NEWS
CRIME
2023 Census: NPC Begins Recruitment Of Ad-hoc Staff Page 5
Local Security Operatives Apprehend Fake Soldiers Page 7 In Owode-Ede
• Launches Online Portal
EDUCATION
Euphoria As Students Win Laptop, Other Gifts At Spelling Master Season II Page 7
SECURITY
I Will Make Osun No Go Area For Criminals – New CP Page 5
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022 VOL 17 NO 43
HOME RUN!
Oyetola Refuses To Constitute Transition Committee 23 Days To Go •Gov’s Attitude Unsportsmanlike, Undemocratic - Dr. Oladimeji •His Sit-tight Approach Condemnable - Group Pg. 2 EDUCATION
OSCOTECH Students Kick Against Increment In Tuition Fee Page 5 NEWS Page 7
New Akinrun Yet To Access Palace A Week After Appointment
•Governor-Elect, State of Osun, Senator Ademola Adeleke in a group photograph, with members of the Transition Committee, after the presentation of their Interim Report
Aree Stool: Don’t Impose Anybody On Us, Kingmakers, Indigenes Warn Oyetola, Adeleke
Ismaeel Uthman
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•I’m Not Involved In Any Manipulation Process – Commissioner
INGMAKERS and other indigenes of Iree, the headquarters of Boripe North Local Council Development Area of the State of Osun, have warned Governor Adegboyega Oyetola against imposing somebody on them as the new Aree of Iree. The kingmakers specifically warned the Commissioner for Local Government and Chie aincy Affairs, Prince Adebayo
Adeleke, to desist from the alleged plan to manipulate the selec on process to the favour of his preferred aspirant to the stool. According to the kingmakers, they abstained from a mee ng called by the local government on Wednesday for the selecon process because of the threat to their lives and plan to force them to adopt an aspirant to the stool. The local government had wri en the
kingmakers that a mee ng to kickstart the selec on process of a new Aree would hold on Wednesday, urging them to attend as a ma er of duty. The local government noted in the letter that the kingmakers had refused to honour the invita on sent to them twice on the ma er. Speaking with the medium yesterday, the kingmakers said they didn’t show up at Wednesday’s mee ng because there is
a grand plan by the government to impose one of the contestants for the stool on the community. They stated that any a empt to impose somebody on Iree will be resisted, warning the government not to destabilise the community. The kingmakers also alleged Adeleke, an indigene of Iree, of frustra ng the selec on process because his favourite can•Continued on page 4
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022
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News
Homerun: Oyetola Refuses To Constitute Transition Committee 23 Days To Go
•Prospective corps members at the ongoing NYSC orientation exercise on Wednesday. Ismaeel Uthman T is exactly 23 days to the expira on of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s administra on in the State of Osun, coun ng from today, Friday, November 4. The Governor and his deputy, Mr. Gboyega Alabi, have been packing their personal belongings from the Government House, Osogbo, OSUN DEFENDER gathered. However, Oyetola has refused to cons tute a transi on commi ee that will see to the seamless transfer of power with relevant and adequate informa on on the affairs of the state to the Governor-elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke. The governor has not also congratulated Adeleke since his declara on as the winner of the July 16 governorship elec on. Adeleke had on July 27, 2022 inaugurated his transi on commi ee headed by Dr. Muyiwa Oladimeji. The commi ee is to examine ma ers rela ng to state labour force, welfare of the people, payment of salaries, pensions and gratuity, review the current security architecture of the state and interface with relevant security agencies in order to ensure a seamless transi on and ascertain facts and figures about the general state of affairs of the state. Specifically, Adeleke directed the commi ee to ascertain the state of finances of the state, including funds from the federa on allocaon account, internally generated revenue, grants and other sources of income, and examine the present structure, finance, effecveness of local government in the State of Osun, and make appropriate recommenda ons among others. The transi on commit-
I
tee had on October 27 submi ed its interim report to Adeleke. Oyetola was expected to have set up his own
transi on commi ee that will interface with that of Adeleke, but that has not been done as of the me of filing this report.
Reac ng, the Chairman of Adeleke’s Transi on Commi ee, Dr. Muyiwa Oladimeji, described Oyetola’s a tude as undemo-
cra c and unsportsmanlike. According to Oladimeji, Oyetola was not responsive to the transi on committee, no ng that all what the Governor is hiding will be exposed when Adeleke takes over. He disclosed that the commi ee received informa on from some government officials while some others refused to cooperate with them. The Chairman said: “The outgoing governor, Oyetola was not responsive to our transi on commi ee. “There are enough people in the civil service who quietly came to us. Whether he (Oyetola) likes it or not, when we take over the government, the officials that he did not allow to come will be summoned and they won’t have a choice than to come. “However, we won’t allow that to slow us down in order to have a smooth transi on.” Oladimeji noted that
Olufon Stool: Group Kicks Against Alleged Plot By Osun Govt. To Impose New Monarch Kazeem Badmus
A
social-poli cal group, Orolu-Parapo Forum, has warned the Governor of the State of Osun, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola, not to impose a new monarch on the indigenes of Ifon-Osun in Orolu Local Government. The group, in a press release signed by its President, Faluade Rasheed, called on indigenes of the town to rise against any form of imposi on, saying such is capable of throwing the community into total anarchy. According to the group, issues rela ng to the filling of the vacant Olufon stool are pending at the Osogbo High court, adding that there is a subsis ng injuncon order on the ma er. The group added that the tension arising from the informa on about the alleged plan of the Osun government to impose a candidate has already caused confusion in the town. Part of the statement reads: “The issues rela ng to filling of the vacant Olufon stool is pending at the Osogbo High Court. The rumours that the outgoing administra on of His Excellency, Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola is hell-bent on imposing one of his party’s poli cal stalwart from Ifon as the new Olufon without deference to a subsis ng restraining injunc on order of High Court of Osun State is worrisome. “The rumour is a aining an alarming rate of credibil-
ity, and it is guaranteed that such act of lawlessness, if perpetrated, will result in total anarchy, and indeed, paint an indelible legacy of lack of integrity, respect for rule of law, and morality in dishonour of the outgoing governor. “The tension arising from widely circulated informa on about concluded arrangements of the Osun
State Government to impose the new Olufon has already caused confusion in the town. We wish to state that the purported imposi on of the new Olufon without considering legal and moral effects will lead to crises. “We are seizing this medium to alert and warn the administra on of Alhaji Isiaka Oyetola; who started
well to take responsibility for whatever damages that such ac on may lead to. “We are calling on the na on’s security agencies and other relevant authories; especially the Department of State Services, Nigerian Police and A orney General of Federa on to immediately cau on this abuse of power to prevent arbitrary and unlawful acons in the interest of peace and order.
4,200 Flood Victims To Benefit From NEMA Relief Materials In Osun – FG Yusuf Oketola
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O fewer than 4,200 flood disaster vicms in the State of Osun are to benefit from the relief materials donated by the Federal Government through the Na onal Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed Habib, stated this while delivering a consignment of edible and nonedible materials to the office of Osun Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA), on Thursday. Habib, who was represented by Slaku Lugard Bijimi, the Deputy Director in charge of disasters and risk reduc on, noted that the dona on of relief materials was being carried out in different states in Nigeria. He stated that the distribu on was also based on a joint assessment exercise earlier conduct-
ed by SEMA and NEMA Zonal Offices throughout Nigeria. The NEMA boss, therefore, admonished the state government through OSEMA to ensure that the donated items get to the beneficiaries. The relief materials are 105 metric tons of maize, the equivalent of 2,100 bags of 50kg grains, 88.7 metric tons of Sorghum which is the equivalent of 1,774 bags of 50kg and 98.7 metric tons of Garri amoun ng to 3,948 bags of 25kg. Other items received by Osun from NEMA to cushion the devasta ng effects of floods includes rice, beans, groundnut Oil, children wears, mats and clothing materials. Speaking at the programme, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr.
Oluwole Oyebamiji, stated that the proac ve nature of his administra on to clear waterways and drainages has tremendously helped the state against the myriad of flood disasters currently ravaging many states in Nigeria. Oyetola appreciated NEMA for the dona on of relief materials to the vulnerable people and vic ms of flood disasters in the state. He assured that all the relief materials will be distributed to the affected people without any undue interference by the government. Earlier, Mr Amos Adejinle, the General Manager, OSEMA applauded the Federal Government through NEMA for the dona on of the relief materials, saying it will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings of the vic ms.
Oyetola is behaving like the former President of the United States, Donald Trump, who threw decorum into the wind a er failing to win his second term elec on. He said: “Why the Iragbiji poli cian is a Trumpist is his a tude to the se ng up of Transi on Commi ee. Trump not only refused to set up a transi on committee but barred appointed officials from rela ng with the Biden team. “What has Governor Oyetola done? Worst than Trump’s conduct is happening as elaborate plans are being executed to ground the state a er November 27.” Commen ng on the refusal of the governor to congratulate Adeleke, Muyiwa said: “The a tude of the governor is undemocra c, unsportsmanlike, uncivilized and does not portray him as a gentleman. “It is ideal that when you contest an elec on with somebody and the person wins, then you should congratulate him. I am not surprised, most poli cians in Nigeria don’t do that.” Asking the governor to toe an honourable path, a poli cal group, ‘Osun Youth 4 A ku’, charged Oyetola to do the needful by congratula ng Adeleke and coopera ng with his transi on commi ee. The Director of Media of the group, Ebenezer Ige, in a statement on Wednesday, said Osun is a project that is bigger than anybody, sta ng that the governor should respect the will of the people and accept the outcome of the July 16 poll with faith. Ige said: “Governor Oyetola should not behave like an opposi on while in government. He should behave like a gentleman who have respect for the will of the people. The people have chosen Adeleke over him and he should accept that. “The refusal of the governor to congratulate the Governor-elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, is nothing but a total disrespect of the people of the state. It amounts to social assault on the people of the state and we urge the governor to toe the honourable path by congratula ng Adeleke. “Also, the refusal of the governor to set up transi on commi ee is undemocra c. It portrays him as a man that has sit- ght character and that is against the spirit of democracy. You cannot lose an elec on and be behaving as if you will con nue to rule the state for life. That is condemnable. “Governor Oyetola should be a gentleman both in look and character; accept the will of the people and move on.”
PEOPLE FIRST
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022
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OPINION
BY GOKE AWOYEMI Oyetola Departing Osun Council Election Of Crisis On The Wrong Note! A
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HE outgoing Governor of the State of Osun is diminishing both himself as well as the exalted office he is in the temporary custody of by refusing to cooperate with the incoming Ademola Adeleke administra on. Reports have diligently exposed the roadblocks, including subterfuges mounted by the outgoing Oyetola administra on designed to obstruct the smooth handing over of power desirable in a democracy. The obfusca on comes with a price tag which will be borne by the good people of Osun State. It is of course totally unnecessary, and is an affront on democracy. In a democracy, the seamless transi on from one administra on to another irrespec ve of party affilia on should be guaranteed since the processes of government is con nuum. In recent weeks, we have seen seriously contested na onal presidenal elec ons in Kenya and Brazil. Bi er as the contests were, even involving judicial review, the outgoing administra on cooperated in transi on with their bi er ideological rivals. Nothing else is to be expected in a democracy. On our part, we are not being wise a er the event. A few weeks ago, we advocated a na onal transion law applicable at all
“The child-like self-centeredness of the Oyetola administration proves beyond even unreasonable doubt that Nigeria has no option but to follow suit. We can only ponder the carnage that will be the outcome of the absence of transition laws in states across the country next year”
levels to prevent these sorts of shenanigans and we have now been proven right. Such laws are in existence and have been proved to be efficacious in amongst other places such as Ghana, Republic of South Africa, Kenya, and so forth. The childlike self-centeredness of the Oyetola administraon proves beyond even unreasonable doubt that Nigeria has no op on but to follow suit. We can only ponder the carnage that will be the outcome of the absence of transion laws in states across the country next year. The incoming Adeleke administra on will have to be imagina ve in making the best of an awful situa on. Learning from their own hideous experience they should blaze the trail by passing a transi on law to guide future changes of administra on in the state. The present mendacity contrived by the Oyetola government must not happen ever again.
NTAGONISTS of the con nuous existence of the State Independent Electoral Commissions in Nigeria have been vindicated with the recently conducted local government elec on in Osun State. This is because this commission is always at the mercy of si ng governor, who uses the electoral body to sa sfy his whims and caprices, hence the fervent call for local council elec ons to be conducted by Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC). Poli cal observers and analysts have noted with dismay that the State Independent Electoral Commission has always manipulated the outcome for si ng governor. It has further exposed the hypocrisy of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and threat to promote crisis in Osun State, thus making the state ungovernable for the Governor-elect, Senator Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke. It is also on record that since the administra on of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola came into existence about four years ago, it never saw the value inherent in conduc ng elec on at the local government level, un l barely six weeks to the expira on of his tenure. Perhaps the APC and Oyetola are ignorant that the moment a winner emerges in any elec on, all ac ons taken by the incumbent are at the mercy of the incoming government. What they ought to be busy doing is preparaon of hard-over notes to enhance a peaceful transi on. Intra-party advisory commi ee which comprises all registered poli cal par es in Osun State reiterated on Friday preceding the elecon that it will not be fielding candidate for the elec on. Although IPAC Secretary, Dr. Tosin Odeyemi, did not advance any reason for their ac on, he was quoted to have said “we are going to par cipate as indigene of Osun but we are not going to field candidates”. Corroborating this, the Chairman, Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, Segun Oladitan, also said that just a party will par cipate in the poll. The candidate of Social Democra c Party in the last governorship elec on, Mr. Goke Omigbedun also lambasted the State government for declaring Friday preceding the elec on as holiday in an unpopular elec on with only APC par cipa ng. He was quoted to have said, “no contest, no rivalry an expensive wastage of Public resources, just one party show”. The most humilia ng aspect of the charade called elec on was an a empt to kill a journalist at a Colla on Centre in Osogbo. Hammed Oye-
bade, a correspondent with Daily Trust Newspaper had managed to get into a local government colla on centre at Awosuru area in Osogbo, the state capital, a er some members of APC prevented journalists from accessing the place. Narra ng his ordeal Oyebade said: “They said I should not cover the elec on. I a empted to educate them that they don’t have the authority to dictate to me, but they didn’t listen. They a empted to seize my phone and threatened to kill me.” At the inaugura on of the elected officials that would serve as Chairmen in the 30 local government and 39 Local Government Development Areas in Osogbo, Governor Oyetola charged them to fulfill promises they never campaigned for. He also pointed out that the swearing-in signals the end of service of those appointed into caretaker commi ees at the local government level. The irony of it is that those sworn-in were those that served in the last Caretaker Commi ees. Immediately a er, Osun APC started threatening the Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke with impeachment, should he a empt to dissolve the local council a er his swearingin on November 27, 2022. Adegoke Ogunsola, APC Legal Adviser issued the threat in response to enquiries from journalists about the poten al dissolu on of the elected Chairmen and Councilors of the ruling party by the Governor-elect. He explained further that any governor who dissolves elected local government is guilty of an impeachable offence. The Nigerian poli cal space and its actors reminds me of African-American ex-President, Barracks Obama, who said, “immediately a er cas ng my ballot in any elec on in the United States, I head straight to long tennis court…” This implies that those elecons were devoid of foot-soldiers that engage in ballot box snatching and all the shenanigans associated with Nigerian Publisher – Moremi Publishing elec ons. But in the last Osun House Ltd. governorship elec on that Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman was devoid of (wuruwuru and mago-mago) rigging, the APC Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa is trying to look for a backdoor Reporter – Yusuf Oketola to get back to power, through Reporter – Kazeem Badmus the paraphernalia of office, Photo Journalist – Olushola Aderinto hence this impeachment plot Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere for a Governor that has not OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing been sworn in. (Ceteris Paribus) All things House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, being equal, the Osun Governor-elect, Senator Nurudeen State of Osun Ademola Adeleke will be ISSN : 0794-8050 sworn-in on 27th November, Telephone : 0809-301-9152 2022 by His grace. The people Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php of Osun are wai ng. e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com Goke Awoyemi, media osundefenderbank@gmail.com consultant, sent this piece All correspondence to the above email addresses. from Ile-Ife. Osun State. 08039506843 (SMS Only)
OSUN DEFENDER
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022
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News
Ilesa College of Education Upgrade: NANS Calls For Caution, Stakeholders’ Inclusiveness Kazeem Badmus HE Na onal Associa on of Nigeria Students (NANS), Zone D, has called for cau on on the process of upgrading Osun State College of Educa on, Ilesa to a University. NANS, in a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Comrade Adegboye Olatunji, said failure to carry relevant stakeholders along in the conversion process may lead to chaos. OSUN DEFENDER had in its last edi on reported that five students of the ins tu on were shot during a protest to demand transparency in the process of upgrading the college. NANS in the statement made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Monday, also accused some of the implanta on commi ee of planning to dish out offices to their cronies. The students’ body urged the government to exercise cau on and incorporate all necessary stakeholders on the conversion process. The statement reads in
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•Operatives of the Federal and State of Osun Fire Service putting off the inferno at Aretdeco furniture and electronics, Akindeko Junction, Alekuwodo, Osogbo, yesterday. Photo Shola Aderinto. part: “While we must commend the caliber of individuals already appointed into the implementa on commi ee, we must emphasise that other cri cal
stakeholders of the college of educa on being upgraded are s ll le out. “Par cularly, the Interim management, the Alumni leadership, the Students’
Union, NANS South-West, the staff Unions, especially the College of Educa on Academic Staff are a few of the germane stakeholders that are yet unrepresented
in the commi ee. “The above groups remain fundamental and they have the advantages of number, experience and peculiar knowledge that
Ilobu Pearl Anniversary Grand Finale Holds On November 12 Ali Ibrahim
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HE grand finale of the 30th Ilobu Day will climax on November 12, at St Paul’s Grammar School’s playing field in Ilobu, State of Osun. Ilobu Day is an annual event in which sons and daughters of the town gather to celebrate their rich cultural heritage, honour their forefathers’ sacrifices, and chart a new course for the development of the community. The Na onal President, Ilobu-Asake Development Union, Pastor Oluwafemi Salako, in a statement made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said the Pearl Anniversary is a one-of-a-kind celebra on which promises to entail special ac vies and programs. Salako said ac vi es making the 30th Ilobu Day celebra on began on Tuesday November 1, with engagement between relevant stakeholders, groups, religious bodies and the IDU Na onal Execu ves. He said: “This will be followed by a World Press Conference on Saturday, November 5, at which my humble self, President of Ilobu-
Asake Development Union, will speak. I’ll be talking on what this year’s celebra on hopes to accomplish and what the rest of the world should look out for in Ilobu in the coming years. In addion, I will reveal the 30th Ilobu Day Mascot. “Following the conference, a courtesy call will be made to the Palace of Olobu, followed by the launch of the Ilobu Youths Assembly. The Assembly will serve as a vehicle for coordina ng the contribu ons of all young people in Ilobu to the development of the community. “Other ac vi es include a free medical and surgical examinaon for those in need on Wednesday. This will be accomplished in collabora on with Posi ve Thinkers Inia ves. On Tuesday, members of the Ilobu Na onal Students Union will give a public lecture. On Thursday, Cultural Day will be held at the Palace of Olobu of Ilobu, Oba Asiru Olatoye Olaniyan. “A special forum will be held on Friday evening at the Ilobu House Complex before
the grand finale on Saturday, November 12 at St Paul’s Grammar School’s playing field in
Ilobu”. Salako encouraged indigenes of the town to make a meaning-
ful contribu on to the program and, by extension, the development of Ilobu.
will palpably improve the ongoing quality of work and the expected result. “Failure to do the above will be tantamount to the proverbial barber that wants to cut hair without the customer’s consent. Needless to say that such a barber is cour ng chaos, confusion and crisis”. NANS further stated that some members of the implementa on commi ee who have hidden agendas might frustrate the process of engagement, warning that such will lead to protests by the body. It added: “We are inclined to believe that the above solu on might be crushed due to the perceived par san status of a few of the implementa on commi ee members. We have it on good record that some of the officials are par cularly interested in dishing out essen al offices to their cronies. “This will not only be detrimental to the essence of educa on but also a slap on the commendable intenon of Governor Oyetola. “If the above allega on materialises, we will not hesitate to mobilise our members from across the South-West and s ffly resist the charade for as long as required.”
Aree Stool: Don’t Impose Anybody On Us... •Continued from front page didate appeared to be unpopular and might not be chosen. But Adeleke, in a swi reac on, denied the allega ons, saying he was not involved in any manipulaon move on the vacant Aree stool. According to the kingmakers who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under condi on of anonymity, Adeleke has facilitated the appointment of Iyalode of Iree, Chief Serifat Adebayo, as a warrant chief in a bid to manipulate the selec on process. The kingmakers, while rejec ng the appointment of Iyalode as a warrant chief, said it is against the custom and tradi on of Iree to have a female as a warrant chief. Also, the kingmakers alleged that they were being threatened and harassed by some agents of state. One of the kingmakers said: “We want the whole world to please prevail on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola not to impose anybody on us as a new Aree. We don’t want what happened in Ikirun to happen in Iree. That is why we are calling on peo-
ple to cau on Prince Banik, the commissioner for local government and chie aincy affairs in the state on his move to manipulate the selec on process. “Ever since a State High Court in Ikirun ordered that selec on process on the new Aree should begin with a condi on that only four ruling houses should par cipate in the process, in June this year, Banik has been frustra ng the kingmakers’ si ngs. “When we were supposed to sit in September for the selec on process, Banik influenced the local government and security agents and discouraged them not to come. A er that, he went ahead to influence the appointment of Iyalode to be a warrant chief, against the custom and tradi on of Iree. “If a warrant chief is to be appointed, it should be from the exact area where we have a vacant seat. In that case, a new warrant chief should have been appointed from Oke Eesa because we don’t have Eesa. Iyalode is a wrong person to be appointed as a warrant chief because she is from Oke Aree. “Apart from that, we have never had a female
among the warrant chief, it is not in our tradi on. But Banik is doing that because Iyalode is his person and they are both planning to impose Prince Ponle Ademola on us. On Friday, October 28, we were si ng at our regular mee ng at Idi Oosa, Aree palace, when we saw some DSS officers, later Amotekun opera ves followed by some fierce looking thugs. We didn’t know their mission; so we hurriedly le the place. “Later, we heard that the plan was to force us to adopt Banik’s favourite aspirant if we had con nued the mee ng. Our lives are in danger. We can’t sleep at home again for the fear of being a acked.” The kingmakers warned that any a empt to impose a person on the community as new Aree will have consequences. Dismissing the allegaon, the commissioner for local government, said he is not involved in any of the issues raised by the kingmakers. He said: “The government represented by the local government appointed the Iyalode of Iree as a Warrant Chief as the Chief Law prescribes.
“I never a ended their mee ng and have not been to Iree my town in the last two weeks. How can they now accused me of bringing security?” Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that five out of the seven kingmakers had adopted a candidate who does not have the support of Adebayo, the commissioner for local government and chie aincy affair. The remaining two kingmakers, among who is Iyalode, are said to be with Adebayo. Speaking on the absence of the kingmakers, the Chairman, Boripe North Local Council Development Area, Azeez Oladejo, said: “We are here to select another king for Iree and we have been waiting for almost two hours but the kingmakers did not show up a er giving them no ce. “This is the third me we will be coming here and they refuse to answer us. We just don’t know what is really happening but I believe with me, we will know what the problem is. “We made adequate security to protect them. We are not here to witch-hunt anybody. What we just want is for them to select a king for the town but they’ve refused.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022
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News
Osun Residents Demands Implementation Of VAAP/ACJ Laws Yusuf Oketola
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ESIDENTS of the State of Osun have charged the State Government to implement the Violence Against Persons Prohibi on and Administra on of Criminal Jus ce Laws respecvely. The concerned residents and some non-profit organisaons in the state, during an awareness campaign at Orisumbare market in Osogbo, yesterday, said full implementa on of the laws will curb incidents of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the state. A community leader in the state, Ezekiel Ejalonibu, said the implementa-
on of the laws will be er the lots of the society, warning the people to be wary of the acts.
The Chairperson of Nigerian Associaon of Women Journalists, State of Osun chapter, Motun-
rayo Ayegbayo, also warned residents not to claim ignorant of the laws. The Execu ve Di-
rector of Community Advancement Ini ave for Self Reliance (CAI4SR), Eni Ayeni, appealed to the state
•Council of Muslim Organisations, Ilorin, presenting An Award of Excellence For Outstanding contributions towards the growth of Islam to HRM Oba Adesola Lawal, Timi of Ede in his palace on Tuesday.
OSCOTECH Students Kick Against Increment In Tuition Fee Yusuf Oketola
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TUDENTS of Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, have kicked against the 40 per cent increment in their tui on fee by the management of the ins tu on, describing it as a wicked development amidst economic meltdown in the country. The students who took to Twi er and other social media platforms to express their dissa sfac on over the increment, appealed to the state government and the management to take swi ac on in reviewing the increment. The school management had in a memo dated October 21, 2022, no fied the students about the increment. According to the memo, the tui on fee of Na onal Diploma One (ND I) students has been increased from N61,000 to N88,500 and N81,000 for science and non-science respec vely. Also, tui on fee of those in Higher Na onal Diploma (HND 1) has been increased from N60,000 to N103,000, including tax clearance. Some of the students who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER un-
der the condi on of anonymity lamented the increment, sta ng that it is outrageous. “The fee increment is too much! Are we to be blamed? We are struggling and you are not providing enough for us to see us through
the hard mes. Rather, you want to increase the school fee. Our parents hardly eat to send us to school. “We are struggling. We are saying no to school fee increment”, the students declared. The school manage-
ment had in a mee ng with the students’ union leadership on Monday, claimed that all the state owned ter ary ins tu ons have also increased their various tui on fees, saying the increment is not peculiar to OSCOTECH.
But the Student Union Government in a press statement, stated that the union was not aware of the increment, warning students to abstain from making any payments un l the increment issue is resolved.
I Will Make Osun No Go Area For Criminals – New Police Commissioner Sodiq Yusuf
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HE new Commissioner of Police in the State of Osun, Mr. Sunday Olayele, has expressed his readiness to protect lives and property of the people of the state, saying criminals will have no place to hide under his watch. Olayele made this statement while addressing newsmen on his assump on of office at the Command’s Headquarters in Osogbo, on Monday. The new police commissioner, who vowed to wage war against all form of crime and criminality in the state, warned criminals to leave the state or meet their waterloo. He said: “I came fully prepared to serve the good people of Osun State, to ensure a secured state which will be an envy for other states to emulate. This I planned to achieve through hard work, discipline and incorruptible police force and in
partnership with other sister security agencies, the people of the state and in fidelity with the right opera onal procedures. “I shall lead by example and mobilise the en re officers and men of the command to achieve effec ve crime control, limit civil disorder and protect life and property, which are the basic du es of the Police under Sec on 4 of the Police Act. “I pledge my personal integrity and honour to provide level play-
•Olayele
ing ground for all and sundry and hold out myself and the en re command to public account. “I pledge the readiness of the en re workforce of the command to eschew corrup on and corrupt prac ces and work towards making Osun State a be er place to live and invest, in line with the policy agenda of IGP for the en re country, and in par cular the vision of Osun State. “Every ci zen and communi es in the
state will enjoy our improved services. However, all should be law abiding and respect the rule of law. “The command will take the ba le to the criminals – kidnappers, by cul sts, drug dealers, traffickers and indeed to their sponsors, procurers, counselors and accessories in and outside the State. “Under my watch, Osun State is going to be a no go area for criminals as nowhere in the state will be conducive for them to operate. We are going to roll out all in our arsenal to wage war against all form of crime and criminality. “To the law abiding ci zens of the state, be rest assured that your safety is guaranteed all the me as the command will do everything possible within the ambit of the law to protect you and your property. I am an opera onal CP, I will not just give order, but personally lead and coordinate opera ons.”
government to put mechanisms in place for the implementaon of the laws without further delay. According to Ayeni, the Sexual Gender Based Jus ce Network (SJN) in collabora on with Strengthen Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE), a USAID project, is partnering other groups in Osun to step up the campaign against Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the state. At the flag-off of the campaign in Osogbo with hashtag #JUSTICE4SGBVSURVIVORS, Ayeni urged the state government to do the needful by ensuring full implementa on of the laws. According to her: “We are calling on stakeholders to call on the government to carry out the implementa on of this law. It is one thing to domes cate a law, it is another thing to implement, we are calling on the government to do the implementa on of this law. “If the implementa on is put in place, the survivors of SBGV would have a speedy jus ce delivery. Many people are not coming out to report cases because it takes a lot of me, several court proceedings before judgment would be served. But with this law in place, it will give room for shortness of proceedings. “Previously, it takes like 5-10 years before court judgment would be delivered but with this law, it has given room for the shortness of that process. If the law is implemented, the survivors will get jus ce on me. “This project started this year in Osun State. The VAPP law was passed in the state last year. The law is s ll fresh. So, the implementa on should follow suit, that is why we are appealing to the government to implement the laws.”
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022
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News
2023 Census: NPC Begins Recruitment Of Ad-hoc Staff Ismaeel Uthman
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N prepara on for the 2023 Na onal Populaon and Housing Census, the Na onal Populaon Commission (NPC), has launched an electronic portal to recruit ad-hoc staff for the exercise. The ad-hoc staff, including facilitators, training centre administrators, monitoring & evalua ons officer, data quality man-
•Launches Online Portal agers, data quality assistants, supervisors and enumerators, will be trained across the country, for the exercise slated for April 2023. The Na onal Chairman of the NPC, Nasir Isa Kwarra, stated this in Osogbo, on Tuesday, at a press conference heralding the launch of the e-
recruitment portal in the State of Osun. Represented by the Federal Commissioner represen ng Osun in the board of the commission, Senator Mudashiru Husain, the NPC boss reiterated the readiness of the commission to comply with the Presiden al direc ve on local content
to aid the success of the exercise. He said: “To ensure a fair, efficient and transparent recruitment selec on process, the Honourable Federal Commissioners (HFC) will, in addi on to the exis ng team at the State level, cons tute a Local Government Area Recruitment Team (LRRT) which will comprise of 3 persons; The Comptrollers (Chairperson), One NPC staff who has NPC file number (as Desk officer/Secretariat), C) Local Government Officials. “The State Recruitment Review Team (SRRT), who are already profiled, are to train the Local Government Area Recruitment Team (LRRT) in conjunc on with officer that will be sent from the headquarters. The Local Government
Recruitment Team will work to ensure that prospec ve applicants in hard-to-reach areas, difficult terrains and areas with no network coverage have the opportunity to apply to serve as census func onaries and are appropriately accommodated on the recruitment portal. “To us in the commission, the quality of staff that will perform the census ac vi es are very important. Therefore, having good knowledge of the content of the census document, the technique and the organisa on of the census process is key to the success of the 2023 Popula on and Housing Census. “The quality of the recruitment process will reflect on the quality of the data to be collected and
ul mately the success of the 2023 census.” The NPC assured Nigerians that the bulk of personnel for the 2023 census will be drawn from the communi es where they are resident, with every community having the opportunity of contribu ng to the census workforce, thereby ensuring that the people are adequately counted. “I want to use this occasion to promise Nigerians that the commission is on course and will con nue to be fair and transparent as we approach the 2023 Popula on and Housing Census,” he noted. Applicants are to visit the commission’s e-portal at: h p://2023censu sadhocrecruitment.nationalpopulation.gov.ng for registra on.
Ikirun Crisis: Gboleru Prince Sues For Peace, Seeks Justice Yusuf Oketola
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•National Population Commision Federal Commissioner representing Osun, in the Board of the (N.P.C.), Senator Mudashiru Husain, flanked by officials of the commission at a press conference heralding the launch of the e-recruitment portal for Ad-hoc staff, ahead of the 2023 National Population and Housing Census, on Tuesday.
5,000 Osun Residents Benefit From Free Medical Outreach Yusuf Oketola
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HE Rotary Club, District 9125 Nigeria, has reached out to 5,000 residents of the State of Osun, in its free medical outreach exercise. The medical outreach covered Malaria Screening and Treatment, HIV Testing and Counselling, Diabetes and Glucose Level Screening, Hypertension Screening and Treatment and Deworming of Children. Others are the Distribu on of Insec cide treated mosquito nets, family planning counselling and distribu on of condoms, as well as COVID-19 awareness and sensi-
sa on. Flagging off the programme held across the state in commemora on of the 2022 Rotary Family Health Day, on Tuesday, Rotarian Kayode Olowolagba, the Zonal Coordinator, Zone 1 and DGN, District 9129, said that the ini a ve is an age-long effort of the organisa on to promote the healthy living of the people. Olowolagba explained that the organisa on since incep on, has not reneged on its mission to provide humanitarian services to the people especially at the grassroots. He disclosed that health professionals were dispersed to
varying communi es statewide, to carry out the assignment. The State Coordinator of the club, Rotarian Folake Adebayo, who is also the Past Assistant Governor of the District 9125, urged well-meaning Nigerians and individuals to support ac vies of the rotary club in changing lives and ensuring the healthy living of the people. Beneficiaries of the free medical outreach lauded the rotary club, for the annual medical outreach, advising government at all levels to further organisa ons who are keenly interested in suppor ng them, to guarantee the welfare of the people.
prince from Gboleru Ruling House in Ikirun, Oluwakayode Oyetunji, has sued for peace in the ongoing protest against the appointment of Oba Olalekan Akadiri as Akinrun of Ikirun. Oyetunji, in a statement on Thursday, said the violent protest on Akadiri’s appointment is capable of exacerba ng already retarded development of Ikirun. This is just as Oyetunji demands jus ce on the appointment of the new monarch, saying that it is the turn of Gboleru Ruling House to produce a new Akinrun. He stated: “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth, and anyone who stands for nothing but the truth must be prepared for a acks from those who stand for the opposite or economical with the truth. People of Ikirun are compassionate, kind, loving, integrity driven people who are known to always stand for the truth. “The people of Ikirun are known historically to always toying the path of jus ce as bedrock of peace and unity, and also known to never be in midated while standing for the truth and jus ce. “The ongoing dilemma in Ikirun as a result of Akirun Stool, no doubt, is not only appalling but importantly, it is capable of exacerbates already retarded development of Ikirun, unless it is well managed. A loving and united town is now polarised which should be a serious concern for all stakeholders.
“I must say that no blood of any human being worths sheding, and no life of any human being worths losing, prior to anyone becoming Akirun of Ikirunland”. “It saddened my heart that there was bloodbath of people of Ikirun in Ikirunland because of Akirun Stool. It is imperave to state that, peace loving people of Ikirun like in any democra c society can exercise their right to peaceful protests within provision of the law. I plead to all par es, please let the bloodshed stop. It is within the power of our respected governor, Gboyega Oyetola to make amendment based on unfolding facts, par cularly that there has been legal encumbrance coupled with necessity to adher to Rule Of Law since the Akirun Stool’s case has been before appellate Court of the land since November 2021. It is not alien to best governance and democrac c prac ces for government to make a U-turn where government’s policies and ac ons are not in tandem with generality people’s expecta ons. In fact, such a U-turn has been known to enhance integrity, besides building people’s confidence in government. “I have decided to refrain from discussing any substan ve issues regarding the seat of Akirun of Akirun which became vacant since February 2021, because the most important thing now for all sons and daughters of Ikirun and for all lovers of Ikirunland, is to search and contribute towards restora on of
permanent peace in Ikirunland”. “However, to put all records straight and for those who may not know or understand our posi on as Gboleru Ruling House on the Akirun Stool, it is the turn of Gboleru Ruling House to produce the next Akirun of Ikirun considering the gaze ed Ikirun Chie ancy Delaclara on. and as law abiding people who cherish Rule of Law, and who have confidence in judicial system, we trust God, we will emerge more than victorious in Appeal Court, Akure.” PUBLICATIONS OLORUNNISOLA-OLUWASEYI ADEDOYIN TEMIDAYO That OLORUNNISOLA ADEDOYIN TEMIDAYO AND OLORUNNISOLA-OLUWASEYI ADEDOYIN TEMIDAYO are the same person but now wish to be known and addressed as OLORUNNISOLAOLUWASEYI ADEDOYIN TEMIDAYO. All former documents remain valid. NYSC & General public should take note. MUDATHIR LATEEFAT LOLA That I was formerly known and addressed as LOLADE LATEEFAT now wish to be known and addressed as MUDATHIR LATEEFAT LOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note. JIMOH MUTIYAT That I was formerly known and addressed as ATOBATELE MUTIYA now wish to be known and addressed as JIMOH MUTIYAT. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022
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News
New Akinrun Yet To Access Palace A Week After Appointment Ismaeel Uthman
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HE newly appointed Akinrun of Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government area of the State of Osun, Oba Yinusa Olalekan Akadiri, is yet to access the palace, a week a er his appointment. Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the new monarch has been unable to gain entry to the palace, seven days a er his appointment and corona on. It was gathered that as of the me of filing this report, the gate to the palace is s ll locked and barricaded with iron objects. Some spiritual objects and sacrifices were also put at the entrance of the palace, with a warn-
•Staff of OSUN DEFENDER Newspaper in a group photograph with the medium’s photojournalist, Shola Aderinto, after winning the award of Osun NUJ Photo-Journalist of the Year. ing that if anybody dares to enter the palace, he/ she will immediately die.
It would be recalled that the State Government of Osun had last
Thursday approved the appointment of Akadiri, and other 10 new mon-
archs across the state. However, Akadiri’s appointment has con n-
ued to generate protests both in Ikirun and on social media. Immediately a er his appointment, angry indigenes of the town went to the streets, crea ng bonfires as well as chanting songs to register their grievances over the development. The situa on took the interven on of security agents including the Amotekun corps, local vigilante and the Police, to forestall total breakdown of law and order in the community. OSUN DEFENDER who visited Ikirun, yesterday observed that most residents of the town are at alert and living in fear. As of the me of this report, Oba Akadiri is yet to address the town or the media on the ma er.
Police Interrogate DCO For Alleged Assault Local Security Operatives Apprehend Fake Soldiers On Woman Inspector Ismaeel Uthman
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HE Divisional Crime Officer in Ode-Omu, State of Osun, Ma hew Ajayi, is currently undergoing interroga on at the Police headquarters, Osogbo, sources told OSUN DEFENDER yesterday. According to the sources, Ajayi was summoned on Wednesday and was confined to the state headquarters of the police a er a woman police inspector, Bamidele Olorunsogo, accused him of assaul ng her. This followed the direc ve of the InspectorGeneral of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, on the alleged assault on Olorunsogo by Ajayi. The police woman who is a ached to OdeOmu, Ayedaade Local Government Area of the State, in a viral video, accused Ajayi of assaul ng her for turning down his amorous rela onship proposal. Olorunsogo claimed that Ajayi a acked and injured her at the sta on on Tuesday in the presence of two constables and 10 civilians. She said: “What is my offence? He started bea ng me, he stripped me naked, he injured me on my chest, hand. His name is Ajayi Matthew because he asked me out and I told him I am married. He started blackmailing me “He was telling people around that we were da ng and I took offence to it. He ba ered me in the presence of two constables, ten civilians.
He went inside, carried a dane gun and wanted to gun me down, the civilians took me out of the office that I should run away, but I insisted that if he wants to kill me he should go ahead. Ajayi wants to kill me.” In a swi reac on, the IGP, in a statement by the Force Public Rela on Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, ordered inves ga on into the ma er.
He said: “We will await the report of the inves ga on from Osun State Police Command before necessary ac ons are taken. However, we assure the general public that jus ce will be done in the case, to protect the core values and ethics of the NPF.” The Police spokesperson in the State, Yemisi Opalola said the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sunday Olayele, has interviewed both Ajayi, the
DCO and Olorunsogo, the assaulted woman police inspector. Opalola said: “The CP in his swi interven on, has interviewed the officers involved in this unprofessional act and consequently ordered thorough inves ga on of the incident to unravel the circumstances that led to this unethical behaviours. Therefore, the CP is assuring the public that jus ce will prevail on the ma er.”
Euphoria As Students Win Laptop, Other Gifts At Spelling Master Season II Kazeem Badmus HE euphoria was great among parcipa ng students at the Spelling Master Season 2, held on Saturday, October 21, 2022 in Osogbo, State of Osun. The winners of the compe on went home with laptop, tablets, phones and cash gi s. There were two categories in the compe on, the primary and secondary sec ons. In the primary secon, Master Muiz Adebisi Yakub of Kranion School, Ifon-Osun came first and went home with tablet for kids. Miss Aishat Olamiposi Oyedeji of People’s Love, Ifon-Osun came second and went home with educa onal toys. Also, Ibrahim Ayodeji Olonade of Flourishing Schools, Ofatedo, went home with N10, 000 cash as the second runner up. It was a serious contest between the five finalists ll it remained
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two contestants in the secondary school category. Miss Zainab Olaitan Abdulwasiu of Famous Prince, Okinni defeated Nafiu Olatunji Abdurrasheed of AlAzeez Prudent Academy to come first posi on. The second runner up is Isiaka Muhammed of Flourishing Schools, Ofatedo. The winner went home with HP laptop while the first runner up went away with a tablet and the second runner up went home with a smart phone. Praising the efforts of the organizer, Life Intelligent Quo ent Pathfinder Limited, the Chairman of the occasion, Mr Adelani Baderinwa, a former Commissioner of Informa on and Strategy in the state, said if other individuals, companies and organisa ons could emulate the sponsorers, the state might be recording be er results in its educa on sector.
Baderinwa said: “I commend you and ask you that no ma er the challenges, please keep it up. This will impact heavily in the lives of these young ones. “To the students, do you remember the student that won the Interna onal Mathema cs compe on? She is from this state. If she can do it, you can also do it”. The Chief Execu ve Officer of Life Intelligent Quo ent Pathfinder Limited, Olanrewaju Akinfenwa, had earlier in his welcome address asked the parcipants to see themselves as winners. He said: “We have every reason to be grateful as the compe on is improving yearly. “The aim is to encourage you to be courageous and believe in yourself that there is nothing you cannot achieve, only if you set your mind on it.
In Owode-Ede
Ismaeel Uthman
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WO suspected fake soldiers have been arrested by members of the Hunter Associa on Group of Nigeria at Owode-Ede, State of Osun. The suspected soldiers were arrested around 12am on Wednesday following a 48-hour search for them by the hunters, according to some residents of the area. OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the suspects and one other who was at large had for over three months been galivan ng Owode with the army uniform. Sources in the area told the medium that the suspects rented an apartment at Oke-Awere area of Owode. The sources said: “We have been nocing the movement of these people for about three months. They are three, and they always put on army uniform. They move around with the uniform on them and that raised suspicion. We suspected that real soldiers will not be going around in that manner, so we started observing them. “Last week, we
contacted some soldiers at the Army Barracks in Ede to confirm the iden ty of those people and the soldiers said they don’t know them. A policeman at Zone 11 also raised concern and alerted us to be watchful. “On Sunday, some members of the Hunter Group of Nigeria in Owode mobilized ourselves to their house and they ran away before we got there. We began to search for them since then. We put up surveillance and alerted the stakeholders. “We went back to their house on Tuesday ll around 8pm but they were not there. We spread across Owode and luckily for us, we found two of them at a beer parlour at Abiye area, and we apprehended them with the army uniform on them. “We took them to our State Secretariat in Osogbo and from there to the State Criminal Inves gaon Department at the Police headquarters” The Deputy Commandant, Hunter Group of Nigeria, Ede North Local Government, Mr Amidu Sulaimon, confirmed the incident.
ISSN : 0794 - 8050
EDITORIAL
Oyetola Departing On The Wrong Note!
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 04 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2022 VOL. 17 NO 43 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
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HE recent spate of kidnap, killings and a acks in South-West calls for concern. Around 6pm of Friday, 28th October, 2022, Professor Adigun Abaje, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Ibadan who is currently on sabba cal at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, was kidnapped very close to Sat Guru Maharaji Garden, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway having eliminated some policemen around the scene before making away with the Prof. The kidnappers demanded N50m ransom. That same weekend, 29th October, 2022, Nigeria Police confirmed kidnap of unspecified number of motorists and commuters at the same Lagos/Ibadan expressway. Yes, kidnappings and terrorism live with us on a daily basis but they have been mostly concentrated in the North, especially North-East. Turning LagosIbadan route into another Kaduna- Abuja unsafe route is unacceptable! Poli cs and 2023 general elec ons have made the South-West Governors to be docile to their core responsibility of protecting the lives and propertyof our people; we have been turned into commodi es with various hostage values of raw cash. On 26th of October, the United States and United Kingdom Embassies raised an alarm and alert of a heightened risk of terrorist a acks especially in the Federal Capital, Abuja. The two authori es have closed down and warned their ci zens living in Nigeria to avoid crowded areas like shopping malls, transport terminals, etc. This threat of terror has forced some elementary and secondary private schools to shut down; Jabi lake Mall in Utako area of Abuja also shutdown on Thursday, 27th October ll further no ce for safety of shoppers and staff. In fact, President Muhammadu Buhari schedule to commission the Na onal Agency for Science And Engineering Infrastructure’s new Technology and Innova on Complex on Monday, 31 October, 2022 had to be postponed ll further no ce, despite strident disclaimer of terror alert by government spokespersons. This very Monday, October 31, Mr. President had to summonan emergency security mee ng to “further review and strengthen the security network in the country,” according to Garba Shehu, President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity. Although, insecurity and terrorism have become a global threat and not peculiar to any par cular country or region, our ruling elite have overtly and covertly manufactured and nurtured terrorism and kidnapping for decades. Their neoliberal policies have translated into economic hardship, dysfunc onal educa on, unemployment, out of school children and numerous attacks on the working and living condi ons of the mass majority of the people. They have frustrated ins tu ons from func oning, thus allowing impunity, injus ce and snail-pace judicial process. They have con nued to sponsor violence against perceived enemies but shield their thugs from arrest and prosecu ons. All these, amongst others, have been their prac ce for decades with which APC rode to power as a change harbinger in 2015, using massive propaganda including many
“For a very long time, the ruling APC government had refused to label gunmen and bandits terrorists until this year - 6/1/2022 - through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice in an official Gazette”
Security Challenges Ahead Of 2023 General Elections uncharitable names-callings: clueless, inept, etc, against the Jonathan-led PDP administra on. Confronted with a new template of terrorism and kidnapping, the APC ruling government, since 2015, could not bail us out all the way from the North-East to the en re North to South-East and the en re South and now a threat to the seat of power – Federal Capital Territory. For a very long me, the ruling APC government had refused to label gunmen and bandits terrorists un l this year - 6/1/2022 - through the A orney General of the Federa on and Minister of Jus ce in an official Gaze e. Despite the fact that the Minister of Informa on and Culture, Lai Mohammed, announced to the world on 6th February, 2022 in a Press Conference in Abuja, that the government had uncovered 96 financiers of Boko Haram terrorists’ group, 424 associates and supporters of the financiers, 123 companies and 33 Bureau De Change linked to them, no prac cal steps have
STRIKER
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been taken to arrest and prosecute them! Meanwhile, United Arab Emirates (UAE) had, since September 2021, named 6 Nigerians with es to Boko Haram and terrorists’ financiers and had arrested, tried and prosecuted them. The marching order by President Muhammadu Buhari to all security agencies to restore normalcy by the end of this year will be an illusion in delusion except the needful is done –taking decisive military campaign to arrest the terrorists known sponsors and crush the terrorists with a mo vated and highly equipped armed forces; apprehend all kidnappers and their sponsors and everyone who makes business of violent crimes and bringing them to summary jus ce devoid of ceremony as in a state of emergency we are truly in. Anything other than immediate display of zero tolerance of kidnapping, terror and violent crimes through superior force and demonstrated
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might with the full power of the state is a harbinger for impending doom, to an inconclusive 2023 general elec ons, to power vacuum, and to a downward plunge into anarchy - as the security forces will be over stretched to all nooks and crannies during the forthcoming general elec ons. Having had successive and conclusive general elec ons, the new government must immediately kick-start implementa on of a medium and long term economic and poli cal solu on. There must be massive investment in public educa on for a free and qualita ve educa on to every child especially at the primary to secondary school level. Any parent who refuses to send his/her ward to school must be criminalised and punished. There must be a policy drive for all our workforce and young people to be trained and be skillful in all areas of life. This will make them employable, produc ve and engaged. There must be immediate arrangement for revert to true federalism as against the present unitary system masked with federalist cosme cs. Every region/state must own its resources, develop at its own pace and contribute to the federal purse. There must be policy drive to go back to the land vis-à-vis mechanised farming and agro-allied. It has unlimited potenals to massively engage the young but skillful people that will make foods and consumables affordable, run new factories and strengthen our naira. We must locally refine our crude oil for consump on with excess for exporta on. Implementa on of the aforesaid alone will rapidly eliminate anxiety, uncertainty and despair; it will translate our consump on economy to produc ve and reproduc ve system that will ensure prosperity, decent living and happiness for the majority of our people. However, does any of the candidates for 2023 general elec ons has what it takes to turn things around? This is the bo om-line.
Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above
Federal Republic of Nigeria is the objec ve of our founding fathers. In a Federa on, there are federa ng units. The federa ng units are to be completely independent in governing their internal affairs while coopera ng to maintain a federal government on the basis of agreed needs. The duty and powers of a federal government anywhere are basically “to levy taxes, regulate commerce, establish a uniform law of naturalisa on, establish federal courts (subordinate to the Supreme Court), establish and maintain a military, and declare war.” Essen ally, therefore, they are to simply keep safe, project, and keep the country in good and noble standings amongst the comity of na ons; organise and maintain the armed forces, homeland security, currency, foreign affairs, and such. The federa ng units at Independence in 1960 were the regions. Eventually balkanised into states by the military government, the states are now the federa ng units and none of the states has forgo en its regional affiliaons. Their internal affairs, choices and identy are supposed to be independently regulated as deem fit for the welfare of ci zens. Military incursion into government, which ought to have been declared “a crime against humanity” by the United Na ons ever since, put paid to the ideal of a federal republic. The military, with its brutal and unaccountable governance, stayed about 30 out of our 62 years since independence and, a er its own regimented chain of command “from top to bo om” changed the opera ng system to a unitary one with an almighty federal government at the centre. When oil was discovered and “free” oil rent money replaced taxa on of ci zens’ produc vity as basis of governance, the die was cast for Nigeria’s sustained
Choice And Identity In A Federal Republic underdevelopment, and all the consequent miseries and tribula ons. They supervised every return to “civilian rule” dicta ng the tune -having produced the most powerful of the elite through corrupt processes; authoring the cons tu ons according to their favoured unitary, an -federal, an -people and an -produc vity mode. Since return to “democra c” rule 23 years ago in 1999, only two CEOs of the federa ng states have put the last an -federa on cons tu on (1999 Cons tu on as amended) to task, as concerns the rights of states to choice and iden ty on the ma ers of the prosperity of its people: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu blazing the trail in Lagos, and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, following through in Osun. In 2003, Tinubu created 37 addi onal Local Governments, not as LCDAs then but LGs, which the state has the rights to do. The majority of the country’s elite who were against restructuring into a genuine federa on were jolted, a few who were emboldened by Tinubu’s steps took the queue. Then the Almighty Unitary-Federal Government descended on Lagos Government, seizing its LGs alloca ons from the Federa on accounts. The other states that took the queue chickened out and returned to status quo. Tinubu didn’t and the Lagos government went to court, winning all the way to the Supreme Court. Although the court supported the Lagos rights, the Federal government and na onal assembly never did ll date, and only the 20 LGAs remain recognised due to fake federalism anchored on oil-money sharing which they discern will become complicated; despite the fact that an
LCDA in Alimosho alone is equivalent to more than five LGAs (arbitrarily created by the military) in many other states and geopoli cal zones, who are collec ng independent fund (oil money) from the federa on alloca on accounts. Similarly, for its residents and industries that were trauma sed by inept power supplies from the na onal grid, Tinubu made a bold move for independent power generaon for Lagos via the ENRON ini a ve. It suffered similar frustra ons from the central government. Rauf Aregbesola as governor of Osun was similarly persecuted, and even accused of a empts to secede from Nigeria by agent of the mighty, centrist federal government simply on account of choices and iden ty in organising the state’s internal affairs for the benefits of its people – by rebranding, in financing, in educa on, and many visionary and exemplary policies. The summary is that, the over-centralised governance and almighty powers of the federal government in a federal republic hooked solely on oil rent revenue (hijacked from the Niger Delta owners) has become a trap, a hell for Nigeria’s 200m people, rendered unproduc ve, from which many now seek to flee. A change of personali es at the federal levels can have meaning only if those personali es will supervise the restructuring of Nigeria into a genuine federa on, however gradually. Otherwise, no quantum of goodwill or genuineness of inten on can produce any good governance with the current opera ons system of disempowered states and people.
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Gbongan Road, Osogbo, State of Osun. All correspondence to the Deputy Editor, ISMAEEL UTHMAN, Telephone: 0809-301-9152. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefemder@yahoo.com