Adeleke Sacks Osun Chief Judge, Appoints Acting CJPage 5
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023
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LAUTECH: Oyo Defaults On Agreement, Pays N3.5bn To Osun •We’re Making Effort To Get Balance – Govt
•Oba Hammed Adekunle Oyelude, The Olowu of Òwu Kuta receiving an award of Legendary Icon of the year 2023 presented by Tukur Yusufu Buratai in Abuja on Monday. Ismaeel Uthman
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HE Oyo State government has defaulted on the terms of payment of the sum of N8bn to Osun state government as part of asset sharing agreement for the discon nua on of the joint ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The Oyo State government had agreed to pay a sum of N8bn to Osun state government, following the ceding of LAUTECH ownership to the former in November 2020. LAUTECH was established in 1990 by the old Oyo State government with the main campus located in Ogbomoso, while the teaching hospital was established in Osogbo. When Osun State was carved out of the old Oyo State in 1991, the two states agreed to be joint owners of the ins tuon. LAUTECH had since been the baby of both Oyo and Osun State governments un l the administra on of former governor Adegboyega Oyetola opted out of the joint ownership. Among other condions and sharing formula, the Oyo State government agreed to pay a sum of N8bn to Osun over a period of three years. Oyo State Commissioner for Educa on, Science and Technology, Barrister Olasunkanmi
Olaleye, had on January 19, 2021, said: “On the issue of LAUTECH, the Oyo State Government
at its Execu ve Council Mee ng has approved N8billion to be paid to the Osun State Govern-
ment which formed part of assets sharing nego aon reached. “We will pay N1bn in
January 2021, another N1bn in December 2021, while N3bn will be paid in 2022 and the remaining N3bn will be paid in 2023.” But findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the Oyo state government has defaulted on the terms, a development that raises doubt on the fulfilment of its agreement to fully pay the N8bn within the s pulated me. The medium learnt that Oyo government has only paid a sum of the N3.5bn to Osun state government during the Oyetola administra on. The medium learnt that a sum of N1bn was paid to Osun government on February 2, 2021, another N1bn was received on February 14, 2022, and N1.5bn was paid on November 7, 2022. However, the Oyetola administra on didn’t make public the receipt of the fund. This is just as the Oyo state government has not made any payment
Lawmaker Calls For Reinstatement Of Osun Indigene Dismissed From ts to be paid to him the date of his Nigeria Police efifrom unlawful dismissal ll Yusuf Oketola LL hopes seem not lost for Mr. Iskilu Kehinde, an indigene of Osun who was reportedly unlawfully sacked by the Nigerian Police Force in 1996. The lawmaker represen ng Ayedire/ Iwo/Ola-Oluwa Federal Cons tuency, Hon. Mudasiru Lukman, has presented Kehinde’s case to the Na onal Assembly, calling for his reinstatement, 27 years a er. Lukman, who is the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Human Rights, presented a pe on to the Speaker of the House of Representaves, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, in accordance with standing rule, on Wednesday. The lawmaker said the Nigeria Police Force did not subject Mr. Kehinde to a trial before termina ng his appointment with the force despite his clean records of service. The lawmaker then called for an immediate reinstatement of Kehinde into the force, adding that all his necessary accumulated en tlements and ben-
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the date. He also prayed that Kehinde be promoted to the present rank equated to his years of service. Apprecia ng the lawmaker for coming to his aid, Mr. Kehinde said all efforts to get his pe on raised in the past have always been frustrated.
•Hon. Lukman at the plenary
since 2022. The Oyo state government was to pay N3bn in 2022 but only paid N1.5bn, just as it was yet to pay any amount to Osun government in 2023 as of the me of filing this report yesterday When contacted, the Commissioner for Finance in Osun State, Barr. Sola Ogungbile, confirmed that a total of N3.5bn had been paid to Osun, no ng that the state was yet to receive any amount since then. Ogungbile, in an interview with OSUN DEFENDER on Wednesday, said efforts were being made to get the Oyo State government to pay the balance of N4.5bn due to the state within the agreed period. He said: “Osun state has received a total of N3.5bn from Oyo state government on the LAUTECH. The last payment was made in November 2022 and we have not received anything since then.” The Na onal Universi es Commission (NUC) had on November 20, 2020 announced the dissolu on of the joint ownership of LAUTECH, following an agreement between Oyetola and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state. The agreement cancels the joint ownership of the 30-year old university by the two states. Part of the asset inherited by the Osun State government is Ladoke Akintola College of Health situated in Osogbo, the state capital.
Rigorous Screening Worsens Osun Pensioners’ Health, Says Activist Yusuf Oketola HE Director of Comrade Ola Oni Centre for Social Research Pensioners in Osun State, Comrade Wale Adebisi, has called for the excepon of pensioners from rigorous screening exercise by the state government. Adebisi asked the government to stop subjecting pensioners to rigorous screening, saying such worsens their health condi on. He described the exercise as a mere a empt by government for cheap popularity without any tangible achievement. Par cularly, Adebisi lamented the pains the pensioners were subjected to during the just-concluded screening done by the state government which he said was unnecessary. Adebisi, in an inter-
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view with OSUN DEFENDER, yesterday in Osogbo, said: “The cumbersome nature of the exercise was unnecessary because the screening opera on could have be er been handled by the local government authori es where every pensioner comes from, and sent back to the state for colla on and confirma on.” Adebisi suggested that the use of technology should be deployed to validate the sta s cal informa on and create a database, instead of relying on manual ways of screening that can be faulted by corrup on, altera ons and manipula ons. He frowned at the pains pensioners are going through in Nigeria, especially in Osun State, saying that such ought not to be if both previous and present governments are
sincere in addressing the plight of the pensioners who have meritoriously served their fatherland. Dr Ayodeji Ologun, Execu ve Director, Centre for Responsive Governance in his reac on to the pensioners ma er, said: “I think the problems in various degrees confron ng the pensioners are needless and avoidable if the system can be fixed. “It is doable since it is contributory and if the government is sincere. A pensioner should be able to access his or her pension days a er re rement but for government that is not only unfaithful to their part of the deal but even steals in the name of borrowing from that of their workers.” Ologun noted that the cumbersome nature of the audit system is demoralizing, saying: “These
are red men and women already and are being forced to go through rigorous and avoidable process to access what is ordinarily theirs. “I believe that the government should show commitment by allowing a dy-up of the process such that everyone within the shortest period of me can access their pensions. “Like the previous government, they have not done the needful. Issuance of bond will not solve the need of the pensioners. There has got to be a new and formidable approach.” He called on the government to be sincere in dealing with pensioners’ issues saying they are senior ci zens who have laboured hard and deserve to get their legi mate entlements.
PEOPLE FIRST
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023
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REDICTABLY the strike ended with a whimper! Very few people expected a protracted strike in the first place; they were relieved when the charade ended. This is not the way to run a process, oh well un l the fire next me. Before the next turbulence government, labour, employers and civil society must accept that the present system of doing things has exhausted the limits of its possibili es. The structure of labour rela ons is antediluvian, be rocked on the mindset of the colonial era when labour commendably was at the forefront of the struggle for independence. That era is over and a new way of doing things must be found. The failure of present system is glaring, we have one hundred and thirty-three million people trapped in mul dimensional poverty. The figure which is now the conven onal wisdom is possibly an
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“Mallam AbdulKadir Balarabe Musa paid his dues and his name is etched in the sands of time as a timeless teacher and leader of Patriots, Progressives and the Nationalists who are passionately committed to the emancipation of the down trodden masses of our people”
From Tragedy Into Farce •Time To Review The Industrial Relations Format In Nigeria underes mate. For a start, much of what is le of the middle-class are just one serious illness away from financial insolvency. There has not been
any dividend of democracy. We must now accept the painful realisa on of failure and start anew. Industrial rela ons must now be seen
The Need For Institutions
HE President has by all accounts made a good impression on his host, the government of Saudi Arabia as well poten al investors during his recent trip to the Kingdom. This is commendable, nevertheless the devil is in the details. Underpinning any investment decision is risk analysis. To be posi ve, the outcome of the risk analysis must indicate that the inves ng environment has solid independent ins tu ons with which to guide and protect the interest of the investor. We are far behind on this track and we must now work on it if we are going to transmit dreams and good inten ons into reality. Nigeria must rebuild its ins tu ons as a marke ng tool to announce that it
is ready for business. It will be a long hard slog. We should learn from the events which took place in the UK, the former colonial overlord this week. In the first instance, the UK’s most senior police officer, Sir Michael Crawford, head of the Metropolitan police made it clear that he would not tolerate dicta on from poli cians and government ministers as to how to do his job. He made it clear that the police will keep opera onal control over decisions as to who to grant permits to hold demonsta ibs. The government minister who had tried to stop the police from gran ng permits to pro-Pales ne demonstrators was sacked. This is what is to be expect-
ed in democracy. Poli cians must not be allowed to dictate the terms of engagement to the policing system. To do so will imperil the basis of democracy. In this same week, just two days ago, the UK government acted with alacrity to obey the judgement of the country’s Supreme Court stopping force deporta ons of illegal immigrants to Rwanda. In Nigeria, we can cite dozens of examples of contemptuous disregard for court orders. This cannot be the way to reassure poten al investors. To a ract long-term “ pa ent” investors as opposed to fly by night operators and vulture capitalists, we must demonstrate that we have strong ins tu ons, otherwise all the foreign trips undertaken will not have the desired effect.
from a different more posi ve perspec ve. It must become the engine room for sustainable development and genuine growth. We must now have tripar te agreements based on infla on targe ng, transi ng the economy from consump on to produc on and eventually an export led economy. There is no alterna ve to this and we have solid empirical evidence from Germany, Brazil, Scandanavia of the benefits of a coopera ve system of labour rela ons. That transi on away from the old system must begin now. The recent debacle highlights the fact that the present system is not just outdated, it is destruc ve. It is unlikely that poten al investors will be enamoured of this system. The present government claimed in its manifesto that it is commi ed to build a “social market” economy which is commendable; it must now walk the talk by building a new system of labour rela ons which will move away from the established adversarial system into one based on long term planning and coopera on. This is the only way to achieve shared prosperity and a produc ve economy.
The Discourse Mallam Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa: Tribute To An Unforgettable Leader And Revolutionary Icon Rauf Aregbesola
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thank you all most sincerely for being here to honour and celebrate the memory of Alhaji Balarabe Musa, the unforge able icon of Progressivism and unmatched passion for the emancipa on of the poor and the downtrodden in our land who passed on three years ago. We must start this tribute by thanking those who believe in promo ng the memory of the impac ul life of a foremost le ist and progressive leader in Nigeria. The family members, his friends, associates and the cadres of the movement that are s ll burning with the desire to see a na on that works for its people, all deserve our warm salute. I commend all those who make today’s event a reality. As we say now, FORWARD EVER, TILL VICTORY ALWAYS. ABM was a leader of the truly le ist poli cal party, The People Redemp on Party (PRP), an organisa on genuinely commi ed to the emancipa on of the downtrodden in their forma ons as workers, farmers, women, youth and the unemployed. Since he commenced the journey on this endeavour, he never for once looked back ll he took his last breath, irrespec ve of the formidable challenges, obstacles and persecu ons he suffered on his path. Our paths crossed 43 years ago here in Kaduna. I was a youth corps member in Kaduna under the instruc on the SPWFY under the leadership of Comrade Ola Oni, and teamed up with the PRP in Kaduna. The right wing Naonal Party of Nigeria (NPN), frightened by the trailblazing libera ng policies, programmes and projects of ABM and his party, was determined
to truncate those ac vi es. No efforts were spared by the an -development, an -people and an -progress NPN to exterminate the vista of change. Though we mobilised the people to resist these moves, but the forces of reac on were too strong, desperate, vicious and brutal and could not be stopped. The right wing people appeared to have had their way then, but we have the last laugh because a people united can never be defeated. A manifesta on of our victory is this gathering. VINCEREMOS!!! ABM remains a leader in the Pantheon of the Patriots, Progressives, Na onalists and Leaders in Nigeria. He remains a formidable influence on the current and coming generaon of the people that will ul mately reset our country on the path of true development and progress, to the benefit of majority of the people. Throughout the life of ABM, he was a loud voice of cau on, vision and clarity on the challenges of the na on and condemna on of the reac onary ruling elite who ride roughshod on the rights of the majority. Most of the social, poli cal and economic challenges being
confronted by the na on and our people were thoroughly analysed and scien fically predicted by ABM and other patriots in the le ist movement decades before their occurrence, which the ruling power and the elite disregarded, to the utmost chagrin and misfortune of the naon. In conclusion Mallam AbdulKadir Balarabe Musa paid his dues and his name is etched in the sands of me as a meless teacher and leader of Patriots, Progressives and the Na onalists who are passionately commi ed to the emancipa on of the down trodden masses of our people.
“Mallam AbdulKadir Balarabe Musa paid his dues and his name is etched in the sands of time as a timeless teacher and leader of Patriots, Progressives and the Nationalists who are passionately committed to the emancipation of the down trodden masses of our people”
There are some individuals who made waves and loomed large over us for a short me in this na on. But all their works and memory, as we always see, follow them to their graves. However, that we are gathered here today to celebrate ABM is a tes mony and Publisher – Moremi Publishing a reminder to all of the immorHouse Ltd. tality of his ideas, works and the Deputy Editor – Ismaeel Uthman great life of service to humanity and God that he lived. Produc on Editor – Petkola Taiwo Ibitowa Yes, it is very gloomy now. Reporter – Yusuf Oketola But we are very confident that Reporter – Kazeem Badmus with proper mobiliza on, organPhoto Journalist – Shola Aderinto isa on and works of all of us, our Computer Graphics – Zainab Olalere VICTORY is certain. OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing FORWARD EVER, TILL VICHouse Limited, Promise Point Building, Opposite TORY ALWAYS. Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Gbogan Road Osogbo, •Being A Speech By Ogbeni State of Osun ISSN : 0794-8050 Rauf Aregbesola At The Telephone : 0809-301-9152 Third Memorial AnniverWebsite : www.osundefender.com/index.php sary Of Mallam Balarabe e-mail : osundefender@yahoo.com Musa, Held In Kaduna On osundefenderbank@gmail.com Saturday November 11, All correspondence to the above email addresses. 2023
OSUN DEFENDER
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023
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News
MKO Airport: Ido-Osun Indigenes Allege Plot To Cede Project To Ede Ismaeel Uthman
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NDIGENES of IdoOsun, Egbedore local government of Osun State, has accused Governor Ademola Adeleke administra on of plotng to change the name of the host community of MKO Abiola Airport, Ido-Osun, to Ede, the hometown of the governor. According to the IdoOsun indigenes, some government officials in the Adeleke administraon have begun move to systema cally add Ede as the host community of the airport, warning that such move would be resisted. The indigenes, in a press statement issued by the President of IdoOsun Youth Forum, Prince Abass Adeyeye, accused the Chairman of the Airport Committee, Hon. Bashiru Salam, of spearheading the alleged plot. They alleged that the airport is now been described as “MKO Abiola Interna onal Airport, Ido Osun, Ede North/ Egbedore Local Government Areas”, saying such prac ce is fraudulent. According to the indigenes, at no me was the airport jointly hosted by Ido-Osun and Ede, calling on Adeleke and security agencies to correct the anormaly before it leads to communal clash. The statement which was made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday, reads: “It should be noted that from the forma on of the Airport Commi ee, an error of interest was made by deliberately exemp ng an indigene of Ido-Osun to serve in such a committee, knowing fully well that the airport is in IdoOsun and was and never will be jointly hosted. “On the incep on of their ac vity, the commi ee paid a visit to the Airport site for assessment without making a stop at the Alayemore of Ido-Osun palace which is the first errored step of the commi ee. “This en es in government immediately changed many of the airport project document to appear Ido-Osun, Ede North/Egbedore LGA, what other criminal ways of abuse of power and government privileges is more than this? “Also, some career officers in the ministry of land and works were immediately asked to create fake documenta-
•Erelu Ngozi Adeleke, wife of Osun State Governor (middle) with the wives of some traditional rulers in the State during their visit to her office recently.
on to cede some poron of Ido-Osun land to Ede North with the hope and believe that they could bury Ido-Osun as the project con nues. And you think the government handlers are
not responsible for staring the peaceful atmosphere of the state into chaos. “We are calling the DSS to immediately inves gate these accusaons and make the re-
port public and to the Governor for immediate ac on. No government en ty will use Ido-Osun airport project to push us into the Ifon-Ilobu situa on, but it should be noted that when tyranny
becomes a norm, defence becomes a duty.” The indigenes called for the removal of Salam as the chairman of the airport commi ee, just as they demanded the inclusion of a non-par-
san Ido-Osun indigene into the airport committee. “We are calling on the governor, that as the host community of the Isiaka Adeleke Internaonal Airport, we immediately request immediate sack of the Airport commi ee Chairman, Hon. Bashiru Tokunbo Salam, on ground of abuse of privileges. Inclusion of Ido-osun indigenes who is not a polician as member of the airport commi ee “That the Osun state government official website where the evil misrepresenta on of Ido-Osun where the Airport is located reads Ede North/Egbedore LGA should be immediately corrected as no part of Ido-Osun belongs to Ede North LGA and no part of the airport also belongs to Ede North LGA. “Immediate inves ga on and dismissal of career officers, including the PS who allows their offices to be used for illegal ac vi es that could disrupt the security and peace of the state”, said the indigenes.
Collapsed Bridge Cut Off Residents, Paralyses Economic Activities In Osogbo Community Kazeem Badmus ESIDENTS of Antaki , a community in Osogbo, have been cut off from other communies, following the collapse of a bridge that links it with others. The residents who said commu ng has not been easy since the bridge cut them off from the other communi es, noted that the situa on has also affected economic ac vi es in the area. Located at Ifesowapo Zone 1b, Antaki , the bridge has a direct link to other zones in the community. The bridge also links Mallam Tope, Aiyekale, Ota-Efun, Oke Odo, Jesu Wa Laaye, Ori Oke Goshen, Ayeegbami and Ore Ofe communi es. OSUN DEFENDER visited the area on Wednesday and it was observed that residents of the area crawled the debris to access other communi es. The medium also learnt that the collapsed bridge has been causing flood in the area. Also, a nylon company in the area was said to have folded up because it could no longer transport materials easily. Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, the Treasurer of the Community, Mr Hammed Raheem, said the
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collapsed bridge has paralysed economic ac vi es in the area. Raheem who noted that the community had wri en series of le ers to both local and state governments on their plight, said members of the community had contributed fund to repair the bridge, explaining that the available fund could not do something tangible on it. He said, “We have written le ers concerning this collapsed bridge to the local government but we are yet to see any posi ve response. “There is also someone in our community who works at the state House of Assembly. Through the person, we have presented our case at the assembly but nothing has been done. “The community tried to salvage the bridge by contribu ng money to fix it, but it is beyond what we can do. The bridge has collapsed totally. We only tried to control the erosion. “The situa on has affected our economy in the area because we can no longer move our goods freely to other communies and people don’t come to our community to trade because of the collapsed bridge.” Asked how children and other residents are connecting other communi es, Ra-
heem said the children took an alterna ve road which he claimed was not also in good shape. “We do not allow our children to pass through the debris on the collapsed bridge and if they must do so, there will be someone at the other end who will carry them up. The children have to find another route to go to their schools now. “Unfortunately, the alterna ve road is also not ideal for the children, especially when it rains because they had to pass throgh a ny wooden constructed bridge.” A resident of the area who does not want his
name in print said he lost his fish farming to flood as a result of the collapsed bridge. The resident also said houses around the collapsed bridge have been affected, appealing to the state and local governments to help the community. According to him, “We have been experiencing flooding here for the past two years. My fish farm was washed away by the flood and many houses, including my church were affected. “I want to call on the authori es to help us in the area. The situa on is not ideal, especially during rainy periods.”
In his words, the Atayese of Antaki , Chief Olalekan Muibi, told the medium that the Head of the Community (Baale), Chief Mojeed Olayiwola had made efforts to call the a en on of the government to the collapsed bridge. He said: “Our Baale has been going about to see that the bridge is fixed but you know that things are not so easy to get in this country. “The road has cut us off from the other communies and the erosion from the collapsed bridge has also affected our road. We need urgent a en on from the government.”
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023
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Special Report
Multibillion Naira Hospital Project Awaits Operation A Year After Commission In Osun Yusuf Oketola
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N a bid to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Nigerian government, through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs (OSSAP-SDGs) built a 100bed hospital in Osogbo, Osun State capital. Though completed and commissioned in 2022, the hospital, located at Oke-Onitea area of Osogbo, was yet to be put into use. The hospital was under lock and key when OSUN DEFENDER visited the place at early hour of Wednesday. During the visit, a trader whose kiosk is located adjacent the hospital building, Daniel Adebimpe, lamented that the project has not served the host community since it was completed and commissioned over a year ago. “Since the hospital was commissioned last year, they have not started working there, though it seems it has been equipped. There is a maternity home at Olude, a neighbouring community, which is a bit far. There is a private hospital in this area, but it is costly”, Adebimpe stated. Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the project is one of the projects awarded in Osun state by the OSSAP-SDGS in 2021 under the leadership of Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who was recently reappointed to the same role by President Bola Tinubu. In 2015, the United Na ons adopted the 17 SDGs aimed at tackling global challenges to create a sustainable and habitable environment for people worldwide. The third of the 17 SDGs aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. It has a number of targets, and topping the list is the reduc on of the rate at which pregnant women and new mothers die a er childbirth to 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030. Currently, the maternal mortality ra o in Nigeria is 1,047 per 100,000 live births. Between 2000 and 2015, when the SDGs transformed from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Nigerian mortality
rate reduced by 30.4 per cent from 1,174 deaths to 814 deaths per 100,000 live births. Even with this notable reduc on, the country was unable to meet the MDGs target. According to the World Health Organizaon (WHO), the maternal death rate, which revolves around postabor ons, childbirths, postnatal and prenatal care, is 1-in-22 in Nigeria, unlike developed countries with 1-in4900. Globally, Nigeria is among the countries with the highest maternal death rate of nearly 20 per cent. Also, in a 2023 Stateof-State report by a civil society group, Budgit, Osun is recording 24 deaths in every 1000 birth. Budgit in the report revealed that 35.4% of the popula on of expectant mothers have
•The abandoned project
a en on from a medical doctor which place the state second lowest in the South-West.
In a bid to achieve the SDG in Osun State, the federal government, through the
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Adeleke Sacks Osun Chief Judge, Appoints Acting CJ Kazeem Badmus HE Chief Judge of Osun State, Jus ce, Adepele Ojo, has finally been relieved of her posi on. Osun State House of Assembly has yesterday recommended that Jus ce Ojo should be asked to step aside pending inves ga on of allega ons of misconduct, abuse of power, corrup on and disregard for rule of law against her. Consequently, Governor Ademola Adeleke approved the resolu on of the assembly, asking the CJ to step aside. Adeleke has also appointed Jus ce Olayinka Afolabi as the Ac ng Chief Judge of the state with immediate effect, just as he directed his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, to swear-in the new CJ today, Friday. This is coming a er the Na onal Industrial Court, si ng in Ibadan, Oyo State, restrained Adeleke from sacking Jus ce Ojo. Jus ce Ojo had dragged
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•Ojo
Adeleke, A orney General and Commissioner for Jusce, Osun State Judicial Service Commission and the State Accountant General before the court over alleged plans to remove her. However, a statement conveying the approval of Jus ce Ojo’s removal by Adeleke was made available to OSUN DEFENDER yesterday by the Governor’s Spokesperson, Rasheed Olawale. According to the statement, the Osun Assembly had in its si ng yesterday, November 16, 2023, resolved that the execu ve should be informed of the House resolu on and that the next in order of seniority to Jus ce Adepele Ojo be sworn-in immediately to avoid any vacuum in the third arm of government in Osun State. The statement said the house had earlier resolved as follows: “Having received various pe ons against the Chief Judge of Osun State bothering on gross misconducts, abuse of office, corrup on and lack of respect for due process and rule of law, this Honourable House, in performance of its oversight func ons and exercise of its inves ga ve powers vested by the 1999 Cons tu on of Nigeria (as amended) hereby resolved as follows:
“That the Commi ee on Judiciary, Public Pe ons and Legal Ma ers inves gate the pe ons against the Chief Judge of Osun State, Honourable Jus ce Adepele Ojo, by invi ng the Chief Judge and report to the House within seven days from today. “That pending the outcome of the inves ga on, the Chief Judge of Osun State, Honourable Jus ce Adepele Ojo should step aside, not for any disciplinary ac on, but to allow for proper inves ga on of the allega ons “That while she steps aside pending the inves ga on, the Execu ve Governor should immediately swear-in the next judge in order of Seniority as the Ac ng Chief Judge of Osun State. “The Execu ve should immediately no fy the Naonal Judicial Council and the State Judicial Service Commission of the resoluons of this House immediately for their awareness. “That the Clerk of this House should forward the resolu ons of this House to the Execu ve, the Naonal Judicial Council and the State Judicial Service Commission.” The assembly has also ordered Jus ce Ojo to appear before the House Commi ee on Judiciary, Public Pe ons and Legal Ma ers today.
OSSAP-SDGs, awarded contracts for the provision of a 100-bed mother and child hospital in Osogbo and 80bed hospital located in Iragbiji. According to informa on on Govspend, a website that provides data on Federal Government expenditures, the sum of N2.53bn was released for the projects between 2021 and 2022. The projects were commissioned on June 29, 2022, and have since been handed over to the Osun state government. OSUN DEFENDER observed that the hospital is affiliated to University of Osun Teaching Hospital (UTH), meaning that it is meant to refer pa ents in case of insufficient space at the main hos-
pital. The hospital signboard as observed by the medium has UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital – mother and child secon, wri en on it. However, reac ng to the development, the Public Rela ons Officer of Teaching Hospital, Mr Wale Ajibolu, in a telephone interview with OSUN DEFENDER said effort was ongoing to put the facility into use soon. Ajibolu stated that some equipment s ll needed to be moved into the place before it start opera on. He said: “Work is ongoing to put the facility into use soon. some equipment s ll needed to be made available there a er which personnel will be deployed for operaon.”
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023
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News
We Are In Control Of Our Respective LGs - ALGON Chairman Yusuf Oketola
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ARETAKER Chairmen in all the local governments of Osun State have debunked the insinua ons that they have lost the control of their respecve councils. The chairmen, in a statement signed by the Chairman of Associa on of Local Governments of Nigeria, Osun chapter, Prince Sarafadeen Awotunde, also refuted the claim that the state government had mee ng with them on funding state projects. According to Awotunde, each of the local government chairmen have been effec vely administering their individual’s councils. He said: “Our a enon has been drawn to a purported mee ng of local government administrators and the state government on the funding of state projects. Let me affirm that no such meet-
ing was held and there was no MOU in whatever form as posited. “It is falsehood from
the pit of hell. As local government chairmen, we administer our respec ve councils within
the context of the law and due process. “Those peddling such wicked rumors are an -
people elements who despise the ongoing revival of grassroots development in the state.”
•Old Students of Ede Baptist High School, 1994 set present a roll over Callender to one of them, Hon. Lukman Afolabi, Chairman Ede South Local Government, Yesterday in his office.
Sacked Agencies Members Sue Adeleke, Demand N2bn Kazeem Badmus
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ACKED members of Osun State Judicial Service Commission; Osun State Civil Service Commission; Osun State House of Assembly Service Commission and of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission have dragged Governor Ademola Adeleke before Na onal Industrial Court in Ibadan, Oyo State. Adeleke had on October 30, 2023, announced the dissolu on of the four statutory boards and subsequently inaugurated new members of the boards, following their confirma on by the Osun State House of Assembly. But the sacked members of the dissolved commissions, in four separate suits, contended that they were sacked before the comple on of their five-year tenure, which ought to end in 2025. They are demanding N500m in damages against the governor in each of the four suits, which were filed by their counsel, Muhydeen Adeoye.
The sacked members urged the court to declare the dissolu on of the commissions and refusal to pay salaries and other emoluments due to them as illegal. Apart from the governor, also joined as defendants in the suit are the Osun State A orney General; the Commissioner for Finance; and the state House of Assembly. In one of the suits, the sacked OSSIEC Chairman, Segun Oladitan, and six members urged the court to compel the governor to reinstate them to their offices and allow them to serve out their five-year tenure that would end by 2025. In a similar vein, Babafemi Osunro and four others, urged the court to declare the dissoluon of Osun State Civil Service Commission before 2025, as illegal and demanded reinstatement and payment of N500m damages. In their suit, Awolola Abiodun and six others challenged the dissolu on of the Osun House of Assembly Service Commission, while
Adebayo Salmon and three others asked the court to nullify
the order of the governor sacking them as members of the
Osun State Judicial Service Commission.
Also, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chie aincy Affairs, Hon. Babatunde Dosu, described the report as “the thinking of the frustrated opposion.” Dosu said there was nothing like a Memorandum of Understanding on the local government fund, saying the councils are implemen ng their projects without let or hindrance. He said: “We alert the public to fake news about an alleged forceful takeover of local government funds by the state government. There is no iota of truth in the report and it is simply the thinking of frustrated opposion. “As the Commissioner for Local Government, I can confirm that there was no mee ng with Heads of Local Government Administra on. There was nothing like an MOU on the local government fund. “The local governments are implemen ng their projects without let or hindrance. We urge the public to discountenance the fake news.”
Adire Industry Under Threat From Foreign Mass Producers •Declares Wednesday As Adire Osun Day – Govt - Adeleke Yusuf Oketola
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OVERNOR Ademola Adeleke has disclosed the readiness of his administra on to rebuild the Adire industry in the state, saying it is already under threat from foreign mass producers. To boost the industry and enhance the cultural strengths of the state, Adeleke directed all public officials, appointed and elected, to start wearing Adire Osun every Wednesday. The Governor, in a statement by his Spokesperson, Mallam Rasheed Olawale, on Thursday, noted that Adire has its source from Osun State, no ng that the new decision will reassert the tradi onal claim of Osun to the Adire genre. He recalled his bilateral mee ng with the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, where they both resolved to host an annual celebraon of Adire Day. Adeleke further announced his administra on’s plan to create mini-industrial clusters to support the Adire industry and other cra
sub-sectors in the state. The statement reads: “Our administra on is working on the crea on of SME industrial clusters. The Adire and other cra sub-sectors will be supported to grow and flourish. “By this decision, we are determined to rebuild the Adire industry that is under threat from foreign mass producers. We are poised to breathe life into our culture with Osun as the cradle of the Yoruba na on”, the Governor stated.” Adeleke, in a circular issued by the Head of Service, Mr. Ayanleye Aina, noted that the direc ve for the usage of Adire affected all categories of public servants across ministries, departments and agencies of government, including ter ary ins tu ons, local governments, local development council, and area office. The circular reads: “Consequently, every Wednesday is adopted as Adire Osun Day with all accoun ng officers and heads of agencies expected to comply with the direc ve.
“Addi onally, all poli cal appointees are also expected to comply with the direc ve from the State Execu ve Council to special advisers and other categories
of appointees. “Governor Adeleke had presented the subject at the last State Execu ve Council mee ng with unanimous approval and adop on.”
Sports
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023
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OAU To Host 200 Institutions For West African Varsities Game
Yusuf Oketola BAFEMI Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, will host over 200 universi es from Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region at the next edi on of the West African Universi es Games (WAUG). The Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Simeon Bamire, disclosed this at a press conference on
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Tuesday, sta ng that the university was prepared for the spor ng fiesta. Bamire said: “We have put in place all necessary arrangements to make the stay of all officials, par cipants and their handlers worthwhile, par cularly in terms of accommoda on and medical facility”. According to the vice chancellor, the compe on, which comprises
tennis, table tennis, basketball and athle cs, will feature sportsmen and women from universi es in Nigeria and countries within the West Africa sub-region. Bamire who lauded the preparatory contribu on of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, also applauded Senator Ademola Adeleke for his disposi on and the commitment of his ad-
ministra on towards the event. He said the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo had consented to be the Special Guest of Honour at the opening and closing ceremonies of the event. The vice chancellor pleaded with spirited individuals, corporate organisa ons, captains of industry, members of the diploma c corps, sea-
soned administrators and sports enthusiasts to assist the university finan-
cially and materially to foster unique hos ng of the championship.
Osimhen Tops Chelsea’s January 3-man Shortlist Yusuf Oketola
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APOLI striker, Victor Osimhen, has been made a priority target by Chelsea ahead of the January transfer window, OSUN DEFENDER learnt. Osimhen fired Napoli to the Serie A tle and scored 31 goals in all compe ons last season and has con nued his good form this campaign. According to the Evening Standard, Osimhen is the most wanted by the Blues a er Mauricio Poche no’s side have prepared a three-man shortlist of op ons to bolster their forward line a er a lukewarm start to the season. They also have eyes on banned Bren ord forward Ivan Toney – who could cost about £100m – and Club Brugge’s 18year-old Antonio Nusa. While Toney would bring proven top-flight net-bus ng experience, Nusa is more of an unknown quan ty with just seven career goals but is one of Europe’s most widely admired wonderkids and has already played for Norway four me, scoring once. All three would bring differ-
ent quali es and prospects but Osimhen is the standout name a er being one of Europe’s best players last season. The Nigerian forward is currently recovering from a hamstring injury he picked up during the interna onal break in October and has six goals in the Serie A this season. The 24-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League before the start of this season and he recently spoke about his admiraon of the EPL while growing up. Napoli president Aurelio De Lauren is has proven to be a shrewd businessman in handling the Nigerian’s transfer specula ons, placing a £150m on his prized asset in the summer. With his current contract at Napoli expiring in 2025, there has been talks to extend his stay at the Diego Maradona Stadium un l 2026. Napoli will hope to cling onto him un l at least the summer and the Evening Standard claims that Chelsea will only finalise their January transfer plans in mid-December.
News APC, Govt Trade Word Over UNIOSUN Subvention Kazeem Badmus
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SUN State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the state government have traded words over subven on of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo. The APC accused Governor Ademola Adeleke of reducing the subven on of the university by 60 per cent from its original 100 per cent. A statement issued by the party’s Director of Media and Informa on, Chief Kola Olabisi, on behalf of the state chairman of the party, Sooko Tajudeen Lawal, said Adeleke intended to use the saving from the subven on to run his office. According to the APC, Adeleke’s administra on only paid N1.9bn of the total N5.4bn budgeted for the ins tu on. The statement read in part: “Informa on also lends credence to a disclosure that the Osun State government under Governor Adeleke intends to use the dras c cut from the subven on of UNIOSUN to run his office. “It would be danger-
ous for the PDP-led government in the state to willingly play the role of a destruc ve engineer on the thriving UNIOSUN. “The Osun State APC chairman observed that it was disheartening that the Adeleke government only paid just N1.9bn of the total N5.4bn budgeted for the ins tu on.” Reac ng, the state government in a statement by the Commissioner of Informa on and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said it is commi ed to giving the needed support, not just to UNIOSUN, but all other public ins tu ons owned by the state. Alimi noted that the university had enjoyed remarkable interven on from the current administra on, adding that the ins tu on was le in shambolic and ruinous posi ons by the administra on of APC in the state. He said: “We are quick to note that UNIOSUN was le in shambolic and ruinous posi ons by the APC administra on to the point that it had no capital project or meaningful interven ons over the years, which obviously weighed nega vely on the growth
of the ins tu on, un l the interven on of God-sent administra on of Senator
Ademola Adeleke. “We are using this medium to quickly cast the
mind of the general public to the open admission of the Vice Chancellor of UNI-
Osun Line Driver Apprehended while Transporting Drug Worth N6m From Lagos Yusuf Oketola 25-year-old commercial driver, Olayinka Sowo, has been apprehended by the Officers of the Na onal Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Osun Command, for allegedly transpor ng drugs worth a sum of N6m from Lagos into the state. Sowo, a driver in charge of Osun Line hummer bus, was apprehended on November 10, 2023 at Gbongan axis of Akure-Ibadan expressway while trans-
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•Sowo
por ng cannabis sa va from Oshodi Bus Terminal, Lagos to one Joshua, in Okuku. He was arrested during an opera on led by the Public Rela ons Officer of the Osun NDLEA, Charles Odigie. Briefing OSUN DEFENDER on the development, the state commander of the agency, Chidi Nnadi, said the suspect was arrested with species of drugs which include one referred to as skunk that weighed 45kg and Canadian Loud, which weighed 150grams. Nnadi said: “One Olayinka Sowo (male), 25 years of age, from OdoO n LGA, a driver of Osun line hummer bus, was app re h e n d e d on the 10th of November 2023 at the Gbongan axis of
Akure-Ibadan expressway around 1445hrs while transpor ng cannabis sa va from Oshodi bus terminal in Lagos to one Joshua, now at large in Okuku. “He has had passengers in the bus who were traveling from Lagos to Ede, Osogbo, Ikirun, Okuku and Offa. There were two species of the drugs, the one referred to as skunk weighed 45k, the market value is about N2m, while the other one called Canadian loud, weighed 150 grams with a market value at N4.5m. “Efforts was made to get Joshua that same day which proved abor ve, but the command is s ll on his trail.”
OSUN, Professor Clement Odunayo, on the intervenon of the Adeleke administra on in the ins tu on, resul ng in the comple on of many impac ul projects for the university community within a short period of me. “We want to, therefore, affirm the commitment of the Adeleke administra on to giving the needed support, not just to UNIOSUN, but all other public ins tu ons owned by the state. “We also want to assure the general public, par cularly the good people of Osun state, that this administra on will not trade their interests as the APC did in the case of LAUTECH University and s ll not account for whatever comes from such ignoble act.”
PUBLICATION AKINTAYO OLUWASEUN BUKOLA That I was formerly known and addressed as OGUNTUYI OLUWASEUN BUKOLA, now wish to be known and addressed as AKINTAYO OLUWASEUN BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.
OWABOYE RUKAYAT TEMITOPE That I was formerly known and addressed as LATEEF RUKAYAT TEMITOPE, now wish to be known and addressed as OWABOYE RUKAYAT TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public should take note.
ISSN : 0794 - 8050
Sports
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023 VOL. 18 NO 44 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
OAU To Host 200 Institutions For West African Varsities Game
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LTHOUGH there were alleged votes buying especially by the big poli cal par es, the successful use of BVAS in July 16, 2022 governorship elec on in Osun, which was a precursor to 2023 general elec ons, assured that me had come for peoples’ votes to count which is the very bedrock of democracy. Common sense is not required for one to have thought that the Independent Naonal Electoral Commission (INEC) would have reviewed shortcomings in the said elec on and perfect its act to conduc ng free, fair and credible elec ons in the future. The 21 April, 2007 general elec ons in Nigeria were fraught with fraud, manipula on and rigging to the extent that the greatest beneficiary of that fraud – President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of blessed memory – agreed to the fraud and set up Electoral Reform Panel headed by Jus ce Mohammed Lawal Uwais and peopled by credible and highly esteemed personalies to look at the causa ve problems and recommend how to prevent future reoccurrence. Use of infinitesimal aspects of that panel’s recommenda ons has been largely responsible for improved electoral laws and processes today. However, the last weekend, November 11, 2023 OffCircle governorship elec ons in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states were not only a huge disappointment, they have taken us several years back and threatened the fledgling civil rule in Nigeria. The en re exercise in the three states rendered 2007 episode a child’s play. In Kogi State, there were pre-filled elec on result sheets flying around before commencement of the vo ng in at least five local governments –Okene, Adavi, Ogori/Mangongo, Okehi and Ajaokuta. Interes ngly, these concocted results were alleged to be the ones collated by INEC. There were incidents of violence especially in Ayingba and Dekina local government areas with security agents who were supposed to secure and ensure the integrity of the poll, allegedly colluding with policians to compromising elec ons. There were reports of hoodlums invading NUJ Secretariat in Lokoja, car ng away ‘mobilisa on fee’ and votes buying everywhere between N3,000 and N5,000. Situa on was not different in Imo State. There were allega ons of votes buying. In fact, Independent Corrupt Pracces and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) men arrested six vote buyers from seven poling units and recovered N4,101,750 from the suspects. At Amakohia Ikeduru Colla on Centre, a policeman was manhandled by some youths, alleging him of involving in ballot snatching. Al-
“History and experience have shown that politicians have learnt to learn nothing; they are driven by desperation to grab and hold on to power at all cost, ultimately to steal our collective wealth for their self aggrandisement and impoverish the people via neo-liberal policies that will make life miserable for them via killing cost of living, so as to make them susceptible to continuous manipulations.”
Politicians Threatening Democracy though, the Police PRO, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, has promised to inves gate the matter and get back to the public therea er, if the allega on is confirmed to be true, it will be a new but dangerous dimension to electoral manipula on and malprac ces. There were allega ons of electoral materials meant for Okigwe local government area being hijacked by thugs and taken to the local government headquarters; elecons materials meant for seven wards in Orlu were hijacked and diverted to the palace of Emmanuel Okeke, Eze Imo, who is also the Tradi onal Ruler of Amaifeke community. In Bayelsa State, similar ugly incidences ensued. In Twon-Brass, the headquarters of Brass local government, one George Sibo, an aide to a poli cian from Brass local government area, was a acked and killed by a mob when results from some wards in the cons tuency were being submi ed. There were many reported cases of gun-
STRIKER
with which ci zens choose their leaders; any other form not in compliance with this viz rigging, falsifica on of results, manipula on, snatching and diversion of electoral materials and other associated means of compromise of elec on is nothing but hijack of power and a coup against the people. History and experience have shown that poli cians have learnt to learn nothing; they are driven by despera on to grab and hold on to power at all cost, ul mately to steal our collec ve wealth for their self aggrandisement and impoverish the people via neo-liberal policies that will make life miserable for them via killing cost of living, so as to make them suscep ble to con nuous manipula ons. But no sermon can make these poli cians change their retrogressive ways. It is high me the Civil Society Coali on and the central trade unions –Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) –rallied and organised the people to be conscious of their power and the menace the contemporary ruling elite cons tute to our collec ve interest to char ng out ways and means to chase them out of power. This is a li le sacrifice that must be made to halt the present rot and pave way for desired progress, development and be er life for the majority. The 35th President of United States, John F. Kennedy, has captured it all on 13th March, 1962 when he said, “Those who make peaceful revolu on impossible make violent revolu on inevitable.” There can’t be vacuum in life; if democracy is s fled and not allowed to flourish, an alterna ve will definitely suffice.This is not a threat but reality.
Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above
The Task
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shots and hoodlums’ invasion and hijack of electoral materials. One Jonah Daumie who claims to be Media Aide to Joshua Maclver, APC Deputy Governorship Candidate, was arrested and physically naked, caught with firearms and confessed to be perpetra ng the electoral violence at the instance of His Excellency. The video clip is everywhere on the social media. These three elec ons were the first to be conducted a er the 2023 general elec ons. It is disheartening that such substandard elec ons could beconducted under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Interes ngly, the poli cians are not perturbed, especially those whose party declared winner. They are not interested in presen ng themselves as choices for the electorates; their goal is to grab the power at all cost, compromising every rule and regula on and ask the loser to go to court. But elec on and adherence to its rules and regula ons are the only way
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N 1986, Obafemi Awolowo said “As long as Nigerians remain what they are, nothing clean, principled or ethical and idealis c can work with them. And Nigerians will remain what they are, unless the evils which now dominate their hearts, at all levels and in all sectors of our poli cs, business and governmental ac vi es are exorcised. But I venture to say that they will not be exorcised, and indeed they will be firmly entrenched, unless God Himself imbues a vast majority of us with a revolu onary change of a tude to life and poli cs or, unless the dialec c processes which have been at work for some twenty years now, perforce, make us perceive the abominable filth that abound in our society, to the end that an inexorable abhorrence of it will be quickened in our hearts and impel us to make dras c changes for the be er.” These words of the Avatar is not only worthy repea ng endlessly to Nigerians, it is indeed the deepest, instruc ve prognosis upon which all patrio c ci zens hoping, praying, willing and ready to work on the rebirth of Nigeria should ponder for agenda-se ng. Awolowo was no longer bothered about Nigeria’s noxious poli cal/power elites, as consequen al in the distasteful equa on as they are. His lens was upon “a vast majority of us...,” “at all levels and in all sectors of our poli cs, business and governmental ac vi es...,” and “the
abominable filth that abound in our society.” That was 37 Years ago; and Nigeria and Nigerians were a saintly society and people compared to today’s appalling reali es because, sadly, Nigerians have not only remained what we were, we have degenerated monstrously since then. As of today, the country seems to have been completely surrendered - by a largely iniquitous ci zenry - to ignominy, corrup on and vice. The sage, however, had not given up on Nigeria, hinging his hope for its deliverance on “unless God Himself...” and “unless the dialec cal process that have been at work...” Simply put: prayers and work. We have to pray fervently for divine favours for the a ainment of a revolu onary change of a tude to life and poli cs by the majority while pu ng in the full work of re-engineering ourselves and delivering the country from evil. Those are the tasks. Although our autocra c and irredeemable poli cal elite delight in lipservicing the phrase “the change begins with you”, the fact remains the fact nevertheless; as Mahatma Ghandi more succinctly put it “Be the change that you want to see in the world.” Redemp on and prosperity for Nigeria begins from the individual to the organisa on; onwards to the society. The good works that need to be done cannot be done by people who are not good in themselves. When Mar n Luther King Jnr said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that; hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that,” he
empha cally clarified the impossibility of a people that are not in good standing building an upright society. Being upright in Nigeria today puts an upright ci zen in danger amidst the majority that are nothing but simply disoriented, depraved and passionately endeared to misconduct. Being patrio c to the country beyond all par san divides puts a ci zen in grave danger, and being objec ve as a ci zen imbued with clear, deep, strategic thinking puts one in measureless risk. To be courageous enough to speak out the truth or act in good conscience in line of remedying any social error is deadly risk. However, these are tasks and risks we must begin to joyfully embrace, having sufficiently purified ourselves. There are no saints, we are all sinners but we must be sinners seeking redemp on, personally and socially; the difference in the world today being not really about contending ideas and ideologies but between those who care and those who don’t care - about humanity and humanism. Nigerians must not “remain what they are.” Like Murtala Muhammed said ever since, “It is me to reflect, rethink and to act” such that we can embrace clean, principled, ethical and idealis c visions for our society as to build a new na on of equal rights and jus ce - Federal Republic of Nigeria – in honour of our Founding Fathers and the benefit of our posterity. From the individual to the organisa on and the ac ons that must be ini ated, let the change and the task begin.
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, osundefender@yahoo.com