Osun Defender Online Version of October 7, 2022

2023: Legal Battle Threatens Osun APC’s NASS, OSHA Candidates’ Eligibility

Ismaeel Uthman

THE eligibility of 38 candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State of Osun to contest the Na onal and State assemblies in the 2023 general elec ons is being threatened by a fresh legal ba le against the party.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) and the APC have been dragged before a Federal High Court in Osogbo, on the ground that the candidates of the party were not validly nominated.

This is coming a er a Federal High Court in Abuja invalidated the nomina on of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola as the candidate of the APC in the July 16 governorship elec on.

In the suit registered FHC/OS/CS/72/2022, the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) which is the plain ff, argues that APC did not comply with Sec on 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022 during its primaries for the Senate, House of Representa ves and House of Assembly.

According to PDP, APC did not hold any conven on or congresses to ra fy the na onal assembly and state assembly candidates with the highest number of votes a er the direct primaries as s pulated by the Electoral Act.

Sec on 84, subsecon 4 (c) of the Electoral Act states: “Special conven ons or congresses shall be held to ra fy the candidate with the highest number of votes at designated centres at the Na onal, State, Senatorial, Federal and State Cons tuencies, as the case may be.”

The PDP also argues that INEC ought to have rejected the nominaons of the APC candidates because of inconsistency with provisions of the Electoral Act, sta ng that the commission is cons tu onally bound to ensure that all poli cal par es comply

with extant laws.

The party prayed the court to nullify the primary elec ons of the APC and declare it illegal.

It also sought an or-

der of the court to mandate INEC to reject the nomina ons of the APC for the Senate, House of Representa ves and House of Assembly primary elec ons.

But the APC, in its preliminary objec on to the suit, said the plain ff, PDP has no locus standi to ini ate and maintain the li gaon for not disclosing

its interest or threat of injury it would suffer from the conduct of its primary elec ons.

The APC also argued that the suit is statute-barred having

been filed outside the mandatory 14 days provided by law, just as it stated that the plain ff has no credible evidence to support its claims and declara on being sought from the court.

In conclusion, APC urged the court to declare that the primary elec ons conducted for the na onal assembly and state assembly candidates are not only valid but legal and conducted in compliance with the extant laws.

The party urged the court to discountenance the PDP’s argument and dismiss the case for lacking in merit, saying it was frivolous, vexa ous and malicious.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the case will come up on Friday, October 14, 2022.

21st Century Most Challenging In Nigeria’s History – Ex Union President

Ismaeel Uthman

Alegal prac oner, Mr. Johnson Amusan, has described the 21st century as the most challenging in Nigeria’s history, considering the myriad of encounters being faced by the country and her ci zens.

According to Amusan, the 21st century is an embodiment of crises which have perpetually kept the country below the bar in socioeconomic development.

He stated this at the weekend while delivering lecture at the maiden reunion of Osun State Polytechnic Na onal Associa on of Polytechnic Accountancy Students (NAPAS) Alumni Asso-

cia on.

Bu ressing his asseron, Amusan, a former President of the Student Union Government of the polytechnic, said: “Since the existence of our genera on, no me is as challenging as this 21st Century, especially in this country.

“The military era that we fought with tooth and nail was even better. Amidst massive economic mismanagements by our rulers that call themselves leaders, we have been ravaged by a pandemic.

“In other words, in our own case in Nigeria, the pandemic met economic epidemic on the ground. And, this has led to a large scale of insecurity in every facet

of life – broken security, collapsed educa on, mass poverty, mass unemployment, mass homelessness, mass hopelessness, etc. Two incidents suffice to capture this gory situa on be er.

“The first incident as seen recently is that of one graduate of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The graduate went to the university and presented his cer ficate in order to return it for the refund of all the money he spent at the university to obtain it. He said that since he obtained the cer ficate, he had not go en any employment with it. And that his situa on had become worse in life economically.

“It may look like a joke but it is indeed part of the true ludicrous story of our country today, and it is unfortunately, a sad one.

“There is another one, which is that, I have heard, on several occasions, the experience of graduates taking me on their Okada (commercial motorcycle). They survive by riding okada.

There are among them, as well, Masters’ degree holders.

“In the life of this country, this is the me Nigerians are commitng suicide in droves.”

Amusan, a former Vice President of Naonal Associa on of Nigerian Students (NANS) stated further: “A typical example of how bad our situa on is today can be located in one old jingle sponsored on television and radio during the General Ibrahim Babangida’s era.

“The jingle was to discourage the migraon of Nigerians abroad because of economic hardship. And it was about one Andrew who was planning to run abroad for greener pasture; and one voice tried to persuade him by saying, ‘Andrew, don’t check out’. But today, no voice is ready to discourage Andrew not to check out because the counter voice too is in distress as the slogan now is ‘Japa’ (run for your life).

“Even now, religious centres are not le out in the preaching of the ‘Japa’ slogan to their congrega ons. In the recent me, we have wit-

nessed a mass exodus of people, especially young and ebullient forces, out of the country, and they are s ll leaving. There is no longer any voice to counter whoever wants to ‘japa’ because the reality has dawned on everybody.”

He lamented what he described as bastardisaon of public educa on, saying it does not hold any hope for the common man.

Amusan, popularly called Ac on J, said: “As I earlier men oned, educa on, as a key sector, is suffering the same fate of abandonment. Many public ins tu ons are in decrepit state now. The ongoing ASUU strike has exposed the ro enness that pervades our higher ins tu ons.

“One has lost counts of how many mes Polytechnic workers too (academics and non-teaching staff alike) have embarked on strikes to agitate for the be erment of their welfares. Our Alma Mater, the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, has had its own shares of this painted gruesome situaon. At a point in me, it was placed in the market for sale.”

•Amusan

•The Head of Service, State of Osun Dr. Olowogboyega Oyebade and dignitaries at the 2022 World Teachers Day programme held at the Nigeria Union of Teachers (N.U.T), State of Osun Secretariat, Osogbo, on Wednesday. Photo: Shola Aderinto

A Response To The Hyperinflation

THE response of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to the costof-living-crises is laudable and should be emulated across the board and in every sector.

The Governor, a few days ago, signaled pay rises of up to 25 per cent in some of the Lagos State government agencies. Inevitably, there will be cynicism since the announcement is coming weeks before pivotal elec ons in February. We will brush this aside as we are not into the indulgence of nay-saying.

The issue of ‘Cost Of Living Allowances’ (COLA) was etched into the memory in the nineteensix es and the interven on of the famously effec ve “Labour leader No 1” Michael Imodu who insisted on this as a valid adjustment to infla on and as the best way to support the least protected sectors. This makes sense, for infla on is a puni ve tax on the least protected strata.

Infla on at the me of Michael Imodu compared to what we have today was minuscule. In a previous era, we didn’t have the distor ng effects of mul ple exchange rates, high-interest rates as well as the devasta ng effects of the a ermath of the “Structural Adjustment Programme”.

Today, we have a whole range of debilita ons leading to hyperinfla on. The case for adjustments to the cost of living increases is clearly irrefutable and has to be faced.

The response to the crisis in the cost of living is the cri cal issue now in the United kingdom, resonates in the USA and in virtually every country today as the world struggles in a post-COVID19 recovery as well as the disrupon wrought by the Ukraine and Russia war.

In a country like Nigeria which does not have structured social

“The response to the crisis in the cost of living is the critical issue now in the United kingdom, resonates in the USA and in virtually every country today as the world struggles in a post-COVID19 recovery as well as the disruption wrought by the Ukraine and Russia war”

safety nets, the need for cost of living adjustments is impera ve. Kudos must go to exemplary figures such as a former governor of the State of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola who placed social interven on programmes at the heart of government policies. We must also recall going further back Lateef Jakande, Sam Mbakwe, and others.

In this period of uncertainty, we must follow the example of Lagos State. To do so, there must be a streamlining of the costs of the machinery of the government by elimina ng wastes and leakages. We must remember that macroeconomic stability focused on price stability is the only assured route to the a ainment of social jus ce. Furthermore, the emphasis must be on produc on to generate revenue and a move away from the obsessive sharing from a diminishing trough.

It is to be hoped that we are seeing a much-needed shi in the territory of the discourse towards the mindset that government exists not to cater for a few but to upli the overwhelming majority of the people and their families. In this way, we begin a journey towards the construcon of a new society.

OPINION B Y BY K A N M I KANMI A D E M I L U Y I ADEMILUYI

The Small Claims Court Initiative

THE na onal discourse on the efficacy of the establishment of Small Claims Courts na onwide a couple of days ago was unacceptably underreported in the media. There were a few snippets in the electronic media but not much coverage in the print and social media.

A en on predictably was placed on the discontents, jockeying for relevance and the wranglings in the polical par es. The absence of detailed coverage says a lot about not just priori es but also our interpreta on of poli cs.

States such as Lagos, Nasarawa and a few others commendably blazed the trail by establishing Small Claims Courts in Nigeria. They deserve applause and we should be delighted that their pioneering ini a ve is now being emulated na onwide.

Small Claims Courts are important and should be at the heart of the pursuit of social jus ce and the strengthening of democracy. The small claims courts should also be at the heart of discourses on the economy in terms of the Ease of Doing Business and building produc ve base. They assist the lesser protected who cannot afford pricey lawyers and clearly cannot avoid to be stuck in courts burdened with procedural disputes as in forever.

In the Lagos State format, disputes of up to N5m can be entertained within the me frame of 60 days. This is of enormous benefits to small businesses o en working with limited access to capital and at the mercy of ill-defined contractual arrangements.

A leading law firm, Banwo and Ighodalo very succinctly stated the benefits as follows - “The establishment of the Small Claims Court in Lagos State, the first of its kind in the Nigerian Judicial system, is without doubt a watershed. Notably, “enforcement of contracts” through introduc on of specialised small claims commercial courts, was part of the reform ini a ves recom-

mended by the Presiden al Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), through its organ, the Enabling Business Environment Secretariat (EBES), in the Na onal Acon Plans on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria (NAPs). Lagos State and Kano State are the two pilot states in the country, selected by PEBES/EBES in associa on with the World Bank, for the purpose of implemen ng the reform ini a ves of the NAPs. It is therefore expected that the speedy, cheap, and seamless system of adjudica ng on the avalanche of small commercial disputes in Lagos State, the na on’s center of commerce and investment, would improve on the sanc ty of contracts in the country, and consequently further boost the confidence of foreign investors in the Nigerian economy.

“Whilst the Small Claims Court has its pros and cons, it has indeed worked in many jurisdic ons the world over and there is no doubt that with hard work, commitment and determina on, it will equally work successfully in Lagos State”.

OSUN DEFENDER

In a nutshell, the social and economic benefits of the ini a ve have been spelt out. We should endeavour to put them into a na onal law for it ma ers. Whoever wins the presiden al elec on on the 25th of February next year will have to concentrate on the genera on of increased revenues and stymie the deficit spending which has now become destruc ve to the country’s economic prospects of recovery leading to sustainable development.

To achieve this purpose, the Medium and Small Scale sector will have to be built up and provided with greater confidence. The sector cons tutes the greatest trajectory to building up employment capacity in a country hobbled by alarming in par cular youth unemployment and underemployment figures.

In addi on, policies have to be put in place to formalise the “informal” sector. Again, the confidence building of the Small Claims Courts and the empowerment as well as the protec on it provides will be cri cal. Kudos to a very worthwhile ini a ve

Feature

Inside Osun Public School Where Parents Pay To Hire Teachers For Students

THEdearth of teachers and infrastructure in majority of the public schools in the State of Osun came to the fore on Wednesday when some parents of C&S Grammar School, Ipetumodu, claimed that they contribute money to hire teachers to teach their children at the school.

This development ques oned the distribuon of 2500 teachers claimed to have been recruited by the administra on of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that in spite of the government’s claim, majority of public schools in Osun are s ll lacking enough teachers, most especially those to teach key subjects like English, Mathema cs, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

At the C&S Grammar School, Ipetumodu, only commercial and art subjects teachers were available, according to the parents.

The parents who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER under condi on of anonymity, said they pay some individuals to teach their children science subjects in the school.

According to them, members of the Na onal Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who are posted to the school are the only available personnel for the science classes.

It was specifically noted that the school does not have any teacher for chemistry subject. The laboratory of the school has been shutdown, while equipment there has been moved to the principal’s office.

Aside teachers, the school which was found-

•Old Students Call For Government Intervention

“The pathe c part of it is that the school don’t have enough teachers. Maybe about four to five teachers are in that school, including the principal.

“I confirmed that they only have social and art subject teachers. They either hired part me teacher or use corps members sent to them to teach science subjects. In fact, they haven’t got any for chemistry.

“The PTA members were asked to be paying N1000 to service the partme teachers and each student is paying N4000 per term as directed by the state government

ed in 1978, is also lacking classrooms and administra ve building.

The medium reliably gathered that members of the school’s Parents Teachers Associa on paid a sum of N1000 each to pay the hired teachers.

Only two are fairly func oning out of the 10 buildings in the school, it was observed.

Each of the two buildings has three classrooms which makes each congested.

Students were also reported to be bringing their own furniture from home as there are no enough seats.

Teachers and students also have to resort to open defeca on as the school has no standard toilet facility.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, an alumnus of the school, Mr. Kehinde Adetumbi, who was the Senior Prefect of the school between 1998-1999, said he was displeased with the current condi on of the school.

Adetumbi stated that the condi on of the school started worsening four years ago when rainstorm blew the roofs of some of the buildings.

He said another rainstorm also affected the school buildings and almost blew the roofs of other manageable classrooms away about a year ago.

He said: “The condion of the school started worsening in the last four years ago when there was a rainstorm that blew all the roofs of the buildings. In the year 2021 again, another rainstorm really affected the school again and blew almost all other buildings’ roofs.

“Now, the only available classroom is only a building with three classrooms. All other classrooms have been affected by the rainstorm.

“Also, both the biology and physics laboratory in the school are no longer in existence. Even the school hall is

nothing to write home about. As we speak, apart from a building of three classrooms, the only fair building is the principal’s office and the staff room.

“The school has 10

buildings, out of which only two are manageable as we speak. The popula on of the school now is about 150. The school is also being used as WAEC and NECO Centre.

“They have moved all science materials into one office, since there is no laboratory again.”

Adetumbi stressed that he has been trying to form an alumni associa on for the school to facilitate projects to the school.

Democracy Not Working For Nigeria - Oluwo

•Advocates Return To Traditional System

Kazeem Badmus

THE

Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has opined that democracy is not working for Nigeria.

Oluwo called for a return to the tradi onal system of government, saying the present system is no longer a democracy but ‘demonstra on of crazy’ in Nigeria.

The monarch who spoke a er receiving the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, at his palace in Iwo, State of Osun, on Tuesday, said poli cians in the country have been commi ng the same mistake ancient tradi onal authori es made by maltrea ng their subjects.

He added that the masses in the country will support the return of power to the tradional authority again.

Oba Akanbi said: “Poli cians have made nonsense of democracy, what we have now is a demonstra on of crazy. I am not surprised that it is not working for us, it is not our way.

“The African way of government is the tradi onal way of government and when the

kings can thread the path of righteousness and can do what we are doing from here in Iwo, believe me, we will take back our power. Our people will fight for us but nobody will fight for a king that is threatening his people.

“Today, poli cians are the ones maltrea ng the populace, so they are now in the same posi on as the kings of yesterday. It is me to weed them out and allow the tradi onal authority to

take over”, he said.

Speaking on the es between Ibadan and Iwo, the monarch said the two ancient towns are inseparable, adding that the visit was meant to further solidify the rela onship.

“Iwo is the only natural town that has never been defeated by any war or invasion in Yorubaland. So Ibadan is very vital to the race because it has saved us from several invasions”, he added.

Yusuf Oketola

•One of the dilapidated buildings in the school.

•One of the two manageable buildings.

•Oluwo and Olubadan.

APC, PDP Trade Words Over Media Trial On Election Petition Tribunal

Ismaeel Uthman

MUTUAL suspicion, reac ons and counterreac ons have characterised the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) on the ac vi es of governorship elecon pe on tribunal hearing Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s peon against the victory of Governor-elect, Sen. Ademola Adeleke at the

Yusuf Oketola

THREE weeks into the 2022/2023 academic session in the State of Osun, parents and guidance who have their children and wards in private schools are now op ng for public and less expensive private schools, inves gaons have revealed.

According to findings, poor economic condi ons of the parents and hyperinfla on in the country, couple with increment in the fees of some private schools are responsible for the withdrawal of children from the rela vely standard schools to public or less expensive private schools.

OSUN DEFENDER visited Osogbo Government High School, Osogbo, venue of the Entrance Examina ons for those seeking admission into Junior and Senior Secondary School classes at public schools on Tuesday.

The medium noted that majority of pupils and students who came to write the examina ons are from private schools.

In spite of the third week into the new session with academic ac vi es fully ongoing, the medium observed that parents are s ll withdrawing their child from private schools to enroll them in public schools as a result of their financial incapability.

The harsh economy currently being experienced by some of the people across the country is beginning to take a toll

July 16 poll.

Both the APC and PDP have been engaging in brickbats, poin ng accusing fingers to each other on virtually all issues that affect the tribunal.

The APC, on Wednesday, accused the PDP of embarking on what it described as media terrorism to misinform members of the public on the proceedings at the tribunal in Osogbo, the state capital.

According to the state Chairman of the APC, Prince Gboyega Famodun, in a statement issued by his Media Adviser, Kola Olabisi, PDP has been using fake reporting to confuse and mislead the unsuspec ng members of the public on the ongoing proceedings at the tribunal.

Famodun noted that the use of media terrorism introduced on the reportage of the tribunal proceedings would

not confer any posi ve advantage on the PDP and the Governor-elect, Adeleke.

He reiterated that “no amount of pranks and introduc on of untoward phlegma c legal chicaneries laced with media terrorism and physical threat would prevent Governor Gboyega Oyetola from retrieving his obviously stolen mandate from the PDP candidate.”

The APC Chairman

said the delayed taccs allegedly embarked upon by the PDP at the tribunal “for an unmerited ulterior mo ve is already known to the discerning members of the public”, adding that the opposi on party could only run, but it could not hide.

Famodun asked: “What could have been responsible for the ji ery conduct of the PDP handlers for crea ng a brick wall over the smooth

Parents Opt For Public, Less Expensive Private Schools In Osun

running of the tribunal, if not the available ironcaste proof of the APC that Adeleke was wrongly declared the winner of the July 16, 2022 governorship elec on by the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC)?

He warned the PDP to stop heaping insults on the reputable lawyers that have dis nguished themselves in their chosen profession by ge ng to its pinnacle.

However, in a swi reac on, the PDP chided APC “for denying its principal culpability for media trial and judicial misrepresenta on in the ongoing hearing of the elec on governorship pe on despite avalanche of evidence and facts.”

In the statement signed by the State Caretaker Chairman of the party, Dr Akindele Adekunle, the party said: “We saw the many advantages we had from the conduct of the peoners’ counsels to the brilliant presenta ons of respondents’ lawyers but we opted not to issue a statement as a way of keeping our eyes on the ball. How APC turned around to blame us for its legal woes is s ll a puzzle for us.

•Students and parents during the entrance examination on Tuesday.

on the educa onal sector, according to some parents who spoke with OSUN DEFENDER

In Osogbo, a good percentage of parents are currently withdrawing their children to cheaper private schools, or move them to public schools, accusing the ‘the standard private schools’ of charging exorbitant fees without giving quality educa on.

The parents also accused the private schools of infla ng price of books and other wri ng materials while manda ng them to

buy from the school.

Many of the private schools, according to the parents, ask their students to pay for sports fee without any provision or facility for such ac vi es in the school.

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a parent who brought her daughter for the entrance exam into public school, disclosed that she withdrew her child from a private school a er compleon of JSS III to start Senior Secondary School at the government school to reduce her financial commitment.

The woman who idenfied herself as Victoria Agboola said: “Many of the students who came for this examina on are from private schools. Their parents withdrew them to con nue their educa on in public schools based on their financial status. Many cannot con nue to afford the huge amount they pay in the private schools.

“I have two children in private school. I have to withdraw one and leave the other. At least, I will be relieved on the payment. My daughter who is currently in JSS II at private school pays N40,000 and the school is s ll demanding for addional N10,000 as sport fee. Whereas, there is no sport facility in the school”.

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER across the state capital reveals that the pressure to reduce spending has led some parents to take extreme measures like keeping their children at home pending the me they can afford to clear backlog of school fees and levies owed.

Commen ng on the situa on, the proprietor of

a private school in the Kajoyo axis of Kobongbogboe, Mrs. Veronica Adelani, described as worrisome, the current trend in which parents are le with no other op on than to jeopardise the educa on of their children as a result of the current economic downturn.

Adelani stressed that despite charging considerably low fees, parents are s ll withdrawing their children from her school.

She said: “Prior to the resump on date, some of our parents had informed us that their children would not be returning to our school due to financial constraints.”

Another parent, Mrs. Abibat Kolawole, told OSUN DEFENDER that she could no longer pay the fee of her children in private school because of the persistent economic hardship

‘My monthly salary is no longer enough to feed my family, let alone pay school fees. I am le with no other choice than to move my children to a nearby public school”, the single mother stated.

“The PDP as a law abiding body has every responsibility to bring the court order nullifying Mr Oyetola’s candidature to the no ce of the tribunal. The legal basis for this is the reality that today the pe oner was not a candidate at the elec on he is challenging at the tribunal. If the pe oner is not a candidate at that elec on and as long as that order subsists, the tribunal indeed has nothing to proceed on.

“As much as we are ready for the defence against the frivolous elecon pe on of Mr Oyetola, APC should not blame the PDP for a judicial process which requires compliance with procedures. APC has filed several applica ons which the tribunal has to dispose off before actually trea ng the elec on pe on. If APC is really eager to dispose off the pe on, how come it filed so many applica ons?

“At this stage, we want to call on Mr Oyetola and his team to get proper grasp of their legal conundrum and do the needful by withdrawing their defec ve pe on before the tribunal. It is never late to admit to grave poli cal and legal errors.”

Religion

Iseek refuge in Allah from the devil the accursed and I start in the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful. I tes fy that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. I also tes fy that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is His Messenger. May the benedic on be upon His soul, members of His household, His companions and those who follow His ways ll the Last Day.

BIRTH OF THE PROPHET (SAW), BIRTH OF A GLOBAL PEACE

JUMAT SERMON JUMAT SERMON

By Imaam Raji, Musa Oladapo

By Imaam Raji, Musa Oladapo

As the world celebrates the birth of Prophet Muhammad, (SAW) during this month, Rab’ul Awal (the third month of lunar calendar), I decided not to talk about the celebra on of His birth because of the controversy it always generates, but rather the peace His birth brought to the world if actually prac ce. Allah says: “There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pa ern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and (who) remembers Allah o en.” Quran 33:21.

He says again: “We sent thee not but as a Mercy for all creatures”. Quran 21:107.

There is no doubt that the birth and His eventual raise as the Prophet had a lot of advantages to humanity. Because His messages transcend spiritual aspect of our life, it rather covers all aspects of human endeavour. Perhaps that is why the Prophet himself was reported to have boldly said: “I was raised to perfect all the good virtues.”

For the purpose of this sermon, I will limit my discussion to only aspect of our lives which I believe have been degenerated to the lowest ebb.

Firstly: Economics aspect of our life. Islam ins tu onalised Zakat (poor rate) in order to prevent people from being impoverished and fight against wealth being concentrated in the hand of the affluent. “……..So that wealth may not become stagnant in the hands of the few rich”, said Allah in Quran59:7. The Prophet (SAW) ensured the collec on and distribu on of Zakat because of His belief that it would assist economic growth.

According to a saying of the Prophet, nothing will prevent the poor from causing misery and hardship in the society when they are hungry except giving them their due from the wealth of the rich. This is why we see many people, irrespec ve of their age engaging in various degrees of crimes such as deceit and chea ng, bribery, robbery and

The Birth Of The Prophet

usurpa on of property e.t.c, to make the ends meet. Nobody is now safe even our monarchs are not exempted. As we all see in some quarters where some of them involve in all sort of crimes and what become their consequence.

Islam abhours s nginess but rather encourages kindness to the less privileged in the society. In fact, the Prophet (SAW) had warned us thus: “Avoid s nginess for s nginess caused those who preceded you to perish and lead them to shed their blood and violate their sanc es.”

On each of these crimes, both the Quran and hadith vehemently warn us and promise unpalatable consequences for whoever indulges in any of them.

Let us look at them one a er the other. Deceit and Chea ng: The Prophet was quoted to have said; “one who cheats is not one of us” (Muslim) what an awful disbandment, a reasonable person will say. Someone who professes Islam but summarily disbanded because of an ansocial economic prac ce, It leaves much to be desired.

As for the bribery which has become a social malady in all our various strata of society. People believe generally that nothing can be easily done in Nigeria without bribing one’s way. Allah says; “And eat not up your property among yourselves in vanity, nor-seek by it to gain the hearing of the judges that you may knowingly devour a por on of the properly of others wrongfully”, Quran 2:188.

In these connec ons, the Prophet also said: “May Allah cause the briber, the one bribed and the one who goes between them.” (Ibn Hibban). From this tradi on, one can

vividly see that Islam frowns at all means through which bribery is being promoted, as all the involved par es are cursed together. I remember some years back, when I was travelling to the northern part of the country; our bus was stopped at a road block, mounted by some soldiers. A er a few minutes, he demanded that the driver should give him money and the driver complied. Amazingly, he gave the driver a pamphlet that contained condemna on of bribery in the society. The pamphlet was believed to have been wri en by an NGO as part of its effort to sani se the society and distributed through those boys. That is to tell you of how the society has trivialised the crime in the society because when one of the passengers on bus read it loudly, it generated mixed reac ons of various propor on on how the society had degenerated.

On usurpa on of property, this falls under Allah’s words; “O You who believed, eat not up your wealth among yourselves in vanity.” Quran 4:29. It also involves wronging others and preven ng society. The Prophet said: “Whoever usurps a Muslim’s property through a false oath Allah will make Hell his abode and forbid him from Paradise. Is any loss greater than this?”

The second one is the social aspect of our life as taught by the Prophet (SAW). The teaching of Islam through the Prophet (SAW) brought laws that regulated the mutual rights and du es of the members of the society that guarantee social stability. Such rights and du es are either special or general.

Peoples’ Obliga ons Towards Their Leader: It is clearly stated in the Qur’an thus; “O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the messenger (Muhammed) and those of you who are in authority” Quran 4:39.

The Prophet also said: “Listen and obey, if an Abyssinian slave is appointed as your leader, as long as he implements Allah’s Book (i.e the Qur’an) among you” (it is a popular tradi on). We can see that obedience to the ruler is a must unless his orders are in conflict with that of God. His teachings do not permit rudeness to the ruler but pieces of advice and construc ve cri cism are allowed.

Read full article on www.osundefender.com •Imaam Raji, Musa Oladapo is the Chief Imaam of Telemuland, State of Osun.

Crime Commercial Driver Remanded Over Death Of Final Year Student 20-year-old Arraigned For Alleged Motorcycle Theft In Ikirun

Adeyemi Raheem Tolulope Babatunde

Acommercial driver, Sarafa Adepoju, has been remanded in Ilesa Correc onal Centre by an Osogbo Magistrate Court for allegedly causing the death of a final year student, Emmanuel Aderoju in Osogbo.

Adepoju, a driver of a MAZDA Bus with Registraon number: OSUN RLG 684 XA was accused of driving in a dangerous manner which led to the killing of Aderoju, a resident of Ofatedo Area, Osogbo.

The defendant was also accused of injuring one Mustapha Fatai of Ile Aloge’s Compound, Osogbo in the process.

According to the charge sheet, the accused person commi ed the offence on September 28, 2022 at about 09:30hrs at Lameco roundbout, Osogbo.

The offence, according to the police, contravened Sec on 18 of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. II, Laws of Osun State, 2002 and Sec on 27 of RTA, Cap 548, Laws of Nigeria.

But the defendant pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge border-

ing on dangerous driving and manslaughter levelled against him.

Defence counsel, Babatunde Akinwunmi, prayed the court to admit the accused person to bail on a

liberal term, no ng that he would provide reliable surety if granted bail.

Objec ng the bail applica on, police prosecutor, Inspector Jacob Akintunde, stated that the accused per-

son would jump bail since the case involves death of a human being.

In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, E.O. Aluko, ordered that the defendant be remanded in Ilesa Correc onal Centre.

He directed the defence counsel to file a formal bail applica on, while he adjourned the case ll October 13, 2022 for men on.

Panic As Armed Robbers Write Community In Osun

Zainab Abisola Anuoluwapo Owolabi

RESIDENTS of Onibueja, a community in Egbedore Local Government of the State of Osun in the early hours of yesterday were thrown into panic following a purported no ce from suspected armed robbers who threatened to lay siege to the area.

The suspected armed robbers reportedly pasted some manuscripts on the pole and buildings in some strategic area of the community to no fy residents of the area of their plan to rob them.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the papers were pasted on four different streets in the area which includes; Baba Kekere Alabi Street and Oba Adedapo Aderemi Way.

The armed robbers in

the note wri en in Yoruba language alerted residents of the area to be prepared,

saying they were coming to strike before the end of October.

Confirming the development, the Community Head of Onibueja, Chief Najeemdeen Alabi, told OSUN DEFENDER that it is true the message was sent by some people who are yet to be idenfied.

Alabi said he had reported the ma er to the police and the community has also swung into ac on to take necessary steps.

He called on the State Government and the Commissioner of Police to take swi ac on in preven ng the planned armed robbery a ack.

Remilekun Okejimi Olamide Adeboyejo

A20-year-old man, Ibrahim Olayiwola, has been arraigned before an Osun Magistrate Court for allegedly stealing a motorcycle in Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government area of the State of Osun.

Olayiwola was accused of stealing a boxer motorcycle valued at a sum of N370,000 from one Taofeek Agboola.

According to the charge sheet obtained by OSUN DE-

PUBLICATION

SPACEFORSALE

FENDER on Wednesday, the defendant commi ed the offence on August 3, 2022 at Oke-Iba Street, Ikirun.

The alleged offence contravened Sec ons 516, 390(10A) and 86 of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. Il Laws of Osun State, 2002.

However, the accused person pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of stealing levelled against him.

Defence counsel, Tunbosun Oladipupo, applied for the bail of the accused person, promising that reliable sure es would stand for him.

In his ruling, the presiding Magistrate, O.A Daramola, admi ed the defendant to bail in a sum of N200,000 with two sure es.

The case was adjourned ll October 10, 2022 for menon.

Sports

Super Eagles Drop In FIFA Rankings After Algeria Defeat Pep Guardiola Dismisses Erling Haaland Release Clause Rumours

MANCHESTER

City boss, Pep Guardiola, says reports in Spain that Erling Haaland’s contract contains a special release clause for him to join Real Madrid in 2024 are “not true”.

Speaking a er his side 5-0 win where the 22-year-old Norway striker scored two goals against Copenhagen in the Champions League, Guardiola denied rumours that Madrid have engineered an exclusive agreement to sign him.

is that he has adapted (since joining City) really well. I have the feeling he is incredibly happy here, and this is the most important thing.”

The Mancity No 9 has now scored 19 goals in his first 12 games since joining from Borussia Dortmund in the sum-

mer. His display in Wednesday’s one-sided 5-0 win over the Danish side was the latest demonstra on of his awesome scoring power.

Haaland beat Copenhagen keeper with his first touch of the game to open the scoring - a

precise finish from a Joao Cancelo cross - but saw his next two efforts - a towering header and powerful strike on the turn - brilliantly stopped.

Typically, that did not deter him, and he was in the right place to tap into an empty net to make it 2-0 a er Sergio Gomez’s long-range shot was saved.

THE Nigeria na onal football team dropped one step in the latest edi on of the monthly FIFA rankings released yesterday.

The Super Eagles, who were in the 31st posi on in the August rankings and fourth in Africa, dropped to the 32nd spot in the world while s ll maintaining their posi on amongst African teams.

As revealed by FIFA, 53 UEFA Na ons League matches and 119 friendlies were played in the last interna onal break before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, with Nigeria’s Super Eagles also in ac on.

In the period under review, Jose Peseiro’s men were up against the Desert Foxes of Algeria, who beat the three- me African champions 2-1 albeit in a ‘controversial’ manner.

The victory secured by the North Africans saw them rise four spots to the 37th posi on.

Senegal, who are in the 18th posi on, remains the highest-ranked African team with Morocco and Tunisia following in the 22nd and 30th posi ons, respec vely.

The other two countries that would represent Africa at the Mundial, Cameroon, and Ghana are in distant 43rd and 61st posi ons, respecvely.

Top 10 Brazil remains the highest-ranked team ahead of their bid for an unprecedented sixth World Cup crown in Qatar and the first in 20 years.

The Samba Boys, with their big wins over Ghana and Tunisia, extended their points lead over Belgium in second place.

Argen na, who are unbeaten in any compe on since 2019, sit

in third while defending champions France will go into this winter’s tournament as the fourth-highest ranked interna onal team in the world.

The only change in the top 10 saw Italy and Spain swap places in sixth and seventh respec vely, while the Netherlands, Portugal, and Denmark round out the top 10.

Guardiola said: “It’s not true. He has not got a release clause for Real Madrid, or any other team.”

“Am I annoyed by the rumours? No, absolutely not. Rumours, and people talking, you cannot control it - so always we have to worry about what we can control.

“The important thing

That le Haaland needing only one more goal to complete his fourth hat-trick in six home games for City, but Guardiola played the party pooper by taking him off at halfme.

Guardiola said that subs tu ng his star striker was not always the plan but, with the game won, his focus switched to Saturday’s home game with Southampton.

Haaland agreed with the decision - that next hat-trick can wait.

APP Drags INEC, OSIEC To Court Over Local Government Election

Yusuf Oketola

THERE is a fresh legal firework against the October 15, 2022 local government elec on in the State of Osun.

The Ac on Peoples Party (APP) has dragged the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission (INEC) and Osun State Electoral Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) before a Federal High Court, si ng in Osogbo, over the elec on.

APP, in a suite registered FHC/

OS/15/103/22 filed at the court on August 26, 2022 noted that the

planned local government elec on by Governor Adegboyega Oye-

tola’s administra on is invalid, illegal and uncons tu onal, saying it contravened the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

The party prayed the court to restrain INEC from releasing the register of voters across the state to OSIEC un l the later complies with the provisions of the Electoral Act as regard no ce of elec on, nomina on of candidate, publica on of names and others.

APP also prayed the court to set aside the no ce of the elec on

OSPOLY NAPAS Alumni Inaugurates Pioneer Executive

Kazeem Badmus

THE Na onal Associa on of Polytechnic Accountancy Students (NAPAS) Alumni Associa on, Osun State Polytechnic, has launched its pioneer execu ve members to pilot the affairs of the associa on.

The execu ve members were inaugurated by the Ac ng Rector of Osun State Polytechnic, Dr Babatunde Odetayo in Ada, last Saturday.

Speaking at the event, Odetayo, commended members of the associa on who were his students while in school, sta ng that their

reunion showed that they are educated and ready to give back to their alma mater.

Odetayo said great ins tu ons in the world over are being supported by their various alumni associa ons, calling on the NAPAS alumni execuve to pilot the associaon towards meaningful impact on the members and alma mater.

In his address, the President of the associaon, Mr Adebayo Adewopo, promised to see to the development of the associa on, its members and accoun ng students of the polytechnic.

Adewopo said: “It is

me to come together to develop programme for the current students and members of this associaon to become globally compe ve with relevant skills aimed at promo ng financial and economic independent of our members.

“Specifically, this current administra on would work to achieve the following: to put strong structure in place that will enable us to achieve a membership strength of 1000 ac ve and financial members over the next two years in conjunc on with board of trustee and management of the department of accountancy.

“To embark on sustainable programmes and projects that will specifically focus on the growth of the associa on, including capacity building events for current and past students of the department.

“To provide a pla orm for skill development and job opportuni es for all members of the associa on, including current students of Osun State Polytechnic Iree Accountancy department.”

At the event, awards and cash gi s were given to the Ac ng Rector, Odetayo, and staff of Accountancy department of the polytechnic.

dated August 15, 2022 as given by OSIEC for being in contraven on to the provisions of the Electoral Act.

It also sought an order of perpetual injuncon restraining OSIEC from commencing the process of conduc ng elec ons or actually conduc ng elec ons into the local government councils across Osun un l the commission complies with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.

During the con nua on of the case at the Federal High Court on Wednesday, some poli cal par es through their lawyers, applied to be joined in the suite as defendants.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) had earlier been joined as defendants in the suit.

Speaking with journalists a er the court proceedings, lead counsel to the plain ff, Hashim Abioye, accused APC of sponsoring other poli cal par es to join the suite so as to delay hearing on the case.

The case was adjourned ll October 10, 2022 for hearing by Jusce Emmanuel Ayoola.

Kazeem Badmus

Kazeem Badmus

•Segun Oladitan, OSIEC chairman

Panic

DEMOCRACY is so popular that a child in the cradle knows its meaning; one doesn’t need to undergo formal educaon to comprehend it. It is the government of the people - government of the majority of the people. Simply put, democracy is the choice of the majority of the people against that of the minority. In a democracy however, there are processes that must run before the eventual choice of the majority. These processes are the founda on upon which real or fake democracy is nurtured and built. In this circumstance, the searchlight beams at the poli cal party internal democracy or intra-party democracy. This is the level and method of carrying along party members in the delibera ons and decision making within the party structures. This becomes important as democra c decision within the party, backed by the party cons tu on, electoral and Nigeria laws is the bedrock upon which genuine democracy is built. Hence, the poli cal party primary elec on becomes the fulcrum as it is the process with which poli cal party members choose their preference as their candidate for the forthcoming general, local or by-elec ons.

However, in most poli cal par es, especially the major ones, aspirants who eventually become candidates of the par es for local and general elec ons are not always the choices of majority of the members; they are mostly choices imposed on the majority by a very few leaders and cliques within. Popularity, character, ideals and idea of the party etc which are supposed to be yards cks for choice by the party leaders and members are thrown into dustbin for imposi on because of pecuniary gain, more o en. Consequently, the candidates presented by the par es are products of manipula on and imposi on which is an the cal to virtues and rules of democracy. From concep on, therefore, democracy conceived in poli cal par es’ wombs has been balkanised; its delivery will be s llbirth. For example, returning delegates to both APC and PDP Na onal Conven ons to elect Presidenal Candidates for 2023 general elec ons came back to their respec ve states with millions of naira with some paid in dollar denomina ons. Although EFCC was present at both conven ons, it was all “the more you look, the less you see.” These returning delegates are not angels; they live in communi es with the people. People have seen them buying cars and renova ng their houses from the proceeds of the conven ons.

Yes, by the virtue of their rich experiences, leadership and elders in a party are be er placed to see leadership quali es from the rank and file members. These quali es could be nurtured and such personali es could be strongly recommended for elec ve posi ons in government. If the majority accept, it’s fine but if not and there are members who are seeking same posi ons, there must be primary elec on to determine the party candidate for the posi on. The prac ce in most poli cal par es, especially the so-called progressive party, is leadership and clique forc-

“A political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elective positions which shall be monitored by the Commission. The procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for various elective positions shall be by direct, indirect primaries or consensus”

Democracy Etiquette Begins With The Party

ing their preferred choices on the throats of the majority and refusal to have reconcilia on with the aggrieved members who are the majority. Interes ngly, they will sell inten on and nominaon forms to everybody at prohibi ve rates and promise to conduct primary where more than one person are contending for posi on, only to crudely and undemocra cally scheme them out and impose their choices without blinking an eyelid. They have turned poli cal party into a criminal enterprise to deceive, steal and rob the people of their genuine choices, collec ve resources and inheritances. This undemocra c tendency is more pronounced in the states where the so-called almighty governors hold sway.

This has had a trickle-down effect on the electorate who may not necessary be members of any poli cal party but now demand gra fica ons before vo ng in the general elec ons

STRIKER

WE have come to a me when poli cians who are standing firm for a cause that is right and moral are becoming endangered species.

Everywhere you go in Nigeria, all you see are poli cians in gangs who no one can actually say what they and their party represent in the myriad of ideas begging for devotees and issues begging for soluons.

In a speech he delivered on the 12th of July 1945, General Dwight Eisenhower said, “If a poli cal party does not have its founda on in the determina on to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then, it is not a poli cal party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.” It looks like the des na on that we have arrived at in today’s Nigeria. Ideology is long abandoned and even mere manifestoes, where there are any, are betrayed and forgo en to gather dusts on shelves.

A poli cal party ought to ar culate a clear posi on on the historical challenges confronted by a na on, sugges ng specific strategies for overcoming them and propelling the na on to greatness and its people into prosperity. Whether those ideas are revolu onary, simply radical, progressive, or centrist or conserva ve, they are usually explicit and the poli cians in every party remain faithful to them as tools for policy formula on whenever they get into government.

However, here we are in Nigeria today, with two major poli cal par es that have the wherewithal to garner votes and put candidates in government at all levels –legislators and execu ves. What do these par es represent and where do they

which the poli cians are willing to give without being prompted. What else should be expected having been presented unpopular candidates by the par es which has le them no be er choice? Except in a situa on where independent candidature is opera ng, the electorate vote poli cal par es in local, general and by-elec ons while their candidates are beneficiaries of the votes. As long as this trend con nues, the best and most popular candidate will not emerge and consequently, the best dividend of democracy will elude society.

But the rank and file party members must be prepared to slug it out with these polical merchants legally and poli cally. The 2022 Electoral Law dealing with poli cal par es has envisaged par es leaderships manipula on and imposi on and has adequately taken care of it in Part V, Sec on 84 (1,2,3 &4) : “A poli cal party seeking to nominate candidates for elecons under this Act shall hold primaries for aspirants to all elec ve posi ons which shall be monitored by the Commission. The procedure

A Renegades’ Paradise

stand on the issues begging for solu ons, which have plunged Nigeria into the very edge of the abyss? What are the par es’ posi ons on true federalism? How do we go about restructuring for a genuine Federal Republic of Nigeria? Silence!

We have a complex and agonising situa on with security above all; then with energy, infrastructure, housing, health, educa on, jobs, food security, infla on, employment, and literarily every sector of socio-economy. What are the par es’ proposi ons for resolving the grave challenges? Silence!

All that the poli cians in those par es want is power! Power to do what?

Nigeria is not totally bere of a history with tradi ons in poli cs, and it is up to Nigerians to have a rethink as we enter another season of elec oneering to put compe ng candidates of various poli cal par es in government between now and first quarter of 2023. Nigeria used to have par es like Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN), Na onal Party of Nigeria (NPN) and other par es in between those 2 extremes, like the Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP) and others. We moved from there to the imposed Social Democra c Party (SDP) and Na onal Republican Party (NRC) in the aborted 3rd Republic. Everyone knew what those par es represented and what to expect in terms of policies from their poli cians should they get into govern-

for the nomina on of candidates by poli cal par es for various elec ve posi ons shall be by direct, indirect primaries or consensus. A poli cal party shall not impose nomina on qualifica on or disqualifica on criteria, measures, or condi ons on any aspirant or candidate for any elec on in its cons tu on, guidelines, or rules for nomina on of candidates for elec ons, except as prescribed under sec ons 65, 66, 106, 107, 131, 137,177 and 186 of the Cons tu on. A poli cal party that adopts the direct primaries procedure shall ensure that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party and shall adopt the procedure outlined….” In fact, Sec ons 8 and 9 state, “A poli cal party that adopts a consensus candidate shall secure the wri en consent of all cleared aspirants for the posi on, indica ng their voluntary withdrawal from the race and their endorsement of the consensus candidate. Where a poli cal party is unable to secure the wri en consent of all cleared aspirants for the purpose of a consensus candidate, it shall revert to the choice of direct or indirect primaries for the nomina on of candidates for the aforesaid elec ve posi ons.”

Based on the aforesaid, these poli cal vampires cannot be bigger or stronger than the laws of the land. Members of poli cal par es and especially the aspirants have nothing to fear; they must take the bull by the horn to rescue their party from anyone or group within the party who a empts to compromise internal democracy which the cons tu on and 2022 Electoral Acts have guaranteed. Internal democracy within the party must be jealously guided as it is the only oxygen with which democracy can survive and deliver dividends to the people.

ment.

Today, we are in a paradise of renegade poli cians who stand for nothing revealed and crisscross from one party to the other as easily as moving from the living room to the bedroom to such an extent and scope that it has engendered li ga ons capable of occasioning a cons tu onal crisis. The spirit of any cons tu on must take cognisance of the spirit of the speech of Eisenhower: poli cal par es (and poli cians in them) must stand for a clear and noble ideal or any ideal whatsoever for that ma er! If so, people vote for par es on that basis. To harvest votes on the basis of the promises of represen ng an ideal and then get into government and move to another party is to renege on promises made to voters. What should be the consequences?

No consequence for poli cal betrayals is what has turned us now into a renegades’ paradise with poli cs without defini on or ideal; just a conspiracy to grab power for self and clique advancement. The solu on lies in the hands of the people, despite the prevalence of disempowering ignorance and poverty. For the sake of their children’s tomorrow, the people must pause, rethink, summon strength to organise, and act sensibly with their votes ONLY for individuals with known posi ons and commitments (irrespec ve of par es, small or big, no ma er the corrupt inducements): away from the parks of renegades seeking power only to represent not the people but selves and associates.

Striker is not the opinion of the Columnist featured above