who has had a

Letter To The

Editor

ri with his mentor, the President-elect of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu had recently come out to debunk all nega ve insinua ons that the wrangling could never come to an end.

With the display of this uncommon maturity by one of the Nigerian

finest grassroots mobilizers, it is expected that this ac on will douse the tension the ri has generated and that frayed nerves that were seriously affected will be conciliated.

All the Nigerian polical pundits have agreed in unison that the providence had already broken the truce between the supposed mentor and the mentee and God in his infinite mercy has endorsed the reunion.

Femi Mode Siyanbola writes from Osogbo

waju Tinubu deserves a thumbs-up for emerging victorious in the most keenly contested presiden al elec on in the history of our country; amidst all the

vicious a acks against his personage. There are lessons to learn from Asiwaju Tinubu’s victory; especially for the youths who aspire to be great in life. Lessons of hard-work, determina on, perseverance, self-confidence, selflessness, fearlessness, faith and most important, investment in people are to be menoned here. The President-elect had for years imbibed the culture of hard-work and this has made success possible for him in all ramifica ons viz; professional career, family life, business and polical contests. I remember the founder of the La er Rain Assembly, now Global Citadel Community Church (GCCC), pastor Tunde Bakare, once said of Tinubu as “s ll working while others have gone to sleep”. This asser on from the cerebral pastor perfectly describes Tinubu.

OSUN DEFENDER

Publisher – Moremi Publishing House Ltd.

Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman

Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa

Reporter – Yusuf Oketola

Reporter – Kazeem Badmus

Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto

Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere

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

ISSN : 0794-8050

Telephone : 0809-301-9152

Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php

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But Asiwaju Tinubu is not only hard working, he combines hard-work with the aforemen oned quali es. He’s determined, focused, persevering, self-confident, selfless, faithful and passionately believes in developing people. All these a ributes combined, culminated in his recent electoral success. A determined person can move mountain while “perseverance is the key to success in any endeavour; without perseverance, there can be no victory”; quipped the American author, Jocko Willink. The Presidentelect is also self-confident. He courageously quipped that; “Emi Lokan” (it’s my turn) and truly, it has become his turn. There’s

All correspondence to the above email addresses.

•Continued on Page 7

“Asiwaju Tinubu should hit the ground running immediately he’s sworn in as the president. People’s expectations are high and he should endeav our to meet up to ex pectations”

“The electioneering has not been inspiring, on the contrary, it has been a damp squid. The parties have not elucidated clearly thought out legisla tive agendas for scrutiny by the electors. This in itself is an indictment of the parties’ lack of an ideological framework”

Kola Odepeju

Adeleke To Reintroduce Opon Imo In Public Schools

GOVERNOR of the State of Osun, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has expressed his readiness to introduce electronic learning devices like the Tablet of Knowledge, popularly known as Opon Imo, provided by Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s administra on to public schools in the State.

This is just as Adeleke directed the Ministry of Educa on to clean up and reopen the nine computer centres located in selected schools across the nine federal cons tuencies to aid educa on system in the state.

The computers centres were put in place by Aregbesola’s administra on in furtherance of the former governor’s efforts to reform the educa on sector, digi se learning and expose the school children to technology.

But the innova ons (both Opon Imo and computer centres) suffered setback as former governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administra on abandoned them and specifically withdrew the tablets from schools.

•Directs Reopening Of Computer Centers In Federal Constituencies

However, Governor Adeleke is set to bring back the technological innovaons.

Adeleke has asked the Ministry of Educa on and Ministry of Science and Innova on to study the possibility of introducing tablets into the Senior Secondary School level, saying it will address the increase in the cost of book purchase and also enhance Osun’s readiness for e-learning.

The Governor gave the charge on Monday at the presenta on of instruconal materials to students of Secondary Schools in the state.

Adeleke maintained that the state of educa on in Osun demands urgent a en on from the government, no ng that the primary and secondary school infrastructure was in bad condi on.

According to him, his administra on is resolved to improve the learning environment, empower teachers and provide learning aids with the goal of improving the educa onal ra ng of Osun, from the present 34th posi on to

between 1st to 10th posion.

He said: “The state of educa on in Osun state indeed demands urgent a en on from the government. From primary to secondary schools, the in-

Amotekun Arrest Suspected Bike

Terrorising Osun, Ondo, Oyo

THE Western Nigeria Security Network codenamed ‘Opera on Amotekun’ in Ondo State has arrested a 35-year-old man Osun indigene, Wasiu Olamide, in connec on with alleged the of over 100 motorcycles in Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Ondo states.

Mr. Adetunji Adeleye, the State Commander of the Amotekun Corps, said Olamide was arrested a er series of complaints by vic ms who he had allegedly robbed in Akure, Ondo State capital.

Olamide was arrested with seven other suspects who were held for various crimes.

Adeleye said Wasiu, who

is said to be the ringleader of the syndicate opera ng within the South-West region, usually robbed his vicms at gunpoint and sold their motorcycles.

He said: “We have a syndicate that operates within Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Ogun in stealing motorcycles, but we have been able to apprehend the ringleader (Wasiu)

frastructure is in bad condion.

“The three areas that affect learning require urgent reforms. The learning environment, the teaching aids and teachers’ welfare are all issues our government is

Snatcher

who confessed to having stolen over 100 motorcycles in the past three months.

“The suspect usually operates within the South-West region where he snatches motorbikes from their owners at gunpoint and takes them to a hideout where the bikes would be dismantled before selling them and there’s a buyer that comes midway and harvest all the motorcycles and cart them away.

Osun Govt. Withholds Salary Of 3 Monarchs, As Council Begs Adeleke To Lift Ban

THE State Government of Osun has placed suspension on the salaries of three tradi onal rulers in the state.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the salaries and other en tlements of the three tradi onal rulers have been withheld for more than three months.

The affected monarchs are Olupo of Oluponna, Oba Abdul-Rafiu Oyekanmi Mosobalaje, Alawuje of Awuje, Oba Hamzat Mukahil Iyanda Abidogun and Olu of Alaya, Oba Adetoyese Taiwo Opeyemi.

Findings revealed that the suspension of the monarchs’ salaries was as a result of controversies on their appointments.

Their appointments, it

was gathered, were part of those to be reviewed as directed by Governor Ademola Adeleke.

However, the Iwo Tradional Council headed by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi has appealed to Adeleke to li ban on the salary of the three monarchs in the area.

The Council, in a com-

munique issued on Tuesday a er the monthly mee ng of the tradi onal rulers held at the Oluwo’s palace, appealed to the Governor to repeal his Execu ve Order on some selected monarchs in the state.

The council described Adeleke as God sent to the people of Osun, saying his administra on has brought hope to the people of the

state through dividends of democracy in form of facilies such as road construcon, boreholes water, free medical outreach, rural electrifica on, insurance scheme and payment of salary arrears in the last 100 days in office.

Part of the communique reads: “We call on Governor Adeleke to suspend his Execuve Order on some monarchs in Osun State. The order is tantamount to slowing down the monarchical administra on of the affected ci es. We appeal to Gov. Adeleke to return the full paraphernalia of kingships and honour Iwo Tradi onal Council by suspending the order.

“The affected monarchs are not too pleased. Even at salary, monarchs are striving to survive. And we don’t want our tradi onal rulers to engage in land grabbing/sales. We beg your good office to consider our plea by gran ng our modest request “

looking into.

“We will soon hold an educa on summit where all stakeholders will deliberate. The summit will enable me to submit the Imole Educaon Agenda with a view to fast-track the implementaon process. Our aim is to ensure an educa on system in tune with the demands of the 21st century.

“Specifically, our government is resolved to improve the learning environment, empower the teachers and provide learning aids. I have a very ambi ous target for this sector. The ul mate goal is to improve the educa onal ra ng of Osun from the present 34th posi on to between 1st to 10th posi ons.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as part of the planned reform, our administra on is today addressing a major constraint facing most students-access to instruc onal materials.

“The cost of books and other materials is becoming unaffordable for most par-

ents.

“A more trending soluon is to apply technology in our schools. Our government is ready to infuse technology to aid learning, assist teachers and improve the learning environment.

“Part of the reason for failure at na onal examinaons is lack of familiarity with computer systems. The majority of our students are not able to use computers un l a few days before their examina ons. Unfortunately, most examina ons are now computer-based. Upgrading students’ computer skills are therefore one of the major goals of my administra on.

“To that end, I hereby direct the Ministry of Educaon to clean up and reopen the nine computer centres located in selected schools across the nine federal cons tuencies. The facili es in those centres are ro en away. We must put them to good use for the be erment of our educa on system.”

Kazeem Badmus

Yusuf Oketola

Yusuf Oketola

•Adeleke

•Iwo traditional council

Oyetola Paid Lip Service To Completion Of Osogbo-Ikirun-Kwara Boundary Road – Adeleke

GOVERNOR of the State of Osun, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has chided his predecessor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola for abandoning the Osogbo-IkirunKwara boundary road project during his four years tenure.

Adeleke said the former governor, despite being in the same party as his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who ini ated the project and completed the first phase before leaving office in 2018, paid lip service to the comple on of the road at the detriment of the en re Osun populace.

He stated this on Tuesday, during the commissioning of the second phase of the road from Osogbo Steel Rolling Company to Okanlawon Petrol Filling Sta on, Ikirun.

According to the Governor, “This road project commenced on January 9, 2013 under the administra on of Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, with the first phase from Old Garage to Osogbo Steel Rolling Company which was commissioned on November 19, 2018.

“The immediate past governor, being a member of the same poli cal party with his predecessor, paid lip service to the project at the detriment of the en re populace of Osun State”.

Adeleke said the recommencement of the project was a proof to assure the en re people on his administraon’s commitment to accelerate infrastructure development across the nooks and crannies of the State.

Meanwhile, residents and motorists in the State have lauded the Governor for the comple on of the second phase of the road, saying it will go a long way to ease the hardship they faced when plying the road.

The road, when finally completed, will also advance and enhance the business rela onship between Osun and Kwara states, said the road users.

•Governor Ademola Adeleke, commissioning the second phase of Osogbo/Ikirun/Ila-Odo

road, on Tuesday

A resident of Ikirun, Ayobami Olapade, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, applauded the Governor

for not being vindicve.

According to Olapade, Oyetola abandoned the road be-

cause he was figh ng his predecessor, Aregbesola.

He said: “It is very sad that the immedi-

ate past governor abandoned that road because of the fight between him and Aregbesola. That is so

callous. Aregbesola had a good plan for the people of Osun, and it was his vision that brought about this project today.

“Irrespec ve of whatever is happening between Oyetola and Aregbesola, projects that will benefit the society should not be made to suffer. Oyetola ought to have con nued that good work but he didn’t.

“The road was dualised from Osogbo to Steel Rolling by Aregbesola and it stopped there since because his successor abandoned it. We are very glad the incumbent governor has completed the second phase”.

A commercial driver, Olayinka Iyiola, lauded Adeleke for the con nua on of the project, calling on the governor to ensure total comple on of the road.

March 18: INEC Ready To Conduct Election In Violence Areas - Agboke

HE Resident Electoral Commissioner in the State of Osun, Dr. Mu u Agboke, has said that the commission was prepared to conduct state assembly elec ons in areas where violence was recorded during the presiden al and naonal assembly elecons.

TKazeem Badmus are in 30 places. They are already customised which of course makes it easier to be deployed to various Local Governments.

“Where an elec on has been cancelled as a result of overvo ng,

we will not give any opportunity to anybody. What we are saying is that in those places, par cularly, those areas where violence has become their middle name, the security has assured us that proper

deployment will be made.

“We are going to secure all various levels of colla on from the Ward to the Local Government and the State colla on level. We will ensure that our armed

security personnel are fully on the ground.

“For us in Osun State, it is going to be a sterling ou ng and I can assure you that the elec on will be one of the best in Nigeria.

Osun United Gets New Team Bus

Agboke made this known on Wednesday at the state headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abeere, during the distribu on of sensive materials to the local governments.

According to him, security agencies have assured of proper deployment of personnel to areas where violence occurred during the last elec ons.

“In Osun State, there is no gubernatorial elec on but notwithstanding, people will be elec ng House of Assembly members and that is why we have brought out the IE, ballot papers and results sheet. They are going to be batched into Local Governments. If you look at them, they

OVERNOR of the State of Osun, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has presented a new bus to the State Men’s football team, Osun United, to aid their travelling across the country.

It would be recalled that the men’s football team has been facing difficul es in travelling outside the state for matches as the only vehicle available to them is faulty.

The Nigeria Na onal League team has been managing the only func oning bus out of the buses given to them during the first term of former governor Rauf Aregbesola.

According to club sources, efforts were made at ensuring that the immediate past administra on of former

GKazeem Badmus governor Adegboyega Oyetola, provided new buses for the team but yielded no posi ve result.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the team had been using

the bus meant for their woman counterpart, Osun Babes, whenever they are going for away matches a er an unpleasant experience where they were made to spend three

days between Abuja and Osogbo.

The medium also gathered that the team rents buses whenever their away match clashes with their women counterpart.

Kwara boundary

Kazeem Badmus

ALL 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.

Fas ng during Ramadhaan means absnence from all food or drink, including water and chewing gum, from dawn to sunset. It is recommended that before sunrise, Muslims eat a prefast meal known as suhur. This meal o en resembles breakfast, but in some cultures, it may include more dinner-like foods.

JUMAT SERMON JUMAT SERMON

holy month gives room for reflec on in order to assess one’s progress as the days count.

By Imaam Muhammad Abdulalimi

Imaam Muhammad Abdulalimi

Ramadhaan is one of the purposes Allaah Almighty remains people on the surface of the earth. Ramadhaan is among the months, which because of them, Allaah Almighty has not perished the world.

The month of fas ng is a month people move near to their creator most, that is why the blessings of Allaah descend a lot in the month of Ramadhaan.

It is a warnig that nobody should reproach or insult the fas ng people, because everybody is benefi ng a lot from their fas ng.

It has been proven medically that there are merits the fas ng people will have access to, that such merits cannot be achieved except through fas ng.

The order by the Most Merciful that we should fast is a sign that the seal of the Prophet, Muhammad (PBUH), was sent by Allaah Almighty like others. This is clearly stated in Chapter 2, verse 183 of the Noble

“O you who believe! fas ng is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may guard (against evil).

These are spiritual and physical benefits of fas ng in the month of Ramadhaan

1. Forgiveness: One of the numerous benefits of Ramadhaan is earning Allah’s forgiveness. It is important to point that the Messenger (PBUH) said: “Cursed is he who witnesses the blessed month but doesn’t earn Allah’s forgiveness”. So repent and brace for Allah’s mercy — it’s in abundance.

Narrated by Ibn Salam who heard from Muhammad Ibn Fudoyl who said: It was narrated from Yahya Ibn Sa’eed, who reported from Abu Salamah, who reported from Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with all of them): Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Whoever observes Saum (Fas ng) during the month of Ramadhaan out of sincere faith, and hoping to a ain Allah’s Rewards,

Ramadhaan Is Here Again !

all his past sins will be forgiven.” — Sahih Al-Bukhari

2. Steadfastness: Since the goal of Ramadhaan is to a ain piety, then you should brace up with good deeds. Increase your goodness not only in the blessed month but beyond. Ramadhaan gives you a chance to scale up righteousness and keep it as an habit.

3. Protec on: In the famous hadith of Muadh ibn Jabal RA, he reported the Prophet (PBUH) to have said: “… fas ng is a shield…”. Not only does it ward off evils and immorali es from us. It also prevents us from following the footpath of shaytan. So if you find people keeping to bad habit in Ramadhaan and blaming it on shaytan, remind them of this hadith:

“When the month of Ramadhaan begins, the gates of the heaven are opened; the gates of Hell-fire are closed, and the devils are chained.” (Sahih Bukhari)

4. Reflec on: This is a me for us all to rethink and reform our ways. Remember how Allah favored you to witness the last Ramadhaan. Some did observe the previous fas ng but are companions of the grave today. Think about the numerous sins you’ve commi ed and determine not to return to them. Express gra tude for all the favours Allah has endowed you with and commit yourself to be a be er person in Ramadhaan and beyond.

5. Detoxifica on: Abstaining from ea ng and drinking enhances the metabolic process of the body. This is done by naturally expelling body toxins and systema cally reducing the rate of food consump on. So, it is really not about how much you eat and store, it’s the pa ence and perseverance that really keeps the body in shape.

6. Accountability: Ramadhaan helps you stay on track. You consciously take into cognisance what you say, eat, do etcetera. Most o en, people get to abandon their sinful ways as a result of reforma on. This is because the

Osun Amotekun Arrest Ex-Convicts Terrorising Modakeke Community

Damola Talabi

OPERATIVES of the SouthWest Security Network codenamed Amotekun in the State of Osun, have arrested two suspected criminals who were said to be terrorising residents of Modakeke and its environment.

The suspects, Segun Ajayi, (27) and Sunday Adedoja (37) were nabbed with a dane double barrel gun in Modakeke, on Wednesday.

Confirming the arrest to the newsmen in Osogbo, Amotekun Field Commander, Capt. B.O. Akanni (Rtd), said the suspects have been terrorising the residents of Modakeke before nemesis caught up with them.

Akanni said: “Our men received informaon from concerned

residents of Modakeke over the criminal acvi es of some criminal elements and our men swung into ac on and arrested the duo while armed with a dane gun and charms.

“The arrest was made possible by our opera ves in Modakeke command who swung into acon immediately af-

ter a complaint was lodged on the ac vies of the culprits.

“Inves ga on revealed that the suspects are ex-convicts”.

Akanni urged residents of the state to be security conscious of their environment and report any criminal hideout in their domains to the security agencies.

7. Emancipa on: This blessed period comes with a big bonus — ransom from hell and admission into paradise. In a beau ful narra on, Abu Huraira reported; The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “On the first night of the month of Ramadan, the devils are chained, the jinn are restrained, and the gates of Hellfire are closed and none of its gates are opened. The gates of Paradise are opened and none of its gates are closed. A caller announces: O seeker of good, come near! O seeker of evil, stop short! Allah will save them from the Hellfire and that is during every night of Ramadan.” — (Tirmidhi)

8. Bonding with the Qur’an: It is the month in which the Qur’an was revealed and the Angel Jibril used to revise it with Allah’s Apostle. Muslims familiarise themselves with the Qur’an day and night through recita on, memorisa on, listening and also learning the exegesis. One of the best parts of it is the reward that comes with comple ng the recita on of the whole Qur’an in the sacred month.

9. Humility and Empathy: We submit to Allah’s injuncon by fas ng in this holy month. It’s one of the pillars to be established by every faithful Muslim. Through this as well, we are able to express gra tude to Allah for His endless boun es on us. We feel the pains of the poor and this reminds us of the virtue of suppor ng the needy.

10. Growth: One of the most important gains from Ramadhaan is the ability to evolve. To transform from a previous you to the new you. The one whom hopefully has gone through a spiritual rebirth that will propel for the rest of the year. Ramadhaan comes to teach piety so we are expected to keep up with good deeds and abstain from evil as much as we can. If you can achieve this, then count yourself among the lucky ones who gained immensely from the blessed month.

May Allah count us among those who will witness Ramadhaan from the beginning ll the end, and grant us the ability to do acceptable deeds. May we be among the people who would be totally forgiven, emancipated and earn His love. Aameen!

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 Allaah Almighty, Lord of the worlds.

Lessons From Tinubu’s Victory

•Continued from Page 3

power in the tongue truly. What’s more? Amongst the aforemenoned a ributes that also worked for Tinubu in the last presiden al elec on is selflessness. The President-elect isn’t a selfish leader. Any leader who is not selfish will naturally command large followership. Not by coercion but by the convic on people have in his charisma c leadership. Asiwaju Tinubu is also a man of faith. He’s always faithful to his beliefs. Faith, according to William Hazli , “is necessary to victory; if you think you can win, you can win”. Students of poli cal history cannot also forget the “Yes We Can” slogan of former President Barack Obama of the United States. He said so and he succeeded as American President. Thus a for ori faith is also a sine qua non for success in life struggles. If you believe you can you will definitely secure victory.

Chief of all the factors that aided Tinubu’s vic-

tory is his strong belief in ‘human capital development’. Asiwaju Tinubu has invested heavily in people. He has li ed many people up and assisted them to a ain their dreams; either in business or poli cs. Many who could never have become anything in life; especially in the field of poli cs, have been assisted to the top by the presidentelect. Unlike many selfish leaders whose philosophy is; ‘Me, Myself and I’, this isn’t Tinubu’s ideology. His own ideology is to teach people how to catch fish but not just giving them fish. This is the hallmark of a charisma c leader. Of course, our society would be be er and poverty reduced to the barest minimum - if not completely eradicated - if we had many of Tinubu’s ilk in the society. One prays and hopes he will con nue toeing this path of compassion as soon as he is sworn in as the president.

Asiwaju Tinubu should hit the ground running immediately he’s sworn

in as the president. People’s expecta ons are high and he should endeavour to meet up to expecta ons. Given his antecedent of credible performance in public office and the doggedness he does display towards achieving his goals, there’s no doub ng the fact that he will take this country to an enviable posi on by restoring her glory as the giant of Africa she used to be known for. Being a man with a knack for picking capable hands, he’s expected to pick capable team just like he did as the governor in Lagos state. May God help him to succeed in the task ahead-Amen.

This writer therefore uses this medium to join millions of people across the length and breadth of this country and beyond to say congratula ons to Mr. President-elect while also wishing him a successful tenure of office-Amen.

•Kola Odepeju, newspaper columnist and social commentator, writes from Lagos

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

•The suspects

APC National Vice Chair Intensifies Call For Omisore’s Removal How

•Insists He Mismanaged Party’s Campaign Fund In Osun •Party Scribe Denies Fraud Allegation

ACCORDING

to The

Mirror, Arsenal missed out on a golden opportunity to sign prolific striker, Victor Osimhen in 2016 and yet failed to get him for free in January 2017, when he le Nigeria to join Bundesliga ou it Wolfsburg.

The 24-year-old Nigerian striker has been making headlines for his outstanding performances with Napoli since joining the Serie A side in 2020.

Osimhen made headlines in 2015 when he scored 10 goals to help Nigeria win the U-17 World Cup for a record fi h me. The young striker claimed the Golden Boot for his efforts, with Wolfsburg and Arsenal ba ling for his signature.

tually invited to the Emirates by the English giants in February 2016.

“It is true that a big team like Arsenal wanted me and I feel honoured to be invited over,” Osimhen told BBC Sport. “But personally, I feel Wolfsburg is a ladder for me to reach my professional goals.

“Yes, Arsenal is a good team for young players but Wolfsburg is the best club for me. This is the best place for me to learn and develop because my heart is here with Wolfsburg… The club’s plan for my career is very encouraging and I believe with God on my side I can grow to become one of the best players in the world.”

THE Na onal Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), North-West, Dr. Salihu Lukman, has intensified his call for the removal of the Na onal Secretary of the party, Senator Iyiola Omisore.

Lukman insisted that Omisore allegedly mismanaged the campaign funds given to him for the prosecu on of July 16, 2022 governorship elec on in the State of Osun, by the Na onal Secretariat of the party.

This is coming a er Omisore had threatened a legal ac on against Lukman for the allega on, demanding a retrac on and a sum of N500m as damages from him.

Lukman had on Tuesday during an interview on a na onal TV, accused Omisore of further destabilising APC in the State of Osun, instead of uni ng members of the party.

He alleged that Omisore mismanaged the campaign funds handed over to him by the party for last year governorship elec on and also refused to give account of the money.

He maintained that the APC Na onal Secretary has failed in terms of stabilising Osun and uniting people.

According to Lukman, Omisore needs to vacate his seat in order to stabilise APC in the state.

But Omisore described the fraud allegaon, demanding a retrac on and payment of N500m as damages from Lukman, who made the

allega on.

The Vice Chairman said: “We must emphasise that ac ng as a party requires that we ac vate the organs of the party to func on. And I think this is the struggle we have been waging and once the organs of the party are not working, then even the capacity to hold leaders to account will be weak.

“And that is where we are and that is partly what is producing some of the unhealthy development in (the party). For instance, Osun State, which is part of the reason why I said the Na onal Secretary has failed, in terms of stabilising Osun and uni ng people.

“Part of the issue with that is that I’m aware the party has given some campaign funds to Osun which was handled by the Na onal Secretary and to some extent, he has either mismanaged it but more importantly, he is not accoun ng to anybody and you have to ac vate the process of accountability.

“And for me, I think as part of the process of accountability in order to stabilise Osun, I think the Na onal Secretary should also vacate his seat,” he insisted.

Reac ng, Omisore in a le er through his lawyer, Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, on Wednesday, debunked the allega on, sta ng that it was a poli cal ploy with intent to damage his reputa on and integrity.

Omisore demanded a retrac on and an apology to be published in

two major newspapers and several online news outlets within two days.

The le er reads: “Our client has consequently directed us to request for a retrac on of your libellous statement and publica on and an apology to be published in two (2) major newspapers and several online news outlets not later than forty-eight (48) hours of the delivery of this le er and also the payment of the sum of N500 million as damages for malicious statement against our client.

“Take no ce that if you fail to heed the request of our client within forty-eight (48) hours of the receipt of this le er, we shall be constrained to proceed to the court of law against you for exemplary damages, for injurious falsehood and malicious statement made of and concerning our client.”

However, Lukman, in a sharp reac on to Omisore’s demand, said he stood by his words, asking Omisore to go to court.

He said: “I further supported my call for Sen. Omisore to vacate his posi on as the Na onal Secretary with the demand for accountability around the management of campaign funds provided by the party, which was delivered through Sen. Omisore.

“Since Senator Omisore’s response to the request for accountability is to threaten legal ac on, I have also instructed my lawyers to respond appropriately to his legal threat. Howev-

er, as a commi ed party member I insist that the challenges facing us as a party and as a na on are broadly poli cal and limi ng our ac ons to the courts may only distract us from ini a ng the correct responses to resolve the challenge of facilitating nego a ons for the inclusive government under the leadership of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I want to restate that being party leaders, we are obligated to facilitate nego a ons through our structures, namely Naonal Execu ve Committee (NEC) and Na onal Caucus. Unfortunately, as things are, these structures have been frozen by our inac ons as members of the Na onal Working Commi ee (NWC) led by Senator Adamu and Senator Omisore.

“No mee ngs of these structures have taken place for almost one year. The inability to make these structures funconal will weaken the capacity to regulate the conduct of party leaders and we risk crea ng a situa on whereby challenges of inclusivity will be further compounded in the country.”

Wolfsburg won that ba le in January 2016, as they agreed to a pre-contract deal with Osimhen. The move was finalised in January 2017. Arsenal were le to pay for not ac ng on me. Osimhen explained that he was ac-

Osimhen did not register a senior goal for Wolfsburg, but he’s flourished since leaving the German club, ini ally on loan, in the summer of 2018. The forward has scored goals for fun at Belgian side Charleroi, French ou it Lille and Champions League hopefuls Napoli.

3 Players To Have Scored 5 Goals In A Single Champions

THE UEFA Champions League, an annual club football compe on organised by the Union of European Football Associaons, was founded in 1955.

The compe on is played by top-division European clubs and the winner of the compe on is decided through a round robin group stage to qualify for a doublelegged knockout format, and a single leg final.

Real Madrid, the present tle holder of the championship, have won it 14 mes followed by AC Milan winning it seven mes while Liverpool had only won it six mes.

Below is a list of players who have scored five goals in single Champions League match

1. Lionel Messi Lionel Messi became the first player to score five goals in a UEFA Champions League match on March 8, 2012.

The Argen ne player scored twice before the end of the first half and three mes in the second half in the game against the German side, Bayer Leverkusen, at Camp Nou.

The Argen na internaonal had earlier scored four goals against the English Premier League side, Arsenal, in 2009-10, equalling the record of the likes of Marco van Basten and Simone Inzaghi, both of whom ne ed four mes in a Champions League match.

Barcelona defeated Bayer Leverkusen 7-1 to advance

to the quarter-finals with a 10-2 aggregate win.

2. Luiz Adriano

On October 21, 2014, Brazilian football player, Luiz Adriano, became the second player in the history of football to score five goals in a UEFA Champions League match against BATE Borisov. Adriano, who presently plays for Brazil’s Sport Club Internacional had scored four first-half goals in the game while he was at Shakhtar Donetsk.

He added his fi h goal in the 82nd minute, his second penalty of the game.

3. Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland became the third player in history –and the first for nine years – to score five goals in a single UEFA Champions League game on March 14, 2023.

Manchester City defeated RB Leipzig 7-0 in the round of 16 second leg of the compe on.

Haaland presently a ains the current record of players who had scored five goals in a UEFA Champion League match.

He is also the youngest player to reach 30 goals in the history of the compe on.

Erling Haaland completed his five-goal performance in 57 minutes while it took Lionel Messi 84 and Luiz Adriano 82.

“Congratula ons to Erling for reaching yet more memorable milestones,” Manchester City wrote on its website.

Yusuf Oketola

ISSN 0794 8050

MARCH 23, 2023 VOL. 18 NO 10 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com

HURRAY! A er so many twists and turns and barring “inconclusive” and reruns, we are heading into the grand finale of an exhaus ve seemingly never-ending elec on season. For the sake of democra c par cipa on and inclusiveness, the turnout must be high.

This is important for the voter turnout during the presiden al and naonal legisla ve elec on at 29% was pathe c. Unbefi ng of a democracy in par cular for a country which held its first elec on in the western sense a century ago in 1923! The Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) had be er buckle up, there has been an erosion of trust a er the debacle of the presiden al elec on. It will take great efforts of persuasiveness to rebuild confidence and the signs are not encouraging, nevertheless let us live in hope.

The erosion of trust in the process comes with various price tags. The blow to the na ons self esteem is painful. For example, the condescending manner the Bri sh High Commissioner damned the elec on with faint praise was infuria ng. The patronising a tude came across like reference to the Banana Republic. It was like she was giving rave reviews to a circus show. Difficult to blame her though, we reduced ourselves to this level. It is inconceivable that a Nigerian High Commissioner to the Court of St James will be making such insouciance. We asked for it. When Nigeria s ll had na onal pride, she will have been booted out post haste. Perish that possibility now that the country is in the self-deprecia ng grip of Lillipu ans.

Whichever way it pans out in the elec ons tomorrow, we have to face a daun ng reality. The me is long overdue to separate Governance from Poli cs. The emphasis on a misconcepon of poli cs has acted as a brake on the prospects for sustainable development. Poli cs in this misconcep on actually reflects a stul fied economy with very limited op ons for advancement let alone self-actualisa on. In this, poli cs has become a career rather than what it ought to be which is a voca on. This misunderstanding has come with a debilita ng cost.

The emphasis must now be placed on governance. And it is going to be hard. Governance is harder, it requires

PERSPECTIVE

BY ADEMILUYI

KANMI

Need To Separate Governance From Politics

programs as well as the focus and the presence of mind to pay me culous a en on to details. Unfortunately, the method of selec on and recruit-

IT is painfully amusing watching some agents of the so called “Interna onal Community” crying wolf about our electoral process and its outcome. Have they ever meant well for us and sincerely wish it were different? From the days of the Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah who they overthrew, to Patrice Lumumba, Amilcar Cabral, Thomas Sankara and Steve Biko, who they assassinated, they never ever wanted patriots ready to serve their African people to come to power or stay in power. Their stock in trade is manipula ng our economy through debt burden and import dependency, and manipula ng our poli cs such that persons of clear vision and egalitarian commitment like the Avatar, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, will never come to power.

However, are they to blame? In democracy, the bulk must clearly stop on the table of The People, every people inevitably get the kind of government they deserve. Though unfortunately held down in poverty, ignorance and primordial sen ments – cleaving to ethnic and religious affilia ons which are manipulated to divide them – the people, as the Yoruba say, must s ll endeavour to see while shedding tears; “bi a ba n sukun, a ma riran.” Like Bob Marley said, “how long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look?” A people willing to stand aloof while their bests are wasted and their most selfish and vile are imposed as rulers over them are no longer vic ms but accomplishes in their own misfortune. As Bob Marley said, again, “none but ourselves can free our minds.”

Buhari is a Northern Muslim and Emefiele is a Southern Chris an but they have collaborated to occasion the disrup on of the en re Nigerian financial system through a policy that they claim was well intended. Between “good” inten on and the harsh outcome, no one is remembering their

3 Players To Have Scored 5 Goals In A Single Champions League Match

ment used in our defini on of polics makes this difficult. Nigeria needs savvy hands-on technocrats and not poli cal jobbers, hacks and careerists.

Pg.

New governments at all levels to be inaugurated in May should emulate Babatunde Fashola who in his two terms as the governor of Lagos State made a laudable and largely successful effort to separate poli cs from governance. There is no alterna ve in the dire straits we find ourselves than to reimagine the Fashola model. It brings to mind the o en-quoted observa on of the pioneer editor of The Economist Walter Bagheot made over a hundred and fi y years ago. In interpre ng The English Cons tu on in his meal culpa on the cons tu on, Bagheot made a dis nc on between the “ceremonial” and the “working” aspects of the machinery of government. The dis nc on is crucial: it must be at the center of our revalua on of the process of governance. There is simply no alterna ve if we are to strive for sustainability in development and the achievement of the shared prosperity so necessary to act as both social buffer as well as a stabilising mechanism. And Nigeria, in par cular its ruling establishment need all the shock absorbers imaginable.

What happens the day a er matters, it is to be hoped that we will see uncommon acts of statesmanship as we cannot expect the courts to replace the electorate as the determinant of the expressed wish of the people. The admoni on of the prayer of St Francis helps “..that where there is discord let us look for harmony, where there is a dispute let us look for the truth....”.

May God bless Nigeria.

Serving The People By Force

tribe or religion - whereas the punishing impact spares no tribe or religion. However, because of cut throat compe on to grab power, we – the people – are always reminded of our tribe and religion at elec on me, and are stupidly manipulated and primed to wreck havoc; meanwhile, the issues of power supply, housing deficit, producvity, currency rate, woeful infrastructure deficit, declined educa on quality, absent health care ins tu on, astounding and moun ng debt burden, endemic corrup on, insecurity, and a thousand other miseries are all le out of the discuss!

The simple reason why struggle for public offices, which is for service to the people, have become do-or-die, is that they are not going there to serve the people but themselves and their cliques. Why? Because government in Nigeria has since become a grand conspiracy to be in control of oil money for sharing and stealing, and poli cs thereby the most lucra ve business that is killing the growth of all other produc ve businesses. Why should anyone want to die and be ready to kill others simply because he or she wants to go and make life be er for the people? Is that logical? Is being in government the only way of rendering service to the people?

As we go to the polls as ordinary Nigerians tomorrow to elect Governors and State Legislators, let us have at the back of our mind the Big Picture and the Plain Truth, so that we go peacefully and let whatever outcome be; and what is the Big Picture and the Plain Truth?

One, our poli cs and economy is largely controlled by foreign powers and manipulated in a way to keep Nigeria in perpetual bondage without real development. Two, it is possible to end

this foreign control but only a visionary poli cal party that puts the people first can do so; none of the present big par es has that goal. Three, the first step by any truly pro-people poli cal party with well-meaning poli cians is to restructure Nigeria into a genuine FEDERAL REPUBLIC; it is the ul mate solu on to almost all animosi es and tensions, and the catalyst to real produc vity by all states – none of the present poli cal par es and poli cians inside them are commi ed to that goal. Four, there are s ll some few excep onal patrio c and pro-people poli cians sca ered across all poli cal par es BUT they are endangered species and overwhelmed by the majority selfish and venal ones who are contended to maintain the status quo of centralised governance based almost en rely on sharing oil money and endless borrowing. Hence, in these elec ons, whichever party wins, whosoever becomes governor or legislator, will not solve the countless Nigerian problems that can only get worse: just simply remember “Change” of eight years ago and our hope in a new Messiah, which allowed us to sweep away Jonathan BUT where are we today with all those dead and buried expecta ons? We are today le with a harvest of compounded woes!

So, there is no point for the ordinary people that have nothing to benefit from mere change of government personnel to go and kill or maim themselves for those who care less about them. The real task before the people is a er the elecon; to get together across tribe and religion, on the basis of finding out how to end their oppression, then organising and struggling to build a great FEDERAL Republic, where there is life more abundant FOR ALL.

“New governments at all levels to be inaugurated in May should emulate Babatunde Fashola who in his two terms as the governor of Lagos State made a laudable and largely successful effort to separate politics from governance”

•Tinubu

Catriona Laing, British High Commissioner